11 Oldest Superheroes that Ever Existed

Superheroes come in all forms, from ordinary people with money like Batman to Gods from other worlds like Thor. As we all know, many superheroes have he power of immortality. Because of this, these immortal heroes are hundreds, even millions of years old. This list contains some of the oldest-known superheroes from any comic series. 

Note: Superhero ages have a tendency to switch around and change depending on who’s writing their stories. Comic book franchise universes also go through several reboots and resets, and as such, there are different eras and universes where superheroes have different origin stories and even ages.

We’re not focusing on any specific universes, but listing superheroes who were written as being old at any given time in their respective comic multiverses.

11. The High

Image Source: DC Database

John Cumberland, aka The High, is a mysterious superhero who is not widely known outside of his inner circle. In 1910, he arrived on Earth from a parallel Earth where America was at war and was raised by farmers. He is designed to be analogous to Superman. 

Eventually, The High became a superhero because he believed that the world was inherently good and sought to keep it safe. However, after three years of fighting alongside Jenny Sparks, he became disillusioned and quit the job. 

After parting with Jenny Sparks, The High became a part of The Changers. While working with the team, he nearly met his end while on a mission.

The Changers thought The High died, but he returned in a later comic series as a shadowy, disfigured version of his former self. He grew in character from being naively apprehensive of the world to believing that there is hope for a better future. 

Did You Know?
The High is both immortal and invulnerable — he has the ability to reconstruct his body from its most basic building block. 

10. Icon 

Image Source: static.comicvine.com

Icon – originally named Arnus – arrived on earth in 1839 when the alien starliner he was on exploded and sent him in a life-pod to earth. The life pod set itself to alter Arnus’s appearance to reflect the first person who found him. Arnus was found by a Miriam, a black slave who adopted him immediately.

Icon took on the name of Augustus Freeman (since he ages slowly, Icon has posed as Augustus Freeman I – IV, pretending to be his own descendant) and quietly used his powers for good, small charitable acts for most of his life.

Then, when his house was broken into, Icon was forced to visibly use his powers. Freeman was seen by one of the robbers, a teenager named Raquel Ervin — later known as Rocket — who convinced him to become a superhero and take her on as his sidekick.

Did You Know?
Despite being raised by a black slave and portraying an black man, Icon is a conservative Republican and has mostly likely been a member of the GOP since the Reconstruction Era (1863 – 1877).

9. Graymalkin

Image Source: Marvel Database

We’ll admit that Jonas Graymalkin is almost never referred to as a superhero. But he is a mutant and part of the X-Men, and he has always fought on the side of the good guys.

Graymalkin was born a whopping two centuries ago.

When he was 16, Graymalkin’s father found him fooling around with another boy and was so disgusted by his son’s homosexuality that he beat him until he was unconscious and buried him alive. Graymalkin’s powers activate in the dark, and being buried activated his mutation.

Through his powers, Graymalkin remained alive in suspended animation for 200 years. By a great twist of fate, Graymalkin was buried near the future site of Professor Xavier’s mutant school. After the school was destroyed in a fight, Graymalkin was awakened.

Did You Know?
Following a DNA test performed by Beast, it was revealed that Graymalkin is a one of Professor Xavier’s ancestors, which is why the street the Xavier institute was built on is named after Graymalkin.

8. Old Man Logan

Image Source: Marvel Database

Old Man Logan is best known as Wolverine, whose real name is James Howlett, but from a different universe. While the Wolverine we know and love is from Earth-616, Old Man Logan is from Earth-807128 and seems to have been born much earlier than Wolverine. While Wolverine was born in 1886, Old Man Logan recalls fighting in the war of 1812.

Earth-807128 is a universe where the villains won, and the superheroes were all overthrown. The Logan of this world lives with his wife and two children and occasionally helps out other heroes when they need him.

In the original Old Man Logan arc, Logan is called on by Hawkeye, who is now blind, to help him get safely to New Babylon, where he has a secret package to deliver. He refuses to use his claws as he is traumatized by events of the past.

However, when he returns home, he finds that his family has been murdered by the Hulk Gang, and his fury allows him to unleash his claws at last to seek revenge. 

Did You Know?
After the Scarlet Samurai severed Old Man Logan’s right hand, it regenerated with its original bone claws and he now has mismatched hands (the left hand still has its Adamantium claws).

7. Deadpool

Image Source: Marvel Database 

Deadpool — whose real name is Wade Wilson — isn’t exactly the traditional superhero. This well-loved Merc with a Mouth and antihero, known for breaking the fourth wall and using offensively hilarious humor, shot to even more fame after the release of his R-rated movie in 2016.

In current time, Deadpool is certainly not 1,000 years old. However, in the Messiah War arc, we learn that he will reach this age — and presumably may live even longer. 

Wade Wilson was born in Canada and joined the U.S. Army Special Forces, but was kicked out after refusing to follow orders that didn’t line up with his morals.

After developing 34 cancerous tumors, Wilson was approached by Department K, a special weapons development team, and was used for their experiments. The experiments gave him his powers, halted his cancers, and eventually led Wilson to become Deadpool.

Did You Know?
As one of the few comic book characters who regularly breaks the fourth wall, Deadpool is an ace at using social media, including Twitter and Snapchat. Deadpool also claims that he hacked Wolverine’s Tumblr account.

6. Zealot

Image Source: DC Database

Lady Zannah, known better as Zealot, is part of the Wildstorm universe produced by WildStorm Comics, whose parent company is DC Comics.

Zealot was born on Khera and was also one of the few Kherubim who became stranded on Earth during the Kherubim and Daemonite war.

Although her age is never mentioned, Zealot was one of the few fertile Kherubim women on Khera. She was chosen to mate with Mr. Majestic, implying that she must be at least 1,000 years old.

While on Earth, Zealot formed a group of women warriors known as The Coda, who fought the Daemonite and protected citizens of the world. Zealot faced trial after trial and was even branded a traitor at one point. 

Eventually, Zealot took on the name Lucy Blaize and lived in America, working for the US Government for a time in the 20th century. Through the years, she has been a part of Team One, WildC.A.T.s, and Wildcore.

Did You Know?
In terms of hand-to-hand combat skills, Zealot is pretty much unbeatable. The only two characters from the Wildstorm universe who have come close to beating Zealot are Backlash and Midnighter.

5. Mr. Majestic

Image Source: DC Database

Born Majestros, Mr. Majestic is from a planet called Khera, where he was the most powerful warlord on the planet. Mr. Majestic was written to be the WildStorm’s version of Superman, but with a personality that allowed him to use his full power without fear.

During the war on Earth between the Kherubim and the Daemonite, Mr. Majestic became trapped on the planet and dedicated the next few centuries of his life to serving justice.

Mr. Majestic joined Team One during the Cold War. Afterward he worked as a government agent and fought paranormal entities with the help of a young and talented sidekick named Desmond. At one point, he led the WildC.A.T.s. 

Mr. Majestic was granted his own solo series in 2003 entitled Mr. Majestic. In 2005, he became the subject of an improved solo series entitled Majestic that is ongoing to this day.

Did You Know?
While the inspiration for Mr. Majestic does come from Superman, in the comics Mr. Majestic is apparently a variation of Superman on Earth-50 (alternate universe).

4. Superman Prime

Image Source: DC Database

Kal El of the DC One Million universe is Superman Prime, and is considered the original Superman that we know and love.

After witnessing everyone he knew and loved slowly die one by one at the end of the 21st century, Superman Prime left Earth in the care of his heir Superman Secundus and travelled across the universe

At the turn of the 700th century, Superman Prime ceased his travels and locked himself away in his Fortress of Solitude, which was located in the heart of the Sun. He kept himself and his fortress alive with the Sun’s energy.

When he finally emerges out of his exile, it is the 853rd century. Thus, Superman Prime is often referred to as the legendary Superman of the 853rd century. 

Did You Know?
Since Superman Prime is from so far into the future, at one point, he was in possession of the last known Green Lantern Ring.

3. Thor

Image Source: Marvel Database

Long before his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor was and still is one of the most popular superheroes that Marvel has ever produced. Thor is the god of thunder of Asgard (based on Norse mythology) and uses an enchanted hammer called Mjolnir to channel his control over the elements.

Thor’s exact age is never revealed, but in one comic issue, he recalls witnessing a part of the Earth’s Stone Age — a period which lasted 3.4 million years — but doesn’t mention an exact year of his visit.

As such, we are left to guess how old the god is. Thor retains immortality by eating the Golden Apples of Idunn. He is one of the oldest Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

The god of thunder ends up on Earth when his father, Odin, tries to teach him humility by removing his memories of being a god and putting him into the body of Donald Blake, a partially disabled medical student. While on vacation in Norway, Donald finds Mjolnir in a cave and transforms back into Thor.

Did You Know?
Thor has two magical pet goats named Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. The goats can fly and pull Thor in a chariot.

2. Martian Manhunter

Image Source: DC Database

An extraterrestrial from Mars, J’onn J’onzz — later known as the Martian Manhunter — arrived on Earth after he was pulled there by a teleportation beam during an experiment conducted by Dr. Saul Erdel. The shock from the experiment’s results led to the scientist’s death.

This left J’onn alone with no way of returning home until the technology of Mars advanced enough to send him back, so he decided to spend his time on Earth fighting crime.

J’onn took on the persona of John Jones, a detective practicing in Middletown, America. He did eventually reveal his true self to the world and operated as a superhero, with John Jones the detective remaining as his secret identity. Martian Manhunter was one of the original members of the Justice League.

The Martian Manhunter’s solo series was discontinued in 1968, and he officially was brought home to Mars to be the ruler of New Mars shortly after. He continues to appear in other comics now and then.

Did You Know?
During some of his earliest adventures, the Martian Manhunter was able to see into the near future, but these powers were not often shown and eventually discontinued in the modern version of the character. According to Martian Manhunter himself, he does not have precognition.

1. Doctor Fate (Nabu) 

Image Source: DC Database

Doctor Fate was introduced in 1940 and a year later the comics went more in-depth into his origin story when Nabu’s history was revealed — Nabu is the immortal being powering Doctor Fate’s helmet, granting him power.

Nabu is one of the Lords of Order, who were born not long after the creation of the universe, which is stated to be over 10 billion years ago in the comics. Since Nabu basically witnessed the birth of the universe, Doctor Fate is the oldest superhero ever created.

Around 3500 BCE, one of the Lords of Order came to Earth and became Nabu the Wise. After he arrived on Earth, Nabu advised the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and became the keeper of several powerful talismans.

Eventually, Nabu fell into a state of suspended animation and was found in 1940 by archaeologist Sven Nelson and his son Kent. After accidentally killing Sven after they awoke him, Nabu turns Kent into a full grown man and gives him the Helmet of Nabu, Amulet of Anubis, and the Cloak of Destiny, thus turning Kent Nelson into the first iteration of Doctor Fate.

Did You Know?
Unless a chosen man and woman are merged together, Doctor Fate cannot reach full potential, as the superhero is meant to be a union of both sexes. In fact, during one story arc, Nabu turns Kent Nelson back into a young man and merges him with his wife Inza to make the ultimate Doctor Fate.