The Misfires And Masterpieces
DC’s roster is filled with unforgettable legends, but not every hero makes the cut. While some rise to greatness through courage and impact, others are remembered for their unusual powers or quirky designs. This list explores both ends of that spectrum: those who captured our admiration and those who left us scratching our heads. Let’s first consider the ones that stumble in the DC universe.
1. Matter-Eater Lad
His power is eating anything, from steel girders to alien tech. But that rarely comes in handy during battles. Most of his screen time in the Legion of Super-Heroes plays for laughs. Fans admire the weirdness, but he’s not really heroic.
Matter-Eater Lad Powers Scenes (Legion of Superheroes) by Alex Geek
2. Arm-Fall-Off Boy
When your superpower is detaching your arm and using it as a club, you're not exactly Justice League material. Even the Legion of Substitute Heroes didn’t choose him. His name alone invites giggles, and the concept feels more like a parody than a superhero.
Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century # 16 Comic review by comic book reviewer
3. Infectious Lass
This hero’s power is making people sick just by being near them. Unfortunately, that includes allies as well. She means well, but more often than not, she’s a walking biohazard to her own team. Even when she tries to help, her abilities turn missions into sneeze-filled disasters.
Infectious Lass Powers Scenes (Legion of Superheroes) by Alex Geek
4. Color Kid
Changing the color of objects isn’t exactly a game-changer in a fight. Sure, it’s funny watching him turn things pink mid-battle, but even among the Legion of Substitute Heroes, he’s barely taken seriously. His one big moment was turning a monster invisible. Still not quite enough.
Color Kid Powers Scenes (Legion of Superheroes) by Alex Geek
5. The Red Bee
He’s got a striped costume, a stinger gun, and—wait for it—a trained bee named Michael. While charming in a 1940s comic kind of way, The Red Bee faded fast after World War II. Attempts to modernize him usually earn eye-rolls more than applause.
6. B’wana Beast
Fusing animals into hybrid creatures sounds wild, but the results are usually more grotesque than heroic. This hero’s powers confuse more than they help, and the character is weighed down by outdated, culturally insensitive portrayals. No surprise modern fans find him baffling rather than badass.
The great quotes of: B'wana Beast by Friendly96
7. The Heckler
A guy who battles crime using sarcasm and insults—that’s The Heckler in a nutshell. His solo series barely lasted six issues, and he had zero actual powers. Despite trying to be edgy and meta, readers mostly found him irritating, not the kind of hero who sticks.
8. Dogwelder
Dogwelder might be the darkest, weirdest joke in DC’s lineup. He literally welds dead dogs to criminals’ faces. With no clear origin and almost no dialogue, he’s more unsettling than funny. Even fellow heroes avoid him, and the grotesque gimmick overshadows any actual heroics.
Evil's Comics Reviews SixPack and Dogwelder: Hard Travelin' Heroz #1 (2016) by Evil's Comics
9. Zan
His water-based powers never quite held up next to his sister’s animal transformations. Turning into steam, puddles, or ice cubes just isn’t that impressive. Over the years, the hero has become a running joke in pop culture, outmatched even in his own duo.
Ridiculous Wondertwin powers by Life of Fox
10. Extraño
Extraño’s original portrayal leaned into flamboyant stereotypes and vague magic tricks that lacked depth. Instead of being a powerful magician, he came off as a gimmick. Later reboots tried to fix his image, but for many fans and critics, the damage was already done.
Millennium (DC Major Events) by BBHQs
Thankfully, not every character is a misfire. Let’s turn to the ones who truly earned their place among DC’s legends.
1. Batman
He is both a hero and a symbol of relentless will. No powers, just brains, training, and a massive chip on his shoulder. Batman thrives in Gotham’s shadows and solves mysteries no one else can. Over the decades, he’s become the blueprint for complex, layered superheroes.
2. Superman
Though he can crush mountains, he chooses kindness. Superman is more than an alien with godlike powers: he’s a farm-raised optimist who believes in humanity. His restraint defines him, not his strength, and he’s one hero you’d want to save the world.
Superman Issue 6 “The Chained Part One” DC Comics #Superman by ryanricardo
3. Wonder Woman
Myth and might collide in Wonder Woman. She fights like a warrior but leads with compassion, bringing peace as often as she brings justice. Her Amazon roots give her timeless strength, while her moral clarity makes her one of DC’s most respected and enduring icons.
Wonder Woman Vol 5 Issue 39 Overview by Adis Nukic (CaptainBosnia93)
4. The Flash
For The Flash, speed is just the start. He rewrites and saves timelines and still makes it home before you know it. Barry Allen’s heart and humor ground him, even as the Speed Force propels him to god-tier feats. He’s proof that heroism is about the heart.
The Flash (DCAU) Powers and Fight Scenes - Justice League Season 2 by Rafael Ridolph
5. Green Lantern
Wielding a ring powered by pure will, Green Lantern turns imagination into action. From battling cosmic threats to wrestling inner demons, Hal Jordan’s journey is one of redemption and grit. With each new Lantern added to the Corps, the legacy only gets brighter—and more deeply human.
6. Nightwing
Nightwing ditched the Robin cape and soared past it. In no time, he carved out his own identity with agility and empathy. Blüdhaven is his to protect now, and while he honors Batman’s legacy, he brings something lighter and more hopeful to the fight.
Nightwing Fight Scenes - The Batman (2004) by Rafael Ridolph
7. Martian Manhunter
Thoughtful but devastatingly powerful, Martian Manhunter is the heart of any Justice League lineup. Behind his stoic presence lies deep loneliness, the last survivor of Mars. With shapeshifting, telepathy, and wisdom to spare, he’s often the calm center when the world starts to fall apart.
The Problem With Martian Manhunter by Bays Talks
8. Aquaman
Aquaman was once dismissed as the guy who talks to fish but is now a powerhouse of the seas. Wielding his Atlantean strength and regal presence, he commands respect above and below the surface. Thanks to modern reimaginings, he’s gone from punchline to protector.
9. Zatanna
With a top hat and backward spells, Zatanna dazzles before she even casts a spell. But her real magic lies in her ability to balance showmanship and sincerity. As one of DC’s most powerful mystics, she’s performance, legacy, loyalty, and arcane brilliance in action.
Zatanna True Power |Justice League| by Everest Crunch
10. Cyborg
This half-human-half-machine hero wrestles with circuits and soul as he reconnects with his humanity. Whether confronting cyber threats or standing with Titans, his nanotech gives him incredible adaptability. However, it’s his resilience and empathy—battling self-doubt and isolation—that make Victor Stone a hero you can’t help rooting for.
