The heroes featured in the comic book movies of theMCU, theDCU, and unrelated adaptations sometimes boast superpowers that are truly unique. Themovies of the MCUhelped transform the superhero genre into one of the most profitable in all of cinema, buoyed by the extraordinary capabilities of its superpowered characters. Though some of their superpowers have become relatively common among comic book heroes and villains, there are some individuals with much rarer abilities.
These uniquely powered characters occasionally make their way onto the big screen, with dramatic effect. These powers and the way they manifest help a character to stand out in even a minor role, making these one-of-a-kind heroes especially memorable - something theupcoming DC Universeand future of the MCU will hopefully keep in mind as they continue to flesh out what the future of the genre looks like. With that in mind, here are 10 of the most unique superpowers in comic book movies.
Every Upcoming Marvel Movie: Full MCU Phase 6 List (& Beyond)
With Marvel Studios' MCU now dominating the upcoming release slate for Marvel movies, here’s what to expect in the coming years and beyond.
10The Blob’s Superhuman Mass
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Despite being one of the earliest mutants introduced into Marvel Comics, the Blob only played a minor role inFox’s X-Men movies. The mutant is best known for his appearance and the movies' dated jokes around his weight, butthere’s much more to the Blob than his brief appearances inX-Men Origins: WolverineorX-Men: Apocalypselet on. The movies depicted him as a boxer and a cage fighter respectively, who proved a capable combatant able to take on the likes of Wolverine.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Cast
X-Men Origins: Wolverine explores the backstory of the iconic mutant Wolverine, portrayed by Hugh Jackman. Released in 2009, the film delves into Logan’s journey through the Weapon X program as he seeks revenge for his girlfriend’s death while uncovering complex relationships with other mutants.
The Blob’s mutant ability to get superhuman durability and strength from his mass allows him to absorb immense amounts of force. This premise makes him both underestimated by opponents and seriously powerful, as he is both incredibly strong and incredibly resilient as a result of his increased mass.
9Hellboy’s Demon Physiology & Giant Stone Hand
Hellboy (2004)
Adapted from the pages of Dark Horse Comics, Hellboy first appeared in live-action in 2004’sHellboy, played by Perlman. Perlman reprised the role for the sequel,Hellboy: The Golden Army, and David Harbour played the paranormal investigator in the 2019 reboot. Despite not being part of the MCU of any DC franchise, Hellboy has earned a place within pop culture as a beloved hero. As a demon raised among humans, he also happens to stand out.
Hellboy
Hellboy is a 2004 film directed by Guillermo del Toro, featuring Ron Perlman as the titular character. Rescued by Allied forces during World War II, Hellboy is a demon who grows up to combat dark supernatural forces as an agent for the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Defense alongside allies Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman.
Hellboy’s demonic physiology makes him larger than average humans, and he has horns and a tail. However,it’s his giant stone right hand that truly sets him apart, as it’s revealed to be the key to Hell. Hellboy possessing the unique ability to bring about the end of the world using his own hand is certainly something that no other comic book movie character can boast.
8Ratcatcher 2’s Ability To Control Rats
Thecast ofThe Suicide Squadfeatures a number of obscure figures from DC Comics, with some of them qualifying as especially unique. Among the villains recruited by Amanda Waller for Task Force X in the 2021 movie is Ratcatcher 2, a young woman who inherited her mantle from her father. Played by Daniela Melchior, Ratcatcher 2 makes up a key part of the movie’s main cast, and she also possesses a rare ability.
The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they join Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
Though she inherited her ability from her father after his death,she’s likely the only individual on the planet with both the means and the intention to control her own army of rats.Being able to communicate with rats using her father’s device, Ratcatcher 2 trains and employs an impressive number of rodents. Though it’s perhaps not the most glamorous superpower in the history of comic book movies, Ratcatcher 2 certainly stands out within the genre.
7Captain Boomerang’s Mastery Of Boomerangs
Typically a nemesis of the Flash, Captain Boomerang is one of DC’s sillier major villains. Appearing as a member of the original Task Force X in 2016’sSuicide Squadplayed by Jai Courtney, Captain Boomerang also appeared in the sequel,The Suicide Squad. His reprisal of the role was brief, however, as he was promptly killed during the opening credits, making his live-action movie tenure decidedly short-lived. Even so, Captain Boomerang uses his abilities in a unique manner.
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad team is made up of villains, captured and kept in a secret prison, and offered reduced sentences if they participate in dangerous missions. In the tradition of continuity within DCEU films, the event comes in the wake of Superman’s death and the seclusion of Batman after the events that occurred in Batman V Superman. Agency head Amanda Waller, played by award-winning actress Viola Davis, is the one striking deals with the inmates of Belle Reve Prison. Heading “Task Force X” is Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, alongside Will Smith’s Deadshot, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo, Adewale Akinnuoye’s Killer Croc, and Adam Beach’s Slipknot. Karen Fukuhara’s Katana also joins the mission to keep Rick safe from the villains. Jared Leto (Joker) and Ben Affleck (Batman) have smaller roles in David Ayer’sSuicide Squad, as does Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress.
An expert marksman,Captain Boomerang seemingly focused his ability solely on boomerangs, being able to throw them with remarkable precision. Additionally, Captain Boomerang uses the projectiles in a number of creative ways, using trick boomerangs to aid him in his villainy, and later in his work with Task Force X. Though his ability itself is technically not totally unique, his reliance on the boomerang gimmick makes the villain stand out among his DC peers.
6Ghost Rider’s Vehicle Manipulation
Ghost Rider (2007)
Even before the beginning of theMCU’s movie timeline, Marvel heroes were making use of strange and unique powers on the big screen. 2007 saw the release ofGhost Rider, with Nicolas Cage starring as the titular hero. A stunt motorcyclist who makes a deal with the devil, Johnny Blaze is transformed into the supernatural enforcer of Mephisto, which brings with it numerous abilities.
Ghost Rider
Mark Steven Johnson’s Ghost Rider precedes the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by one year. Starring Nicolas Cage as the titular Marvel anti-hero, the 2007 movie takes Johnny Blaze’s origin story to the big screen with a supporting cast composed of the likes of Eva Mendes as Ghost Rider’s love interest Roxanne Simpson, Peter Fonda as the demon Mephistopheles, Wes Bentley as the villain Blackheart, and Sam Elliot as the previous wielder of the Spirit of Vengeance.
PerhapsGhost Rider’s most unique talent is the power to transform any vehicle he uses into a supernaturally-charged version of itself.As well as demonstrating this with various motorcycles, the Ghost Rider’s ability to do so was also shown via the transformation of a horse and a crane across the hero’s two-film arc. Vehicle manipulation is not a superpower that many movie heroes can boast, making Ghost Rider an especially unique figure in the genre.
5Quill’s Whole-Body Spike Production
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
The mutant heroes and villains of the X-Men comics possess a wide array of weird and wonderful abilities, and a number of these made it into the movie adaptations.X-Men: The Last Standin particular featured several unusual superpowers, but none appeared to be quite as unique as Quill’s.Quill is able to produce porcupine-like quills all over his body, using them as lethal projectiles or as an effective shield against physical attack.
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is the third film in the X-Men series, featuring the conflict between mutants over a newly discovered cure for mutations. The film showcases the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, opposing the Brotherhood, led by Magneto, as tensions escalate within the mutant community.
InThe Last Stand, the character is shown using his ability to aid Magneto and the Omegas and combat the heroes of the X-Men. Quill’s porcupine-inspired powers are interesting, but that’s sadly not reflected in his screentime within the movie, as his role is a minor one. Even so, Quill’s spine-producing ability is certainly one-of-a-kind, particularly within theX-Menfranchise and especially when it comes to the ways he employs his power.
4Superman’s Memory-Wiping Kiss
Superman II (1980)
Manyactors have played Superman in live-action, but none have yet become as iconic as Christopher Reeve, who debuted in the role in 1978’sSuperman. The 1980 sequel,Superman II, saw Reeve reprise the role, and with it came the introduction of a unique and unexpected power. In the movie,Superman is somehow able to use a kiss to erase Lois Lane’s memory, adding another ability to his stable of impressive powers.
Superman II
Superman II (1980) sees Christopher Reeve reprise his role as the Man of Steel, battling General Zod (Terence Stamp) and his followers, who escape from the Phantom Zone and threaten Earth. Meanwhile, Superman must grapple with his feelings for Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and the loss of his powers. Directed by Richard Lester, the film combines elements of action, romance, and moral dilemmas, continuing the narrative of the iconic superhero.
Superman II’s amnesia-inducing kiss is unique, but the movie’s creative inclusions didn’t stop there. Later in the film, Superman is also able to capture General Zod by removing the S from his chest and throwing it at the villain, marking another unique and previously unseen power. As the quintessential superhero, Superman possesses a range of famous abilities, butSuperman IIalso saw him use a number of truly unique powers.
3TDK’s Detachable Limbs
Another ofThe Suicide Squad’s singular characters introduced early in the movie is The Detachable Kid, better known by the abbreviation TDK. Played by Nathan Fillion, the overconfident character is an early recruit of Task Force X, and another that is critically injured in the initial assault on Corto Maltese in the film’s opening sequence. Despite his short-lived appearance, TDK is able to mark himself as especially memorable by merit of his unique ability.
As shown in the movie,TDK has the ability to detach his own limbs and use them as weapons. After removing his arms, TDK telekinetically controls them and uses them as clubs in a bizarre and totally unique display of power. Whether the superpower itself is technically unique to TDK isn’t certain, but it seems unlikely that any other character would think to use their removed appendages in such a way.
2The Spleen’s Super-Flatulence
Mystery Men (1999)
Mystery Menis only a loose comic book adaptation, but it features a number of superheroes with relatively unique abilities. Among them, few stand out as clearly as the Spleen, a socially-awkward individual who was cursed as a teenager to forever live with terrible flatulence. Though initially unwanted by the other heroes, the Spleen joins the Mystery Men and becomes a valuable member of the team.
Mystery Men
Mystery Men is a 1999 superhero comedy film that features an ensemble cast including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, and Janeane Garofalo. Directed by Kinka Usher, the plot follows a group of underdog superheroes with unimpressive powers who must save their city from a formidable villain after the town’s real champion is captured. The film blends humor and action as the quirky team learns to work together.
The Spleen’s super flatulence allows him to pass gas at will, producing incredibly potent smellsthat are shown to be capable of rendering people unconscious. Even more strangely, he actually proves to be one of the Mystery Men’s more useful members using the ability, making him seem even more unique among his fellow heroes. The Spleen’s perpetual gas makes him a strange and especially crude hero, but it’s undeniably an incredibly unique power.
1Polka Dot Man’s Polka Dot Virus
Polka Dot Man made his live-action debut inThe Suicide Squad, played by David Dastalmachian. The villain is recruited as a part of Task Force X, and given the mission of infiltrating Corto Maltese, later leading to him becoming a key player in the battle against Starro the Conqueror. Polka Dot Man is also perhaps the most unique ofThe Suicide Squad’s varied characters, as his ability is one of the most visually and conceptually bizarre in the movie.
Polka Dot Man has the ability to produce multi-colored polka dots from his body and weaponize them. Stemming from an inter-dimensional virus, Polka Dot Man’s powers are strange but incredibly helpful, and prove vital in taking down Starro. Even so, his polka dot production is perhaps the most unique superpower to have appeared in the movies of theMCU, theDCU, and beyond.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
