Batman makes the most of his 192 IQ, supreme physical fitness, and the sweetest tech gadgets a billionaire can buy so he can confidently battle villains even without superpowers. How do others manage though?

Here is SPYSCAPE’s countdown of the top 15 superheroes who rely on their mind, body, and training to push above and beyond.

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15. Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)

It’s difficult to imagine a superhero as clever as Batman but Blue Beetle Ted Kord is a gifted athlete and genius-level inventor with an IQ that equals that of the caped crusader. Ted’s wise-cracks can distract from his intelligence but don’t be fooled. Ted Kord is proficient in chemistry, physics, and engineering, using his skills to build security systems for the Justice League. At his peak, Ted was a world-class Karate and Aikido fighter. And if you’re noticing similarities with Nite Owl in Watchmen, that’s because the series is based on Blue Beetle.

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14. Shuri‍

If you’re one of the last people on Earth who still hasn’t seen Black Panther, let us introduce you to Shuri. Shuri keeps herself at peak physical levels and her ‘superpower’ is her brain. Sure, she’s also the princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, but Shuri is more concerned with being a phenomenal engineer and developing impressive spy gear. 

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13. Green Arrow

Deadly by name, deadly by nature. The expert archer can fire 29 arrows per minute. Still not impressed? Consider that the Green Archer once shot two arrows down two separate gun barrels while doing a somersault. He’s also an expert in Judo, Wing Chun and Taekwondo as well as being a top acrobat. Need we say more? Green Arrow, the alter-ego of billionaire Oliver Queen, could have been a pampered playboy. Instead he’s one of the greatest heroes in the DC Universe.

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12. Hawkeye‍

Speaking of archers, Marvel’s Hawkeye is also an expert marksman, fencer, and acrobat. During his time as Ronin, he relied on martial arts skills and a sword - quite an accomplishment for a superhero who has been both deaf and blind at times. Even without a weapon, Hawkeye has the ability to turn pretty much anything into a killing machine. Take, for example, when Hawkeye took down an enemy with a deftly dealt playing card to the neck.

11. Nick Fury

The head of SHIELD uses his genius-level strategic skills and relies on his experience fighting in WWII, Korea, and Kosovo to protect the world from threats. General Fury is also skilled with using many weapons and fighting techniques, and has developed strength, speed, and agility as a result. He also happens to be one of the world’s most gifted spies. As Nick (Samuel L. Jackson) told Iron Man in 2008: "You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet."

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10. Black Widow

Despite her ageless beauty (Black Widow was born in 1928), her superpowers come from Olympic-style Soviet ‘Red Room’ training. Natasha Romanoff is also a weapons expert whose gone from a villain (she once ate Spider-Man) to a superhero working for SHIELD. Off-camera, Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson is a real-life superhero to fans who applauded her willingness to file (and settle) a lawsuit over her share of box office revenues: “Know your worth and stand up for yourself,” the actress advised.
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9. Karate Kid‍

The name says it all. Karate Kid (Val Armorr) is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century, able to hold his own (albeit briefly) against Superboy.

He joined the Legion of Superheroes although he has no otherworldly superpowers. But hey, Karate Kid has been kicking up a storm since Adventure Comics #346 (July 1966) so it’s no surprise DC’s hero is among their top team.

8. Iron Man

Even without the suit, superhuman inventor Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr. for more than a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is an expert in hand-to-hand combat, a weapons developer, and a tech genius. But Stark’s weaknesses are almost as well known as his powers. He has a tricky heart, a massive ego, a lot of family drama, and his greatest battle has been with alcohol rather than a supervillain. But hey, isn’t that also why we love him? 
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7. Cassandra Cain (aka Black Bat, and Orphan) 

Kick-ass Cassandra Cain is the daughter of assassins and one of DC’s best fighters - even Batman said she could bring him down. Cassandra can also read body language, making her a deadly opponent. She has another side we rarely see, however. Cassandra was raised to be a killing machine - initially she couldn’t read or speak - and, despite being taken in by the Bat-family, she is still traumatized by her upbringing, making her one of the most unique superhero characters around.
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6. Daredevil

Blinded in a childhood accident, attorney Matt Murdoch - aka Daredevil - has a heightened sense of smell, taste, touch, and hearing. While recovering in hospital as a child, Matt realized he could hear conversations taking place on different floors.

His heightened senses allow him to detect slight changes in temperatures and wind direction. He can even count the number of bullets in a gun by judging its weight!

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5. Nightwing (aka Dick Grayson and Robin) 

Batman’s sidekick Robin - Dick Grayson - was the youngest member of the ‘Flying Graysons’, a performing acrobatic family until mafia boss Tony Zucco killed his parents. Grayson soon established himself as Batman’s partner and later leader of the Teen Titans. Robin’s not all flash, however. He’s also knowledgeable about forensic science and criminology, ranking as one of DC’s top detectives (alongside Red Robin, The Question, and Elongated Man).

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4. James Barnes (aka Bucky and The Winter Soldier)

Captain America’s wartime sidekick James Buchanan Barnes was kidnapped by Russian forces and brainwashed to be a perfect soldier and assassin. While highly trained in espionage and murder, he has no superpowers aside from those he earned the hard way though an ultra-tight training regime.

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3. Shang-Chi

The Master of Kung Fu is one of Marvel’s most formidable fighters, capable of going head-to-head with the likes of Spider-Man. Shang-Chi was trained from infancy and - with the help of MI6 - is also an espionage expert. Shang-Chi has deflected bullets with the wrist braces and, admittedly, his reflexes are super quick, but that’s more of a skill than a superpower. While we’re bigging him up, it’s also important to note that Shang-Chi is highly trained with swords and Ninja weapons.

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2. Oracle (aka Barbara Gordon)

The daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon is also the eyes and ears of many DC superheroes including Batman. The wheelchair-bound crimefighter is also one of the most resilient heroes around. She’s super intelligent with a photographic memory, allowing Oracle to work her magic online while assisting vigilantes on their missions. Not only did Oracle discover Cassandra Cain, she dug up invaluable intelligence on groups like The Order of the St Dumas, aiding in Batman's understanding of them.

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1. Batman

The Dark Knight is arguably the most famous superhero on Earth, using his superior intellect to become Gotham’s ultimate crime fighter and his strength and martial arts skills to battle villains. As billionaire Bruce Wayne, he can afford flash cars, helicopters, and other toys, but he also comes prepared - whether that means knowing how to pilot a Bat-copter or captaining the Bat-yacht. When it comes to Gotham, no crime fighter can match Batman’s importance.

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Honorable Mention

In a world of brave superhuman crime fighters, SPYSCAPE also salutes Deadpool, Electra, TRhody (War Machine), Captain Cold, Green Goblin, Conan the Barbarian, The Flash, Vibe, Firestorm, Ant-Man, Domino, Sandman... and so many others.