John Wick may be the embodiment of competence and lethality, yet comics are filled with assassins whose skill and brutality could match, or even surpass, the Baba Yaga himself. From master swordsmen to peerless marksmen and mercenaries who blur the line between myth and killer-for-hire, these characters represent the absolute peak of comic book lethality.

Ranked in no particular order, each assassin here earns their place through demonstrated martial skill, iconic kills or one-on-one victories, and the way writers have explicitly framed them as elite killers. Anyone on this list could defeat Wick, or at the very least push him harder than any opponent he’s ever faced.

7

Batgirl / Cassandra Cain (DC Comics): Raised to Be Death Incarnate

First Appearance: Batman #567 (1999)

While Cassandra Cain stands firmly on the side of the angels, that doesn’t diminish her unparalleled skill or unique origin. Even before her birth, Cassandra’s destiny was set by her father, David Cain, who enlisted Lady Shiva (DC’s deadliest martial artist) to bear his child, ensuring Cassandra inherited the deadliest possible genes and could be molded into the ultimate weapon, a perfect killing machine.

From infancy, Cassandra was trained by her father as an assassin, denied verbal language so she could instead master reading body language, predicting her opponents’ every move. She has defeated Batman himself and many others, proving her unmatched skill. Against John Wick, Cassandra’s ability to counter every strike before it lands makes her a formidable foe he likely couldn’t overcome. He’s lucky Cain follows Batman’s no-kill rule.

6

Bullseye / Benjamin Poindexter (Marvel Comics): The Man Who Turns Anything Into a Weapon

First Appearance: Daredevil #131 (1976)

Custom Image by Kai Young

One of John Wick’s most iconic moments is turning a simple pencil into a deadly weapon. Hence, him facing another master of opportunistic weaponry would be epic. Bullseye’s signature ability is that anything within reach becomes a lethal projectile, giving him an almost limitless arsenal, much like Wick. Their clash would be a thrilling battle of improvisational combat mastery.

Bullseye cemented his reputation for deadly precision in Frank Miller’s Daredevil #181 (1982), where he killed Elektra with flawless skill. This issue is widely cited as the definitive showcase of his lethality. Taking out one of Marvel’s most skilled fighters proves that Bullseye isn’t just dangerous, he’s a merciless, calculating opportunist capable of matching Wick in skill and ingenuity.

First Appearance: The New Teen Titans #2 (1980)

Deathstroke would be a top-tier opponent for John Wick, likely one of his most challenging foes. Slade Wilson combines enhanced physiology (i.e., superhuman speed, strength, and healing) with elite military training, surgical strategic planning, mastery of hand-to-hand combat, and expertise with a wide array of weapons. Together, these traits make him the ultimate, nearly unstoppable opponent.

Known for his ruthless efficiency, Deathstroke could match John Wick’s relentless precision, leveling the playing field for the Baba Yaga. Wick’s signature edge of unmatched focus and resourcefulness would be met by someone equally disciplined and lethal. A crossover between these two masters of death would be an unforgettable battle, showcasing peak human skill in both strategy and combat.

4

Ninjak / Colin King (Valiant Comics): MI6’s Ultimate Blend of Spycraft and Assassination

First Appearance: Bloodshot #6 (1993)

Ninjak is Valiant’s MI-6 super-operative, a master of infiltration, gadgetry, psychological warfare, and lethal single-combat. Essentially Batman meets James Bond when it comes to skill, blending detective-level intellect, martial arts mastery, and spycraft. Handling state-level assignments and surviving encounters with super-powered threats, he operates in a high-stakes world that closely mirrors John Wick’s lethal environment.

Ninjak consistently demonstrates his ability to eliminate high-value targets, outthink super-powered adversaries, and execute complex black-ops missions. This combination of strategy, precision, and adaptability would push Wick to his limits, especially since Wick’s experience primarily focuses on human-level threats. For these reasons, Ninjak is not only a worthy rival but a strong candidate to come out on top in a duel with Wick.

3

Deadpool / Wade Wilson (Marvel Comics): The Merc with a Mouth Who Never Stays Dead

First Appearance: The New Mutants #98 (1991)

Even though Deadpool was originally a parody of Deathstroke and is known as Marvel’s class clown, he is still exceptionally skilled and deadly. Combined with his healing factor, he becomes a near-unstoppable threat. His chaotic fighting style and unpredictable nature would create constant mental and physical pressure, forcing John Wick to contend with both extreme skill and relentless psychological warfare.

If Wade Wilson’s unpredictability and weapon mastery don’t finish Wick off, his unhinged personality might do the job. Feats like slaughtering 100 mobsters in under a minute using only swords, paired with his meta-human healing abilities, solidify the argument that Deadpool could take on Wick. Against the Merc with a Mouth, even the Baba Yaga would face a challenge unlike any other.

2

Deadshot / Floyd Lawton (DC Comics): The Marksman Who Never Misses Twice

First Appearance: Batman #59 (1950)

Custom Image by Robert Wood

There’s a strong case that John Wick could defeat Deadshot in hand-to-hand combat. However, put a firearm in Floyd Lawton’s hands and it would likely be game over. Lawton is the embodiment of stoic marksman perfection. Had he been one of the assassins to answer the High Table bounty in John Wick: Chapter 2, the Baba Yaga’s story might have ended much earlier.

Deadshot has consistently demonstrated impossible long-range kills, expert cover-tradecraft, and mission discipline that define world-class assassination from a distance. Against Wick, this would turn the Baba Yaga into a hunted prey. That said, this list concedes that in close quarters, Wick’s hand-to-hand skill would likely give him the edge over Floyd.

1

Lady Shiva (DC Comics): The Deadliest Martial Artist in the DC Universe

First Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter #5 (1975)

Lady Shiva is widely regarded as the deadliest martial artist in the DC Universe, making her an obvious inclusion on this list. Her victories over both Batman and her daughter, Cassandra Cain, further cement her status as a fighter capable of taking on and likely defeating John Wick with ease.

What makes Lady Shiva even more impressive is that she has no metahuman powers. This means a hypothetical duel with John Wick would be a fair test of pure skill, and her mastery of combat would likely see the Baba Yaga become just another name on her long list of elite opponents she has defeated.