So we’re ranking every hero that has debuted within the Arrowverse so far. So before we get into the list, here’s the criteria. They have to be superheroes or vigilantes. Keyboard warriors or everyday heroes need not apply. We’re talking masks, spandex, capes, and superpowers. Characters will be evaluated on individual basis. Some characters are going to be tweeners, good with shades of evil, but no flat out villains. So no Captain Cold, Mick Rory, Cupid, etc. Just flat out good guys, or anti-heroes.
We’ll count future heroes too, like Mon El, but not characters who might become an original hero sometime down the line. However if they’ve already become their own hero, ala John Diggle becoming Spartan or Jimmy Olsen as The Guardian, they’ll be included. So if Julian Albert returns and becomes Doctor Throws Things at Bad Guys, he won’t be on this list.
Length of time as a hero won’t hurt but can help the placing. Characters who have been around for a while won’t necessarily be given preferential treatment, because that could just mean we’ve seen more of them to dislike them. So longevity and frequency of appearance is immaterial.
Here’s what we’re looking for;
– Comic Character Accuracy: How one portrays the character in relation to their origin.
– Unique Handling of the Character: Making the character their own, while embracing the origins.
– Efficiency: Are they able to handle themselves.
Solid Complimentary Heroes
40) Miss Martian
– I’m just kind of….trying to figure out her deal? She’s got a thing for J’onn J’onzz but she’s been just kind of a love interest for him. They missed the opportunity to make her a younger version, like what we’ve seen in “Young Justice”, where she was a teenager by Martian standards. That would of made her version more compelling, and gave us a different dynamic. Plus it would of given Kara someone to mentor, like Rip Hunter, Green Arrow and The Flash have all done. Huge wiff on that idea but on her own she still has some merit.
39) The Guardian
– I give them credit for doing what they did with Jimmy Olsen. Turning him into The Guardian, instead of Jim Harper (Eddie McClintock), was interesting and a way to misdirect the audience. For me, I love McClintock, especially with his work in “Warehouse 13”, so to see him get passed over for Olsen was rough for me personally. That being said, Olsen as The Guardian at least works. He’s in shape, a man of morals, and friends with someone who inspires him (Supergirl), it makes sense he’d pick up the shield. In a lot of ways he mirrors Steel in the Superman comics with the way he’s inspired to do something, despite not being powered by super abilities. That said his role as Guardian shouldn’t of fallen by the wayside in season three like it seemingly has.
38) Mon-El
– Ugh. So he’s not terrible, but he’s not great. He’s barely anything more than just a love interest for Kara, but he did bring in the idea of the The Legion, so we can’t completely dismiss him. He’s a solid fighter, but he’s a bit of a bitch. He was useless on Daxam, hid on Earth, took forever to stand up to his family, and then got sent off planet to save his life. Not exactly top hero marks. That being said he’s heroic-ish now, despite his lack of skills, and he’s returned to Earth after some time away in order to help Supergirl and others. So at least he’s done running from fights.
37) Ragman
– During his brief time with the team, he was useful with his magical rag suit (not being mean, but that’s literally what it was). His rag suit saved him from a nuclear blast, but then stopped working after a second nuke was contained by his rags. So I guess they had a one nuke limit. Ragman wasn’t much of an athlete or fighter, making him a liability on the team without the Rags. So when you think about what he offers sans the suit, you can’t argue that he’s not a top hero, or even close.
36) Saturn Girl
– While she just debuted on the series, she’s capable of time travel without fucking anything up, she (presumably) was able to cure Mon El, and even helped return Mon El to his time period. That right there makes her not shit. So, we’ll see if she stays there.
35) The Huntress
– Her run in the “Arrow” comics are more impressive than her run in the series, but you have to give some respect to the character. She’s a formidable assassin with her crossbow and didn’t need too much training from Oliver Queen before she became a real threat. Yet, her lack of appearances has hurt her standing when there’s so much to evaluate form other characters.
34) Firestorm I
– Oh boy. What can we even say about the Ronnie Raymond version of Firestorm? Sure, he and Ra’s Al-Arrow helped Barry take on The Reverse Flash, so that’s a huge point. However he spent most of his run on “The Flash” either not knowing who he was, or doing relatoinshipy things with Caitlin. So again, much like previous members on this list, he doesn’t have the same body of work as others. Also, with how often people “die” and come back in this universe, the fact that he died – twice in two different universes – is a huge bitch move.
33) Vigilante
– When I assembled this list, I didn’t know he was going to turn heel like he did and join the “Ensemble to Take Down Oliver Queen”. He’s been more of an anti-hero like Huntress, and went up against Prometheus, so that does help to a point. (Yes, I know it was actually Prometheus who was saving the life of Oliver Queen, but still.) His combat skills are fine, but nowhere near the level of some others.
32) Obsidian
– He’s the only member of the JSA to live for 40 plus years after they debuted. He was still alive in the late 80’s, and even showed he still had the ability to deal with villains. His powers include the Umbrakinesis, and no that’s not made up, which is some kind of shadow dimension he can control. That’s pretty fucking cool. Considering his abilities alone, he’s not to be taken lightly. However, little time to showcase what he can do. No fun.
31) Jonah Hex
– He’s constantly about to die, but his grit, his hatred of all things awful and his cool gun slinging mentality has him at #31. He’s also seen very fondly by Rip Hunter, who named his son after him (Jonas) due to Jonah’s renowned heroic work in the 1800’s. If you name your son after someone, that person probably didn’t suck at life.