Top 10 Comic Book Superheroes Who Use Magic (Marvel and DC)

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to use magic? I mean, really use magic. Not the kind that illusionists use on television or stage acts, but real magic. Spell casting, transformation, levitation, matter manipulation. Real magic. While it may never be possible for you or me to achieve such feats, it does happen each and every day inside the pages of a comic book. In fact, comics are littered with powerful spellcasters, mages, and the like. 

No different than anything else, of the superheroes who use magic, some are stronger and more proficient than others. This brings me to the below. To clarify who are the strongest superheroes who use magic. With everything said, let’s check out our list of best comic book superheroes that use magic in both Marvel and DC.

10. Zatanna

Different from most other magic users, Zatanna actually inherited her magical abilities. As one of the pre-eminent magic users in DC, Zatanna can make her enemies do practically anything. The only condition of this is that for her magic to work, she must say her commands backward. For example, if she wanted you to run away, she’d have to say “Yawa nur”. 

Zatanna is so strong in magic that she has solidified herself a spot on the famed Justice League Dark. More than that, she has, at times, aligned herself with some of the most powerful heroes in DC.

9. Raven 

As the offspring of a demon father and a human mother, Raven possesses no shortage of magical abilities. Raven is a member of the Teen Titans and alongside her team, continually foils her father’s attempts to invade Earth. She is much more reserved than many of her teammates and as such, not as much is known about her.

What we do know is that her abilities allow her to control shadows. That is, she can create shadows that can attack her enemies. Above that, she can also heal wounds and absorb wounds. Her ability to absorb wounds allows her to speed up the healing process for anyone whom she helps.

8. Magik

For the first many years of her life, Magik was nothing more than the little sister to Colossus. This changed when she was trapped for seven years in Limbo by the demon, Belasco. While in Limbo, he taught her magic and turned her into a very powerful mutant. Of the spells she learned, none are as impressive as the one that allows her to call the Soulsword…a sword capable of cutting through other magic as if it were paper.

After seven years, she escaped Limbo only to learn that her entire disappearance was mere moments in real-time. Now a teenager, Magik joined the New Mutants and became arguably more formidable than her brother. 

7. Scarlet Witch 

Scarlet Witch has a history as convoluted as a soap opera. When she first appeared she was nothing more than a mutant who could alter the probability of events. As she aged, however, Marvel changed her character to do whatever outrageous thing they needed her to do. 

Of all the things that she has done, none showcase how powerful she really is more than the House of M storyline. The book saw her create a new reality where mutants reign supreme over humans. Of the mutants, in this reality, it was Magneto who ruled. By the end of the book, she had a meltdown and reset the mutant population from over a million to just 198. 

6. Wiccan

If you find it strange that Wiccan is rated a higher magic user than Scarlet Witch, let me explain. Wiccan possesses the same form of Chaos Magic that his mother, Scarlet Witch, possesses. This means that he can create forcefields, use telekinesis, control the thoughts of others, fly, teleport, and much more. 

For as powerful as he is, his big drawback is that he must be able to speak the words of whichever spell he wants to cast. This, however, is precisely the reason he’s rated higher than her. Unlike Scarlet Witch who has had a lifetime to figure things out, Wiccan is still young. Therefore, his potential is greater. The truth of the matter is that one day he may very well rank number one on this list.

5. Etrigan The Demon

Etrigan is a Hell-bound demon who is linked to the human Jason Blood. Jason Blood is not of this time period. Instead, he was a knight that served under King Arthur. Due to his link to Etrigan, Jason is immortal and one of the greatest superheroes who use magic.

Jason doesn’t walk around as Etrigan. No, that would be silly. To become the demon, he must recite a poem. Once he becomes Etrigan he is able to project the Hellfire from his body, heal from practically anything, and is near invincible.  But that’s not all. When Etrigan, Jason also becomes one of the strongest characters in all of DC.

4. Brother Voodoo

First appearing in Strange Tales #169, Brother Voodoo has gone on to become one of the most important users of magic in Marvel…kind of. Rather than a magic user, Brother Voodoo is a user of Voodoo. His knowledge and control over it are second to none and, for a time when Stephen Strange was not it, he took the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. 

His ability allows him to call the dead, control those alive, channel his dead brother thereby heightening his own power set, use fire in whichever way he desires, summon the Gods, and stand toe-to-toe with whoever dares to enter Earth’s realm. 

3. Dr. Fate

Let’s make something perfectly clear. Dr. Fate isn’t just linked to a single person. Dr. Fate has actually been multiple people over the years. This, however, doesn’t change the fact that Dr. Fate, whoever controls the Helmet of Fate is one of the most powerful superheroes who use magic.

Even though it’s actually easier to list all of the powers that Dr. Fate doesn’t have, I’ll do my best to list the ones that he does have: immortality, flight, telepathy, phasing, super strength, invulnerability, lightning projection. And I’m sure I’ve missed some. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that Dr. Fate is one magic user that you want on your side.

2. Dr. Strange

Superheroes who use magic list without the inclusion of Dr. Strange simply is worth very little. Dr. Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme whose sworn duty is to protect the Earth from enemies of all forms. These enemies include but are not limited to Shuma-Gorath, Dormammu, Nightmare, and Baron Mordo…all of which could have made this list. 

Dr. Strange calls the Sanctum Sanctorum home and uses a wide array of artifacts and talismans. Of these, the most notable is the Cloak of Levitation, the Eye of Agamotto, and the Book of Vishanti. When it comes to Marvel superheroes who use magic, none are more powerful than Dr. Strange.

1. The Spectre 

After Jim Corrigan was murdered, he was turned away at the White Gates and sent back to Earth. And why? He was sent back to be the “living” embodiment of God’s vengeance. As God’s vengeance, the Spectre has a list of powers that most only dream of such as: immortality, reality warping, space and time manipulation, limitless control over matter, foresight, omniscience, near omnipotence, cosmic awareness, cosmic energy manipulation.

Due to his power set, Spectre is in high demand. He has been a part of the Justice Society, Justice League, All-Star Squadron, Justice League Dark, and more. If Dr. Strange is Marvel’s most powerful magic user, which he is, Spectre is DC’s.

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