One of the most satisfying arcs in a comic book story can be a redemption arc, and DC has translated this concept to the big and small screen on multiple occasions.As theDCUbegins to break new ground and open the door for a new era of storytelling from one of the most influential comic book brands of all time, it’s worth looking back and seeing some of the success they had in earlier projects.
Typically, superhero stories shine a light on the truly good characters, leading to harsh lines being drawn between good and evil. However, in recent years, the attention has shifted with a growing number of anti-heroes highlighting flawed, but still foundationally good characters.
And DC has been playing with this idea for some time.While the comics have explored anti-heroes for some time, the movies and shows are finally catching up and shining a spotlight on these complex characters. And the results are exciting. From the depths of darkness, theseDC characters have built a brighter futureand moved towards becoming heroes in their own right.
7Peacemaker
From Delusional Operative to Genuine Hero
Peacemaker began his career as a delusional and deeply damaged man.While he displays exemplary strength and power, thanks to some negative influences, Peacemaker aimed his anger and aggression at the wrong targets.
This led to the character being imprisoned with other high-level threats, before eventually being recruited as a part of the Suicide Squad.But it wasn’t until after his time with the Suicide Squad,and learning how people used and manipulated him, that he began to turn away from the dark and impulsive side of himself.
Throughout season 1 ofPeacemaker, the character shows incredible growth, breaking a cycle of abuse, and becoming accountable.Ultimately, with this change, he was able to get ahead of a threat that could have been disastrous for Earth and everyone on it. And now Peacemaker is a true hero.
6Harley Quinn
Breaking Free from Abuse to Forge a New Path
Harley Quinn is a little more complex, and her story starts before the DCEU actually picked up the character. Initially, Harley was a therapistworking at Arkham Asylum, but she found herself obsessing over the dangerous criminal, the Joker. This led to her becoming a faithful slave to Joker’s whims.
However,Harley was eventually able to see through the abusive,one-sided relationship that had been formed with her idol. This led to Harley forging a new path, teaming up with other morally gray vigilantes, and helping people in need.
By the time Harley is brought onto the team inThe Suicide Squad, she is clearly a heroic figure.While she remains unstable and quirky, she has her heart in the right place. And she is willing to take risks to save and protect the people that matter to her. Overall, Harley’s story of redemption is a slow but beautiful example of what is possible with these kinds of story arcs.
5Two-Face
A Glimpse of Heroism in a Tragic Sacrifice
Two-Face is one of the most interesting characters in the DC mythos.Originally, Harvey Dent was a popular District Attorney in Gotham who was working hard to eradicate the crime and corruption in the city. And eventually, he chose to run for Mayor of the city in hopes of doing even more good.
However, Harvey was attacked and had acid thrown in his face, which caused him to not only become physically deformed, but it altered his mental state.This led to Harvey Dent becoming a villain in Gotham known as Two-Face, who attempted to use luck and fortune to determine who should live and die, while he elected himself the executor in these scenarios.
After this clear fall from grace and change of heart, Harvey seemed irredeemable. However, when Barbara Gordon was put in danger at the end ofBatman: Caped Crusaderseason 1, Harvey sacrificed himself to save her life. Clearly,the good man that he had been was not completely lost, and he was able to return for long enough to do some good and conquer his darker half.
4Solomon Grundy
The Zombie Criminal’s Heroic Demise
In theanimatedJustice Leagueseriesthat ran between 2001 and 2004, there was a story arc revolving around Solomon Grundy.Grundy started life as a gruff and rough criminal, and when he died in a tragic incident, that should have been the end of his story. However, Grundy was revived as a soulless zombie.
However, when he was invited by heroes to help make a real difference and save the world from the monstrous Cthulhu, he jumped at the opportunity.
For some time after his return, Grundy continued to wreak havoc and terror to a greater extent than in his lifetime. However, when he was invited by heroes to help make a real difference and save the world from the monstrous Cthulhu, he jumped at the opportunity. During this encounter, he was fatally injured, but he died a hero.
Unfortunately, that again failed to be the end of his story, and Grundy was brought back again, this time without a mind.Hawkgirl was then forced to put down her newly redeemed friend,but the emotion and power of this story deserves a spot in the listings.
3Victor Freeze
A Cold Heart’s Ultimate Sacrifice for Good
Mr. Freeze was a prominent rival to Batman during the peak of his hero career in Gotham.And by the end of their conflict, Freeze was sentenced to extensive time in Arkham. However, decades later, inBatman Beyond, Victor Freeze had undergone a change of heart.
Of course, Bruce Wayne, having had several interactions with Freeze in his hayday, was wary of this idea, and believed it was a facade.And when Freeze was wronged by a new friend, it did lead to the aged villain embracing his less than honest ways once again.
However, when Freeze and the new Batman, Miguel O’Hara, are trapped in a building, he had the chance to save himself and let Batman die, or reverse those roles.Freeze opted for the latter, and he gave his life to protect Batman, ending his life on a high, and proving once and for all that he really had changed.
2Vandal Savage
Erasing His Own Existence for Redemption
In the animated DC film,Justice League, from 2001,Vandal Savage serves as the primary antagonistthroughout the film.However, the immortal villain finds himself working hand in hand with Superman when the hero arrives in the future and finds Savage alone at the end of time.
Savage was the one who brought about the destruction of the planet, and in the wake of his actions, it appears as though he recognized the evil of his ways. As a result,he chose to help Superman get back in time, and put a stop to his actions in the past.
But, of course, by changing the course of history,Savage was also putting himself on the line, as the altered timeline would result in the immortal ceasing to exist. It was an incredible act of self-sacrifice, and while it took the end of the world to learn his lesson, Savage’s repentance is sincere.
1Bloodsport
From Mercenary to Selfless Ally
Bloodsport is a complex figure who rose to prominence because of his extraordinary skills as an assassin.As a result, he was ultimately hired to kill Superman, and equipped with a kryptonite bullet to do the job. However, Superman proved the one contract he couldn’t complete, and he ended up in Belle Reve.
When the opportunity to cut time off his sentence came up with Task Force X, Bloodsport took the opportunity, but in the course of serving what could have been a suicide mission, he made genuine friends, and experienced a change of heart that saw him stand up for right and wrong.
Bloodsport went from a contract killer who cared little for anything but getting paid, to fighting for the rights, lives, and well-being of others. And again, he highlights some of the incredible story arcs possible in theDC Universewhen adapting the source material.
