10 Best New DC Heroes of the Last 10 Years

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One of the great things about the DC Universe is its constant growth and introduction of fresh, new heroes. While classic characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman will always be central, it’s exciting when creators try out new faces. Not every new hero sticks around, but occasionally, a truly special one emerges – someone with unique abilities or who fits perfectly with existing characters and teams, earning them a place in future stories.

Following the major changes DC Comics made with their Rebirth event, the DC Universe has welcomed a huge number of new heroes fighting against villains. We’ve seen some truly original and entertaining characters like Monkey Prince, and fantastic diversity with heroes like Dreamer. Choosing just 10 of the best new heroes from the last ten years is tough, considering how many great ones there have been, but here’s my list of ten standouts.

10. The Super Twins

Yes, technically, these are two separate characters. Osul-Ra and Otho-Ra, also known as Red Son and Starchild, were adopted by Superman after he freed Warworld from Mongul. They’re Phaelosians, a race distantly related to Kryptonians and possessing the same abilities. Though very young, both are incredibly powerful, particularly Osul-Ra, who inherited a divine power from the ancient god Olgrun. They’ve quickly become interesting additions to Superman’s story, stepping in after Jon Kent became an adult.

9. Flatline

I’m not sure if Flatline should be considered a villain, as she comes across more as an antihero. She’s a metahuman with the ability to absorb the skills of people who die nearby. We first met her in the Robin comics a few years ago, where she and Robin competed in the Lazarus Tournament and even had a short romance. They haven’t pursued a serious long-distance relationship yet, but Flatline was a really interesting character with great chemistry with Damian, so I hope we see her again soon.

8. Monkey Prince

If you’re looking for a truly unique hero from the last ten years, look no further than Monkey Prince. Based on the classic tale of Sun Wukong, Marcus Sun is a clone of the Monkey King who was found and raised by the daughter of the Ultra-Humanite. As he grew up, Marcus unlocked incredible powers, including telekinetic control of his limbs, shapeshifting, and the ability to create duplicates of himself. It’s a real shame we haven’t seen much of him since his initial series ended – DC should definitely bring him back!

7. Yara Flor

Although the ‘Future State’ storyline didn’t last long, it successfully introduced Yara Flor, the newest version of Wonder Girl. Yara is incredibly strong, thanks to her parents – an Amazon and a Brazilian River God – making her one of the most powerful fighters of her age. Her unique heritage gives her strength that rivals most, second only to Wonder Woman herself. She also has some control over water, though she doesn’t use this power very often. In a short time, Yara Flor has quickly become a popular character and a fan-favorite Wonder Girl.

6. Xanthe Zhou

Xanthe Zhou, also known as the Envoy, is a fascinating character in the DC Universe. She first appeared in a Lazarus Planet special and later starred in the Spirit World miniseries. As a spirit envoy, Xanthe guides the souls of the deceased and protects the living world from magical dangers. She has several magical abilities, including summoning objects by burning joss paper. Even after her miniseries concluded, Xanthe has remained a presence in the DCU, eventually joining the Justice League.

5. Absolute Martian Manhunter

Martian Manhunter has a long history, but this new version in Absolute Martian Manhunter feels like a completely different character. This Martian is a powerful psychic who rescued FBI agent John Jones and is now working with him to defeat a dangerous enemy: the White Martian. He’s a truly good-hearted being, wanting to help people overcome negativity and find healing. Absolute Martian Manhunter is a mind-bending story that will completely reshape your understanding of this iconic alien hero.

4. Super-Man

While Superman has been a comic book icon for generations, a newer hero called Super-Man has only existed for ten years. Kenan Kong, formerly a typical bully, was chosen by the Chinese government to become a Superman-like figure. Empowered with Superman’s energy, Kenan has all of Clark Kent’s abilities, but with the added benefit of being immune to magic. Becoming Super-Man helped Kenan change his ways and develop a new understanding of right and wrong.

3. Sideways

Spider-Man is a popular hero, so it’s understandable that DC Comics wanted to create someone similar. Sideways was introduced as part of DC’s New Age of Heroes after the Dark Nights: Metal event. Derek James gained his powers when he fell through a tear in reality and was exposed to energies from another dimension, allowing him to create his own rifts. This transformed Derek into Sideways, a superhero who also became a social media personality. His comic series was a standout title from the DC Rebirth era, and I hope DC brings the character back soon.

2. Dreamer

Dreamer, like characters such as Harley Quinn and Livewire, started as a creation outside of the main DC comic book universe before being officially included. She shares a family connection and similar powers – like seeing the future and projecting her spirit – with the earlier hero Dream Girl. Since joining the DC Universe, Dreamer has become a very popular transgender superhero. What’s even more unique is that Nicole Maines, who played Dreamer on the Supergirl TV show, has also been a writer for the character in the comics for several years!

1. Green Lantern Jo Mullein

The biggest success from the short-lived Young Animal line was likely Sojourner ‘Jo’ Mullein, who first appeared in the limited series Far Sector. This detective story, set in the distant parts of the DC Universe, was a hit with both critics and fans. As a result, Jo became a prominent character during the Infinite Frontier period and eventually joined the main Green Lantern comics (later becoming the star of Absolute Green Lantern). While she has all the standard Green Lantern powers, what really sets Jo apart is her talent for investigation – she’s considered the best detective in the entire Corps.

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2026-02-17 03:11