Top 30 Times Superman Went Beast Mode

#30: Darkseid Destroyer

Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)

In the final episode of this cult classic show, the creators gave us what we desperately desired a full-blown bout between Superman and Darkseid. In Legacy - Part I, Supes had been brainwashed to think he was the adopted son of Apokolips ruler. In Part II, he gets his memories back and is really mad. After defeating Granny Goodness, the Female Furies, and Kalibak with ease, Superman battles Darkseid. However, hes weakened due to the lack of yellow sun energy and the previous battles. As Darkseid taunts Superman about killing those he loves, Clark blocks his Omega Beams with his hands, causing an explosion. With a broken Darkseid, Superman throws him to the slaves, expecting some form of crowd justice. Instead, they look after their ruler.

#29: Absolute Power

Superman/Batman #15 (2005)

Usually, when Superman and Batman team up, they do so heroically and with as few casualties as possible. During the 2005 comic story Absolute Power in Superman/Batman, that wasnt the case. The duo had their lives changed when future villains Lightning Lord, Saturn Queen, and Cosmic King went back in time to manipulate their origins, raising them to be their weapons. At one point, this involved Superman vaporizing Green Arrow. However, when Wonder Woman raised a resistance against their rule, she ended up taking Batmans life. Clark, now enraged, held nothing back as he took her life with her own lasso. He then applied similar gestures to the rest of her team. Yikes.

#28: Yellow Lantern Superman

Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Two #24 (2014)

In a world where Superman snaps and becomes a dictator, there are plenty of times he lets loose in the comic series. But none are quite as effortless as this. After Black Canary tries to assassinate him, Superman is inducted into the Yellow Lanterns, as he can instill great fear. This allows him to remove the Green Kryptonite bullet, causing him to seemingly kill her. But hes not done. A powered-up Clark cleaves through the Green Lanterns, coming face-to-face with Ganthet. After shrugging off the guardians lethal attack, Superman slams him into the sentient planet and Green Lantern powerhouse member Mogo. Despite both blasting Clark, he pushes the two into the sun.

#27: Cousin Revenge

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)

If there's anything to take from this video for villains, never attack Supermans loved ones. In the 2010 animated film Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Darkseid didnt heed this warning as he captured his cousin, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, brainwashing her into the Furies. When shes later released, Darkseid arrives to attack Earth. After whacking Superman into space, Darkseid and Kara battle furiously. He eventually knocks her out. However, now enraged by the attack on his cousin, Supes flies in and combats Darkseid, devastating the landscape. Just as Darkseid gets the upper hand, Kara opens a Mother Box, allowing Superman to blast him into the portal with the threat that if he returned, he wont be going back to Apokolips.

#26: Superman the Executioner

Superman #22 (1988)

Often, comic covers can be misleading about what actually happens in the panels. However, 1988s cover of issue 22 of Superman barely did this. Essentially, all that was misdirection was the hood. Featuring a tale that had notorious Kryptonian criminals General Zod, Zaora, and Quex-Ul running rampant in the Pocket Universe, laying waste to the Earth and its heroes. Superman was alerted to the danger and entered to stop them. With the kryptonite not affecting him as its from this universe, Superman used Gold Kryptonite to take away the trios powers. However, after they declared theyd get their powers back and would destroy Supermans Earth, he whipped out the Green Kryptonite, taking their lives. Zaora even offering services as she perished was haunting.

#25: Half Doomsday

Superman: Doomed #1 (2014)

Doomsday is one of Supermans biggest baddies. He constantly evolves, making weaknesses no longer a problem. Well, in the 2014 Doomed comic story, he took things up to a massive level. Simply by being in his vicinity, material will disintegrate due to his toxins. This caused him to wipe out a million animals within a day, making the wildebeest endangered, and severely injuring heroes and killing civilians. When Superman faced him, he had no choice but to go all out against the Behemoth as he took Doomsday into space. Even though he incinerated the creature, Doomsday came back for more. With no choice, Superman tore Doomsday in half, inhaling the ashes and becoming infected with the Doomsday virus.

#24: The Solar Flare

Superman #38 (2015)

Superman is well-known for having a lot of O.P. abilities. However, none of those come close to his solar flare. In the 2015 story The Men of Tomorrow, Clark met Ulysses, a character who shares a similar origin to his. However, when Superman inadvertently destroys Ulyssess Great World, the two go to battle as Ulysses announces his intention to obliterate Earth. During it, Clark blasts him with his trusty heat vision. However, with Supes using his heat vision to its limit, the new solar flare power erupts. All of Clarks cells send out their stored solar energy, causing a massive wave of explosive force. If Ulysses werent superhuman, hed have been turned to dust, just like the landscape was.

#23: Infected Superman

DCeased #5 (2019)

In a world where a corrupt Anti-Life Equation has essentially turned people into zombies, theres drama and darkness at every turn in the comic series DCeased. Superman becomes infected when taking out a rampaging Flash. Before he can get far enough away from Earth, the Equation takes over, turning the planets biggest hitter into its worst nightmare. This infected Superman obliterates a New York City building with survivors within. He then levels most of the city. Even after Wonder Woman battles him with a Green Kryptonite magic sword, Superman still infects her. Next, he tries to stop the survivors from leaving, only being stopped by his son. When the numbers against him are too much, Superman goes into the sun and slowly drains it.

#22: Destroying the World Forger's Multiverse

Justice League #25 (2019)

With the Legion of Doom and the multiverse-creating celestial Perpetua threatening existence, Superman entered the Sixth Dimension in the same-named 2019 story to stop them. However, within moments, an older Superman appears. However, that wasnt Clark, but Perpetuas son, Alpheus, AKA the World Forger. The real Superman was trapped by him on a barren, sunless planet, filled with the remains of other Supermen as his power and essence deplete. However, after the Justice League realizes the deception, Batman manages to get yellow suns into the prison. Clark quickly begins to super-charge, so much so that his flight can be heard across dimensions. He lays up a punch that not only clocks Alpheus but destroys the multiverse hed created.

#21: Superman Smash

Marvel Versus DC #3 (1996)

In the biggest crossover event of the century, the publishing juggernauts of Marvel and DC smashed their universes together in 1996. With a story that one universe would end, a competition was put together, giving fans a chance to see match-ups theyd only dreamed about. In issue 3, one of Marvels strongest heroes, Hulk, took on DCs equivalent, Superman. With the battle taking place in the Grand Canyon, the duo could go to town. The Hulk holds little back with furious strikes and shrugs off mullet-haired Supermans heat vision. Fearing for his loved ones existences, Supes lets his full might out with a single punch across the Hulks head, knocking the beast unconscious, a feat very few have replicated.

#20: Stopping President Luthor

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)

While the evil genius isnt usually a physical match for the man of steel, the antagonist was able to even the odds with the help of kryptonite and a powerful suit. Lex initially overwhelms Superman in a direct fight. But when the villains plans seemingly lead to Batmans demise, the rage filled Kryptonian lashes out. Superman completely disregards Kryptonite enhanced lasers so he can break Luthors suit. When the villain was at a vulnerable position, Superman gave his foe an express ticket to the ground and disabled the suit. None of Lexs considerable brainpower could save him from the heros beast mode beatdown.

#19: Wrecking One Final Robot

My Adventures with Superman (2023-)

Before Clark started saving everyone as a world famous hero, he was just another Daily Planet intern that wanted to be normal. When his coworkers Lois and Jimmy get targeted by a big robot during an investigation, the Kryptonian leaned into his super heritage to save them. Clark got off to a great start by dispatching a mechanical monstrosity with strength and smarts. Unfortunately, he got hurt when multiple robots were sent after him at once. Once Clark saw Lois was in grave danger, he pushed past his wounds and limits and reached an entirely new level of power. His final punch even sent the robot towards the stratosphere! This victory served as an early sign that this version of Clark was a powerhouse.

#18: Lifting An Island

Superman Returns (2006)

A twisted scheme from Lex Luthor resulted in the creation of a huge island that was made out of constantly growing crystals and kryptonite. In order to stop the landmass from permanently damaging the earth, Superman decided to pick it up and put it down in space. The fact that he was able to lift something island-sized is impressive on its own. But what makes this feat more impressive is the knowledge that his greatest weakness was expanding within the andmass too. Although Superman shouldve been too weak to even think about lifting, he defied expectations and didn't stop until the terrible island had been sent into the vacuum of space. His unbreakable willpower showed everyone why he was nicknamed the man of steel.

#17: Beating Bizarro

Superman & Lois (2021-)

During this superhero series, were introduced to a Bizarro man of steel that has all the strengths of Superman with slightly different powers and weaknesses. He inevitably found himself trading blows with a traditional version of the Krytponian. The classic Superman punched Bizzarro through buildings and unleashed tons of abilities. When powers alone didnt do the trick, the good Clark took advantage of his enemys weakness to a substance called X-kryptonite. Superman decided to hold two of the crystals in his hand and to not stop punching until Bizarro was unconscious. Clarks vicious tactics kept his enemy from committing more acts of violence.

#16: Crushing Captain Marvel [AKA Shazam]

Justice League: Unlimited (2004-06)

After Lex Luthor built a mysterious device underneath a city, Superman was unwilling to let it operate freely. But when the Kryptonian tried to stop it, Captain Marvel defended the villains invention. It didnt take long before a verbal disagreement turned into an all out brawl between the godlike heroes. Although Captain Marvels combination of formidable strength and magical powers was a problem, Superman kept overwhelming his foe at every turn. The fight led to the savage moment where the man of steel forced Shazam to get hit by magical lightning. We understand exactly why Captain Marvel resigned from the Justice League after this brutal clash.

#15: Reversing The Earths Rotation

Superman (1978)

There was a moment where it appeared that Christopher Reeves Superman had lost Lois Lane due to a tragic accident. After holding her in his arms, the man of steel realized that he couldnt accept her death. Overcome with emotion, Superman flew into space and moved so fast that he reversed the rotation of the earth. His beast mode actions broke the natural laws of physics and allowed him to reverse time. Once Superman went back far enough, he casually started moving forward in time and returned to find that Lois was alive again. Although the science of how any of that worked was questionable, his speedy time travel made for an undeniably iconic sequence.

#14: Making Mongul Pay

Justice League: Unlimited (2004-06)

The villainous Mongul thought he could trap Superman in a fantasy world and get away with it. But as soon as the hero was freed from the villains trap, the extremely angry Clark flew to get revenge. Superman mercilessly smacked Mongul around with truly vicious hits. The hero also inflicted pain with his heat vision. At one point, Superman pummeled Mongul so hard that the villains face was literally bent out of shape. Clarks friends eventually stepped in and trapped the antagonist in a twisted fantasy. But if Supermans battle had continued, he might not have shown Mongul any mercy.

#13: An Unjust Superman Stops Holding Back

Injustice (2021)

Once it becomes clear a murderous variant of Superman wont stop killing, a good version of the man of steel is brought from another dimension. After words fail to reach the corrupt Kryptonian, the two trade blows and lasers. The good Clark gets the upper hand at first. But when the twisted Superman gets backed into a corner, he stops holding back. The unjust Kryptonian tosses his opponent around the world. Not only does this twisted Superman uppercut his opponent into space, but he also smacks the good Clarks down into the Earth. It takes a surprise visit from a variant of Lois Lane to calm this corrupted hero down. Were honestly unsure if the good Superman couldve stopped his relentless and unjust counterpart.

#12: Stomping Out Steppenwolf

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

From the moment Superman arrived to confront Steppenwolf, it was abundantly clear who would come out on top. Although the villain had killed Amazons and Atlanteans with his axe, the weapon was an utter joke to the man of steel. Superman continued to embarrass Steppenwolf by outspeeding and overpowering the antagonist with virtually no effort. And to add insult to injury, Superman deliberately lasers off one of the villains horns. We almost felt bad that Steppenwolf ended up on the wrong side of this absolute slaughter. But he shouldve known better to mess with earth when this incredible Superman was around.

#11: Thrashing Darkseid

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

In this grim tale, Darkseid rendered Superman powerless before dumping the hero on a dying Earth. When the man of steel got his abilities back, he harnessed all his pent up rage to deliver a harsh beating. Superman unleashed a flurry of devastating blows and even punched Darkseid while the villain wad down. When the antagonist tried to use his famous Omega beams, Clark attempted to perform some impromptu eye surgery to stop the villain. Supermans righteous rampage was only interrupted when the sinister Trigon tagged himself into the battle. Darkseid was lucky that a fellow villain spared him from Supermans immeasurable wrath.

#10: Supercharging Himself With Solar Power

Superman & Lois (2021-)

Ally Alston aimed to become all powerful by merging two worlds together. To make matters worse, she drained Superman of all his powers. With two earths hanging in the balance, Clark volunteered to be thrown into the sun to get his abilities back. Superman withstands the power of the star and emerges more formidable than he ever was before. Hes so mighty that he actually encourages Ally to try and absorb the immense power he held within his body. After it becomes too much for her to handle, he defeats two versions of the villain and captures them. For his victory lap, Clark flies around two earths and unleashes the solar energy within him. The supercharged Supermans actions shone brighter than the sun itself.

#9: Killing Brainiac

Smallville (2001-11)

When youre a teenager, it can be tough to manage your emotions. But add to that superpowers and a psychotic supervillain, and youve got a recipe for some serious mayhem. As Brainiac is cornered by teenage Superman, the maniac teases him, knowing that whatever he does, hell have the last laugh. In a fit of rage, Clark sends him flying into an electrical grid. He then shoves cables through his chest, frying the villain from the inside out. He didnt just want to finish Brainiac, he wanted him to suffer.

#8: Cranky Superman

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-11)

Kryptonite cant only remove the Man of Steels powers. With a color change, this material can wreak arguably worse havoc. During Battle of the Super-Heroes!, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are tricked by Lex Luthor into exposing Superman to Red Kryptonite. This drastically changes his personality to that of a sadistic, heartless, grade-A meanie. He tries to kill Toyman, disowns Krypto the Superdog, and becomes the self-proclaimed King of Metropolis. He completely disregards and actively seeks to kill his friends, but Batman manages to stop him before he can do too much damage.

#7: Superman Awakens

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

In perhaps the most anticipated moment in the Justice League movie, Aquaman, Wonderwoman, Flash, Cyborg and Batman all join forces to resurrect a dead Kal-El to prepare for SteppenWolfs invasion. But as he wakes up, hes got a little more than the morning krankies. Completely turning against his allies, Superman pummels everyone in the team, dropping them one by one, completely outmatching their abilities. With Batman being the last left standing, Sups drops him down to size with some devastating heat vision which not even the Bats gauntlet can fully absorb. Its only when Lois Lane arrives that hes able to snap out of his raging state. Otherwise, things might have gotten a bit out of hand.

#6: Clark Kent vs. Evil Superman

Superman III (1983)

Superman breaks bad AGAIN! After being exposed to synthetic Kryptonite, Superman gets drunk and starts wreaking havoc. When the good-natured Clark Kent splits from him, things start to get serious. The two duke it out, dealing savage superpowered blows to each other. Whats particularly notable about this moment is that while we expect Evil Superman to get savage, his good side doesnt hold back either, tossing his dark counterpart into a pool of acid! Eventually, Kent gets the upper hand and chokes out his other self, allowing the two to fuse and become whole again.

#5: Superman Takes Down Doomsday

Death of Superman (2018)

Every time the blue boy scout takes one of the universes deadliest aliens, we know were in for an awesome scene. Seeing Supe pick up a kryptonite spear and beat Doomsday after being impaled was pretty fantastic. (*xref) However, Clark gets an even more impressive moment in the animated movie. After Doomsday defeats all of the Justice League, Superman becomes Earth's last stand against the beastly Doomsday. The Kryptonian eventually gives everything in his body to attack the villain one last time. Supermans final blow breaks his foes neck instantly. Although Clark doesnt survive the battle, he won the war against Doomsday in an absolutely beastly way.

#4: Killing General Zod

Man of Steel (2013)

Many stories about this invincible hero tend to be more about moral choices than overcoming the odds. As a result, going beast mode in this entry didnt mean losing his temper, but breaking the one rule that separates him from his enemies. Kal-El gets General Zod in a headlock, but Zod is about to kill a trapped family and Superman faces a difficult decision. In a move that proved controversial, Superman crosses a line that he never thought he would. He gives in and savagely breaks his fellow Kryptonians neck, leaving him lifeless on the floor. Superman may have saved lives, but he had to dig into a dark place to do it.

#3: Superman Overwhelms the Kryptonians

Superman II (1980)

Christopher Reeves portrayal of the hero was more optimistic and less edgy than more recent interpretations. This is why Superman taking down his enemies when theyre helpless seems so darkly out of character. After cornering him in the Fortress of Solitude, Zod orders Superman into a crystal chamber, hoping to expose him to Red Sunlight and remove his powers. However, Superman planned for this. He reversed the process, exposing his enemies while keeping himself safe, leaving them entirely powerless. He crushes Zods hand with an iron grip and sends him falling into an endless pit, his posse joining him shortly after. Afterward, Kent cant help but smirk as it all came together.

#2: Superman vs. Darkseid

Justice League Unlimited (2004-06)

Since Superman is so powerful, it can be hard to know if hes using his full capabilities. That wasnt in question during the acclaimed animated series Justice League Unlimited when Kal-El comes face to face with the Lord of Apokolips. Lecturing him about how delicate his world is, the Dark God starts to realize what hes gotten himself into as our red and blue protector sends shockwaves across the city. Here we as the audience get a glimpse of what a pissed-off Superman looks like!

#1: Superman Loses It

Superman vs. The Elite (2012)

Ever wonder what would happen if Superman lost it? Enter Manchester Black and his team: The Elite. This superhuman gang thinks that killing is the best way to deliver justice and keep the peace. Our boy scout disagrees and the two come to blows. Superman is sent into a seizure by Blacks psychic abilities and then blasted into oblivion Or so it seems. He takes out the team one by one, declaring that killing IS the answer after all. He even burns out part of Blacks brain. Fortunately, it was all a trick to isolate and remove their powers. Well, except Blacks lobotomy; that was real. And now we know that if Superman gave in to his darker instincts, no one would stand a chance.

When Superman is letting loose completely, is there any fictional character who could stop him? Let us know below!