Constantly Fumbled Heroes
Comic books have introduced thousands of superheroes, but not every great character gets the attention they deserve. Some have been pushed aside for more popular heroes, while others have been saddled with weak storylines, strange creative decisions, or years of inconsistent treatment. These characters all had something special, and if you've ever wondered why they weren't bigger stars, their comic book histories offer plenty of answers.
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1. The Question
There’s something fascinating about Vic Sage and his Question stories. They’re deeply philosophical superhero comics disguised as detective fiction masquerading as morality plays about corruption and identity. Vic Sage rarely needed superpowers because asking too many questions was enough to cause him trouble.
2. Firestorm
Firestorm had one of superhero comics’ most fascinating concepts. Two people fused into one superhero with their own personalities, powered by nuclear energy. Between those basics, there’s room for stories about science, responsibility, friendship, and coming into your own as an adult.
3. Blue Beetle
Ted Kord is living proof that superheroes don’t need universe-level cosmic powers to entertain readers. Blue Beetle was endlessly smart, ridiculously funny, and had one of the best friendships in comics with Booster Gold. Writers should let Ted Kord shine more often by embracing his passion and abundant enthusiasm.
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4. The Phantom Stranger
The Phantom Stranger has hung around the DCU for ages, but his mystique has sometimes worked against him as a character. He’s perfect for haunted superhero stories since no one really knows what he is or where he came from. The Stranger should theoretically have no problem standing out with memorable stories, but he’s often found lingering in the background.
5. Black Lightning
Jefferson Pierce gave superhero comics a lot to talk about by bridging his heroics with his career as a teacher and community leader. Topics like education, family, crime, and the harsh realities of protecting your neighborhood have made his stories instantly identifiable. Black Lightning has earned more recognition over the years, but he still hasn’t quite achieved the prominence he deserves.
6. Martian Manhunter
Of the founding JLA members, J’onn J’onzz may be the most versatile superhero. Throw at him a story about telepathy, shapeshifting, super strength, flight, detective skills, and he’ll have your back. He frequently gets pushed into the shadow of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
7. Vixen
Mari McCabe has an amazingly cool power in that the Tantu Totem allows her to channel powers from any animal she knows about. Writers can do absolutely anything with that power, from straightforward action-packed fights to stories about nature, identity, and responsibility. She deserves to carry her own stories more often.
8. Hercules
Marvel’s Hercules has spent most of his career punching monsters, various gods, and occasionally his own reputation. His bombastic personality lends itself to fun superhero books, while his mythological background allows writers to play with tons of source material.
9. Monica Rambeau
Monica Rambeau has been Captain Marvel longer than most people have realized, and her powers remain impressively versatile. Able to shift between different energy forms, move faster than the eye can see, and operate on a massive scale, she’s always been a formidable Avenger. The constant changes to her superhero identity have sometimes made her harder for casual readers to follow.
10. Tigra
Greer Grant Nelson may have one of Marvel’s weirder starts, transforming from a standard superhero identity into a powerhouse with feline abilities. She’s staked out an interesting place in Marvel as both a supernatural adventurer and key Avenger. Tigra doesn’t need to be part of teams; she has enough unexplored depth to stand on her own.
11. Sleepwalker
Marvel’s Sleepwalker was one of their more interesting characters, showing up at a time when the publisher was willing to get legitimately weird. His powers gave his stories a dream-like quality that detached him from traditional superhero narratives. Sleepwalker never became a huge Marvel staple, but he deserved to be.
12. Dazzler
Alison Blaire might have one of the coolest concepts in Marvel. A mutant musician who can transform sound into visible light energy. Dazzler straddled the line between superhero books, music comics, celebrity-watch dramas, and what it’s like to publicly live as a mutant.
13. Nova
Richard Rider has somehow found himself stuck between being a regular dude and one of Marvel’s premiere cosmic heroes. His powers as Nova give him access to freaking everything, but his personality keeps him relatable enough that readers can invest in his story. Nova matters to Marvel’s cosmic stories, but hasn’t received the type of constant recognition he deserves.
14. Wonder Man
Simon Williams has had one of Marvel’s strangest superhero careers. Starting as a villain and becoming a powerhouse Avenger in his own right. Wonder Man has the power to take down baddies with his ionic energy abilities, but his emotional battles and complex relationships with other characters give him depth.
15. Spectrum
Monica Rambeau’s middle superhero alias actually fits her powers better. As Spectrum, she has access to an incredible range of energy manipulation abilities. Rambeau has the heroic experience, powers, and personality to stand with Marvel’s biggest names without borrowing someone else’s legacy.
16. Damage
DC's Damage had the potential to become a fascinating exploration of what happens when enormous power lands in the hands of someone struggling to control it. The character's connection to the legacy of the Hulk also gave him an interesting place in superhero history. Several attempts to reinvent him have come and gone, leaving Damage with far less staying power than his premise deserved.
17. Ragman
Meet DC’s ultimate mystical vigilante with a penchant for costumes made out of souls. Rory Regan’s origin and powers open the door to superhero stories that blend with horror. With the right creative team behind him, Ragman could really get some creepy adventures going.
18. Booster Gold
Sometimes Booster Gold’s whole “comedic hero” reputation undermines just how cool his concept was. A future guy who time travels to the present to become a famous superhero ends up having genuine heroic potential. There’s tons of room for Booster Gold to grow as a character if writers remember the jokes are just one aspect of his appeal.
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19. The Phantom
The Phantom may not be a superhero in the traditional flying-costume sense, but he is without a doubt a hero who wears a mask to fight crime. The character's legacy, jungle setting, and family tradition give his adventures a distinctive identity that modern superhero comics rarely replicate. He deserves more attention from readers who enjoy classic adventure comics.
20. Plastic Man
Plastic Man has something most superheroes would probably envy: he can be genuinely hilarious while still being a remarkably capable hero. His elastic powers allow artists to create ridiculous visual gags, but his stories can also tackle crime, family, and his complicated past as a former criminal. Plastic Man gets lumped in as comic relief far too often when he’s proven he can carry his own heroic book.
