Top 10 DC Superheroes of the ’00s

As we stepped into a brand-new millennium, it was DC Comics that unveiled a fresh crop of legendary heroes, fueling the ever-growing craze for superhero tales. The success of blockbuster films like “Batman Begins” and “Spider-Man” had sent the superhero genre soaring high. Yet, DC Comics continued to set the bar with their captivating narratives, as the writers and artists were given free rein to craft extraordinary stories and characters. The narrative landscape became more grandiose, with a profound impact, as three monumental Crisis Events – “Identity Crisis”, “Infinite Crisis”, and “Final Crisis” – unfolded within the same decade. This turbulent period saw treasured heroes meet their end, relationships crumble, and multiversal calamities becoming commonplace. In the wake of such devastation, with many of our iconic champions dead, lost, or retired, new heroes rose to claim their legacy.

In the 2000s, DC Comics focused on creating a platform for fresh superheroes to build upon the foundations laid by their predecessors.

10) Spectre (Crispus Allen)

From the era of the Golden Age, Aztar, also known as the Spectre, has embodied the anger of God. As a non-corporeal being, Aztar is an immensely powerful cosmic entity that dispenses divine punishment on the wicked worldwide. To carry out his tasks, Aztar takes over human bodies, allowing him to engage with the physical realm. In 2000, Gotham police detective Crispus Allen was brutally murdered by a corrupt officer due to his investigation into police force corruption. Aztar then approached Crispus’ spirit and asked the cop to become his new host. Crispus initially declined, but Aztar granted him a year to reconsider. Spending that year as an earthbound spirit, Crispus witnessed numerous horrors without the ability to intervene. Upon Aztar’s return a year later, Crispus agreed to the spirit’s proposal, forming a bond and becoming an instrument of divine retribution.

9) Cyclone

Introduced in 2007, Maxine Hunkel, also known as Cyclone, is the granddaughter of Abigail “Ma” Hunkel, a powerless heroine from the Golden Age who went by the name Red Tornado. When Maxine was just six years old, she was abducted by the mad scientist T.O. Morrow and used as a test subject for his experiments. One of these tests involved injecting nanites into her bloodstream. She was eventually rescued, but no negative effects were observed until the nanites activated when Maxine turned nineteen. These nanites granted Maxine the ability to create powerful winds and tornadoes, transforming her into the superhero Cyclone. Joining the all-new Justice Society, Maxine’s cheerful and chatty demeanor makes her one of the most sociable members, always eager to safeguard innocent people.

8) Citizen Steel

Starting in 2007, Nathan Heywood is a descendant of World War II hero Commander Steel (Henry Heywood). He’s related to the previous steel-wielding Heywood, Henry Heywood III. Nathan had a thriving football career until an accident led to the amputation of his leg. During a family gathering, the villainous group, the Fourth Reich, launched an attack with the intent of eliminating the Heywood lineage. One of the Fourth Reich members, the metallic antagonist Reichsmark, murdered Nathan’s mother and brother by turning them into statues. In self-defense, Nathan impaled Reichsmark with his crutch, causing the villain to expel liquid metal blood onto him. This metal blood absorbed into Nathan’s skin, transforming his body into living steel and regrowing his lost limb. The metamorphosis gave him extraordinary strength and durability, but it also stripped him of his sense of touch. To uphold his family’s heritage, he adopted the name Citizen Steel.

7) Speedy (Mia Dearden)

In 2001, Mia Dearden was liberated from a sex-trafficking network by Green Arrow. As time passed, she uncovered Green Arrow’s hidden identity as Oliver Queen and pleaded with him to train her as his new partner in crime-fighting. Initially hesitant, Oliver eventually agreed after observing Mia’s fighting abilities. Mia is the second character to assume the role of Speedy following Roy Harper, who grew up to become Arsenal, a hero. Under Oliver’s guidance, Mia swiftly learned the use of the bow and arrow and emerged as one of Star City’s primary guardians. Loyal member of both the Arrow Family and Teen Titans, Mia battles to shield the powerless citizens of Star City, just like her Green Arrow once protected her.

6) Atom (Ryan Choi)

2006 saw the introduction of Ryan Choi as a disciple to Ray Palmer, also known as the second Atom. With Ray vanishing and his true identity becoming public knowledge, Ryan took it upon himself to uphold his mentor’s legacy. A replica of Ray’s belt fell into Ryan’s possession, granting him the ability to modify his size. Rapidly mastering this device, he assumed the mantle of the new Atom. Joining forces with the Justice League, Ryan distinguished himself as one of their most intellectually gifted members. Later, Ryan discovered that Ray had merely been stranded in a separate universe for years, and successfully retrieved his mentor. Now, the size-altering duo work together to aid the Justice League in solving various scientific enigmas and combating diverse threats.

5) Saint Walker

In the year 2008, a fresh light from the Lantern Corps illuminated a universe yearning for hope. Two outcast Guardians of the Universe, Ganthet and Sayd, established the Blue Lantern Corps, creating the initial Blue Lantern ring which landed in the hands of Bro’dee Walker, also known as Saint Walker. As his planet’s sun was nearing its end, Bro’dee embarked on a quest to find the prophesied savior at Mount Helious. Arriving there, he found no one, but his faith wavered not. He chose to become the hero his people needed, becoming a symbol of hope for his planet. Miraculously, their sun began to revive and turn blue. The Blue Lantern ring selected Bro’dee as the inaugural member of the Blue Lantern Corps. Empowered by hope, Saint Walker and the rest of the Corps are peacekeepers who employ their rings to protect the innocent while simultaneously boosting nearby Green Lanterns’ power.

4) Miss Martian

Originally hailing from Mars in 2006, the character known as M’gann M’orzz (also called Miss Martian) was presented as the youthful female equivalent of Martian Manhunter. Contrary to her appearance, M’gann is not a Green Martian but rather a White Martian – a fact that, on Mars, resulted in the eradication of the Green Martians and an attempted conquest of Earth by the White Martians. To escape this oppressive regime, M’gann stowed away on a rocket to Earth. Feeling ashamed of her people’s violent nature, she disguised herself as a Green Martian to blend in on Earth and assumed the human identity of Megan Morse. Endowed with Martian Manhunter’s abilities such as telepathy, shapeshifting, and intangibility, M’gann ranks among the Teen Titans’ most powerful members. In spite of her heritage from a race of tyrants, Miss Martian has risen above it to become a hero on Earth.

3) Batwoman (Kate Kane)

2006 saw DC Comics introducing one of its initial lesbian superheroes: Katy Kane, better known as Batwoman. A former military cadet and relative of Bruce Wayne, it seemed like Kate was born for the role under the cowl. One evening following a gathering, Kate encountered a mugger. With her quick thinking, she managed to repel the attacker, and Batman arrived to apprehend the criminal. Witnessing the Dark Knight in action sparked Kate’s desire to fight crime as a vigilante. As Batwoman, she swiftly gained recognition in Gotham City by dismantling several criminal organizations. Teaming up with other Gotham vigilantes, Kate eventually joined the Bat Family. Her military background makes her one of the most disciplined members within this group. However, when faced with no other choices to save those in distress, she is prepared to transgress boundaries.

2) Robin (Damian Wayne)

2006 saw Talia al Ghul, the head of the League of Assassins, presenting Batman with someone extraordinary – their ten-year-old son, Damian Wayne. It turned out that Talia had been secretly raising Damian within the League, teaching him to be as ruthless and shadowy as herself. Despite having a distinct moral compass compared to Batman, Damian’s unorthodox upbringing made him equally brooding and enigmatic, if not more so.

To complicate matters for Batman, Talia disclosed Damian’s existence and left the boy in his care. Almost instantly, Damian took on the role of Robin, but his hot-tempered nature and disregard for human life put him at odds with his father. Over time, under Batman’s tutelage, Damian became less aggressive.

Eventually, Damian distanced himself from his mother and the League of Assassins. Although he remains a troubled teenager, Damian has shown signs of growth and even formed his own version of the Teen Titans.

1) Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)

Introduced in 2006, Jamie Reyes serves as the third and most recognized Blue Beetle. As a teenager, he became the host for an alien parasite named Scarab, which bonded with him permanently and attached to his back. This symbiotic relationship created a telepathic connection between them. By commanding Scarab, Jamie can don armor that enhances his physical abilities and enables flight. The armor’s standout feature is its ability to fabricate an extensive variety of tools and weapons, such as swords and blasters. Working together, Jamie and the Scarab protect the innocent from supervillains and extraterrestrial threats while collaborating with the Justice League and Teen Titans. With a fresh approach to the Blue Beetle persona, Jamie has elevated the hero role and earned himself a reputation as one of DC Comics’ most esteemed young superheroes.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-best-dc-stories-00s-all-star-superman-the-flash-jsa-final-crisis-wonder-woman/embed/#

2025-07-27 17:22