For years, many have wondered who Superman’s equivalent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is – I may have the answer figured out, but it is more complicated than you might think. With James Gunn’s Superman movie on the horizon in July 2025, the character is back involved in the online discourse in a bigger way than ever before. This coincides with several major Marvel movie releases of 2025, be it Thunderbolts* a few months before, or The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will be released theatrically only two weeks after Superman.
As has always been the case, the DC and Marvel compeтιтion is continuing, with both franchises facing comparisons once more. Upcoming Marvel movies like the story of Avengers: Doomsday are expected to right the ship after the franchise has stalled of late, while, on the other side, pressure is on James Gunn’s DC slate to kickstart an entirely new franchise. What makes these comparisons more interesting, however, is when audiences wonder about equivalent superheroes. Equivalent superheroes are normal in the comics, but many have wondered who the Superman equivalent of the MCU is, with the answer potentially coming as a surprise.
Who Is Marvel’s Superman In The Comics?
Two Characters Stand Out In This Regard
As alluded to, certain characters from Marvel Comics have often been raised as the equivalent of DC’s Superman. The first of these characters is Hyperion. Hyperion is a cosmic Marvel character who is nearly invulnerable with enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and the ability to fly. Moreover, Hyperion has laser vision. This is all very similar to the power set of Superman in DC Comics, with Hyperion’s creator, Roy Thomas, even stating outright that the character was meant as a Marvel alternative to Superman.
Another character who is often dubbed a Marvel version of Superman is Sentry, who is set to appear as part of Thunderbolts* cast of characters. Sentry has some differences from Superman, such as a dark alter ego who serves as one of Marvel’s most powerful villains, but the fact that he boasts such a mᴀssive range of powers while being nigh on invincible often draws comparisons to the Son of Krypton. Overall, though, many would agree that Hyperion is the true Marvel equivalent of DC’s most recognizable hero.
3 Different MCU Characters Represent Different Parts Of Superman
There Is Not Any One Character Who Replaces Kal-El In The MCU
Where the MCU is concerned, there is no singular character who serves as the franchise’s version of Superman. Hyperion has not yet been introduced to the MCU and there have been no signs that he will debut in the near future. Therefore, the answer to the question of who the MCU’s Superman is becomes much more complex. Rather than having a single character to point to, the aspects of Superman are embodied by three different characters in Marvel Studios’ sprawling live-action universe: Sentry, Ikaris, and Captain America.
Sentry’s debut in Thunderbolts* means that the MCU is introducing a character that will have the same invulnerability, heat vision, and many other powers that Superman possesses. In a way, Ikaris is the same, who was first introduced in 2021’s Eternals. Ikaris has similar powers to Superman as Sentry does, yet the former embodies Kal-El’s natural leadership over a team. Superman is the default leader of the Justice League, just as Ikaris is with the Eternals. Finally, you have Captain America, who can be argued to be the true Superman MCU equivalent as a paragon of righteousness.
Why Captain America Is The MCU’s Real Superman Replacement
Both Characters Stand For The Same Values
Throughout the MCU’s Captain America timeline, the character has been solidified as the true Superman replacement for the franchise. Although it is true that the two cannot compare in terms of strength and power, with Superman vastly outranking Captain America, what makes them so similar is how they stand for the same beliefs, values, and morals. In the MCU, Captain America is a bastion of goodness. He is the leader of the Avengers and everyone rallies to him as they know he will always stand up for what is right no matter the cost.
Across the decades of Superman stories in DC Comics, this was the case for that character too. Superman may be all-powerful, and the countless DC stories over the years prove he is all-good too. In this way, Superman and Captain America go hand-in-hand. If a hypothetical meeting between the leaders of the DC Universe and Marvel Cinematic Universe were to happen, it would be Superman and Captain America talking things through, proving above all else who the real Kal-El replacement of the latter franchise truly is.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
- Created by
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Kevin Feige
- First Film
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Iron Man
- Latest Film
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Upcoming Films
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Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania
- First TV Show
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WandaVision
Summary
The monolithic franchise that kicked off with Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is one of the industry’s longest-running and largest cinematic franchises. Based on the heroes from Marvel Comics, the MCU is a new way for fans and newcomers alike to enjoy the ever-expanding universes of some of the world’s most famous superheroes. Releasing as “Phases,” Marvel Studio’s first three Phases came to be known as “The Infinity Saga,” which surrounded the formation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their showdown with the Mad тιтan known as Thanos as he sought to collect the Infinity Stones. With his ultimate goal of indiscriminately wiping out half of all life in the universe, this plot ultimately reveals itself over ten years of films, ending in a two-part finale that changed the world’s fate – and the core cast forever. Currently, the MCU is preparing to enter the fifth phase, focusing on Kang the Conquerer as the new core series villain.
