Though a myriad of DC sidekicks have evolved and developed into their own heroes, teams, and relationships, they were once the trusted and capable allies to the various flagship heroes DC had to offer. However, before they were taken in to embark on this dangerous journey, many of them came from tragic beginnings that if not course-corrected, could’ve resulted in a spiral of self-destruction.

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Luckily the inspiration of altruism and aiding those in need carried these sidekicks to regain control of their lives and be a force for good. Let’s explore 10 of the saddest backstories that a handful of DC sidekicks had to endure.

10 Kara Zor-El is Lost In Time

Kara Zor-El is the older cousin of Superman who was sent off Krypton before its catastrophic destruction. However, while Kal-El was a mere baby when he was sent to Earth Kara as a teenager but would be knocked off course and sent into the Phantom Zone where she lied in stasis for 24 years. Once escaping, she would pull Fort Rozz, the Kryptonian maximum-security prison, out of the Phantom Zone as well. Debatably stronger than her cousin, Kara would go on to remove herself from simply the cousin of Superman, becoming her own formidable hero.

9 The Devious Concepcion of Raven

Raven Emerges From Hell

Raven is most commonly recognized as the brooding member of the Teen Titans who’s appearances in the subsequent animated shows has shown her to be capable of some astounding feats. Born as the half-breed daughter of the demon overlord Trigon, Raven’s mother would take her to a reality called Azarath where the monks would teach her to suppress her emotions to negate the influence of her demonic parentage. Constantly fighting her father’s influence, Raven has been caught off guard numerous times, nearly allowing Trigon to possess her and break into this reality.

8 Plastic Man Stretches Away From His Past

Plastic Man Justice League

Formerly a criminal, Patrick O’Brian is known as the comedic and malleable Plastic Man who acquired his abilities after a drum of an unidentified chemical acid poured onto O’Brian during his heist. Feeling dissociated, he has his inclination towards crime rehabilitated and goes on to be one the most formidable heroes, even besting the Man of Steel. Often referred as the counterpart to Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic, Plastic Man is less of a family man genius, although his past days as a criminal gives him particular insight into criminal activity. Patrick O’Brian is a bit more crude and bombastic, using his body to form T-Rex’s and construction trucks to deal with his foes.

7 Harley Quinn is Abused by The Joker

Harley Quinn

What’s a Clown Prince of Crime without his Clown Princess? Well, he’s still the murderous psycho maniac he’s always been because Harley Quinn has no effect on the sentimental and sane side of Joker. Originally a psychiatrist, Harleen Quinzel worked on the Joker as a patient, infatuated and enamored with his psychosis until eventually becoming head over heels for Mr. J. This love would lead Harleen astray into an emotionally and physically abusive relationship.

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Manipulating her to the extent of his own entertainment, Joker makes Harley question not only her circumstances but blame even herself in this perpetual cycle of love and burn. Luckily in recent years, this submissive trope has been abandoned as Harley has become confident and dissociated with the Joker.

6 M’gann M’orzz Loses Everything

M’gann M’orzz

The niece and former protege to J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter, the backstory of M’gann falls in line with J’onn’s as both are the last few remaining members of the Martian race. However, while J’onn J’onzz is a peaceful and methodical Green Martian, M’gann would be revealed as a White Martian, the warrior-like sister species that slaughtered their green counterparts.

Considering it was the White Martians that killed J’onn’s family and forced him to flee to Earth, this revelation to the Young Justice team made for a tumultuous riff for a short time. Nevertheless, the group reconciles her countless good acts as credence that she isn’t simply a primitive fighter but is in fact, an empathetic and great leader.

5 Victor Stone’s Cybernetic Accident

DC Cyborg saying he's a cyborg

Victor Stone was a high school football star well on his way to big things until an experiment his father conducted goes awry and almost completely annihilates his son. Desperate to save his son, Silas merges a sentient computer called a Mother Box to Victor’s dying body, reviving him but deepening the riff that Victor and his son harbored. Originally disgusted with his father for turning him into what he considered a technological monster, Victor would learn to forgive his father and adapt to his new abilities, going on to become a titular member of the Justice League.

4 Barbara Gordon’s Transition to Oracle

barbara gordon joker dc the killing joke

A member of the Bat-Family, Barbara Gordon was originally Batgirl and akin to a Robin worked alongside Bruce to fight crime in Gotham City. Unfortunately, during the events of The Killing Joke, a titular story in the Batman mythos, Barbara would be shot by the Joker when he unexpectedly arrives at her home, heinously violating the heroine. Now confined to a wheelchair, Barbara took up the alias of Oracle and became a technological computer expert, aiding Batman as a key role of eyes and ears that essentially made her the Gal-In-The-Chair to the Bat-Family.

3 The Traumatic Agoraphobia of Jessica Cruz

Jessica Cruz

Jessica Cruz is one of many Green Lanterns of Earth who while out on a hunting trip with her friends, stumbled upon some criminals who were burying a dead body, an unfortunate circumstance that resulted in Jessica’s friends being brutally murdered. Jessica managed to escape but became traumatized and locked herself away for years. Consumed with fear, Jessica would be possessed by the Ring of Volthoom until the events of the Darkseid War when she sacrifices herself to save the Flash. This action not only proved she had overcome her fear but also released the Volthoom entity that controlled her.

2 Jason Todd is Beat To Death by The Joker

Jason Todd being beaten by Joker

Debatably this entry could be swapped with the number one spot as it's not only affected Jason Todd but Batman as well. A Death in the Family is a pillar in the Batman mythos, depicting Bruce Wayne failing to save Jason Todd after being kidnapped by the Joker. Being beaten within an inch of his life with a crowbar, the Joker rigs a bomb to explode with Jason inside, an affront that causes Batman to become more reclusive and deny Alfred's insistence on taking up another partner.

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Resurrected with the Lazarus Pit, Jason would return as the vigilante Red Hood and follow Batman’s ideology, however, because of his disillusionment, he kills his criminals as opposed to apprehending them.

1 Dick Grayson Loses His Parents

Dick Grayson in the circus.

As stated, this entry and the previous could fill in the number one spot as they’re both titular stories to the character. But considering the history and legacy of Dick Grayson, he takes slight precedence. Not only was Dick the first Robin to Batman, but he’s also one of the most memorable and developed sidekicks throughout comics save for maybe Bucky Barnes or Wally West. Originally a circus acrobat performing alongside his parents, a mafia boss would rig their trapeze act to fail resulting in the death of Dick’s parents. Batman would witness this and take Grayson in as his sidekick/steward, understanding and sympathizing with the weight of losing your parents unexpectedly.

NEXT: 10 Sidekicks DC Stopped Using (& Why)