Known for her signature "Canary Cry," a metahuman ability that allows her to unleash a hypersonic screech, Black Canary (Dinah Lance) is one of DC's most high profile heroes. Having been the leader of both the Birds of Prey and the Justice League, Canary is also known for her tactics and leadership skills.
Additionally, she's regarded as one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in the world, having been trained by masters like Lady Shiva, Wildcat, and Wonder Woman. Her skills have been translated into each of her incarnations – regardless of whether or not they're on the page or the screen. Beating opponents like Superman, Batman, and Superwoman, Canary isn't one to cross.
10 Black Canary Vs. Superboy
While Canary isn't a main character in Young Justice, she appears in a recurring capacity as the younger heroes' mentor and trainer. Introduced during the season one episode "Schooled," Canary quickly makes an impression on Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian. Superboy, on the other hand, sees no point in bothering with training, believing his powers give him complete control of any fight.
Goading him on, Canary asks him to prove just how unnecessary her lesson was. With her superior training, she easily avoided Superboy's strikes. Ever the teacher, Canary tried to instruct Superboy not to "react" to her and not let her dictate the terms of combat. Superboy cut her off and lashed out, though she quickly put him back on the ground.
9 Black Canary Vs. Hal Jordan
In the DCeased universe, Dinah, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) are out on a camping trip when the Anti-Life Equation begins a global infection. A techno-organic virus, the Equation can infect people through any electronic screen. Hal is one of the first to be infected, using his Power Ring to transform and attack Canary & Arrow.
At first, the two are confused about why Hal was attacking them, but after he begins creating lethal constructs, they quickly realize they have to fight to survive. As Hal was about to crush Arrow, Canary unleashed the full force of her Canary Cry, killing Lantern. His ring immediately chooses Canary as its successor, making her Green Canary.
8 Black Canary Vs. Black Alice
Black Alice made her first appearance in Birds of Prey #76, where it was shown that Huntress, Oracle, and Dinah had been tracking her for some time. Having had their operations base destroyed, the trio searched the world for metahumans, wanting to help train and protect them. They knew Alice was a metahuman but were uncertain of the nature of her powers.
It became evident that Alice was able to "borrow" the powers of other magical and mystical heroes and villains, and she was using her abilities to rid her town of drug dealers (though wasn't above killing them). She prevented Canary from unleashing her cry using Zatanna's magic and was able to fight Canary to a standstill with the powers of Black Adam.
7 Black Canary Vs. White Canary
Hailing from the Twelve Brothers Silk family, White Canary was the only daughter, as every other girl born to the family was killed. Her father witnessed his midwife struck down by lightning, having told her to kill WC. Taking it as a sign the child should live, he instructed his oldest son, Rabbit, to raise her.
The Twelve Brothers Silk were defeated by Black Canary, prompting White Canary to hunt them down and kill them for bringing dishonor to the family. White Canary turned her sights on Black Canary, fueled by enough hatred to take several punches to the face. Though White Canary had the upper hand for a while, she threatened Dinah's family and friends, inciting her wrath and giving her the strength to win.
6 Black Canary Vs. Cheshire
Regarded as one of the world's best assassins, Cheshire is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant and triple-jointed acrobat known for dipping her fingernails and weapons in various poisons. Even besting Lady Shiva (usually seen as the best martial artist in the DC universe,) Chesire's abilities speak for themselves.
Canary herself holds Cheshire in high regard, knowing full well a battle against her could easily end in her death. However, after believing that Cheshire had killed her Sensei, Canary throws all caution to the wind. Tracking Cheshire down in Birds of Prey #63, Canary battles Cheshire throughout a hotel, eventually rendering her unconscious in a pool.
5 Black Canary Vs. Black Mask's Thugs
In Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Dinah works as a lounge singer in one of Black Mask's clubs, where the crime boss particularly appreciates her voice. Following her breakup with Joker, Harley Quinn parties in the same club, drinking heavily throughout the night.
In the morning, as Dinah prepares to drive home, she sees two thugs trying to load Harley into a van. After some brief thinking, she steps in and attacks them. Though it's two on one, Dinah's no stranger to a challenge, kicking their teeth out and smashing one's head through one of the van's windows.
4 Black Canary Vs. Huntress
2004's animated series Justice League: Unlimited served as both a continuation of Justice League and a conclusion to DC's Animated Universe. Following a Thanagarian invasion and Shayera Hol's resignation from the Justice League, the remaining members looked to strengthen their numbers and provide better security for Earth. Black Canary and Huntress were both drafted to the expanded League.
In the episode "Double Date," Huntress is fired from the League for attempting to kill Steven Mandragora, who'd murdered her parents. With The Question's help, Huntress tracked down Mandragora again, finding him protected by Canary and Green Arrow. Not wanting Mandragora to escape, Huntress and Question attacked. Though Huntress had the upper hand for most of the fight, Canary caught one of her kicks and tossed her against a car.
3 Black Canary Vs. Batgirl
While Batgirl and Canary are usually found on the same side of justice – regardless of the universe or timeline – their partnership started a bit more aggressively than one would think. In the New 52's Birds of Prey series, Canary went undercover and worked for The Penguin, becoming a bouncer at his Iceberg Lounge.
Canary was using her position in Penguin's employ to track the terrorist organization Basilisk and was about to interrupt a deal being made when Batgirl burst onto the scene. The caped crusader easily dispatched the other members of Penguin's guard, leaving Canary alone to fight her. Not wanting to hurt Batgirl, Canary threw her out of the Lounge to talk to her, and the two teamed up to halt the Basilisk agent.
2 Black Canary Vs. Merlyn
Though usually an enemy of Green Arrow, Canary's relationship with him often puts her in Merlyn's sights. Known as "The Dark Archer," Merlyn is one of the most accurate archers in DC's universe, his skills are said to outrival big players like Speedy and even Green Arrow. Having trained with The League of Assassins, he's also a master of hand-to-hand combat and an accomplished swordsman.
In Black Canary #3, Merlyn kidnapped Sin, a young girl Canary met in a village in Asia, having swapped places with Lady Shiva to train as Shiva had. Canary had come to view Sin as her own daughter and vowed to protect her. Canary tracked Merlyn down, and he boasted about beating Green Arrow. Canary replied she'd done the same, and after catching one of his arrows with her bare hands, overwhelmed him.
1 Black Canary Vs. Superman
During the Injustice storyline – where Superman broke his code by killing Joker and subsequently became a global tyrant – Dinah allied herself with Batman's Insurgency. Her involvement becomes much more personal after Green Arrow is beaten to death by Superman.
Coordinating with members of the GCPD, Bat-Family, and The Green Lantern Corps, Dinah personally took on the task of neutralizing Superman. Piloting one of Batman's planes, she used her Canary Cry to propel herself after it was destroyed. Ramming Superman into the ground, she shot him with a Kryptonite bullet. Though victory was short-lived, Canary bested The Man of Steel and was only beaten due to Sinestro's intervention.