The concept of legacy is a foundational aspect ofDC Comics’ universe, and practically every hero has passed down their mantle at one point or another. From Superman to Batman to Wonder Woman, the stories of DC’s greatest heroes are all generational.
At one point or another,iconic DC heroes have even traded codenames, taking up the mantle on behalf of a close colleague or friend. And whether these identities were passed down to proteges or taken up by the individuals inspired by these icons,each of these successors has upheld a notable DC legacyto the best of their ability.
10Huntress Became Batgirl
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83by Bob Gale, Alex Maleev, & Wayne Faucher
Helena Bertenelli has always operated on the outskirts of the wider Batman Family, but there was a time when Gotham’s most brutal vigilante donned the mantle of the Bat in order to bring a sense of justice to an otherwise lawless Gotham City. After a cataclysmic earthquake decimated the city, which soon declared a No Man’s Land by the federal government, citizens, cops, and criminals alike are left vying for dominance as a much-needed Batman is absent for the disaster’s first hundred days.
Recognizing the power of his symbol, the Huntress dons a dramatic new Batsuit, taking the reins of Barbara Gordon’s legacy and christening herself the new Batgirl. Eventually, she’s forced to give up the uniform and identity –both of which are later passed to Cassandra Cain– but her contribution to Batgirl’s history can’t be ignored.
9The Teen Titans Became The Justice League
Teen Titans/The Legion Special #1by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, & Joe Prado
Following in the footsteps of their mentors is the crux of the Teen Titan’s journey through heroism, but the adult versions of DC’s younger generation as seen in the “Titans Tomorrow” story arc take their legacies in a dark and dreary new direction. In this bleak alternate timeline, the Titans become would-be dictators, lording their sense of “justice” over a fearful future.
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Not only do Superboy, Robin, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash rise to the identities of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, Beast Boy even adopts the Animal Man moniker from Buddy Baker. In the years since, these glimpses of their potential destiny have haunted each of the tightens,especially the future Batman, Tim Drake, and each hero is determined not to let this dystopian nightmare come to pass.
8Jade Became A Green Lantern
Green Lantern #107by Ron Marz, Jeff Johnson, & Chris Batista
The Green Lantern mythos at large is infamous for the number of Earth-born Emerald Gladiators, but one of the most underrated members of the Corps, Jennie-Lynn Hayden also known as Jade is more intrinsically tied to the Lanterns than practically any other seemingly unaffiliated hero. Not only is Jade the daughter ofthe original and Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott, but she was also the longtime lover of the Corps’ Torchbearer, Kyle Rayner.
Thanks to her history as a solo hero as well as her personal ties, Jennie was a natural candidate for Green Lantern Corps membership when Kyle first began rebuilding the intergalactic peacekeeping force. And while her time as an official Green Lantern was short-lived, Jade served with the utmost distinction and continues shining her light to this day.
7Shazam Became Superman
The New 52: Future’s End #2by Jeff Lemire, Brian Azzarello, Dan Jurgen, Keith Giffen, & more
It’s no secret that Superman and Shazam have had a long-standing and ofttimes unfriendly rivalry throughout their decades-long publishing histories. But within DC Comics’ continuity, the Last Son of Krypton and the World’s Mightiest Mortal are staunch allies withyoung Billy Batson even having filled in as a masked Man of Steelin the alternateFuture’s Endtimeline.
After Kal-El of Krypton leaves his identity as the Metropolis Marvel behind, the Wizard’s young champion seeks to keep the Superman legacy alive, donning a modified variation of the Man of Steel’s costume to continue to inspire the people of Earth. Eventually, Shazam is forced to reveal his true identity in combat while his charade is further exposed by Lois Lane. But if anyone hasthe power necessary to stand in for Superman, it’s undoubtedly Shazam.
6Batman Became Nightwing
Nightwing #116by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, & Adriano Lucas
As the prodigal son of the Bat-Family, Nightwing has stepped up to help his mentor and surrogate father more times than either can count. And after a nefarious villain framed Dick Grayson for murder and robbed him of his acrobatic abilities, it was Batman’s turn to return the favor as Bruce Wayne patrolled the streets of Bludhaven as the new Nightwing.
Filling in only briefly for his first protégé as Grayson, Bruce Wayne performed his role admirably until his old partner was recovered – evening acknowledging that he managed to throw out a couple of quips as he was bashing the bad guys. Ultimately,both Batman and Nightwing soon returned to the identitiesthey’d forged for themselves, but Bruce Wayne’s stint as the substitute Nightwing shows just how far Gotham and Bludhaven’s heroes will go for one another.
5Black Canary Became Green Lantern
DCeased #2by Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, & Stefano Gaudiano
To become a Green Lantern, fearlessness is a major part of the job description, and there are few DC Comics heroes with more courage and grit than Dinah Lance, the Black Canary. Whilethe Birds of Prey’s iconic field leader has never donned a Green Lantern ring in prime continuity, Lance wields the responsibility with grace as part of DC’s dystopianDCeasedseries of stories in which a nigh unstoppable plague ravages the world’s greatest heroes and villains.
Unfortunately, Hal Jordan is one such hero who become infected until Dinah is forced to kill her old friend with her signature Canary Cry, only for Hal’s ring to immediately choose Dinah as his replacement. The Black Canary then dons the moniker of Green Canary and has since become the de facto Green Lantern and one of the breakout characters for theDCeaseduniverse.
4Donna Troy Became Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman #1by Alan Heinberg, Terry Dodson, & Rachel Dodson
From Wonder Girl to Troia and everything in between, Donna Troy’s own journey of identity has been particularly fraught. But after her sister Diana stepped away from her role as the Amazing Amazon following the events ofInfinite Crisis, the iconic Teen Titans founder stepped up as the one and only Wonder Woman.
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With a new, more armored outfit that also harkened back to her earlier cosmology-inspired designs, Donna filled her sister’s boots admirably. In fact, Troy’s origin at the time was thatshe was essentially a mystical clone of Diana, so it was only natural for her to step up as the Themysciran ambassador to Man’s World. Diana would soon return to reclaim the Wonder Woman mantle after a contingent of her greatest foes put her allies at risk, but Donna Troy’s time in the role was still every bit as wonderful as it was short-lived.
3Superboy Became Superman
Superman: Son of Kal-El #1by Tom Taylor, John Timms, & Gabe Eltaeb
One of DC Comics’ major new characters of the 21st Century, it was only a matter of time before Jon Kent, son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, would step up to fill his father’s cape as the new Man of Steel. Andwhen Superman left the Earth behindto liberate the prison planet of Warworld, it was Jon he left in his stead to pick up the slack.
In his father’s absence, the younger Kent brought a new outlook to the identity of the Man of Tomorrow, setting himself apart from his father while still honoringwhat Superman stands and fights for. These days, Clark has long since returned to Earth, sharing the Superman moniker with the son he truly believes has earned it. And with as much danger as the DC Universe faces, they need all the Supermen they can get.
2Nightwing Became Batman
Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3by Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Ian Hannin, & J.D. Smith
Predating even Bruce Wayne’s trusty butler, Alfred, Dick Grayson has been a vital part of the Batman mythos almost from the very start,be it as Robin, Nightwing, and even Batman himselfon more than one occasion. First temporarily donning the cape and cowl after Bruce deposes Jean-Paul Valley a.k.a. Azrael as his replacement, Dick would then go on to become Batman full-time following Bruce’s apparent death at the hands of Darkseid inFinal Crisis.
Taking on Damian Wayne as his Robin, Dick served as Gotham’s Dark Knight for quite some time even after Bruce Wayne’s return from his long absence. While he’s since resumed his Nightwing identity, Dick has still occasionally filled in for his former mentor as Batman in a pinch and more than proven himself as a bonafide Caped Crusader in any identity.
1Kid Flash Became The Flash
Crisis on Infinite Earths #12by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, & Jerry Ordway
WhenBarry Allen gave his life to save realityduringCrisis on Infinite Earths, he left some big gold boots to fill, with his nephew and sidekick Wally West a.k.a. Kid Flash the natural choice to run in his mentor’s stead. While the third Flash initially met more than a few growing pains taking over the family business, West soon became one of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes, and to this day remainsmany fans’ default Flash when the identity springs to mind.
Following Barry Allen’s rebirth and return to prominence, Wally was put on the backburner for more than a few years before eventually reclaiming his spot as DC’s top Scarlet Speedster. Ultimately, no example of legacy is more prominent in theDC Comicshistory than Wally West’s ascension to the role ofThe Flash, and he’s one of the few heroes to take over the mantle of a predecessor and truly make it his own.
