10 Powerless Characters Who Have Defeated Superman

Perhaps the most infamous defeat of Superman by non-powered figures comes in the final pages of iconic The Dark Knight Returns comic. Green Arrow and Batman team up to take Superman down in one last fight, before Batman fakes his own death and goes underground - both figuratively, and literally.

Though it's the Dark Knight who physically beats Supes up, it's actually the Green Arrow who's responsible for weakening him to the point that the Bat can actually have any effect on him. Oliver Queen shoots an arrow made of kryptonite at the Man of Steel, which maybe doesn't sound all that impressive until you learn he does so upside down, with his one remaining arm, while dangling from a fire escape.

Supes catches this speeding projectile, but is still exposed to the effects of the crystal, taking away his considerable powers to the point that a few well placed hits from Batman. It's technically a joint victory, sure, but without Green Arrow's masterful aiming abilities, there's no way Batman could have trounced the American alien in the way he did.