10 Greatest DC Elseworlds Versions of DCU Characters (and They’re Not All Batman)

by

DC Comics pioneered the idea of alternate universes in storytelling. While the vast DC Multiverse was a defining feature for years, it eventually became clear that it could be confusing for new readers. Even after the storyline *Crisis on Infinite Earths* simplified things to a single DC Earth, fans didn’t have to wait long for alternate versions of their favorite heroes to return. The *Elseworlds* comics offered these stories, typically as self-contained issues or short series, set on Earths where history had taken a different turn. The series began with *Gotham by Gaslight*, and since then, DC fans have enjoyed many creative and exciting takes on classic superheroes.

Some of the most beloved DC stories are ‘Elseworlds’ tales, and that’s largely because they present such creative twists on familiar characters. These alternate versions really captured readers’ imaginations and continue to be popular. Here are ten of the very best Elseworlds stories, offering fresh and unexpected takes on DC’s heroes.

10) Vampire Batman

Batman: Red Rain is a unique story within the Elseworlds collection – a series known for exploring alternate versions of DC characters, and Batman has the most of these stories. In Red Rain, Batman faces off against Dracula. Though he fights valiantly, Batman ultimately becomes a vampire himself as the only way to defeat the vampire lord. This version of Batman reappears in Bloodstorm and Crimson Mist, where he struggles with his vampiric cravings, leading his former friends and allies to unite against him. While the concept of an evil Batman isn’t new – we’ve seen several over the years – the Vampire Batman storyline offers a clever and enjoyable twist on the classic character.

9) The Ultra-Humanite/Mr. America from The Golden Age

The Justice Society is widely considered the original and greatest superteam, and has been featured in several compelling alternate-reality stories. The standout among these is *The Golden Age*, which revisits the adventures of DC’s Golden Age heroes after World War II. Every character in the book is fantastic, but the Ultra-Humanite truly shines. He was the most significant villain of DC’s Golden Age, and *The Golden Age* perfectly illustrates why.

The story begins with a surprising twist: the protagonist is actually Mr. America, though this isn’t revealed until later. Meanwhile, the villain, Ultra-Humanite, disguised as Dolores Winters, collaborated with the Nazis during the war. After the war ended, Mr. America was captured, allowing the Ultra-Humanite to take control of his body. Returning to the US, he falsely claimed to have killed Hitler and launched a scheme to gain political power and ultimately resurrect Hitler as the powerful Dyna-Man. This version of the Ultra-Humanite is considered particularly compelling, and ranks among the most memorable villains in these alternate-reality stories.

8) Manhunter from The Golden Age

The comic series *The Golden Age* features a wide range of DC heroes, including Alan Scott, Hourman, and Starman. However, the standout character is Paul Kirk, also known as the Manhunter. Unlike many heroes of the time, Manhunter didn’t have superpowers, which allowed him to secretly infiltrate Nazi Germany – something powered heroes couldn’t do because of the Spear of Destiny. He then teamed up with Mr. America to disrupt the Nazi regime from the inside.

Manhunter learned that Ultra-Humanite was transferring his mind into Mr. America’s body and attempted to intervene. During the confrontation, Manhunter was hurt and forced to flee, escaping by jumping from the German castle where he’d been operating. The fall caused amnesia, but he eventually made his way back to the United States. As his memory returned, he helped the other heroes identify a traitor among them. Ultimately, Manhunter defeated Ultra-Humanite by throwing him out a window, seemingly to his death. Afterward, Manhunter vanished in Kenya, never to be seen again.

7) The Owl

One of the best alternate-reality stories featuring the Justice Society is *JSA: The Liberty Files*, a fantastic book from the late 1990s. It reimagines Batman as ‘The Bat,’ Hourman as ‘The Clock,’ and Doctor Mid-Nite I as ‘The Owl.’ This version of Doctor Mid-Nite, Charles McNider, is particularly well-done. The original McNider was a Golden Age hero who was blind but could see perfectly in darkness using special ‘blackout bombs.’ He was also a skilled fighter and teamed up with The Clock and The Bat during World War II. In *The Liberty Files*, he fought against the Joker – who was secretly a Nazi agent – and a Martian Manhunter raised by the Nazis. Though The Owl didn’t survive the conflict, this story created a truly memorable take on a hero who hadn’t gotten much attention in more recent comics.

6) The Clock

Batman appears in the JSA: The Liberty Files series (along with its follow-ups, The Unholy Three and The Whistling Skull), but the main character is actually the Clock. The Clock is a version of Rex Tyler from another reality. Rex was a chemist who created a drug called Miraclo, which temporarily gave him incredible strength and resilience. He teamed up with Batman and the Owl to fight the Nazis, acting as the group’s strongman.

This character played a crucial role in victories against both the Joker and a version of Superman who was secretly a mind-controlled Martian, manipulated by Nazis. Later, the true Superman turned out to be Zod, and the Clock fought bravely to defeat him, ultimately becoming a leading member of this universe’s Justice Society in the story *The Whistling Skull*. The Clock is a really engaging character, and he grounds the chapters of this exciting three-part story celebrating the most iconic heroes from the Golden Age of comics.

5) Kingdom Come Superman

As a DC fan, I always come back to *Kingdom Come*, and it really holds up. This story, from the mid-90s, imagines a future where Superman’s retired, and a new, much more brutal breed of heroes is taking over. When things go horribly wrong because of these younger heroes, Superman is forced back into action, ultimately rebuilding the Justice League. But his return isn’t exactly welcomed, and he struggles with his principles as he fights to restore order. It’s a powerful story about ideals, legacy, and what it truly means to be a hero.

The Superman from *Kingdom Come* is often considered the most compelling darker take on the character. He struggles with his role as a hero, but ultimately rediscovers his values and uses them – rather than force – to triumph. This version of Superman later became part of the main DC Universe, appearing in *Justice Society of America* in the mid-2000s and continuing to be a powerful and inspiring figure. He’s even shown up recently in *Batman/Superman: World’s Finest*, proving he truly lives up to the name ‘Superman’.

4) Jimmy Olsen from JLA: The Nail

JLA: The Nail is a highly-regarded story from DC Comics’ 1990s era. It presents an alternate reality where a flat tire prevented the Kents from discovering and raising baby Kal-El. As a result, Jimmy Olsen’s life took a very different path. Instead of becoming friends with Clark Kent, Olsen spent years as a superhero, eventually working as a public relations representative for Lex Luthor. However, Luthor also used Olsen as a test subject, combining Kryptonian DNA from Kal-El’s abandoned rocket with Olsen’s own.

Jimmy Olsen unexpectedly gained incredible powers similar to Superman and seized control of Lex Luthor’s criminal empire. He devised a scheme to dismantle the Justice League and conquer the world. When the League discovered the truth about Jimmy, he easily defeated them with his overwhelming abilities. The final showdown took place on a farm in Kansas, where a young man named Kal-El – the very person Jimmy had been searching for to aid in his world domination due to their shared Kryptonian heritage – miraculously survived an attack. They clashed in a fierce battle, but Jimmy’s unstable genetic makeup, being a hybrid of human and Kryptonian DNA, ultimately led to his downfall. In his final moments, he expressed regret to Kal, suggesting they could have been friends. This unusual portrayal of Jimmy Olsen is a standout element of the story *JLA: The Nail*, and it works remarkably well.

3) The Justice League from JLA: The Nail

I loved the Justice League team in *JLA: The Nail* so much it’s hard to single out a favorite member. This story imagines a world without Superman, where heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Hawkgirl, and the Atom unite to protect Earth. It’s a fantastic reimagining of the classic Silver Age team, giving each character a chance to shine, and they’re all incredibly impressive in action. It’s easily one of the best Justice League stories in the Elseworlds collection.

2) Superman from Superman: Red Son

While *Superman: Red Son* isn’t perfect, its take on Superman is a strong point. This story reimagines Superman’s origins: instead of being raised by the Kents in America, he lands in the Soviet Union and is raised by Josef Stalin. He becomes a powerful weapon for the Soviets, helping them dominate the world. After Stalin’s death, Superman rises to power as premier and establishes a surprisingly kind, though still controlling, government. The idea of an evil Superman is common now, but *Red Son* was original when it was released. It presented a truly different version of the character, which is exactly what Elseworlds comics are meant to do.

1) Batman from Gotham by Gaslight

Often, the original version is the strongest. The comic *Gotham by Gaslight* first introduced the concept of Elseworlds stories, featuring a Batman reimagined in a steampunk setting, hunting Jack the Ripper. The idea of a steampunk Batman is incredibly appealing, and this story executed it brilliantly. While many alternate versions of Batman exist, this one uniquely launched an entire line of comics. Recently, this version of Batman has returned in two new series-*Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age* and *Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice*-and remains as captivating as ever.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-best-dc-stories-of-the-10s/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-16 23:46