Highlights
- Blackhawk: Last seen 67 years ago, this classic character has been forgotten by DC Comics, stuck in obscurity despite its influence.
- Hitman: Despite being a memorable and charismatic assassin character, Hitman has stayed dead for 17 years in the DC Universe.
- Kal-L (Superman of Earth-Two): Once a popular hero, this original version of Superman has been left behind for grittier reboots, a character of the past.
Some important or memorable DC Comics characters haven’t been under the limelight in recent memory. Whether these characters have been absent for a few years or decades, it’s a shame to see them go, with no clear intention on whether they will be brought back or not. After all, DC Comics is still somewhat recovering from its New 52 reboot, where characters like Wally West’s Flash were gone for years, only to come back and bring along the entire cast of characters from Watchmen with him.
Whether they be hero or villain, amazing DC Comics characters always deserve well-written dialogue, action, and art, but it seems these characters have seen the sunset, and it’s unclear if they will be used again. Perhaps the likes of the DCU will boost them into popularity like Peacemaker, but fate is ever uncertain for some fan favorite and obscure DC Comics characters.
5 Blackhawk
Last Seen 67 Years Ago
- First Appearance: Military Comics #1 (August, 1941)
- Last Appearance: Blackhawk #107 (December, 1956)
Before DC Comics had the character, Blackhawk was a part of Quality Comics, a publication from 1937 to 1956. Blackhawk was one of the many characters owned by Quality Comics, and they helped to influence the Golden Age of comics. Blackhawk himself is a disambiguous title given to many characters across the DC Universe, but the original and first Blackhawk, the one who fought Nazis during World War 2, has not been seen in decades.
It was only in the past few years that DC announced Steven Spielberg was attached to direct a Blackhawk movie, but with nothing but radio silence on the live-action front, it seems that Blackhawk is set to stay in the obscurity of the Golden Age, especially after being erased from the DC timeline with Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, the recent Dark Crisis event of Rebirth could bring this version back. After all, the Blackhawks are now a title of soldiers following Lady Blackhawk, but no original in sight.
4 Hitman
Last Seen 17 Years Ago
- First Appearance: The Demon Annual Vol 3 #2 (November, 1993)
- Last Appearance: JLA/Hitman Vol 1 #2 (December, 2007)
Hitman is one of the rare characters in DC Comics that has died and stayed dead. The character has been laid to rest thanks to Garth Ennis, and it seems that he won’t be coming back unless the creators themselves decide to do so. There’s a great selection of Hitman comics from DC Comics, and the telepathic assassin may be a killer, but he’s one with such charisma that even he has good standing with the superhero community, to the point where he’s even worked with the Justice League and the titanic Superman.
Despite the multiverse receiving a reboot and various new timelines, Hitman has not returned, and Tommy Monaghan seems to be a retired character. With a violent charm to his attitude and profession, Hitman has been cast in many opportunities during his time in and out of Gotham City.
3 Mister Bloom
Last Seen 2 Years Ago
- First Appearance: Batman Vol 2 #43 (October, 2015)
- Last Appearance: Task Force Z #12 (November, 2022)
Mister Bloom was a brand-new Batman villain, introduced at a time when Bruce Wayne was no longer Batman, and it was actually James Gordon who held the mantle of the Bat. Mister Bloom was a terrifying villain, and the horror aspects of his villainy were a sight to behold. He was as if Slender Man and Poison Ivy rolled into one entity, yet somehow, even creepier than that.
Despite his strong appearance, Mister Bloom wasn’t seen for years, and the 7-year hiatus from his supposed death was one that people didn’t expect to last, like all comic deaths. Yet, his recent appearances in Task Force Z show that Mister Bloom is indeed dead, and whilst it’s still recent since his last appearance, it’s doubtful that he will return, even after 2 years.
2 Sideways
Last Seen 2 Years Ago
- First Appearance: Sideways #1 (April, 2018)
- Last Appearance: Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5 (October, 2022)
It’s common for new heroes to fail in a world dominated by the likes of icons such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. It’s a shame, as Sideways had some great youth and optimism to make him a rendition of DC Comics’ own Spider-Man. Yet, Sideways didn’t last long in the DC Universe and has not been heard from since 2019, despite a cameo appearance in the Justice League’sDark Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Sideways was a fairly cool concept, as this up-and-coming hero was able to create rifts that could have him leap through dimensions with ease. This ability was fairly unique to the hero, allowing him to travel fast and far on Earth through the creation of these portals. His personality was vibrant and fun, but it seemed he was not set to last.
1 Kal-L (Superman of Earth-Two)
Last Seen 9 Years Ago
- First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (June,1938)
- Last Appearance: Convergence: Action Comics #2 (July, 2015)
Nobody could have predicted just how powerful and popular Superman would be back in 1938. Constant story shuffling and introductions of new characters forced Superman to be rebooted into a larger world with other heroes, leaving the original version of Superman, the Golden Age version, reduced to an Earth-Two counterpart. Still with the heroics and wonders of the Golden Age, Kal-L was one of the very best, a pinnacle of superheroes.
Yet, the character has not been used for decades, left behind for new modern and gritty tellings of the Man of Steel. This version of Superman fought for truth, justice, and the American way, and even led the charge against the Anti-Monitor in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Earth-Two Superman used to play a large part in DC Comics, but he has since been laid to rest.
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