Fan Nickname / The DCU

The DCU

Batman

• ASSBAR: All-Star Batman And Robin. Aside from the convenient acronym, the book is generally not held in high regard.
• AzBats: The Jean-Paul Valley version of Batman who took over as an Anti-Hero Substitute when Batman was paralyzed.
• Babsgirl- the nickname for the second Batgirl, Barbara Gordon. Usually used for the New 52 incarnation.
• Batawang - the controversy over a certain portion of Bruce Wayne being visible in the uncensored version of Batman: Damned #1. More generally, the body part in question in any context.
• Bat-Dick: Bruce Wayne during some of his more paranoid and misanthropic moments. Not to be confused with "Dickbats".
  • Also, "the Goddamn Batdick" in a one-two punch.
• Batgirling: The concept of taking a character out of their usual comfort zones and trying to reinvent them to be more grounded with today's society. It's named after the successful change in Batgirl (2011), which tossed Barbara Gordon into the Burnside area and reinvented her costume to be more down to Earth and simpler. It was reportedly also used in the DC offices.
• Bat-God- Batman as written by Grant Morrison, beginning during his JLA run, who is able to solve any problem with "prep-time".
• Bat-Hat - The bat-eared Russian fur cap that Batman wears in the Elseworld Superman: Red Son. Also called the Sexy Bat-Hat, because general consensus is that it's the sexiest damn thing found in comics ever. (It is natural to want to touch a hat so sexy.)
• Bats - Batman
  • Batsy! (Yes, he's been called that by some fans too.)
• The Bright Knight: The Adam West Batman since he was a kind, positive and somewhat dorky role model to children everywhere unlike the dark, brooding incarnations before and after.
• Condom Head: The pre-New-52 Red Robin costume, with its unfortunate-shaped cowl.
• Demon Brat: Damian Wayne.
• Dickbats - Dick Grayson during his time as Batman, from 2009 to 2011.
• Discowing: Dick Grayson in his first Nightwing costume◊, with its enormous disco collar.
• Eggplant Wonder: Stephanie Brown as Spoiler, Robin, or Batgirl, after the colour of her Spoiler outfit.
• El Bromas ("Mr. Jokes"): Joker among Hispanics, after rumors that his 2019 film would be translated in Spain as such^note his official name in Latin America is "Guasón", which is how Mexican distributors originally translated "Joker". Although the official Spaniard title turned out to be "Joker", the joke stuck due to the poor translations Spaniard dubs are famous for.
  • "Coringa", which is his official name in Brazil, also became another fan nickname for Joker in the rest of South America.
• Fingerstripes: Tumblr's (especially fyeahdickgrayson's) nickname for the two blue fingers of each hand of Nightwing's costume.
• Flips-n-Shit: Any of the Batfamily's urban acrobatics, especially Nightwing's.
• The Goddamn Batman - Batman, especially during his more sociopathic moments. Comes from an actual quote◊ from Frank Miller's crazy run on All-Star Batman & Robin.
  • Some fans specifically refer to Frank Miller's version as The Goddamned Batman, to differentiate him from the real mainstream version. For similar reasons, All-Star Batman & Robin is commonly referred to as ASSBAR.
  • The ASBAR Batman can also be "BINO" ("Batman in Name Only")
  • Or Crazy Steve.
  • The nickname has been used when referring to the (mildly) Darker and Edgier Nolan films, particularly TDK- occasionally 'Gosh Darn Batman' in reference to the... ambiguous PG-13 rating. (Mommy? I'm scared.)
  • 'Gosh Darn Batman' has also been used as a parody of the name in an issue of Superman/Batman.
• GunBats: Jason Todd's psychopathic gun-wielding Batman.
  • He is also known as GatMan.
• Jaybird: Jason Todd once called Dick Grayson "Dickiebird", and fandom said "hey, wait..." This later became Roy Harper's canon nickname for Jason in Red Hood and the Outlaws.
• For Jim Gordon as Batman there's Jimbats, in keeping with the "Dickbats" format.
  • Or, there's Commissioner Batman.
  • Or, Bat Bunny. Since his identity was kept a secret before the story started, people only recognised him by his powered armour, which more resembled a bunny than a Bat, hence the name. These days, the name is used to refer to the armour specifically.
• Little Miss Ninja Goddess - Cassandra Cain
  • Also frequently shortened to just "Cass".
• LumberBruce Bruce Wayne's Batman: Superheavy look, sporting a lumberjack-like beard.
• Not-Tim: New 52-era Tim.
• Swan Queen: The New 52 Red Robin costume. It is fabulous.
• 'Tec: The other nickname for Detective Comics.
• Timmy Todd: Tim Drake in The New Batman Adventures.
• Tumblr refers to the Dick Grayson/Donna Troy friendship as the "Wonder Twins" (not to be confused with the canonical Wonder Twins))

Superman

• Superdickery - Anytime Superman does something that isn't exactly very heroic.
  • This is different than the Superdickery trope, which refers to when covers or previews show a good character apparently act like a dick out of context to intrigue readers/viewers.
  • The term Superdickery also has the derivatives Batdickery ^note which can refer to dickery committed by Batgirl, Oracle, or Tim Drake's Robin too, Wonderdickery, Flashdickery, Lanterndickery, Guardiandickery, Arrowdickery, Wingdickery/Robindickery/Dickdickery, Spiderdickery, Fourdickery, Capdickery, Irondickery, X-dickery, Hulkdickery, and finally the catch-all terms "Herodickery" and... "Superdickery".
• Supermenso (lit. Supermoron in Spanish) - His nickname in the Mexican comic book fandom.
• Supes - Superman (pronounced like "soups").
  • Also, "The Boyscout" and "Big Blue Cheese" (to match Captain Marvel's "Big Red Cheese"), which also occasionally get some canon use.
• NuPerman -following the New 52 reboot.
• Supertorso - One of the incarnations of Supergirl, specifically in her short-skirted, midriff-baring, whisper-thin self of the early Supergirl (2005) issues.
• Pre-Crisis Supergirl is also called "Kousin Kara" by some fans.
• Superbrat-Prime, Emoboy-Prime, Superbitch-Prime, Superboy-Primadonna: Superboy-Prime (who was technically Superman-Prime for a stretch, but "Superboy" fits him better.)
  • Supermanboy-Prime?
  • Superboy-Whine, Superprick-Prime, Cryin' Prime, Spasticboy-Prime, Whinyboy-Prime, Emobitch-Whine, Super-Manboy-Asshole-Prime... can do this all day, people...
  • Superboy-Prime is often shortened to "SBP", and is thus also called "PMS".
  • Super-DC-Fanboy Prime
• Given his depiction in Superman: At Earth's End, many call that Superman "Bearded Idiot" as a result of Linkara
• Not quite a nickname per se, but using his initials in the same context as Lois Lane's often crops up in discussions of Lex Luthor; e.g.: "the other L.L."
  • 'Other'? What about Lori Lemaris, Lupé Leocadio, Lana Lang, Lena Luthor, Lionel Luthor, etc., etc...
    • To the point that one comic llampshaded this with a llama.
• Thanks to Convergence bringing back the Pre-New 52 Superman and making him a father, fans have taken to calling him Superdad, to differentiate him from the New 52 one.
• As a result of the above and the implication from Rebirth that the New 52 Superman wasn't the original (as Super Dad seemingly is), many have taken to calling New 52 Superman 'NuSupes'.
• Triangle Era - In The '90s, the multiple Post-Crisis Superman titles were so closely coordinated that they functioned more like a weekly book than four monthly comics. This was made official once the Super-books started adding a triangle containing a number to each cover, indicating the correct order to read in.

Wonder Woman

• "Wondy" is a common nickname for Wonder Woman, "Polly" for Hippolyta (actually originating from a brief use in Volume 2) and "Temi" for Artemis.
  • "The Horse Faced Wonder Girl" was encouraged by staff of Wonder Woman booths during comic book conventions due to Cassie Sandsmark's unflattering design when first introduced.
  • "Shamazons" is the common nickname for the spectacularly misconceived Amazons Attack!. It resurfaced for the amazons of Comicbook/{{'Wonder Woman|2011}} volume 4.
  • "Heinboot" is also the nickname for Wonder Woman's post-Infinite Crisis reboot by Alan Heinberg.
  • Wonder Woman fans even have nicknames for various costumes.
    • "Bathing suit" and "star spangled panties" for Diana's regular costumes
    • Star Trek Dallas for Donna Troy's "Titan Seed" outfit
    • The Darkstars that Donna Troy joined were collectively known as "Starjammers" for their exomantel designs.
    • "The Screaming Chicken Armor" for Diana's Kingdom Come eagle armor
    • "Disco Hooker" when Donna Troy's star field leotard was given a plunging neckline after her revival.
    • "The Christmas Sweater" for the outfit Cassie Sandsmark adopted as Wonder Girl during Teen Titans #65.
    • "Street Walker Chic" in reference to Donna Troy losing her star field but retaining the plunging neckline around Countdown To Final Crisis
    • "The Clown Suit" for the most hyped up of Diana's new armors during volume 4.
  • Completing Linkara's Trinity, there's Bonkers Betty, which is what he calls the ASSBAR version.
  • "Di", short for Diana, is one that sees usage in both the comics and fandom.
  • "Warrior Woman" is also one that comes up, usually derogatory, when fans think writers are placing her warrior traits/characteristics at the expense of her other personality traits.^note The character was originally conceived as a strong Martial Pacifist who would go to great efforts to reform defeated enemies. However, certain later writers have controversially taken more of a "classical Greek warrior in the modern day" approach, at times explicitly depicting her as the one leading DC hero who is willing to intentionally kill people if the circumstances are extreme enough to justify it

Legion of Super-Heroes

• Preboot – The Legion's original continuity, which first appeared in 1958 and continued until 1994.
  • 5YL / V4 / Glorithverse / TMK – "Five Years Later", a Darker and Edgier retool following a five-year Time Skip, beginning with the launch of the fourth volume of the comic in 1989; this timeline was created by the time-controlling villain Glorith. The 5YL stories were mostly written by Tom and Mary Bierbaum and drawn by Keith Giffen, usually abbreviated to "TMK".
  • SW6 – One of the most significant ongoing storylines from 5YL, involving a group of time-paradox duplicates of the early Legion (who went on to star in the Spin-Off series Legionnaires. The term comes from the cryptic labels of the People Jars ("Batch SW6") the duplicates were found in.
  • Retroboot / Deboot / Johnsboot – The version of the original continuity Legion that appeared starting in 2007's "The Lightning Saga", branching off from the preboot continuity just before 5YL, masterminded by writer Geoff Johns.
• Reboot / Postboot / Archie Legion – The first Continuity Reboot of the Legion's timeline, beginning 1994 after Zero Hour and continuing until 2004. It had a Lighter and Softer tone compared to the preceding runs, and Jeffrey Moy, the Legionnaires artist for the first run of the reboot, contributed a cartoony art style.
  • DnA – The Darker and Edgier Retool of the Post-Zero Hour Legion, launched at the turn of the millennium by writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning in the "Legion of the Damned" arc.
• Threeboot – The next Continuity Reboot of the Legion, named for being the third main continuity for the Legion, which lasted from 2004 to 2009 (overlapping with the "retroboot" era).
• Bendisboot – Occasionally-used nickname for the latest continuity reboot of the Legion from 2019, written by Brian Michael Bendis, although this one isn't as widespread as the others.
• "Naked Legion" for that period in the '70's where everyone's clothes were suddenly missing large random chunks.
  • The "Cosmic Corset" for Cosmic Boy's costume from the period, which looked a little like a corset and underwear if the corset was missing a huge strip down the front and back.
• Shady - Shadow Lass (very near-lying)

Green Lantern

• The Giant Yellow Space Bug: Parallax, after it was revealed in Sinestro Corps War that instead of "Parallax" being the name of the mass-murdering psychopathic super-villain Hal Jordan became after he lost his marbles over the destruction of his hometown, it was actually the name of the malevolent entity that possessed him, which was...well...a giant yellow space bug.
  • Also now used as a label for any massive retcon-revelation that completely alters a past event in continuity.
  • Parallax possessing someone is usually referred to by sticking some form of "-allax" after the possessee's name. Halallax, Kylellax, etc.
  • Brown Poop Monster: The version from the 2011 movie.
• Crabface, Crabmask - Kyle Rayner, the only Green Lantern from 1994 to 2004. Because his mask looks like a crab. Kind of. Sort of. If you tilt your head, squint, and have head trauma.
• Rage Cat/Rage Kitty - Dex-Starr, the blue "talking" cat that's a member of the Red Lantern corps. The Red Lanterns are powered by their rage and hatred. Scans Daily has dubbed him "Ruffles". Sometimes the names are combined into "Ruffles the Rage Kitty".
  • Also "Pukecat" (because Red Lanterns puke blood as a weapon).
• Guacamole Lantern is Hal Jordan in his more idiotic moments.
• "Hal and Pals" has been used on 4Chan and Reddit when talking about Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps.
• Black Lantern Corps - The Corpse Corps

Assorted DC

• The Big Seven - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, J'onn J'onnz (or more recently, Cyborg in his place), a Flash, a Green Lantern, and Aquaman/Hawkman/Hawkgirl (it depends); the most common members and iconic of the Justice League of America. More rarely, The Magnificent Seven, after the movie of the same name.
• The Brave and the Bold - Green Lantern and The Flash when they team-up. It also referred to an old team-up book and, of course, Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
  • Similarly, Batman and Superman get "The Worlds Finest" when they team up. This is also used in-universe.
• The Trinity, the Big Three - Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. "Big Three" is also used for Marvel's top heroes, see below.
• "Cap" usually refers to Captain Marvel or Captain Atom. In a broader sense, any superhero with "Captain" in his or her name can be called Cap. (Over at Marvel, Cap is Captain America).
  • Billy Batson's alter ego has canon in-universe nicknames that have been adopted by fans. "The Big Red Cheese" is the oldest and most famous having originated in the Fawcett Comics era but "Captain Sparklefingers" from the movie caught on fast.
• Jobberseid - Darkseid, of The DCU. Often used in reference to his more recent incarnations where he loses to almost every superhero on the DC roster, despite supposedly being a threat to the entire universe.
  • "Couchseid", "Darksofa", "Mr. Couch-Sitter" (among numerous variations), from an infamous scene in Countdown to Final Crisis where the lord of all evil just chills out in Mary Marvel's couch for an issue.
• The Superbuddies - the Giffen/DeMatteis Justice League International
• Boostle - Ted Kord and Booster Gold, especially in their more touchy-feely moments.
  • Also often referred to as 'Blue n' Gold'.
• The Three Old Men - Green Lantern (Alan Scott), The Flash (Jay Garrick) and Wildcat (Ted Grant), the three remaining JSA members from its 1940s origins. Occasionally, Hawkman is the fourth old man, but due to the various retcons and reimaginings of his origins, he may not still count as the same 1940s incarnation.
  • Incidentally, Hawkman is sometimes referred to as "Hawk-Snarl".
• "Magnus Robot Fucker" is a sometimes used nickname for DC Comics scientist Will Magnus. It's a pun on the title Magnus Robot Fighter and a comment on Magnus's relationship with Platinum.
• "Starro the Barbarian" - the recently revealed true form of Starro the Conqueror.
• "Gay for Justice", the name given to the much-maligned "Justice League Cry for Justice" miniseries that amidst its other terrible decisions made the first word of its subtitle look very much like "gay" due to capitalization and font.
  • DC Nation posters refers to "Cry for Justice" as "Cry for Good Writing"
• Countdown to Final Crisis is so reviled it defies having a nickname. It's name is simply pronounced in a tone of withering disgust, conveyed through the internet with italics, emphatic ellipses, or is preceded by notation such as *seethes* or *grinds teeth* or *groans*
• Peej refers to Power Girl, based on the acronym PG. The nickname is frequently, but not always, used by fans who are annoyed that a woman who is at least in her mid-twenties is referred to as "girl."
• Stick Boy and Anger Girl: Paco and Brenda
• Dat ass: the gratuitous outlining of any spandex-clad male superhero's rear.
• Fab Five: The original Teen Titans; Dick, Donna, Roy, Wally and Garth.
  • Fab Fourteen: Refers to the Silver Age Teen Titans as a whole; Fab Five, Lilith, Mal, Karen, Hank, Don, Duela, Bette, Charley and Tula.
• Core Four: the founding members of Young Justice, Robin (Tim), Superboy (Kon/Conner) and Impulse (Bart) along with Wonder Girl (Cassie) as the group are best friends and formed the core of the team, and later remained a sort of sub-group within the Teen Titans.
• DCnU: The 2011 reboot, more officially known as the "New 52". A portmanteau of "nu DCU"
  • Also nu-Image Comics due to the costume designs and the Darker and Edgier tone.
• The Wall - Amanda Waller, in- and out-of-universe.
  • "The Stick" - A nickname for detractors, commenting on her sudden weight loss in the New 52.
• Captain Strawman: Manchester Black, for the obvious efforts to make him look as bad as possible so we don't side with him.
• NuWally - The New 52 version of Wally West, later retconned to be the original's cousin, to distinguish him from the original incarnation due to how different they are. Became disused once the nickname of "Ace" became Ascended Fanon during The Flash (Infinite Frontier)
• "Flushpoint": the New 52's launch, and the reboot of the previous version of the DCU in Flashpoint were supposed to create a jumping on point for new readers. For some existing readers who had liked the previous universe, it instead became a jumping off point, and DC was said to have flushed the existing continuity down the toilet. Hence...

Vertigo

• The big blue junk - Dr. Manhattan's... erm... equipment in Watchmen.
  • Downtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, the Manhattan meatpacking district...
  • Interestingly, an in-universe Fan Nickname exists for his ability to teleport anyone anywhere, "The Manhattan Transfer".
• Before the evil author finally wrote in the names of Snow and Bigby's children in Fables, some of them had fan nicknames. Most common was "Puff" for the seventh, an invisible wind-sprite to the point where there was even a filk about "Puff the Magic Wind Cub." Eventually, his name was revealled to be "Ghost." Apparently, Bigby wants his kiddies names to sound cooler.