Several popular and downright iconic heroes and villains are present within DC Comics' shared universe. The same goes for their real-life reception, with these characters being some of the biggest in fiction. At the same time, various DC characters have several misconceptions surrounding them, which leads to major misunderstandings.

This sometimes involves lesser-known heroes, such as the Guy Gardner Green Lantern, defined by singular moments. On the other hand, even big names like Superman and Wonder Woman have certain misgivings about them. These erroneous beliefs cause readers to get off on the wrong foot with these heroes and villains and paint the wrong picture entirely.

11 Hal Jordan Is Far from Bland

Debut: Showcase #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane

Hal Jordan is considered the "main" Green Lantern, though some readers might not have grown up with him as much after he became a villain and was killed off. This made Kyle Rayner the sole Green Lantern, with the hip young artist seeming far more unique to the comparatively stodgy pilot. The reality is that Hal Jordan is an immense hothead, however.

• Besides being a pilot for Ferris Air, Hal Jordan has also worked as an insurance adjuster and a traveling toy salesperson

A truly fearless individual, Hal rushes into any situation ring first - for better or worse. Likewise, he's had several jobs throughout the years and has a major issue with stability beyond the Green Lantern Corps. He's in many ways a wanderer that can't quite settle down, meaning that even the "conservative cop" image that some fans have of him is inaccurate.

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9 Wonder Woman Is a Hero for Everyone

Debut: All Star Comics #8 by William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter

Wonder Woman is the greatest superheroine, not only in the DC Universe but in all comic books. Fierce, powerful and compassionate, she embodies all the attributes that a hero needs while fighting various mythological and magical villains. Sadly, her status as the premiere female superhero sometimes makes her into "only" a female superhero.

• William Moulton Marston created Wonder Woman to embrace the strength of traditionally feminine aspects

While she's certainly a feminist icon, Wonder Woman shouldn't be defined by her sex, as she represents heroism, bravery and duty in everyone. She isn't meant to solely appeal to or help women, and she's likewise far from a reskinned female version of Superman. While she showcases how powerful women can be, her heroic acts go beyond this and transcend any label.

8 Beast Boy Is More Than Just Comic Relief

Debut: Doom Patrol #99 by Arnold Drake and Bob Brown

A stalwart member of the Teen Titans and a former "sidekick" for the Doom Patrol, Beast Boy is known for his sense of humor and jokes. These can many times be overbearing, however, and they're a reminder that he's usually the youngest hero of his generation of Titans. At the same time, that's not all that there is to the metamorph.

• Beast Boy was briefly portrayed as red instead of green in the New 52 comic book reboot

Beast Boy has actually lived a tragic life of loss and woe, with his jokes usually hiding his sadness. Events such as the deaths of his parents and the Doom Patrol had a traumatic impact on him. This was only made worse by the betrayal and subsequent death of the former Titan, Terra. He's since grown from those early days, but too many still define him as the Titans' class clown.

7 Deathstroke Isn’t a Typical Villain

Debut: The New Teen Titans #2 by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez

Also known as Deathstroke the Terminator, Slade Wilson is essentially DC's villainous take on Marvel's Captain America. Upgraded to beyond the peak of human physical performance, Slade became a mercenary that took on any task. His violent vocation eventually pitted him against the Teen Titans. Unlike what was shown in the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon, Slade was far from a generic bad guy with ambitions of world domination.

• Slade's son Grant also fought the Titans, but his other children, Rose and Joseph, ironically joined the team

Instead, he's a tragic figure whose pride cost him his family in several ways. His mission against the "New Teen Titans" was one of vengeance, but it was also personal. Eventually, he even made peace with the team and put their former vendetta completely aside. However, this aspect of his history has been forgotten, with several books sadly glossing over his depth.

6 Superman Isn’t an Unrelatable God

Debut: Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Superman is incredibly powerful, and he's seen as one of the strongest heroes in the DC Universe. Due to his immense power level, he's sometimes treated as being unrelatable. In reality, this accusation is the farthest thing from the truth, especially given the basic concepts of his usual status quo.

• John Byrne cemented the modern portrayal of Clark Kent and Superman's dynamic when he rebooted the character after Crisis on Infinite Earths

Superman in modern comics was raised as Clark Kent, with this persona being his true face. Clark Kent has largely eschewed the goofy overacting of the old-school incarnation of the hero, and he's essentially a regular guy from a small town who works in an office every day. Despite his PollyAnna reputation, Superman also has his fair share of dark and serious stories, so he really isn't some intangible cipher.

5 Power Girl Is More Than an Alternate Supergirl

Debut: All Star Comics #58 by Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada and Wally Wood

Supergirl might be an iconic part of Superman's mythos, but Power Girl is somewhat less known. An alternate version of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El, Power Girl hails from Earth-2 and was related to the Golden Age Superman. However, she isn't just a different version of the Woman of Tomorrow, with Kara Zor-L being a distinct character.

• Power Girl's origins initially kept changing during the post-Crisis era to make Superman the only surviving Kryptonian

Power Girl is far feistier than Supergirl and known for being much more reckless. Not wanting to be defined by her connection to her cousin, this take on Kara (who goes by the civilian name "Paige" in modern Power Girl comics) lived in Gotham City (in her classic comics) and even owned her own business. Of course, her iconic costume and physique are another major separation from Supergirl, which helps to make it plain that they're not merely twins.

4 Rebirth Huntress Is Completely Different

Debut: DC Super Stars #17 by Paul Levitz, Joe Stanton, Joe Orlando and Bob Layton

Many DC Comics fans who started with the recent DC Rebirth era will likely be confused about how Huntress is portrayed. She's reintroduced as the future daughter of Batman and Catwoman who's sent back to the past due to a situation involving the Justice Society. She also turns the Justice Society into a reform school for villains, making the legacy-based team too much like the Suicide Squad of all groups.

• The Helena Bertinelli Huntress is a Batman Family ally in the present day who's not actually related to Batman or Catwoman

This is nothing like how Helena Wayne Huntress was portrayed in the past. There, she only became Huntress after her parents had either retired or died, and she sometimes had a mean streak (explaining the name). Most importantly, she was best friends with Power Girl, but that relationship is completely ignored in the current comic books. The numerous changes and lack of accuracy in the new Justice Society of America books mean that the current Huntress is a far different character that doesn't do justice to the classic take.

3 Hawkman Isn’t a Savage Brute

Debut: Flash Comics #1 by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville

Wielding a mace and looking like some dark inversion of an angel, it's easy to see why his enemies fear the power of Hawkman. Sadly, this idea is sometimes taken too far, to the detriment of Hawkman's character. Given his status as constantly reincarnated since ancient history, Carter Hall is occasionally written as a violent and callous warrior who's unreasonably "old-fashioned."

• Due to how confusing his history eventually became, Hawkman was briefly replaced on the Justice League by the angel Zauriel

This was prevalent in the early 2000s, wherein he and Green Arrow constantly feuded with each other (sometimes for no reason). Likewise, the New 52 helped to cement this image of a less-than-cerebral fighter with no regard for life. The Carter Hall and Katar Hol versions of Hawkman are dedicated to protecting the innocent and defending history. While he's always prepared for a fight, he's not an uncouth arguer, let alone one like the arrogant Green Arrow.

2 Guy Gardner Is Actually a (Somewhat) Friendly Green Lantern

Debut: Green Lantern #59 by John Broome and Gil Kane

More than even Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner is the most misunderstood member of the Green Lantern Corps. Loud, cantankerous, and hard to get along with, most see him as a jerk with few redeeming qualities. However, there's a lot more to Guy Gardner than "one punch!" and a bad haircut, with the gruff exterior hiding a far more sensitive soul.

• Guy Gardner was the ring's first choice to become a Green Lantern, though Hal Jordan was closer

In the original canon, Guy was raised by an abusive father and idolized his brother. He went to school to be a social worker and briefly tried to help handicapped children, which is definitely a commendable field. Likewise, his romance with Ice showcases his softer side, and while he usually hides this genteel nature, he's not a complete cad.

1 Amanda Waller Isn’t Supposed to Be a Villain

Debut: Legends #1 by John Ostrander, Len Wein and John Byrne

Amanda Waller has appeared in various DC projects in the past few decades, whether in comic books or other mediums. Sadly, many of these lack subtle characterization and nuance, and she's inaccurately portrayed as an outright villain. These depictions have her seeing the Suicide Squad and metahumans as mere tools, caring little for them as people.

• In her initial appearances, Amanda Waller was portrayed as having once lived in the notorious—and now demolished—Cabrini-Green housing projects.

While many times harsh, Amanda Waller is, above all else, a diplomat. She does whatever it takes to get things done, which doesn't always mean playing dirty. She ultimately strives to do the right thing and wants members of the Suicide Squad to make it back from their missions alive, though she's not averse to making hard decisions. It's this balance that so many modern stories, including the current Absolute Power event, get wrong about her.