WhileSupermanis often seen as the definition of power in the DC Universe, there’s oneJustice Leaguemember who is even mightier - at least according to the Flash. Clark Kent’s Man of Steel has godlike strength and invulnerability, flight, heat vision and freezing breath, and a range of other powers that he’s used to save Earth time and again. However, thereisanother Justice League hero whose powers are just as impressive, even more varied, and who could easily take down Superman in moments.
In Geoff Johns and Howard Porter’sThe Flash #215, Wally West’s speedster learns that a cabal of Justice League heroes have been secretly mind-wiping villains to keep their identities (and therefore loved ones) safe. A letter from prior Flash Barry Allen explains how he took this process even further to rewrite the personality of his villain the Top, with the Justice League sorcererZatannarealigning his morality to turn him into Flash’s ally. Discussing the process, Barry reflects that,“Zatanna was still a rookie, dealing with the death of her mother, the guilt of what happened to these villains… butshe was also the most powerful member of the League.”
A member of a human offshootspecies known as Homo Magi, Zatanna is one of DC’s most powerful magic-users, with the iconic habit of casting spells by speaking her desires backwards. Barry Allen’s Flash casually naming her the team’s most powerful member when he, Superman and Wonder Woman were all on the roster may seem unusual, but Zatanna has justified this claim again and again.
The Flash #215is a tie-in to DC’sIdentity Crisisevent, in which the world’s villains finally learn how they’ve been manipulated by the Justice League. It’s also revealed that after Batman caught the heroes mind-wiping villains, he too had his mind rewritten, damaging hislongtime friendship and romance with Zatanna.
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While Zatanna isn’t a household name, she is a major hero in DC lore, having served on the Justice League and become the leader of their offshoot team the Justice League Dark. One of Zatanna’s greatest feats wasbeating the Upside-Down Man- a magical creature who is almost omnipotent, drawing his powers directly from DC’s cosmic Source.So long as Zatanna can speak, she can do just about anything, including stopping Superman in his tracks.
Fans saw this firsthand in 2017’s animatedJustice League Dark, where Zatanna uses her magic to bind Wonder Woman with her own lasso and freeze Superman in the air just moments before he’s about to strike Batman. To DC fans, it’s no surprise that Zatanna can come out ahead over Superman, given his usual weakness to magic, howeverZatanna has also used her magic to make Superman more powerful. In the recentDC All Inspecial,Superman was finally able to kill Darkseidbecause he’d been enhanced with Zatanna’s magic.
The idea that even as a rookie hero Zatanna was Justice League’s most powerful member is an interesting claim, but one that’s borne out by the events ofIdentity Crisis. While Superman, Wonder Woman and Flash can stop villains in the moment, Zatanna spent years rewiring their minds to make them less dangerous in the long-term. Added to the ability to teleport, summon demons, heal at will, shapeshift people and objects, freeze time and turn invisible, it’s clear why Barry Allen thought so much of Zatanna’s power level.
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While Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are the Justice League’s biggest icons, the team includes other powerhouses who either rival their abilities or have a major advantage over them. Superman has mentioned in the past that Martian Manhunter is the person in the world he’d be most scared to fight, while Batman speculated thatonce Firestorm masters his powers, he’ll be"the most powerful man on the planet."
Ultimately, the Justice League is about working together to help and protect others, not deciding who’s strongest, but it’s always fascinating when an A-list hero points out that a lesser-known vigilante is far stronger than fans might assume. WhileSuperman may rate Martian Manhunterand Batman has his eye on Firestorm, according to Flash, it’sZatannawho is truly theJustice League’s most powerful member.
