DC Comics has introduced many kinds of heroes over the years. Like most superhero companies, they started out with a good mix of magical, sci-fi based, and street level in the Golden Age. As time went on, they went in more sci-fi directions, as that genre was all the rage in the 1950s, and soon would start putting out all kinds of heroes again as the years went on. If you can think of a type of superhero, than you can find at least one in the DC Multiverse, and one of the coolest types of heroes are the elementals. These heroes use the elements of the universe, whether they’re the four fundamental elements of yore, the elemental table, or the elements of life and death, to battle the biggest threats.
DC’s elemental heroes are some of the most powerful in comics. They use the fundamental forces of creation to battle evil, and some of them are the most powerful beings in the multiverse. These ten DC elemental heroes are the most powerful, using the powers of the universe to battle evil.
Poison Ivy is best known for her relationship with Harley Quinn, and as a Batman villain, but she’s been straddling the line between hero and villain for years now. She’s more of a hero than she’s ever been, and is also way more powerful than ever. She’s forged a connection to the Green, allowing her to control plant life, which is basically the best thing she could do. Ivy went from a skilled scientist who could use plants as weapons to an immortal plant-controlling anti-hero that can beat just about anyone out there if she tries hard enough.
Lightning Lad is one of the founding members of the Legion of Superheroes, working with Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy to make the future teen team into the titanic force they are today. Born on the planet Winath, he was gifted with lightning powers and proved just how powerful he is over the years. There are a lot of lightning powered heroes, but Lightning Lad is easily the most powerful. He’s basically a member of the Trinity of the future, facing off against the greatest threats, and he has the power level to prove it.
Alan Scott is a DC legend, but isn’t usually thought of as an elemental. He’s powered by the magical Starheart, but that’s only in every version of the DC Multiverse but the New 52. In the New 52, Scott’s powers were very different. He was chosen by the Green of Earth-2 to be the protector of the planet. However, Earth-2’s Green didn’t just give him power over plant life, but instead control over the green energy of life. He could use that power to manipulate plant life, but he also had the vast energy powers he was known for and superhuman physical abilities. He was the total package when it came to power, and was one of his Earth’s greatest protectors.
The Legion of Superheroes have quite a history. The team’s continuity is sometimes inscrutable, and the sheer size of the team is daunting. The team boasted the most powerful heroes of the future, and there were several heroes with various potent elemental powers. However, the most powerful one is easily Element Lad. He has complete control over the periodic table of elements, allowing him to transmute matter up and down the table. He can create any element in the universe, changing the molecules around him into anything. He’s superlatively powerful, and one of the most clutch members of the Legion.
Red Tornado is the Justice League’s greatest tank. Created by T.O. Morrow to destroy the team, the tornado-wielding robot was able to overcome his programming and joined the group, becoming one of their most stalwart members. Reddy eventually merged with the air elemental Ulthoon, making him more powerful than ever. His tornado attacks can be devastating, allowing him to harness one of the most destructive forces in weather. Add in the fact that his body is nearly indestructible, and he’s one of the most potent heroes on Earth.
Firestorm has long been one of the most underrated powerhouses in the history of DC Comics. The Firestorm matrix was created by Professor Martin Stein. It merged two people into a composite entity, giving them matter transmutation powers, control of nuclear energy, super stregnth, invulnerability, flight, phasing, and several more potent abilities. He’s an extremely powerful hero. He can punch it out with the most dangerous villains, and use his matter transmutation powers to create any compound that can be made with the periodic table. He’s an underrated titan, one of the most powerful beings on Earth.
Swamp Thing is one of the most powerful heroes on the planet, but most fans don’t know that there has been more than one. Levi Kamel was a man from India who was chosen as the new avatar of the Green when Alec Holland disappeared. This gave him the amazing power of Swamp Thing, and he’s gone on numerous adventures on his own. He’s even joined the Titans and helped them save the Earth as a reserve member. He’s one of the most powerful beings on Earth, and the only thing holding him back is his lack of experience with the Green.
Animal Man is one of DC’s most beloved heroes, and one of its most powerful. Buddy Baker was given access to the morphogenetic grid by aliens, allowing him to manifest the abilities of animals. It was eventually revealed that he was tapped into one of the most powerful elemental forces on the planet known as the Red. Animal Man is the avatar of the Red, and can take on the power of every animal on Earth, as well as ones from alien planets. He plays a key role in the defense of the Earth from the most deadly forces, like the Grey, and is an icon.
Once upon a time, Swamp Thing was just a big swamp monster. He was strong and dangerous, but he wasn’t exactly what he would be. It was eventually revealed that Alec Holland was more than a monster, but the avatar of the Green. He had complete control over plant life and has been able to help save the Earth from the most destructive threats. He’s mastered the powers of the Green, and is an integral part of the defense of the planet. He’s beaten Superman with little difficulty numerous times, and that really says it all about how powerful he is.
Doctor Manhattan is one of the most powerful beings in the DC Multiverse. Physicist Jon Osterman had his intrinsic field removed and was able to rebuild himself piece by piece, learning how to manipulate the elements of the universe. He had complete control over matter, the most important element, and could see the future, with some control over time itself. He could do anything he wanted, even able to travel through the multiverse and change the history of various Earths. He’s possibly one of the most powerful humans ever, akin to a god, able to manipulate the very fabric of reality.
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