For more than eight decades, Superman has reigned supreme as the gold standard of physical strength in comic book lore. Since his debut in Action Comics #1, in 1938, the Man of Steel has stood as an immovable force. Meanwhile, Marvel has produced its fair share of cosmic-level beings, reality-warpers, and magical entities who could theoretically defeat Superman under the right circumstances.
However, when it came down to pure, unfiltered strength, even Marvel’s mightiest, couldn’t quite rise above the red-caped icon from Krypton. Now, thanks to the newest addition to the X-Men franchise, Marvel may finally have a character who can truly claim to be stronger than Superman.
X-Men Introduces A Mutant Who Adapts To Surpass Anyone She Meets
In Giant-Size X-Men: Revelation, we’re introduced to a forgotten legend, one who was almost part of the same X-Men lineup that gave us Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus. Italian detective Justina LaGuardia isn’t your average superhuman. When approached by Professor X to join his second official X-Men team, she shocks him by instantly wiping his memory of their encounter.
Why? Because Justina is no ordinary mutant, she is, in her own words, “Superior.” Her mutant power is astonishingly simple in concept yet boundlessly powerful in execution: she becomes better than anyone she’s near. Not just smarter or faster, but stronger, tougher, and capable of wielding powers more potent than her target’s. If she stands next to a telepath, she becomes a stronger telepath.
If she’s around someone with super strength, she’s stronger. That means when she meets a hero like Charles Xavier, one of the most powerful Omega-level psychics in the Marvel Universe, she instantly outclasses him. And that’s just the beginning. There’s no ceiling to her superiority. There’s no upper limit to how powerful she can become. Her power is reactive, infinite in scope, and terrifying in implication. So, if she were to meet Superman, her abilities would allow her to surpass him.
Marvel Needs To Give Justina LaGuardia A Chance To Prove Herself
Of course, this all hinges on one crucial detail: proximity. Justina’s powers only activate when she is in the presence of someone she intends to surpass. If she never meets Superman, she never becomes stronger than him. However, with the recent announcement of Deadpool/Batman, the first Marvel/DC crossover project in over 20 years, the possibility of a larger inter-universal storyline is back on the table.
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And fans are rightfully excited. Could we finally be on the road to another DC vs. Marvel crossover? If so, Superior might finally get her shot at the title. While her motives remain largely mysterious, Justina clearly isn’t driven by Xavier’s dream of peaceful coexistence. Her refusal to join the X-Men and her manipulation of Xavier’s mind suggests a more complex agenda.
In the end, Superior isn’t just another overpowered Marvel hero. She represents something more: a response to decades of storytelling where Superman has dominated the field of strength. So, her emergence isn’t about dethroning an icon, it’s about evolving the narrative. Whether Marvel and DC will give us that showdown remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: with Superior on the roster, Marvel doesn’t have to imagine beating Superman anymore.
