Every winter season, we all work to take care of ourselves as the temperature outside drops. Many of us turn up the thermostat and layer our clothing, while making sure our modes of transportation are up to facing the snow, sleet and ice.
The heroes of the DC Universe are much the same, and over the years we’ve seen many examples of our costumed crusaders braving the elements in their fight against crime. Even the wildest winters haven’t stopped our favorite characters from doing what they do best, although there have been close calls!
One of the most famous was during the Crisis-level event known as “The Final Night.” When a member of the extraterrestrial beings known as the Sun-Eaters envelops and destroys the Earth’s sun, the resultant cataclysm spirals every country into a new Ice Age, threatening to kill every living being within a matter of days. As Superman and the Justice League work to revive the sun through super-powered and scientific means, the street level heroes on the ground do what they can to stem the tide of mass panic and looting.
In one memorable chapter, we see Robin (Tim Drake) arrive on the scene to help Spoiler, rolling up in an R-styled snowmobile and decked out in a new costume that includes an electrically heated bodysuit. Long black sleeves run down his arms, in stark opposition to the bare arms Robin’s costume was known for up until then. It’s a design choice that would be echoed years later when Damian Wayne took up the mantle.
This wouldn’t be the first time we would see the Bat-Family thicken their hides with heated costumes for the winter. Years earlier in Batman Annual #13, we see Jason Todd wearing a version of Robin’s suit that incorporates a baggy sweater, as he hurls snowballs towards a suspect. In Nightwing #54, Blüdhaven’s hero leaps into frozen waters to save a child, protected by his heated suit, but still catching a cold from exposure. Finally, in the recent “One Bad Day” one-shot featuring Mr. Freeze, we see Batman and Robin in layered costumes, with Robin (a young Dick Grayson) sporting long black sleeves and a hoodie for comfort.
But the Caped Crusaders are human vigilantes with no superpowers to help fight against cold weather. Among the super-powered set, those who hail from outer space are typically less affected by the elements, often due to longtime exposure from other energy sources. Superman, Supergirl and other Kryptonians gain their abilities and longevity from living under the yellow sun. As such, while they cannot freeze or catch colds like normal humans while the sun is in orbit, extreme situations, such as the sun suddenly disappearing, can result in their powers fading away slowly but assuredly over time.
Meanwhile, Wonder Woman is all but immune to the elements. Born an Amazon through magic, with gifts of the gods granting her super powers, Princess Diana is highly resistant to nearly all forms of offense, including extreme temperatures. Whether in a frozen tundra or in the heart of a volcano, Diana’s body has been honed to withstand severe climates of all kinds, something that we’re reminded of from time to time, such as in the famous opening scene from the classic Superman tale, “For the Man Who Has Everything.”
And then there’s the Flash. The Scarlet Speedster has historically battled against villains who weaponize cold, from the Golden Age of Jay Garrick vs. the Icicle to the classic archenemies of Barry Allen and Captain Cold, we’ve seen the Flash vibrate his molecules out of icy death traps numerous times. That doesn’t mean the Flash can’t become cold, however. His body is just as susceptible to freezing temperatures as anyone’s, it’s just that his immense speed gives him a powerful weapon against it.
Racing across snowy mountaintops greatly increases the Flash’s body heat to a level where he likely doesn’t even notice the cold, but if he slows down or stops, the frigid weather will affect his powers as long as he’s exposed. This is particularly dangerous when he goes up against Captain Cold, whose Cold Gun emits energy that instantly drops everything to the temperature of absolute zero. It literally freezes everything in sight. Against this kind of weaponry, Flash’s only hope is to get the drop on his longtime foe before he’s turned into actual ice cubes.
Speaking of which, that’s actually happened to a member of the Justice League! In the infamous four-part saga “Tower of Babel,” the eco-terrorist Ra’s al Ghul inflicts a series of attacks on the members of the JLA that were specifically designed by Batman in case the League ever turned against humanity. One such maneuver was to incapacitate the rubbery hero Plastic Man by freezing him, dismembering him and spreading the parts across the globe to prevent him from reforming. Like the other contingency plans against the various League members, this wasn’t intended to kill Plastic Man. However, the event has a deep effect on his psyche. Traumatized by Ra’s al Ghul’s actions and the betrayal of the man who vouched for him to join the JLA, Plastic Man later votes to expel Batman from the team.
Many other heroes have varying degrees of resilience and weakness to cold weather, like many of us do in the real world. So, if there’s one thing we should take away from all this, it’s to take care of ourselves and stay prepared (like Batman) in the event of inclement weather. Check the forecast every day, always dress appropriately if you need to go out and stay safe until the sun shines again!
Donovan Morgan Grant writes about comics, graphic novels and superhero history for DC.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @donomark and X at @donoDMG1.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Donovan Morgan Grant and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
