5 DC Characters That Have Disappeared And Need to Come Back

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With nearly a century of stories, DC Comics has a huge roster of characters, which isn’t surprising. Many heroes and villains have captivated readers and even appeared in TV shows and movies. However, some characters have faded from the comics, with their stories either finished or left incomplete. While it’s normal for some characters to eventually conclude their arcs, others disappeared despite still having a lot of potential.

These characters all have compelling stories that feel unfinished. They represent a wide spectrum of DC’s universe – some are recent additions who disappeared too soon, while others are beloved classics who haven’t appeared in recent adaptations. Regardless of their background, they all deserve further development instead of being forgotten.

5) Blackhawk

While not completely forgotten, the Blackhawk character hasn’t been prominent for quite some time. There was a potential movie project with Steven Spielberg back in 2018, but it didn’t materialize. He’s also made a few appearances in DC Comics in the 2000s and during the New 52 and Rebirth storylines, though these were minor. Blackhawk first appeared in 1941, leading a skilled group of World War II pilots known as the Blackhawks. The team was popular in the 1940s, but their popularity faded over the years. Attempts have been made to update the character – his real name was revealed as Janos Prohaska – but he hasn’t had a major role in comics for a while.

Bringing the Blackhawk team into DC’s regular comic lineup seems unlikely, but a high-quality, standalone series focused on the characters could be a great idea. There’s a lot of potential in revisiting classic wartime heroes and teams with today’s talented writers and artists.

4) Mr. Bloom

Mr. Bloom is a Batman villain introduced in 2015 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, debuting in *Batman* #43. He served as the main enemy in the “Superheavy” storyline, challenging Jim Gordon while he was acting as Batman. Mr. Bloom’s twisted goal was to wipe out the entire population of Gotham City, believing it would allow the city to be rebuilt and improved. Bruce Wayne eventually had to return as Batman to stop him. Later, in 2021, Mr. Bloom reappeared in *Task Force Z* #1, this time working alongside Red Hood.

It’s understandable that we haven’t seen much of the character Mr. Bloom since he’s relatively new, but it’s a shame he seems to have disappeared completely – he has a lot of promise. Batman has many villains, but the same ones are often featured repeatedly. Reviving Mr. Bloom would be a smart way to introduce fresh ideas into Batman stories and also appeal to new readers.

3) Sodam Yat

As a big DC fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Sodam Yat. There have been so many Green Lanterns over the years, but Yat really stood out – he was set up as this amazing, almost legendary figure, especially during the Blackest Night storyline. When Kyle Rayner lost his connection to Ion, Yat stepped up and became incredibly powerful. It’s a shame his story kind of stalled after that huge sacrifice he made, flying into Daxam’s sun to help the Daxamites fight the Sinestro Corps. He did come back eventually, but he hasn’t really had a proper spotlight since, which is a little frustrating as a fan.

Considering the vastness of the Green Lantern universe and the large number of Lanterns, there’s potential for many more stories featuring Yat. He’s a powerful character with a significant history within the Green Lantern mythos, and a return appearance – even outside the main storyline – would be welcome. In fact, seeing him in the broader DC Absolute Universe could be particularly interesting.

2) Firestorm

Firestorm is a compelling character, and it’s a shame he’s largely faded from view. Originally popular during the late Bronze Age of comics, the combination of Ronnie Raymond and Dr. Martin Stein became a regular fixture, even joining the Justice League and headlining his own series. However, the character’s prominence declined in the 1990s. While he briefly returned, his appearance in *Identity Crisis* led to his death, and subsequent iterations haven’t quite resonated with fans. Firestorm has made a few small appearances, notably in *Doomsday Clock*, but hasn’t had a significant role since.

Firestorm deserves a return because the core idea behind the character is fascinating, and with DC’s current approach to its universe, there’s a lot of potential for a captivating story. Plus, Firestorm was a popular part of The CW’s Arrowverse, particularly shining on *Legends of Tomorrow*. It feels like the character has a broad audience and isn’t being used to its full potential right now.

1) Sideways

Following the events of *Dark Nights: Metal*, DC Comics introduced a series of new heroes called the “New Age of DC Heroes,” including characters like The Silencer, Damage, and Sideways. Of these, Sideways – a young man named Derek James from Gotham City who gained the ability to create portals to different universes after an earthquake – was perhaps the most promising. Unfortunately, his comic series was cancelled after only 13 issues, and he faded into obscurity like many new characters before him.

DC has a pattern of introducing new characters and then letting them fade, and Sideways is one who deserves a return more than most. Unlike many of DC’s main characters who are older or have long, complex histories, Sideways is both new and young, offering a fresh perspective. He’s a rare opportunity for a character with a relatively blank slate, making him appealing to younger readers. Given DC’s current push to utilize all its characters, and considering Sideways’ ability to travel between universes, it feels like a missed opportunity not to include him – especially with ongoing threats that span the multiverse. He’d be a natural fit to help solve those problems.

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2025-10-10 17:15