Heroes That Get Slept On

The spotlight doesn't always catch the ones quietly rewriting the narrative from the sidelines. Some heroes are celebrated, while are relegated to niche fanbases that recognize their true greatness. Behind every headline act is a cast of characters who’ve been waiting for a little recognition. Here are 20 DC characters that deserve a lot more attention than they're given.

1. Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)

Crack open DC's genius files, and you'll find Michael Holt topping the charts. He's a self-made billionaire with 14 PhDs and a heart wired for justice. Debuting in 1997's Spectre #54, this Olympic-level acrobat still flies under most readers' radars.

2. The Question (Vic Sage)

Questions cut deeper than punches, especially when asked by Vic Sage. With his faceless mask and Zen-fueled detective work, The Question made waves in Blue Beetle #1 (1967). His gritty, philosophical edge paved the way for characters like Rorschach. Dig deeper—he's got more layers than a noir novel.

3. Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)

Kent Nelson, the original Doctor Fate, wielded mystical power since More Fun Comics #55 (1940). Think of him as DC's answer to Doctor Strange—with a tragic twist. When magic meets duty, you get chaos cloaked in ancient spells and fate-bound oaths.

4. Captain Atom (Nathaniel Adam)

Captain Atom's quantum-powered body is basically a walking nuclear reactor. Once a government pawn, he evolved into a time-traveling enigma. Want raw power with moral complexity? His story threads through multiverses and alternate timelines. He debuted in Space Adventures #33 (1960).

5. Animal Man (Buddy Baker)

Telepathy with tarantulas and the strength of a rhino—Buddy Baker, aka Animal Man (a name he adopted in Strange Adventures #190 (1966), taps into Earth’s life force, the Red, and the result is as wild as it sounds. Grant Morrison’s postmodern take on him revolutionized superhero storytelling.

6. Vixen (Mari Jiwe McCabe)

Vixen has adrenaline fueled by animal instinct. She roars and runs with the spirit of the wild. With roots in African lore and a debut in 1981’s Action Comics #521, Mari channels the Tantu Totem to summon any creature's power. She's fierce and fashionable but constantly sidelined.

7. Ragman (Rory Regan)

Wearing a cloak stitched from the souls of the damned is no small task. Rory Regan, the mystical vigilante known as Ragman, first appeared in Ragman #1 in 1976. He channels centuries of spiritual justice rooted in ancient Jewish folklore.

8. Fire (Beatriz Da Costa)

Burning bright since Super Friends #25 in 1979, Beatriz da Costa went from Brazilian spy to green-flamed superheroine. Her heat is as political as it is literal. As a former model and Global Guardians member, Fire's blend of beauty and bravery deserves more spotlight.

9. Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)

Teenagers don’t typically bond with alien tech and become walking arsenals, but Jaime Reyes broke that mold in 2006 with Blue Beetle Vol. 7 #1 and Infinite Crisis #5. The Scarab fused to his spine grants him shapeshifting armor and opens the door to interstellar adventure.

10. Nubia

Debuting in Wonder Woman #204 (1973) as Wonder Woman's long-lost sister, Nubia commands strength equal to Diana's and the wisdom of a seasoned warrior. She ruled Themyscira and shattered stereotypes, yet she still flies under the mainstream radar. Sadly, royal blood doesn't guarantee recognition.

11. Hawk And Dove (Hank Hall & Dawn Granger)

Balance—one brings raw power, the other, finesse. Hank and Dawn have embodied chaos and order through their mystic avatars. We see them in comics like The Brave and the Bold #181 and Justice League Unlimited. With moral conflicts and high-stakes battles in tow, they show that even two wings can deliver a serious punch.

12. The Spectre (Jim Corrigan)

The Spectre is Divine vengeance in a trench coat—righteous fury paired with grim justice. Jim Corrigan's ghostly alter ego first haunted the panels in More Fun Comics #52 (1940). With cosmic powers and tragic depth, this ethereal powerhouse deserves a resurrection into the modern mythos.

13. Mera

When strong queens rule the oceans, you feel it. Mera debuted in 1963’s Aquaman #11 and quickly rose above sidekick status. As Aquaman's equal in battle and intellect, she manipulates water with military precision. Forget the crown—this Atlantean icon wields a tidal wave's worth of agency.

14. Booster Gold (Michael Jon Carter)

Booster's time-traveling antics from the 25th century began in 1986 with Booster Gold #1, driven by a thirst for the spotlight. Underneath the ego lies a surprisingly selfless hero. His accidental interventions often save timelines, sometimes without thanks.

15. Metamorpho (Rex Mason)

After a freak exposure to ancient gases, adventurer Rex Mason transformed into Metamorpho in 1965. He's a living element table and debuted in The Brave and the Bold. Shifting form and function, he's too weird for comfort and too loyal to ignore. Shapeshifters rarely come with this much soul.

16. Etrigan The Demon (Jason Blood)

Jason Blood’s journey began in The Demon #1 (1972) when he was bound to the rhyming demon Etrigan. Now, he grapples with cursed immortality and dark, hellish powers. Jason’s no ordinary superhero; he’s a tortured soul with a supernatural edge, far from your typical cape-and-cowl hero.

17. Miss Martian (M'gann M'orzz)

Green-skinned but gray-zoned, M'gann landed in Teen Titans #37 (2006), hiding a White Martian identity behind a sweet facade. Mentored by Martian Manhunter, she bridges alien trauma with teenage turmoil. Watch Young Justice, and you'll see that this shapeshifter deserves more than emotional support and sidekick status.

18. Kid Quick (Jess Chambers)

Speed runs nonbinary with Jess Chambers. Introduced in DC's Very Merry Multiverse (2020), they quickly inherited the mantle of Flash on Earth-11. Their colorful debut blended multiversal fun with real-world representation. Kid Quick rewrites what fast and fearless looks like.

19. Cave Carson

Since his 1960 debut, Cave Carson has ventured from classic spelunking to exploring cyberspace and multiverse portals. In 2016, DC’s Young Animal gave him a psychedelic reboot, adding a surreal twist to his adventures.

20. The Phantom Stranger

Remember him from Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination? If mystery wore a fedora, it would be the Phantom Stranger. He drifts through reality as a cosmic observer. Cursed and never fully trusted, he meddles in magical affairs without explanation. You'll never pin him down, but that's the charm.