The history of the DC Universe is filled with heroes who ventured to the dark side. Whether it was Green Lantern becoming the terrifying cosmic threat Parallax or Jason Todd coming back to life as the murderous vigilante Red Hood, heroes turning into villains isn’t an uncommon sight.
As the Dawn of DC initiative chugs along, the DCU’s heroes have been through some arduous trials and dark days may be ahead for some. Read on to discover 10 heroes who could go bad in the near future.
10 Catwoman’s Attempt to Do Good Might Send Her Back to Evil
Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War – Scorched Earth, Chip Zdarsky, Tini Howard, Mike Hawthorne, and Nikola Čižmešija
It can’t be said that Catwoman hasn’t tried to be a hero in recent years. Selina Kyle genuinely tried to help Gotham with a new organization that retrained low-level criminals and henchmen to curb street crime. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain thanks to her operation being stolen by Vandal Savage. “Gotham War” ended with Selina losing everything, from her organization to her closest allies. Though she survived falling into a pit created by a strange meteorite, who knows how it affected her, or what she’ll do now that her effort to save Gotham has been an utter waste.
9 Harley Quinn is a Multiversal Threat in Waiting
Harley Quinn, Tini Howard and Sweeney Boo
Similar to Catwoman, Harley Quinn has left her villainous ways behind (though she still gets into chaotic situations quite frequently). The current run of Harley Quinn sees Harley gain an amazing new power: The ability to steal things from other dimensions. However, her power got the attention of DC’s cosmic guardian, Lady Quark, who sternly warned against Harley using this power lest she endanger the barriers of the multiverse. All Harley wants is for things to go back to normal, but her powers could potentially take her down a path that turns her into a full-blown cosmic threat.
8 Freddy Freeman Could Betray His Family to Become Shazam
Shazam!, Mark Waid and Dan Mora
The Shazam Family’s numbers were whittled down considerably when Billy Batson and Mary Bromfield became the only magic heroes among their siblings. While everyone wants to be a hero again, no one desires it more than Freddy, who seems bitter and rejected that his family isn’t helping him find a way to regain his powers. At the same time, Billy’s magic alter ego, the Captain, has been under the control of the six deities that he gets his Shazam powers from. After Billy defied the gods, Freddy immediately stepped up to claim the power for himself, potentially putting himself at odds with his family.
7 Superman’s Son Osul-Ra Could Revive a Mad God
Action Comics, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Rafa Sandoval
Osul-Ra is the adopted son of Superman and half of the newest superhero duo, the Super Twins. Clark rescued Osul on Warworld, but before Superman brought the boy home, the hero used a magical artifact known as the Fire of Olgrun to revive Osul after he was murdered. The Fire is one aspect of the Mad God Olgrun, and Superman has been warned of the danger he’s placed Osul. The New Gods and Cyborg Superman have both claimed that Osul will not be able to hold back the power within him and that the results could be devastating for the world.
6 Flash’s Worst Nightmare May Become a Reality
Knight Terrors: Flash, Alex Paknadel and Daniel Bayliss
Barry Allen is one of the nicest people to ever gain super-speed. But Knight Terrors revealed a potentially dark future for the Fastest Man Alive. In Barry Allen’s dream, he struggled against the Speed Force as he repeatedly traveled back in time to save Wally West’s life. However, his repeated fighting with the Speed Force turned Barry into a terrifying beast. While that was just a dream, the real Wally has detected several anomalies in the Speed Force that are causing him physical pain when using his powers. It seems that Barry’s dark dream could come to pass, potentially changing him as well.
5 Tempest is Close to Losing Himself To Evil
Titans, Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott
Unfortunately for the founding Teen Titan, Garth’s turn to villainy may already be set in stone. Rather than re-team with the new and improved Titans, Tempest chose to ally himself with Brother Blood, now calling himself Brother Eternity. Though it seemed like Eternity had turned over a new leaf, he was actually the host of a sinister alien being. Worse, Eternity spread his infection to Garth. Now under the control of Eternity, Garth has returned to join his teammates, only to turn others into double agents like himself. He’s already turned Flash’s wife, Linda, and could potentially turn others as well.
4 Superman Has a Secret Connection to Brainiac
Knight Terrors: Superman, Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly
The world’s biggest nightmare scenario might have already been revealed in Knight Terrors. Like the rest of the world, Superman fell to Insomnia’s sleep spell, but thankfully his sleeping body was recovered by Aquaman and his allies. Aquaman scanned Superman to check for anomalies but missed a Brainiac symbol briefly showing up on an X-ray of Clark’s skull. Brainiac has been building to something throughout the Dawn of DC initiative, though his grand plan has yet to be revealed. Could turning the Man of Steel against the Earth factor into Brainiac’s ultimate goal?
3 Beast Boy is Going Wild with His Ultimate Transformation
Titans: Beast World, Tom Taylor and Ivan Reis
Fans keyed into the upcoming events of the DC Universe already know what dark turn awaits for Beast Boy. Garfield Logan plays a huge role in the upcoming “Beast World” crossover, and to help save the Earth from a being known as the Necrostar, Beast Boy is pushing his powers to become a Starro the Conqueror-like monster. But by the sound of things, it only gets worse for the hero from there. Not only is Garfield going to lose control in his new form, but he’s going to spread spores that transform the DC Universe into a world of animal hybrids. If Garfield can regain his humanity, will he be able to accept how his actions have changed the Earth?
2 Green Lantern is Close to Becoming Zombified
Green Lantern: War Journal, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Montos
Green Lantern John Stewart is more powerful than ever, but unfortunately, he’s not immune to a classic zombie infection. A sinister, new threat known as the Radiant Dead has arrived in the DC Universe and they spread via killing and contagion. During a recent battle, he was stabbed by a Green Lantern who’d been turned by the Radiant Dead. By the time John realizes what’s happened, the infection has already set in. John has only mere minutes to figure out how to cure himself. Otherwise, he’s about to become the Radiant Dead’s most powerful asset.
1 Batman is Halfway to Becoming a Villain
Batman, Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez
The Dark Knight has been pushing himself for months, and part of that is the fault of his twisted alternate persona, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. In the last few months of his life, Zur has influenced Batman to become more intense and unhinged, not to mention isolated from the rest of the Bat-Family. Zur-En-Arrh seems to have a master plan to assume control of Batman’s body for good. And if he succeeds, the DC Universe is going to have a Batman who has no regard for life and is willing to kill anyone he must to eradicate crime for good.
Who knows which DC Comics character could be the next to break bad, but by the looks of things, these 10 heroes have the greatest chances.
