DC Comics has no shortage of heroic exemplars, but some have taken interesting roads to get there. Looking at many DC heroes reveals just how unlikely it is that they've become heroes in the first place. There's a multitude of reasons for this, whether it be more obvious cases like their villainous pasts, or the simple unlikelihood that they would be at a certain place during a specific timeframe.
Many of these unlikely heroes have even risen to the highest heights of the hero community, regardless of the strange roads they took to get there. Some of them probably never should've become heroes in the first place, but the fact they did makes all the difference for the universe.
Updated on February 2nd, 2023 by David Harth: James Gunn and Peter Safran's announcement of the new DCU film slate has reminded people why they love DC. Many of the movies and shows announced show off some rather unlikely heroes, ones whose place in the DC Universe has always been more interesting than it seems. Even the greatest DC heroes becoming what they are is more unexpected than it seems.
15 Superman Could Have Easily Gone Another Way
Superman is DC's most inspirational hero. He's also the first superhero in pop culture, a figure that defined everything about the superhero medium. Many would never think of him as an unlikely hero; he's the icon. However, there are two reasons he definitely is. The first is simple: Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel's first version of Superman was an alien conqueror.
The earliest idea for Superman was an alien villain who gained powerful mental abilities. They changed the idea eventually, creating the hero everyone knows and loves. In-universe, the reason is also simple: there was no guarantee he would have superpowers or even survive on Earth. Jor-El thought he would, but there was no way to be sure. Superman becoming Superman was actually pretty haphazard in multiple ways.
14 Swamp Thing Never Should Have Happened
DC characters have amazing powers, but few of them can match Swamp Thing. The Green allows him complete control over plant life. He's functionally indestructible, able to move his mind into other bodies, and has even defeated Superman. Swamp Thing is a powerful being, but the fact he exists at all is extremely unlikely.
Alec Holland's origin has changed several times, but some things are the same. He was burned to death and fell into the swamp. Regardless of his origins, by the time he hit the lake bed in the swamp, there was enough a body to come back or for the Green to copy, depending on the origin. If he had burnt longer and more of his body been destroyed, Swamp Thing never would have happened.
13 Wonder Woman Leaving Themyscira As A Superhero Is Something No One Should Have Expected
Wonder Woman is DC's greatest warrior, but the fact she is a superhero is pretty amazing. Themyscira kept itself apart from the world for centuries, untrusting of the gods and Man's World. It's hard to argue with their reasoning, but when they finally decided to send someone out, that it was Diana felt very unexpected.
Hippolyta did her best to keep her daughter out of the contest, but she failed. There was always the chance Diana didn't enter the contest or lost. Even with her winning, Hippolyta didn't actually have to allow her daughter to become the Themyscira's ambassador. Diana's existence as Wonder Woman had a lot going against it.
12 Damian Wayne Could Have Easily Decided To Embrace His Mother's Family
Damian Wayne's rise in the DC Universe has been meteoric. It makes a lot of sense, of course. He's Batman's son and his mother is Talia al Ghul, two of the most intelligent, skilled, and formidable human beings on the planet. He felt that being Robin was a part of his birthright, so he worked hard to prove that he was better than everyone else.
However, Damian Wayne could have gone the other way. He could have decided that he wanted to be in charge of the League of Assassins, and proved that he was the world's greatest assassin by killing Batman and his partners. Him becoming the world's greatest criminal wouldn't have been that much of a stretch at all for him.
11 Supergirl Surviving Krypton's Destruction Was Unlikely
Supergirl survived Krypton's destruction in Argo City and was eventually launched to Earth like her cousin. However, the fact she lived that long is surprising. Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow showed readers a more harrowing view of her survival. Argo City was launched from Krypton when it was destroyed, but the ground underneath it still became radioactive.
Supergirl helped construct a lead floor to block the radiation, but that was just some of the dangers of Argo City. Supplies were getting sparse, the city was falling apart, and people were dying all the time. Kara Zol-El living to be rocketed off the dying city at all was completely unlikely.
10 Kyle Rayner Was In The Right Place At The Right Time
Before the most fateful night of his life, Kyle Rayner was a run-of-the-mill graphic designer, but a chance encounter with the last Guardian of the Universe Ganthet turned him into a heroic legend. Unlike other Green Lanterns before him, the ring didn't choose Kyle because of his fearlessness or anything like that; he was just in the right place at the right time.
Rayner would become a legend and perhaps the greatest Green Lantern ever. He kept the flame of the Corps alive all by himself, saving the universe on his own and with the Justice League. If he had taken a different route home that night, or changed his plans in the slightest, countless lives might've been lost down the road.
9 Lex Luthor's Time As A Hero Was Bizarre
Lex Luthor is Superman's greatest enemy, which is what makes his several years of being a superhero quite unlikely. After helping save the Earth from the Crime Syndicate, Luthor joins the Justice League and helps them battle the Anti-Monitor, Darkseid, and Grail. When the New 52 Superman dies, Luthor wears his former enemy's symbol as a tribute to him.
The entire event proved very bizarre. Lex Luthor pretending to be a hero in order to trick everyone sounded right up the character's alley. Luthor deciding to honor the dead Superman by wearing his symbol took everyone by surprise. It didn't last long, but it was still a weird development.
8 Catwoman Basically Does What She's Always Done
Catwoman and Batman's relationship always differed from what he had with his other foes. Compared to other Gotham criminals, she was pretty tame and their flirtations led to her becoming more accepted among the heroes. Catwoman eventually reformed, in that she fought criminals in Gotham while still basically doing what she always did.
Batman's trust in Catwoman was a huge step forward in her reformation. She'd never be accepted as a hero without it, making her current status so a true twist. Batman never garnered a reputation as the forgiving type, and more than once, he rejected Catwoman because of her criminal past. However, his heart would change and he would recognize Catwoman's sincerity.
7 Harley Quinn Being Accepted As A Hero Overlooks Several Atrocities
Harley Quinn quickly jumped to the top of the DC's reformed heroes list. After leaving the Joker, she joined the Suicide Squad, which made sense for a villain. However, Harley eventually became a solo hero, her unique way of doing things making her a unique vigilante.
Reformed villains were nothing new in the superhero community, but Harley Quinn took the cake. She committed some horrible crimes during her villainous days, including mass murder. However, Batman's vote of confidence encouraged everyone to give Harley a second chance. The unlikely hero didn't disappoint.
6 Raven's Road To Heroism Was Very Difficult
The Teen Titans produced some amazing heroes over the years, including those who had interesting roads to heroism. Raven's escape from Trigon was unlikely, and the fact a bunch of sidekicks beat the demon lord proved even more unlikely. Additionally, Raven's ability to fight back her dark as a teenager was a significant feat.
Finally, Raven reformed herself after becoming completely evil. Raven's demons were multitude, both internal and external, yet she overcame all of them. The fact that any of that happened remained an amazing testament to her determination.
5 Black Adam Joining The Justice League Was Something No One Predicted
Black Adam had some big heroic accomplishments, but that didn't change the realities of his past. He'd battled Shazam for years, betrayed the Justice Society in order to take back his homeland, committed mass murder, and made the country a haven for supervillains. No one expected Black Adam's actions during the Endless Winter to earn him a spot on the Justice League.
Making matter even more interesting, Superman overlooked years of atrocities and personally invited Black Adam to the team. Adam could be altruistic, but he was still a brutal murderer. The Justice Society was instantly leery of him, but the League accepted Adam with no qualms.
4 Bruce Wayne Becoming Batman Makes No Sense
Batman is the greatest vigilante ever, but his becoming one is an anomaly. To begin with, even a boy obsessed with heroes like Zorro isn't likely to devote his life to training like Bruce did. Even a billionaire becoming a superhero at all can seem highly suspect.
Beyond that, Bruce's training can make it simple for someone to figure out his identity and hunt him down. Billionaires like Bruce Wayne are basically celebrities. He won't be able to travel incognito without people recognizing him. Everything about Batman, from his origin to the way he maintains his secret, makes little sense.
3 Green Arrow Surviving As A Superhero Is Miraculous
Green Arrow is an amazing hero, but few things about his origin line up. Even considering his archery skill, a pampered playboy billionaire surviving alone on that island, with experienced men hunting him, looks impossible. Green Arrow deciding to become a superhero after returning is even more unlikely, as is his surviving years with the Justice League.
Even compared to Batman, Green Arrow staying alive this long remains unprecedented. Comics like Justice League (Vol. 4) #75 — by writer Joshua Williamson, penciler Rafa Sandoval, inker Jordi Tarragona, colorist Matt Herms, and letterer Josh Reed — show exactly what could happen if Arrow faced down League level threats.
2 Etrigan The Demon Is A Literal Servant Of Hell
Etrigan the Demon was an angel that sided with Lucifer. Etrigan became a Rhymer demon in Hell before Jason Blood bonded himself with him. Since medieval times, Etrigan has been involved in humanity's affairs. The difference between these interactions and his hellish ones was that they were altruistic.
The idea of an altruistic demon is highly unlikely. It can't even be chalked up to Jason Blood, as Blood isn't in control of Etrigan. Etrigan has decided to become a hero, fighting alongside the mortals he used to torment, surprising everyone.
1 Booster Gold Being A Great Hero Shocked Everyone
Booster Gold has a ridiculous name and an even funnier attitude. Taking Booster Gold seriously is quite impossible at the best of times, but he's turned out to be a great hero. That this happened at all has surprised everyone, including Gold. From his roots as a disgraced football player from the future to his obsession with fame, Booster Gold takes the cake for unlikely heroes.
Booster exceeded everyone's expectations. He remained the class clown of the Justice League, but he became a hero who saved all time and space numerous times on his own. He proved himself much more than meets the eye and deserved more respect than he got.