DC’s 10 WORST Mentors

Mentors serve as guides for individuals learning the skills necessary for success, though not in a parental sense. Instead, they help safeguard and direct their protégés, particularly crucial in DC Comics where the consequences of being a superhero or villain can be severe. From Batman and Robin to Green Lantern trainers, many mentors prepare their successors for the challenges ahead. However, not all mentors are effective – some are downright terrible. Here’s a list of ten DC mentors who should probably stop teaching others, especially children, due to various reasons that make them unfit for the role.

10) Aquaman

In simpler terms, Aquaman ranks tenth among our mentors, but this doesn’t mean he’s a poor mentor. Instead, his role as a mentor is somewhat underwhelming. If you consider characters like Aqualad and Aquagirl who have been under Aquaman’s guidance, it’s uncommon to witness him fostering a heroic bond with them. While Aquaman does train them, the connection between him and his sidekicks often appears professional rather than personal, which is unfortunate given his potential as an exceptional teacher. He’s not a bad mentor; he’s simply average.

9) The Wizard Shazam

The Wizard, similar to Aquaman’s role, serves as a mentor for Billy Batson, but does just enough to maintain that title. His role appears to be unique compared to others, and it’s unclear how much freedom he has to directly influence his chosen Shazam champion. Despite being one of the few role models in Billy’s life, the Wizard often withholds active teaching on managing powers. Instead, he provides cryptic information about the challenges ahead and intervenes only when necessary.

The Wizard is portrayed as a grand guardian with vast knowledge that Billy can rely upon in times of need. However, his actions suggest he’s quick to distance himself from Billy and his family whenever he suspects Billy might become like Black Adam. Although we must consider the possibility that magical laws restrict him, it seems the Wizard could do more to guide such a young, independent boy. The weight of responsibility falls heavily on Billy, who is essentially left to navigate this complex world alone.

8) Lex Luthor

When considering Lex Luthor in your mind, you’re likely to picture him as a self-centered individual who enjoys ruling rather than guiding others. This depiction is accurate, and it explains why his brief attempts at mentorship often backfired for those under his tutelage. In fact, more times than not, Lex uses the opportunity of teaching to control the person, usually aiming to exploit someone with superpowers whom he intends to use against Superman. A clear demonstration of this manipulation can be seen in his relationship with Matrix and later Supergirl; he charmed Matrix first, then aided Supergirl in mastering her abilities so that he could turn them against Superman. Lex is nothing but a cunning manipulator from head to toe, and if he ever proposes guidance or instruction to anyone, they should promptly leave town because it’s evident that he has an ulterior motive in mind.

7) Green Arrow

Over time, I’ve learned a lot about mentoring, but there have been instances where my actions fell short. One of my most regrettable moments was when I discovered that Roy Harper was battling heroin addiction. Despite our close bond, I kicked him out and severed all ties with him. It felt like he was my son, but in his darkest hour, I abandoned him instead of offering help. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only time I put my own judgment ahead of my mentees’ wellbeing. Mia Dearden, or the second Speedy, faced similar criticism from me, but she showed significant growth as a mentee. However, I made the same mistake with Roy – I cast him aside without looking back. This incident certainly warrants my inclusion on this list of problematic mentors.

6) Lady Shiva

Lady Shiva excels at her profession, making those she mentors virtually unbeatable warriors. She has tutored figures like Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, and even Batman himself when he sought to reclaim his position from Jean-Paul Valley. However, it’s important to note that Shiva never acts without a hidden agenda. For instance, she trained Tim with the intent of manipulating him into assisting her on a mission. Her training of Cassandra came with an agreement: after one year, they would engage in a deadly battle, and Shiva even went as far as framing Tim for murder and sending four top-tier assassins to hunt him down, hoping he’d be forced to take a life in return for completing his education. While Shiva is undeniably an exceptional instructor, she consistently expects a significant sacrifice – often involving death in some form – from her students.

5) Daniel Captio

Initially introduced by Chip Zdarsky in “Batman: The Knight,” Dr. Daniel Capito played a significant role as the mastermind behind many villains during his tenure on “Batman.” A psychologist who mentored both Bruce Wayne and the Joker, he devised a method to empower their minds by creating alternate personas within themselves. This technique enabled Bruce to manifest the Zur-En-Arrh persona, while allowing the Joker to develop multiple alter egos.

Although his methods border on insanity, Capito’s real claim to infamy stems from his unrelenting pettiness. After losing a fight to Bruce Wayne, he vowed to sabotage Batman’s future. He not only facilitated the Joker’s transformation into the monster we know today but also orchestrated the conflict between Zur-En-Arrh and the Joker, which threatened to dismantle everything Batman stood for and wreak havoc on Gotham City.

In essence, Capito unleashed two destructive forces upon the world, nearly tearing apart an entire city, all because Bruce outsmarted him in a fight. Moreover, the teachings he imparts are dangerously insane and seem more likely to harm than help those who follow his guidance.

4) Joker

The Joker has cultivated several associates, yet ironically, he deliberately causes misery for anyone he collaborates with. Harley Quinn serves as the most renowned instance, a former brilliant doctor who was manipulated by the Joker into becoming a psychopath mirror-image of himself. Despite his indifference towards her, the Joker exploited Harley to bolster his own image and complete tasks, all while deriving pleasure from causing suffering. The Joker frequently mistreated Harley, both physically and emotionally, but she was not his only accomplice. He mentored Punchline, a woman with nihilistic leanings, to disregard everything, and even trained Jackanapes, an unusually intelligent gorilla, into an effective criminal. The Joker’s presence invariably corrupts those around him, and he goes to great lengths to ensure that those who admire him lead miserable, wretched lives as punishment for their proximity to him.

3) Blue Devil

Blue Devil started as an aspiring actor, but when he had no luck, he agreed to destroy an unoccupied power plant in exchange for fame from the demon Neron. Unfortunately, this act led to the death of his friend Marla Bloom, who was also the aunt of his sidekick Kid Devil. Blue Devil never told Kid Devil about this and even cut ties with him after he attempted to break into the movie industry. Later, Kid Devil made a deal with Neron too, but only if he still believed in Blue Devil by the time he turned twenty. However, when Kid Devil found out what Blue Devil had done and hidden for years, he ended their relationship. It’s terrible to be a mentor who makes a deal with the devil, especially when it results in the death of your mentee’s loved one and you keep silent about it.

2) David Cain

David Cain, one could argue, ranks among the most abusive fathers and mentors in DC Comics history. Not unlike Lady Shiva, he possesses exceptional teaching abilities, yet his methods may be overly rigorous. His only known student was Cassandra Cain, and her training was not only harsh but borderline inhumane. He rarely spoke to her, instead communicating through body language and combat. To keep her alert, he would unexpectedly assault her, such as the instance when a five-year-old Cass was shot from behind by him. It’s appalling that someone like David Cain could subject a child, especially his own daughter, to such cruel and monstrous training methods. His actions are so reprehensible that he earns second place on this list. In fact, at the tender age of eight, Cassandra was tasked with assassinating someone in cold blood for him.

1) Granny Goodness

In essence, Granny Goodness isn’t listed in a dictionary under “terrible mentor,” but she certainly embodies the definition. She stands as the epitome of abusive mentorship across all universes. As one of Darkseid’s top generals, she oversees the training of his armies, particularly the Female Furies. Her methods involve kidnapping children and forcing them to fight each other, molding them into ruthless killing machines devoted solely to serving Darkseid, effectively erasing any trace of hope or personal identity.

An immortal being who serves the embodiment of evil, Granny Goodness isn’t just a follower but also a cultivator of devotion to Darkseid. She performs heinous experiments on countless children, yet pretends to be a nurturing figure in their lives – which is perhaps her most chilling trait. She corrupts the concept of love by teaching them to sacrifice their lives for a monster who shows no concern for them, making her one of the most detestable mentors in DC Comics.

2025-07-08 21:13