Over the years, DC Comics has been home to a multitude of series and stories that are beyond loved by their fanbase. Stories like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, and Kingdom Come are widely regarded by the overall fandom as being some of the best stories by the publisher. However, not every book published by DC has enjoyed such a warm reputation over the years, and more than a few of them have been regarded as controversial by readers.

These comics weren’t afraid to be bold or subversive, making major changes to the DC Universe or exploring what-if scenarios. However, their willingness to push boundaries kept them from being as beloved as more mainstream titles, as their narratives and characters often strayed from the familiar path. While many of these books have their defenders, they are ed for their more polarizing moments, which divided readership. These are some of DC Comics' most controversial comics.

10 All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder (2005)

Created by Frank Miller and Jim Lee

Released as part of DC's "All-Star" imprint, which allowed top creators in the industry to revisit some of the publisher's most iconic characters without the constraint of continuity, All Star Batman and Robin was set to retell the origin story of the Dynamic Duo. Frank Miller, setting this story in the same universe as his previous Batman books such as The Dark Knight Returns, tells the story of Batman abducting a young Dick Grayson after the deaths of his parents. Miller's book also features the larger DC Universe trying to contend with Batman's darker and more brutal actions.

All Star Batman and Robin immediately proved controversial upon its release, with Miller's writing accentuating the darker, more violent aspects of the Dark Knight, having Bruce treat everyone around him, including Dick Grayson, exceptionally harshly. Additionally, the story was called out for its treatment of female characters, as well as its callous violence. An inconsistent release schedule hurt the book as well, leading to it remaining unfinished to this day.

9 Heroes in Crisis (2018)

Created by Tom King and Clay Mann

Published as a limited series, Heroes in Crisis tells a murder mystery against the backdrop of the Sanctuary, a mental health facility created by the Justice League. When a massacre kills the patients, Booster Gold and Harley Quinn find themselves as the prime suspects, forced to clear their names and discover who was really behind the tragedy. Additionally, the story sought to deal with themes of mental health and trauma within the lives of superheroes.

Heroes in Crisis' murder mystery, as well as the revelation that Wally West was the murderer, distracted from and undermined the story's professed themes of mental health and trauma. As a result, the way the story is told can feel like it is at odds with its central theme, leading to a strong sense of disconnect. Additionally, Wally West's role was received with much ire, and his involvement in Heroes in Crisis would eventually be the subject of a retcon to successfully salvage his character.

8 Identity Crisis (2004)

Created by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales

Identity Crisis, released in 2004, saw the Justice League embroiled in the murder of Elongated Man's wife, Sue Dibny. Complicating matters further is the fact that the loved ones of various superheroes are being targeted as well. As the League attempts to find the culprit, secrets from their past come back to haunt them, shattering friendships and trust within the Justice League by the end.

Identity Crisis’ story, which reveals that Zatanna and other Justice League mindwiped villains during the League’s Satellite Era, adds a layer of darkness that makes future stories featuring its central characters feel unsettling. By the end, none of them come across as truly good people. The immediate success of Identity Crisis at the time of its publication led to the DC Universe having a darker tone, with many of its characters following suit. For better and for worse, the ramifications of Identity Crisis are still felt by the DC Universe to this day.

7 Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013)

Created by Tom Taylor, Brian Buccelato, et al.

Written as a tie-in prequel to the 2013 video game, Injustice: Gods Among Us is an alternate universe that follows a version of Superman who transforms from hero to dictator. The series begins with the Joker’s plot against Superman, which leads to the Man of Steel killing the Clown Prince of Crime. This act fractures the DC Universe, sparking a divide between heroes as Superman establishes his regime. Meanwhile, Batman forms a resistance to stop his former friend and the oppressive rule he’s set in motion.

Injustice is a highly successful series, but the core premise is marred by not being true to its characters. It's hard to believe that Superman would break so easily and become a tyrant, especially given that the character is supposed to represent goodness and hope. While there are some constraints on the book, due to its nature as a video game tie-in, the changes made to iconic characters feel cruel and harsh, making them feel like lesser versions of themselves.

6 JLA: Act of God (2000)

Created by Doug Moench and Dave Ross

Published as a part of DC's Elseworlds imprint, JLA: Act of God imagines a world where the many superheroes of the DC Universe lose their powers due to the Black Light event. As a result, many superheroes of the DC Universe question their lives and their superhero identities, finding themselves changed by the loss of their powers. Meanwhile, non-powered heroes such as Batman find themselves as the new figureheads of the superhero community as a result.

While there are genuinely moving scenes in JLA: Act of God, such as Billy Batson trying to activate his powers to no avail, the story instead focuses on the ways its central characters fall into self-pity without their powers. The depiction of Superman in this story is the clearest example of this, as the loss of his powers is written to affect him in a way that feels inconsistent with his character. Additionally, the story places Batman on a high pedestal, glorifying him at the expense of the rest of the DC Universe.

5 Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War (2023)

Created by Chip Zdarsky, Tini Howard, Jorge Jiminez, Nico DeLeon, et al.

A crossover between Chip Zdarsky's Batman and Tini Howard's Catwoman, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War focuses on Selina Kyle trying to solve violent crime in Gotham by teaching the henchmen of Gotham's most notorious criminals to become master thieves, only stealing from the rich. Her solution to crime causes a rift to form between Batman and the Bat-Family, as they begin to fight over the merits of Catwoman's plan. In the background, Batman continues to fight against his dark background personality, Zur-En-Arrh, and how it influences him to take darker actions.

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War centers on a growing conflict within the Bat-Family but fails to provide a solid justification for the divide, leaving no one looking good by the end. Batman, still partially under Zur's influence, acts with exceptional cruelty, most notably altering Jason Todd’s mind without his consent, marking one of his most unforgivable betrayals. The portrayal of Batman’s ing cast also drew significant criticism from readers, further fueling the story’s controversy.

4 Justice League: Cry for Justice (2009)

Created by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli

Released after Grant Morrison's Final Crisis, Justice League: Cry for Justice sees Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and other of the Justice League decide to take a more proactive approach to crime fighting. They go after the remaining of the Secret Society, which ends up putting them on the trail of Prometheus. But Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen end up falling right into Prometheus's trap, which results in the destruction of Star City.

Justice League: Cry for Justice sees its heroes acting cruelly, such as engaging in the use of torture to obtain information from the villains they interrogate. These actions also prove to be hardly effective in the story, making the cruelty of their actions even more apparent. The story garnered further controversy for its depiction of Roy Harper, who loses his arm to Prometheus and suffers the devastating loss of his daughter, Lian, when Star City is destroyed. Despite receiving accolades, Cry for Justice remains one of the most divisive stories among readers.

3 Doomsday Clock (2017)

Created by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

Doomsday Clock brought characters from Alan Moore’s Watchmen into the DC Universe as they searched for Doctor Manhattan to restore their world. Meanwhile, the heroes of the DC Universe faced widespread public distrust due to the "Superman Theory," which suggested the U.S. government was secretly creating its own superheroes. These two narratives intertwined, revealing Doctor Manhattan’s role in reshaping DC's history following the launch of the New 52.

Doomsday Clock initially garnered controversy for its premise of crossing over the worlds of Watchmen and the larger DC Universe, due to the differing tones of both. Additionally, the series was hurt by delays and an inconsistent release schedule, which affected the pacing of the story's plot. Doctor Manhattan's characterization and how he affects the DC Universe are also inconsistent with his characterization and powers in the original Watchmen, generating more ire from readers of Watchmen.

2 Countdown to Final Crisis (2007)

Created by Paul Dini, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, et al.

Published weekly as a lead-in to Final Crisis, Countdown to Final Crisis explored the DC Universe in the buildup to the crossover. The series followed multiple characters and intersecting storylines, centering on a search for Ray Palmer across the multiverse. It also highlighted the growing multiversal tensions leading up to Final Crisis, as well as Darkseid's looming influence over the event.

However, Countdown to Final Crisis struggled under the weight of its expansive cast, leaving many storylines underdeveloped. The series was widely criticized for poor characterization and its handling of numerous converging plotlines. Ultimately, Final Crisis disregarded most of Countdown's events, making the tie-in largely irrelevant to understanding the main crossover.

1 Amazons Attack! (2007)

Created by Will Pfeifer and Pete Woods

Following the events of Infinite Crisis, Amazons Attack sees the Amazons attacking Washington D.C. due to the capture of Wonder Woman. This results in an all-out war between the Amazons (led by a newly resurrected Hippolyta and aided by Circe) and the United States and the entirety of man's world. The story eventually reveals that Circe orchestrated the entire invasion as a plot for revenge against Athena, who is revealed to have been replaced and impersonated by Granny Goodness at the end of the series.

Despite Wonder Woman prominently appearing in the promotional material, she barely appears in the series itself. The story garnered further controversy for its depictions of the Amazons, being inconsistent with their prior characterization in other books. Additionally, Granny Goodness's role in the series lacks any buildup and remains unexplained in future stories, contributing to its status as one of DC's most controversial storylines.