CBD’s 52Qs | #10: "Who's REALLY the most powerful cosmic being in comic books?"

Every week CBD’s Editor in Chief Pete DeCourcy asks the question and the crew (and special guests) give their answers, we’ll be doing this for 52 weeks. Tip of the hat goes to the gang at Scans_Daily for the inspiration.

This week however, he tosses it to our resident Comic Book Goddess, Shelley Smarz who asks:

Today’s Question: “Who’s REALLY the most powerful cosmic being in comic books?”

Shelley Smarz (Comic Book Daily’s resident Comic Book Goddess)


For me, it’s the Living Tribunal. It nullified the Infinity Gauntlet with a snap of its fingers and it wipes out entire realities before breakfast. Also, it’s an agent of The One Above All.

Chris Howard (From Egesta Comics, one of the masterminds behind the fan favourite webcomic series Dressed For Success)


Having recently shown that they are connected to the DC Universe, I would say the Endless, specifically Death and or Destiny would be the most powerful. Maybe not in a blast you into smithereens kinda way, but the embodiment of death itself, which none can escape and all are subject to would be the most powerful entity. And then you have Destiny, who was before anything else, and will be there to close his great book upon the final moment of all would be even more powerful. For who could challenge the very fabric of existence, the passage of time.

Or maybe it’s Guy Gardner, he seems to think so.

Chris Owen (Professor of Comic Books History at Hamilton’s Mohawk College and host of The Comic Culture Radio Show.)

Both Shelly and Chris both make compelling arguments. However, I also remembered that Frank Miller tried to make the argument that Plastic Man was the most powerful character in the DC Universe in his second crack at the caped crusader with Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again.


For me I think that the Marvel version of Death would have to be the most powerful entity. She (as it often takes on the personification of a female) has the power to take resurrect and to take life. As seen in the Thanos Quest, she resurrects Thanos when she feels that the life/death balance is being over run by life.

Chris Howard: THAT’S where that statement about Plas was! I gotta go re-read that. I can’t remember what the reasoning was.

Prof. Chris Owen: Ugh. Just read that part. Don’t waste your time reading the whole thing again.

Anthony Falcone (Writer of Whosoever Holds This Hammer)

While it is slightly cheating (he is not a cosmic being), my answer is Franklin Richards. Omega level mutant with reality warping powers, the son of Sue and Reed can basically do anything.


Maybe he changes the universe so the Living Tribunal can only judge American Idol, maybe he makes Death (any variation) non-existent, or maybe he re-writes history so comic book writers like Miller can’t say asinine things like Plastic Man is the most powerful character ever.

Because his powers can do anything he is only limited by the imagination of the writer.

I win. Check and mate my friends.

Comic Book Daily Staff
Comic Book Daily Staff

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