In D & D, Clerics are traditionally the healing class in any party and often serve a God or Gods of their Domain. Capable of Divine Magic granted to them for some higher purpose, these characters can be both offense and support, and can often blend with a Paladin.
Deciding on a class or sub-class can determine how the adventure will play out and add to the story of the campaign. While Clerics may not be as flashy as a Paladin or Rogue, they are capable and strong allies and opponents when created and customized properly.
But creating that Cleric and deciding on how they are going to act and why they are out seeking adventure can prove difficult, however, there are characters who can help inspire these Divine Magic wielders.
10 The Saint Of Killers (Preacher)
For a more horror focused campaign, or even one that is Western inspired, there's The Saint of Killers to inspire players. While he may not appear as the more traditional healing Cleric, he is on a holy mission more or less, as he is raised to hunt Jesse Custer in order to destroy him and Genesis.
Adding in the Grave or Death domain would suit a character inspired by The Saint and there's even the possibility to multi-class as a Ranger for the more John Wayne style the Saint is known for.
9 Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider (Marvel)
Another potential for a more horror themed character and campaign, this time as someone who sold their soul to the God they serve or, in Robbie's case, in service of the spirit that possesses them. After being gunned down, Robbie Reyes was possessed by serial killer, Eli Morrow. In order to satiate his bloodlust, Robbie seeks out bad people and takes vengeance out on them.
While this differs from other Ghost Riders in that they all sold their souls, the mechanics of a Cleric possessed and seeking vengeance to satiate the spirit inside is a great opportunity for a complex character joining a party on an adventure. Plus, it gives DM's room to work in the spirit or God into the campaign.
8 Lois Lane (DC)
Lois Lane may not seem like an obvious choice for a Cleric, but as a reporter always seeking truth, she fits the Cleric domain of Light. There have been many different incarnations of Lois, but she always protects the ones she loves and is determined to find and tell the story. She even worked for a resistance in the Flashpoint universe.
Given her history there are options in creating a character based on Lois and her personality is where the Cleric can truly shine. Though they may often be relegated to support class that doesn't mean they can't have a solid one-liner and a 'take no crap' attitude with the others in their party.
7 Cyborg (Teen Titans/DC)
A Cleric doesn't strictly have to be relegated to support healer, they can also be an offensive fighter. Cyborg is a great choice to inspire a more buffed up fighting Cleric, especially one of either the Forge or War domains, which allows for heavy armor to be worn and used.
Clerics of the Forge get added bonuses for upgrades while Clerics of War are encouraged to fight more than support. Victor Stone's background can also be adapted as someone who was in an accident and became a Cleric of either domain, seeking their place in the world and finding a family in their team/party.
6 Death (Sandman)
One of the more popular characters of Neil Gaiman's, The Sandman, Death not only guides those to the afterlife, but also sees them when they are born. This dichotomy could actually make Death, ironically, a truly neutral, Cleric of Life and a healer in the party. But there's also the potential for a Cleric of the Grave - as this Cleric also respects Death.
In The Sandman, one day every century, Death possesses a human being fated to die that day so she can understand life's value when she takes it - so given that, there's an interesting character in D & D to be created, especially if creating a Cleric of Life possessed by Death.
5 Thor (Marvel)
The Tempest Domain, which is the Domain of weather Gods and allows Clerics to use Call Lightning, is a great way to adapt Thor, who is even a God in D & D. Tempest Clerics are way more offense oriented and able to cast more offense spells, something that would lend well to a Thor inspired character.
If the DM allows there's even the possibility to make Thor the character themselves, adapting his fall from Asgard and his quest to prove he's worthy on a journey towards either Mjolnir or some Asgardian artifact or weapon of note. It's an opportunity for the DM and players to get creative in both storytelling and adventures - even lending to a more one-off session rather than an ongoing campaign for those too busy to commit to weekly sessions.
4 Wiccan (Young Avengers/Marvel)
There's a lot of potential in a character based on Wiccan, the son of Scarlet Witch and Vision, and a notable member of the Young Avengers. Billy's powers, similar to Scarlet Witch, are immensely powerful and he struggled with understanding them as he searched for his mother with his brother, Speed.
The search for his mother could lend to why he would be on an adventure, and allow for a solid starting point in a campaign, but potentially multi-classing a character like Wiccan would add to the overpowered nature of his abilities. Adding in the Light or Arcana domain would tie this character to more Wizard like abilities, which could connect him to the Scarlet Witch even more.
3 Annie January/Starlight (The Boys)
Another Cleric of Light, Starlight has the ability to create blinding light, but is also a capable fighter. This would lend well to a character inspired by Annie of The Boys, who is also multi-classed as a Fighter. The Boys is centered on a group trying to take out the supposed heroes of the world - who aren't all that heroic.
A Cleric who has grown disillusioned with the heroes of their life, and even questions the very God they serve, only to find themselves joining a group trying to destroy those not so heroic heroes would be an interesting switch and an interesting campaign to try to create.
2 Ra's Al Ghul (DC)
Ra's Al Ghul is known for subverting death and rising from it time and again. As a Cleric of Death, which offers Necromancy options, there's the opportunity to create a villain Cleric in a potentially Evil campaign. But using the Cleric of Trickery Domain is also a possibility as these Clerics rely on disguise and deception, something Ra's is known for in the League of Assassins.
Multi-Classing as a Rogue would add to the fighting and assassin ability Ra's is capable of and allow for a more formidable Cleric and opponent if going for an Evil campaign. Especially if said campaign involved destroying a place such as Gotham along with a confrontation with a hero character such as Batman.
1 En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse (X-Men/Marvel)
Clerics of Order are capable of having heavy armor and are one of the more powerful Clerics. However they do fall more into the support role, something that Apocalypse is not, but this could be played within a solid Evil campaign. With other members of the party serving as his Four Horsemen, and utilizing them as more offensive oriented Classes, there's the potential for the Leader to be the Cleric of Order, Apocalypse.
One of the first mutants who grew into a deity, there's room to play around with Apocalypse's origins and story as he rises from forgotten infant to a God bent on destruction. As the character levels up adding in the Voice of Authority would assist in creating a terrifying leader and an Evil Cleric.