10 DC Heroes Who Need a Better Series in the World

Since 1941, DC Comics' World's Finest has been a platform for the publisher's most popular heroes to team up and share a unique spotlight, separate from other team-up or solo stories. While most iterations of the title have focused on Batman and Superman, relegating other “backup” duos to the back pages, many DC heroes deserve the World's Finest treatment.

Some are long-time friends who don't get many team-up titles, while others are at best acquaintances who could play well with each other. Odd pairs are just as fun as dynamic duos in a title like The best in the worldthat usually seems suspended from the rest of DC's Omniverse. Well-executed team-ups are great ways for fans to see new sides of their favorite heroes, and The best in the world represents an excellent example of well-made unique exhibitions.

10 The best in the world might explore family-oriented elementals

Swamp Thing and Animal Man are powerful avatars who balance family issues and cosmic conflicts

Alec Holland and Buddy Baker are stuck in cycles of death, resurrection, and apocalyptic heraldry. After meeting numerous times, usually to face unspeakable horrors, a team-up with more concrete, one-off installments could be fun. A basic team-up could include characters like Beast Boy and Poison Ivy, who are related to Red and Green, respectively.

The legendary Animal Man and Swamp Thing solo series features beautiful balances of realistic and absurd conflicts that matter equally to the heroesSeeing two avatars compete against their daughters or solve some earthly mystery would be a good opportunity to take a look at the current iterations of each character and explore their powers and motivations.

9 Martian Manhunter and The Question are pulp heroes

The detective duo hasn't worked together much, but they would make a great team.

Most issues of World's Finest feature DC's most popular front-line heroes, but an issue dedicated to the world's greatest detectives can feel a bit crowded. Batman is already a staple, but well-known super-sleuths like Martian Manhunter and the Question deserve just as much spotlight. The two have never worked together in the comics and only met briefly in Justice League Unlimited season two, episode nine, “Question Authority”.

Both detectives use sci-fi tropes to study the world around them and sometimes have trouble finding their place in such a complicated world. Manhunter is an outsider and Question is witty but stoic when on the job. Together, they would be great at interviewing witnesses and piecing together strange pieces of evidence. Both private investigators are more than deserving of the World's Finest treatment. Manhunter has had an issue where he fought Superman under a Red Sun before, but Question would be a welcome change of pace.

8 The world's best could focus on DC's holy warriors

The Spectre and Etrigan are more similar than they think

A The best in the world issue dedicated to religious symbolism or themes of fate would be a perfect opportunity for an unexpected team-up between The Spectre and The Demon Etrigan. Representing different ends of DC's sacred spectrum, they've had to deal with each other on occasion, but an isolated team-up could present new stakes for both characters.

Etrigan and The Spectre are two sides of the same pseudo-Judeo-Christian coin. The Spectre is a subjective manifestation of God's vengeance, while Etrigan is a bona fide Demon bent on punishing the wicked. Both are human men (police officers) who host uncontrollable spirits with the power to wipe out humanity. The best in the world It could provide a great platform to explore all the similarities between such superficially different characters.

7 The world's best may include afterlife experts

Deadman and Constantine work together in Justice League Dark, but not often as a duo.

Deadman and Constantine have worked together on many occasions, making them perfect candidates for the World's Finest award. They are both the best in their respective fields. Constantine is the world's greatest sorcerer (according to some), and Deadman has had a direct line to the supernatural since his death. As a bonus, Boston Brand is incredibly friendly.

Any classic mystery with a touch of the undead or paranormal would be the perfect setting for a spooky one-shot. The members of Justice League Dark both have plenty of experience with all sorts of supernatural threats and are particularly suited to dealing with things that the rest of their teammates are only peripherally involved with, such as hauntings.

6 The World's Best Could Feature a Mythical Mash-Up

Shazam and Wonder Woman have perfect chemistry and a lot in common

Wonder Woman appeared in The best in the world first, but it is usually paired with female characters regardless of their common characteristics. If The best in the world It's a place to explore characters whose strengths and weaknesses make sense together, like Superman and Batman, Shazam would be the perfect match for Wonder Woman.

Billy's childish mindset contrasts with Diana's near-immortal wisdom, but he's usually quite respectful and admires the Justice League. Both are incredibly powerful, so a tournament of the gods or any divine conflict would level the playing field and highlight why both heroes are the best of their kind.

5 The best in the world could unite the birds called Hall

There are many bird-themed heroes in DC comics, such as Hawk and Hawkman

Some teams are as simple as pairing characters with similar teams, and World's Finest is perfect for that. Hawk and Dove are deeply in love but often separated by their emotions. Hawkman and Hawkgirl are sometimes separated by centuries. The four of them would definitely make an interesting crew.

Hank and Carter are both irascible, hawk-themed heroes, while Shiera and Dawn are both elegant with the ability to use violence. Dawn's aversion to brutality might make it unpleasant for her, but a bird-themed heist shouldn't be so serious. It could be as simple as exploring the coincidence behind the last name shared by all four heroes: Hall.

4 Contract assassins are rarely considered the best in the world

Lobo and Deathstroke are the best DC Comics hitmen who haven't worked together much

DC has a vast catalog of hired thieves and hitmen, but two dealers of death stand out above the rest. Deathstroke is DC's greatest assassin, while Lobo is the publisher's most prolific homicidal maniac, whose strength and invulnerability nearly rival Superman's.

Slade's superhuman enhancements aren't a match for Lobo's Czarnian strength or senses, but he's closer than most humans. The two could meet to seek an open contract and work together or against each other, showing each other off in the way The best in the world allows.

3 The JSA was the world's best hero

The JSA is formidable and any member could fit in The best in the world

The best in the world often features pairs who more commonly appear together as members of larger teams, so it makes sense for the title to expand to include more members of the Justice Society. Seeing veterans return to the saddle as a duo, or alongside Superman, Batman, or another younger hero would be a great way to keep them relevant and fresh.

The JSA is incredibly powerful and has a lot of chemistry between them and beyond. Jay Garrick and Alan Scott are iconic, and Wildcat has trained most of DC's human fighters at one point or another. Each member of the JSA could fit into just about any team-up story of any scale, making them prime examples of the world's best superheroes.

2 The World's Best Could Include DC's Best Tech Bros

Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are one of DC's most recognizable duos and are perfect for World's Finest

Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are two tech geniuses, but together they form one of DC's most iconic duos. They're notorious scoundrels among their super-powered friends, and giving them the reins for an issue or two is a The best in the world would lead to the same nonsense and futuristic ingenuity as any other collaboration between costumed do-gooders.

Both heroes have their ups and downs, so a series like The best in the worldwhere the writers could explore the characters and tell a story without worrying too much about the canonical context of each character at any given time, would be perfect for two guys with so much potential to be goofy. Adding Superman or Batman to the mix could make things even better.

1 DC's best friends should star in the next World's Finest

Hal Jordan and Barry Allen have incredible chemistry as friends and League players

Hal Jordan and Barry Allen are an iconic duo. Hal's aloof nature and Barry's high energy balance each other out, and their quick wits are evenly matched. They've teamed up plenty of times, especially as members of the Justice League, but they deserve the spotlight alone. The best in the world can provide.

Flash's connection to the extradimensional speed force could pose the kind of cosmic threat a Green Lantern could respond to, or the duo could have a much more concrete problem to solve. Either way, Hal and Barry are old friends. For both heroes, any low-stakes gamble or personal concern is reason for the other to join them on a quest to any corner of the Earth or beyond.