History AdaptationalHeroism / TheDCU

** In ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', one of ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''[='=]s influences, Superman goes after Batman on the orders of the President of the United States, who only wants Batman brought in because Batman's effectiveness makes the government look bad. In the movie, Superman is genuinely opposed to Batman's vigilantism and only goes to Gotham because Lex Luthor is holding his mother hostage.

** In the comics, [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract Terra]] was TheMole [[EvilAllAlong from the very beginning]], and horrified even Slade with her ruthlessness and manipulative sociopathy. The Terras of the 2003 series and the [[WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse DCAMU]], however, were {{Broken Bird}}s who were DrivenToVillainy by a desperate need to live a normal life. The former was even a genuine friend to the Titans before becoming a double agent for Slade. The animated versions are also remorseful for their actions, performing a HeelFaceTurn after some convincing by Beast Boy. Finally, both have their deaths framed as {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s, though 2003 Terra secretly comes back from the dead to [[EarnYourHappyEnding successfully gain that normal life]] at some point. In contrast, comic Terra's death was the result of an unfocused blind rage that made her lose total control of her powers, with the narration hammering home that she's an unrepentant monster.

** While still a heroine, in the comics, ComicBook/{{Raven}} has a bad habit of frequently going through HeelFaceRevolvingDoor because of Trigon's influence. In the show, she does a much better job of not giving into her father's influence [[spoiler:and the one time she does, it's done more as a reluctant pawn giving in than gleefully being DrunkOnTheDarkSide]].

** Madame Rouge reforms and joins the Doom Patrol out of genuine remorse for her misdeeds, when in the comics she joined the Doom Patrol only to betray them in the end and was a stone-hearted fiend up until her death in ''New Teen Titans''.

** ComicBook/WonderWoman's oft nemesis ComicBook/{{Ares|DC}} had traditionally been a straight villain, and even when he wasn't he was never a nice guy, he's powered by war and bloodshed after all. The [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 New 52 version]] is probably the closest to being a hero out of the entire Greek pantheon and is painted as Diana's mentor and grandfather figure--amusing since he ''is'' her grandfather even if the writers ignore this in favor of his new status as her ''brother'' since this version of Wondy has a father, and that father is Zeus. [[note]]For the confused Zeus is Ares' father, Ares is Hippolyta's father, and Hippolyta is Wonder Woman's mother. In this continuity Hippolyta slept with her own grandfather which resulted in her pregnancy with Diana.[[/note]]

* In the Dan Garret ''Comicbook/BlueBeetle'''s original Charlton origin, Kha-Ef-Re was an evil pharaoh who was defeated by Great Pharaoh, the first wielder of the scarab, and later returned to threaten Garret as the Giant Mummy. In the DC post-Crisis version, [[CompositeCharacter Kha-Ef-Re was the Great Pharaoh]], and the Giant Mummy was just a SecretTest. Kha-Ef-Ra's Earth Prime incarnation is introduced in the ''Comicbook/DawnOfDC'' ''Blue Beetle'' book [[spoiler: and is a villain again]].

** Man-Bat is a full-fledged ally of Batman instead of an occasional foe. It helps that Kirk Langstrom can control himself as Man-Bat, and was only forced to attack Batman when he was drugged by Pyg. Guess who's a founding member of [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders the Outsiders]]?

* ''Series/DoomPatrol'':

** ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}, ComicBook/HarleyQuinn and several other characters in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' are portrayed as more moral than their comic counterparts and despite their insistence that they're "the bad guys" but really come off as quite heroic. But the most blatant example is '''ComicBook/TheJoker!''' Of all people, as in comics he's a ChaoticEvil MonsterClown who frequently abuses Harley, in the movie he's a caring boyfriend who risks his life several times to rescue her and succeeds in doing so in the end. [[spoiler: ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020'' corrects this, with Joker being portrayed as abusive enough that Harley leaves him. Though even then in the modern comics, he’s chased Harley down and held her captive for “betraying him” whereas in the film he just leaves her alone meaning he’s still far less evil than the comic version. In TheStinger of ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' he's a RetiredMonster who forms an alliance with Batman.]]

** [[spoiler: '''''ComicBook/TheJoker''''' of all people]] is this, as he seems to disapprove of his fellow inmates picking on newbies. It's implied he may have ulterior motives, but it is something. If you've been good buddies with him throughout Season 2, [[spoiler:the Joker will actually become a vigilante like Batman, and even team up with him. He is ultimately too AxCrazy to hack it as a hero and Batman ends up having to take him down anyway, but it ends on an optimistic note where Bruce visits "John" in Arkham, showing that he indeed believes there's still good in the man and that he's still redeemable.]]

** ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' villain Basil Karlo, aka the first (and briefly 'Ultimate' Clayface) has for decades been by far the most reprehensible and villainous of the Clayfaces. Later Clayfaces Preston Payne (aka Clayface III) and ''especially'' Matt Hagen (Clayface II, but much better known for his sympathetic portrayal as the first Clayface of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'') were portrayed more sympathetically and laid the groundwork for the concept of Clayface as a TragicVillain, which the comics took shameless advantage of to reboot Karlo's character. Instead of being an unrepentant narcissist and egomaniac, Karlo is now a MinionWithAnFInEvil who decides that BeingEvilSucks so much that he agrees to join the Batfamily and toe Batman's line 100% if it means maybe getting a cure for his PowerIncontinence. While this new Karlo is a much more likable character, he doesn't jive at all with the Karlo readers have known for decades.

** ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villain Basil Karlo, aka the first (and briefly 'Ultimate' Clayface) has for decades been by far the most reprehensible and villainous of the Clayfaces. Later Clayfaces Preston Payne (aka Clayface III) and ''especially'' Matt Hagen (Clayface II, but much better known for his sympathetic portrayal as the first Clayface of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'') were portrayed more sympathetically and laid the groundwork for the concept of Clayface as a TragicVillain, which the comics took shameless advantage of to reboot Karlo's character. Instead of being an unrepentant narcissist and egomaniac, Karlo is now a MinionWithAnFInEvil who decides that BeingEvilSucks so much that he agrees to join the Batfamily and toe Batman's line 100% if it means maybe getting a cure for his PowerIncontinence. While this new Karlo is a much more likable character, he doesn't jive at all with the Karlo readers have known for decades.

** Franchise/WonderWoman antagonist and occasional uneasy ally ''ComicBook/HerculesUnbound'' did occasionally attempt to be a hero in the more modern sense of the word but previously had always been a NominalHero at best due to [[DeliberateValuesDissonance his antiquated sense of morality]]. In this new reality he was better able to adapt with the times and was a true good guy.

** ''Franchise/{{Batman}} Annual'': Ironically enough, averted with Mr. Freeze, who experiences this trope's [[AdaptationalVillainy inverse]] instead for his New 52 interpretation.
** ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'': Arthur Light, better known as Dr. Light, was a third-string baddie and punching bag of the Franchise/TeenTitans (who had [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil a rape]] retconned into his backstory in an attempt to make him more evil) pre-New 52. Now he's a supporting member of the titular Justice League [[spoiler:and he died a hero]]. He was also shown to have a family that he genuinely loved, and [[spoiler:while he does eventually turn to villainy after becoming a ghost, it’s only because he wants to find a way to bring himself back to life so he can reunite with them.]]

*** Bloodsport when he first appeared in ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics was a PsychoForHire BigScaryBlackMan and PhonyVeteran who had no qualms using a innocent woman as a HumanShield against Supes and is no less AxCrazy in later comics. In the film he's at worst a PunchClockVillain and JerkWithAHeartOfGold, who has a daughter whom Waller threatens to get him onboard the mission and he also shows great [[PapaWolf care]] for his teammates especially Ratcatcher II. [[spoiler: By the end of the movie, Bloodsport is willingly to give genuine heroism a go by disobeying his orders to save Corto Maltese from Starro. This is most likely a result of his character being a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute to Deadshot from the previous ''Suicide Squad'' film.]]

** The ''Arkham Series'' also does this to Comicbook/PoisonIvy. In the comics, she's always been an OmnicidalManiac trying to take over the world with her army of plants. However, her [[TragicVillain tragic side]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is heavily brought up]] frequently throughout the series. She's never been shown killing another living being [[note]] one of the patient interview tapes in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' does reveal she did kill hundreds of people with poisonous spores in events prior to the game [[/note]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards shown disgust towards other villains]], and along with Mr. Freeze, one of the only [[AffablyEvil cooperative villains]] [[PetTheDog towards Batman]]. [[spoiler: This is brought up to a high point in ''Arkham Knight'', where Ivy pulls a HeelFaceTurn and joins the dark knight on his crusade against Scarecrow. Sadly, she dies pulling a HeroicSacrifice saving Gotham City from Scarecrow's toxin bomb.]]

* ''Franchise/DCSuperHeroGirls'': In the [[WebAnimation//DCSuperHeroGirls 2015 web series]], several villainesses are outright heroines, some with vague allusions to a villainous past and others without even that. Catwoman, Blackfire, and Cheetah are in the former category, while Amanda Waller, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Star Sapphire, Killer Frost, and Lady Shiva are in the latter category.

** Despite being mad scientists to their core, Mallah and Brain are by far the kindest versions of themselves thus far, leaning on their love for each other and tragic backstory as opposed to any small mutant armies they might have made while they were bored in hiding.

* While he's still an antagonist, ''WesternAnimation/MyAdventuresWithSuperman'''s depiction of Deathstroke gets a case of this trope. Rather than the criminal mercenary he's usually depicted as, this version of Slade is a government agent working for Task Force X. He also prioritizes stopping Livewire from detonating bombs under Metropolis out of what seems to be legitimate concern for collateral damage, something his comic counterpart usually wouldn't care about.

** Yuki and Yuri, the Katsura sisters, are a pair of ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl 2011}}'' villains in the main continuity. Here, however, they're part of Donna Troy's group of rebels who fight against the unjust internment of Japanese-Americans.
** Talia al Ghul fights alongside the heroes, and protects the Lazarus Pit from evildoers like Comicbook/BlackAdam.

* The original version of Comicbook/TheAuthority were [[NinetiesAntiHero Nineties Anti Heroes]] par excellence, {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s at best, and could slip into full-on VillainProtagonist territory at times. In ''Comicbook/TheWildStorm'', they are the most straightforwardly heroic characters in the setting.

** The graphic novel depicts Comicbook/HarleyQuinn as a straight up heroic figure fighting against an oppressive establishment. In a very notable departure, she ends up opposing Comicbook/TheJoker and tries to stop him after he endangers innocent people, and the book ends with her preparing to hunt him down.
** The book's version of Comicbook/PoisonIvy (renamed "Ivy Du-Barry") is still an environmentalist, but not a violently militant one. She also seems to care about a broad range of social justice topics instead of just the environment, as opposed to he classic comic counterpart, who would just as soon KillAllHumans if it meant protecting the Earth's plants.

** Comicbook/{{Deadshot}}, ComicBook/HarleyQuinn and several other characters in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' are portrayed as more moral than their comic counterparts and despite their insistence that they're "the bad guys" but really come off as quite heroic. But the most blatant example is '''ComicBook/TheJoker!''' Of all people, as in comics he's a ChaoticEvil MonsterClown who frequently abuses Harley, in the movie he's a caring boyfriend who risks his life several times to rescue her and succeeds in doing so in the end. [[spoiler: ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020'' corrects this, with Joker being portrayed as abusive enough that Harley leaves him. Though even then in the modern comics, he’s chased Harley down and held her captive for “betraying him” whereas in the film he just leaves her alone meaning he’s still far less evil than the comic version. In TheStinger of ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' he's a RetiredMonster who forms an alliance with Batman.]]

** ''WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman'', based on the first arc of ''ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman'' run, "Batman and Son", sees Deathstroke take Talia's role as the BigBad of the story, resulting is Talia being closer to her original characterization in the movie--until ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBadBlood'' saw her [[TookALevelInJerkass Take a Level in Jerkass]] and become closer to Morrison's depiction.
** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTeenTitans'', much like the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' cartoon, sees ComicBook/{{Raven}} much more resistant to Trigon's influence-induced HeelFaceRevolvingDoor and does what what she can to stop him, only giving in when the Titans are in trouble and fighting back once they're safe.

** In the comics, ComicBook/RasAlGhul's other daughter, Nyssa Raatko, had tortured her sister Comicbook/TaliaAlGhul to the point of insanity and was generally apathetic to people. In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', she's the [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]] to her family, vowing to leave Gotham alone and keep the League of Assassins from shedding more blood. [[spoiler: If you chose to destroy the machines keeping Ra's al Ghul alive, she keeps her word and if you chose to save Ra's, she'd rather die than be revived and become like her father.]]

** While still a villain, Killer Frost is nicer than her other incarnations, especially compared to ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham''.
** While {{ComicBook/John Constantine}} has his heroic moments, he was also a cynical​, alcoholic, self-centered con-man who couldn't care less about superheroes. While he's still smarmy, the John Constantine here is depicted as a more family-friendly version, as he's merely a deadpan and sarcastic paranormal investigator, even being a member of the Justice League.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' rogue Mr. Freeze was originally a very generic, pun-spouting villain in a green welder's suit. Then Creator/PaulDini got ahold of the character and gave him a total overhaul for his appearance in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', bestowing upon him his now-iconic name, look, and TragicVillain backstory. Taking note of this, the comics revamped Freeze completely to echo Dini's interpretation of him.

* In the classic ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', Mano of the Fatal Five had a bit of a FreudianExcuse in that he was subjected to prejudice on his home planet, before he [[WhereIWasBornAndRazed destroyed it]]. In the Reboot Legion, he destroys his planet ''after'' everyone on it was killed by weapons sold by [=MacCauley=] Industries, and then seeks revenge on Leyland [=MacCauley=]. When he realises the rest of the Five are a bunch of psychos who ''like'' destroying planets, he [[HeelFaceTurn turns against them]]. He later [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor rejoins the group]], but still tries to avoid harming innocents.