The 10­ Most Skillful Sword Wielders in Comic Books

Swords are ancient weapons that have survived the test of time in comic books. In the hands of the right wielder, they can be both devastating and beautiful. Some of the most memorable characters in comic books use swords at some point or the other. However, only a few characters stand out in terms of versatility, skill, and application. Here’s a list of the most skillful sword- wielders across the world of comic books.

Wonder Woman 

Trained by some of the greatest Amazonian warriors in warcraft and swordplay, Diana Prince is one of the most underrated entries on this list. Diana’s swords can manifest from her bracelets. They were forged by Hephaestus himself. The Kingdom Come version of Diana had a sword that could split through atoms. Combine the power of her weapons with her training and the strength of a literal goddess and a lasso and defeat for her challenger is certain.

Groo the Wanderer

Whatever you do, DO NOT CALL HIM A MENDICANT. A parody of another character on this list, Groo is a mercenary who takes on odd jobs and fails them spectacularly owing to his immense stupidity. Groo however can take on hordes of warriors and his sword fighting skills are second to none. His intelligence may leave a lot to be desired, but ask him to fight someone, and you can be sure Groo will obliterate them.

Shining Knight

Another underrated DC character makes their way to this list. Sir Justin, the original Shining Knight was a member of King Arthur’s round table. Sir Justin was given enchanted armor, sword, and shield by the wizard Merlin. In 1941 he and his horse, Victory were released from suspended animation.  He eventually joined the Seven Soldiers of Victory and the All-Star Squadron and fought in World War II. Other versions of the Shining Knight namely Gardner Grayle and Ystina are both just as proficient as Sir Justin in Swordplay.

Miyamoto Usagi

Based on the real-life samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, Miyamoto Usagi, the hare is the protagonist of Stan Sakai’s legendary Usagi Yojimbo. Usagi Yojimbo takes place in an anthropomorphic feudal Japan with beloved real-life figures replaced by animals. Among those characters, stands the proud warrior, Miyamoto Usagi. Trained in the Dogora school of Bujitsu, Usagi has seen the horrors of war, now plying his trade as a Ronin, skilled in stealth and his mastery of swordsmanship. Usagi has also taken on supernatural threats and survived.

Katana 

Tatsu Yamashiro’s skill with a blade is unquestionable. Her husband’s soul was trapped in her Soultaker sword. She then trained as a samurai under a master called Tadashi. With the souls of her husband and children trapped inside her sword, Tatsu vowed to fight crime and injustice. She called herself Katana after the sword she wielded and joined Batman’s outsiders. Katana in the New 52 also served on Amanda Waller’s Justice League. Katana wields two swords both forged by the great sword maker, Muramasa. One is the Soultaker while the other is non powered. Katana has fought vampires unarmed and is devastating when she wields her swords. She has cut through Captain Atom’s Dilustel skin. She’s even engaged General Zod himself. Impressive for a human.

Zorro 

Zorro is a classic, swashbuckling adventurer and vigilante. Active during the reign of Spanish California, Zorro’s deeds of heroism inspired the likes of Batman himself. Zorro was an extremely skilled swordsman. He was a dashing, masked vigilante that set to right wrongs among the poor and oppressed. He frequently used his trusty rapier to carve a “Z” on his victims or other objects as a signature. Zorro is more quick-witted and agile, using deftness, grace, and precision to overcome his opponents. His other weapon is his sharp tongue, pushing his enemies into a rage and turning that into an advantage.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

This is the Jedi you’re looking for. One of the greatest characters in the Star Wars franchise deserves a place on this list. Master to both Anakin and Luke Skywalker and one of the greatest Jedi that ever lived, Master Kenobi was a revered figure. Obi-Wan Kenobi was a fierce warrior and lightsaber wielder. He defeated Darth Vader and General Grievous when he was younger. He was also a master of Soresu, an acrobatic martial art form of the Jedi. In the Star Wars novels, it was written that Darth Vader himself considered Obi-Wan Kenobi, the greatest Jedi of all time.

Conan the Barbarian

The sullen, brutish, bloodthirsty warrior is an iconic staple of the sword-and-sorcery genre. Conan has been parodied in the form of Groo the wanderer. While he might look brutish but is amazingly intelligent and is near-invincible in melee combat. He’s also wrestled rhinos, death itself, and has survived dragon’s breath. Conan is also exceptionally skilled with his sword, using his ability to see in the dark to great effect. He has tangled with all kinds of warriors over the course of his travels, learning from them and putting it to good use in another fight.

Deadpool 

The Merc with a mouth might be overrated or overhyped according to some but don’t let his looks or mouth fool you. Wade Wilson is a monster when it comes to fighting. Apart from his regenerative abilities, Wilson is also a master of both armed and unarmed combat. Taskmaster of all people lost to Wade because he was unable to copy Wade’s moves. Wade carries twin katanas which have become synonymous with him. Ryan Reynolds named the swords Bea and Arthur in the Deadpool movie. Deadpool is a trained fighter, but his fighting style hinges on absolute unpredictability, his greatest weapon. Throw in a couple of Katanas and even one laced with Carbonadium and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

Deathstroke 

The terminator. An absolute badass. The professional. It couldn’t be anyone else at the top of this list. Deathstroke is a product of military experimentation that unlocked his neural capacity. This, along with a healing factor made him one of the DC Universe’s greatest threats. Deathstroke has taken on Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and practically every major hero. And nearly defeated them. He also wears armor and carries swords made of volatile Promethium which can absorb and release energy at targets. Highly trained, extremely durable in a fight, and a born killer, Deathstroke is the real deal.