DC’s Weakest Characters: Shockingly Low Ranked

DC’s Underdogs: When Power Doesn’t Always Equal Prestige

DC Comics sports some of the strongest characters ever conceived of in comics, maybe even all of fiction. It’s hard to imagine characters who can outpace the Flash as he moves fast enough to perceive light moving between atoms, or outmuscle Superman who has been known to lift a book of infinite pages. And that’s not even mentioning the characters who can destroy and rebuild the entire universes as a hobby. Of course, with all that strength must come a counter balance. While DC has some of the strongest characters ever, it also sports some of the absolute weakest. For every mighty character with incredibly power and strength, there’s another whose powers are dubious at best or just outright weird and useless. Videos by Unionjournalism While the powerful characters in the DC Universe are the best known, the weakest ones definitely deserve their moment as well if for no other reason than to let readers question what exactly is going on with them. Here are 10 of DC’s weakest characters, ranked.

Beyond Super Strength: When Powers Fall Flat

The Case of the Misguided Might

This section analyzes characters like Friendly Fire, whose powers, while seemingly strong, are rendered useless due to their lack of accuracy. It explores the comedic irony of such characters and how their ineptitude often overshadows any potential threat they pose.

Created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea, Friendly Fire first appeared in Hitman #18 in 1997. A large man wearing a red cowl who can generate energy blasts from his hands, Friendly Fire is a member of the “superhero” team Section 8, though calling them heroes is questionable. That said, as a team they at least give it their best but that doesn’t make any of the heroes particular great — especially Friendly Fire. Friendly Fire has the ability to shoot concussive blasts of pure force from his hands that are able to tear through anyone they hit. On paper, that sounds like a very strong power, however, Friendly Fire earns his place on this list and his name due to his inability to hit whatever he aims at. In fact, throughout his short career as a superhero he only ever hit his own teammates or civilians, never a villain. In his final appearance he accidentally blasted his own head off, so needless to say he’d be more useful if he didn’t have any powers at all.

The “Power” of Being Pointless

This subsection delves into characters like Brother Power the Geek, whose origins and abilities are both bizarre and underwhelming. It questions the logic behind their inclusion in the DC Universe and considers whether their existence serves any narrative purpose beyond generating amusement.

No, we are not making this up. His real name is Brother Power the Geek. Created by Joe Simon, Brother Power the Geek first appeared in the aptly titled Brother Power the Geek #1 in 1968. Brother Power was initially a mannequin in an abandoned tailor’s shop where a pair of hippies dressed him up in some wet, bloodied clothes to prevent them from shrinking. However, when the mannequin was struck by lightning months later, Brother Power is brought to life and given superpowers. If you thought that origin was weird, we’re just getting started. In his initial two-issue run the living-mannequin would go on adventures like running for U.S. Congress and being launched into outer space by President Ronald Regan to prevent the sabotage of a rocket test, knowing his fellow hippies would be blamed. The 60s were wild. He would later gain more powers as a “puppet elemental” similar to Swamp Thing, letting him possess dolls and change his size, but at the end of the day he was a walking mannequin.

Superhero Cringe: The Bane of the Legion of Super-Heroes

The Legion of Super-Heroes, a team of young heroes from the 31st century, has always been known for its quirky and sometimes bizarre members. Among these characters, Arm-Fall-Off-Boy is a standout example of a hero whose powers are more of a hindrance than a help.

Arm-Fall-Off-Boy: A Case Study in Specificity

First appearing in Secret Origins #46 in 1989, Arm-Fall-Off-Boy can detach his arms and use them as weapons. This power, while unique, is also extremely limited and can be seen as more of a gimmick than a valuable asset to the team.

The Legion of Super-Heroes is known for its willingness to take on characters with unusual powers, but even they have their limits. Arm-Fall-Off-Boy’s powers are so specific that they are more of a liability than an asset, making him a weak link in the team.

The concept of weird superpowers is a staple of superhero comics, and it’s up to the writer to make these powers work for the character. In Arm-Fall-Off-Boy’s case, his powers are more of a hindrance than a help, and it’s a testament to the character’s enduring popularity that he has been able to make it work despite his limitations.

Villains Who Miss the Mark: Dull and Disappointing

While some villains are iconic and memorable, others are dull and disappointing. In this section, we’ll take a look at three villains who fail to live up to their potential.

Carnage: Cliché on Steroids

Carnage is a popular villain, but he’s also one of the most clichéd. His power to bond with alien symbiotes and gain superhuman strength and agility is overused and has been done to death.

Carnage’s motivations are also simplistic and one-dimensional, making him a boring and uninteresting villain. His inability to evolve or change is a major part of his problem, as he’s stuck in a rut and can’t seem to move beyond his original concept.

Other villains, like the Joker or Magneto, have complex and nuanced motivations that make them compelling and interesting. Carnage, on the other hand, is a one-trick pony who relies on his symbiote to do all the heavy lifting.

• Carnage’s powers are overused and clichéd.
• His motivations are simplistic and one-dimensional.
• He’s unable to evolve or change, making him a boring and uninteresting villain.

The Owl: More Like the Squawk

The Owl is a villain from the Daredevil universe who has been around since the 1960s. He’s a mutant with powers similar to those of an owl, including flight, superhuman physical attributes, and super vision and hearing.

However, The Owl’s powers are not particularly impressive, and he’s often relegated to the role of a D-list villain. His attempts to elevate himself to a more prominent role have been met with failure, and he’s often depicted as a joke or a nuisance.

The Owl’s original concept was interesting, but it’s been watered down over the years, and he’s become a forgettable and unimpressive villain.

• The Owl’s powers are not particularly impressive.
• He’s often relegated to the role of a D-list villain.
• His attempts to elevate himself have been met with failure.

Maxwell Lord: A Fallen Hero’s Misguided Path

Maxwell Lord is a villain from the DC Universe who was once a hero. His initial villainous turn was compelling, but his subsequent portrayals have been lackluster.

Maxwell Lord’s complexity is a major part of his problem. He’s a character with multiple layers and motivations, but these complexities are often lost in his portrayal, making him seem flat and uninteresting.

The challenges of writing complex villains are significant, as it requires a deep understanding of the character’s motivations and backstory. Maxwell Lord’s portrayal has failed to meet these challenges, making him a disappointing and underwhelming villain.

• Maxwell Lord’s initial villainous turn was compelling.
• His subsequent portrayals have been lackluster.
• His complexity is often lost in his portrayal.