While many of DC Comics original heroes have been mostly white men (and some women), recent years have shown an increase in diversity amongst the heroes and villains of the DC Multiverse. The ever-expanding universe and beyond has allowed untold universes to create new and exciting characters that embrace this diversity.
One way this has been shown is through an increase in Hispanic characters in the DC Multiverse. Here are the ten most powerful Hispanic heroes of DC Comics.
10 El Gaucho
The first hero of the DC Universe who deserves some credit is the often overlooked Hispanic hero El Gaucho, aka Santiago Vargas. Once a member of the secret spy organization Spyral, Santiago becomes inspired by Batman to become a vigilante hero, donning the moniker of El Gaucho in the process.
Originally becoming a member of the International Club of Heroes at Batman’s request, he handled the group’s disbanding better than the others, continuing to follow Batman’s example to be a hero. He returned for a reunion with the heroes and helped stop the Black Glove’s campaign against Batman in Gotham.
9 Vibe
One powerful and popular hero in recent years thanks to his starring role in the Arrowverse is Cisco Ramon, aka Vibe. Unlike his television counterpart, Cisco of the comic books was a gang leader of the gang Los Lobos when he decided to become a hero and join the new Justice League in his hometown of Detroit.
While wary of Vibe’s intentions at first, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter counted him as a valued member of the team, especially against Despero during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Although he’d become the first Justice League member to fall in the line of duty, his powers of vibrational shockwaves and inter-dimensional travel were vital.
8 Wildcat (Yolanda Montez)
A unique hero of Hispanic descent in DC Comics who has undergone some drastic changes in recent years is Yolanda Martinez, aka Wildcat. Yolanda donned the Wildcat name after discovering her godfather Ted Grant was the original Wildcat of the 1940s. Born with mutant powers of cat agility and retractable claws, she gained her godfather’s approval eventually.
When the New 52 reboot occurred, she became a hero of Earth-2, where she intercepted the demonic incarnation of the Red, and took her brother’s place as the Avatar of the Red. She was captured by Desaad and turned into a monster, but has since regained her true form.
7 Aztek
One unique hero that doesn’t get enough play is Aztek. Originally Aztek was a man named Uno, later named Dr. Curt Falconer, who was raised by a secret organization from birth to battle the Aztec Tezcatlipoca and be a champion of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Years later, after joining the Justice League, he discovered Lex Luthor was a member of the organization that created him, prompting him to leave.
After sacrificing himself to allow Superman an opportunity to defeat Tezcatlipoca, (really Mageddon, a planet ending machine), a woman named Nayeli Constant was chosen by the Aztek helmet to be the new hero.
6 Sideways
One of DC Comics newest heroes that is also of Hispanic descent is Sideways, aka Derek James. James was traveling with his adoptive mother in Gotham when the events of Dark Nights: Metal began to occur. When Challengers Mountain appeared in the city, he and his mother were separated and he fell through a rift into the Dark Multiverse.
James returned days later, and had gained the ability to travel through dimensions and create barriers, as well as gaining superhuman strength and durability. He has since joined teams like Seven Soldiers and Young Justice, becoming a part of the new generation of heroes.
5 Renee Montoya
One fan-favorite character is unique in that she is one of several DC characters created originally for the Batman: The Animated Series universe. Soon after she was slowly integrated into the mainstream DC Comics. That hero is Renee Montoya, a seasoned police detective and protege to become The Question in later years.
The daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Renee built her career on the Gotham force and must fight for her standing after Two-Face outs her as a lesbian and frames her for a crime. She has become an icon not only for the LGBTQ community, but Hispanic fans of DC Comics everywhere.
4 Kendra Saunders
One long-standing hero in the DC Universe who is of Hispanic descent is Hawkgirl, aka Kendra Saunders. The origin of this hero is quite tragic, as the original Kendra took her own life, but in the process when her soul left, the soul of her grandfather’s first cousin Shiera Hall, the Golden Age Hawkgirl, entered her body.
Embracing her new role as Hawkgirl, Kendra has since endured many rewritten origin stories, most recently as the reincarnated spirit of Chay-Ara, the romantic interest of Egyptian Prince Khufu. She has been a vital member of the Justice League over the years.
3 Kyle Rayner
One of the most powerful DC Comics heroes and members of the Green Lantern Corps, Kyle Rayner, is also of Hispanic descent. It was revealed the future Green Lantern’s father, Aaron Rayner, was really a Mexican-American CIA Agent named Gabriel Vasquez. He gained the Green Lantern ring from Ganthet after the slaughter Hal Jordan laid on the Corps after his home city was destroyed.
Rayner has gained untold power throughout his career, from attaining godhood from the energy left behind by Hal Jordan in Earth’s sun and becoming Ion to becoming a White Lantern and leading the fight during Blackest Night.
2 Blue Beetle (Jaimie Reyes)
Jamie Reyes is one of the latest incarnations of the Blue Beetle in DC Comics. A well known Hispanic hero, Jamie was a teenager when he discovered the Scarab, once thought to be a piece of mystical power but later revealed to be a piece of technology from the villainous alien race known as the Reach.
Using his power for good, Jamie has become a well-respected hero in the DC Comics universe, teaming up with heroes like Booster Gold and helping stop powerful threats. In recent years Doctor Fate tells Jamie and Ted Kord the Scarab’s origin is rewritten again, now being magical in nature once more.
1 Jessica Cruz
The most powerful Hispanic hero of the DC Universe is the recently created Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. After witnessing the passing of her friends at the hands of mobsters, a traumatized Jessica is forced to become the wielder of the Ring of Volthoom, who feeds on her fear and forces her to use it to open a portal to Earth-3.
Grail later accomplishes this by attacking Jessica and allowing the Anti-Monitor to arrive. Joining forces with the Justice League and others, she helps stop the threat and saves the Flash, later becoming a full-time Green Lantern in the DC Rebirth era.