The Top 10 Superheroes That Wear Purple (Ranked)
Join the community on Reddit for the latest Marvel & DC news!
Not all superheroes are created equally. Not all superheroes have the same strength, speed, can fly, teleport, or control others with their minds. And not all superheroes wear the same colored costume. While colors like blue and red are most traditionally used, some choose to shove tradition to the side and wear something a little bolder.
I’m not talking yellow, silver, bronze, or magenta. I’m talking purple. The color of Grimace, Barney, Dino the Dinosaur, Waluigi, and Spyro the Dragon.
Over the last little while, I comprised a list of who were the greatest superheroes that wear purple. While the list was many, I didn’t want to bog your day down reading a lengthy countdown article. So, I trimmed the list down to just ten, and here they are. The top 10 superheroes that wear purple.
List of best superheroes that wear purple:
10. The Hulk
If you’ve read my superheroes that wear green or are green list, you know that The Hulk made an appearance there as well. And before you think that having on him two different color lists is taking the easy way out, understand this. As much as he’s associated with the color green, The Hulk is also associated with the color purple…pants.
Think about it. Because of his size, his purple pants could probably be cut down and turned into two costumes for two different superheroes. Under that logic, he might actually wear more purple than anyone on this list and could be the most purple superhero ever created. It only makes sense for him to appear here.
9. Drax The Destroyer
For those who don’t know, at one time Drax the Destroyer proudly wore a purple costume. But not just any purple. Drax wore the deepest and darkest hue of the color purple.
That’s right. Before he received his modern makeover, Drax walked around looking like a giant eggplant.
Drax (originally Arthur Douglas) came to be after Thanos violently attacked and killed him and his family. Fearing that his son (Thanos) had become too powerful, Mentor sent Kronos to Earth to retrieve the lifeless body of Arthur Douglas (Drax). Once back on Titan, Arthur’s mind was taken out and put in the body of a superior being. That being then had Arthur’s memories removed, called itself Drax, and made it his mission to eradicate Thanos…all in purple.
8. Medusa
As the Queen of Attilan, Medusa is arguably the second most powerful of the Inhumans. The first, of course, is Black Bolt.
Remarkably, Medusa made her first appearance a full 9 months before the rest of the Inhumans. In fact, in her first appearance, she was a member of the Frightful Four and not the Inhumans. The name Medusa is in reference to the Greek Mythological beast of the same name. While that Medusa has snakes for hair, Marvel’s Medusa has exceptionally long hair that she controls with her mind. In addition to this, she also possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, reflexes, and agility.
Medusa is easily identified by her hair. If for whatever reason she has it up in a bun, she’s then easily identified by her purple jumpsuit.
7. Starfire
It makes sense that Kori Anders (Starfire) chooses to wear the color purple. After all, as heir to the throne of the planet Tamaran she’s of royal blood and purple is the color most associated with royalty. The thing with Starfire, however, is she doesn’t just choose to wear it; she rocks it like no other.
Starfire is one of the most important members of the Teen Titans. In fact, save for one or two, she might be the most important. Starfire can absorb solar energy, thereby allowing her to use it as a power source. With it, she can fly, shoot energy bolts, has increased durability and has a strength that rivals most.
6. Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a long-standing member of the Legion of Superheroes. He first appeared inside the pages of Action Comics #276 and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.
Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) is a Coluan who hails from the planet Colu. He joined the Legion of Superheroes as a way of atonement for his Great Grandfather’s (Brainiac) actions. After it was revealed that Brainiac was a creation of the Computer Tyrants, Brainiac 5 discovered that he was actually a descendant of Brainiac 2. Brainiac 2 if you’re wondering, was the leader of a rebellion against the Computer Tyrants.
As an extremely intelligent being, Brainiac 5 has been credited with improving or inventing items like the Force Field Belt, the Legion Flight Ring, and an Anti-Lead Serum that allowed Mon-El to leave the Phantom Zone.
5. Huntress
Two characters are primarily associated with the Huntress character, Helena Bertinelli and Helena Wayne. While Helena Bertinelli comes from the mainstream DC Universe, Helena Wayne hails from an alternate universe and is the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle. Although both characters wear a costume that’s made with the colors black and purple, for the purpose of this list, it’s Helena Bertinelli we’re interested in.
Helena Bertinelli possesses no inherent superpowers. Instead, she’s a highly trained gymnast, an excellent hand-to-hand combatant, and an expert markswoman. She is a member of the Justice League, the Birds of Prey, The Outsiders, and holds a close association with the Batfamily. Most impressively, there was a time when Helena stepped in and became Batgirl. For all of the above reasons, Huntress easily makes “this superheroes that wear purple” list.
4. Batgirl
Speaking of Batgirl…
Is there a character in DC Comics more associated with the color purple than Batgirl? I mean, since her debut she has almost always worn some variation of costume that includes the color purple. Black and purple. Yellow and purple. Whatever color you can name and purple.
Batgirl is purple defined. No, she’s purple defined really, really well.
There are very few characters that can do and have done what Batgirl has done. She is one of the most proficient fighters in DC, has an IQ that is nearly unmatched, is incredibly well connected, and is as close to Batman as any can be. Batgirl will forever be the most important of the DC superheroes that wear purple.
3. Psylocke
There are very few characters who are as synonymous with a color as Psylocke is with purple. I’d even go as far as to say that there are very few characters that look as good in any color as she does in purple.
Psylocke is a mutant who, over the course of time, has transformed into one of the most powerful mutants in existence. When we first met her she was an average telepath. As it stands now, she is one of, if not the most powerful telepath in comics. In addition to her telepathy, Psylocke also has the ability to channel her power into a psychic knife that can cut through practically anything and is a feared martial artist.
Of all the superheroes that wear purple, very few can boast what she boasts.
2. The Phantom
Of all the superheroes that wear purple, none embrace it in the way The Phantom does. I mean one look at him has every spandex-wearing metal band from the 1980s well up with jealousy.
The Phantom made his debut back in 1936. This, if anyone is counting, means that he predates all of the important mainstream superheroes in existence. Yep. He came before Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and Justice League.
The Phantom began as a simple daily newspaper strip, made his way to a full-color Sunday strip, and then to comic books, radio, television, and video games. Different from most other superheroes, The Phantom doesn’t have any traditional superpowers. Instead, he relies on his intelligence, natural strength, and the myth that he is immortal to defeat his foes.
1. Hawkeye
Of all the superheroes that wear purple, Hawkeye might be the most well-known. After all, save for one other on this list, he was thrust into the spotlight with the explosion of the MCU.
Hawkeye is an archer who never misses his mark. He was trained by the Swordsman and associates with the most deadly of heroes. A quick glimpse into his past shows his alignment with Black Widow, Bucky Barnes, Daredevil and Wolverine.
Although his original costume leaves something to be desired, over the years Marvel has done a fantastic job of modernizing him…all with a little bit of purple
And that’s it. The best superheroes that wear purple. What do you think? Who would make your superheroes that wear purple list?
Liked this article? Follow us on Bluesky for the latest Marvel & DC news!
