7 Most Inconsistently Written DC Characters

For decades, DC Comics has delivered iconic superhero stories. Making a comic book successful involves many things, but consistency is key. This means consistently high-quality writing and artwork, and ensuring characters maintain consistent personalities, power levels, and goals. This consistency is vital for keeping fans engaged, as they develop expectations for how a character should be and what their stories should be like. Maintaining this consistency, even with different creative teams, is a major factor in a character’s lasting popularity.

Comics often have continuity errors, but certain characters seem particularly prone to being written differently by each new creative team. Because everyone has their own vision, these characters frequently end up with wildly varying portrayals. Here are seven DC characters that fans find especially inconsistent, which is a common source of frustration.

7) Conner Kent

As a long-time Superman fan, I remember Conner Kent – one of the characters DC brought in after the big “Death of Superman” storyline. He was definitely a product of the ’90s, a bit of a loudmouth who really wanted to prove himself as a hero. For over a decade, from ’93 to ’06, his whole journey was about growing up, and it actually ended with a pretty heroic sacrifice during Infinite Crisis. But then things got weird. He was brought back, but the New 52 reboot really did him dirty. Now, it feels like the writers can’t quite decide what they want him to be – are we getting the impulsive kid, the mature hero, or something in between? This constant flip-flopping has really hurt the character over the years, honestly.

6) Power Girl

Power Girl first appeared in the 1970s as the Supergirl from another Earth. Like many female heroes created during that time, she was portrayed as strong, independent, and a more modern feminist figure. However, the Crisis on Infinite Earths event changed everything. Without her original Earth-Two, and due to changes made by John Byrne, her backstory as a Kryptonian was lost. This led to a confusing portrayal where she’d swing between being an angry fighter and a lonely character longing for a family. She’s struggled with this inconsistency for years, which can be frustrating. Power Girl is a fantastic character – she’s actually my favorite version of Kara Zor-El – but it’s a shame that writers haven’t been able to establish a clear direction for her.

5) The Joker

As a fan, I’ve always found the Joker to be one of the most compelling villains, and I think a big part of why is that he’s never really been consistent. Sometimes he’s just a terrifying force of chaos, all about causing pain and destruction. Then other times, he’s portrayed as a calculating criminal mastermind trying to run the city. He can be incredibly competent, but then his madness takes over and he makes these wild, unpredictable errors. Sometimes he’s a surprisingly skilled fighter, and other times he goes down with a single hit. Honestly, the fact that writers have approached him so differently over the years actually shows his insanity better than any specific portrayal could. It’s rare, but in this case, the inconsistency really works in his favor.

4) Red Hood

Look, DC really struggles with Jason Todd, and it shows. He started as a clear attempt to replace Dick Grayson – same basic backstory, similar personality – but he just didn’t click with audiences. After the Crisis event, they tried making him a rebellious, unlikeable Robin, and that didn’t help. Then came the big shock – they killed him off! When he came back in the mid-2000s, he was suddenly this incredibly skilled villain. Now? He’s bounced back and forth between being a vigilante, sometimes fitting in with the Bat-Family, other times completely estranged. Honestly, it’s frustrating. One minute he’s a brooding loner who despises everyone, the next he’s seeking redemption and wanting to be pals. He’ll embrace being the black sheep, then reject that role. It feels like they keep telling the same two stories with him over and over, much like what they do with Power Girl – it’s a repetitive cycle that just doesn’t quite work.

3) Darkseid

Many fans consider Darkseid to be DC’s ultimate villain, but his power level has changed a lot over the years. Sometimes he’s shown as incredibly powerful, able to withstand attacks from entire teams of heroes. Other times, a single hero manages to defeat him. Writers have explained these inconsistencies by suggesting that different versions of Darkseid are less powerful aspects of the original being, making him stronger or weaker depending on the story. This creates a common problem for very powerful characters – he often needs to be made weaker or stronger to fit the needs of the narrative.

2) Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is arguably the most significant female superhero of all time. Historically, the comic book industry hasn’t consistently supported strong female characters, and Wonder Woman has been particularly affected by this. It often feels like each new creative team drastically changes her portrayal. She’s been depicted as everything from a purely virtuous hero to a ruthless killer, and as a champion of peace and truth. This constant shifting has made her a bit unpredictable; while she’s widely loved, fans never quite know what version of Diana they’ll encounter with a new story arc.

1) Batman

Batman is a comic book icon, but his character hasn’t always been consistent. You really see this difference depending on where he appears. In team-up books like Justice League, he’s shown as an incredibly capable strategist who always finds a way to win. However, in his own solo comics, he’s often defeated by relatively minor villains. His personality also varies wildly – sometimes he’s portrayed as brooding and angry, and other times as a caring, fatherly figure. It often feels like each writer randomly chooses a different version of Batman for each story.

2026-05-25 16:12