The heroes of DC Comics are often considered the ideal superheroes. They're virtuous and powerful, saving the day every chance they get, whether it be by fighting the most dangerous enemies ever or just saving a child's cat from a tree. There are a lot of role models among DC's heroes, but some stand out more than others.
Some DC Comics heroes have been in the business longer than anyone else and created the concept of superheroism. Others redefined that mantle, going above and beyond. Some are kind and always there for their fellows. Some are the best of the best. They are the ones everyone looks up to, the undisputed legends.
10 Batman Is Revered With Some Caveats
Batman is both looked up to by the heroes around him while also being a cautionary tale of how not to be a hero. On the one hand, he's a mortal man who can figure his way through any problem. Too many like to think it's all because of the tools, but Batman is just that good. He's completely devoted to being the best there can be, and that's laudable.
However, he's also insular, doesn't trust easily, and his pragmatism has made him do things that have hurt his friends. Batman should be looked up to, but as much for what not to do as for his more positive traits, making him an interesting juxtaposition.
9 Kyle Rayner Was The Lone Green Lantern For Years And Excelled In The Position
While Hal Jordan served as the first human Green Lantern, he had an entire Corps behind him. Kyle Rayner was different. The graphic artist was thrown into battle with a Parallax-possessed Jordan and won. He went on to protect the entire universe completely on his own, earning a spot in the JLA as well.
Rayner did what no other Green Lantern had ever done, working completely by himself. He wasn't chosen because he could overcome fear or anything like that. He was just the first person Ganthet came to, and he made himself into a role model that no one expected.
8 Harley Quinn Went From Abused Villain To Top Of The Hero World
Harley Quinn has had a wild ride. Dr. Harleen Quinzel was preyed upon by the Joker, became his terribly abused lover, and eventually broke free of the brainwashing and gaslighting. For a while, she went back and forth with him, but found the strength to never be with Joker again. Harley Quinn made a name for herself with the Suicide Squad, and has moved up the ranks considerably.
Harley Quinn is now a trusted member of the Bat-Family. She has the admiration of people like Wonder Woman and has proven to be a fierce and skilled combatant. Her story of perseverance is an inspiration for every hero out there.
7 Vixen Is A Supermodel Hero Philanthropist
The Justice League has some cool members, but Vixen takes the cake. Mari McCabe uses the Tantu totem to tap into the Red, giving her the powers of any animal she needs. She's a great combatant and has even led her own Justice League team, helping battle all kinds of threats. She's also a supermodel, and she uses her money to help the people of the African continent in ways no one else will.
Vixen takes the "help people" part of being a superhero to the next level. She serves as a perfect example to her fellow heroes on how to comport themselves. She's outspoken about the causes she believes in and will do anything to help people.
6 Supergirl Lost Everything But Her Hope
Supergirl had a life on Krypton before its destruction. She can remember her homeworld in a way that her cousin can't, so she keenly feels the absence of her friends and family. She knows what is missing from her life, and yet it never stopped her from being an unparalleled hero. She lost everything in a way that few other heroes can understand, yet she still believes in a better tomorrow.
Supergirl is a hero like few others. She knows profound pain and loss, yet she never let it poison her to the world. She fights to protect everyone everywhere in the universe, and that's all there is to it. The fact that she can do it without falling into despair is a testament to her inner strength.
5 Alan Scott Is The Soul Of The Justice Society
The Justice Society inspired generations of heroes, each member of the team adding something to the whole that no one else could. Even among that storied original roster, Alan Scott is something special. The first Green Lantern was the soul of the team, the one that all of them looked up to. He was later referred to as the group's Superman, which is fitting.
Alan Scott was the true believer, the real hero. He had power in spades and cared for the people around him. As the years went on, Alan would become an even greater role model, as younger heroes saw his never-ending fight and his boundless courage. He'll always be an inspiration.
4 Jay Garrick Is The Ur-Speedster
Jay Garrick was the first Flash, creating a legacy that would run on through the decades. The Justice Society founder was always the heart of the team. His time as the Flash would inspire Barry Allen to take up the lightning as well. Like many of the other surviving members of the JSA, Garrick would go on to mentor subsequent generations of heroes.
Jay Garrick invented what it meant to be a speedster in the DC Universe. He inspired and taught everyone who came after him. His kindness is as well-known as his heroism. He's devoted to doing the right thing and mentoring the next generation.
3 Wonder Woman Blazed The Trail For Every Female Superhero
Wonder Woman is the greatest warrior on the planet, but she's also so much more than all of that. Diana is a person for whom love and truth are paramount. She may take things to extremes that other heroes frown upon, but that's only because she knows that someone has to do the hard things, and she's the one to do them.
Wonder Woman cares deeply about people. She wants peace for everyone. That's why she fights, so no one else will have to. Everyone that meets her knows it and she sets an example that all should follow. She is a hero through and through.
2 Nightwing Went From Sidekick To Leader
Nightwing is the linchpin of the DC Universe. He started his superheroic career when he was just a child, learning the ropes from the best vigilante around. But unlike Batman, Nightwing never let the darkness of his mission consume him. He became a leader that everyone could look up to, a shining example of what a hero could be if they just worked hard enough.
Nightwing has done it all in the DC Universe. Everyone respects him. He's made sure to cultivate the relationships that his mentor hasn't, which has made all the difference for him. He's an elder statesman now, one who anyone can ask for advice and that will do anything to help.
1 Superman Is The Greatest
Superman is the best role model in the DC Universe, and it's not even close. Every generation of heroes has used the Man of Steel as the measuring stick. In an alternate universe like Earth-2, he started the heroic revolution and served as its inspiration. It all stems from Superman, even in the universes where he's not the first hero.
Superman is not a role model because he's the strongest or the best leader. He's a role model because there are no lengths he won't go to. He's an inspiration because he is everything he believes in. He can make anyone feel like the most important person in the room. He can do anything he wants, but what he wants most of all is a better world for everyone.