--- title: Research Proves That Superman Is The Best, Batman Is Last description: A study at the University of Leicester has found a scientific answer to the long the hotly-debated question, which superhero is the best? canonical: https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-06-13T16:17:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:33:17.437Z og:title: According to Science, This Superhero Is The Best og:description: And it's definitely not Batman. og:url: https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta8af2640722ace9b/6988978fab6d77b00b6aa0aa/batman-superman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: LEBANON-ENTERTAINMENT-CINEMA-BATMAN-SUPERMAN og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: According to Science, This Superhero Is The Best twitter:description: And it's definitely not Batman. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta8af2640722ace9b/6988978fab6d77b00b6aa0aa/batman-superman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Superhero Is the Best, According to Science > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 13, 2016 4:17 PM UTC  (PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images) (PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images) PATRICK BAZ-Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Jun 13, 2016 4:17 PM UTC A seven-year study at the [Univeristy of Leicester](http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2016/june/who2019s-the-best-equipped-superhero-student-research-settles-2018superpower-showdown2019) has used scientific research to answer the age-old question: [Which superhero is the best](http://time.com/4268724/batmanvsuperman-review-movie-ben-affleck-henry-cavill/)? Using scientific principles to examine the “feasibility of the powers behind renowned comic book superheroes,” students at the university ranked everyone from Superman to The Flash on their probability of being able to win a fight. The student-led research concluded that [Superman](http://time.com/4271903/science-of-superman-batman-v-superman/) is the “best-equipped” superhero of the pack, thanks to his “Super Flare” attack and his high density muscle tissue, while fellow superheroes Wolverine, Thor and Mystique are also classed in the upper-tier of crusaders, thanks to their “accelerated regenerative abilities, high energy output and being capable of gene manipulation.” The most destructive superhero title goes to the Black Bolt, whose high energy output is “capable of resulting in planetary annihilation.” However [anti-hero Batman was named the “most ill-equipped,”](http://time.com/4269544/batman-v-superman-easter-spoilers-easter-eggs/) which probably comes as no surprise considering the Dark Knight has to rely on his wits and a cape, as opposed to superhuman powers. While the research is more for kicks and giggles and relies heavily on the interpretation of the student researchers, the supplemental papers show that the students can back it all up with physics. Dr. Cheryl Hurkett of the university’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Science told [_Gizmodo_](http://gizmodo.com/which-superhero-is-best-research-says-definitely-not-b-1781818346) that she encourages her student’s creativity, especially when it comes to research. “I encourage them to be as creative as possible with their subject choices,” she said. “As long as they can back it up with hard scientific facts, theories and calculations!” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/"},"headline":"This Superhero Is the Best, According to Science","datePublished":"2016-06-13T16:17:39.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:33:17.437Z","description":"And it's definitely not Batman","url":"https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Entertainment","Superheroes"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta8af2640722ace9b/6988978fab6d77b00b6aa0aa/batman-superman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta8af2640722ace9b/6988978fab6d77b00b6aa0aa/batman-superman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"LEBANON-ENTERTAINMENT-CINEMA-BATMAN-SUPERMAN","caption":"LEBANON-ENTERTAINMENT-CINEMA-BATMAN-SUPERMAN","creditText":"PATRICK BAZ-Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4366429/best-superhero-worst-marvel-dc-superman/","name":"This Superhero Is the Best, According to Science"}}]}] ```