Top 10 Children of DC Supervillains

DC Comics is known for its many terrible supervillains, all driven by desires for wealth, power, or chaos. Sometimes, these villains intentionally pass on their evil ways to their children. Growing up with such cruel and damaging parents can have a huge impact on these kids, leading them down very different paths. Some choose to follow in their parents’ footsteps, becoming major threats to the DC Universe. Others reject that legacy entirely, instead becoming heroes who fight against their own parents.

Here are some of the most famous heroes and villains from DC Comics, many of whom started as some of the company’s most well-known bad guys.

10) Soranik Natu

Soranik Natu comes from the planet Korugar and is the daughter of Thaal Sinestro, a former Green Lantern who once ruled her people with an iron fist. Though hesitant due to her family history, she was accepted into the Green Lantern Corps and quickly became a skilled member, even fighting against her own father. Ultimately, Soranik couldn’t avoid her fate; Sinestro took her Green Lantern ring and forced her to join his Sinestro Corps. At first, she tried to change the Corps from within, hoping to steer them towards good. But the Corps’ violent nature began to affect her, and she eventually embraced her darker side, changing her name to Soranik Sinestro.

9) Jade and Obsidian

Jennie-Lynn Haden (known as Jade) and Todd Rice (known as Obsidian) are the twin children of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Their mother was Rose Canton, also known as Thorn, a famous villain with a mental health condition called dissociative identity disorder – Thorn was the dangerous, supervillainous side of her personality. Separated at birth, the twins didn’t meet again until they were adults. Jennie-Lynn has the natural ability to create objects out of light, similar to a Green Lantern, while Todd can control shadows. Both became heroes and eventually reconnected with both of their parents. Sadly, Rose gave her life to protect her children from the dangerous Thorn personality. Though heartbroken by her loss, Jennie-Lynn and Todd continued their fight against evil, joining their father as members of the Justice Society.

8) Ravager and Jericho

Deathstroke’s children have complicated lives, often finding themselves caught between good and evil. His youngest daughter, Rose Wilson, took on the identity of her late brother, Ravager. Though initially manipulated by Deathstroke, she broke free and became a Teen Titan, fighting against her father’s influence. Another son, Joseph Wilson, known as Jericho, had the unusual ability to control others simply by making eye contact. After an attack left him unable to speak, Joseph also rebelled against Deathstroke and joined the Teen Titans, though he has occasionally strayed towards villainy.

7) Spoiler

Stephanie Brown had a difficult childhood, feeling anger towards her distant father, a minor supervillain called the Cluemaster. Determined to disrupt his criminal activities, she became the hero Spoiler. Knowing her father’s plans, Stephanie would strategically leave clues for Batman and Robin, helping them capture him. This led her to become a close ally and eventually a romantic partner to Tim Drake, the third Robin. Over time, Stephanie became a valued member of Batman’s extended team, even becoming Batgirl and Robin herself. Currently, she’s back to using the Spoiler identity, continuing to fight crime in Gotham, with a particular focus on stopping her father.

6) Orion and Kalibak

Orion and Kalibak, the sons of Darkseid, perfectly illustrate the age-old question of whether people are shaped by their nature or their upbringing. Orion was raised in a peaceful, loving home on New Genesis by Highfather, as part of a deal to bring peace between New Genesis and Apokolips. This upbringing turned him into a noble warrior dedicated to fighting for what’s right, though he still struggles with the violent tendencies he inherited from Darkseid. Kalibak, Darkseid’s oldest son, is known as a cruel and ruthless fighter on Apokolips. He was raised by Darkseid to be a brutal weapon, solely focused on serving his father. As enemies on opposite sides of the New Genesis/Apokolips conflict, Orion and Kalibak constantly clash, each determined to prove they are the stronger and more worthy son.

5) Orphan

Cassandra Cain grew up with a dark destiny – her parents, David Cain and Lady Shiva, were both assassins and trained her to be one too. They focused solely on turning her into a weapon, neglecting to teach her basic skills like reading or speaking. After committing her first murder at age eight, Cassandra was horrified and ran away, living on the streets for years. Eventually, she saved Commissioner Gordon from her father, and Barbara Gordon (Oracle) took her in, providing education and a home. Cassandra then became the second Batgirl, joining Batman’s extended family, who formally adopted her. To distance herself from her upbringing, she later adopted the identity of Orphan.

4) Aqualad

Aquaman and Black Manta are well-known enemies in DC Comics, so it’s quite a twist that Black Manta’s son, Jackson Hyde, became Aqualad – and a partner to the King of Atlantis! Jackson’s mother, who was from Atlantis, kept his birth a secret and raised him on land to shield him from his dangerous family history. When Jackson began developing Atlantean abilities and the power to control water, he joined the Teen Titans and started his journey as a hero. However, he was deeply affected to learn that Black Manta was actually his father. Determined to master his powers and forge his own path, Jackson turned to Aquaman for guidance and became a close ally.

3) Talia al Ghul

Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, the long-lived head of the League of Assassins. She’s a highly skilled and ruthless fighter, trained in every kind of combat and weaponry. For years, Talia has struggled with divided loyalties, caught between her father and her feelings for Batman. They even have a son together, Damian, whom Talia raised in secret. Despite her care for both Batman and Damian, her desire for power always comes first. She’s repeatedly attempted to harm or even kill them to achieve her goals. While she may profess love, Talia’s actions reveal her true nature: a cold and calculating individual, much like her father.

2) Damian Wayne

Damian Wayne is the son of Batman and Talia al Ghul. For the first ten years of his life, he was secretly raised by his mother and her father, who trained him to be an assassin. Talia hoped Damian would one day lead the League of Assassins and conquer the world, but that plan failed when Batman took Damian under his wing. At first, Damian struggled with Batman’s refusal to kill, but eventually, he grew into a genuine hero. He became the new Robin, teaming up with Batman to defend Gotham, even against his own family.

1) Raven

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of superhero origin stories, but Raven’s is particularly compelling. While most of the Teen Titans grapple with typical family drama, Raven’s situation is on another level – her father is literally a demonic overlord named Trigon, who made her to be a portal for his invasion of Earth. Being half-demon, she’s incredibly powerful, but constantly battles her darker impulses, terrified of hurting those she cares about. She grew up peacefully in Azeroth with her mother, but when she discovered Trigon’s identity and his plans, she ran to Earth. It was there she formed the new Teen Titans, essentially creating the family she needed to fight him. What’s truly remarkable is that despite being born from such evil, Raven has become a genuinely heroic figure, proving she’s one of DC’s finest.

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2025-10-22 00:14