7 DC Heroes Who Are Nothing Like Their First Appearance

As much as people want to say that comic books are dedicated to the status quo, DC Comics has a lot of characters who have changed over the years. I mean, it’s kind of hard not to when many of these heroes have been around for decades. Sure, some elements stay consistent (except when a reboot happens), but it’s not uncommon for heroes to grow or change in ways that take them to different levels and round out their character.

Sometimes heroes start as a sidekick, like Wally West, only to grow into a hero who undeniably surpasses their mentor. Other heroes begin lives as villains, much like Harley Quinn, only to end up doing more good than bad. Yes, the status quo generally reigns supreme, but not every hero is the same as when they first started. Many are better, more complex characters and if you need proof, read on to discover 7 DC Comics heroes who are very different from when they first appeared.

7. Harley Quinn

I know what you might be asking why I’d bother putting Harley Quinn on here. But the truth is, she’s way more hero than villain these days. Back when she first appeared, she was simply the Joker’s moll, assisting him in various crimes and not caring who she hurt in the process. But Harley has considerably grown since then. She’s left the Joker’s side and actually worked with various Justice Leaguers in the past few years. Is Harley perfect? Hell no. But she’s trying, and she’s come a long way since being the Joker’s partner-in-crime.

6. Flash (Wally West)

Wally West has been going fast ever since he was first introduced way back in the Silver Age of Comics. But he debuted as a sidekick to the Fastest Man Alive, always running slightly behind his uncle and idol, Barry Allen. Now? Wally is the premier Scarlet Speedster. There isn’t a Flash in the DC Universe who knows the Speed Force as well as West, and that knowledge has allowed him to do incredible things that Barry could only dream of. When it comes to legacy heroes, this Flash absolutely broke the mold.

5. Booster Gold

When people hear the name Booster Gold, they probably think about how much of a showboat or goofball he is. And as far as his original characterization goes, they’d be right. But the truth is that Michael Jon Carter is one of the DC Universe’s best unsung heroes. Yes, he can be a bit of a glory hound. But Booster is integral to protecting the timeline of the DCU, as seen by his pre-New 52 ongoing series. That comic showed that Booster isn’t the court jester the League thinks he is, but rather, a truly noble hero.

4. Robin (Damian Wayne)

I’m a big Damian Wayne fan, and if there’s one thing I love, it’s how much the kid has changed since he first appeared. Seriously, when Batman’s son burst onto the scene, the kid was a maniacal little brat who’d kill you if you so much as crossed him. But now? Damian has massively chilled out. Does he still have an edge? Sure. But Damian is developing into a fine young man, seeking a life outside of superheroism, even thinking about becoming a doctor like his paternal grandfather. I know he’s not everyone’s favorite, but Damian has grown a lot.

3. Green Arrow

If you took a glance at Green Arrow back when he first appeared and now, you’d probably think he hasn’t changed much beyond his outfit. But Oliver Queen changed, largely under the direction of DC Comics icon Dennis O’Neil. O’Neil made Green Arrow a more socially-conscious hero, making him a staunch leftist and advocate for social causes. For modern fans, it’s hard to imagine a Green Arrow that isn’t championing progressive ideals. But rest assured, that was a change made midway through Queen’s history that massively improved his character

2. Swamp Thing

We tend to think of Swamp Thing and his connection to the mystical Green as being a huge, foundational part of his character. But the first volume of Swamp Thing was not as fantastical. He was more of a horror character, a man transformed into a twisted collection of foliage and flora. It wasn’t until Alan Moore reinvented the character that Swamp Thing became the avatar of the life force that connected all plant life. It was a change that was for the better, because honestly, can any of us imagine Swamp Thing any other way?

1. Batman

We kind of have to acknowledge how different Batman was in the Golden Age, right? I mean, the guy used guns! Batman infamously hates firearms, but this version had no qualms when it came to them. And yes, he was also more flexible when it came to killing, having not properly developed his no-kill code. To be fair, this was nearly a century ago, and neither Bob Kane nor Bill Finger could have imagined how the Dark Knight would evolve. But it is good to know that Batman ended up becoming the hero he was supposed to be.

What hero do you think has changed the most since their first appearance? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts on the ComicBook Forum!

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