Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and became Spider-Man. Bruce Wayne's parents were killed, and that led him on a path to becoming Batman. The Green Lantern Ring found Hal Jordan and had him join the Green Lantern Corps. Each of these heroes shares a common thread: they unwillingly became superheroes. If some of the most famous comic characters became superheroes by accident, then gaining superpowers on purpose shouldn't be that difficult.

Over the years, readers of Marvel, DC Comics, and more have seen heroes and villain alike gain superpowers in many ways. From accidents of fate to intentional scientific experiments, the number of ways that someone can become super are manifold. Sometimes, it's relatively painless and other times it comes at a terrible cost, but the effects are undeniable.

Updated on November 29th, 2023 by Sage Ashford: This list has been updated with additional information and to reflect CBR's current publishing style.

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15 Obtaining An Alien Artifact Offers The Quickest Path To Powers

Notable Characters:

Green Lantern, Blue Beetle, X-O Manowar, Nova

Joseph Campbell talks about the hero's journey in his writings, and often the hero is aided by some form of magical artifact. This trope has been used many times in comics. Hal Jordan found the Green Lantern Power Ring. Jaime Reyes found the Blue Beetle scarab. These characters found unique trinkets that gave them all the power they could hope for, allowing them to become more than they were.

One of the greatest perks about obtaining an alien artifact is that it's so scientifically advanced it's like magic. This means one wouldn't need to work out or do anything labor intensive to accomplish their goal. The alien tech would grant the bearer amazing powers all on its own.

14 Being Bitten By A Radioactive Creature Can Be Dangerous But Fruitful

Peter Parker getting bitten by a radioactive spider in Spider-Man's origin story from Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Spider-Man

A radioactive spider bit Peter Parker that fateful day and gave Spider-Man a slew of cool powers including super agility, spider-sense, and the ability to crawl walls. Wes Cassady was a construction foreman who was bitten by a radioactive rabbit and gained superhuman speed, superhuman leg strength, and the ability to sense when he was being watched.

Radiation was a big source of mutation in early superhero stories and, at times, is still used for that. Being bitten by a radioactive animal was pretty common for a long time, even when the powers that it gave didn't really make sense.

13 Becoming An Avatar For An Extra-Dimensional Entity Grants Incredible Power At The Cost Of Freedom

Dark Avatar from Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Moon Knight, Colossus, White Tiger

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Being an avatar means becoming the representative of a powerful creature. Moon Knight is the avatar to the Egyptian God of Vengeance, Khonshu. Marc Spector died in the desert but was resurrected by Khonshu, took the superhero name Moon Knight, and now serves as Khonshu's avatar. For a brief period, X-Men member Colossus had the powers of the Juggernaut and served the other-dimensional being Cyttorak.

Sometimes, this arrangement is beneficial to the avatars, but it could also transform them into something terrible. Many of these avatars have little care for humanity, while others believe wholeheartedly in protecting mankind. Such an arrangement could also bring with it a wild amount of power.

12 Learn Magic Might Take The Most Work But It Offers Incredible Powers

Doctor Fate casts a spell in DC Comics

Notable Characters:

Doctor Fate, Doctor Strange, John Constantine, Zatanna

While comics often revolve around science to gain great power, it's definitely not the only way. In fact, superhero comics have taken a page from fantasy books and stories, and brought magic into the picture. In the Golden Age, characters like Zatara and Doctor Fate were powered by magic, and the Silver Age superhero revival saw many more debut.

Marvel and DC have created many powerful magic users. Learning magic isn't for everyone, but it's definitely a great way to get powers. Many of the most formidable comic characters have studied the mystic arts, becoming more than they ever would have been. These days, the problem is that magic often invites some truly horrific villains for heroes to fight.

11 Traveling To Another Planet Separates One From Their People To Grant Great Power

Superman flying near the sun in the DCAU adaptation of All-Star Superman

Notable Characters:

Superman, Mon-El, Martian Manhunter, Power Girl

Superman is the first superhero, inspiring every character that came after him. Launched from his home planet of Krypton as it died, he discovered something amazing as he got older — that he was gaining superpowers. Eventually, he'd learn this was because of Earth's yellow sun's radiation interacting with his Kryptonian body.

Superman was the first character to gain powers this way, but he's far from the last. Whether it be his fellow Kryptonians, Daxamites, or a variety of other aliens, sometimes going to another planet kicks off something that gives a character powers. Interestingly enough, going to a planet with a lower gravitational constant would give humans great physical strength, making this one of the more plausible ways to gain enhanced might.

10 Being Born With Powers Can Solve Problems Or Create New Ones

Notable Characters:

The X-Men, Aquaman, Raven, Hulkling

Usain Bolt was born fast. Michael Phelps was born a great swimmer. One day, Charles Xavier realized he was born with the mutant ability to read minds and communicate telepathically. Marvel introduced readers to the concept of mutants in the Silver Age, a new iteration of humanity that was born with powers and abilities beyond what run-of-the-mill humans could do.

Since then, heroes within DC and Marvel alike have been born with powers. Sometimes it's mutation, sometimes it's because of a half-human/half-non-human heritage. Whether it's a source of joy or of tribulation, being born with powers is a simple way to gain them.

9 Demonic Possession Isn't A Pleasant Experience But Grants Terrifying Abilities

Ghost Rider on Agents Of Shield

Notable Characters:

Ghost Rider, Jason Blood

The worlds of superhero comics are full of beings that are more than human, but are creatures that can't be explained by science. Often, these creatures take a cue from human mythology and religion. From angels to genies to fairies, readers have experienced a myriad of different otherworldly beings, and they've often been used as a source of power for heroes and villains.

One of the most interesting is demonic possession. Heroes like Ghost Rider and villains like Sabbac are both examples of what can happen when demons and humans mix. Ghost Rider overcame the evil inside of them to become heroes, while Sabbac used the terrible demonic power inside of him for his own monstrous ends.

8 Exposure To Radiation Often Grants Powers But At A Dangerous Cost

Daredevil in his new hooded costume with a beard in Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Daredevil, Doctor Manhattan

Much like getting bit by a radioactive animal, cutting out the middleman and getting exposed to radiation has been a source of superpowers for a long time. There have been many examples of this over the years. As a child, Matt Murdock was exposed to radioactive chemicals and, although he was robbed of his sight, gained enhanced senses, including a radar sense. Even without vision, Matt became the brutal hero known as Daredevil.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Osterman was caught in a radioactive particle test and transformed into Watchmen's all-powerful Doctor Manhattan. They could have easily died, but fate dealt them a different hand. Since the risk is so high, direct exposure to radiation certainly isn't the recommended method, but it certainly worked.

7 Get Bitten By A Supernatural Creature Is A Risky Way To Gain Power

Vampire Hulk attacks a victim while Daredevil looks on in Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Blade, Werewolf By Night, Morbius

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Mythology is full of supernatural creatures, and many propagate their species by biting humans. Vampires, zombies, and werewolves are the most well-known example of this, and they've made their way to all facets of pop culture. Naturally, this includes comics as well.

Dracula has made his way to Marvel, DC, and many other companies, but characters like Blade and Morbius are examples of bloodsuckers who fight against their predatory nature. Werewolves in comics are usually villains, but Werewolf By Night proved they can be heroes. Even zombies, like iZombie's Gwen Dylan, have shown there's more to zombies than just mindless shambling. It's not something most people would want to deal with, but it unquestionably offers superpowers.

6 Ingesting Super Serums Can Offer Great Power At Sometimes Great Cost

Captain America in mid-battle in Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Captain America, Hourman, Bane, Mr. Hyde

Captain America is an inspiring hero, much of which comes from the inside of Steve Rogers. However, without his Super Soldier serum, he never would have become the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America. Cap is an example of gaining new abilities from a serum or drug that imparts superpowers, but he's far from the only one.

Characters like Hourman, Mr. Hyde, Bane, and the Sentry have gained their powers from chemical concoctions. Sometimes, the serums and drugs are completely beneficial and other times they've been used as allegories for addiction. Either way, they've added a lot to the comic medium.

5 Technology Can Be Used To Equip People With Abilities On Par With Superhumans

Notable Characters:

Iron Man, Steel, Bloodshot, Dr. Octopus

James Bond looks super cool in the various tuxedos and suits he wears. Tony Stark looks even cooler in the suit he wears: his Iron Man suit of armor. With it, he can fly into space, take on the Hulk, and fire repulsor rays, looking good while doing it. For years, technology has been a great source of superpowers.

Similarly, someone like Steel can craft his own armor to become a hero capable of protecting Metropolis just like Superman. Angelo Mortalli didn't have the same intelligence as Tony Stark or John Henry, but was injected with nanites and became the hero known as Bloodshot, granting him a healing factor, superhuman endurance, and cyberkinesis. Whether it be human tech or something from beyond the stars, technology has made many heroes and villains.

4 Activating A Dormant Superhuman Gene Can Unleash Special Sealed Abilities

The Inhuman royal family gathered in the throne room in Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

The Inhumans

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The Inhumans' place in Marvel history has always been interesting. The Kree race came to Earth millennia ago and experimented on humans, transforming their genome to make it mutable when introduced to an outside compound, in this case the Terrigen Mists. Hidden away from humanity for centuries, they'd make themselves known to the world during the age of superheroes.

The Inhumans engage in pomp and ceremony when awakening their dormant genes, but they're far from the only example of characters gaining powers from something interacting with a dormant gene. In fact, Earth X and its sequels reveal a future where every human on Earth gains powers from the Terrigen Mists because of dormant genes from Celestial manipulation.

3 Future Technology Allows People To Take Advantage Of Tomorrow's Commonplace Technology Today

Booster Gold shows off his Legion flight ring in DC Comics.

Notable Characters:

Booster Gold, Abra Kadabra

In the future, all kinds of things will be possible, and many superhero comics have tapped into that. Even today, there are technologies that would basically seem like magic to people from even fifty years ago, so it stands to reason that this would be compounded in the future. Many characters have taken advantage of future tech to give him powers.

Sometimes, like Booster Gold and Abra Kadabra, they come back in time and bring their technology with them. Other times, time travel accidents send weapons of great powers from the future to the present. This has created many heroes and villain over the years, using their powerful technology to defeat their enemies.

2 Normal People Who Spend Enough Time Around People With Powers Tend To Gain Powers

Janet Van Dyne as the Wasp soaring into the sky in Marvel Comics

Notable Characters:

Janet Van Dyne, Jimmy Olsen, Amadeus Cho, Rick Jones

Marvel has introduced many superhero couples, but they don't always start out that way. Take Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne. Hank created his Pym Particles and became Ant-Man. Eventually, he brought Janet into it, giving her Pym Particles and creating the Wasp suit for her.

Janet became his partner, the Wasp, proving that being with other heroes was a tried-and-true method of getting powers. Sometimes, all it takes to get superpowers is just to hang around people who have them. All kinds of strange things happen around superheroes, and they've been known to affect the people around them. Characters like Amadeus Cho and Rick Jones have had their lives permanently altered by the powers they got just from remaining in proximity with their hero friends long enough.

1 Becoming Rich Might Be The Most Difficult Yet Grant The Best Abilities

Notable Characters:

Batman, Mr. Terrific, Green Arrow, Nighthawk

Being rich is the greatest power a person can have in the real world, and this goes for comics as well. Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy anything else, and many characters have gained superpowers because of their wealth. Batman's weapons and vehicles are a perfect example of this, as are the armors that allow him to vie with superpowered enemies.

Many superheroes and supervillains are fabulously wealthy, which has allowed them to enter the world of the superpowered. It makes sense, of course, since money makes everything easier. Many characters have used their resources to take them to the next level and give them the oomph they needed to battle evil or fight the forces of good.