Warning: contains spoilers for Thor #13
DC’s Man of Steel and Marvel’s God of Thunder have fought before, but if the two were to encounter each other today, Superman. Some recent upgrades have tipped the scales in Thor’s favor.
As two of the powerhouses from Marvel and DC, Superman beat back Mjolnir and its Asgardian owner. Since then, both characters have gone through tremendous growth and change, and another meeting would likely produce a different result.
After a couple of considerable power-ups, it’s safe to say Thor is officially more powerful than Superman. In Thor #13 by Donny Cates, Nic Klein, and Matt Wilson, Thor-Force to drain Galactus of the Power Cosmic and used it against the Devourer of Worlds. It’s likely that the attack used the stores of cosmic power that Odinson had access to, but it illustrates how much more powerful Thor has the capacity to become. They were almost evenly matched before, but now even Superman’s seemingly limitless strength couldn’t contend with all that Thor has become.
In contrast, the Man of Steel has not been at his peak lately. If Superman has made any recent leaps in strength, it comes mostly in the form of his son, Jon Kent. Superboy has stepped up since returning from the 31st Century and is instrumental in keeping the Earth safe alongside his father. Jon returned from the future with worries about Superman’s death, and in Action Comics #1029, the villain Mongul suspects the end may be near. Despite the mysterious causes of this possible impending death, Superman hasn’t faltered, pointing to the inexhaustible resolve that accompanies his tremendous power. Metropolis’s champion does not give in, even with all of his invulnerability and powers. It’s that determination that makes the difference.
Status quos in the world of comics can shift rapidly, but if there was a meeting in the present day between the current iterations of Thor and Superman, the Asgardian would be triumphant. Even with the powers that come with being the All-Father and God of Thunder, overpowering Superman would be no easy task. These days Clark draws untold strength from his family. The real question is, if Thor gives his all to put the Man of Steel down, will he have anything left in the tank when Superboy shows up?
