15 DC Characters That Proved the ’90s Were the Best

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The 1990s were a time of highs and lows for both DC Comics and the industry as a whole. DC began the decade with the engagement of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, and his subsequent revelation to her of his dual identity as Superman. A few years later, DC killed Superman off, an event that would have massive ramifications for the publisher.

The success of The Death of Superman inspired DC to take a new approach to their big guns: take them off the table, and hand the mantle over to someone younger, more inexperienced. In the space of a few years, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and others would experience such shakeups. The new versions of these beloved characters were far from flashes in the pan and still impact the DC Universe today. Here are the 15 best DC characters created in the 1990s.

15

Mister Zsasz Was a Chilling Addition to Batman’s Rogues Gallery

First Appearance: Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1, Created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle

Batman acquired a number of new friends and foes in the 1990s, and none were more chilling than Mister Zsasz. While possessing no powers of his own, Mister Zsasz has managed to strike fear into the hearts of the citizens of Gotham since his arrival. Zsasz is a serial killer with no discernible pattern to his kills. Whenever Zsasz takes a life, he carves a small tally mark onto his skin–and his body is covered in them, a horrifying testament to his skills as a killer.

Mister Zsasz quickly emerged as one of the most exciting additions to the Dark Knight’s mythos, and has been featured in several video games and movies, most notably in 2020’s Birds of Prey, where he appeared with a slightly different gimmick. However, this change did nothing to diminish how scary Zsasz is.

14

The Ray Was a Bright Spot at DC in the 1990s

First Appearance: The Ray #1, Created by Jack C. Harris and Joe Quesada

DC Comics is well-known for its legacy heroes, such as the Flash and Green Lantern, but the Ray is one of the publisher’s most powerful and unsung lineages. Ray Terrill, the son of Happy Terrill, the Golden Age Ray, grew up in total darkness, as exposure to sunlight would trigger his light-based powers. Growing into manhood, Ray learned to harness his gifts, and became a superhero like his father. He would star in his own series, which ran for 28 issues. The Ray has served with a number of superhero teams, including the Freedom Fighters and the Justice League.

Although DC has experimented with other versions of the Ray since Ray Terrill’s debut, they continually return to him, cementing his place as the definitive version of the character. Ray has made sporadic appearances since the Rebirth era, but this extremely powerful and underrated hero is overdue a comeback.

13

Flex Mentallo Was Mired in Controversy

First Appearance: Doom Patrol #35, Created by Grant Morrison and Richard Case

Debuting in Grant Morrison and Richard Case’s legendary run on Doom Patrol, Flex Mentallo became one of the book’s breakout stars. A riff on bodybuilder Charles Atlas, Flex Mentallo summoned his powers by flexing his muscles–hence the name. When Flex flexed, his powers were seemingly limitless. Most famously, Flex used his abilities to turn the five-sided Pentagon into a circle. After Morrison’s Doom Patrol concluded, they would return to the character one more time, joined by artist Frank Quietly, in a four-issue miniseries.

From the get-go, however, Flex was bogged down in controversy. The estate of Charles Atlas was not amused by Flex Mentallo, and took legal action against DC. The case was settled out of court, with one of the stipulations being Flex’s appearances could never be reprinted. This must have been false, as not only have all of his Doom Patrol issues been reissued, but his miniseries as well. Flex Mentallo would appear in the live-action Doom Patrol show as well.

12

Renee Montoya Was the Perfect Example of Synergy Between Comics and TV

First Appearance: Batman #475, Created by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and Mitch Brian

Batman: The Animated Series premiered in September 1992, quickly becoming a ratings smash, as well as having an immediate impact on the comics. Renee Montoya, who was created by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and Mitch Brian for the cartoon, was inserted into the comics a few months prior to the show’s debut. Montoya would work her way up through the ranks of the Gotham Police Department, ultimately becoming the Commissioner, a position she held until recently. Montoya also leads a double life, as the second version of the Question.

As comic book characters have inched their way into the mainstream, the movies and shows they inspire end up influencing the source material in return. This practice is controversial with fans, but Renee Montoya is the perfect example of how to successfully add new characters to a franchise. Her integration no doubt paved the way for Harley Quinn’s jump to the DCU a few years later.

11

Jack Knight Looked to the Stars

First Appearance: Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #1, Created by James Robinson and Tony Harris

One of the definitive cult heroes of the 1990s, Starman Jack Knight embodied the concept of legacy better than any other hero of the era. The son of the Golden Age Starman, Jack was every bit the reluctant hero. Jack was forced to become Starman after an old enemy of his father killed his older brother David. Even when he began embracing his inner hero, Jack Knight still downplayed certain elements: for instance, he never adopted a colorful costume like his dad, instead opting for a leather jacket and goggles.

Starman ran for 80 issues, and managed to pull off an incredible feat: it merged a bunch of disparate heroes, united in the Starman name only, into a single, cohesive legacy. DC’s legacy heroes are one of its strengths, and Starman Jack Knight is arguably one of the best examples of this trope.

10

Hitman Shot Up DC’s Supernatural Side

First Appearance: The Demon Annual #2, Created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea

Hitman, much like Starman, was one of DC’s best cult books of the 1990s. The series, which ran for 60 issues, followed the adventures of Tommy Monaghan, an assassin who receives powers after an alien attack. Armed with his X-ray vision and telepathy, Tommy shoots up a bloody path across the DC Universe, taking out meta criminals and supernatural demons alike. While possessing its own vibe, Hitman was still firmly set in the DC Universe, and featured appearances by Batman and Green Lantern, among others.

Hitman debuted during DC’s Bloodlines crossover in 1993. The event, which ran through DC’s annuals that year, introduced a mess of new characters to the DC Universe, but most fell quickly by the wayside. Hitman was one of the few to not only survive, but thrive.

9

Whatever You Do, Do Not Call Him Superboy

First Appearance: The Adventures of Superman #500, Created by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett

After Superman’s death, four replacement heroes arrive in Metropolis, including Superboy Conner Kent. A clone of the original Superman created by Project Cadmus, Superboy possessed many of the Man of Steel’s powers, as well as a few he did not, such as telekinesis. Portrayed initially as petulant, whiny and arrogant, Superboy would go on to become one of DC’s premiere teen heroes, headlining two different solo books in his day. Superboy Conner Kent would also become, and remain, a pillar of the Superman Family.

The Death of Superman, as well as his subsequent return, was one of the biggest comic book events of the 1990s. Criticized as a publicity stunt in its day, the characters that spun out of the story have all had incredible staying power, including Superboy. While not currently starring in his own title, Superboy makes regular appearances in the Superman family of books.

8

Cassandra Cain Was Not Your Average Batgirl

First Appearance: Batman #567, Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott

Debuting at the tail end of the 1990s, Cassandra Cain was a different kind of Batgirl. Unlike her predecessor Barbara Gordon, Cain had been raised from childhood to be a lethal killing machine. The daughter of master assassin Lady Shiva, Cassandra turned her back on her family, and allied herself with Batman. Cassandra would take the mantle of Batgirl shortly thereafter. Cain has used a number of aliases in her career, including the Black Bat and Orphan.

Moviegoers met a slightly different version of Cassandra Cain in 2020’s Birds of Prey film. There, depicted as a street-smart pickpocket, Cain nevertheless held her own with the Huntress, Renee Montoya and the rest of the Birds of Prey. While fans await a more comics-accurate depiction, they can follow Cain in the pages of Birds of Prey.

7

Stargirl Closed Out the Decade on a Bright and Hopeful Note

First Appearance: DCU Heroes: Secret Files and Origins #1, Created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder

Courtney Whitmore, in just a short amount of time, has become one of DC’s most well-known heroes, thanks to headlining her own television series. Whitmore has a rich history in the comics, as well as ties to the Golden Age. The step-daughter of Stripesy, sidekick to the Star-Spangled Kid, Stargirl blazed a heroic path across the DC Universe, joining both Young Justice and the Justice Society of America. Her career went to the next level when she inherited Starman’s Cosmic Rod, and rechristened herself Stargirl.

While a bright spot in the DC Universe, the story behind Stargirl’s creation is tragic: she was based on the sister of her co-creator, Geoff Johns. Also named Courtney, she was killed on TWA Flight 800 in 1996. Johns patterned Stargirl after his sister as a tribute.

6

Steel Is the Best of the Four Replacement Supermen

First Appearance: The Adventures of Superman #500, Created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove

Another of the four “replacement” Supermen that came to Metropolis after Superman’s death, Steel, is arguably the one who has achieved the most. An engineer by trade, John Henry Irons, went off the grid when he discovered his technology was being used to create weapons. Working on construction in Metropolis, his life was saved by Superman, which inspired him to build a suit of armor and become a hero. After the real Superman returned, John Henry stuck around, becoming one of the Man of Steel’s most loyal allies, as well as a successful businessman and futurist.

John Henry Irons continues to impact the DC Universe, over thirty years since his creation. He has made the leap to live-action as well as appearing in several animated cartoons. While John Henry Irons is more content to run his business and let his niece handle the heroics, he still occasionally dons the suit.

5

Azrael Did the Impossible: He Replaced Batman

First Appearance: Batman: Sword of Azrael #1, Created by Denny O’Neil and Joe Quesada

While DC was putting Superman through his paces fighting Doomsday, the publisher was also setting up big events in Batman’s universe, and it began with the introduction of Azrael and Bane (more on him later). In the Knightfall event which followed their debuts, Bane broke Bruce Wayne’s back. In his absence, Azrael took up the mantle, eventually fashioning himself a suit of armor. His stint as Batman did not last, as Bruce returned to reclaim the title a year later. Since then, Azrael has been an uneasy ally of the Batman Family.

Up until Knightfall, the idea of anyone else other than Bruce Wayne being Batman was borderline blasphemous. Azrael did the impossible: he replaced Bruce Wayne. While Azrael’s stint as Batman was less than successful, it proved why the original was so good in the first place.

4

Doomsday Made History On His First Outing: He Killed Superman

First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17, Created by Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway and Brett Breeding

When the writers and artists of DC’s four early 1990s Superman books decided to kill the Man of Steel, they needed someone powerful enough to do it: enter Doomsday. While the decision to create a new character just to kill Superman off was controversial at the time, the character has proven to have a shelf life. Doomsday has been a vehicle for Brainac’s consciousness as well as the King of Hell, making him more than a one-note villain. Doomsday still strikes fear into Superman’s heart.

When Doomsday first roared onto the scene, he was shrouded in mystery. He did not receive an origin until two years after he first appeared, in 1994’s Superman: Doomsday: Hunter/Prey. Writer/artist Dan Jurgens, in a stroke of genius, connected Doomsday’s origin to Krypton’s ancient history, making the villain a personal one for Superman.

3

Bane Proved Batman Could Be Broken

First Appearance: Vengeance of Bane #1, Created by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan

Debuting at roughly the same time as Azrael, Bane would become one of the most important additions to the Batman mythos in decades. Hailing from the country of Santa Prisca, Bane was imprisoned as a child for the crimes of his father. Highly intelligent, Bane would work his way up through the prison ranks, ultimately breaking free and making his way to Gotham City. Intrigued by Batman, he begins a feud with the Dark Knight, as depicted in Knightfall. Bane famously broke Batman’s back, forcing Azrael to replace him.

Much like Doomsday, Bane was created largely for one purpose: to be the central villain in a character-defining story. And like Doomsday with the Superman Family, Bane has become one of Batman’s biggest threats, killing Alfred in the City of Bane storyline.

2

Kyle Rayner Kept the Green Lantern Spirit Alive

First Appearance: Green Lantern #48, Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks

After the success of The Death of Superman and Knightfall, DC began killing off and/or replacing its biggest heroes–including Green Lantern. In 1994’s Emerald Twilight story, Hal Jordan went mad and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps. Fleeing Oa to Earth, Ganthet gave the last Power Ring to the first person he saw: in this case, Kyle Rayner. For a decade, as the sole Green Lantern, Kyle kept the spirit of the Corps alive. Today, Rayner is a veteran Green Lantern, respected by all around him.

The decision to replace Hal Jordan with Kyle Rayner was a controversial one. Fans at the time felt it highly disrespectful to Hal–and to be sure, it was. Yet Kyle was a breath of fresh air for the Green Lantern franchise, making it relevant for the times.

1

In Just Over 30 Years, Harley Quinn Has Become a DC Icon

First Appearance: “The Joker’s Favorite,” The Batman Adventures #12, Created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini

Like Renee Montoya, Harley Quinn was created for Batman: The Animated Series, but she soon took on a life of her own, becoming one of DC’s most popular characters along the way. Harley’s arc in the DC Universe is one of its best: introduced as the Joker’s girlfriend, Harley would eventually cut ties with him, becoming an anti-hero and uneasy ally of Batman. Harley would eventually find the love of her life with Poison Ivy, making her an icon for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Harley Quinn is also the best example of how to incorporate characters from outside media into comics. DC took their time introducing Harley to its mainstream universe: while she debuted in the out-of-continuity The Batman Adventures in 1993, she would not enter the DC Universe proper until decade’s end.

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