The comic industry can be a fickle mistress. Sometimes, creators have ideas that are hits on paper but struggle to connect with fans. Other times, A-list creators are put on books only for the run never to actually work. Over the years, DC has had a lot of misses with books that seemed like a slam dunk going the way of the dodo, or creators simply putting out runs that should have slain but are looked back on with derision.

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Some of these books definitely deserved to be hits or at least should have been given more of a chance before they relegated to the dustbin of history. DC has published some amazing comics over the years, only for them to flop before becoming the hits they were destined to be.

10 Heroes In Crisis Had So Much Potential

Heroes in Crisis Justice League Harley Quinn Booster Gold

Heroes In Crisis was a perfect storm of failure but it definitely shouldn't have been. Written by Tom King with art by his frequent collaborators Clay Mann and Mitch Gerads, the book was a murder mystery centered around Sanctuary, a place superheroes go when they need therapy. The art was amazing, the premise was good, and Heroes In Crisis should have been a hit.

It wasn't, though, as fans felt it was a bit drawn out at the time. This would have been okay in the long run but the reveal of the murderer, Wally West, angered a massive section of the fanbase. This turned fans against the book and most won't even give it a second chance.

9 The Immortal Men Had James Tynion IV And Jim Lee Onboard And Flopped

The Immortal Men Jim Lee

Dark Knights: Metal was one of the best event books of the 2010s and DC went all in on its aftermath, releasing a raft of books with some of the best talent they had. All but one of them flopped and the flops are all very interesting. The Immortal Men, by writer James Tynion IV and artist Jim Lee, starred a group of heroes from throughout the ages battling new threats.

It's weird to say a book with James Tynion IV and Jim Lee failed but it happened. It's one of those things that no one can really understand, as the premise was sound and the creative team was top notch.

8 Damage Was An Interesting Take On The Hulk Formula

HULK VS DC - Damage

Another book from that post-Metal time was Damage, by writer Robert Venditti and artist Tony S. Daniel. Damage was the story of Ethan Avery, a soldier given the ability to transform into rage monster for an hour a day. The premise basically the Hulk mixed with Hourman, as Avery tried to control the beast inside of him.

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Venditti and Daniel are top tier creators and the book had a great premise. Damage dealt with a man who wanted to serve his country getting more than he bargained for to do so and having to deal with the repercussions. The book was a great take on a Hulk-like character that should have had legs.

7 Books Starring Cyborg Always Flop

Cyborg Explaining His Situation

Cyborg made a name for himself in multiple incarnations of the Teen Titans and is one of DC's most popular characters, having starred in multiple popular TV shows and movies. He's a well known, beloved hero who can't be a starring character in anything. Multiple times over the years, Cyborg solo books or book starring him, like Justice League Odyssey, have flopped and flopped hard.

Cyborg's constant failures in starring roles is one of those things that just doesn't make a lot of sense. Fans love Cyborg, but his solo books never get off the ground. Maybe one day, he'll get a popular solo run, but DC needs to get the formula just right.

6 Sideways Was A Fun Spider-Man Pastiche That Deserved Better

Sideways Half-Way Out Of His Teleportation Portal

Sideways was yet another comic with a great premise that came out of Dark Knight: Metal. Written by Dan DiDio with art by Kenneth Rocafort, the book was basically Spider-Man with teleporting powers as a 21st century teenager. Sideways never seemed to be punching down at young people like books about teens written by much older people often do and was just a fun superhero romp with great art. Tbe book's failure is one of the biggest heartbreakers from this period of DC.

5 The Legion Of Superheroes 2010 Reboot Died On The Vine

Legion of Superheroes Vol 6

Geoff Johns brought back the classic Silver Age Legion of Superheroes, one of fans' favorite rosters of the venerable group, in Action Comics and Final Crisis: Legion Of  Three Worlds. The stories were popular, so DC decided to give the team another chance. They went to the source, as well, bringing Legion writer extraordinaire Paul Levitz back and teaming him with artist Yildiray Cinar for a new run.

Unfortunately even with great talent working on the book, the Legion fanbase just couldn't justify the book and the upcoming New 52 spelled doom for this run. The Legion would get two books during the New 52 reboot and both would fail, as well.

4 Demon Knights Was One Of The New 52's Most Intriguing Books

Demon Knights. Etrigan the Demon. Vandal Savage. Shining Knight. Al Jabr. Madame Xanadu.

DC has some of the best magical characters out there and Etrigan the Demon has long been a fan favorite. The New 52 era was a time when the publisher was taking a lot of chances, so they put out a book starring Etrigan and other mystical DC heroes set in medieval times called Demon Knights, written first by Paul Cornell and then Robert Venditti, with art from multiple artists.

Demon Knights had a great premise and the people who read it loved it, but it was one of the many ambitious failures of the New 52 era. The cast and talent involved were remarkable, but the book never found an audience.

3 Bryan Hitch's DC Rebirth Justice League Run Wasn't What Fan Wanted

EXTINCTION MACHINES justice league

The Justice League is DC's most important team, with years of amazing stories for fans to choose from. In the New 52, DC gave artist Bryan Hitch JLA, a book he wrote and drew. JLA was a hit and when DC Rebirth started, he was given the keys to Justice League. Working with multiple artists throughout his run, Hitch eschewed the traditional Justice League villains instead having the team face massive cosmic threats, giving the book a different feel.

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This approach didn't jibe with fans who wanted a more traditional Justice League book. While JLA wasn't cancelled, fans didn't exactly support it and a number of readers were happy when Hitch left the book.

2 All-Star Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder Killed The All-Star Line

All Star Batman And Robin

By now, every DC fan knows about All-Star Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder. This Frank Miller written, Jim Lee drawn Batman comic is the most memeable Batman story ever and is widely known as a guilty pleasure for many. ASBAR is definitely not a good story, but it's entertaining like a car crash.

It honestly feels like Miller was parodying himself with this comic and seeing it get to play out loner would have been great. Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder killed the All-Star line, but fans have started to look at the book differently, much like the Schumacher Batman films.

1 Aztek The Ultimate Man Was An Epic That Never Caught On

Cover detail to Aztek #7

Imagine a world where a book written by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar failed. Well, that world existed and it was this one in the mid to late '90s. Joined by artist Steven Harris, Morrison and Millar's Aztek The Ultimate Man starred the titular character, a man chosen by Aztek gods to stop a world ending threat. Morrison and Millar had big plans for the character but the book flopped. Morrison is responsible for some of DC's best books and Aztek's failure was a surprise to everyone. The premise was great, but fans didn't buy the book. Morrison did get to finish Aztek's story in JLA, so there's that at least.

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