Most Underrated Superheroes of All Time

Being a superhero is often a thankless job. Most dedicate their time, resources, and even their lives to helping others, all without pay. It can be especially challenging for those with powers that aren’t always useful, but they persevere anyway. Despite their efforts, many heroes remain unappreciated and don’t receive the praise they deserve.

It really frustrates me when I see amazing heroes overlooked! Sometimes they just get lost in the crowd because they feel too much like other heroes we already know. Other times, what made them special gets lost when they’re adapted for different media. Honestly, there are so many underrated heroes out there who deserve way more recognition and respect, and I wish more people would give them a chance!

Most Underrated Superheroes

Just to be clear, when we say ‘underrated’ here, we’re talking about how these heroes are seen in movies, TV, and general pop culture – not necessarily how they’re portrayed in the original comic books. We’re also excluding superheroes who are meant to be funny or aren’t taken seriously by other characters (like Deadpool!). Finally, this list doesn’t include heroes who used to be considered a joke but have since become popular and respected, like Aquaman after the recent Jason Momoa movies – he’s no longer just ‘the guy who talks to fish’ to most people.

Green Arrow

While many ordinary people become heroes in the DC Universe, Green Arrow is often unfairly seen as a less impressive version of Batman. This comparison makes sense, as both heroes are wealthy orphans who rely on technology to fight crime. The main difference, though, is that Green Arrow prefers using bow and arrow – essentially, advanced tools on a stick. However, Green Arrow wasn’t always like this; he originally started as a very different character.

When Green Arrow first appeared in 1941, he was portrayed as an adventurous archaeologist, much like Indiana Jones. He became skilled with a bow and arrow through studying Native American cultures and their hunting methods. However, he was also a proficient fighter with swords and shields, capable of protecting his museum from thieves. Interestingly, his secret base, the Arrow Cave, was established nearly a year before the Bat-Cave.

Later writers changed Oliver Queen’s story, turning him into just another wealthy, carefree superhero. It took decades for Green Arrow to be reimagined as a hero like Robin Hood, but by then, the original details were largely forgotten. Even with increased popularity from shows like Smallville and Arrow, many people still see Oliver Queen as simply a copy of Batman.

The Wasp

While Marvel Comics revolutionized superheroes in the 1960s, its female characters were often poorly developed. Major superhero teams typically included only one woman, and she consistently had the least powerful abilities. These characters were also one-dimensional, primarily defined by their desire for romance. Among them, Janet Van Dyne, known as The Wasp, faced the most significant shortcomings in this regard.

Although she was one of the original Avengers, The Wasp often wasn’t treated with the same level of respect as her teammates. This wasn’t just about gender bias; Janet Van Dyne was frequently portrayed as a shallow, fashion-focused woman. Even though she became a hero to honor her father, she was often seen as someone simply indulging in a hobby alongside her boyfriend. Her powers – the ability to shrink and fly – weren’t always depicted as very powerful, which also contributed to this perception.

Later stories expanded on Janet’s character, showing her as both a brilliant strategist and the emotional center of The Avengers. She wasn’t just a hero, though; she also became a successful entrepreneur. Her passion for fashion led her to become a renowned designer, and she even created specialized uniforms for other superheroes.

Sadly, some writers continued to depict her as shallow and unintelligent. It’s also telling that her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt like an addition made later on. Even though the films later established she could survive for decades alone in the Quantum Realm, Janet Van Dyne wasn’t originally planned to be a significant character, despite her long history and importance in the original comics.

Martian Manhunter

J’onn J’onzz, also known as the Martian Manhunter, is a central figure in the Justice League’s history. He not only started the team but remained a consistent member through every version until the New 52 comics. However, despite his long-standing dedication, he often didn’t receive the same recognition as other heroes on the team.

Martian Manhunter isn’t overlooked because he lacks strength or ability – he’s actually as powerful as Superman. He can fly, has super strength, and possesses the added abilities of telepathy and shapeshifting. Plus, he’s a skilled detective, making him a unique combination of Batman’s intellect and Superman’s power.

There are two main reasons why the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz, isn’t a very popular character. First, he’s mostly known from appearances in the Justice League animated series and the Supergirl TV show. Second, despite being incredibly powerful, his vulnerability to fire is a significant weakness. As Batman pointed out in Justice League: The New Frontier, defeating Superman required a costly piece of Kryptonite, but with J’onn, all it takes is something as cheap as a book of matches.

Hercules

As a longtime movie critic, I’ve seen a lot of takes on mythological heroes, and Hercules is definitely up there as one of the most popular. He wasn’t the first – plenty of figures predated him – but he’s been adapted into so many things: films, TV shows, even a classic Disney cartoon. It’s actually a little surprising, then, that when Marvel brought him into their universe, he’s often played for laughs. It feels like a bit of a disservice to a character with such a rich history.

It’s true that Hercules was often portrayed as a lighter, more humorous character than Thor, which shaped how people saw him. He first appeared in The Avengers because of a plot involving Thor’s foe, the Enchantress. This led to Hercules being exiled from Olympus, similar to how Thor’s journey as a superhero began with his banishment from Asgard. Unfortunately, this didn’t change the perception among many comic book fans that Hercules was simply a stand-in for Thor.

Hercules is quite different from Thor. Although Thor has a wider variety of abilities, he admits Hercules is physically stronger. Despite often acting like a comical figure, Hercules is a genuinely heroic character with thousands of years of experience. He’s so dedicated to being a hero that even when he lost his powers, he continued fighting crime using magical weapons he’d collected over the years. However, many people still see him as simply a comical imitation of Thor.

Black Canary

Black Canary deserves to be a major DC Comics superhero. She’s part of a rare mother-daughter hero lineage and, depending on the story, was even a founding member of the Justice League. She’s proven herself as a strong leader, heading both the Justice League and the Birds of Prey, and is one of DC’s best martial artists. Despite all of this, she’s often unfairly defined by her relationship with Green Arrow, seen as his girlfriend or sidekick instead of the hero she is.

Black Canary’s story has always gone through phases. She began as a sidekick to Johnny Thunder in 1947, but quickly became popular enough to take the lead in Flash Comics. After joining the Justice Society of America, she sometimes faded into the background amongst other heroes. This led to a pattern of her having solo adventures, only to eventually rejoin a team. Whether you consider her relationship with Oliver Queen or not, Dinah Lance consistently finds herself working with a partner or as part of a group.

It appears this pattern has continued with Black Canary’s appearances in movies and TV shows. While Black Canary – considering both Dinah Lance and Dinah Drake – has been portrayed in live-action nearly a dozen times, she’s usually part of a larger group and rarely takes center stage. Often, these on-screen versions differ significantly from her comic book counterpart, with the character of Laurel Lance from Arrow – a lawyer with no other defining traits – being a prime example.

How we chose the Most Underrated Superheroes

We created this list by comparing how well-known superheroes are to their history in comic books. We focused on characters who have a strong record in comics but aren’t widely popular or recognized. We also included those often seen as copies of other heroes or just sidekicks, even though they’ve proven themselves as capable solo stars.

2025-11-13 04:49