From the very beginning DC Comics Universe drew not only on the trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, but also on countless other heroes, teams, crossovers and events. But between the massive team books and solo adventures lies a real gem: a two-way partnership or dynamic duo that allows for everything from romance to political differences to medium-changing stories.
DC’s heroic partnership covers a lot of ground, some more volatile and others just useful. The company continues to experiment with such teams, as seen in the Brave and the Bold comic book series, which focuses on unusual and sweet partnerships. From best friends fighting crime together to husband and wife teams fighting the forces of evil. these are the best, brightest and most iconic teams in DC history..
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Constantine and Swamp Thing, DC’s Two Biggest Loners
For the first time I am sharing a story on the pages Swamp Thing #37, John Constantine and Alec Holland’s version of Swamp Thing formed a flawed but effective team from the start. Both characters share self-pity and loneliness, which ultimately makes them a great couple, even if it’s not always friendly.
The relationship between Swamp Thing and Constantine may be the most controversial friendship in Washington, but their partnership has saved the world of magic on more than one occasion. Quite often, the dark magician is the only one who can convince the Avatar of the Greens to help humanity, and their shared stories go to the heart of horror and the occult.
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Hawkman and the Atom, the biggest and smallest in the League
Of all the alliances in comics, Hawkman and the Atom are one of the strangest. At first glance, the pair’s abilities don’t seem particularly complementary, with one often portrayed as an aggressive warrior towards the scientific adventurer of the other. However, on the surface, their alter egos, Ray Palmer and Carter Hall, are both intelligent adventurers with a scientific mind, and their shared stories often highlight their strengths.
Hawkman and the Atom first formed their partnership during the Silver Age, fighting against threats such as the Gentleman Ghost and the Shadow Thief. The heroic partnership is at its best when they delve into space adventures or mythological fantasy, and their combined minds and powers make them a key team for the sci-fi side of DC. To better understand how well they work together, a good place to start is Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch’s series.
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Green Lantern and the Flash, a multi-generational legacy
Green Lantern and Flash are two of DC’s oldest mantles, so it only makes sense that there would be a shared history between them. These two heroes also paved the way for the Silver Age: the creation of Barry Allen and Hal Jordan signaled a move toward younger science fiction-themed heroes that expanded the DCU. Both are co-founders of the JLA, their history goes deeper than most, with stories like that of Mark Waid, Tom Peyer and Barry Kitson. Brave and Bold miniseries.
The mantles of Green Lantern and Flash overlap in impressive ways, with each character historically passing the torch within just a few years of each other, allowing for a new friendship to be forged between them. The combination of hard lighting designs and super speed created some of the closest friendships in comics and created a particularly strong partnership.
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Batman and Robin, the dynamic duo
For the first time working together on the pages Detective comics #38, Batman and Robin have been the standard bearers of the superhero/sidekick dynamic for decades. Taking down such threats as the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, and Poison Ivy, the pair became one of the most iconic aspects of Golden Age comics. Not only did Robin work as a great scout, spy, and investigator alongside the Caped Crusader, he also allowed young readers to imagine themselves going on adventures.
While Batman’s relationships with his charges are usually flawed and flawed, his original surrogate father dynamic with Dick Grayson remains one of his most rewarding traits. In recent years, Bruce has worked alongside his son Damian Wayne as Robin’s new support figure, although their relationship has been significantly more adversarial.
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Hawk and Dove, Package Offer
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 supervillains. A typical story about this couple will show how their different philosophical approaches to heroism collide, and will also help them understand the value of each other’s opinions. While Dove is a more reserved and diplomatic hero, Hawke is more aggressive and takes a “might makes right” attitude.
Hawk and Dove have managed to maintain a great relationship since their debut due to them gradually realizing the value of different opinions. The characters provide a great analogy to real-world debates, and the best writers have shown that both positions can make sense depending on the situation. Ultimately, they are a metaphor for unity despite differences.
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Black Canary and Green Arrow, forever
Black Canary and Green Arrow first became a couple during the film directed by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams. Green Lantern run, something DC built on in later Green Arrow stories. Both characters have a rebellious street history, often feuding with other superheroes due to being the voice of opposition to some of the A-listers. They are often seen working together on Justice League, but their best stories have them patrolling the streets together.
Black Canary and Green Arrow make one of DC’s most beloved couples and also form a great team of street vigilantes. Romantically, they are more successful and healthy than Batman and Catwoman could ever be, and as a heroic partnership they bring shared values and skills.
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Green Lantern and Green Arrow, adventure heroes
Green Lantern and Green Arrow became one of DC’s greatest duos when Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams paired them for their “Hard Traveling Heroes” era. These stories tell how friends battled social injustice and neglect, overcoming everything from bigotry to drug addiction. In a typical story, they confront a social ill and discuss the best path forward, with Hal often focusing on personal responsibility and following the law, as Ollie was more compassionate. After all, they always came together to do the right thing.
Green Lantern and Green Arrow form the same dynamic as World’s Finest, combining cosmic superhero with street-level vigilante, although their personalities are inverted. While Batman is the stoic, standard foil to the hopeful hero Superman, Green Lantern’s status as a cosmic lawman belies Green Arrow’s progressivism. While this is a source of tension in many of their stories, it also prevents either character from developing a blind spot, as one often helps the other overcome their prejudices.
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Booster Gold & Blue Beetle (also known as Blue & Gold)
Despite their vastly different histories, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle have been a fan-favorite friendship since their days as Justice League team members in the 1980s. One is a glory-seeking hero from the future seeking his fortune, and the other is one of the world’s greatest inventors. Together they form the Blue & Gold team, united by a shared love of capitalism, technology and adventure.
Booster Gold and Ted Kord form a fun, healthy friendship and partnership, and their tech roots make them a great team. Together, the pair have a tendency to create some of the worst problems, but they always make it through in the end, and Cord brings out the hero in his entrepreneurial best friend.
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Mister Miracle and 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, have developed abilities beyond any other species. Among these beings are Mister Miracle and Big Barda, two characters who share a 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 escapological act, romantically through marriage, and in their duties as superheroes. In Bard, Scott Free has his biggest fan and protector, as well as a heroic husband who has built a fulfilling life in the suburbs, far from the horrors of Apokolips.
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Batman and Superman, World’s Best
In the world of superhero comics, there are few partnerships as enduring, meaningful, and effective as the World’s Best Partnership: Batman and Superman. While many readers may think of Trinity as DC’s premier partnership, the truth is that the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel had their best adventures as a duo. This is largely due to how long ago their union began, dating back to the 1950s.
Batman and Superman travel together through time, space and dimensions of existence, fighting demons, imps, gods and monsters. When it comes to finding the best, most effective, and unstoppable team in comics, it’s hard to find anything more iconic than World’s Finest.