Most Underrated DC Characters

DC Comics has been around for decades, and in the process, they have created some of the best characters in the history of comic books. You often bring up the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Lex Luthor, Darkseid, and so on, as some of the best characters comics have to offer, but many other examples don’t get as much credit.

Here you have the most underrated DC characters and why you should give them a chance. Let’s begin.

Green Lantern Kyle Rayner

DC went on a replacement rampage during the 90s, giving mantles of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman to new, modern characters. Green Lantern was no exception, with main character Hal Jordan becoming a villain through the Emerald Twilight storyline and destroying most of the Green Lanterns across the galaxy.

Kyle Rayner, a young freelance artist, picked up the Lantern ring in an alley one night and became the last Green Lantern in the galaxy. He made costly mistakes at first but grew into the role, helped bring the series back to the spotlight, and was even a part of the Justice League during Grant Morrison’s iconic JLA run. There are a lot of great storylines involving Kyle, and he definitely deserves more love.

The Question

He was one of the Charlton Comics characters bought by DC during the 80s, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths event threw him into the mix. He is a man that wears a mask and a suit and operates as a detective, obsessed with conspiracy theories and constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to being a vigilante.

The Question is a character with a deep philosophical undertone and a lot of personality, and his gritty, street-level approach to fighting crime makes him very appealing. He is one of those characters that become an instant favorite once you read his stories.

Tim Drake

There is a lot of injustice surrounding Tim Drake. He is not the first Robin like Dick Grayson, the Robin that died and came back as an antihero/villain like Jason Todd, and he is not Bruce Wayne’s biological son like Damian. The third Robin is stuck in no man’s land, but that doesn’t stop him from being the best there’s ever been with the mantle.

Tim’s appeal as Robin is that he was the first to get a lot of development and focus on growing into the role. Bruce didn’t want to take another Robin under his wing after Jason’s death at the hands of the Joker (and understandably so). So Tim worked his way to becoming Robin, getting a lot of limited series and a highly regarded ongoing one with writer Chuck Dixon that pushed the character to far greater heights.

He is the dependable Robin, the one that has rivaled Batman when it comes to detective skills and also the most balanced one when it comes to personality. Tim Drake is the definition of underrated.

Mister Terrific

The Justice Society of America has a lot of underrated characters, but no one earns this title more than Mister Terrific. This man has proven time and time again that he is up there as one of the most intelligent characters in the DC Universe and may even surpass Batman himself, which is saying a lot in that regard.

He is the leader of the Justice Society, part of some of DC’s most underrated storylines, and a relatively flexible character, which serves a lot in storytelling. Unfortunately, there is much to explore with Mister Terrific, and it seems that DC is not doing enough with him.

Deadman

Boston Brand was a famous trapeze artist, but after he died, he became a ghost that could possess people and now uses that to fight evil, naming himself after his nickname during his time alive, Deadman. This premise might sound ridiculous, but Deadman makes it work and becomes one of the best DC characters.

The appeal of Deadman is that his stories are grounded and often engaging, but they have a constant sense of humor, joy, and levity, even if they are somewhat dark. It is a lovely contrast and sets him apart from many supernatural characters in the medium.

Martian Manhunter

J’onn J’onzz says during the Blackest Night event: “I’m as powerful as Superman. Why no one remembers that?” And he is right, which explains why he is such an underrated character.

Yes, Martian Manhunter is a founding member of the Justice League, but this doesn’t mean he is getting all the spotlight he deserves. This is a character with a tragic backstory, as powerful as Superman, with the capacity to shape-shift, telekinesis, and a lot more. And yet DC doesn’t do a lot with him.

He is often doing a supporting role, and while he is good at that, it’s a shame that there is such a lack of Martian-Manhunter-centric stories.

Cassandra Cain

DC eventually wanted to bring back the Batgirl mantle after the Joker crippled Barbara Gordon. However, in the early 2000s, they decided to go with something very different, and thus Cassandra Cain was created.

She is the child of two of DC’s greatest-ever assassins, trained by them only to kill and have no affection. However, Batman eventually rescued Cassandra and was slowly given time to develop her social skills and to form bonds with people, cementing her role within the Batfamily and becoming Batgirl.

Sadly, DC stopped giving her any kind of attention in recent years, and she has been a bit forgotten, which is a shame because she has all the elements to be a phenomenal character.

Final Thoughts

Many underrated DC characters are out there, but these are some of the finest. Do you have any other that we missed out on? Drop a comment below and let us know. Also, be sure to check out our article on the Most Underrated Marvel Characters!