These Legacy Heroes Deserve the Limelight
DC’s biggest heroes often take center stage, which is understandable. Characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Green Arrow are widely recognized. However, some of the most compelling story potential lies with the sidekicks, protégés, and younger legacy heroes who have spent years surrounding these larger-than-life figures. These characters tend to be less settled, more complex, and often more interesting for modern narratives that emphasize stealth, speed, upgrades, open-world movement, and the dynamics of found families. Here are 20 DC sidekicks who truly deserve their own series.
1. Tim Drake
Tim Drake is the Robin who also works as a detective. A solo series could feature him tackling Gotham cases, working with encrypted files, using drones, piecing together clue boards, and embarking on late-night missions where his greatest asset is his ability to recognize patterns.
2. Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is rife with internal conflict, making him an ideal candidate for a full series. As the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, equipped with assassin training yet bound by Batman’s moral code, he fits seamlessly into a narrative full of sword fighting, stealth, familial pressure, and instincts he struggles to control.
3. Jason Todd
Jason Todd’s journey from Robin to Red Hood provides one of DC’s strongest antihero scenarios. His series could be darker and more morally complex than other Gotham stories, especially if it explores his anger issues.
4. Stephanie Brown
Having been Spoiler, Robin, and Batgirl, Stephanie Brown has certainly earned a significant spotlight in Gotham. Her solo series could make crime-fighting feel scrappy and personal, addressing local issues, complicated alliances, and a hero who persists even when the Bat-family has doubts about her.
greyloch from Washington, DC, area, U.S.A. on Wikimedia
5. Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain stands out as one of DC’s most impressive hand-to-hand fighters, with her story deeply connected to movement, instinct, and body language. A series centered on her could make every fight feel intimate, quiet, and tense, while also allowing for the exploration of the life she seeks to build beyond her rigorous training.
Digital_Rampage (Christopher Stadler) on Wikimedia
6. Duke Thomas
Duke Thomas, known as the Signal, offers a unique perspective in Gotham by protecting the city during the day. His light-based sensory powers could illuminate the city while highlighting its dangers, particularly amid crowded streets, public threats, and crimes committed in broad daylight.
7. Harper Row
Harper Row, as Bluebird, brings a resourceful, tech-savvy edge to the Bat-family. She would be well-suited to lead a series focused on hacking, improvised gadgets, rooftop pursuits, and the kind of determined problem-solving that arises from lacking a billionaire’s financial backing.
8. Conner Kent
Conner Kent, known as Superboy, is so much more than just a younger version of Superman. A series about him could delve into themes of cloning, inherited expectations, alien technology, tactile telekinesis, and the challenges of wielding great power before fully understanding himself.
9. Jon Kent
Jon Kent carries the dual legacies of Clark Kent’s heroism and Lois Lane’s curiosity. This makes him an excellent candidate for a series that fuses superhero action with investigative storytelling, emphasizing the importance of saving people while also seeking deeper truths.
10. Natasha Irons
Natasha Irons deserves a tech-driven spotlight due to her connection to the Steel legacy, which naturally centers her on engineering. Her series could bring a personal, hands-on approach to her armor, featuring prototypes, upgrades, threats in Metropolis, and the pressure to prove her capabilities in the field.
Stanislav Kondratiev on Pexels
11. Wallace West
Wallace West holds the mantle of Kid Flash, but his speed should not be seen as an easy shortcut. His series could transform every rescue, chase, and split-second decision into a risky endeavor, with the Speed Force acting as both a gift and an unpredictable challenge.
Pikawil from Laval, Canada on Wikimedia
12. Bart Allen
Bart Allen, better known as Impulse, possesses a restless energy that can make his series feel fast, humorous, and unexpectedly emotional. Coming from the future, the present seems strange and slightly off to him, creating a natural sense of culture shock at full speed.
istolethetv from Hong Kong, China on Wikimedia
13. Jackson Hyde
Jackson Hyde has connections to Aquaman, Atlantis, and Black Manta, giving his solo setup a strong foundation before the story even begins. A series focused on him could feature water constructs, underwater travel, Atlantean politics, and tensions between the surface world and Atlantis, making his corner of the DC universe feel expansive and under pressure.
14. Garth
Garth, the original Aqualad and later known as Tempest, adds magic and ancient history to the Aquaman side of DC. His series could delve into ocean kingdoms, old Atlantean power struggles, magical training, and the journey of evolving beyond being a former protégé.
15. Donna Troy
Donna Troy’s history is famously intricate, providing ample material for a character-driven series. A thoughtful approach could weave together themes of identity, memory, Amazon heritage, and Titans history into a sweeping narrative that connects to Wonder Woman’s world without simply following in her footsteps.
William Tung from USA on Wikimedia
16. Cassie Sandsmark
Cassie Sandsmark brings a modern, energetic edge to the Wonder Girl mantle. Her series could combine mythological creatures, divine complications, magical gear, and young-hero frustrations in a way that feels lively, humorous, and still connected to meaningful stakes.
17. Roy Harper
Roy Harper has a storied history as the sidekick Speedy and later as Arsenal, along with enough personal struggles to lend his solo story a sense of realism. His series would benefit from grounded action that features survival skills, archery, personal recovery, past mistakes, and hard-won confidence.
greyloch from Washington, DC, area, U.S.A. on Wikimedia
18. Emiko Queen
Emiko Queen, also known as Red Arrow, has a compelling action-thriller setup through her ties to Oliver Queen and Shado. A series centered on her could explore themes of assassin training, archery, sibling rivalry, and crime-fighting in Seattle, resulting in a sharp, quick, and unpredictable narrative.
19. Keli Quintela
Keli Quintela, or Teen Lantern, offers a tech-savvy twist among this lineup. Her powerful yet unstable Lantern gauntlet could drive a cosmic series packed with alien technology, risky upgrades, emotional-spectrum chaos, and the excitement of using equipment that no one fully understands yet.
Jim Capaldi from Springfield PA, United States of America on Wikimedia
20. Rocket
Rocket stands out because she doesn’t merely become part of a hero’s story; she actively drives Icon towards action. With her inertia belt, sharp perspective, and a blend of street-level and cosmic stakes, Raquel Ervin could lead a series that feels intelligent, dynamic, and refreshingly grounded.
