Characters Who Wouldn't Work Outside Of A Shared Universe

[John Venus]

Which characters do you think would be difficult to work as a standalone hero with no connection to a greater shared universe? A lot of DC heroes weren't created with a shared universe in mind so sometimes it feels like certain parts of the universe don't fit. This doesn't apply to Robin or any of the side kicks, Robin would still work perfectly fine in a universe where Batman is the only hero with no Superman, Wonder Woman or the JL in sight. But the Teen Titans? Yes, that whole concept depends on their being other heroes with their own side kicks. Even if you focus on the Titans who aren't side kicks like Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, it still feels like there is something missing. Booster Gold would be another one. His whole premise involves stealing artifacts from a museum to go back to a time where heroes existed so he could become famous himself. You need the existence of other heroes to make him work. The Legion is an odd case because they are also heroes inspired by superheroes of the past but they are also a subset of the Superman franchise and thus primarily inspired by him. They could work if Superman is the only hero in the world but in a shared universe, it's weird that Superman would be the only one to have a legacy lasting up to the 31st century and everyone else is forgotten. Zatanna would be another odd case but that's largely because 97% of her appearances are as a guest star in someone else's story. Would she work as a stand alone if she had a longer run as a solo hero? There is also the Flashes. Would Wally work if he didn't have his Titans history and Barry was the sole hero he had in his life? Would Barry work as a character if he had never interacted with Hal, Ollie and the rest of the League? Can the Atom exist as a standalone hero in his world?

[Neo Goblin]

There are quite a lot of characters like Zatanna that could conceivably work without the backdrop of the DC Universe, but they don't really work because they are rather underdeveloped on their own. Her purpose seems to be about bouncing around other characters' stories and being on teams, so as is, there isn't a whole lot to her without the DC Universe.

But, as to the question...um...maybe Hitman? Again, the concept could conceivably work, but the character is so about 'being in the DC Universe', that without that backdrop, much of the point of the character would be lost.

[DrNewGod]

I'd say most of DC's characters work outside a shared universe because, as the OP pointed out, most were created in stand-alone stories. The Suicide Squad probably wouldn't work, as it inherently relies on collecting the trash of multiple other titles to staff itself. Oracle's major contribution as a character relied on her being the info source for a wide range of heroes. The original JSA members worked fine in stand-alone, but the Legacy-heavy versions introduced later do not, and the same is true of Infinity, Inc.

[Tzigone]

I'd say most of DC's characters work outside a shared universe because, as the OP pointed out, most were created in stand-alone stories. The Suicide Squad probably wouldn't work, as it inherently relies on collecting the trash of multiple other titles to staff itself. Oracle's major contribution as a character relied on her being the info source for a wide range of heroes. The original JSA members worked fine in stand-alone, but the Legacy-heavy versions introduced later do not, and the same is true of Infinity, Inc.

Yes, a lot is about the era they were created in. There's more legacies later, and more added to existing teams that have characters that are part of the other fandoms.

Those created as independent solo heroes have a better shot, but even some of them are very entwined. Some by design/birth (Booster) and some just from later connections.

I definitely think Barry could work as a stand-alone. While his friendships with Ralph and Hal are important, and he's had prominent membership in the League, he was quite stand-alone to start, and I think many of those created before the JLA have a premise that allows it, though some weren't strong enough to do so. Quite a few of the other-company heroes bought by DC could manage, too, of course.

Obviously, legacies are ones who would not work outside a shared universe. Besides those, I think Booster was a great choice for one who needed the other heroes to exist. Static needs a shared universe, but it doesn't have to be DC's.

[Vakanai]

Amazo. Copying super powers doesn't work without a world of heroes and villains to copy powers from.

[Agent Z]

It seems to me that the only characters are teams specifically created to be in a shared universe (Justice League, Teen Titans, Suicide Squad). Individual characters, with very few exceptions, can work just fine, even ones that haven't been fully developed to do so.

[Agent Z]

Amazo. Copying super powers doesn't work without a world of heroes and villains to copy powers from.

He doesn't have to be in a shred universe to copy powers. If he's a villain for a single hero, it could work.

[sifighter]

Amanda Waller, I feel her entire concept is to be a force to oppose things that exist in the dc universe.

[DrNewGod]

Amanda Waller, I feel her entire concept is to be a force to oppose things that exist in the dc universe.

Anything like the DEO inherently requires a shared verse. Checkmate, on the other hand, could exist in a stand-alone.