Every year since 1935, DC has introduced hundreds of new characters in the pages of their comics. Only the most memorable have endured the test of time, weathering the decades to become household names and beloved fan favorites. But who’s the most successful character to come out of each year of DC’s history?
I did some number crunching based on cultural impact and frequency of appearances… and came up with this list.
1935: Doctor Occult
Debut: New Fun Comics #6
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
Recommended Reading: The Books of Magic
1936: Pep Morgan
Debut: New Fun Comics #12
Creator: Creig Flessel
Recommended Reading: Action Comics #1
1937: Slam Bradley
Debut: Detective Comics #1
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
Recommended Reading: Trail of the Catwoman
1938: Superman
Debut: Action Comics #1
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
Recommended Reading: Superman: The Golden Age
1939: Batman
Debut: Detective Comics #27
Creators: Bob Kane, Bill Finger
Recommended Reading: Batman: Year One
The 1940s
1940: Dick Grayson
Debut: Detective Comics #38
Creators: Bob Kane, Bill Finger
Recommended Reading: Robin: Year One
1941: Wonder Woman
Debut: All-Star Comics #8
Creators: William Moulton Marston, Harry G. Peter
Recommended Reading: Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka
1942: Two-Face
Debut: Detective Comics #66
Creators: Bob Kane, Bill Finger
Recommended Reading: Batman: The Long Halloween
1943: Alfred Pennyworth
Debut: Batman #16
Creators: Bob Kane, Don Cameron, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson
Recommended Reading: Batman: Gotham Adventures #16
1944: Solomon Grundy
Debut: All-American Comics #61
Creators: Alfred Bester, Paul Reinman
Recommended Reading: Solomon Grundy
1945: Black Adam
Debut: Marvel Family #1
Creators: Otto Binder, C.C. Beck
Recommended Reading: JSA: Black Reign
1946: Crazy Quilt
Debut: Boy Commandos #15
Creator: Jack Kirby
Recommended Reading: Batman: Endgame
1947: Black Canary
Debut: Flash Comics #86
Creators: Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: Birds of Prey, Vol. 1
1948: The Riddler
Debut: Detective Comics #140
Creators: Bill Finger, Dick Sprang
Recommended Reading: Batman: Zero Year
1949: Roy Raymond
Debut: Detective Comics #153
Creator: Ruben Moreira
Recommended Reading: Swamp Thing: Regenesis
The 1950s
1950: Lana Lang
Debut: Superboy #10
Creators: Bill Finger, John Sikela
Recommended Reading: Superman for All Seasons
1951: Captain Comet
Debut: Strange Adventures #9
Creators: Julius Schwartz, John Broome, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: Strange Adventures
1952: The Phantom Stranger
Debut: The Phantom Stranger #1
Creators: John Broome, Carmine Infantino, Sy Barry
Recommended Reading: Showcase Presents: The Phantom Stranger
1953: Angle Man
Debut: Wonder Woman #70
Creators: Robert Kanigher, Harry G. Peter
Recommended Reading: Catwoman: Backward Masking
1954: Space Cabbie
Debut: Mystery in Space #21
Creators: Otto Binder, Howard Sherman
Recommended Reading: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps: Quest for Hope
1955: Martian Manhunter
Debut: Detective Comics #225
Creators: Joseph Samachson, Joe Certa
Recommended Reading: Martian Manhunter: Son of Mars
1956: Barry Allen
Debut: Showcase #4
Creators: Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: The Flash by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
1957: Captain Cold
Debut: Showcase #8
Creators: John Broome, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: The Flash Rogues: Captain Cold
1958: Saturn Girl
Debut: Adventure Comics #247
Creators: Otto Binder, Al Plastino
Recommended Reading: The Silver Age Legion of Super-Heroes
1959: Hal Jordan
Debut: Showcase #22
Creators: John Broome, Gil Kane
Recommended Reading: Green Lantern by Geoff Johns
The 1960s
1960: Elongated Man
Debut: The Flash #112
Creators: John Broome, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: Showcase Presents: The Elongated Man
1961: Ray Palmer
Debut: Showcase #34
Creators: Gardner Fox, Julius Schwartz, Gil Kane
Recommended Reading: Legends of Tomorrow: The Atom
1962: Ultra Boy
Debut: Superboy #98
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan
Recommended Reading: The Silver Age Legion of Super-Heroes
1963: Mera
Debut: Aquaman #11
Creators: Jack Miller, Nick Cardy
Recommended Reading: Mera: Queen of Atlantis
1964: Zatanna
Debut: Hawkman #4
Creators: Gardner Fox, Murphy Anderson
Recommended Reading: Zatanna by Paul Dini
1965: Donna Troy
Debut: The Brave and the Bold #60
Creators: Bob Haney, Bruno Premiani
Recommended Reading: The New Teen Titans: Who is Donna Troy?
1966: Poison Ivy
Debut: Batman #181
Creators: Robert Kanigher, Sheldon Moldoff
Recommended Reading: Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death
1967: Barbara Gordon
Debut: Detective Comics #359
Creators: William Dozier, Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino
Recommended Reading: Birds of Prey, Vol. 1
1968: Guy Gardner
Debut: Green Lantern #59
Creators: John Broome, Gil Kane
Recommended Reading: Justice League International
1969: Abel
Debut: DC Special #4
Creators: Mark Hanerfield, Bill Draut, Joe Orlando
Recommended Reading: The Sandman
The 1970s
1970: Darkseid
Debut: Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134
Creator: Jack Kirby
Recommended Reading: Fourth World by Jack Kirby
1971: John Stewart
Debut: Green Lantern #87
Creators: Dennis O’Neil, Neal Adams
Recommended Reading: Cosmic Odyssey
1972: Alec Holland
Debut: Swamp Thing #1
Creators: Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson
Recommended Reading; Saga of the Swamp Thing
1973: Wildfire
Debut: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195
Creators: Cary Bates, Dave Cockrum
Recommended Reading: Legion of Super-Heroes Archives, Vol. 10
1974: Harvey Bullock
Debut: Detective Comics #441
Creators: Archie Goodwin, Howard Chaykin
Recommended Reading: Batman: Bullock’s Law
1975: Bronze Tiger
Debut: Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1
Creators: Dennis O’Neil, Jim Berry, Leopoldo Duranona
Recommended Reading: Suicide Squad: Trial by Fire
1976: Power Girl
Debut: All Star Comics #58
Creators: Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, Joe Orlando, Wally Wood
Recommended Reading: Power Girl: Power Trip
1977: Black Lightning
Debut: Black Lightning #1
Creators: Tony Isabella, Trevor von Eeden
Recommended Reading: Black Lightning: Year One
1978: Firestorm
Debut: Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1
Creators: Gerry Conway, Al Milgrom
Recommended Reading: Firestorm: The Nuclear Man
1979: Fire
Debut: Super Friends #25
Creators: E. Nelson Bridwell, Ramona Fradon
Recommended Reading: Justice League International
The 1980s
1980: Cyborg
Debut: DC Comics Presents #26
Creators: Marv Wolfman, George Pérez
Recommended Reading: The New Teen Titans
1981: Vixen
Debut: Action Comics #521
Creators: Gerry Conway, Bob Oksner
Recommended Reading: Vixen: Return of the Lion
1982: Salaak
Debut: Green Lantern #149
Creators: Marv Wolfman, Joe Staton
Recommended Reading: Green Lantern: Blackest Night
1983: Jason Todd
Debut: Batman #357
Creators: Gerry Conway, Don Newton
Recommended Reading: Batman: Under the Red Hood
1984: John Constantine
Debut: The Saga of the Swamp Thing #25
Creators: Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben
Recommended Reading: Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits
1985: Rick Tyler
Debut: Infinity Inc. #20
Creators: Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, Todd McFarlane
Recommended Reading: JSA
1986: Booster Gold
Debut: Booster Gold #1
Creator: Dan Jurgens
Recommended Reading: 52
1987: Nathaniel Adam
Debut: Captain Atom #1
Creators: Cary Bates, Pat Broderick
Recommended Reading: The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom
1988: Ice
Debut: Justice League International #12
Creators: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire
Recommended Reading: Justice League International
1989: Tim Drake
Debut: Batman #436
Creators: Marv Wolfman & Pat Broderick
Recommended Reading: Batman & Robin Eternal
The 1990s
1990: Hank Henshaw
Debut: Adventures of Superman #466
Creator: Dan Jurgens
Recommended Reading: Reign of the Supermen
1991: Brainiac 3
Debut: L.E.G.I.O.N. #28
Creators: Alan Grant, Keith Giffen
Recommended Reading: R.E.B.E.L.S.: Sons of Brainiac
1992: Harley Quinn
Debut: Batman: The Animated Series, “Joker’s Favor”
Creators: Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
Recommended Reading: Harley Quinn: Preludes and Knock Knock Jokes
1993: Kon-El
Debut: Adventures of Superman #500
Creators: Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett
Recommended Reading: Reign of the Supermen
1994: Kyle Rayner
Debut: Green Lantern #48
Creators: Ron Marz, Darryl Banks
Recommended Reading: Green Lantern: New Guardians
1995: Grifter
Debut: WildC.A.T.S. #1
Creators: Jim Lee, Brandon Choi
Recommended Reading: The Wild Storm
1996: Cassandra Sandsmark
Debut: Wonder Woman #105
Creator: John Byrne
Recommended Reading: Wonder Girl: Adventures of a Teen Titan
1997: Michael Holt
Debut: The Spectre #54
Creators: John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake
Recommended Reading: Meet the Terrifics
1998: Midnighter
Debut: Stormwatch #4
Creators: Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch
Recommended Reading: Midnighter: Out
1999: Stargirl
Debut: DC Universe Heroes Secret Files #1
Creators: Geoff Johns, Lee Moder
Recommended Reading: JSA Presents: Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.
The 2000s
2000: Crispus Allen
Debut: Detective Comics #742
Creators: Greg Rucka, Shawn Martinbrough
Recommended Reading: Gotham Central
2001: Mia Dearden
Debut: Green Arrow #2
Creators: Kevin Smith, Phil Hester
Recommended Reading: Green Arrow by Kevin Smith
2002: Axel Walker
Debut: The Flash #183
Creators: Geoff Johns, Scott Kollins
Recommended Reading: The Flash by Geoff Johns
2003: Hush
Debut: Batman #609
Creators: Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee
Recommended Reading: Batman: Hush
2004: Jason Rusch
Debut: Firestorm #1
Creators: Dan Jolley, ChrisCross
Recommended Reading: Firestorm: The Nuclear Man – Reborn
2005: Soranik Natu
Debut: Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1
Creators: Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Patrick Gleason
Recommended Reading: Green Lantern Corps: Recharge
2006: Damian Wayne
Debut: Batman #655
Creators: Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert
Recommended Reading: Batman & Robin by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
2007: Atrocitus
Debut: Green Lantern #25
Creator: Geoff Johns
Recommended Reading: Rage of the Red Lanterns
2008: Bleez
Debut: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns
Creators: Geoff Johns, Shane Davis
Recommended Reading: Rage of the Red Lanterns
2009: Jacob Kane
Debut: Detective Comics #854
Creators: Greg Rucka, J.H. Williams III
Recommended Reading: Batwoman by Greg Rucka & J.H. Williams III
The 2010s
2010: Kaldur’ahm
Debut: Young Justice, “Independence Day”
Creators: Brandon Vietti, Greg Weisman, Phil Bourassa
Recommended Reading: Young Justice Vol. 1
2011: Pandora
Debut: Flashpoint #5
Creators: Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert
Recommended Reading: Trinity of Sin: Pandora – The Curse
2012: Simon Baz
Debut: The New 52 Free Comic Book Day Special Edition #1
Creators: Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke
Recommended Reading: Green Lanterns: The Phantom Lantern
2013: Duke Thomas
Debut: Batman #21
Creators: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo
Recommended Reading: Batman and the Signal
2014: Jessica Cruz
Debut: Green Lantern #20
Creator: Geoff Johns
Recommended Reading: Green Lanterns: The Phantom Lantern
2015: Jon Kent
Debut: Convergence: Superman #2
Creator: Dan Jurgens
Recommended Reading: Superman: Lois and Clark
2016: Super-Man
Debut: New Super-Man #1
Creators: Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic
Recommended Reading: New Super-Man: Made in China
2017: Barbatos
Debut: Dark Days: The Casting
Creators: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo
Recommended Reading: Dark Nights: Metal
2018: The Silencer
Debut: The Silencer #1
Creators: Dan Abnett, John Romita, Jr.
Recommended Reading: The Silencer: Code of Honor