DC Comics have never been afraid to introduce heroes without powers. Considering some of their characters date back to an era where all that was necessary was a sense of justice and the will to carry it out, powers have always been optional in doing the right thing.
That doesn't mean these heroes jump into battle with nothing, though. These characters battle against some of the deadliest villains in the DC Universe, and they need items that can even the odds. Some of these gadgets are more simple, while others might be considered completely gamebreaking. Nonetheless, it's hard as a fan not to wish they had one or two of them.
10 Steel Is The Master Inventor Of Metropolis
After being a weapons engineer for several years, John Henry Irons tried to get out of the business. Before he could though, he recognized what a mess the streets were becoming because of his "Toastmaster" weapons. Inspired by Superman, Irons created an armor of his own that granted him Superman-level abilities, even though he desperately needs an upgrade.
Since then, Steel has been the best inventor in Metropolis. Two of his coolest gadgets have been his kinetic hammer, which hits harder the further it goes, and his rivet cannon, a wrist-mounted cannon that fires rivets. He continues his work by outfitting the Justice League's headquarters with the best equipment and has even made a Fortress of Solitude for Superman.
9 Adam Strange Solves Everything With A Jet Pack & Raygun
Adam Strange is a sci-fi hero right out of the late '50s. As such, it's not a surprise that he relies mostly on his wits to get things done. It helps that he's a genius and exists on a planet that largely has science-based problems, of course.
Still, Strange does have two gadgets that help him with every task: his Rannian Jet Pack, which allows him to fly between Rann and Thanagar to keep the peace. He also has his Ray Gun, a weapon that's been by his side just as long, containing more than enough power to deal with any threat that might come to the planet. Anything to get back home to his wife and kids.
8 Mr. Terrific Created The Legendary T-Spheres
Michael Holt is the resident genius of the Justice Society of America. He's responsible for partially bankrolling the team since he's the head of HoltCorp, known for its incredible inventions. The most useful creation he's ever made has been his T-Spheres.
The T-Spheres are robotic spheres capable of reconnaissance, attack, and defense. Using the Spheres, Michael Holt is invisible to all technology. They also grant him limited flight capabilities, and the ability to attack with electricity.
7 Blue Beetle Provided The Justice League With Transportation For Years
Though people have always had a problem taking Ted Kord serious, that doesn't mean he wasn't a genius. For years, he was the main person responsible for the technology and transportation for the Justice League International.
During that time, the League relied on the "Bug," his flying ship that could fit the entire team. These days, he has the Buggy, a super-car he slapped together using his genius and spare parts. He's also created his own version of Skeets, known as Buggles, which boasts incredible offensive capabilities.
6 Green Arrow Was Once The Master Of The Trick Arrow
These days, Oliver Queen is a bit more serious in his approach and tends to stick with regular arrows. That's not the only thing he's skilled in, however, and during the Silver Age, he boasted an unmatched selection of Trick Arrows.
Some of his more traditional trick arrows involved a handcuff arrow and the ever-amusing boxing glove arrow, but that's far from all he had. He also had some more dangerous ones, such as the Greek Fire Arrow which could inject a target with a burning fluid. His secret weapon was a Phantom Zone Arrow, which could send someone directly into the Phantom Zone.
5 Superman Is A Master Of Gadgets From The Past
The reason most people don't think of Superman when they think of heroes with cool gadgets is because of his incredible powers, but Superman has had access to the Fortress of Solitude for decades. Within the Fortress lies items from both his adventures and leftover pieces of history from Krypton.
Superman can return with anything when he relies on some of the gadgets in his fortress. He's got several versions of the Phantom Zone Projector, different Superman robots for when he's off Earth, special warsuits for dangerous missions, and so much more. He's even got a special "Supermobile" for when he's unable to fly sometimes.
4 Barbara Gordon Keeps Her Tech Ahead Of Everyone Else
Barbara Gordon is someone that understands they can't always be in costume. That doesn't mean she can't always be prepared, however. When she's not in her Batgirl outfit, she still has a suit she calls her "prototype mobile unit". Along with her eidetic memory, she effectively becomes just as effective on the go as she is at home.
This cute ensemble contains a mix of items she needs as both Batgirl and Oracle. She gets a telescoping antenna and mobile server farm to tap into her immense database as Oracle. She also has smart glasses to allow her to analyze any situation from afar. Barbara even keeps a hidden utility belt in the outfit, just in case she has to do something action related.
3 Mister Miracle Is The Ultimate Escape Artist
Scot doesn't need all his gadgets to be Mister Miracle, but they sure help. He keeps concussion bombs on him to deal with enemies, along with a variety of lockpicks inside his gloves. His costume also contains X-Ray contacts, that let him analyze anything he looks at and even look through most forms of matter. Those are his least impressive gadgets, however.
Mister Miracle's most impressive are the discs he uses to fly on, which fit inside his boots and allow him to fly at speeds above 200 miles per hour. He also has his Mother Box, a piece of technology that would put the most powerful cellphone to shame. The Mother Box can not only feed him all the information he needs but also grant minor control over energy thanks to their connection to The Source.
2 Brainiac 5 Helps Keep The Legion Running
Brainiac 5 is the technological genius of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Though they've got plenty of smart characters, it's Brainy they all come to in a pinch. Despite his overconfidence, no one else has a twelfth-level intellect quite like his.
With that intellect, Brainiac 5 has created a number of useful inventions. Perhaps his most useful one is the Legion Flight Ring, which allows every member of the Legion to fly, and be protected from the vacuum of space. His second most useful invention is his forcefield belt, which allows him near invulnerability no matter how strong his opponent is.
1 Batman Is The Ultimate Gadgeteer Genius
"Where does he get those wonderful toys?" There's no question Batman has the best gadgets not just in the DC Universe, but in any universe. His collection of special superhero tools would put James Bond to shame. He started with the Batarangs, but as time went on he found unique tools for every pocket of his utility belt.
In the Silver Age, it was almost comedic how he had an answer for every situation, specifically for the scenario he was in. He's had jet boots that work underwater, lightsabers, tape recorders, smoke bombs, tear gas pellets, cameras, and plastic explosives. There's a reason kids love this guy, and that's because he's a walking action figure.