Comic Book Characters Who Are Only 'Super' Thanks To Powerful Objects

Object: Power Ring & Lantern Battery

Powers Granted:These are some of the most powerful weapons in the DC Universe.Green Lantern CorpsPower Rings let users use their willpower for incredible powers. Flight, force fields, energy construct projection, and universal language translation all work with the Power Ring. Be warned: each ring's power level is capped by the user's willpower. Low willpower means low actual power. The Lantern Battery simply serves as a mobile charger to fuel the rings' power reserves.

Object: Nth Metal

Powers Granted:Hawkman, AKA Carter Hall, gets his Nth Metal gear—boots, belt, and wings—which grants him superhuman abilities.Carter HallCarter Hall gets superhuman strength, flight, fast healing, and toughness from the Nth Metal. The Nth Metal reacts to anyone touching it. Hawkman does not need to physically fly; he just thinks about it, and he flies. Without the gear, Hall remains an average human man destined to reincarnate until the end of time.

Object: The Mask

Powers Granted:The Mask is an indestructible artifact. Shamanistic rituals used it; many Dark Horse Comics characters wore it since the late 1980s. The Mask gives the wearer invulnerability, reality-altering magic, and superhuman stamina. It also changes the wearer's look to a green head with big teeth. Depending on the writers, these powers might cost the wearer their sanity; this did not make it into the 1994 Jim Carrey film.

Objects: Makluan Power Rings

Powers Granted:Though Iron Man's enemy may possess genius intellect and martial arts skill, he lacks superhuman abilities without his power rings. Each of the 10 rings the Mandarin wears offers a unique power. These range from simple blasts of ice and energy to complex skills like mental illusions and magnetic levitation. Together, the Makluan Power Rings give the villain abilities that can stop every armored Avenger.Iron Man's archnemesisMandarin may have a genius intellect and true martial arts skill. Without his power rings, Carter Hall lacks any superhuman abilities. Each of the 10 rings the Mandarin wears gives a unique power, from ice and energy blasts to mental illusions and magnetic levitation. Together, the Makluan Power Rings give the villain abilities that can stop every armored Avenger.

Object: Blue Beetle Scarab

Powers Granted:The Blue Beetle Scarab used to be a mystical item from a pharaoh's tomb. Now, it is living technology from an alien race called the Reach. The base powerset users get from the Scarab has stayed mostly the same since its debut in 1964's Blue Beetle #1.Reach, the base powerset from the Scarab has stayed nearly the same since its 1964 debut.Blue Beetle#1Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) has superhuman strength, flight, and energy blast power, even as the list of abilities grows. Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, and current Blue Beetle Jamie Reyes possess these powers. Reyes also shapes his armor into various forms, giving him extra combat options.

What're The Objects: The Helmet of FateThe Cloak of DestinyThe Amulet of Anubis

What Powers Do They Grant:Anyone wielding the Helmet of Fate, Cloak of Destiny, and Amulet of Anubis at once becomesDoctor Fatea servant to theLords of Orderwho fight a never-ending conflict against the evil Lords of ChaosLords of ChaosDoctor Fate gains flight, high damage resistance, and telekinetic power. He also accesses many magical abilities: invisibility, teleportation, and time travel. Though Doctor Fate is a C-list DC character, the supernatural magic-wielder has upper-tier power.

What's The Object: Crimson Gem of Cyttorak

What Powers Does It Grant:Without the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak,Cain Markois just an average human man. With the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, Marko becomes a near-unstoppable force. Marko maxes out Marvel's official power grid in the strength and durability categories.strength and durability categoriesThe gem gives Marko the strength to lift entire mountains. Marko can fight heroes like the Hulk and Thor and cause massive destruction.

What's The Object: All-Black the Necrosword

What Powers Does It Grant:"All-Black the Necrosword" is misnamed; it is the very first symbiote. Symbiotes are the alien race calledKlyntarthey give power to many Marvel characters, such as VenomVenomCarnageandCarnage. Before becoming the "God Butcher," Gorr was powerless. He hated all gods because of the tragic life on a near-barren planet that killed his wife and most of his children. With All-Black the Necrosword, Gorr's power rivals that of the God of Thunder. The sword also lets Gorr slay immortal gods, a huge feat.

What's The Object: Heart of Darkness

What Powers Does It Grant:The pre-New 52 Heart of Darkness is a black diamond mined from Darkseid's home planet, Apokolips. Eventually, the villainous spirit of vengeance known asEclipsowas trapped in the diamond, cursed to haunt its owner. Many people take over this entity and gain powers in DC comics over the years. TheNew 52 version of EclipsoAn evil entity is trapped in the diamond and whoever possesses it is taken over by Eclipso and given powers. Though Eclipso is sensitive to sunlight - hence the name, Eclipso - he has the power of flight, is nigh-invulnerable, and has energy projection powers.

The H-Dial The H-Dial

A magical rotary phone dial that transforms its user into a superhero for a short while. Each time a user inputs "H-E-R-O" into the H-Dial, they become a different superhero with different superpowers.FromRobby ReedtoMiguel Montezmany denizens of the DC Universe have used the H-Dial over the years in various volumes of the comic bookDial H for HeroThe H-Dial is a magical rotary phone dial that transforms its user into a superhero for a short while. Each time a user inputs "H-E-R-O" into the H-Dial, they become a different superhero with different superpowers. For example, Robby Reed once became a candy-based hero named King Kandy, while Miguel Montez once turned into the Superman analog Supermiguel.

Miraclo Miraclo

This wonder pill grants its user superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability for exactly one hour. As one would expect, this is a dangerous mixture, as having that sort of power can be quite addicting and, indeed, both Rex and Rick become hooked on using Miraclo over time, giving DC the ability to use different Hourman stories as cautionary tales about the dangers of substance use.BothRex Tylerand his son,RickRex and Rick Tyler became Hourman in DC comics. They gain superpowers only by using Miraclo. This pill gives the user superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability for one hour. This mixture is dangerous. Having that kind of power becomes addictive. Rex and Rick get hooked on Miraclo over time. DC uses these Hourman stories as warnings about substance use dangers.

Staff of One Staff of One

This mystical item operates on blood magic - meaning it needs an offering of blood before it can be used - and it can perform any number of spells, albeit only once; it is called the "Staff of One," after all. Once a spell is used, it cannot be used again. The Staff of One can do everything fromYesNico Minorumay have a natural aptitude for magic and she has been able to figure out how to do minor spells on her own, but due to her lack of formal training, her vast magical power is tied to the use of the Staff of One.summoning a horde of magical fairiesto makingammunition disappear into thin air.

Demonic Cloak and Boots Demonic Cloak and Boots

Parker Robbins was your typical crook, meaning he was absolutely nothing special at all. But when he stumbled upon, and subsequently slayed, a demon, he ended up in possession of a pair of boots and cloak that gifted him some interesting abilities - thanks to Doctor Strange baddieParker Robbins was a typical crook. He was nothing special. However, he found and killed a demon. Robbins then got boots and a cloak. These items gave him abilities thanks to Doctor Strange baddie.The boots gave Robbins the ability to walk on air, while the cloak granted him the power to turn invisible when he held his breath. When under extreme duress, Robbins gained more abilities, including enhanced speed and strength.The boots let Robbins walk on air. The cloak let him turn invisible while holding his breath. Under extreme pressure, Robbins gained more powers, including faster speed and strength.

Nova Helmet Nova Helmet

the Nova introduced in 2011's Sam Alexander, the Nova introduced in 2011's, gains all of his powers from his father's special#1, gains all his powers from his father's specialSupernovaThe helmet differs from the powerless gold helmets worn by the rest of the Nova Corps.Nova CorpsSam's black helmet holds all his power. Wearing it gives Sam flight, superhuman speed and strength, and energy manipulation. Take the helmet off, and Sam loses all that; he becomes just an American teenager.