Power, some people have it as a birthright, it's simply in their genes. Others fashion it out of their bare hands and become forces of nature in their respective fields. Others still wield power that was passed on to them; a mantle they must carry for as long as their bodies will bear it -- and perhaps even beyond that limit as well. In the world of comics, powers change hands so many times it is like the gods themselves are playing a game of hot potato with all of existence. But when the fates (or the plot the writers are working on) deem fit, some regular people can become instruments of awesome and terrible force.
Be it from some fickle deity, dying planet, spirit of ages past, or living tribunal, we have gathered the most impressive roster of powers that are gifted from an outside source to a lucky few. One little caveat: this will not be a list of who used it the most responsibly (sorry Uncle Ben, your words of wisdom do not belong here), but rather a ranking of some of the most powerful sources of power the world of pop culture fiction has ever known!
20 THE ALLSPARK (TRANSFORMERS)
For a series that originated as a merchandising cash grab, the lore and world of Transformers became as vast and nuanced as the number of Autobots and Decepticons that spanned the multiverses. Whether it was the Beast Wars timeline, original Transformers, or even the movies, every iteration carried with it a form of the life-giving energy source known as “The AllSpark.” The singular source for life every Transformer that has ever been, is, or ever will be, the AllSpark is an ever-present force of nature in the universe from which the Spark or soul of every Transformer comes from. Within the comics, some speculate the AllSpark has some conscious will and is working towards some ultimate goal.
While the AllSpark is depicted to reside in a container or some other vessel, the true form of the AllSpark is the immense and nearly limitless. Even if the container is destroyed, the energies within would simply continue to exist and seek out another suitable vessel to collect itself within. The AllSpark is credited with being the heart of the Transformer planet of Cybertron and has been known to grant those who were able to bear its incredible force godlike powers to shape the very fabric of the planet and its inhabitants. Within the comics, some speculate the AllSpark has some conscious will and is working towards some ultimate goal. Whether that endgame is of its own volition or the whim of a higher power, is left unknown.
19 THE FORCE (STAR WARS)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... we all know the rest. The Force has been a quintessential facet of pop culture for decades. Ever since seeing Luke Skywalker lift a battered X-Wing out of a swamp to bearing witness to Rey and Kylo Ren clash lightsabers, we have all witnessed how powerful the Force is portrayed in film, video games, and comics. Whether you consider the Force an unbiased element of nature or cells flowing the body (aka, “the wrong way to see it”), it has been shown to display several notable powers aside from telekinesis and shooting lightning from your hands.
Since the Force permeates throughout all of existence as a formless entity, it can manifest in a number of ways depending on the user who channels it. Emotion, intent, and thought are the tempering forces at play when a Jedi or Sith wield this power. Some notable examples are a vast array of telepathic abilities: the mind-trick technique which creates a low-level mental suggestion on a weak-minded target, seeing into possible futures, and even having the ability to create an orb of sheer psychic energy that can trap a target’s soul in a limbo-esque realm for eternity. The Force is indeed the swiss-army knife of the cosmic power sets.
18 THE PANTHER GOD (MARVEL)
Marvel’s Black Panther holds a high historical pedigree for being the first African superhero in mainstream publication. In addition to that, he also wields some incredible powers befitting of his kingly heritage. The title of “Black Panther” is granted only to rightful and worthy heirs to the throne of Wakanda. To be deemed worthy, each leader has to pass the test laid out by Bast -- the Panther God of Wakanda -- and ingesting the mystical heart-shaped herb, which finalizes the shamanistic bond between God and man. This grants them the power and authority of the Black Panther.
Along with the standard cavalcade of superhuman abilities like speed, strength, and stamina, the Black Panther’s senses are highly attuned, allowing them to even pick up a target’s scent and memorize several thousand others. He also has higher durability and an accelerated healing factor (but not to the degree of Wolverine or Deadpool), so he can also take as good as he can give in terms of physical attacks. They also have increased resistance to magic, and in the case of T’Challa, he can also draw upon the knowledge, experience, and strengths of every past Black Panther recipient to further boost his abilities.
17 THE SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE (MARVEL)
When it comes to Ghost Rider, there is a lot more to this flaming skull than meets the eye. The Ghost Rider is actually a title for those who are vessels for the “Spirit of Vengeance,” beings whose sworn duty is to protect humanity from the wickedness of demons and humans alike. Being the very embodiment of God’s righteous fury, they have immense spiritual power, unrivalled and limitless in their natural state as spiritual beings. However, if untethered and unchecked, they can become unstable and berserk-like beings of divine wrath. Because of this, they are always bound to a human vessel which acts as a limiter to their powers.
However, even when bound to a human host, the Ghost Rider still wields incredible abilities such as god-like speed, senses, reflexes, and strength. They are immensely durable and can even take on the Power Cosmic. They are also invincible to any physical attack unless it is heavenly in origin. Being a spirit, they can attack, bind, and even devour the very soul of a target, exert mastery over nature, necromancy, manipulate hellfire, dimensional travel. Of course, their signature ability is the “Penance Stare,” which forces their victim to feel the pain and suffering of every sin they committed.
16 THE MORPHIN GRID (POWER RANGERS)
It is a tale as old as time: evil witch escapes the moon, floating computer head summons teens that have the prerequisite levels of attitude, giving them the power to control giant robot dinosaurs. However, while it is not mentioned as much amidst the brightly colored jumpsuits and dramatic posing, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers do not get their powers from pluck and moxy alone. The source of every Power Ranger’s abilities is an interdimensional realm known as the “Morphin Grid.” When a Power Ranger morphs, they are actually creating a portal which connects to the Grid, funnelling their abilities into their very DNA.
Each Power Ranger team is has their own link to the Morphin Grid and are able to tap into it whenever they need to. It is theorized that all the Power Ranger’s equipment, zords, and abilities are stored there as pure energy until it is called upon. The Grid also has some level of sentience and self-preservation. One instance in the comics when an evil Power Ranger kills Tommy Oliver the Green Ranger; the Morphin Grid uses its power to create multiple dimensions for every Power Ranger team to protect the timeline from falling apart because Tommy’s life is so intrinsically tied to countless Power Ranger timelines.
15 DARK FORCE (MARVEL)
In one of the more interesting teams in Marvel, Cloak and Dagger are as much a team out of common bonds but also due to an almost symbiotic relationship due to their power sets. Tyrone “Ty” Johnson, aka “Cloak,” is a young man who wields darkness via his connection to the “Darkforce,” an otherworldly dimension of obsidian, and a source for many users of magic and some psionic abilities. The realm is also thought to be alive to a certain degree, showcasing a constant hunger for light to feed upon for sustenance.
While tapping into the Darkforce, Cloak is able to augment his strength, turn intangible, and generate a field of darkness akin to dark matter that he can manipulate to his liking. He also has the ability to “teleport” by entering the Darkforce universe and emerging in an entirely new location. Time and space work differently in the Darkforce; just taking a few steps is equivalent to traveling several miles in the real world. Cloak can also trap people within the Darkforce realm, which leaves his targets cold and numb, plagued by nightmares and their greatest fears. The realm also slowly drains the life force of anyone who enters unprotected and will eventually kill them if Cloak does not release them in time.
14 THE RED (DC)
The DC universe is host to countless wells of power. One of the lesser known, but most interesting of these is known as “The Red.” The Red is a life force that connects and channels itself through every facet of animals in the universe. It is but one of many parliaments of nature; the others being The Green, which holds dominion over all of plant life, and even The Grey which is the void of life and existence. Some notable users who have tapped into the Red are Vixen, Beast Boy, and Animal Man. For The Green, we have Swamp Thing and Poison Ivy as avatars for The Green. The undying Solomon Grundy is usually represented as bonding most closely with The Grey.
This connection to the congress of nature manifests itself in a myriad of ways. In regards to The Red, it usually allows them to channel the power of the animal kingdom through their body. Beast Boy is able to transform into any animal via his bond to The Red, which grants him the power to tap into the ecosystem and transform to whichever form he choses. In regards to Animal Man, he is able to channel the characteristics and abilities of the animals he chooses and he is also able to commune with The Red directly, as its emissary.
13 CHAOS AND ORDER (DC)
In another symbiotic duo akin to Cloak and Dagger of Marvel, Hawk and Dove also derive their powers from seemingly opposing yet symbiotic realms. Originally used as evidence that Order and Chaos can work together towards a common goal, the Lord of Order granted its vessel the power of the light of order, which transformed the host into Dove; same with Chaos and Hawk. As Hawk and Dove, the vessel is able transform using “danger sense,” which allows them to change form only in the presence of danger. While transformed, they have access to increased strength, stamina, and reflexes.
In regards to Dove, they are able to tap into the divine light of order, which comprises their body, and use it as defense or offense. It also grants them hyper-vigilance, which allows them to read a situation in an instant and gauge any known threats. The Hawk counterpart grants intense strength, endless stamina, enhanced healing, boosted body density, greater agility and reflexes, advanced speed and the ability to grow stronger as their rage builds. This in turn causes them to slowly lose any reasoning until they go into a mindless berserker rage. Only the calming presence of Dove can soothe Hawk and stop the ever-growing rage from overtaking them.
12 SPEED FORCE (DC)
The Flash, as well as his companions and rivals alike, who sport that crackling lightning-like aura about them as they run, all tap into the interdimensional realm known as the Speed Force. This power is usually stumbled upon by accident, as in the case of Barry Allen, or through extreme scientific methods to recreate the event that occurred with Barry. On rare occasions, it may be granted by another as well. Being the ultimate entity of velocity and motion in the DC universe, the Speed Force grants the wielder a wide range of abilities all related to not only speed of movement but also of thought.
Users of the Speed Force are able to run and process information far beyond the speed of light, allowing them to almost react to anything instantaneously and think up over a billion probabilities and scenarios before doing so. Other abilities include being able to phase through objects by vibrating their molecular structure, create copies of themselves, go back or forward through time, and generate vast amounts of electricity from their body. One other technique is the “infinite mass punch,” where the speedster punches someone after running at light speed, gaining the relative mass to hit with the force of a white dwarf star.
11 EMOTIONAL LIGHT SPECTRUM (DC)
As many can attest, emotion has an intense power on humanity. A single mood can throw a person into the depths of despair or the highest elevations of bliss in equal measure. In the DC universe, this power is given tangible form in the Emotional Light Spectrum. The Spectrum was created and fueled by the emotions of all living beings in the universe. This manifested into nine ultimate forms: Rage, Love, Fear, Will, Hope, Greed, Compassion, Death, and Life. In time, creatures all across the galaxy learned to harness this power and formed Corps of like-minded users.
With each point on the spectrum, they all grant their user the ability to form their emotional power into hard light constructs, which grow in power as they focus on the emotional source.
These constructs are limited only to the imagination of their wielder, making it one of the most versatile powers on the list. In addition to constructs, it can create barriers and shields to allow the user to survive the vacuum of space and immense levels of force, high-speed flight, and augmented strength. Additionally, some points also have secondary powers. The light of Compassion, for example, can force targets to feel the emotions of others, while the light of Death can create zombies. The light of Hope actually can boost the power of Will and vice versa, while the red light of Rage will turn its bearer into an insatiable angry monster.
10 CYTTORAK (MARVEL)
The unstoppable Juggernaut is a constant thorn in the side of the X-Men, Avengers and other members of the Marvel Universe. but despite what you may think, there's more going on under his helmet than just a blunt force. Despite his initial introduction in the X-Men comics, The Juggernaut is not a mutant, but a normal man. What makes him not so normal is the special gem that imbued him with his powers. The source of his incredible abilities comes from Cyttorak, a millennia-old deity of powerful magic and chaos who imbued a gem with a fraction of his demonic abilities. Anyone touching the gem would automatically transform into a physical avatar of the being, and an unstoppable force on earth.
Under the power of Cyttorak, The Juggernaut is able to wield immense physical strength and withstand any and all physical attacks. When he is motion, almost nothing can stop his momentum. The Juggernaut is able live indefinitely off the mystical energies of the Cyttorak gem, allowing him to live without food, sleep, or even oxygen. He also has a healing factor that exceeds even Wolverine allowing him to almost instantaneously heal from injury.
9 AGAMOTTO (MARVEL)
Originally born from the Elder goddess of Earth Oshtur, Agamotto was taught the magic arts and became the very first “Sorcerer Supreme” of Earth. Under her tutelage, he also formed the magical artifacts that Dr. Strange continues to use to this day in the comics! Do the “Eye of Agamotto” and “Orb of Agamotto” ring a bell? Eventually, Agamotto ascended the realm of mortality and became an avatar of the mystic arts, existing in a realm that became his entire being. This allows him complete control over his form and appearance. When facing Galactus, he took the form of the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland and was not intimated in the slightest.
As the original Sorcerer Supreme and offspring of an Elder goddess, Agamotto has immense magical power, which he tends to channel to the Sorcerer Supreme of other universes as he sees fit. Specializing in knowledge and gathering of information, he is implied as being “all-knowing” even among the realms and dimensions beyond his own. He even has a detailed dossier on celestial beings like Galactus and knew of his origins before becoming the eater of worlds.
8 SHOU LAO, THE IMMORTAL DRAGON (MARVEL)
Disappointing Netflix shows notwithstanding, Iron Fist is an interesting and very powerful Marvel hero in his own right. Of course, mastering several forms of martial arts, training with mystical monks, and having fists imbued with the burning heart of an immortal dragon never hurts (well, it does hurt bad guys). The title of Iron Fist is granted only to the warriors who can best the immortal dragon known as Shou-Lao. Shou-Lao’s abilities range from flight, fire-breathing, and lightning fast attacks -- par for the course as far as dragons are concerned. The warrior monks of K'un-Lun have faced and bested this dragon in combat 66 times in the millennia of its existence, and each time it has imbued the victor with a portion of its great power.
Upon taking on the power of the immortal dragon, the Iron Fist is able channel their chi to boost their strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes to near superhuman levels. Additionally, they can focus their chi-flow into their hands to make them glow with mythical energy, making their fists hard as iron, impervious to pain, and greatly increasing their striking force. They can also wield their chi to heal themselves and others as well telepathically fuse their conscious mind with another person.
7 POWER COSMIC (MARVEL)
Norrin Radd was a brilliant man of science living a life of peace and prosperity with his family and loved ones on a utopia-like planet. That is, he was... until the day Galactus, devourer of worlds, came to his planet. In a desperate bid to save his planet and people, Norrin offered himself to Galactus to become his herald -- a seeker of worlds for Galactus to feed upon. In exchange, Norrin’s planet would be spared. Thus, by the hands of Galactus, Norrin Radd ceased to be and the Silver Surfer was born.
The source of the Surfer’s power comes from Galactus, who wields the Power Cosmic, which is a limitless reservoir of godly galactic energy. Galactus always grants a portion to all his heralds so they may better serve him. Power Cosmic grants the wielder energy absorption for complete sustenance and control over the four fundamental forces of the universe to fire devastating energy blasts. The Power Cosmic also allows its wielders to transform matter, create trans-dimensional portals, jumpstart evolution, see the past and future, and even suppress or entirely negate the abilities of other beings. Its uses are as vast as the seemingly limitless source of its power.
6 THE PANTHEON OF GODS (DC)
When the dying wizard granted the young boy Billy Batson with the power of the gods, he is able to transform into arguably Earth’s most powerful beings: Shazam (aka Captain Marvel before the power of lawsuits and copyrights stripped him of that title). While in his empowered state, Shazam has access to many powers of his superpowered compatriots: flight, speed, strength, and durability. What makes Shazam’s power a bit different is that his mighty abilities are technically on loan.
The source of Shazam’s myriad powers stem from contracts formed with various deities and mythological heroes like the strength of Hercules, the speed of Mercury, the power of Zeus and the wisdom of Solomon. During an event in the comics, Billy Batson lost his contracts with his original gods and deities and had to form new pacts with a whole other pantheon to regain his abilities. Some of his new skills granted him power over fire, the ability to enter the realm of the godly Source at will, and the power of compassion and knowledge of all things. Despite the nature of his power, though, the source is always a godly pantheon of unstoppable mystic power, making him a true powerhouse of the universe!
5 THE PHOENIX FORCE (MARVEL)
The Phoenix Force is a monstrous source of power that stems from the very heart of creation itself. Marvel comics describe the Phoenix Force as "the embodiment of the very passion of Creation – the spark that gave life to the Universe, the flame that will ultimately consume it." Born out of the very fabric of existence, it serves as the nexus for all forms of psionic powers that have been, are, and ever will be in all planes of existence and multiverses. It is feared as one of the greatest beings for its ability to manipulate the life force of future generations, effectively snuffing them out of existence. Using this raw potential power, it is able to wield cosmic powers on an unimaginable scale.
The Phoenix Force is able to traverse through time and space by collapsing its power into itself, creating a black hole and reforming wherever it chooses. In order to tap into its full potential, it seeks hosts with high psychic powers. When it used Jean Grey as a vessel, it amplified her powers a million-fold, allowing her to telepathically control things on a molecular level so she could transmute objects like turning wood to gold. And in true Phoenix fashion, when a host of the Phoenix is gravely wounded or killed, it can enclose them in an “egg” of pure energy where they can heal in an interdimensional crossroads called the “White-Hot Room,” where they then reemerge from the egg fully healed.
4 THE ANTI-LIFE EQUATION (DC)
Math, as a principal, is generally seen as a tool of great suffering and torment. In the hands of the DC universe, it has been weaponized to terrifying levels. The Anti-Life Equation is a law of the universe that manifests in a high-concept formula that only beings of 11th level or higher intellect even have a chance of deciphering. The foil to the Life Equation, which is rooted in freedom and hope, the Anti-Life Equation is able to bend and break people’s will to the user. This is done by using the formula to remove the concept of hope and freedom from the populace, molding them into slaves of the mind.
Darkseid, in his thirst for dominion of the universe, has sought the Equation for quite some time, succeeding a number of times. When he speaks the Anti-Life Equation, it binds to the heart and minds of the people mathematically proving to them that life, freedom, and hope are all pointless. This despair sows the seeds that will can take root in the minds of the populace, and they soon become nothing more than the extension of Darkseid’s dark desire. In all honesty, Darkseid did not have to spend so much time searching for the Anti-Life Equation; any geometry textbook is soul-crushing enough to get the job done.
3 THE WORD OF GOD (PREACHER)
The Preacher comic book series does not bother with great debates of God’s existence. In the world of Preacher, god is real and he’s in hiding. The source of his fears and trepidation come from a newborn creature named Genesis: a result from the taboo union between an angel and a demon. Not being tethered by either dominions of virtue nor vice, Genesis was an unknown entity that could sway the balance of Heaven and Hell completely. Because of this, it was locked away in the deepest vaults of Heaven until it managed to escape from its prison and found its way to earth, taking residence in the soul of a man named Jesse Custer.
Genesis granted Jesse one particular divine power: the ability he dubbed the “Word of God.” Using this power, Jesse is able to speak a command to any human being that can understand him and they are 100 percent compelled to follow it to the letter. While he does not like to use it unless he finds himself in dire straits, there is no limit to what he can command people to do. Using the “Word of God,” he was able to command angels to divulge secret information, and called into a national radio station and commanded everyone who was listening to speak their inner-most desires to awkward results.
2 GOD (DC)
At the beginning of time, the creator of the DC Universe, known as “The Presence,” manifested its aspects into various agents to help guide and shape the world. Its capacity for Wrath and Mercy were given shape and form, and lastly its potential for Vengeance and Judgement became known as The Spectre. In its primal state, it was the Spirit of Vengeance that was behind many of the tales of the Old Testament like the fall of the Walls of Jericho, the curse of Cain for killing his brother Abel, even the events of Moses and the Pharaoh -- it was the Spectre’s job to judge and humble those who sew injustice.
After the death of Jesus, it was decreed that the spirits of the Presence would be bound to human hosts to limit their own powers and offer guidance. Being a servant of God, for all intents and purposes, The Spectre can wield nigh-omnipotent power and divine capabilities limited only by the imagination of the vessel the Spectre resides in at the time. It can also bend and reshape reality and have knowledge of all things past, present, and future. As a divine agent, The Spectre is immortal and exists out of time and space itself. Lastly, it also has access to “Logoz,” which is a direct line to converse with god whenever it chooses to do so.
1 THE INFINITY GEMS (MARVEL)
The greatest macguffin in the Marvel universe and one of the few items that makes any and all hero and villain stop and take notice when they show up, the Infinity Gems are just about the most powerful things in existence. Formed when the universe was created, each gem represents the very form of one of the essential cores that created all of existence: time, space, power, mind, soul, and reality. On their own, the gems are able to do extraordinary feats, but when used together, the very fabric of space and time can be ripped apart and sewn back together in whatever way the wielder sees fit.
In the MCU film, Thanos was able to create stasis fields, turn bullets to bubbles, recreate entire planets, and turn back the hands of time. In the comics, their powers were able to showcase even greater feats; the time gem was able to trap an entire planet in a loop, the soul gem was able to hold dominion over all of life and death in the universe, the space gem allows the wielder to become omnipresent when its full potential is realized. And let us not forget one of the mightiest feats all gems working together were able to do -- wipe out half of the entire known universe with the snap of Thanos' fingers.