The DC Comics universe is home to plenty of powerhouse characters, from Kryptonians and Martians to men and women with magic artifacts and telepathic powers. Someone doesn't have to be king or queen to have this kind of power, but being royalty sure doesn't hurt. DC Comics has plenty of kingdoms across the known universe, and some are ruled by queens who wield power in the court and on the battlefield alike.
Among DC Comics' kings and queens, ten particular women stand out as real heavy-hitters. Some were inspired by real-world mythology, others sprung straight from the artist's own imagination. So, who are these queens and what can they do?
10 Queen Hippolyta
Even casual DC Comics fans will probably know her highness Queen Hippolyta. She rules the Amazons on their secluded island of Themyscira. Not only does she boast the superhuman prowess of her fellow Amazons, but she has ruled them for three millennia.
She's a kind queen, too (unlike some others on this list), ruling with benevolence and grace. Her combat training is top-tier after such a long life, and she has mastered nearly all weapons and fighting styles. Even Ares, the God of War himself, couldn't match her in single combat.
9 Death
Maybe she's not a queen in the traditional sense, but Death could be thought of as the queen of death itself. She's one of several siblings who rule primal aspects of the universe, such as dreams and destiny, and everyone will meet Death in the end.
As the queen of death itself, Death is nearly omnipotent and omnipresent, as all living things die eventually. Throw in teleportation, staggering sorcery skills, and immortality, and it's clear that Death is a lady not to cross. You'd never guess it, though, based on her down-to-earth punk outfit and cheery attitude.
8 Queen Mera
Another proper queen like Hippolyta, Queen Mera is a towering figure in the Aquaman comics. After Aquaman gave up the crown, princess Mera assumed the throne, fully understanding the burdens that came with it. She had plenty of work on her hands, as the U.S. government was determined to sink Atlantis.
With superpowers rivaling --and sometimes surpassing-- Aquaman's own, she's not a warrior to mess with, and she's one fast swimmer, too. Mera can control water with devastating results, and she's even a trained assassin on top of all that. Oh, and she's immortal to boot.
7 Queen Titania
Queen Titania has humble beginnings for a monarch, born as an ordinary human girl in Medieval Europe until fairies led her to their own world. There, she became a fairy herself, Queen Titania. She found herself in a marriage of strategic convenience rather than love, but this didn't discourage the rags-to-riches Queen Titania, who wields some serious power.
She nearly burned down the fairy world when she created Burning Girl, and she even rode into battle against the forces of Hell itself. Her list of powers includes teleportation, longevity, shapeshifting, and so much more.
6 Sensor Girl
Born on the Medieval-style planet Orando, the princess known as Projectra inherited the power to deceive others with powerful illusions. She later journeyed to Earth to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. After this, she met and married her husband Karate Kid, and she fought for the right to rule Orando as its queen (and serving as a reserve member of the Legion).
Years later, Projectra returned to the Legion as Sensor Girl, packing even more potent illusionary powers than ever. Her illusions work on all five senses (hence the name Sensor Girl), and she could back this up with expert martial arts skills (courtesy of her husband's training).
5 Queen of Fables
This queen deals with the power of fairytales and imagination. Arriving in New York City from another dimension, this magic-wielding queen fought (and lost to) Snow White, winding up trapped in a fairytale book until the 21st century.
She later battled against Wonder Woman and even transformed Manhattan into her own enchanted, fairytale forest land until she was beaten once again. Still, this queen has all sorts of impressive powers, like bringing mythical creatures to life, shapeshifting, and the aforementioned magic. How many other queens can make fairytales come to life and fight to the death?
4 Vixen
Born as McCabe in Africa (the nation varies from one story to another), Vixen draws her powers from the Tantu Totem, a gift from the gods. As a result, she's not only a queen, but has a fantastic list of powers that make her a formidable fighter against any foe.
Her super strength, speed, and agility are backed up with tracking skills, healing, telepathic powers, martial arts, a force field, and much more. Don't forget her vast wealth, either.
3 Queen Artemis
Ruler of a wealthy but unnamed planet, Artemis has the usual package of immortality, super strength, and the grace and wisdom of a queen, not to mention some magic skills. At some point, Hieronymous and his demons captured her, and heroes came to her rescue.
One of her rescuers woos her just for pleasure's sake, and to retaliate, Artemis morphs him into a chipmunk and hands him over to the Darkstars as a supposed villain. This is one queen who settles grudges fast.
2 Queen Blackfire
The darker sister of Starfire, the alien princess born as Komand'r became the queen of the Tamaraneans after alien invaders slaughtered her parents.
As of the New 52 relaunch of DC Comics, this queen enjoyed a more cordial relationship with her sister than in previous stories, and she has some terrific powers on top of that. She can speak any language, fly, blast and manipulate energy, fight unarmed against nearly anyone, and she's a crack shot, too.
1 Queen Maxima
Like Komand'r/Blackfire, Queen Maxima ruled a vast intergalactic empire from her home planet, Almerac. Her family had, for generations, interbred with powerful aliens to strengthen the family line. At some point, Maxima set her sights on Superman himself as a potential mate.
He rejected her, though, and Maxima became his bitter enemy later on. She's a tough contender even for the Man of Steel, boasting a long list of powers from telekinesis to teleporting, heat vision, force fields, and much more (on top of super strength and speed). She even fought Doomsday hand to hand.