In its nearly 90 years of storytelling, DC Comics has created some of the most memorable superheroes of all time. From the iconic juggernauts like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to lesser-known newcomers like the Envoy, Monkey Prince, and Yara Flor, their heroes have excited readers for decades. With this popularity, dozens have made it to the big screen in one form or another, and with James Gunn’s upcoming reboot to the DC Cinematic Universe, many more are sure to follow. Given Gunn’s propensity for using underrepresented characters, now is the perfect time to fill out the roster with one entirely overlooked category: the antihero.
Antiheroes have exploded in popularity in recent years. DC has some of the most complex antiheroes in the industry, but so few have made it to the screen. Outside of Harley Quinn, the focus has been placed on traditional superheroics, leaving the darker, deadlier heroes behind. This list seeks to rectify that by putting the spotlight on some of DC’s greatest antiheroes that deserve a shot at the big screen. From formidable supernatural entities to gun-toting, street-level crime fighters, these 10 heroes represent every corner of the DC Universe, and while some have had small-screen appearances, it is shocking that none have made it into the DCU.
10Wild Dog
Jack Wheeler, a.k.a.,Wild Dog,made his debut in the 1987 miniseriesI Am Wild Dogbefore appearing in several story arcs inAction Comics. After surviving a terrorist attack in the Marines, Jack finds solace in his new girlfriend, Claire. When she is killed in front of Jack, he discovers that she is the daughter of a mob boss. Inheriting her fortune, Jack buys a mechanic’s garage as a front and takes on a new persona as Wild Dog to battle the criminals that killed her. Since his debut, Wild Dog hasn’t had more than cameo appearances until recently, when a major supporting role inCave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eyethrust him back into the spotlight.
Wild Dog’s Bizarre, Action-Packed Vigilantism Could Be a Perfect Fit for the New DCU
Wild Dog is far from the most well-known hero, but he is one of the most fun. Considering he combines the hyper-violence of the Punisher with the bizarre sports aesthetic ofTMNT’sCasey Jones, it’s actually surprising that he isn’t more popular. Given Wild Dog’s more ridiculous design, it makes sense that he didn’t play a role in Zak Snyder’s more serious DCEU. With Gunn now heading the universe, though, it is completely possible that this obscure ’80s hero could make an appearance. His appearance inArrowshowed his potential as a supporting character, so maybe it is time to bring him into the newly established DC Cinematic Universe.
The Huntress’history in DC Comics is complex. The first heroic version of the character appeared in 1977 as the daughter of an alternate universe Batman and Catwoman. AfterCrisis on Infinite Earths, she lost her Wayne heritage, becoming Helena Bertinelli, daughter of a Gotham City mafia boss. After her family is murdered, she begins a violent career of vigilantism to avenge them. Even more recently, theEarth 2series in 2011 saw the original Helena Wayne version brought back, but after the Justice Society is killed by Darkseid, she attempts to fill her father’s heroic role before she and Power Girl are thrust into the Prime DC Universe.
Future Batman Movies Could Benefit from the Introduction of the Huntress
Technically, Huntress did make her big screen debut inBirds of Prey,and while Mary Elizabeth Winstead brought a lot to the role, her more humorous portrayal more matched the Golden Age campiness of Helena Wayne. The Helena Bertinelli iteration, though, was often too violent to truly be accepted by Batman, and that would be a fascinating dynamic to explore. After all, nearly every cinematic version of Batman is intensely isolated from the world. We have yet to truly see him assume the role of mentor, and a film featuring his attempts to quell her thirst for vengeance could give the hero a deeper purpose than simply beating up bad guys.
In her original 1994 debut,Artemis of Bana-Mighdallwas born into an isolated Amazonian society based in Egypt, and after a brief stint as a villain, she would play a major role in bringing the two groups together and become the new Wonder Woman for a short time. However, this list largely focuses on the Rebirth iteration of the character fromRed Hood and the Outlaws.After the destruction of Bana-Mighdall, Artemis enters “Man’s World” to track down the powerful weapon known as the “Bow of Ra.” On her journey, she allies with Red Hood and Bizarro, and with her magical axe in hand, she helps them bring violent justice to criminals.
Artemis and Bana-Mighdall Add a New Dimension to Wonder Woman’s World
Artemis isn’t just an incredible DC antihero. She is also a fascinating addition to the world of Wonder Woman. Bana-Mighdall added a whole new dimension to the Wonder Woman mythos, building on the established lore of the Amazons in a way that is still informing the group today. More importantly, Artemis isn’t just another antihero out for revenge. She has a mission that is deeply important for her people, and she is simply willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Her debut in the new DC Universe would also give filmmakers the opportunity to adapt the excellent “Trial of the Amazons” story arc, in which she is a central character.
After debuting in the 1992 miniseriesBatman: Sword of Azrael,Jean-Paul Valley became a staple of the ‘90sBatmanrun. After his father’s death, Valley becomes Azrael, the newest assassin for the Order of St. Dumas. Seeing the young man’s potential, Batman invites him in and tries to break the Order’s conditioning. However, after Bruce’s back is broken in theKnightfallseries, Azrael takes on the mantle of the Bat, but his vigilantism is far more violent than Bruce could ever have imagined. After Bruce retakes the Batman name, Azrael turns his sights on the Order of St. Dumas and wages war on those who turned him into a weapon.
Azrael Has Been Criminally Overlooked for Far Too Long
Azrael is one of DC’s most interesting antiheroes, but he has sadly gone underutilized in more recent years. His original appearance is iconic among ’90s comics (especially his bulky Bat armor), and his ruthless perspective of vigilantism acts as a brilliant foil to Batman’s sense of justice. Thankfully, he is starting to make a comeback, starring as a member of the interstellarJustice League Odysseyteam and acting as the villain of the Elseworlds storyBatman: Curse of the White Knight.All that’s left for the former assassin is a debut in live-action, preferably in a dedicated adaptation ofKnightfall.
6Mother Panic
Created for Gerard Way’sYoung Animalimprint for mature readers,Mother Panicdebuted in 2016 in her own solo series. As a child, Violet Paige was sent to live at Gather House, a Gotham City boarding school, after the death of her father. However, Gather House was no mere school. Each child that walked through its doors became an experiment, undergoing brutal treatment at the hands of the head nun, Mother Patrick. After years of intense training and cybernetic augmentation, Violet burns Gather House to the ground, killing all inside, and returns to Gotham to find those responsible for her suffering.
Mother Panic Gives Us a Bleak New Perspective on Gotham City
As a character, Mother Panic acts as a brutal parallel to Batman’s vigilantism. She represents the character’s most extreme characteristics, building on the elements of trauma, mental illness and vengeance in a way only touched upon in Batman’s original stories. What makes Young Animal so interesting is its mature focus, allowing writers to fully delve into the darker aspects of superheroism, and Mother Panic is one of the best examples of this twisted perspective. It forces us to see Batman and Gotham in a whole new light, while giving us some of the most intense action and stark characterization in DC Comics.
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5The Question
The Question,a.k.a. Vic Sage, debuted in Charlton Comics in 1967, but after DC’s acquisition of Charlton’s action heroes in the early ’80s, he found a home in the DC universe. Vic Sage is an investigative reporter in Hub City, one of the most violent and corrupt cities in the US. Knowing full well that his press pass can’t open some doors, Vic assumed the identity of The Question, donning a pseudoderm mask to strike fear into criminals and get the answers he needs. As time passed, Vic’s adventures began to delve into the surreal and psychedelic, forcing the detective to turn to shamanism to defeat new mystic threats.
The Question’s Focus on Philosophy and the Bizarre Would Feel Distinct in the DCU
What sets the Question apart from so many DC superheroes is his focus on philosophy. Each of the character’s writers have worked their own personal philosophies into the character, making him a thematic powerhouse in every single one of his appearances. More than that, his stories have continually evolved, and many readers know him best as a character embroiled in the bizarre, in the trippiest hallucinogenic scenarios in comics. It still remains a mystery how this character hasn’t made it to the big screen, butwith the release ofBlue Beetlebringing one of Charlton Comics’ star characters to life, the Question’s debut may just be around the corner.
4The Grifter
Originally debuting in Jim Lee’s Image Comics imprintWildstorm,the Grifter officially entered the DC multiverse in their 1998 merger. While his origins differ throughout the comics, the common thread follows the life of Cole Cash, a former Special Forces operative who becomes embroiled in an alien conspiracy. With telepathic and telekinetic abilities, Cole becomes a key figure in the fight against the Daemonite invaders, forming the Covert Action Team (C.A.T.). In more recent comics, Grifter has been hired as a personal bodyguard for Lucius Fox, and becomes obsessed with stopping Batman’s crime fighting after a confrontation.
Alien Conspiracies Could Set Grifter Apart from the Rest of the DCU
Grifter’s place on this list is largely an appeal for DC to bring Jim Lee’s action-packed superheroes into their films. Given thatThe Authorityis one of the inspirations for James Gunn’s upcoming films, chances are good that Grifter and the Covert Action Team will have a place in the DC Cinematic Universe. While we don’t necessarily need to see him brought into the Gotham setting, his role inBatmanproves that he can fit right in alongside more traditional superheroes. Also, the alien twist adds a distinct science-fiction intrigue to his otherwise militaristic backstory, helping set him apart from other gun-toting vigilantes like the Punisher or Wild Dog.
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Originally introduced as a villain in 1983, Lobo became a figurehead for the grim and gritty storytelling of ’90s comics. Incredibly strong, durable, and bolstering one of the most powerful healing factors in DC Comics, Lobo works as a bounty hunter with one simple rule: once he takes a job, he finishes it, no matter what. Loud and foul-mouthed, Lobo uses extreme force and ruthless measures to get the job done,whether his target is Superman or Santa Claus. He even had a stint in Batman’s newest iteration of the Justice League of America, though he only did so to repay a debt to the Dark Knight.
Lobo Could Become DC’s Answer to Deadpool
Lobo has made several appearances in animation, and he debuted in a handful of episodes of SyFy’sKrypton.However, these appearances didn’t fully let the main man have his due, as the age rating for those shows didn’t allow him to fully unleash his brutality. There is nothing deep about Lobo. He is extremism in every sense of the word, killing anyone who stands in his way without a care so long as he gets paid, and that is why the character has drawn in so many fans. Lobo deserves theDeadpooltreatment, a hard R-rated interstellar action movie that sees the character truly shine in his humor and savage combat.
2Etrigan the Demon
Begrudgingly created in 1972 by comics legend Jack Kirby, who was forced to stop work on hisNew Godsin favor of DC’s new horror character, Etrigan the Demon, has become one of the cornerstones of DC’s supernatural landscape. During King Arthur’s reign, Merlin summoned Etrigan to learn the secrets of his dark magic, but when Etrigan refused to cooperate, Merlin bonded the monster with one of Arthur’s knights. Now immortal, Jason Blood has found the means to summon the demon using a rhyming incantation, and with the power of the Demon at his side, he confronts the supernatural forces plaguing the modern world.
Etrigan the Demon Could Act as the Cornerstone for a Live-Action Justice League Dark
Etrigan the Demon and Jason Blood are wholly interconnected with DC’s supernatural realms, having worked alongside every major magical hero at one point or another. While his backstory is a little more extravagant than others on this list, his introduction to the live-action universe could help introduce viewers to the mystical side of the DC Universe. He would also give writersthe chance to introduce other major supernatural characterslike Deadman and Zatanna into this world in a cohesive manner. Maybe this is little more than a plea for a dedicatedJustice League Darkfilm, but Etrigan truly could play a key role in bringing magic to the DCU.
Jason Todd became the second Robin in 1983, but his lack of popularity compared to original Robin, Dick Grayson, forced DC Comics to make a drastic decision. They put his fate in the hands of the readers, and their votes resulted inA Death in the Family,which saw the Joker brutally killing the boy. In 2005, however, Jason Todd would make his return as the Red Hood. Disillusioned by Batman’s refusal to kill his villains, the Red Hood turns to deadlier methods to permanently end crime in Gotham. While still more violent and brutal than his mentor, Red Hood has reigned it in to a degree, once again becoming a full-fledged member of the Bat-Family.
A Live-Action Red Hood Could Shine New Light on the Dark Knight
DC’s live-action films seem to be terrified of Robin. While the different iterations of the character have made appearances across several series, the only big screen Robin so far has been Chris O’Donnell inBatman&Robin(not counting Joseph Gordon Levitt’s John “Robin” Blake). However,Under the Red Hoodis one of the most iconic Batman stories, acting as a groundbreaking thematic examination of the character’s morals. Red Hood represents Batman’s greatest failures, providing a raw analysis of the hero’s vigilantism. It’s high-time that DC overcomesits fear of younger heroes and brings its exciting next generation to the big screen.
