DC Comics is famous for its iconic heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, and it’s no surprise they often take center stage – they’ve been popular since the very beginning. But over the years, DC has created many other important characters who haven’t received as much attention.
DC Comics has occasionally heavily promoted these characters, featuring them prominently in major storylines and even making them core members of their top superhero teams. However, DC consistently failed to fully support them long-term, squandering their potential and often replacing them with characters who didn’t perform as well.
DC Comics created Jaime Reyes hoping he would be their version of Spider-Man for a new generation. He first appeared in comics in the 2000s, quickly got his own series, and even showed up as a supporting character in the Batman: Brave and the Bold animated series. He continues to be a regular feature in his own ongoing comic books even now.
Despite achieving some recognition, Jaime hasn’t quite reached his full potential. He deserves his own animated series, similar to what Static received, rather than just appearing as a guest on Batman’s show. While he’s been involved in various stories, he should have played a larger, more consistent role in teams like the Teen Titans or even the Justice League. Hopefully, the new DC Universe will give him the chance to truly shine.
As a fan, it was so great to see DC finally ‘get’ Power Girl in the 2000s! For years, they didn’t really know what to do with her, but then she became this awesome, straightforward force on the JSA. She even had her own comic book series that did really well for a while. What I loved was that she was different enough from Supergirl that both characters felt unique and could co-exist without stepping on each other’s toes.
However, DC hasn’t focused much on her since then. She deserves to lead the Justice Society of America, but her role with the team has diminished since its revival. Even more concerning, they’ve drastically altered her personality and even her name, turning her into someone quite different from the beloved version fans knew from the 2000s. Now that her last regular comic series has been canceled, the character feels lost and without a clear path forward.
Miss Martian first appeared in the Teen Titans comic books of the 2000s and quickly became a key character. She’s a White Martian who disguises herself as a Green Martian because she’s embarrassed by her people’s violent past and wants to be accepted on Earth. Many fans know her best as a central figure in the Young Justice animated series.
However, in the comic books, the character has largely been forgotten. Despite a fresh start with the New 52 reboot, she wasn’t included, even though she would have been a great fit. She’s popped up occasionally, which feels like a missed opportunity—she could have been a central figure in a new Teen Titans team, just as she was in the early 2000s.
While DC was working to revitalize Aquaman with the ‘Brightest Day’ storyline, they also introduced a new character, Jackson Hyde, as his sidekick. It was later revealed that Jackson was half-Atlantean and the son of Black Manta, one of Aquaman’s enemies. However, this new Aqualad, known as Kaldur’ahm, didn’t become truly popular until a few years later with the ‘Young Justice’ animated series. There, he became a central figure and team leader alongside other heroes like Robin, Flash, and Superboy.
Despite being a well-liked character in the animated series, Jackson Hyde hasn’t reached his full potential in the comics. After the Flashpoint event, he largely disappeared for years. Though he reappeared in Aquaman comics a few years ago, he’s now being sidelined as DC focuses on Aquaman’s daughter, Andrina Curry. It’s disappointing, because he had the potential to lead his own comic or play a significant role in a team book.
DC Comics once had a promising new hero in Cassie Sandsmark, who was being developed as Wonder Girl. Writer John Byrne introduced her as a spirited and energetic character who, through her connection with Wonder Woman, unexpectedly gained powerful abilities from Zeus. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Cassie stood out as a fresh face in the superhero world, becoming a key member of the Young Justice team and eventually even leading them.
Cassie, formerly known as Wonder Girl, faded into the background during the New 52 comic book era, losing her strong connection to Wonder Woman. Her time with The Teen Titans wasn’t particularly memorable, and she’s since been largely replaced by a new character, Yara Flor, who is just starting to appear in the New Titans comic. Unfortunately, like many of the original Young Justice team, Cassie has been mostly overlooked by writers.
Ryan Choi became a hero in the 2000s, intended to succeed the original Atom, Ray Palmer. When Ray Palmer disappeared after a personal tragedy related to the Identity Crisis event in DC Comics, his student Ryan stepped in. Ryan quickly proved to be a talented shrinking super-scientist.
Despite appearing in scenes with Ray Palmer, Ryan often ended up on the sidelines in the years that followed. While everyone was aware of his presence, he never truly became a central figure like Ray did, remaining just another face in the crowd of Justice League Unlimited.
During the 2000s, DC Comics began to fully appreciate the potential of Black Lightning. This hero, who is both a teacher and a congressman, became a more prominent figure for them towards the end of the decade. Given that he was DC’s first Black superhero, it seemed they were finally recognizing his value and giving him the spotlight he deserved.
Ever since the Flashpoint event, it seems DC hasn’t been fully utilizing the potential of this character. He’s incredibly flexible and could star in darker, street-level stories, lead his own superhero team, or even feature in a comic geared towards all ages. Though his recent miniseries was good, he’s definitely capable of so much more than what he’s currently being given.
As a Huntress fan, it’s always been interesting to follow her journey! DC’s had a bit of a tricky time figuring her out, honestly. She started as the daughter of the Batman from Earth 2, but they later changed things so she was the heir to a big crime family. Luckily, over the years – especially in the ’90s and 2000s – her connections with Batman and Barbara Gordon really helped shape her into a great character. She even got to be a member of the Justice League and, of course, became a key part of the Birds of Prey!
Honestly, I was really hoping to see Huntress become a solid member of the new Birds of Prey team after the Rebirth, but it just didn’t happen. And it was a bummer to see her totally missing from the recent Birds of Prey run that just finished. Now, she pops up here and there, but feels a little lost, especially with the whole Helena Wayne being officially part of the DC universe now. It’s like they don’t quite know what to do with her.
DC Comics had a promising start with the character Superboy. Created with a rebellious ’90s edge, he was distinct from Clark Kent, yet consistently demonstrated his heroism. During the ’90s, Superboy maintained his own successful comic book series for 100 issues and became a popular member of the Young Justice team.
While his character evolved in the 2000s, Superboy remained a key member of the Teen Titans. For a time, he seemed poised to become the new Superman, but the Flashpoint event changed things. With Jon Kent now established as Superman’s biological son, Superboy feels somewhat unnecessary. He now appears occasionally in Green Lantern and sometimes assists on other projects – a far cry from his former prominence.
Captain Marvel was once even more popular than Superman! However, when DC Comics acquired Fawcett Comics, his popularity quickly faded. Despite this, Captain Marvel and his extended family have always had a lot of potential, as demonstrated in Geoff Johns’ Shazam comic, which introduced seven members of the Marvel Family.
Captain Marvel has all the potential to be a major DC hero, even now. The first Shazam! movie was a standout in the DC Extended Universe, and the idea of kids transforming into superheroes with a single word is perfect for animated series. For now, Captain Marvel fans are simply glad to have their hero back.
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2026-05-08 14:10