10 Worst DC Comics Superheroes of All Time

DC Comics is famous for creating the idea of superheroes and introducing iconic characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. For over 85 years, they’ve given us a huge number of memorable heroes. But not all of DC’s creations have been successful. Some characters are so poorly designed or have such uninteresting abilities that fans wish they’d never been created – they’re considered some of the worst superheroes in comic book history.

Sometimes, truly awful superheroes come about either because a promising character just didn’t work out, or because they were intentionally made to be ridiculous. Regardless, these are the characters that never should have seen the light of day.

10) Red Bee

Back in the early days of superheroes, creators were still figuring out what kinds of characters would appeal to readers. One example, Richard Raleigh, known as the Red Bee, didn’t quite take off. He started with Quality Comics but was later picked up by DC, where he had a few more adventures. The Red Bee was a lawyer who fought crime while wearing a costume, and his main weapons were trained bees. While Ant-Man could control huge numbers of ants with his mind, the Red Bee only had a small swarm in his belt. These bees would sting criminals to help him win fights. To show how ineffective the Red Bee was, he was knocked unconscious in more than half of his comic book appearances.

9) Madam Fatal

Superhero costumes are famous for being bright and flashy, but one Golden Age hero took a different approach. Richard Stanton, after his daughter was kidnapped, created the disguise of Madam Fatal – an elderly woman complete with a wig, glasses, and a dress. He used this unexpected persona to surprise criminals and fought them with his cane. While Madam Fatal was unusual for the time – a male hero disguised as a woman – the simple “old lady” act eventually lost its impact, and the character faded into obscurity.

8) Gunfire

The 1990s saw a surge of dark and violent anti-hero characters, and Andrew Van Horn, known as Gunfire, was arguably the most over-the-top. After a run-in with dangerous aliens, Andrew gained the ability to transform anything he touched into a weapon, firing lasers from everyday objects like pipes, wrenches, and hammers. Beyond this somewhat comical power, Gunfire was also incredibly arrogant and unpleasant, constantly bragging about his own coolness. Unfortunately for him, readers didn’t appreciate his attitude, and the comic series was ultimately cancelled.

7) Color Kid

DC Comics features some truly odd and underpowered heroes, and Color Kid is a prime example. This alien, whose real name is Ulu Vakk, gained the ability to change the color of objects after a lab accident – and that’s his only power. He attempted to join the prestigious Legion of Superheroes, but was quickly turned down due to his limited abilities. Instead, he ended up with the Legion of Substitute Heroes, a team for heroes with essentially useless powers. While Color Kid can sometimes use his ability for camouflage and surprise attacks, his lack of imagination means he’s destined to remain a ‘substitute’ hero.

6) Blimp

Back in 1966, DC Comics introduced the Inferior Five, a humorous take on superhero teams. This group – made up of Merryman, Dumb Bunny, the Blimp, Awkwardman, and White Feather – was intentionally composed of very inept crime-fighters. While each member had some ability, Herman Cramer, known as the Blimp, was the most ineffective. As you might guess, the Blimp is an overweight man who can fly, but he’s incredibly slow and easily carried away by even a light breeze. In a team of misfits, the Blimp truly stands out as the most hapless.

5) New 52 Lobo

Look, I’ve been a Lobo fan for ages. What I always loved was how hilariously over-the-top and violent he was, basically a send-up of those brooding, ‘dark and gritty’ heroes. But then DC did the New 52 reboot, and honestly, they just didn’t get him. They introduced this ‘original’ Lobo, claiming the one we all knew and loved was a fake! This new guy was supposed to be this noble warrior with a tragic backstory, seeking revenge on the ‘imposter’ who wrecked his planet. It was awful. He took everything that made Lobo funny and ironic – all the bad-boy tropes – and played it completely straight. Seriously, it was like they wanted to create the most boring version possible. Everyone hated him so much they basically stuck him in a corner and forgot about him. Thankfully, the real Lobo is back, and as a fan, I couldn’t be happier!

4) Brother Power the Geek

Brother Power the Geek is one of the most unusual heroes DC Comics ever created. He originated in the late 1960s as a somewhat clumsy effort to appeal to the growing Hippie subculture. The story begins with a mannequin, dressed in Hippie fashion, being struck by lightning and brought to life. As a living puppet, Brother Power possesses super strength and the ability to control other puppets. He even ran for Congress as a protest against the establishment, promoting peace and love while opposing Ronald Reagan. Unfortunately, the comic was quickly canceled after just two issues because its story felt disjointed and it wasn’t clear who it was meant for. While Brother Power has popped up briefly in comics a few times since then, most fans have happily forgotten this strange and misguided attempt to chase a trend.

3) Friendly Fire

Friendly Fire’s name was a warning – he was more dangerous to the good guys than to actual criminals. He was part of Section Eight, a team of largely incompetent and troubled individuals claiming to be heroes. Despite being the only one with a genuinely helpful ability – shooting energy beams – he was a terrible teammate. His aim was so bad he constantly hit innocent people and fellow heroes. Luckily, he ultimately removed himself from the equation by accidentally destroying his own head, a rather ironic end for such a clumsy character.

2) Arm-Fall-Off-Boy

Floyd Belkin, also known as Arm-Fall-Off-Boy, is a somewhat infamous superhero reject with a truly strange power: he can detach his arms and legs and use them as weapons. However, since he could easily use a regular weapon like a bat to achieve the same result, his ability is generally considered pretty weak. Despite not making the cut for the Legion of Superheroes, Arm-Fall-Off-Boy still fought crime, working both alone and with the Heroes of Lallor. The character is so comically absurd that the 2021 film The Suicide Squad created a similar character, The Detachable Kid, specifically to poke fun at him.

1) Dogwelder

Dogwelder is widely considered one of the most disturbing and bizarre superheroes ever conceived. This unhinged member of Section Eight is a silent vigilante who horrifically welds the corpses of dogs onto the faces of criminals. He spends his time finding and killing stray dogs to maintain his gruesome ‘supply.’ Fortunately, Dogwelder was destroyed by the otherworldly Many Angled Ones and sent to Hell, a fitting end. What’s most surprising isn’t just the character’s existence, but that someone was inspired to become the new Dogwelder even after his death.

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2026-01-11 00:43