DC basically created the modern superhero genre as fans know it, creating some of the most respected heroes ever and the most dangerous and intimidating villains of all time. These heroes and villains are often iconic paragons, the Platonic ideals of heroism and villainy. This extends beyond the heroes and villains born on Earth, as well. There are plenty of alien characters in the DC Universe and they're just as brave as any of their human counterparts.
These aliens travel the universe, doing good or causing irreparable harm, protecting or conquering. No matter what the odds, they always move forward, making a name for themselves with every being they encounter.
10 Despero Has Battled The Justice League & Is A Well-Known Galactic Conqueror
Despero has been fighting titanic battles against the Justice League and other aliens for years. Despero is feared throughout the universe as a conqueror, using his mental powers and physical abilities to lay waste to all who stand in his way. Despero may be evil but there's no denying his bravery.
Despero will fight any battle if he believes it will end in more power for him. He has no qualms with battling against the most powerful beings in the universe and will throw himself into every fight with gusto. There are few out there who scare Despero and even that fear doesn't stop him from fighting them.
9 Lobo Has Battled His Way Across The Universe
Lobo is not a good guy. Sure, he loves space dolphins and has been known to fight on the good side of things but he's also committed genocide more than once and will fight any hero in his way for fun. That's just who Lobo is and if there's one thing about him that no one can deny it's that Lobo is without fear.
Lobo doesn't care what the odds are. If there's a fight, he wants to be a part of it. If he thinks it's justified, he's jumping in. If he doesn't think it's justified and just wants to fight some people, he's jumping in. Lobo just likes to fight and he's going to do it regardless of anything else.
8 Sinestro's Unwavering Belief In Order Has Kept Him Going For Years
Sinestro was once the greatest Green Lantern in the universe before his fascist tendencies came to light. Sinestro went from great hero to terrible villain, a being for whom the ends justified the means. He's clashed with Hal Jordan and the Corps, battled the Justice League with the Legion of Doom, and created the Sinestro Corps, all to make his fascistic dreams come to life.
While Sinestro is a terrible person, it's hard to deny his bravery. His mania for order and proving that he's the best have led him to take on all comers, regardless of the odds. His belief in order spurs him to bravery.
7 Mon-El Lived In The Phantom Zone For A Millennia While Awaiting A Cure For Daxamite Lead Poisoning
Mon-El is easily the bravest member of the Legion of Superheroes. Not because of his heroism with the team or anything like that but what he survived to get to the team. Mon-El was friends with a young Clark Kent but was exposed to lead, which is fatal for a Damaxite. In order to save his friend's life, Clark sent him to the Phantom Zone.
Mon-El survived in the Phantom Zone for a thousand years before being brought out and cured by the Legion. He spent a thousand years surviving the horrors of the Zone and the crushing despair, which is just amazing and speaks to how stout of a heart he has.
6 Hawkman Has Spent Millennia Reincarnating To Make Up For All Of The Blood On His Hands
Hawkman was once known as K'Tar and was the leader of the Deathbringers. They traveled the universe, sowing destruction but K'Tar changed because of Shrra, an angelic entity that showed him the error of his ways. The two were then cursed to keep reincarnating across time and space in order to make up for the terrible slaughter K'Tar caused.
Always moving forward and trying to right the wrongs of his long and terrible existence, Hawkman has walked into battles where death and pain were all but assured. He has no problems putting his life on the line for others and will keep doing it until the end of time.
5 Hawkwoman Gave Up Her Immortality To Fight Side By Side With Hawkman
Hawkwoman was once Shrra, an angelic entity who looked down upon what the Deathbringers were doing and despaired. She went to their leader K'Tar and showed him the horrors of what he was doing. She tied her fate to his and both of them were cursed to make up for the many deaths on K'Tar's hands.
For the love of K'Tar, Shrra gave up her immortality for an eventual ending to help him atone for his crimes. She's fought by his side year after year, life after life, always doing so so her love can eventually be forgiven for the terrible things he's done.
4 Kilowog Is One Of The Universe's Premiere Green Lanterns
Kilowog made his way through the Green Lantern Corps, moving up the ranks and becoming known as one of the toughest Green Lanterns ever. Kilowog's toughness earned him the post of the Corps's chief drill sergeant, training the next generation of Lanterns and imparting his wisdom on them. He's also proven to be an unflappable combatant, willing to throw himself into any fight to get the job done.
Kilowog is as tough and brave as they come. It doesn't matter what the situation; if Kilowog has to wade through a sea of foes with a chargeless Lantern ring, he's going to do it. Even death couldn't keep Kilowog down.
3 Supergirl Overcame The Loss Of Her World To Become A Hero
Unlike her cousin Kal, Kara Zor-El grew up on Krypton and remembers her homeworld. The loss of it pains her deeply but that hasn't stopped her from becoming a hero. Her pain never twisted her and she followed her cousin's example, becoming the type of hero who will do anything to protect the innocent.
It's easy to say that Supergirl's powers are what makes her brave, but there's so much more to it than that. She's overcome great heartache and pain and believes that everyone deserves a chance to live free and happy. She'll do anything to make sure that happens, fight any fight, and keep fighting in the face of overwhelming odds.
2 Martian Manhunter Has Overcome Great Fear
Martian Manhunter is one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe but his weakness is not only pretty common. Fire is something that happens all the time and it is even more likely to happen in massive superhero battles. Martian Manhunter doesn't let that stop him from fighting, as his dedication to justice is more important to him than his life.
Martian Manhunter lost his homeworld and keeps going. For him, the universe is a lonely place and he won't allow what happened to him to happen to anyone else. This overcomes any fear he has and keeps him fighting no matter what.
1 Superman Is The Heroic Ideal
It's easy to forget that Superman is an alien; he's become such a part of Earth and its culture and is one of the most human heroes around. While he never experienced Krypton, its loss has still colored his life and is part of what spurs him one. The other is the teachings of the Kents, who taught him to be a fearless crusader for good. These two factors have made Superman into the heroic ideal, a role model for all who know him.
Superman's bravery is unmatched. Sure, he's powerful but he throws himself at beings who could conceivably kill him with no fear. Nothing daunts him; there's a reason the battle he fights is called neverending.