The majority of comic book fans have a few superpowers they'd love to have. Everyone can find practical uses for super strength and speed. Flight and invisibility are two of the most popular superpowers mentioned in conversations about desired abilities. Writers also favor certain power sets, whether because they work well for story purposes or they just look cool on the page.
Some superpowers don't get the same love. Maybe they're not as cool, not as easy to work into a story, don't display well in a comic book format, or are not as useful. Popular characters from Marvel and DC Comics like Cyborg, Black Canary, and even Squirrel Girl utilize overlooked and unique powers that deserve more attention in mainstream stories.
Updated on July 31st, 2023, by Mayra Garcia: Comics feature thousands of different types of superpowers, but some of these are way more popular than others, like super strength or flight. Sadly, most of the cool, unique superpowers that fall into obscurity are also incredible. Marvel and DC should consider bringing some of these underrated superpowers back.
15 Technokinesis
A lot of superheroes rely on technology instead of having actual powers. Technology can also enhance the powers they already possess. With so many of them turning to tech, it's surprising that it isn't as frequently utilized as a part of a character's power set. This is a unique power, but it's very useful.
- Iron Man
- Doctor Octopus
- Cyborg
Being able to manipulate machinery seems incredibly useful for heroes and villains alike. Technokinesis works similarly to telepathy. Some of the smartest tech-powered heroes like Cyborg can interact with technology the same way Jean Grey can interact with other people's minds. In a 21st-century world dominated by machinery and technology, this power should appear more frequently.
14 Matter Ingestion
The ability to eat and digest almost anything is definitely one of the most unique and underused abilities in comics. There are a few characters who have displayed this ability, and they have demonstrated quite a few impressive uses that made fans wonder about the true potential of a rare superpower like matter ingestion.
- Maggot
- Matter-Eater Lad
- Superman
Heroes like Matter-Eater Lad can dispose of dangerous substances or explosives quickly and without risk to anyone else. The short-lived X-Men member Maggot had a mechanized digestive system in the form of two living creatures that could eat and digest anything. Even Superman has been known to eat a bomb or two over the years to stop the blast.
13 Force Field Creation
They say the best defense is a good offense, but sometimes it's the opposite. Most superheroes tend to approach their enemies ready for punches, but very few prioritize protecting themselves, even if they have the possibility of creating force fields to do it.
- Green Lantern
- Juggernaut
- Enchantress
Whether it is due to magic, like Enchantress and Juggernaut when bonded with the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, or science, like any Green Lantern when they use their Power Ring, force fields ensure their safety. Besides, they buy heroes and villains sometimes so they can plan a counterattack. Likely, writers don't use them so often because they could become a boring asset in battle.
12 Reactive Adaptation
Being able to adapt according to the situation would be incredibly useful and is definitely a cool power to have, but there aren't many comic characters who can do it. The X-Men's Darwin can rapidly adapt to survive, although he wasn't initially able to control it.
- Super-Adaptoid
- Darwin
- Amazo
Darwin's body could automatically adapt to grow gills so he could breathe underwater or adjust even further to survive in space. He could transform his eyes, so he could see in the dark or even make his skin fireproof. Darwin also eventually gained the ability to trigger these mutations to give him the upper hand in dangerous situations.
11 Sonic Scream
There aren't many comic characters who can manipulate sound as part of their power set. There are even fewer who use a sonic scream as a weapon. However, the few that can have demonstrated the power's devastating potential against even the most powerful of foes. Characters like Black Canary have even stopped Superman in his tracks without Kryptonite.
- Black Canary
- Banshee
- Shriek
A sonic scream is always a fun power to play with, and it can make for a very cool effect in comic art. Perhaps it's not hugely popular or used very often because it can be challenging to represent in a medium without sound. Regardless, comic artists still creatively represent the ripples as sound waves travel through the air to showcase their unique ability.
10 Omnilingual Translation
Omnilingualism is an incredibly rare power that comic readers haven't seen often. However, Jonathan Hickman found a new use for the power in his incredibly adaptable X-Men run that started with House/Powers of X. Cypher's unique ability to understand and speak every known language helped Professor Xavier communicate with the mutant island of Krakoa.
- Cypher
- Brainiac
- Starfire
Cypher was instrumental in establishing Krakoa as a mutant haven. With so many heroes traveling all over the world and into outer space, omnilingual translation could be incredibly useful. The ability to instantly understand any language is underused and under-appreciated. Omnilingualism is one of those unique powers that readers would find useful in their daily life.
9 Animal Communication
Anyone who grew up watching princess movies dreamed of being able to talk to animals at some point. The ability to talk to animals is famous in Disney films, but it's also a superpower used by many superheroes. Squirrel Girl can talk to squirrels and even has a squirrel sidekick.
- Squirrel Girl
- Ant-Man
- Aquaman
Animated series like Family Guy and Robot Chicken often poke fun at heroes like Aquaman for "only being able to communicate with fish." Aside from the fact that Aquaman possesses many other incredible powers, the ability to speak with animals is incredibly useful and beautiful. More comics should display this miraculous superpower.
8 Dimensional Travel
There are a few comic characters who have discovered ways or invented technology that allowed them to travel to other dimensions. However, there are only a few heroes and villains who have developed the power to move across dimensional planes and into other realities unassisted.
- Sideways
- Miss America
- Angstrom Levy
DC's Sideways gained the ability to open spatial portals that he could use to travel across the planet. However, he soon learned he could also move sideways through the multiverse as well. Marvel's America Chavez can punch star-shaped portals into other dimensions, giving fans another unique look at the interesting but underused ability.
7 Pheromonal Persuasion
Some powers are used less than others because they can be almost too powerful. There are no stakes when someone has powers that can render everyone else defenseless. This has made Purple Man one of Marvel's most surprisingly powerful villains. His ability to make anyone do anything using his enhanced pheromones is one of the most frightening powers in comics.
- Purple Man
- Daken
- Poison Ivy
The majority of characters who possess this power often turn into supervillains, forcing others to bow to their wills. Zebediah Killgrave/Purple Man proved just how frightening this power could be when used improperly. Other characters like Marvel's Daken or DC's Poison Ivy have also displayed the various effects their persuasive pheromones can have both on the battlefield and off.
6 Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a classic example of a power that is often underwritten. Being able to completely change appearances could be enormously overpowered, so this ability tends to be used sparingly. Shapeshifting makes a character into a perfect spy or double agent. Mystique often uses her powers to fool others and gain access to restricted facilities.
- Mystique
- Martian Manhunter
- Clayface
Disguise is the most common use for shape-shifting, but it could also be used for healing, by moving flesh over a wounded area. Mystique also uses shapeshifting to extend her life by reducing her body's natural age. Readers don't see this power used much beyond the obvious disguises, though there are a few characters known as shapeshifters who use their abilities creatively.
5 Probability Manipulation
Anyone can be lucky, but there aren't many people who are so lucky that they can call it a superpower. Several Marvel characters can actually manipulate probabilities to give themselves better odds in a fight and achieve their goals.
- Longshot
- Black Cat
- Domino
Luck isn't an easy power to control, and there's no guarantee that everything will work out in the favor of the probability manipulator. The unpredictability of this power makes it a very interesting one to read about, and one that many comics fans would like to see used more often and in more interesting ways.
4 Photographic Reflexes
There are many characters with an eidetic memory that gives them the ability to instantly recall anything and everything they've seen in exquisite detail. However, there is another version of this ability that has made an impact on fans. Mimetic muscle mimicry may be better known as photographic reflexes.
- Echo
- Taskmaster
- Cassandra Cain/Batgirl
Characters like Taskmaster can replicate any move they witness. Taskmaster was a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who developed the ability to mimic the physical skills and abilities of others. He could watch Captain America fight and add it to his personal repertoire. He even opened a school for henchmen, where he used his stolen fighting skills to train fledgling criminals.
3 Gravity Manipulation
Comics are full of superheroes that can control things around them. Poison Ivy controls plants (among other abilities), Iceman controls ice, and Magneto controls metal. However, some go even further, controlling a more abstract concept: gravity. Some examples are Moonstone, Moz-Ga, and Hawkgirl -- who manages to do this through Nth metal.
- Hawkgirl
- Moonstone
- Moz-Ga
Gravity manipulation is an incredibly powerful ability. With one movement, these characters can alter their surroundings completely, rendering others incapable of moving or throwing them into the atmosphere without even sweating. Unfortunately, it's far from a popular option. Whenever a character can manipulate gravity, they can also do other things, so this power becomes a second choice every time.
2 Enhanced Elasticity
Elasticity sounds like a power that would be pretty ridiculous, but it's actually incredibly versatile. Reed Richards is the best-known hero with powers of elasticity, and he can use his powers to absorb or direct the impacts of bullets and explosions and stretch his limbs to incredible distances.
- Elasti-Woman
- Mister Fantastic
- Elongated Man
Unfortunately, this power doesn't show up very often, perhaps because most people view it as potentially silly. The idea can also be gross depending on how artists depict it. Any abilities that alter someone's body are bound to make some people wince. However, other heroes like Elasti-Woman and Elongated Man have proven there are many incredible benefits to enhanced elasticity.
1 Self-Duplication
Both heroes and villains need allies. Superheroes love to have trusted partners watching their backs in the field, and villains would love more like-minded criminals on their side. Self-duplication is a superpower that allows the user to instantly duplicate themselves through various means.
- Dupli-Kate
- Billy Numerous
- Multiple Man
Certain characters like Multiple Man and Dupli-Kate can clone themselves as many times as their body and mind will allow. While this is an incredibly useful power in the real world, comic artists would probably get sick of drawing the same character over and over again. Writers could explore the limits of duplication with some potentially interesting places to take this not-often-seen ability.