One of DC’s Most Disliked Characters Is Quickly Becoming One of Its Best

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DC Comics has a history of taking characters fans once disliked and turning them into popular figures. Superboy-Prime is a recent example – he used to be a frustrating character, but now he’s a fan favorite. Damian Wayne also went from being seen as arrogant and rigid to a more developed and well-liked character. Not every character will succeed, of course; flawed characters are a natural part of storytelling, especially in a complex, interconnected universe like DC’s. But even characters who start out unpopular can become beloved with a compelling story, and that’s happening more and more these days.

Nia Nal, also known as Dreamer, is a superhero with alien heritage who can experience prophetic dreams and travel within the dream world. She’s a significant trans woman character in the DC Universe, first appearing in the Supergirl TV series before moving into comics with the DC Pride 2022 special. She gained popularity through her friendship with Jon Kent, the current Superman. While Dreamer hasn’t always been well-received by fans – often being either disliked or ignored – her character is currently gaining momentum, and it’s time to show her some appreciation.

A Character Lost to the Ocean of Boredom

Early in her career as a superhero, Dreamer’s biggest weakness was that she wasn’t very interesting. This same criticism applies to the Superman: Son of Kal-El series where she first became popular. A character being boring is arguably the worst thing that can happen to them. Even characters people dislike get attention because they’re memorable. Strong emotional connections are what make people care about characters, but Dreamer never created those connections. It wasn’t that she lacked potential in terms of powers or backstory, but rather that she never truly stood out or made an impact.

Dreamer often felt like an afterthought in comics, never quite developing into a fully realized character. Her storylines didn’t distinguish her from the many other heroes, and her special abilities often felt unnatural. It’s challenging to make a character with precognitive powers relatable to today’s readers. However, the Absolute Power storyline changed things. Dreamer was blackmailed by Amanda Waller, which transformed her from an ignored hero into a controversial anti-hero. By then, she’d appeared in many DC stories, and some readers were simply tired of her. This set the stage for her new direction in comics.

The Dream that Has Finally Woken Up

Dreamer’s story truly began in Secret Six (2025). She played a key role in saving the world during Absolute Power, even sacrificing herself to save Jon’s life. Though she returned, the world still blamed her for actions she was forced to take by Waller, leaving her feeling resentful and furious. She wanted to get back at those who manipulated her and stop the constant loss in her life. Losing faith in traditional heroes, she joined the Secret Six and remained with the team even after Jon and Jay left. Dreamer was a woman searching for her place, finding a strange sense of belonging with a group of supervillains, and dangerously close to becoming the villain everyone believed her to be.

Dreamer’s storyline became more intense in the Justice League Intergalactic Special, forcing her to face some hard truths. Her friend, Galaxy, spends the entire issue trying to help Dreamer overcome her negativity and self-doubt. Dreamer is cynical and constantly finds reasons to give up, preferring to focus on her own unhappiness, though she still steps in to help the Justice League when needed. She insists she doesn’t want to be a hero, but her inherent goodness shines through. Currently, Dreamer is intentionally written as frustrating, with the goal of motivating readers to root for her personal growth and for her to see beyond her own limited perspective.

I was frustrated with the character Dreamer for most of the story, and that’s exactly what made it work. There are lots of hints she wants to be a hero, like helping Galaxy and wearing a Superman shirt—a meaningful choice, as the design was from the Kingdom Come storyline, which symbolizes Superman losing hope. Dreamer is set up for a fantastic journey, and it’s driven by acknowledging and using her flaws to become something truly special. She has all the potential to be a great character, and DC is finally showing that potential in a really compelling way.

Justice League Intergalactic Special is on sale now!

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2026-04-30 23:11