SHARK WATCH: It’s insane how often superheroes fight sharks. Here are 27 examples.

It goes without saying, but superheroes need to fight stuff, and more often than not when they’re in ocean waters, they encounter sharks. Now, according to the 20th anniversary edition of the Worst Case Scenario Handbook, there are a few things you can do to fend off a shark attack, but most of them boil down to: Punch it. Repeatedly. (They recommend hitting the eyes and gills as opposed to the popularly assumed nose.) Over the decades, our superhero friends have employed a variety of means of fighting with (or off) these apex sea predators, so we compiled a list of more than 25 fights where superheroes fought with honest-to-god sharks, not shark characters, or mutated shark people. Just sharks. Let’s see how they fare.

All-Star Comics #3 (Fox & Hibbard) 

In the Justice Society of America’s first appearance, we see the Golden Age Flash tangle with a thoughtful tiger shark, leaving it spinning in loops and wanting its mamma! 

Action Comics #15 (Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster)

In an early appearance, Superman fights off a dozen sharks by employing the classic “pull their gaping jaws apart until they get a toothache” technique that leaves his foes smarting! Glad to see Supes made it out of this particular death struggle! 

Wonder Woman v1 #101 (Moulton) 

Here we have Wonder Woman saving her beau Steve Trevor for the third time in an afternoon, by sending this shark packing and helping him out of his sunken plane. This save came with the promise/threat of marriage from Steve, but luckily Diana waited until 6:15 p.m., so no wedding bells for her! 

Detective Comics Annual #7, Leatherwing vs. a shark (Chuck Dixon, Enrique Alcatena)

Batman fights sharks. Quite a lot, actually. In this Elseworlds annual from 1994, Bats is Captain Leatherwing, and he’s not about to let Princess Quext’chala get a chunk taken out of her, so overboard it is to deliver a swift kick! 

Batman #251 (Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams)

Here’s Batman again using a chain to not only ride a shark but attempting to break its shark neck! You’d think the world’s greatest detective might know shark bones are made from soft cartilage and not regular bone. 

Detective Comics #828 (Paul Dini, Don Kramer)

Didn’t we just do this one? No, this is a totally different comic, and despite his outfit, this is the actual Bruce Wayne, not an Elseworlds ship captain. Though his kick to the back technique is remarkably similar to that of his Leatherwing counterpart. 

Captain America v1 #360 (Mark Gruenwald, Kieron Dwyer) 

OK, that’s enough Batman (for now). Here’s Steve Rogers fending off a half dozen sharks with punching and some shield swings. He does make it out, but maybe next time he’ll think twice about trying to assemble Blood Stone fragments. 

Classic X-Men #13 (Chris Claremont, John Bolton) 

Misty Knight knows that when you’re alone in the water with Jaws, you have to start swinging, and lucky for Misty, she has a bionic arm! You’d think her roommate Jean Grey would help out, but it’s ultimately a friendly dolphin that helps her escape back to the surface. Thank you, friendly dolphin! 

Amazing Spider-Man v1 #313 (David Michelinie, Todd McFarlane) 

In our only entry featuring a surface-level fight scene, Peter Parker webs and sucker punches a levitating land-shark courtesy of the X-Men “Inferno” event and somehow still maintains his secret identity! 

The Goon #13 (Eric Powell) 

Eric Powell’s The Goon doesn’t mess around. He employs both the jaw pop and a nice chin punch to escape a shark’s chomps. 

Indiana Jones, Tomb of God (Williams, Scott, Massengill) 

Don’t want to get into the water? Better have a weapon! And what else could an explorer hunting after artifacts he maybe shouldn’t be trying to put in a museum ask for than his trusty whip? The fact that Indy and fellow treasure hunter Janice Le Roi can stay on top of that overturned boat with those heels is as impressive as fending off sharks with a bullwhip. 

G.I. Joe #47 (Larry Hama, Rod Wigham)

G.I.Joe’s resident ninja, Snake-Eyes, could care less about the size of the shark. He’s going to use his ancient ninja training (I guess) to plunge his bowie knife into his foe and get back to fighting his brother of the sword, Storm Shadow! 

Deadpool Vol. 4 #9 (Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan and Mike Hawthorne) 

Deadpool knows the best way for him to beat sharks is to play dead. Really dead. Like mutilated, turned to chum dead. A move only Wade Wilson could swim away from. 

Justice League Vol. 2 #4 (2011), Geoff Johns, Jim Lee

OK, this one’s a little bit of a cheat since Aquaman isn’t fighting sharks as much as summoning a shiver of them to fight Fourth World Parademons. More like getting bitten in half than fight, but y’know, whatevs.

Marvel Comics Presents #7 (1988), “From Sea to Deadly Sea,” (Steve Ditko and Hollis Bright) 

Another successful way to avoid sharks? Find a nearby hole and escape from a surprise mutated pack of them. This maneuver is a lot easier if you can breathe underwater like the ruler of Atlantis, Namor. 

Uncanny X-Men #176 (Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr.) 

Most people remember the giant squid Cyclops fends off in Uncanny #176 — it is featured on the cover after all — but we shouldn’t forget that before the squid even shows up he gives a good zap to a great white after successfully evading his gaping maw. 

Marvel Comics Presents Vol. 1 #41 

Just like Batman, Wolverine has fought quite a few sharks. Not only does he ride a shark but he smashes it against the side of a boat to provide some dinner for his buds. Seems in line with Wolverine’s general hunting practices. 

Wolverine: Black Rio (Joe Casey, Phil Jimenez) 

A shark went after Wolverine as he investigated a bunch of floating dead bodies in Rio de Janeiro.

Wolverine: Black White & Blood #4 

And another one in Black White & Blood. Both got dealt with quickly with some SNIKTs. 

Wolverine Vol. 3 #21, 2003 (Mark Millar, John Romita Jr.)

Wait, we’re still doing Wolverine? Here he is during “Enemy of the State” nonchalantly murdering sharks so he can get back to murdering other folks for Hydra. 

X-Force Vol. 6 #26 (Benjamin Percy, Robert Gill) 

In probably the most ridiculous and/or rad kill on this list, Wolvie slices a great white in half with his adamantium surfboard during the Krakoa era to save a floor baby. Ben Percy, never change. 

Incredible Hulk #2 (2011) (Jason Aaron, Marc Silvestri) 

Hulk smash sharks. 

A-Force #1 (2015), (G. Willow Wilson, Jorge Molina)

Multiple members of A-Force got a crack at this giant laser-shooting shark and sent it reeling (into pedestrian traffic?). Points for teamwork! 

Heroes for Hire #19 (John Ostrander, Pasqual Ferry)

Despite the water “softening their blows,” Shang Chi and Iron Fist are more than a match for sharks with their kung-fu super punches. 

Uncanny X-Men #188 (Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr.)

Sometimes supporting characters get to hurt sharks, too! Here’s Lee Forrester giving a shark the boot to rescue her onetime love, Magneto!

Donald Duck, “Lifeguard Daze” (Carl Barks) 

Always one to take his nautical duties seriously, Donald Duck kicks shark butt, even if the second time is a trick to impress Daisy. 

Batman The Movie (1966) 

And if all else fails, you can always rely on the classic defense supply made famous by Batman in the ’60s, SHARK REPELLANT! Stay safe out there, swimmers!