5 Underrated New Heroes of the 2020s

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The most well-known superheroes, like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, have been popular for decades – over eighty years, in fact! They’ve become iconic figures that almost everyone recognizes. The comic book industry tends to stick with what’s already successful, so the major companies usually keep these classic heroes at the forefront. However, that doesn’t mean new heroes can’t become popular too. Every hero starts out as something new, and occasionally, a fresh face really makes a splash in the comic book world.

Let’s explore five DC heroes introduced since 2020 who haven’t quite lived up to their potential. While some have gotten a little more attention than others, all of them deserve a better chance to develop their stories, motivations, and heroic abilities. They all have what it takes to be great, but they need the opportunity to prove it.

5) Marilyn Moonlight 

Marilyn Moonlight began as a classic Western hero, protecting the small town that would become Metropolis. After living a full life and passing away, she returned as a ghost with the power to manipulate moonlight. At first, she could only appear at night, a limitation tied to the mystery of her past, but she eventually overcame this. The idea of a ghostly cowgirl firing beams of moonlight is incredibly cool! Sadly, the explanation of her origins wasn’t very satisfying, and she hasn’t been a major character since. Marilyn has the potential to be a fantastic hero for Metropolis today, and I’d really enjoy seeing a story about her adapting to the present day.

4) Red Canary

After the Justice League fell before Dark Crisis, Sienna decided to become a hero herself, inspired by Black Canary. She took on the mantle of Red Canary, a new hero still learning the ropes but with good intentions. The Justice League Red series revealed she has a wild, untamed connection to the Red—a mystical energy linking all life. What’s truly compelling about Red Canary isn’t her power, but what she symbolizes. She highlights the lasting influence heroes have and offers a fresh viewpoint. Seeing herself as an outsider, she provides a unique perspective on the superhero world that could be fascinating to explore.

3) Bolt

Malik White was a typical medical student in the Bronx until he discovered he was a descendant of the powerful Black Adam. After a near-death experience, Black Adam shared his powers with Malik, granting him abilities linked to six Egyptian gods through the power of Shazam. Malik then became Bolt, and Black Adam hoped he would carry on the family name and redeem their legacy. It’s frustrating that Bolt hasn’t played a significant role since Black Adam turned back to villainy. Bolt represents a connection between Black Adam and Captain Marvel (Shazam), and fans are disappointed they haven’t interacted yet.

2) Xanthe

Xanthe was tragically killed in a car accident as a child, but a strange twist of fate partially brought them back to life. Their body briefly entered the Spirit World, allowing a partial revival, leaving them both alive and dead. Now, they act as a messenger between the living world and the Spirit World, maintaining order and transporting items. Xanthe is a true expert in a little-known area of DC’s magical universe and has the potential to become a major figure like Constantine. They combine extensive knowledge with the creation of incredible weapons made from folded paper, and it’s exciting to watch them fight and negotiate their way out of trouble. Xanthe has a bright future as a key character in DC’s magical stories.

1) Monkey Prince

Marcus Sun always disliked superheroes, particularly Batman, because he believed Batman had attacked his parents without cause. He later discovered his parents were actually professional criminals who worked for villains across the country. Even more surprisingly, he found out he was the son of the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong. As the Monkey Prince, he has all the qualities of a great hero, and his ties to the classic story Journey to the West make his adventures incredibly enjoyable. Sadly, despite his incredible potential as the son of such a famous character, his own comic series was cancelled after only twelve issues. The Monkey Prince deserves a second chance to prove his worth.

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2026-01-28 20:23