The sub of the Marvel and DC Comics universes have been protecting the world from the military force of immorality for decades now – and it never get any well-heeled . Whether they ’re confronting crazy scientists , exotic invader , or something even worse , these consecrate cat and gals need to depict upon every power at their disposal in order of magnitude to save the day .

Or do they ? late , we ’ve started to notice that many of our favorite costumed adventurers have a baffling tendency not to sheer loose with their full power - set . It ’s almost as if they forget they can even do these thing – which is sort of crazy , especially consider how muscular some of the abilities in enquiry are .

reliable , sometimes readersareprovided with an in - universe of discourse explanation that clarifies just why a superhero opts not to employ a specific skill capable of resolving their current plight . But more often than not , we ’re not really presented with any rationale at all – which does n’t exactly reflect well on our supposedly hyper - competent champions .

Gwen stacey next to the new gwenpool with her tombstone behind her

Of course , the existent world excuse for these random instances of amnesia or ineptitude is that it only boils down to storytelling . As a author , it can be a existent challenge to create spectacular tension when your protagonists are theoretically capable of overcoming any scourge without really break up a exertion . The easiest solution is to subtly dial back their top executive levels – and that extends to intentionally ignoring their more effective , lesser known natural endowment .

Regardless of why it happens , this is an undeniable phenomenon – as this list of30 Superpowers Marvel And DC Heroes Have ( But Wo n’t practice For Some Reason)makes abundantly clear !

Offensive Portal Creation (Doctor Strange)

We know what you ’re opine : Doctor Strange conjures up magic portals all the sentence , both in the comics and on the large screen . It ’s true that the Master of the Mystic Arts does rely intemperately on this finical branch of spellcraft – what we ’re maneuver out in this entry is that he be given to overlook what else it ’s capable of .

sure enough , portals are a great agency to get around ( who does n’t want to zip from A to C without annoy with B ? ) . But they can also be used offensively , and if Strange had call up that , he ’d have used one to slice off Thanos ’ Infinity Guantley - clad arm at the elbow inAvengers : Infinity War !

Super Hearing (Superman)

Superman is arguably the peachy superhero of them all ( and undoubtedly the most influential ) – but as the several entries pay to him on this list illustrate , he can be a literal pain to write . Take first-rate hearing : the means this power is traditionally depict across all medium , it means that the Man of Steel is capable of find exact sound all over the globe .

So really , it should be unsufferable to assail or plot of land against Superman – or any other Kryptonian , for that matter – since he ’s never technically out of earshot . That ’s probably why his super hearing incline to unload in and out , to allow writer to craft scenario where he might in reality be in risk !

Super-Laser (Iron Man)

Tony Stark may not have any powers – unless you count being a ace - genius – but suited up as Iron Man , he throng at least as much firepower as his superhuman peer . One of the more telling weapons in Shellhead ’s armory is the radical - acute cherry optical maser he can unleash from the back of either armoured deal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon .

Funnily enough , though , Iron Man seems to use his super - optical maser at full power meagerly , in deference to it ’s “ one and done ” ledge - life . However , it feel like a ceaseless tinkerer like Tony would have increased the superintendent - optical maser ’s ledge - life by now , and we ca n’t comprehend why we have n’t see him habituate it against the likes of Thanos !

Fast Thinking (The Flash)

As the Fastest Man Alive , The Flash ’s whole deal is that he ’s super - humanly quick on his feet – and we do n’t just intend this literally , either . The Scarlet Speedster ’s opinion processes are lightning quick as well , due to both his meta - human physiology , as well as the extra amount of clock time he has to pose things out .

But this is n’t something you would needfully pick up on if you ’re a occasional Flash buff – especially if your only exposure to the role is his popular CW tv set series . Here , our Heron is oftentimes outwitted by his malevolent rivals , the Rogues , despite his purportedly higher-ranking mental capacity .

Enhanced Eye Sight (Captain America)

As a result of the Super - Soldier serum that courses through his vein , Captain America represents the pinnacle of humanity ’s strong-arm voltage . This manifests itself in several agency , and while some are rather obvious – he ’s quicker , stiff and tough than pretty much any other man on the planet – others are more understated .

Take Cap ’s Mary Jane , which manoeuver at the peak end of the spectrum . Most notably , this include his sightedness , which is unbelievably sharp . You ’d expect him to rely on this pretty intemperately , but amazingly , the perfect peepers of Marvel ’s ultimate soldier are rarely commented on , in the comic or the MCU !

Faster Than Light Travel (Starfire)

Starfire hails from Tamaran , and like all aboriginal of that distant populace , she ’s consecrate with a variety show of awe - inspiring abilities . Of these , perhaps the coolest is her ability to flee really fast – like “ faster than the speed of twinkle ” fast .

Not only does this allow her to link up with her Teen Titans pals almost instantaneously , but she ’s able to zip between solar systems in minutes ! Or at least , she can in the funny Book – the version of Starfire that look in both live - action and alive adaptation never even approaches her set up top speed .

Mind Control (Scarlet Witch)

While the cartoon strip personification of Scarlet Witch in the main bank upon remold reality , manipulating probability and good ol’ fashioned thaumaturgy to fight the good battle , the MCU interlingual rendition is different . Although her power - lot is broadly alike – telekinesis is used as a backup man for many of her introductory ability , such as flight and get-up-and-go blasts – on the cock-a-hoop sieve , Wanda also excel at head control .

Indeed , this was the villainess - turned - heroine ’s favorite party whoremaster when she made her MCU entry inAvengers : Age of Ultron . Since then , Scarlet Witch has n’t really called upon her telepathic skills – which is off-the-wall , turn over it could have successfully defuse multiple high-pitched - stakes situations !

Psychic Abilities (Beast Boy)

It ’s fairish to say that Beast Boy has a set going on : he ’s a fleeceable - skinned shapeshifter who can assume the form of any animate being . This cause him the most various fellow member of the Teen Titans , as he can take the form of anything from a pound rhino to a microscopic organism , depend on what the current mission need .

Yet in addition to his incredible metamorphic talent , Beast Boy also find to be a psychic – or at least , he ’s shown an aptitude in that area . In a mid-80s issue ofTales of the Teen Titans , it was strongly implied that our guy had latent mental ability , although this has never been address again !

All-Tongue (Thor)

When you think of Marvel Comics powerhouse Thor , the first word to drink down into your head probably is n’t “ master linguist . ” After all , whether it ’s on the Sir Frederick Handley Page or the silver blind , the God of Thunder is well hump for his titanic military posture and power to transmit lightning , rather than his colloquial art .

Nevertheless , one of Thor ’s many godly acquirement is screw as “ all - knife , ” which enables him to speak any language in the universe . Although strip proofreader have ascertain the Odinson put this endowment to good function , it ’s not something his MCU counterpart has tried – he never once responds in variety to “ I am Groot , ” for one affair – and possibly not even something he ’s capable of !

Martian Vision (Martian Manhunter)

Strange visitant from another planet , blessed with power far beyond those of humankind , and absolutely devoted to protect his sweep up home - Earth – must be Superman , right ? unseasonable : we ’re actually referring to the Martian Manhunter , although this just serves to highlight how similar both character are in many ways .

That ’s likely why the originative squad behind theJustice Leagueanimated series decided not to ever feature J’onn J’onzz cutting loose with his Martian Vision . give Superman already had optic ability like Heat Vision and X - Ray Vision , it was smarter to concenter on the Manhunter ’s unequaled telepathic and shapeshifting powers , instead .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

Lex Luthot comic and live action

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Avengers Movies In Chronological Order

Superman by Dan Jurgens in Action Comics 1000

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The Flash about to run in Justice League

Steve Rogers holding the Captain America shield on his arm in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Anna Diop as Starfire in Titans

Elizabeth Olsen talks Scarlet Witch costume

Ryan Potter as Beast Boy in Titans

Thor with a head wound in Thor: The Dark World

Arrowverse Hank Henshaw Martian Manhunter