One thing that’s never been clear about the DC Universe is why there are so many evil versions of the world’s greatest heroes, especially among theJustice League. If these heroes are the best, shouldn’t their evil counterparts be an anomaly? However, DC finally reveals the truth in the latest issue ofBirds of Prey, which explains why so many heroes turn to the dark side.
TheBirds of Preycomicseries has been full of surprises, from giving Barbara Gordon the respect and role she deserves to battling Amazons on Themyscira to prevent an apocalypse. It always seems to have something new to showcase. This is especially true inBirds of Prey#19 by Kelly Thompson and Juann Cabal.
As Black Canary and Sin fight off a group of League of Assassins ninjas, Dinah reflects on the relationship between superheroes and violence. Ultimately, she believes that the rush of a fight is one of the greatest feelings on earth, buttaking pride in being an expert at causing pain can lead someone down a dark path.
Birds of PreyBrilliantly Explains Why So Many Heroes Turn to the Dark Side
Birds of Prey#19 by Kelly Thompson, Juann Cabal, Adriano Lucas, and Clayton Cowles
When dealing with hyper-violent criminals and supervillains, sometimes violence seems like the only option. While most heroes strive to use only aproportional amount of violence, there are times when it’s clear that a hero enjoys the fight. Batman has certainly thrown a punch or two that he personally enjoyed, and it’s natural to take pride in being good at something. Batman is one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet, andit’s likely that he has some level of pride in his mastery of causing pain.
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The issue is that this can be a very dark path to walk, one that Batman himself has come close to falling down. The idea that heroes can take pleasure in hurting others, that they can enjoy fighting,perfectly explains why nearly every hero in the DC Universe has an evil counterpart. If Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League are some of the greatest heroes to ever live, then you’d expect the majority of their counterparts in the Multiverse to also be heroes. But that’s rarely the case—there are so many evil versions, even in the main universe.
Almost Every Evil Hero Indulges Their Love Of Violence
DC’sInjusticeUniverse Is a Prime Example of Hero Corruption
There are many instances in theDC Universe where heroes become villains, but they usually have a reason for it. Hal Jordan was possessed by Parallax, Wonder Woman by Hecate, and so on. But with characters who are so incredibly strong-willed, you’d expect them to be able to resist possession better. However, if the possession allows them to finally act on the violence they enjoy, it becomes a different story. The terrifying nature ofthe Batman Who Laughs stemmed from the fact that it was a Batman infused with Joker’s bloodlust, which only amplified his enjoyment of violence.
This also explains the abundance of evil versions of these iconic heroes across the multiverse. A small change in detail, an alternate event, or one different moment can completely shift the course of a character. For example,Wonder Woman is practically a pacifistin the main universe. She prefers to use violence as a last resort. Butin theInjusticeUniverse, after Steve Trevor betrays her, she becomes a hyper-violent character.As an Amazon, trained in combat, Diana clearly enjoys fighting on some level, and this pivotal moment allowed her to fully embrace it.
The Dark Reason Heroes Turn Evil: Power, Pride, and the Temptation of Violence
Many heroes are walking weapons, capable of breaking every bone in someone’s body with little effort. Hence, the constant need to hold back must be exhausting. I believe this is a major reason why so many heroes turn evil at some point—they’re simply itching to let it out. I know this is a dark theory, but it perfectly explains why so many characters who are supposed to be purely good end up turning to the dark side. It’s fitting that Black Canary, one of the greatest fighters in theJustice Leagueand DC Universe, would be the one to have this revelation about superheroes and violence.
Birds of Prey#19is on sale from DC Comics on March 5th, 2025.
