Take Me To Your Heroes
The Doctor: “There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea’s asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, and somewhere else the tea’s getting cold. Come on, Ace. We’ve got work to do.”
Doctor Who “Survival” (Season 26, Episode 4)
Earth must be the universe’s dumping grounds. It is constantly getting invaded in fiction. Sometimes the aliens want to take over the world. They might be searching for some forgotten macguffin of infinite power. Heck, they might just think humans are crunchy and good with space-ketchup. But monsters are not the only things descending from the endless void. Heroes dwell among the stars.
There are several reasons that aliens become superheroes. They might have crashed on Earth and decided to help out until they fix their ship. They may have been chasing monsters from their homeworld to Earth. Perhaps they are just here to help out us puny earthlings as part of the Green Man’s Burden.
Whatever the reason, these alien superheroes are here to help. So let’s rank the top five alien superheroes.
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#5 Martian Manhunter
Played by David Harewood and Carl Lumbly
J’onn: “I’m coming too”
The Flash “Duet” (Season 3, Episode 17)
Vibe: “Look, J’onn. I respect this whole special agent situation you’ve got going on. But this problem right here needs someone with [J’onn transforms to his Martian form]...green skin and a sick-ass cape.”
J’onn: “Call me the Martian Manhunter.”
Mon-El: “I think you’ll find that J’onn’s a lot more than just a pretty face.”
J’onn J’onzz was a Martian policeman drafted into a war between the Green Martians and their war-like counterparts, the White Martians. J’onn’s battles molded him into an expert warrior. The Greens were on the verge of victory when the Whites incinerated most Martians with a doomsday device.
J’onn survived the apocalyptic weapon because a scientist teleported him to Earth. With everyone he loved dead and no forthcoming options, J’onn returned to police work. By day, he was detective John Jones. But when he needed to use his powers, he would return to his true form and fight crime as the Martian Manhunter.
Our Martian Manhunter backstory has all the details you need to know about your new favorite Martian.
#4 Ultraman
Played by Susumu Kurobe and Hisashi Kondo.
Alien Mephilas: “What are you, Ultraman? Are you an alien… or a human?”
Ultraman “The Forbidden Words” (Season 1, Episode 33)
Ultraman: “I am both. I was born to fight those who break universal laws, like you.”
Alien superheroes don’t always land in America. In fact, there are times you might think that Tokyo is the center of the universe for how many alien threats appear there. Luckily, there is always a superhero ready to protect Japan, and Ultraman is one of the biggest.
An energy being later called Ultraman chased an alien criminal to Earth. While subduing the cosmic crook, he accidentally killed a soldier named Hayata. Ultraman bonded his energy to Hayata’s body, resurrecting him. He then created a device called the Beta Capsule, that allowed Hayata to transform into Ultraman and fight aliens threatening the Earth.
Ultraman has been the inspiration for countless alien superheroes. Our exclusive Ultraman backstory has the scoop on his life and powers.
#3 Starfire
Played by Hynden Walch and Anna Diop
Starfire: [Gasps] “Beautiful, tell me again what they are called?”
Teen Titans, “Sisters” (Season 1, Episode 2)
Robin: “Fireworks.”
Starfire: “On my home planet, such explosions would mean the Gordanians were attacking. You are certain Earth is not under attack?”
Koriand’r was the princess of the planet Tamaran. The Tamaraneans lost a war against another civilization called The Citadel when they were betrayed by the traitorous princess Blackfire. To save her people, Koriand’r agreed to become a political hostage. Unknown to Tameran, Blackfire ordered Koriand’r enslaved, raped, and tortured.
Koriand’r was later abducted by another species that performed experiments on her that gave her the ability to fire lasers called Starbolts from her hands. She escaped from her captors and fled to an insignificant blue planet called Earth. There, Koriand’r gained the name Starfire and found allies in the form of the Teen Titans.
Her road to recovery was long, but Starfire walked it, turning from an enslaved victim into one of the most powerful alien superheroes. Our Starfire Backstory has the details.
#2 Superman
Played by Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill (among others)
Tommy Monaghan: “Culture? History? What the hell is that, a bunch of stuff your folks said you hadda believe in all your life? Does that make it real? But you, man. You showed ’em how it’s done. You’re the classic immigrant guy who comes to the States an’ joins the meltin’ pot. It’s like you’re sayin’ — okay, I’m from planet Krypton or wherever, but that’s all in the past. I’m startin’ over. I’m American. What can I do to help?”
Hitman #34
I get the feeling that you already know who Superman is. If you don’t, then I need to get back to work.
Yes, the most famous superhero is also one of the greatest alien superheroes. The Last Son of Krypton rocketed to Earth to be saved from his planet’s destruction. He landed in Kansas and was raised by kindly farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. Earth’s sun gives him superhuman abilities, which he uses to become Superman.
Honestly, Superman probably should be our number one alien superhero. He isn’t because he barely spent any time on Krypton. He was born there, but grew up on Earth, thinking of himself as a human until his powers appeared. Superpowers aside, Superman is closer to being a human than a Kryptonian. A divisive argument for sure, but it’s what I’m going with.
#1 The Doctor
Played by William Hartnell, Tom Baker, David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker (and others)
The Doctor: “Hang on, a second ago it was “peace in our time” now you’re talking about genocide!”
Doctor Who “The Doctor’s Daughter” (Season 4, Episode 6)
Colony leader: “For us, they mean the same thing.”
The Doctor: “Then you need to get yourself a better dictionary. When you do, look up genocide. You’ll see a little picture of me there, and the caption’ll read, “Over my dead body!“
The greatest alien superhero is The Doctor. No, we still don’t know who.
The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. Centuries ago, he grew bored with his homeworld and stole a time machine called The Tardis. He began traveling through time and space with his granddaughter until he wound up on Earth. Accidentally picking up a pair of schoolteachers, The Doctor continued his travels.
The Doctor grew fond of Earth and settled into an unofficial role as its protector. He has defeated countless invasions with nothing but an ever changing group of Companions, a Sonic Screwdriver, his cunning, and the most inconsistent time travel rules this side of Star Trek.
The most interesting of the Doctor’s tricks is regeneration, which allows him to survive death by altering his body and forming a new personality. He might be a kindly cricket enthusiast one regeneration and a Machiavellian chessmaster the next. The current Doctor is a cheery female engineer with a temper, a welcome change after being a male character for thirteen consecutive regenerations.
Who is your favorite alien superhero? Is there one who surpasses these five? Do you want to hurt us for not putting Superman at #1? Tell us in the comments!
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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