From the very beginning, the DC Comics Universe has relied not only on its trinity of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, but countless other heroes, team-ups, crossovers, and events. But between the massive team-based books and solo adventures, there lies the real hideen gem: a two-way partnership or dynamic duo, allowing for anything from romance, to political differences, to stories that changed the medium.
DC's heroic partnerships cover a lot of ground, with some being more volatile, while others are simply wholesome. The company continues to experiment with these team-ups, as seen in comic book series like The Brave and the Bold, a title dedicated to unusual and enjoyable partnerships. From best friends fighting crime together, to husband and wife teams against the forces of evil, these are the best, brightest, and most iconic team-ups in DC history.
10 Constantine & Swamp Thing, DC's Two Biggest Loners
First sharing a story in the pages of Swamp Thing #37, John Constantine and Alec Holland's iteration of the Swamp Thing formed an imperfect but effective team from the jump. Both characters share a streak of self-pity and solitude that, ultimately, made them a great pairing, even if it isn't always a friendly one.
The relationship between Swamp Thing and Constantine is arguably the most contentious friendship in DC, but their partnership has saved the world of magic more than once. Quite often, the dark mage is the only one who can convince the Avatar of the Green to aid humanity, and their shared stories delve into the heart of horror and the occult.
9 Hawkman & Atom, The League's Biggest & Smallest
Of all the partnerships in comics, Hawkman and Atom make for one of the strangest ones. On the surface, the pair's powers aren't particularly complimentary, with one often being depicted as an aggressive warrior to the other's scientific adventurer. Below the surface, however, their alter egos, Ray Palmer and Carter Hall, are both intelligent adventurers with scientific minds, and their shared stories often played up their strengths.
Hawkman and Atom first formed their partnership during the Silver Age, facing off against threats like Gentleman Ghost and Shadow Thief. The heroic partnership are at their best when they delve into cosmic adventure or mythological fantasy, with their combined minds and powers making them a key team for the sci-fi side of DC. For a good look at how well they work together, Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch's series is a great place to start.
Hawkman its the Dark Side-Effect of His Reincarnation Powers
Hawkman's ability to reincarnate has helped him survive the eons, but now the Winged Wonder has revealed it comes a huge, and bleak, down side.
8 Green Lantern & The Flash, A Multi-Generational Legacy
Green Lantern and Flash are among DC's oldest mantles, so it only makes sense that there would be a shared history between them. The two heroes also led the way for the Silver Age, with Barry Allen and Hal Jordan's creation signaling a move towards younger, science fiction-themed heroes who broadened the DCU. Both co-founders of the JLA, their history runs deeper than most, and stories like Mark Waid, Tom Peyer and Barry Kitson's The Brave and the Bold miniseries.
The Green Lantern and Flash mantles share an impressive overlap, with each character historically ing the torch within only a few years of one another, allowing fresh friendships between them. Forming one of the closest friendships in comics, the combination of hard light constructs with super speed has made for a particularly formidable partnership.
7 Batman & Robin, The Dynamic Duo
First working together in the pages of Detective Comics #38, Batman and Robin have been the standard-bearers of the superhero/sidekick dynamic for decades. Bringing down threats like Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Poison Ivy, the pair made for one of the most iconic aspects of Golden Age comics. Robin didn't just work as a great scout, spy and investigator alongside the Caped Crusader, he also allowed younger readers to imagine themselves going along for the adventure.
Although Batman's relationship with his wards is typically imperfect and flawed, his original surrogate father dynamic with Dick Grayson remains one of his most wholesome traits. In recent years, Bruce has worked alongside his son, Damian Wayne, as the new mainstay Robin, though their relationship has been considerably more adversarial.
6 Hawk & Dove, The Package Deal
Best known for representing the political divide in the United States, Hawk and Dove form a dynamic team of heroes who, despite their differences, work together to fight criminals and super villains. The typical story focusing on the pair will explore how their different philosophical approaches to heroism clash, while also helping them learn the value of each other's opinion. Where Dove is a more restrained, diplomatic hero, Hawk is more aggressive, taking a might-makes-right position.
Hawk and Dove have managed to maintain a great relationship since their debut, owing to the fact that they've slowly learned the value of differing opinions. The heroes make for a great analogy of real world debate, and the best writers have shown that both positions can have merit depending on the situation. Ultimately, they're a metaphor for unity in spite of difference.
Spider-Man Co-Creator Steve Ditko Was Also a DC Visionary, and These 10 Great Characters Prove It
Although best ed as the co-creator of Spider-Man, Steve Ditko also helped create a number of DC Universe icons as well.
5 Black Canary & Green Arrow, Forever
Black Canary and Green Arrow first became a couple during Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams' Green Lantern run, something DC built on in later Green Arrow stories. Both characters share a rebellious, street-level history, often being on the outs with other superheroes due to being voices of opposition to some of the A-listers. They're often seen working together on thee Justice League, but their best stories see them patrolling the streets together.
Black Canary and Green Arrow make for one of DC's most treasured couples, while also forming a great street-level team of vigilantes. Romantically, they're more successful and wholesome than Batman and Catwoman could ever be, and as a heroic partnership, they bring shared values and skills to the table.
4 Green Lantern & Green Arrow, Hard-Traveling Heroes
Green Lantern and Green Arrow became one of DC's greatest duo's when Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams paired them up for their "Hard-Traveling Heroes" era. These stories followed the friends as they tackled social injustice and neglect, taking on everything from bigotry to drug addiction. The typical story would see them encounter a social ill, and debate the best way forward, with Hal often focusing on personal responsibility and following the law as Ollie was more comionate. In the end, they'd always come together to do the right thing.
Green Lantern and Green Arrow form the same dynamic of the World's Finest in pairing a cosmic superhero with a street-level vigilante, though their personalities are inverted. Where Batman is the stoic, by-the-book foil to Superman's hopeful hero, Green Lantern's status as a space-based lawman clashes with Green Arrow's progressivism. While this is a source of tension in many of their stories, it also prevents either hero from having a blind spot, with one often helping the other overcome their biases.
3 Booster Gold & Blue Beetle (AKA Blue & Gold)
Despite completely different histories, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle have become a fan-favorite friendship ever since their time on the Justice League team during the 1980s. Where one is a fame-seeking hero from the future seeking his fortune, the other is among the world's greatest inventors. Together, they form the "Blue & Gold" team, bonded by a shared love of capitalism, technology and adventure.
Booster Gold and Ted Kord form a goofy, wholesome friendship and partnership, with their tech-based roots making them an excellent team. Together, the pair have a penchant for causing some of their worst problems, but they always come through in the end, with Kord bringing out the hero in his entrepreneurial best friend.
1 Booster Gold Line Finally Convinced Me the Underrated Justice League Hero Deserves a Comeback
There's some real humanity behind Booster Gold's antics, and I appreciate the depiction of a superhero with depression that isn't grim and gritty.
2 Mister Miracle & Big Barda, DC's Strongest Marriage (Literally)
Jack Kirby's New Gods introduced readers to a race of powerful cosmic beings who, through their connection to the Source, developed abilities beyond any other species. Among these beings are Mister Miracle and Big Barda, two characters with a shared hatred for the cruelty of Apokolips, which both heroes experienced up close and personal.
Big Barda and Mister Miracle form a partnership on three key fronts: Professionally, in their escapology act, romantically through marriage and in their duties as superheroes. In Barda, Scott Free has his biggest fan and champion, just as she has a heroic husband who built a wholesome life in suburbia, far from the horrors of Apokolips.
1 Batman & Superman, The World's Finest
In the world of superhero comics, there are few partnerships as enduring, significant and effective as the World's Finest: Batman and Superman. While many readers may think of the Trinity as the go-to premier DC partnership, the truth is the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel have enjoyed their best adventures as a duo. This is in large part due to just how far back their alliance goes, dating all the way to the 1950s.
Batman and Superman have shared adventures through time, space and the dimensions of existence, facing off against demons, imps, gods and monsters. When it comes to finding the best, most effective and unbeatable team in comics, it's hard to find something more iconic than the World's Finest.
