7 DC Characters Who Desperately Need a Reboot (And #1 is Way Overdue)

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Comics are constantly evolving – you either love the changes or you don’t! Whether it’s a complete overhaul of a series or just a new spin on a character, things rarely stay the same for long. This constant reinvention – with relaunches, refreshes, and reboots – has kept iconic characters interesting and relevant for generations. Over time, even the most beloved heroes and villains have received significant updates and fresh interpretations.

Some DC heroes could really benefit from updates. These characters have great potential but feel a bit old-fashioned, aren’t being used to their full ability, or just need a little more excitement. One hero especially needs a revamp to make their portrayal more consistent. Ultimately, change is a good thing, and these seven heroes would thrive with a fresh take.

7) Obsidian

Todd Rice, known as Obsidian, had a difficult childhood. Raised in a harmful adoptive home, he didn’t discover he had a twin sister, Jade, until he was a teenager. Despite these challenges, both Todd and Jade followed in their father, Alan Scott’s, heroic path, eventually becoming founding members of the team Infinity, Inc.

Obsidian doesn’t need a story overhaul or complicated backstory fixes. The problem is that he hasn’t been utilized to his full extent. He’s a compelling character with unique, shadow-based powers, and a reboot would allow DC Comics to explore his potential much further.

6) Vicki Vale

Vicki Vale has always held a unique position in Batman’s world. She was a major character from her debut in 1948 until 1963, appearing in Detective Comics #320. After that, she showed up less and less often, and when she did, her storyline wasn’t always consistent.

Vicki Vale was initially presented as a journalist and love interest for Bruce Wayne, similar to Lois Lane in Gotham. However, DC Comics hasn’t quite figured out how to use her effectively in recent years. A fresh start for the character could be exciting – perhaps exploring a shared history with Bruce Wayne, while also positioning her as an investigative reporter working to improve Gotham, even if it puts her at odds with Batman. Ultimately, fans would appreciate seeing her play a more significant role again.

5) Martian Manhunter

The recent ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ collection feels like a fantastic reimagining of the character, but it also highlights how underutilized J’onn J’onzz is. DC has a truly compelling concept with him, and a significant update or even a complete restart could help bring him to the forefront – as long as they don’t change his fondness for Chocos!

4) Firestorm

Firestorm is a fascinating character who hasn’t quite become a major success, which is unfortunate. There have been a couple of different versions – the original combining Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, and a later version featuring Jason Rusch. We’d like to reimagine either one. Interestingly, the version used in the television show, Jefferson Jackson, could actually serve as a great starting point for a new take on the character.

The live-action Firestorm from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was a beloved character, proving there’s audience interest despite the character not finding the same success in comic books. It would be great to see a new interpretation of him.

3) Carrie Kelley

Carrie Kelley has been reimagined in the New 52 comics, but it wasn’t a major overhaul of her character. Originally created by Frank Miller in his Dark Knight stories, she’s notable as the first full-time female Robin. However, because those stories aren’t considered part of the main Batman storyline, her role isn’t officially recognized in the core canon.

Throughout Miller’s three-part story, Carrie transforms significantly as a hero. It would be compelling to integrate that development into the main DC Universe, perhaps establishing her as a hero who stands on her own, independent of Batman. He’s already mentored several Robins, so it’s time for a new kind of hero.

2) Green Arrow

A Green Arrow reboot is on the way through the Absolute Universe line with Absolute Green Arrow next year. However, fans would also love to see a more lasting, mainstream update to the character. While Oliver Queen is a strong character, he hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as icons like Batman or Superman. He’s been reimagined several times and even brought back to life, but a truly successful refresh remains elusive.

Now that the current Green Arrow comic series is ending with issue #31 because of low sales, it seems like a good moment to rethink the character and find a way to attract more readers.

1) Jason Todd

Many fans feel DC Comics hasn’t handled the character Jason Todd, also known as Red Hood, very well. While his writing has been inconsistent since he was brought back, the biggest issue might actually be his backstory – and it’s not even about his famous death.

I’ve been a Jason Todd fan for a long time, and it’s frustrating how his time as Robin keeps getting rewritten. We know the big stuff about his life, but the details of his early days as Robin are all over the place. What originally came across as a complex, but ultimately good-hearted kid in the comics from the ’80s is now usually shown as just an angry, troubled teen in recent flashbacks. Honestly, DC really needs to officially revisit and fix his origin story. A proper reboot would do wonders for the character – he’s someone people already have strong feelings about, and they could really explore that potential if they just gave him a consistent, well-defined background.

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2025-11-24 00:14