- For other uses of "Vigilante", see Vigilante (disambiguation).
- "Well, I'm—I'm conflicted about this. I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm a police officer, duly sworn. I don't condone vigilantes or vigilantism. Once people start taking the law into their own hands, you're on the road to anarchy. But there's worse things out there than anarchy, and sometimes, as much as I hate to admit it... the police aren't enough to deal with it all."
- —Quentin Lance[src]
A vigilante is an individual who takes the law into their own hands, believing that the police and the court system are unable to or unreliable at bringing criminals to justice. However, not all vigilantes are fighting for justice, some do it out of personal revenge or antagonistic reasoning. It is also common for vigilantes to take on a moniker to be known by, some by personal choice and others by having been named by the public.
Some vigilantes eventually gain a level of popularity and admiration from the general public that they begin to be seen as a "superhero". Despite the name suggesting this term is reserved for individuals with superhuman powers, it may also be used to define individuals without any but instead rely on combat skills, intellect or gadgetry.
While most vigilantes typically exist outside of the government, some have been given amnesty due to the positive effects that came from their actions. Some have gone so far as to be fully pardoned and even deputized as superheroes officially working more closely with law enforcement.[1]
History
Star City
Oliver Queen's crusade
After the Queen's Gambit sank in North China sea, Oliver Queen was stranded on Lian Yu and learnt archery from Yao Fei Gulong. When he returned home, he started to become a vigilante under the names on The List his father gave him. He later got assistance from John Diggle and Felicity Smoak to act as a vigilante team. He is known as the Hood in 2012, the Arrow in 2013 and Green Arrow in 2015.
Central City
S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator explosion
In 2013, the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator exploded due to malfunction. The explosion created people with powers and are named as Meta-humans. The explosion also caused Barry Allen to receive super speed and became a vigilante to stop rogue meta-humans. He later got assistance from Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow to act as a beacon of hope for Central City. He is also known as The Streak in his early vigilante career and gained the name The Flash as well as the stylized name Scarlet Speedster.
National City; Earth-38
Sabotage of Flight 237
In 2015, the Flight 237 was about to crash and destroy the city. Kara Danvers, a Kryptonian refugee stepped up and saved the aircraft. With the help from Winn Schott, she got a suit similar to Superman and became the hero Supergirl.
Timeline
Uprise of Vandal Savage
In 2166, an immortal emperor known as Vandal Savage ruled the world and killed Rip Hunter's family. He later went back in time to 2016 and recruited 8 vigilantes and criminals who are insignificant to the timeline. They later time-traveled across time to hunt down Vandal Savage and his allies. Rip Hunter named his team as Legends as they will be significant to the timeline if they succeeded in the mission. After defeating Vandal Savage and destroyed the Time Masters, they started to protect the timeline from Time pirates and aberrations.
Gotham City
Disappearance of the Dark Knight
Three years after Bruce Wayne left Gotham City, Kate Kane returned home and accidentally discovered the secret identity of Bruce Wayne. When her ex-girlfriend was kidnapped by the Wonderland gang, she asked Luke Fox to alter the Batsuit to fit her and became Batwoman.
After Kate mysteriously disappeared, following the explosion of her private jet, she is presumed dead and a woman named Ryan Wilder discovered the Batsuit among the wreckage and briefly assumed the mantle of Batwoman, but she gave the suit back to Luke Fox and Mary Hamilton after concluding that she is not worthy to use it. But after saving Gotham's citizens, Ryan received Luke and Mary’s blessing to operate as Batwoman in Kate’s place, at least until Kate returns, becoming the second Batwoman and part of the Bat Team in the process.
Freeland; Earth-TUD5
Reappearance of Black Lightning
Nine years after retiring to put himself in less danger, Jefferson Pierce finds that his daughters Jennifer and Anissa Pierce have been kidnapped. Giving him a wake up call to return to action as Black Lightning in order to fight for Freeland once more. Once again being helped by Peter Gambi who made him a new suit for his return.
Earth-Prime
Anti-Monitor Crisis
During the Crisis, the Paragons and Oliver Queen went back in time to the Dawn of Time and formed Earth-Prime. After defeating the Anti-Monitor, Barry Allen formed a group of the greatest of heroes.
Known vigilantes
Heroes
| Image | Name | Alter ego | Universe | Status | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Barry Allen | The Flash | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Flash Paragons New multiverse Team Flash Paragons Crisis team |
|
|
Helena Bertinelli | Huntress | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (formerly) | Turned rogue; incarcerated |
|
Adrian Chase | The Hood | Earth-2 | Inactive | Laurel Lance | Presumed deceased |
|
John Constantine | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Legends (reluctantly) New multiverse Legends |
||
|
Alex Danvers | Sentinel | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends New multiverse Superfriends |
|
|
Kara Danvers | Supergirl | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends Paragons New multiverse Superfriends Paragons Crisis team |
Secretly an agent of the D.E.O. |
|
Ralph Dibny | Elongated Man | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Flash New multiverse Team Flash |
|
|
John Diggle | Spartan Green Arrow (briefly) |
Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Retired |
|
Querl Dox | Brainiac 5 | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse The Legion (formerly) Superfriends New multiverse The Legion (formerly) Superfriends | |
|
Dinah Drake | Black Canary | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active (as of 2040) | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New Team Arrow (formerly) Canaries (formerly; erased timeline) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) Mia Queen's team |
Sent to 2040 with her former history erased |
|
Jay Garrick | The Flash | Earth-3 | Inactive | Team Flash (occasionally; formerly) | Retired to train a new Flash |
|
Ted Grant | Wildcat | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (occasionally; formerly) | Retired |
|
Scythian Torvil | Hawkman | Earth-1 | Inactive | Legends | Retired |
|
Roy Harper | Arsenal | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) Canaries (formerly; erased timeline) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Retired |
|
John Diggle, Jr. | Connor Hawke/Green Arrow | Earth-16 | Active | Team Arrow | |
|
Nate Heywood | Steel | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Legends Team Flash (formerly) New multiverse Legends |
|
|
Curtis Holt | Mr. Terrific | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arow (formerly) |
Retired |
|
Michael | Rip Hunter | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Legends (formerly) New multiverse Legends (formerly) |
Deceased |
|
Mon-El | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends The Legion New multiverse Superfriends (formerly) The Legion |
||
|
Jefferson Jackson | Firestorm (formerly) | Earth-1 | Inactive | Legends (formerly) | Retired; now focused on his family |
|
J'onn J'onzz | Martian Manhunter | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends Paragons New multiverse Superfriends Crisis team |
|
|
Clark Kent | Superman | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends (occasionally) New multiverse Superfriends (occasionally) Crisis team |
|
|
Clark Kent | Superman | Earth-96 (original multiverse) Earth-96 (new multiverse) |
Active | Original multiverse Paragons (formerly) |
|
|
Clark Kent | Superman | Earth-167 | Inactive | Retired; gave up his powers to start a family | |
|
Kate Kane | Batwoman | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Luke Fox Paragons New multiverse Luke Fox Paragons Crisis team |
Passed the mantle on to Ryan Wilder |
|
Kuasa | Vixen | Earth-1 | Active | Legends (occasionally) | Shares the mantle with Mari |
|
Laurel Lance | Black Canary | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Team Arrow | Deceased |
|
Laurel Lance | Black Canary | Earth-2 | Active | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Reformed criminal turned vigilante |
|
Quentin Lance | Detective (formerly) | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
|
|
Sara Lance | The Canary (formerly) White Canary |
Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) Legends New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) Legends Paragons Crisis team |
|
|
Mari | Vixen | Earth-1 | Active | Team Arrow (occasionally) | Shares the mantle with Kuasa |
|
Malcolm Merlyn | Dark Archer | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (formerly) | Anti-hero; deceased |
|
Nia Nal | Dreamer | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends New multiverse Superfriends |
|
|
James Olsen | Guardian | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Guardian's team (formerly) Superfriends (formerly) New multiverse Superfriends (formerly) |
Deputized |
|
Ray Palmer | The Atom | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) Legends New multiverse Legends |
|
|
Anissa Pierce | Thunder | Earth-TUD5 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Black Lightning's team New multiverse Black Lightning's team |
|
|
Jefferson Pierce | Black Lightning | Earth-TUD5 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Black Lightning's team New multiverse Black Lightning's team Crisis team |
|
|
Jennifer Pierce | Lightning | Earth-TUD5 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Black Lightning's team New multiverse Black Lightning's team |
|
|
Mia Queen | Green Arrow (2040) | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Canaries (erased future) Team Arrow New multiverse Mia Queen's team (possible future) Team Arrow (briefly) |
|
|
Oliver Queen | Green Arrow | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow New multiverse Team Arrow Crisis team (honorary member) |
Deputized; deceased |
|
Oliver Queen | Green Arrow | Earth-16 | Active | Team Arrow | |
| Robert Queen | The Arrow | Earth-2 | Inactive | Presumed deceased | ||
|
Thea Queen | Speedy | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Left to destroy three Lazarus Pits with Nyssa and Roy |
|
Rene Ramirez | Wild Dog | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Retired; left to run for mayor |
|
Cisco Ramon | Vibe (formerly) Mecha-Vibe |
Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Flash (formerly) New multiverse Team Flash |
Took meta-human cure; no longer a field agent; later briefly regained powers via Mar Novu |
|
Ronnie Raymond | Firestorm | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Flash (formerly) New multiverse Team Flash (formerly) |
Presumed deceased |
|
Rory Regan | Ragman | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Leave of absence |
|
Mick Rory | Heat Wave | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Legends (formerly) New multiverse Legends |
Anti-hero |
|
Kendra Saunders | Hawkgirl | Earth-1 | Inactive | Legends (formerly) | Retired |
|
Winn Schott | Man in the Van Computer Lad Toyman |
Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Superfriends (formerly) Guardian's team (formerly) The Legion New multiverse Superfriends (formerly) The Legion |
|
|
Evelyn Sharp | Artemis | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (formerly) | Turned rogue; presumed deceased |
|
Vincent Sobel | Vigilante | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (occasionally) | Anti-hero; deceased |
|
Felicity Smoak | Overwatch | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) New multiverse Team Arrow (formerly) |
Deputized; retired to raise her daughter, Mia Queen |
|
Leonard Snart | Captain Cold | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Flash (occasionally) Legends |
Deceased |
|
Caitlin Snow | Frost | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Team Flash New multiverse Team Flash |
|
|
Martin Stein | Firestorm | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) Legends |
Deceased |
|
Lyra Strayd | Earth-38 | Inactive | Guardian's team (formerly) | ||
|
Behrad Tarazi | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Original multiverse Legends New multiverse Legends |
||
|
Zari Tomaz (original timeline) | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive (original timeline) | Legends (original timeline) | History of her being a vigilante erased from existence | |
|
Eddie Thawne | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) | Deceased | |
|
Eobard Thawne | Harrison Wells | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) | Revealed to be a villain in disguise |
|
Bruce Wayne | Batman | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Lucius Fox (formerly) Luke Fox (formerly) | Left Gotham City |
|
Harry Wells | Earth-2 | Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) Jesse Wells' team (formerly) |
||
|
Harrison Wells | H. R. Randolf | Earth-19 | Inactive | Team Flash | Deceased |
|
Harrison Nash Wells | Pariah (formerly) | Earth-TUD12 | Inactive | Team Flash | Merged into the Artificial Speed Force |
|
Jesse Wells | Jesse Quick | Earth-2 | Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) Jesse Wells' team |
Presumed deceased |
|
Iris West-Allen | Eye in the Sky (briefly) The Flash (briefly) |
Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Team Flash | |
|
Joe West | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Team Flash | ||
|
Nora West-Allen | XS | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Team Flash | |
|
Bart West-Allen | Impulse | Earth-Prime | Active | Team Flash | |
|
Wally West | Kid Flash (current timeline) The Flash (Flashpoint timeline) |
Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Team Flash (formerly) Legends (formerly) |
Left Team Flash and later joined the Legends for a brief time |
|
Ryan Wilder | Batwoman | Earth-Prime | Active | Bat Team | |
|
Tatsu Yamashiro | Earth-1 | Inactive | Team Arrow (formerly; occasionally) | Retired | |
|
Hunter Zolomon | Jay Garrick/The Flash | Earth-2 | Inactive | Team Flash (formerly) | Revealed to be a villain in disguise; deceased |
Villainous vigilantes
| Image | Name | Alter ego | Universe | Status | Works with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Helena Bertinelli | Huntress | Earth-1 | Inactive | Incarcerated | |
|
Manchester Black | Earth-38 | Inactive | The Elite | Deceased | |
|
Colton | Earth-1 | Inactive | The Hoods | Incarcerated | |
|
Carrie Cutter | Cupid | Earth-1 | Inactive | Suicide Squad | Incarcerated |
|
Jeff Deveau | Earth-1 | Inactive | The Hoods | Incarcerated | |
|
Bertrand Eldon | Executioner | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Deceased | |
|
Joseph Falk | The Savior | Earth-1 | Inactive | Deceased | |
|
Pamela Ferrer | Menagerie | Earth-38 | Inactive | The Elite | Incarcerated |
|
Phillip Karnowsky | Earth-38 | Inactive | Incarcerated | ||
|
Lonnie Machin | Anarky | Earth-1 | Inactive | Incarcerated | |
|
|
Malcolm Merlyn | Dark Archer | Earth-1 | Inactive | Reformed; deceased | |
|
Tommy Merlyn | Dark Archer | Earth-2 | Inactive | Reformed; deceased | |
|
Hartley Rathaway | Pied Piper | Earth-1 Earth-Prime |
Active | Team Flash (occasionally) | Reformed in Pre-Crisis timeline |
|
Isaac Stanzler | Earth-1 | Inactive | Deceased | ||
|
Unnamed | Mo | Earth-38 | Inactive | The Elite | Incarcerated |
|
Unnamed | Hat | Earth-38 Earth-Prime |
Inactive | Original multiverse The Elite |
Original multiverse Incarcerated |
Known vigilante teams
Some vigilantes/superheroes would operate in teams, with their different skills used to support each other.
Heroes
- Legends
- Superfriends
- The Legion
- Team Flash
- Barry Allen/The Flash (co-leader)
- Iris West-Allen (co-leader)
- Joe West
- Caitlin Snow
- Frost
- Cecile Horton
- Allegra Garcia
- Chester P. Runk
- Bat Team
- Mia Queen's team
Former vigilantes
Heroes
- Birds of Prey (inactive)
- Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle (deceased)
- Dinah Redmond (deceased)
- Helena Kyle/Huntress (deceased)
- Team Arrow
- Oliver Queen/Green Arrow/The Spectre (deceased)
- John Diggle/Spartan (disbanded the team)
- Felicity Smoak/Overwatch (left the team)
- Dinah Drake/Black Canary (transported to the future with her previous history erased)
- Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog (left the team to run for Mayor of Star City)
- Helena Bertinelli/Huntress (turned rogue; incarcerated)
- Roy Harper/Arsenal (retired; resumed vigilantism in a potential future)
- Curtis Holt/Mr. Terrific (retired; left for a job in Washington D.C.)
- Thea Queen/Speedy (retired)
- Evelyn Sharp/Artemis (secretly a villain; status unknown)
- Laurel Lance/Black Canary (deceased)
- Rory Regan/Ragman (leave of absence; status unknown)
- Emiko Adachi/Green Arrow (secretly a villain; turned ally; deceased; resurrected in the new multiverse)
- Ted Grant/Wildcat (retired)
- Isaac Stanzler (deceased)
- Team Flash former members
- Eddie Thawne (deceased)
- Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash (former leader of Team Flash; secretly a villain)
- Ronnie Raymond/Firestorm (deceased)
- Martin Stein/Firestorm (left to join the Legends; deceased)
- "Jay Garrick"/The Flash (secretly a villain; deceased)
- Harry Wells (retired; returned to Earth-2; relocated to Harrison Nash Wells' mind; deceased)
- Harrison "H.R." Wells (deceased)
- Nora West-Allen/XS (in the orginal multiverse; erased from existance; ally in the new multiverse)
- Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man (left the team to go on a mission)
- Cisco Ramon/Vibe (left the team to work for A.R.G.U.S.)
- Kamilla Hwang (left the team to open an art gallery)
- Legends former members
- Carter Hall/Hawkman (deceased)
- Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (deceased)
- Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (retired)
- Scythian Torvil/Hawkman (retired)
- Martin Stein/Firestorm (deceased)
- Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (leave of absence)
- Ray Palmer/The Atom (retired)
- Nora Darhk (retired)
- Superfriends former memers
- Guardian's team (disbanded)
- James Olsen/Guardian (leader; left the team; relocated to Earth-Prime)
- Win Schott/Man in the Van (left the team; relocated to Earth-Prime)
- Lyra Strayd (left the team; status unknown)
- Freedom Fighters (presumably disbanded)
- Winn Schott (leader; presumably deceased)
- Ray Terrill/The Ray (relocated to Earth-Prime)
- Jenny Knight/Phantom Lady (presumably deceased)
- John Trujillo/Black Condor (presumably deceased)
- Leo Snart (presumably deceased)
- Cisco Ramon/Vibe (presumably deceased)
- Canaries (in an erased future)
- Bat Team
- Kate Kane/Batwoman (former leader; kidnapped by Black Mask; saved by her team; left Gotham City, passing the Batwoman mantle ro Ryan Wilder; retired)
Criminals
- The Hoods (inactive)
- Aglin (incarcerated)
- Baker (incarcerated)
- Colton (incarcerated)
- Jeff Deveau (incarcerated)
- The Elite (inactive)
- Manchester Black (leader; deceased)
- Pamela Ferrer/Menagerie (incarcerated)
- Hat (incarcerated)
- Mo (incarcerated)
Trivia
- The greatest irony is that while vigilantes do cause crazy supervillains to emerge in response to them, in truth they end up doing a much better job at cleaning up regular crime in their cities than the police.
- Rene Ramirez acknowledges this concept in "Inmate 4587", where due to Team Arrow's absence, crime in Star City skyrocketed within five months.
- It was even acknowledged that Batman's absence caused Gotham to need the Crows Security to be founded to deal with massive resurgence of crime. Since criminals were no longer in check due to their fear of the Bat.
- Flash is honored and respected as the hero of Central City, where even a holiday called Flash Day; possibly due to the fact arresting him is impossible due his speed. Ironically Team Flash is left alone, aside from Frost, whom was able to get absolvement for her crimes much like Oliver.
- Black Lightning is accepted as a hero and never is targeted by law enforcement. Largely due to his previous heroics in the 1990s.
- The Superfriends are left alone, since they are comprised of aliens with powers. Though cops targeted Guardian out of racism after his helmet broke. The only major fallout was in "Nightmare in National City", where the government made the bonehead move of attacking the Nightmare Monster while the Superfriends were sending it back to the Dream World; then spinning public opinion against them when they had to interfere.
