With Shazam! hitting theaters soon, the Man of Steel and Earth’s Mightiest Mortal now exist in the same cinematic universe… which means we can all debate something that’s confounded comics fans for decades. Who’s the strongest DC hero of them all – Superman or Shazam?
The answer isn’t nearly as clear-cut as you might think. Both Superman and Shazam have a similar lineup of powers. They’re both incredibly strong, invulnerable and have the ability to fly at great speeds. And where Superman has heat vision, cold breath and other useful powers, Shazam can call down lightning and even bestow part of his power to other heroes. It’s a pretty even match-up, all things considered.
In terms of raw strength, most comics stories seem to give the edge to Superman. Not only is he one of the most powerful beings in superhero comics, his strength seems limited only by the imagination of the writer. Back in the Silver Age, Superman could basically do whatever the story demanded of him. And even though his powers have been toned down a bit in modern times, comics like All-Star Superman have suggested his strength can be measured in the quintillions of tons. Not bad for a humble farm boy from Kansas.
Source: IGN.com Who's Stronger: Superman or Shazam?