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Do you ever watch SpongeBob and wonder how many superheroes there are in the show? While Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are among the most popular superheroes in Bikini Bottom, there are actually a lot more superhero characters to get to know!
I could vividly remember some episodes introducing new superheroes and villains—my eyes glued on the screen for the duration of the episode. Every superhero character’s debut makes me more interested in the lore.
That’s why I scoured the internet to create a comprehensive list of all the superheroes, so you won’t have to! I think this guide would come in handy!
If you’re interested in knowing more about SpongeBob superheroes, this blog is definitely for you. I will discuss everything you need to know about their personality, abilities, exciting trivia facts, and more.
Bottomline Upfront
When it comes to superheroes on SpongeBob SquarePants, the first thing that would definitely come to mind is Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. They’ve been an iconic duo even casual cartoon viewers know them. However, there are definitely a lot of superhero characters on the show.
In this article, we will take a deep dive on the other superhero characters of the show. I’ll shine the spotlight to the most underrated International Justice League of Super Acquaintances and some superhero action figures!
Superhero Characters on SpongeBob SquarePants
Mermaid Man
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Ernie (or Jim) Huckler
- Hero Name: Mermaid Man
- Birth Date: January 24, 1917
- Home: Shady Shoals Rest Home, Bikini Bottom, Pacific Ocean
- Age When Series Starts: 82
- Most Memorable Moment: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy” (S1, Ep 6) and “Shuffeboarding” (S6, Ep117a)
- Actors Who Played: Ernest Borgnine, Tom Kenny, Adam West
Appearance
Mermaid Man looked nothing like a superhero when we first met him; his round body, skinny legs, and arms aren’t typical of a hero. Since he’s semi-retired and old, he looks way different than his younger self.
Like many older men, he also has white hair, poor sight/hearing, and wrinkles. He was much taller with ripped muscles and blonde hair in his prime. However, one feature that remained the same is the purple starfish on his nose; this helps him breathe better underwater.
Personality
Undoubtedly, Mermaid Man is past his prime—many residents in Bikini Bottom think he should just finally retire because of his age and personality. He is often cranky and exhibits several characteristics of an elderly man. His mood often changes depending on the situation; he suffers from memory loss and tends to forget events.
Powers
I always wondered how a cranky old man still has all the powers to be a “semi-retired” superhero, not until I realized that all his powers are from his costume. He can still perform his superpowers, such as:
- Marine Life Communication: He can summon different sea creatures through telepathy. They can help him in the battle; however, his power can only call and attract elderly fishes with limited strength to defeat the enemies. The range of his marine telepathy and summoning is unknown.
- Concentrated Water Balls: This is actually my favorite superpower from Mermaid Man because it really looks like he’s water-bending. He uses water to create water balls and launch them toward his enemies. The damage of his concentrated water balls is incredibly weak; sometimes, it doesn’t cause any damage or harm.
- Raging Whirlpool: Together with Barnacle Boy, he can create a raging whirlpool through high-speed swimming. This power traps their target, immobilizing them.
Mermaid Man’s Belt
Just like Batman’s utility belt, Mermaid Man’s belt features a comprehensive range of abilities. He can shoot rays and beams, which shrink things. The buttons on his belt also bring different powers, such as bizarre mutations, fire blasting, or even being slashed into half.
Ironically, Mermaid Man isn’t familiar with the belt’s features and functionality despite being its owner and operator—maybe he forgot because of old age? Well, we’re not entirely sure.
Quotes
Mermaid Man might be old, cranky, and forgetful, but his humor never fades! He knows when to say the funniest things and when to act dumb or surprised—probably my favorite trait about the character.
His funny anecdotes and quotes have become extremely popular even outside the fanbase. Here are some of his most notable quotes:
- Oh, are they here to fix the T.V.?
- “EEEVILLL!!!”
- “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, unite!”
- “To the invisible boatmobile…AWAY!”
- “I did it! I feel five years younger! Ooh, it’s good to be back!”
Interesting Trivia Facts about Mermaid Man
- Mermaids usually wear seashells for their bikini tops or bras; Mermaid Man also has seashells covering his chest area.
- Mermaid Man’s invisible boatmobile is a parody of DC Wonder Woman’s invisible plane and Batman’s Batmobile.
- The creators draw inspiration from D.C. and Marvel superheroes (Aquaman, Namor, and Batman) to build the character of Mermaid Man.
- Mermaid Man isn’t incredibly tall; he’s just 5’9 and weighs 225 lbs.
- Mermaid Man’s most notable catchphrase, “eeeevil,” was an ad-lib. VA Ernest Borgnine was recording the dialogue, and his voice suddenly cracked, resulting in the famous running gag!
- After VA Ernest Borgnine passed away in 2012, the showrunners retired the character from the series.
Barnacle Boy
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Tim (or Kyle) Stangler
- Hero Name: Barnacle Boy
- Home Address: Shady Shoals Rest Home, Bikini Bottom, Pacific Ocean
- Most Memorable Episode: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy” (S1, Ep 6),
- Voice Actor: Tim Conway; Burt Ward (as young Barnacle Boy in “Back to the Past” episode); Tom Kenny (as young Barnacle Boy in “Super Sitters” episode)
Appearance
At a glance, it would never cross your mind that Barnacle Boy is a superhero. He has a thin, tall physique but lacks the muscular build of a superhero. His most prominent physical features are his incredibly large nose, puffy ears, and missing teeth. Unlike Mermaid Man, he doesn’t have any white hair because he is totally bald.
To hide his shiny, bald scalp, he wears a white sailor hat—which doesn’t entirely cover his head. I actually love his costume more than mermaid man. His color combination looks really cool; I love the black, red, and blue details; the color pops and screams coolness.
Personality
When it comes to personality, I’m not a fan of Barnacle Boy’s cranky attitude. He acts like most geriatric men who complain about every minor inconvenience he encounters. However, he thinks with rationality compared to Mermaid Man’s illogical, almost stupid thoughts.
He is easily annoyed by Mermaid Man treating him like a baby, despite him being a senior citizen. Barnacle Boy even formed a group of villains, which he called “Every Villain is Lemons” or E.V.I.L.
Powers
Being Mermaid Man’s sidekick and trainee, Barnacle Boy learned the same powers and abilities as Mermaid Man. But how did Barnacle Boy become Mermaid Man’s sidekick? Well, he was actually on the verge of drowning, and Mermaid Man used his powers to put barnacles in his lungs so he could breathe underwater—because of that, Barnacle Boy was born!
It’s unknown how Barnacle Boy can create concentrated water balls, start a raging whirlpool, and telepathically communicate with marine animals. One thing’s for sure; he learned all this from Mermaid Man and without wearing a fancy belt too.
The only special ability he has is:
- Sulfur Vision: Barnacle Boy can create lasers and shoot them using his eyes. This is actually like Superman’s heat ray vision. Being old also affected this power; he could only produce lasers at a limited, laughable distance. He also gets quickly exhausted after using his sulfur vision.
Quotes
Barnacle Boy is already an interesting character. Who would have thought he was just a drowning boy saved by Mermaid Man to be his sidekick? Such nautical nonsense is never impossible in SpongeBob Squarepants!
While Barnacle Boy is often the killjoy and the serious, logical mind among the duo, his remarkable catchphrases are quite funny and ruthless. Here are my favorite quotes from Barnacle Boy:
- “Well, we used to be, but now we’re retired.”
- “Stop calling me boy.”
- “That’s Barnacle Man.”
- “You old coot.”
- I’m crossing over to the dark side!
Interesting Trivia Facts about Barnacle Boy
- Despite being actually taller-looking than Mermaid Man, Barnacle Boy stands 5’6 and weighs 160 lbs.
- Like Mermaid Man, his non-superhero name is based on his voice actor Tim Conway.
- Burt Ward, the voice of young Barnacle Boy, also portrayed Robin in the 1960s T.V. show Batman.
- Mermaid Man treats Barnacle “Boy” as a child; At some point, he even wants to change his name to “Barnacle Man.”
- Barnacle Boy’s name is often different from his English name. In the Danish dub, his name became “Glue Boy,” while in the German dub, his name is “Bluefish Boy.” Interestingly, his name changed quite often on the Russian dub; he was called “Glasses Boy,” “Suction Boy,” “Sea Cadet,” and “Cowboy Kid.
The International Justice League of Super Acquaintances
A parody of D.C. Comics, Justice League, The International Justice League of Super Acquaintances (I.J.L.S.A.) is a league of superhero sidekicks in SpongeBob SquarePants. The league fought alongside Mermaid Man in his prime years. They are composed of The Quickster, Captain Magma (Professor Magma), Elastic Waistband, and Miss Appear.
The show’s main characters briefly become members of the International Justice League of Super Acquaintances. Obviously, the superheroes are inspired by the most famous D.C. Comics, such as Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
The Quickster
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Unknown
- Hero Name: The Quickster
- Most Memorable Appearance: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy”(S1, Ep 6), Bikini Bottom Brawlers
- Power: Super Speed
Appearance
The OG Quickster looks like a comic book superhero. He wears a costume resembling D.C. Comics’ superhero, Impulse. I love his white-red-blue color combination; it’s easy on the eyes and very sleek.
The outfit is significantly inspired by different D.C. and Marvel superheroes. The red lightning chest detail His eagle-wing detail on the mask is quite similar to Captain America and Whizzer; his boots are also inspired by Namor.
SpongeBob’s Quickster is somewhat cartoonish than that OG Quickster. It sports cyan goggles with eagle wings on its blue earpiece. Unlike the OG Quickster, SpongeBob’s Quickster outfit is paired with blue gloves and rounded boots instead of cuffs and pointed boots. The eagle-wing detail on his boot also has a red accent.
Personality and Powers
Unlike Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, The Quickster’s costume only appeared in one episode of the show, which is “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V.” That’s why it’s tough to distinguish his personality and abilities.
However, he appeared in several SpongeBob-related books like Crime and Funishment, SpongeBob SquarePants Mix & Match, and The Adventures of Man Sponge and Boy Patrick in E.V.I.L. vs. the I.J.L.S.A.
Here’s what we know about his powers:
- Super Speed: Like DC Comics’ Flash and QuickSilver, the Quickster can run at lightning speed, so fast that he becomes invisible. However, his power has limits; the immense speed causes deep tracks that can trap him. Abusing his power will also light him on fire, leaving trails of smoke from his shoes.
Captain Magma (Professor Magma)
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Unknown
- Hero Name: Captain Magma
- Most Memorable Appearance: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy” (S1, Ep 6), SpongeBob SquigglePants
- Power: Magma Spout
Appearance
Before Squidward replaced Captain Magma’s human counterpart, the superhero wore a red jumpsuit with yellow cuff accents. It also has the letter M spouting with magma displayed on its chest, just like most superhero costumes with emblems.
Captain Magma’s superhero costume is an ode to Fantastic Four’s Human Torch, DC Comics’ Firestorm, and Pyro’s Marvel Comics. It’s actually a creative spin more than just a parody of these characters.
The Human Captain Magma looks relatively cool, especially his facial features. I love how it has a volcano-esque headpiece that spouts real magma. While Squidward’s Captain Magma look is not entirely different, it has a bright and charming element—not intimidating or scary compared to the O.G. Captain Magma.
Squidward’s Captain Magma doesn’t wear boots or shoes on his feet; he’s barefooted, which is usually a typical look for Squidward.
Personality and Powers
Captain Magma’s personality is quite unpredictable since he cannot properly communicate and articulate his thoughts. He only makes gurgling sounds and shouts “Krakatoa” to activate his powers. It’s interesting how they choose Squidward to be Captain Magma, as he’s the moody one in the bunch.
Here’s what we know about his powers:
- Magma Spout: This special ability is often triggered when Captain Magma is angered. Lava comes out of his volcano-esque headpiece with the code word “Krakatoa!” This power comes with a weakness: getting hit by water. When Captain Magma is accidentally hit with a water ball, he immediately disintegrates into ash.
The Elastic Waistband
Information at Glance
- Real Name: Unknown
- Hero Name: Elastic Waistband
- Most Memorable Appearance: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy”(S1, Ep 6), “The Bad Guy Club for Villains” (S7, Ep 135b)
- Power: Elasticity
Appearance
Green suits Patrick well; I love his jumpsuit’s snug fit. Among all the superhero characters, The Elastic Waistband looks simplistic with no added flair, only aqua green stripes on the middle of his superhero clothes. His blue goggles and red lens is also similar to the O.G. Elastic Waistband.
Like Squidward’s rendition of Captain Magma, Patrick’s Elastic Waistband doesn’t wear any shoes. However, his feet are covered inside the green jumpsuit.
Personality and Powers
The Elastic Waistband tends to have a goofy yet chill attitude. I’ve only seen him in a few episodes, and he rarely has any lines. His power is inspired by Plastic Man and Elongated Man from D.C. Comics as well as Mister Fantastic from Marvel Comics.
Here’s what we know about his powers:
- Extreme Flexibility: He can stretch his body parts as if it is rubber. His elastic body can bend into different shapes and sizes. His gut is also inflatable and indestructible, allowing attacking projectiles to ricochet into the enemies. However, like any superpower, it also has its weaknesses. If his body gets stretched out, he can’t revert back to his typical physique.
Miss Appear
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Unknown
- Hero Name: Miss Appear
- Most Memorable Appearance: “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy”(S1, Ep 6), “Appointment TV” (S11, Ep 238a)
- Power: Invisibility
Appearance
Like Wonder Woman in Justice League, Miss Appear is the only female member of The International Justice League of Super Acquaintances. His outfit rocks! Both the O.G. Miss Appear and Sandy’s Miss Appear look really great in their purple pantsuits with a gold buckle belt!
The O.G. Miss Appear seems to have black accents and accessories; she wears black gloves, heels, and an eye mask. Sandy’s Miss Appear doesn’t have these black details; she doesn’t even wear heels and an eye mask. Her gloves are also a purple shade lighter than her pantsuit.
Surprisingly, Miss Appear looks more like Wonder Woman in the episode “The Bad Guy Club for Villains.”
Personality and Powers
In the episode “The Bad Guy Club for Villains,” Miss Appear only spoke one line. The hero seems to have adopted Sandy’s personality; she is intelligent and self-assured. However, Sandy might have failed to use her powers and abilities to their fullest potential.
Here’s what we know about her powers:
- Invisibility: Miss Appear can “disappear” at will. She can remain invisible and use stealth to attack enemies. Though she is invisible, she is not physically transparent. Enemies can attack and hit her body, making her vulnerable even while using her powers.
Pyrite Panderer
Information at a Glance
- Real Name: Unknown
- Hero Name: Pyrite Panderer
- Most Memorable Appearance: “The Bad Guy Club for Villains” (S7, Ep 135b)
- Power: Wisdom
Appearance
Pyrite Panderer is the only member of the I.J.L.S.A that wasn’t briefly replaced by the show’s main character. He has a humanoid look with a big head, which has a net lace—to keep his knowledge in? Well, we’re not really sure about his character design.
He doesn’t wear a jumpsuit or any clothes except purple underwear. Though his skin resembles human skin, it’s actually “Pyrite,” a mineral that looks like gold.
Personality and Powers
Pyrite’s power is like Marvel’s Professor He is brilliant and known for giving insightful advice. However, he cannot control or read minds like Professor X.
He seems like an average dude who loves to read a lot of books—this is probably how he becomes exceptionally knowledgeable! As a member of the I.J.L.S.A., Pyrite only made one appearance in the episode “The Bad Guy Club for Villains.”
Honorable Mentions: SuperHero Action Figures
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are the most popular characters in SpongeBob SquarePants. The I.J.L.S.A. also become a cult classic—many SpongeBob fans around the world even cosplay the league during Halloween or even at comic-con.
But there are definitely more superheroes to explore; here are the few superhero action figures featured in some episodes:
Pigulon
Though we only saw this action figure in the episode “The Big Bad Bubble Bass,” it definitely shows that there are more superheroes in Bikini Bottom. I’m not quite sure if Pigulon is a hero or a villain, but his get-up is so cool. He wears a neon green bodysuit and gray accessories, plus a black mask.
WonderWhale
Bubble Bass is an avid collector of action figures, and Wonder Whale is among his collection. The superhero action figure is seen in the episodes “Swamp Mates” and “The Big Bad Bubble Bass.” The blue whale wears a pink dress, a purple belt, and a blue eye mask. Her powers are unknown.
Teenage Action Girl
The teenage action girl is also part of Bubble Bass’ action figure collection. It’s quite evident that the teenage action girl is also a hero since she’s doing a superhero stance. She appeared in the episodes “Goons on the Moon” and “Swamp Mates.”
The Unexpected Superhero: Ideal Plankton
Plankton is typically the antagonist in every episode, trying to steal the secret Krabby Patty recipe. His mean, nonsensical, and sarcastic personality comes off as rude and nothing remotely close to being considered heroic.
In the episode “Karen’s Virus,” we get to see the heroic counterpart of Plankton. However, this is only a digital version and not the actual Plankton. Ideal Plankton is relatively taller and more muscular than Plankton. He has pecks and abs but extremely slender legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Unfortunately, the characters were officially retired from the show after Ernest Borgnine, Mermaid Man’s voice actor, passed away in 2012. Tim Conway, Barnacle Boy’s voice actor, also passed away in 2019.
Answer: While Mermaid Man’s age isn’t officially revealed, his voice actor Ernest Borgnine was already 82 years old when he first voiced the character. It’s safe to say that he is the oldest superhero in Bikini Bottom.
Barnacle Boy comes as a close second; it was revealed that he is already 68 years old in “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V.”
Answer: The original I.J.L.S.A appeared in The Bad Guy Club for Villains as part of the in-series “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy” Lost Episode. The superheroes look pretty different than their first appearance. They were briefly replaced by the show’s main characters in “Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V.”
SpongeBob Superheroes: A Creative Parody to Marvel and D.C. Comics
SpongeBob Superheroes are significantly inspired by the most popular superheroes from Marvel and D.C. Comics. However, they’re definitely not just some cheap copycat.
Every superhero is designed with detail in mind; the creativity in their names and characterization just slaps. Despite the lack of a clear backstory or background, you’d come to love I.J.L.S.A. and, of course, the iconic duo: Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
The O.G. superheroes and the versions of the main characters have been fascinating and hilarious to watch. I particularly like Captain Magma and Miss Appear; the characters are unique and true to their personality.
I’m just really crossing my fingers to see more of the superheroes in the future; maybe they need to devise a new plan to reintroduce I.J.L.S.A., considering that Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are officially retired.
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