Superman’s known as The Man of Steel, but is that moniker truly warranted? Sure, he’s pretty much invulnerable and has enough super-strength in his steel-coiled biceps to push planets around, but he’s not exactly made of metal, is he?
After all, there are many other comic book characters more worthy of being called “Men of Steel"- cyborgs, robots, metal-armored warriors, and those who can control and manipulate metal being paramount among them. So move over, Last Son of Krypton- here are 10 Comic Book Men of Steel Who Aren't Superman.
10 WOLVERINE
Standing at an underwhelming 5’3, Wolverine’s outward appearance might not be all that imposing to the uninitiated, but that’s because most people don’t realize his hidden abilities. Aside from heightened senses and an accelerated healing factor due to his mutation, Wolverine’s skeleton is coated with adamantium, an indestructible metal.
This means that despite his enemies’ best efforts, no physical attack can break Wolverine’s bones- when he gets going, he’s a pint-sized juggernaut of destruction. A literal man of steel bones, Wolverine’s deadliness is amplified by his trademark claws- an extension of his metal skeleton.
9 MAGNETO
A mutant with the ability to control magnetic waves, Magneto can manipulate anything from a paper clip to the Golden Gate Bridge. If pulling the adamantium off Wolverine’s bones without breaking a sweat- doesn't make him a Man of Steel, then no one is.
But it’s not just his mastery of all things metal that makes Magneto better suited to that name than Superman. A survivor of the Holocaust, Magneto will stop at nothing to ensure the survival and dominance of the mutant race. It’s that will of steel, coupled with his formidable command of physical metal, that makes him a more viable candidate for the moniker than Kal-El.
8 DOCTOR DOOM
The ruler of Latveria, Doctor Doom has been Marvel’s premiere villain since his introduction in the pages of Fantastic Four #5. A genius-level intellect in multiple disciplines, Doom took to wearing his trademark armor and mask after an accident left his face horribly scarred.
The suit itself rivals even that of Iron Man’s, as it’s capable of energy blasts, super-strength, and the generation of electric fields. But most iconic is Doom’s metal mask, which puts an iron face on an iron resolve. Capable of anything he puts his mind to, Doom’s will of steel has allowed him to siphon the Silver Surfer’s power, almost rival Doctor Strange as a sorcerer, and even defeat Superman on one occasion!
7 STEEL
John Henry Irons made his first appearance after the death of Superman, as one of the four replacements who popped up to fill in for the fallen Kal-El. An engineering genius who was inspired by the legacy Superman left behind, Irons built himself a suit of steel that could mimic Superman’s powers (to the best of its ability) and used it to fight crime.
Although the original Man of Steel eventually returned, to attempt to fill in his shoes with no superpowers and bearing nothing more than a souped-up suit of armor shows a pure heart of steel, and that’s why Irons deserves the name!
6 IRON MAN
Although Tony Stark’s alter-ego is named Iron Man, make no mistake, his armors have included every metal and alloy known to man and some only known to the gods. Stark has a metal suit to fit every occasion, from deep-sea diving to deep space rescues, to say nothing of suits to battle a rampaging Hulk or Thor.
In some storylines, the suits are even part of his own body, as nanobots hiding in the crevices of his bones emerge at his mental command to fabricate his metal armor. With an internal metal fiber making his external metal encasing, Iron Man is definitely a bonafide Man of Steel.
5 THE METAL MEN
The Metal Men are a curious superhero team comprised of six robots whose names also reveal their properties and powers: Gold, Lead, Iron Platinum, Mercury, and Tin.
Created by scientist Dr. William Magnus, one of the Metal Men actually forms the base element of steel alloys (Iron) while the others use their unique skills (such as elongation, super strength, and mass manipulation) to fight crime and better humanity. Literally made of metals both precious and common, the Metal Men are definitely more deserving of the “Men of Steel” moniker than a flesh and blood Kryptonian!
4 OPTIMUS PRIME
The barrel-chested Freightliner leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime is a hero to his troops and citizens all over the world. Originally the product of the widely popular ‘80s toy line, his comic book depiction fed his on-screen cartoon character, which caught the hearts and imagination of all who watched.
A compassionate yet battle-ready robot from the planet Cybertron, Optimus was wise, self-sacrificing, and as tough as Electrum. The quality of his character is legendary, and he can stand proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder with Superman as a true “Man of Steel.”
3 VISION
When Hank Pym created Ultron, Ultron quickly followed the “unwritten” rule for robots and rebelled against his creator. Part of that involved creating his own robotic/human hybrid which in turn rebelled against his creator and joined the Avengers: Vision.
As a robotic entity, Vision possesses immense power, including superhuman strength, speed, agility, intangibility, energy projection, and the ability to read minds. In the MCU, Vision is easily one of the Avengers’ heavy-hitters, possessing the awesome power of the Mind Stone. Part machine, part human, and part something more, Vision possesses a body and mind of more than tempered steel!
2 CYBORG
When an accidental explosion damaged his body to the brink of death, Victor Stone’s father saved his life by merging him with parts of a Mother Box (at least, in New 52 continuity). A scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs, Silas Stone unwittingly created one of the most powerful and technological diverse superheroes in comics history: Cyborg!
Half-human, half-machine, Cyborg is one of the most badass superheroes in the DC Universe, having the superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes necessary for the role, but also having the added benefit of being able to interface with any computer system in the world and beyond. A cyborg in stature and name, Victor Stone is a definite a Man of Steel!
1 COLOSSUS
When Piotr Rasputin needed to save his little sister from a runaway tractor on a farm in Siberia, his mutation kicked in, transforming his skin into super-tough organic steel. Easily able to push aside the tractor due to his enhanced strength and durability, Rasputin later joined the X-Men at the behest of their founder, Charles Xavier.
Able to withstand the need for air or sustenance while in his metal form, Piotr’s ability to be both man and Man of (literal) Steel makes him the most logical candidate to bear that nickname!