18 Dumbest and Most Useless Superheroes of All Time

One delightful aspect of comic book fictional worlds is their collection of superheroes, who have long been the heart and soul of these stories. Over the years, they’ve introduced numerous unforgettable characters that have left indelible marks on popular culture. Characters like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and many more, are powerful figures whose coolness is frequently debated – discussions about who’s cooler, stronger, or simply superior never seem to end. It’s also worth noting that some superheroes can be quite peculiar, leaving us questioning their original creators – perhaps they had a glimpse into the future and knew these characters would become part of this list one day.

This piece showcases our top selections of the least intelligent and seemingly pointless superheroes across all time. We’ll delve into the origins and abilities of these characters, focusing on Marvel and DC comics given their widespread popularity. For those intrigued by this topic, we invite you to read through until the conclusion of the article.

18. Gunfire (DC)

Let’s kick off our list with the DC comics superhero known as Gunfire. This character made his debut in the Deathstroke comic series back in 1993. Since then, he has become a recurring figure within the DC universe, featuring in several prominent comic book storylines such as Bloodlines and DC One Million among others.

What makes Gunfire part of this roster? It’s because Gunfire possesses a distinctive trait – he can convert any item into a firearm and discharge shots from it. This is quite extraordinary, even for the DC comics universe, and it’s important to note that Gunfire doesn’t hold the most peculiar or illogical power on this compilation. Instead, Gunfire alters the structure of objects at an atomic level, causing them to eject their molecular mass as powerful bullets.

According to his profile, that’s what he claims. Furthermore, Gunfire has the ability to transform stationary items into hand grenades and battle his adversaries – Deathstroke experienced this firsthand. Some might argue that this power isn’t just dumb or useless, but even his comic book appearances don’t exactly stand out in terms of impact.

17. Triathlon (Marvel)

Initially, I thought Triathlon was just a sport. But delving into such subjects opens up a wealth of knowledge, and boy, was I taken aback to discover that the Marvel universe has a character named Triathlon!

What is it about him that makes him so extraordinary? Both Triathlon and 3-D Man possess extraordinary physical abilities such as superhuman strength, speed, endurance, agility, rapid recovery, and Skrull vision (with special goggles). Delroy Garret Jr. believes his powers stem from the Triune Understanding religion, but in reality, they were bestowed upon him by a mysterious artifact that augmented his physique.

Garret’s former profession as an elite athlete who competed in the Olympics and bagged three gold medals is what gave us the name Triathlon. This competition significantly boosted Garret’s abilities, making him equivalent to a professional sprinter thrice over.

As a movie critic, I find myself perplexed by the inclusion of Garret, whose backstory bears an uncanny resemblance to that of sprinter Ben Johnson – tainted by doping scandals and stripped of his Olympic gold in 1988. Frankly, it feels odd and almost superfluous to introduce such a character into the comic book world. However, everyone’s path is unique, and perhaps there’s a compelling narrative waiting to be unveiled here.

16. Wild Dog (DC)

Following up, there’s Wild Dog, a DC comics vigilante I’m referring to next. Another individual on this list, Jack Wheeler, secured a college football scholarship. Unfortunately, an injury took him out of the team, and he had to abandon his academic journey. A series of unfortunate events plagued poor Jack until he stumbled upon the murder of Claire Smith, who turned out to be the daughter of Chicago’s crime boss.

In a turn of events, Wheeler adopts the alias “Wild Dog” to combat criminal activities within the Quad Cities. As a self-appointed guardian of his city, he uses his skills in firearms, physical combat, mechanical engineering, and artistry to uphold justice. Admittedly, his abilities might not seem extraordinary, but they make him quite formidable against local lawbreakers.

Ultimately, Wild Dog may resonate with certain readers, yet DC has only utilized Wheeler’s original intent to portray him as an ordinary man transformed into a vigilante without any additional purpose. It’s hardly shocking that his last appearance in DC comics was back in 2008.

15. Big Bertha (Marvel)

Ashley Crawford, who also goes by the name Big Bertha, possesses an intriguing array of talents that landed her on this list. Known for her superhero persona, she has the unique ability to change her physical dimensions, even manipulating mass matter. Standing tall and mighty, she is a member of the Great Lake Avengers team.

To be frank, Big Bertha’s portrayal in the comics borders on questionable at times. While she isn’t necessarily a problematic character overall, an incident where she resorted to vomiting to regain a thin and sexualized appearance left many Marvel enthusiasts feeling uneasy. Her powers do have their uses, but they often come across as rather silly in practical applications.

14. Rainbow Girl (DC)

As we progress down this list, an increasing number of eccentric superheroes exhibit their unique abilities. One such character is Rainbow Girl, whose powers remain perplexing despite her debut in 1963. Originating from the 30th Century, Dori Aandraison has been featured in significant DC comic book events like Blackest Night. However, her power set includes a mystifying emotional spectrum, leading to unforeseeable mood fluctuations.

It’s clear that Rainbow Girl’s abilities often prove to be ineffective, and even well-known DC writer Geoff Johns acknowledged his confusion over her powers while featuring her in the Blackest Night storyline. If this doesn’t highlight a significant issue with Rainbow Girl, I’m not sure what would.

13. Mr. Immortal (Marvel)

In the latest She-Hulk television show, we witnessed Mr. Immortal’s abilities – he cannot perish or meet his end. Craig Hollis debuted in 1989 and has been an integral member of the Great Lakes Avengers since their formation. Some other members have previously appeared on this list, and without a doubt, Mr. Immortal deserves to be included too.

Currently, we’re discussing a character known as Mr. Immortal. He possesses exceptional athletic skills and, as his name implies, is immortal. However, many believe that his powers are not particularly intelligent or effective – some might even say they’re downright dumb. Mr. Immortal finds himself in the same league as Triathlon; he has the potential to be useful, but it’s uncommon for him to make a significant impact.

12. Friendly Fire (DC)

Among the strangely conceived and seemingly unintelligent superheroes created by DC Comics is a character named Friendly Fire. This unique individual possesses the ability to project energy onto others, but ironically, he’s unable to directly hit his intended target. In the heat of battle, he tends to strike his fellow teammates instead. In an intriguing comic book issue, Friendly Fire even beheaded one of his comrades inadvertently.

Friendly Fire is often criticized as one of the least effective and most ill-conceived superheroes created, with a relatively brief stint in DC Comics that lasted only from 1997 to 2000.

11. NFL SuperPro (Marvel)

If you found DC’s peculiar and seemingly useless character intriguing, Marvel has a contender. The NFL SuperPro, or Phil Grayfield, graced the pages of a brief Marvel comic book series. After an injury ended his football career, Grayfield transformed into a superhero. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Interestingly, Fabian Nicieza, who is renowned for creating Deadpool, admitted that he created the character to secure free tickets to NFL games.

The comic book series is often considered among the poorest in comic book lore, with NFL SuperPro being rarely mentioned, unless it’s included on such lists.

10. Arm-Fall-Off-Boy (DC)

In our youth, many kids dream about the incredible abilities associated with comic book superheroes, envisioning themselves as these characters. Just like others, I had dreams of being Storm, Jean Grey, or Wonder Woman. However, it never crossed my mind that my powers would involve losing a limb and using it violently against someone.

Indeed, it’s no surprise that DC chose to highlight some less essential characters over Marvel, and Arm-Fall-Off-Boy was undeniably one of those choices. In the grand scheme of DC comics, this peculiar superhero is a member of their extensive superhero team. Following the Post-Zero Hour continuity, his name has been changed to Splitter, but he remains an unusual character nonetheless.

9. Almighty Dollar (Marvel)

It seems you underestimated the return of the NFL SuperPro character; instead, allow me to introduce you to Almighty Dollar, another figure from the NFL SuperPro comic books. Although he was featured in just a single issue, his peculiar abilities have left an indelible mark on some Marvel comics enthusiasts.

As a film enthusiast, I’d like to share an intriguing observation about a character named J. Pennington Pennypacker from a comic series. This fellow has an extraordinary ability – he can launch one-cent coins from his wrist as powerful projectiles. Initially, it may appear useful, with potential applications in combat and finance. However, despite this unique skill, the character failed to leave a significant impact on readers, and for good reason. He was part of a comic that simply didn’t resonate or matter all that much.

8. Booster Gold (DC)

For certain enthusiasts, it might stir debate because Booster Gold is generally well-liked; however, he makes an appearance on this list next. Known for his comedic antics in DC comics, Booster Gold eventually forms a bond with Blue Beetle and the entire Justice League.

Nevertheless, the humor provided by the character didn’t fully conceal the superhero’s weakness in strength. Yet, despite criticisms about Booster Gold being insignificant and unhelpful (even his buddy, Blue Beetle, couldn’t escape this assessment), Booster Gold has been garnering more admiration from fans in recent times.

7. Leather Boy (Marvel)

Among the unusual superheroes on this roster, there’s Leather Boy, who, despite being a member of the Great Lakes Avengers – known for their comedic relief in Marvel comics and leaving an impact in certain storylines – was actually powerless. This revelation led to him being ousted from the team. His exclusion was particularly frustrating for him, especially when Squirrel Girl joined the Great Lakes Avengers, which seemed to add salt to his wounds.

In a turn of events, the character known as Leather Boy was responsible for the demise of Monkey Joe, a companion of Squirrel Girl, as well as Mr. Immortal. Interestingly, Leather Boy’s name and characteristics stem from his interest in BDSM practices, which are centered around elements of control, pain, and pleasure during sexual activities. This is reflected in his appearance and persona.

6. Color Kid (DC)

A different character from the Legion of Superheroes makes an appearance – it’s the Color Kid. Despite his powers often being unhelpful, he earns a place on this list due to their seemingly not-so-smart nature, if you will, in a friendly manner.

In simpler terms, the Character known as Color Kid possesses the ability to alter an item’s color whenever he wishes. Throughout much of his time in DC comics, Color Kid seemed to spend his days performing tasks that appeared to be pointless, but eventually, he found ways to enhance his power and use it more effectively as a tool for concealment.

As a passionate cinephile, I must admit that what seems to be of no advantage to Color Kid is the Legendary Flight Ring he carries. The unfortunate reality is, fellow members of the Legion of Superheroes also possess these cosmic artifacts.

5. Cypher (Marvel)

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I can’t help but yearn for the ability to communicate with everyone universally – Omnilingual Translation. Just like Cypher, I dream of understanding every language, be it human or alien, and bridging the communication gap between species. However, in combat situations, I fear my skills would be as limited as his, leaving me more of a mediator than a fighter. And let’s be honest, while he has potential, Cypher is not exactly a fan favorite.

It’s clear that fans frequently wrote to the creators of Marvel comics advocating for the death of the character, and eventually, this happened. This seems like a strong indication that Cypher was not particularly valuable or essential in the comics, at least as far as fan opinion goes.

4. Mister America (DC)

In contrast to many other superheroes that emerged during the Golden Age of comics, Mister America was quite renowned. However, his fame was eclipsed by characters from the DC universe who possessed greater power. Despite being an exceptional detective and a proficient combatant, Mister America consistently struggles to make an impact in most DC comic book storylines.

In essence, this character is a reflection of the era from which he originated, and it’s important to remember that the creators were simply responding to their time when they developed and launched him. However, when it comes to combat situations, he appears to lack strength and often proves ineffective.

3. Hindsight Lad (Marvel)

It’s not enjoyable to encounter individuals who continually point out the obvious, especially when events have already transpired. Sadly, Carlton LaFroyge, or better known as Hindsight Lad, is exactly that kind of person. Initially, he was an unremarkable computer geek with no meaningful activities in his life. However, his neighbor Robbie Baldwin turns out to be a member of the New Warriors under the alias Speedball. Leveraging this knowledge to force Baldwin to disclose his secret identity, LaFroyge ultimately becomes a part of the New Warriors as Hindsight Lad.

Indeed, he doesn’t possess any extraordinary abilities beyond stating the apparent. In the comics, he served as a source of humor, yet he could also become quite irritating, which, it must be said, was his most notable accomplishment.

2. Stone Boy (DC)

In the future, an additional member joins the team of Stand-in Superheroes, and his name is Stone Boy. This character serves as a tangible embodiment of a prop, and let me tell you, he was frequently utilized for comedic purposes.

Stoneboy possesses the ability to turn into a stationary stone-like form and remains immobile during this transformation. This unique trait makes him suitable for inclusion on this list. Interestingly, after some time had passed, Stoneboy acquired an additional power – he can now move while still in his stone state. Quite convenient, isn’t it?

1. Bailey Hoskins (Marvel)

To round things off, we have Bailey Hoskins, a Marvel comics character. This young man attended Xavier’s School for Exceptional Students, but unlike other mutants, his abilities are both harmless and seemingly pointless – he can explode himself. In an interesting twist, Bailey was the central figure in the X-Men: The Least Capable X-Man comic book series, which debuted in 2016.

In the comic series, it’s evident when used that Bailey’s powers are often self-destructive and seemingly worthless. Yet, in the end, he chose to sacrifice himself, making him a hero against all odds. Unfortunately, Bailey Hoskins, our tragic hero, perished in the Earth-TRN656 universe, despite his powers being more of a liability than an asset most times. Alas, poor Bailey.

2025-05-23 13:48