The Justice League of America (along with its myriad of spin-off teams) has seen nearly every costumed superhero in DC Comics’ pantheon join its ranks at one point or another. The team has been around so long (since 1960) that its roster has been a revolving door of who’s who and who probably shouldn’t be there. But despite some team members often getting derisive glares from comic readers, just about every member pulls their weight in some shape, form or fashion. Not every card-carrying hero in The Justice League can be Batman, Wonder Woman or Superman. But even if the members aren’t part of DC’s holy trinity, they can still make a long lasting impact.
Characters who might be perceived as “lame” do great things and possess amazing abilities, proving the old adage of never judging a book by its cover is imperative to superheroes. Bright color schemes smeared across goofy costumes and seemingly silly powers do not define their legacy. It’s often their actions and how they up end readers’ expectations that leave the long-lasting impressions on readers. A “lame” character can change the course of comic book history or, in some cases, nearly destroy it. Some members of the Justice League will always be looked down upon despite this. Casual comic readers or discerning fans will write of some superheroes for shallow reasons, which is a shame. The underdogs and less-than-captivating superheroes can become more than what they appear to be in the hands of the right creative team. There is no such thing as a truly horrible hero, as long as their actions are, in fact, heroic.
20 METAMORPHO
There is nothing on the surface that makes Metamorpho cool. He looks like an action figure that has had all his limbs replaced with the parts from other random figures laying around a kid’s bedroom. His facial pallor doesn’t help him generate any sort of personality either. Even the character’s name, Metamorpho, is cringe-worthy and exceedingly hokey, even by comic book standards.
But here’s the thing: Metamorpho is actually pretty cool. The guy can transmute his body with almost any element compound at will. He’s an amalgam of characters so it’s easy to think he’s derivative, but when he is actually utilized in Justice League books, he’s fascinating and surprising complex.
19 AQUAMAN
Aquaman gets an unbridled amount of shade thrown at him from tangential comic fans. The biggest point of contention Arthur Curry sees is the fact that he “talks” to fish. While, yes, technically he does, in some regard, Aquaman actually possess extremely strong telepathic links to all sea life, influencing their behavior to combat enemies (you guys remember when he literally threw sharks at you in the video game Injustice?).
Despite the goofy Superfriends version of the character that is often used as the reference point by folks dog-piling on him, Aquaman is more than just a fish-whispering guy in green tights. He’s a king of a massive empire, and is tough enough to go two to two with DC’s heaviest hitters, including Superman.
18 ZATANNA
It’s easy to take one look at Zatanna and think she’s nothing more than a pretty face in a skimpy magician’s outfit designed to quell the fantasies of thirsty fanboys. But the fact of the matter is Zatanna if much more. Within the DC Universe, she is one of the most powerful magic users, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Outside of basic magical trickery such as creating illusions and possessing foresight, Zatanna is able call upon the elements of the Earth to do her biding, manipulate minds of even the most mentally fortified characters, and is even able to heal herself from injuries sustained during battle. In short, there isn’t a whole lot Zatanna can’t do. This is one pretty face you'd want in your corner in a fight.
17 MISTER MIRACLE
Mister Miracle is often mistaken for a goofier version of the Marvel Comics character Vision due to his similar color scheme and ostentatious cape. Created by Jack Kirby, Mister Miracle was presented as a “super escape artist,” which might be the lamest superlative for a superhero… ever. But don’t let the Oscar Meyer hotdog wagon getup and ridiculous attributes fool you -- Mister Miracle is one of the most wonderful character in DC Comics today.
Aside from staring in one of the best series currently on the shelf, Mister Miracle has a power set that reaches far beyond being a simple escape artist. Like all New Gods, he is immortal and has a deep understanding of how the universe works.
16 BOOSTER GOLD
Arrogant, obnoxious, and way too flashy all come to mind when a lot of comic fans think of the time-traveling, showboating superhero Booster Gold. Created by Dan Jurgens back in 1986 as a former football player turned superhero from the 25th Century with a major case of narcissism. His bright blue and gold costume and overly confident can-do attitude only make him more insufferable.
But here’s the thing: Booster Gold is actually amazing and has sacrificed a lot to save not just his fellow superheroes, but the entire universe. During the massive 2006 series 52, Booster Gold faked his own death and subsequently save the Multiverse, becoming the DC equivalent of a Time Lord. This almost makes up for his attitude... almost.
15 HUNTRESS
At first glance, Huntress appears to be little more than a female version of Batman in a silly mask. This assumption has roots in the character’s Bronze Age Earth Two origin, where she was the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Catwoman.
But the revised version we’re familiar with today is much cooler. Helena Bertinelli is a volatile and violent vigilante who Batman often shies away from teaming up with due to her overly aggressive disposition. She has no scruples with cracking skulls and is willing to tangle with some of Gotham’s nastiest customers. If The Dark Knight (a man who has perfected the art of cracking skulls) has reservations about bringing her into the fold, you know she’s a force to be reckoned with.
14 STEEL
The events following immediately after the story arc “The Death of Superman” were a completely mess and rather uneven. But they did spawn one of the most memorable alternate versions of the Man of Steel, even if he looks hilariously silly. Steel is so goofy and derivative in his appearance, taking the term “Man of Steel” literally.
But despite the eye-rolling visual gag, John Henry Irons is an amazing character with some heartfelt motivations and awesome powers. While Steel never intended to replace Superman, he was able to live up to the noble mentality of Kal-El. Don’t let the awful film adaption featuring Shaq as the titular hero influence your opinion of the character design -- Steel is fearless and continues to be awesome.
13 JADE
Green Lanterns seem like a dime a dozen in DC Comics. There are so many, in fact, it can be difficult to keep up with what makes each of them different from one another since they basically wield the same cosmic power. On the surface, the daughter of Earth’s first Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Jade, seems to be nothing more than a female Lantern with ties to character legacy.
Jade is actually one of the more powerful Lanterns. Even without her ring, Jade can create constructs made out of raw energy, has the ability of flight, and can control vegetation. That’s a far more impressive resume than just “guy who can fly jets.”
12 PLASTIC MAN
The version of Plastic Man we know today has been a staple in DC Comics since the '50s and while he was welcomed as the comic relief character over 60 years ago, many fans may not think he has aged well for the current era of comics. Patrick O’Brian in his red bathing suite-esque costume and white wraparound sunglasses stands in stark contrast to other Justice League members who are a little more stoic in their design
But don’t let Plastic Man’s bumbling antics and goody appearance fool you. With the ability to alter the consistency and size of his form and his invulnerability to most attacks, this guy is more powerful than probably he even knows.
11 AGENT LIBERTY
The number of character designs that are completely derivative and generic Agent Liberty offers pervades every facet of his appearance. From the finned yellow gloves to the vaguely patriotic harness across his chest, there isn’t much we haven’t seen before. Even the character’s name sounds like it’s referring to a parody character that you’d see in the pages of The Tick.
While a lot of Agent Liberty’s abilities are nothing special seeing as how for better or worse, he’s just a normal human, his actions within the DC Universe are pretty unique. He worked with the Justice League to bring down Brainiac and acted as an informant for Superman. Sadly, Agent Liberty met his demise before the character could really be utilized properly.
10 ANIMAL MAN
The power wielded by Buddy Baker sounds like it was birthed from a cancelled-after-one-season Saturday morning cartoon. His ability to take on the attributes of any animal would play nicely in situational turmoil targeted at sugary cereal obsessed five-year olds in their pajamas.
But Animal Man isn’t just a guy who can harness the brute strength of a rhino or the dexterity of a spider monkey or whatever. The way in which he evokes different animalistic abilities is grounded in something more ethereal. Buddy Baker is an avatar for The Red, a force that connects all animals across the universe, making him incredibly powerful and intrinsic to the very fabric of existence on Earth.
9 ORION
Jack Kirby’s New Gods were revolutionary at the time of their introduction. A race of celestial super humans caught in the division of two planets was something trippy and flashy presented in a way only Kirby could conjure. One of the main characters from this race, a hero who would continue to appear in DC Comics for decades to come, is Orion… you know, the guy riding around on that silly cosmic sled thing.
Orion, who is often seen bound to the aforementioned contraption known as the Astro Harness, is rightfully referred to as the “dog of war” by the other New Gods. Orion’s brutality and power were on full display when he actually killed his own father, the villainous super heavy Darkseid.
8 GUARDIAN
Part Captain America, part Judge Dredd (at least later on), and all lame, Guardian has been a character who has been featured in DC Comic since the ‘40s. The character was originally created with no powers and was a bit hokey. However, in recent years, new versions of the hero have popped up and they’ve been pretty awesome.
Jake Jordan took up the mantel of the Guardian (now the Manhattan Guardian) in 2005. The disgraced police officer needed to atone for the murder he had committed and does so through acts of heroism against heavies like Black Adam. Jake is an expert in hand to hand combat and can handle himself in a fight. The man is practically fearless, which goes a long way.
7 MOON MAIDEN
Moon Maiden was such a gonzo character that DC Comics pretty much and abandoned her on a whim. It’s understandable. Laura Klein was discovered on the moon (yes, really) in an strange Roman structure (yes, really) by an astronaut who brought her home after discovering she was created through alchemy by a group of scholars in an attempt to atone for creating an ultimate evil (YES, REALLY).
Despite the super lame and clearly bonkers origin story, Moon Maiden is criminally underutilized considering her power. Laura can control gravity. That alone should make her a top tier superhero. On one hand, she can use this power to make herself levitate, and on the other, she can wield it to cause mass destruction on a global level.
6 HOURMAN
The name Hourman evokes the notion that maybe comic creators were already running out of ideas back in the ‘40s. But the Tyler family’s legacy is something that is unique to most mainstream comics. The drug Miraclo was created by the patriarch of the family, Rex. This allowed him to become faster, stronger, and more powerful than the average man for an hour before the effects wore off.
And yes, this is a very gimmicky premise for a superhero, but it lends itself for some amazing dramatic and action-filled comic moments. Rex’s some Rick has had a rather storied carrier as Hourman, facing against heavy hitters like Black Adam and The Spectre and live to tell the tale.
5 ICEMAIDEN
A skimpy ice skater costume and a generic power set don’t usually make for the most compelling of superheroes. But somehow Sigrid Nansen (better known as Icemaiden) has taken a lame shell and cracked it to reveal a nugget of dense storytelling along featuring a complex, and powerful superhero.
Sigrid Nansen possess a pretty familiar set of ice-based powers (similar to the X-Men’s Iceman), but it doesn’t mean she’s useless. Icemaiden is often willing to get in over her head in the name of heroism. Icemaiden really stepped up to the plate after the death of Justice League member Ice. Sigrid took up the character’s mantle and continued to fight the good fight.
4 ATOM-SMASHER/NUKLON
A big guy who smashes stuff isn’t exactly the most titillating pitch for a superhero. Too bad for the character of Albert Rothstein who has actually donned two silly monikers (and matching goofy costumes) as superheroes with this exact power. As Nuklon, Rothstein punches stuff real well while sporting a Mohawk and headband, but as Atom-Smasher, he punches stuff well while wearing a non-descript mask and muscle shirt.
But as easy as it is to dismiss Rothstein, he’s actually a rather awesome character. In the pages of JSA, not only is he tough as nails, but his heroism harkens back to the Golden Age heroes the series pays so much homage to, but his actions eventually lead him a darker path.
3 BULLETEER
Bulleteer looks like a joke of a character. Her ridiculous bullet helmet and red visor don’t mesh with her low cut bustier and matching red gloves. From a design standpoint, things are just all wrong. But luckily, Alix Harrower is a character that sprung from the mind of Grant Morrison, a writer who knows how to the make the most ridiculous characters awesome.
You see, Bulleteer is more than just a silver-skinned hero in a goofy get up. Itturns out Alix is really “The Spear that Was Never Thrown” against the Sheeda and is a direct descendant of the ancient being Aurakles. What this all means for her is still up in the air, but its implications are huge.
2 MAJOR DISASTER
Major Disaster tenure as one of the good guys, specifically as a member of Justice League Antarctica (yes, that’s a real thing), was short-lived. Originally appearing as a small time crook in a costume in the pages of Green Lantern, Major Disaster would go on to be one of the founding members of the second incarnation of the Injustice League (a team that was filled with a who’s who of B-lister villains).
But no matter what side of the fight Major Disaster was on, he looked lame. However, given the destructive power his moniker infers (the ability to see chains of chaos and help cause natural disasters), he’s a guy you would want on your side.
1 CRIMSON FOX
Does Crimson Fox have one of the goofiest costumes in DC Comics? Yes. Does her getup make her look like a cobra? Most definitely. Do we wonder why her outfit often looks brown instead of… well, crimson? All the time. But is Crimson Fox kind of cool? Yes, she is.
Twin sisters Vivian and Constance D'Aramis shared the role of the Crimson Fox while running their Parisian perfume company. The sisters had animal-like reflexes and speed and also emitted a pheromone that could influence males. Basically Crimson Fox is the cat from those Pepé Le Pew cartoons, but empowered, which is pretty cool. Unfortunately, the sisters are now dead and a new Crimson Fox (with a mysterious identity) has risen.