Doctor Who has a long and storied history in comic books, almost as long as the Doctor’s actual history. Regardless, despite all of the alien invaders, mad scientists and supervillains, there haven’t been a lot of superheroes in the Whoniverse.

We decided to imagine a world where that isn’t the case, and take a look at the comic book heroes the Doctor would get along with best (and frankly, two they would hate).

Superman

This one is probably pretty obvious. Though the Doctor has no problem with questionable morality and Superman has a lot fewer shades of grey, the Man of Steel and the Last of the Time Lords are both paragons of truth and justice. Both live on the front lines, finding and stopping forces that threaten the entire cosmos, but neither are above holding a single life precious. They’re just as likely to pause for just a moment to hold someone struggling as they are to stand in front of an invading army and say “this far and no further.”

Both heroes are also no stranger to the impossible situation, and finding a way through it. They’re both willing to sacrifice everything if it calls for it. And they both know the incredible pain of losing everything.

Plus, you can’t tell me that there wasn’t a blue box orbiting Krypton in its final moments, watching to ensure a single small rocket made it out of the dying planet’s atmosphere and would begin its trip across the universe…

Thor

The Odinson and the Doctor are different enough that there’s little doubt they’d be the most unlikely of best friends- at least the Tenth and Twelfth Doctors. Thor would introduce the Doctor to mead. The Doctor would help Thor untangle Loki’s mischief.

Together they would one-up each other with tall tales of their adventures. They would travel to strange new alien worlds. They would visit different times. They would write myth and legend, while simply having a good time together.

But at least a time or two, Loki would steal the TARDIS, and Thor would have to grab his key to the time machine and use Asgardian magic to help the Doctor find his blue box.

Betsy Braddock

While the Doctor’s British origins would point to a long-standing alliance between them and Betsy’s brother, Brian (aka Captain Britain), there’s no way that duo would get along at all. Betsy on the other hand has all the makings of a classic Who companion.

She’s a former supermodel and member of the aristocracy. She longs for adventure, and has magical blood flowing through her veins as well. 

Now, of course, this would need to be Betsy pre-X-Men or as Captain Britain (this idea does not work for ninja Betsy at all), but there’s no way she wouldn’t drop everything to run off on a whirlwind adventure on the TARDIS.

Martian Manhunter

There’s a part of the Doctor that’s full of childlike wonder and enthusiasm. And while J’Onn J’Onzz can relate to being the last of his kind right alongside the Doctor, the duo would absolutely connect over the small wondrous things that we humans take for granted.

First time dipping sandwich cookies in milk? Magnificent! Discovering combinations that are weird to Earthers, but remind of each of them of home? Well, you’ve got to try how chocolate covered pickles taste like a Martian breakfast staple, while frozen chocolate milk and grape juice is exactly like a popular Gallifreyan dessert.

Through that sense of wonder, the duo would find common ground, while never pointing out the homesickness that they share.

Zatanna

The Doctor at his most fun is a bit of a trickster and mischief maker. Who better to feed that side of the Doctor than a cheeky stage magician that’s hiding something deeper within her. The duo would tie a bad guy in knots in clever and inventive ways, while connecting over their deeper sides.

Plus, you know their team up would end with the Doctor taking Zee to one of her father’s shows at his height, and holding hands as they watch Zatara perform.

Cable

The Doctor is no stranger to helping soldiers from the future. While you may think that Nathan Christopher Charles Dayspring Askani’son Summers would be a mess that the Doctor would want to detangle, I think they’d get along swimmingly. They’ve both fought and lost in some of the greatest wars that the timeline has ever seen.

You also know that they’d each welcome the help the other would give in dealing with all the time travel paradoxes the X-Men cause just by existing.

Captain America

Steve Rogers is a man out of time. He’s seen more in his various lifetimes than any others have and will. And I guarantee that one of those things is a madman in a blue box.

Not only would Steve get along with the Doctor, but he’s likely been on multiple adventures with various incarnations of the Time Lord. Not only that, he’d step in to help without hesitation, no matter the face they’re wearing- blond woman, grumpy old man, or eccentric brunette in a suit and Converse. That’s just who Steve is, and the Doctor knows it.

And just who would drive the Doctor nuts?

Beast

Remember how I said the X-Men often create paradoxes just by existing? Well, Hank McCoy is single-handedly responsible for at least half of them. Scott Summers and Jean Grey get pulled into it unwillingly. Beast doesn’t just dive in headfirst, he actively seeks them out.

You know the Twelfth Doctor would storm through the X-Mansion, screaming “MCCOY!” at the top of his lungs to guarantee that the younger AND older versions of the bouncing blue-haired Beast end up back in their proper time and place.

Batman

The Doctor is an adventurer with a plan for every eventuality and a healthy ego. They’re at their best with a companion but often works alone. And when they’re alone, they become driven and single-minded.

Sound like anyone else you might know? While Batman and the Doctor would work together grudgingly, neither would get along with the other. They’d respect one another, but they’d never come to the point of liking the other, particularly not when anyone else is around.

But Dick Grayson? The Doctor loves that kid.