DC is home to some of most noble heroes in comics. They epitomize heroism and set the example for quality morals. Of course, fighting crime and stopping threats of varying magnitudes is what merits such praise. But the manner in which they choose to thwart the progress of the immoral and corrupt warrants similar attention. Some of these superheroes bear powers beyond the realm of possibility -- super-speed, heat vision, flight, telepathy, etc. Still, there are countless more that battle the forces of criminality using nothing more than fists, fury, and old school weaponry. Plenty of qualities differentiate Batman from Superman, Green Arrow from Wonder Woman, Lobo from The Flash and so on. There is one thing they all have in common, however. Playing fair is not always the name of the game and in order to end crime and bring criminals to justice, they will got to great lengths to do just that.

Sometimes to win, even the noblest of heroes have to get their hands dirty. Or, at the very least, they just to do so. This notion may manifest in some characters crossing a line they usually steer clear of and sometimes they go so far over the line that it can be argued that they become even worse than the villains and criminals that they're trying to stop. The worst situations could also present itself in situations where a hero employs unfair tactics. In this list, we will examine 20 characters who have behaved in such a manner during a fight.

20 AQUAMAN

Aquaman

The King of Atlantis gets a bad rap. And while it isn’t that big of a deal, these are fictional characters after all, Aquaman deserves to be shown in a positive light. For now, however, he will have to accept a light that casts him in a not so favorable manner.

Aquaman, unlike other members of the Justice League, is not necessarily reluctant to kill. If push comes to shove, he will take a life and deal with the consequences after the fact. It’s the brutality with which he carries out such acts that is worthy of mention, especially considering his creativity. Of course, he’s used his trident to dispatch enemies, but ordering sharks and other creatures of the deep to rid the world of his enemies is definitely more terrifying.

19 GREEN LANTERN

green-lantern-with-rings-in-emerald-twilight

If this were a list dedicated to DC’s biggest jerks, a few Green Lanterns would land in the top ten. Hal Jordan would undoubtedly act as a frontrunner for the top spot. He’s a massive jerk, always has been, but he’s the reasonably likable kind. Therefore, Hal Jordan gets away with a lot. Of course, this means that his less than stellar behavior translates to fighting dirty. Yes, even the man with the strongest of wills is prone to not thinking clearly and making rash decisions.

He and Sinestro are enemies, but punishment by death should never be an option where the Lanterns’ brand of justice is concerned. Hal forgets this at one point and attempts to end his foe during "Rage of the Red Lanterns".

18 HUNTRESS

Helena Bertinelli, regardless of the costume she’s wearing, seems difficult to work alongside. Coming from a family destroyed by the Mafia, she only knows a life of immense violence. It is the Batman that inspires her to seek out vigilantism. Their differing methods with regards to handling the criminal element often leave Batman and Huntress at odds, though.

She’s a killer, unafraid to cross the finely drawn line that many DC heroes desperately want to avoid. This behavior continues after the Justice League welcomes her as one of their own. An attempt to kill Prometheus proves her behavior is far from reformed. Time with the Birds of Prey has evolved her stance on things, but she remains one of DC’s most unscrupulous combatants.

17 JASON TODD

Jason Todd as Red Hood

The second Robin is a hothead who has trouble following the rules. Unlike his mentor, Jason refuses to believe in rehabilitation and second chances. Rather, he thinks severe punishment, perhaps even death, is often the more suitable option for certain wrongdoers. Jason reaches a point of no return during Batman #424, “The Diplomat’s Son.”

In the aforementioned issue, Batman and Robin chase after a man who’s abused a young woman. Ultimately, the justice system lets him walk. Robin continues to pursue the man and they wind up fighting on the top of a building. Batman arrives at the tail end of the tussle to find the criminal falling to his death. Robin claims the man slipped, but Batman and readers are left wondering if he was instead pushed.

16 GREEN ARROW

Green Arrow

Despite being better known for his easygoing personality, comic Oliver Queen can be ruthless. Of course, the most noted example of his crossing the line in Justice League: Cry for Justice. Near the end, after Prometheus has leveled Star City and left many dead, Green Arrow seeks out the villain. The bow-wielding vigilante hunts him down, but before Prometheus can react, Green Arrow shoots an arrow through his eye.

Green Arrow not playing nice in a fight doesn't solely manifest in moments where he crosses the line, though. The hero’s famed trick arrows are more than worthy of acknowledgement in this regard. With a bow as his primary weapon, he is limited with what he can do. Thus, trick arrows are designed to give him an advantage.

15 WONDER WOMAN

New 52 Wonder Woman

As an ambassador of peace and a warrior with more honor than most, Wonder Woman’s faltering isn’t always the easiest of events to read or watch. Yet, the Amazonian does make mistakes, even in combat, and even as a leader. Her errors, depending on the circumstances, rarely depict her as less than heroic. However, the few instances that do are worthy of acknowledgement.

In Rise of the Olympian, she threatens to remove Cheetah’s tail should the villain continue to withhold information concerning Etta Candy’s whereabouts. During the Superman: Sacrifice arch, Wonder Woman breaks the neck of Maxwell Lord to free the Man of Steel from mind-control. Perhaps certain circumstances require her to take the gloves off and get her hands a little dirtier than the norm.

14 DAMIAN WAYNE

Batman’s biological son has to be as difficult to deal with as his father, if not infinitely more so. Damian Wayne is arguably even more of a hothead than Jason Todd, and proves it early. During "Batman and Son", the Bat locks him in a room in the mansion. Before long, Damian escapes, kills the villain Batman’s after and fights with Tim Drake. Tim wins, but Damian sucker punches him.

The Batman and Robin series features a story wherein the duo battles the assassin Morgan Ducard. At the end of Ducard’s arc, Batman has the villain tied up and ready for transfer to jail. Concerned that Ducard may break out and hunt them down, Damian strikes the assassin with a killing a blow.

13 THE FLASH

The Flash

By virtue of his being a Speedster, The Flash is bound to have a few tricks up his sleeve. Because of his speed, the hero, regardless of who is donning the red cowl, can use any number of special skills to put away criminals. If he’s handling an average, every day criminal, Flash usually apprehends them before they even realize they are being pursued. However, he has been known to employ his abilities to in unnecessary circumstances.

One example had the Flash of the future returning to the present. Before making the trip, however, he confronts Gorilla Grodd. During their bout, the Speedster stealthily plants a small bomb in the telepathic creature’s head. This victory isn’t one a hero should be proud of having achieved.

12 CATWOMAN

Catwoman in New 52

Selina Kyle’s moral ambiguity continues to compel across all forms of media. Catwoman, like Batman himself, has been a steady part of popular culture thanks to comics, television, film, and games.  That audiences cannot often pin her down or assign her to a neatly defined box of hero or villain explains Catwoman’s ever-present popularity. It also explains how she easily walks the line between good and bad.

Catwoman plays dirty fairly often, even when she doesn’t need to. Still, she will take the easy way out if one presents itself.  This entry can’t conclude without at least giving a cursory mention to the countless time she’s tricked and betrayed Batman. Her behavior on this front is evident in combat situations and their casual dealings.

11 AZRAEL

Azrael's Batman

When Jean-Paul Valley’s Azrael took over the Batman mantle after the events of "Knightfall", insanity was bound to ensue. His brand of justice greatly differs from that of Bruce Wayne’s, as Azrael becomes more aggressive over time. This aggressiveness isn’t alarming enough for Bruce to doubt that Azrael can take over as Batman. Once he’s settled into the role, though, Azrael’s behavior fails to improve -- his Batman is brutal beyond measure.

Jean-Paul’s ruthless tactics are not solely reserved for super-villains like Bane either. Petty crooks and the like are subjected to his wrath as well. His vengeance ventures beyond knocking thugs unconscious and leaving them for the GCPD to discover. Needless to say, Jean-Paul’s tenure as the Dark Knight is quite horrific.

10 NIGHTWING

Nightwing

Few heroes have as clean a slate as Dick Grayson. He’s honest, caring, unbelievably optimistic, and easygoing, In many ways, Nightwing represents Batman’s polar opposite with regards to certain personality and character traits. This is especially apparent during Dick’s brief tenure wearing the Bat’s cape and cowl. However, Nightwing is not always a paragon of heroism.

Nightwing doesn’t go for cheap shots, and he rarely plays mind games with criminals. However, he has walked the line at times,  with one particular case in mind. Nightwing’s back in action in the New 52, decrying how Gotham continues to change. When he’s finished beating up on a criminal, he uses the man’s blood to sketch the Nighwing symbol as a warning to wrongdoers.

9 BLACK CANARY

Black Canary in The New 52

Black Canary is better known for her connection to the Green Arrow. However, respect for the hero comes from her being one of DC’s fiercest combatants. Her skill is immeasurable, which can often put her in a position of power. Just because a character can handle nearly any given situation does not mean they bend the rules a bit. Dinah Lance is no exception.

The second year of Injustice Gods Among features one example. A fight with Superman hits a point of no return when Black Canary mentions the deceased Lois Lane. Soon thereafter, Superman recalls Oliver in a similar fashion, and just as he thinks he has the upper hand, she pulls a gun and fires a Kryptonite bullet that instantly sends him to his knees.

8 JOHN CONSTANTINE

John Constantine

Everyone’s favorite hellblazer can be a bit dodgy when it comes to the heroics. His end goal always amounts to the preservation of life, even if he takes risks that others are likely to reject at first blush. This is what sets him apart from the rest, though; it’s why everyone (mostly) adores him. There are a number of supernatural figures that cannot stand the look of Constantine.

Sometimes Constantine fights dirty by simply avoiding a fight altogether. He’s known for leaving crime scenes in fear of getting his trench coat dirty, letting others fight his battles, and using his closest allies as act as demon or monster bait. Needless to say, good ol’ John can be a piece of work.

7 BATMAN

The Dark Knight that we all know and love today has one rule: he refuses to take a life. The early days of Golden Age Batman did not have such a code in place. Yet, this doesn't contribute to his being worthy of consideration as one of DC’s dirtiest combatants, but his tactics do.

Even after he’s clearly won a fight, Batman will employ cruel tactics. Examples of this behavior are abundant in al media. More famous instances include Batman asking for information, whilst holding suspects over a ledge. Others feature him threatening to break bones should a suspect remain silent and then doing so even after obtaining the necessary details. Gotham’s knight in shining armor doesn’t always play fair.

6 CASSANDRA CAIN

Orphan in Detective Comics

Cassandra Cain debuted in 1999 as one of Oracle’s allies. Despite Cassandra’s relatively short history, she’s made quite the name for herself. The next logical step is for her to garner mainstream attention. But it is no wonder fans hold her in such high esteem; this character is nothing if not formidable.

Cassandra’s time with the League has pit her against Supergirl. To lure her, the former Batgirl abducts the Girl of Steel’s friend. She then uses weapons imbued with the power from red suns to weaken Supergirl. Is this fighting dirty or evening the odds? It’s tough to say, but employing deception to harm innocents is never a good look.

5 SUPERMAN

As the superhero of all superheroes, the Man of Steel carries a heavy burden. How he rises above adversity and works tirelessly to better himself and those around him is at the nexus of what makes him such a meaningful cultural icon. But because his powers are so domineering, his mistakes typically back a more powerful punch than the mistakes of other heroes.

Most of Superman’s actions that are worthy of consideration for this list take place in instances where he’s depicted as evil. However, some examples involve his being misguided. "Trinity War" featured the Last Son of Krypton defending Wonder Woman against a bumbling Dr. Light. Superman protects her with heat vision. His counterattack is overkill, especially since it appears Dr. Light was prepping an apology.

4 SHADO

Shado in The New 52's Green Arrow

For the mainstream crowd, Shado is likely better known for her role in Arrow. She’s with Oliver on Lian Yu, where she trains him, falls for him, and ultimately becomes the reason for Slade Wilson’s rampage in the show’s sophomore season. The comics paint her in a completely different light. Shado first appears in Mike Grell’s seminal Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters series. Her and Green Arrow are initially adversaries, but eventually become reluctant allies. She’s on a mission; thus, she does everything in her power to see it through to the end.

She has done many dishonorable acts in her time, including how she conceives a child with Oliver Queen. Let’s just say this is one assassin who couldn’t be anymore complex if she tried.

3 TIM DRAKE

detective-tim-drake-header

Tim Drake’s Robin is beloved. Unlike Dick Grayson and Jason Todd before him, tragic circumstances don’t see him thrust in Bruce Wayne’s extracurricular activities. Of the four main Robins, Tim’s probably the least troublesome. He has been known to slip up a time or two, though.

Tim’s and Stephanie Brown’s run-in with a mob enforcer named Johnny Warlock nearly undoes the young man. Johnny badly injures Stephanie. Going into defense mode, Tim gives Johnny the worst of it. He beats the thug senseless, and Tim’s behavior is unhinged that even he’s startled. For a time, it worries the Dark Knight as well. Because this Robin is so in tune with Batman’s guidance, his faltering is quite rare.

2 JONAH HEX

Jonah Hex

Jonah Hex has a sad, yet complex backstory, a story which fuels his status as an anti-hero. Still, his code of honor keeps him in check. It’s probably more apt to say his code of honor keeps him in check for the most part. Every so often, Jonah Hex does not behave in a very honorable fashion.

During “The Mark of the Demon,” Jonah is challenged to a fight. His opponent, a man named Noh-Tante, cheats by tampering with the bounty hunter’s weaponry. As a result, Jonah Hex cheats his way through the fight, using a blade to ensure he comes out victorious. The trouble here is that Jonah Hex of all people probably could have won the match without resorting to dishonorable measures.

1 LOBO

Lobo was born with a dark side, and eventually drove people to insanity. Of course, this all results in his annihilating his own race of people, a inarguably villainous act. However, Lobo has a somewhat decent side to him as well. He will occasionally partake in saving lives and helping those in need. In many respects, he’s evolved into a anti-hero of sorts. Yet, there is hardly a reason to argue why Lobo is the perfect fit for this list.

One instance occurs while he’s a member of R.E.B.E.L.S., a group created to destroy L.E.I.G.I.O.N. The team discovers that Starro is their true foe. Some in-fighting slows them down, but eventually Lobo leads the charge in attacking Starro while he’s incapable of protecting himself.