Even Superheroes Get Scared: 8 DC Heroes Who Hide Some Major Phobias

DC Comics' superheroes may seem all-powerful, but in reality, many of them struggle with surprising phobias. It takes immense bravery to step up and become a hero the way they have, yet everyday fears still drag them down in their day-to-day lives. Believe it or not, the Justice League is populated by characters who are more afraid of heights or small spaces than they are of battling cosmic villains.

Phobias aren't limited to novice heroes who lack the experience to conquer their weaknesses, as iconic figures like Batman also grapple with fears. At the end of the day, though heroes are much more physically powerful than the average person, they can nonetheless be humbled by something as simple as a nightmare. This list features 8 DC heroes who are plagued by phobias, and while some have overcome those irrational fears with time and practice, others still cower in the presence of whatever it is that frightens them.

8 Batman (Bruce Wayne)

Fear of Bats (Chiroptophobia)

Batman's fear of bats may be confusing to the uninitiated, but it's actually the reason he chose his signature iconography to begin with. As a child, Bruce Wayne fell into a cave beneath Wayne Manor and was bombarded by bats, which instilled his phobia within him that persisted into his adulthood.

Later, when the time came to decide on a superhero costume for his vigilante exploits, Bruce decided that bats would strike fear in enemies the same way they do for him. Thus, Batman was born, donning the appearance of the very creature he dreads most.

7 Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)

Fear of Heights (Acrophobia)

Although Kent Nelson's Doctor Fate has flown around alongside the Justice Society of America in countless battles, he once possessed a fear of heights that held him back. He informs his successor, Khalid Nassour, of this phobia in 2016's Doctor Fate #13 by Paul Levitz and Ibrahim Moustafa, as an example of how wearing his helmet's magic changed him for the better.

Doctor Fate once detested heights, yet in this story, he stands atop a high beam and even hovers off the edge to demonstrate his lack of fear. As it turns out, being a superhero can make for effective exposure therapy.

6 Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz)

Fear of Fire (Pyrophobia)

Martian Manhunter doesn't have much to fear, considering his power is comparable to Superman's. However, this Justice League icon does have one critical weakness that shakes him to his core: fire. This phobia has roots in his Martian heritage, as his kind all turn tail at the mere sight of flames due to its effects on them.

Of course, not every fire alarms him equally. Martian Manhunter's weakness to fire depends on the flame's size, so he at least doesn't shrink away from something as insignificant as a candle. With that being said, a proper bonfire might give him pause.

5 Catman (Thomas Blake)

Fear of Tight Spaces (Claustrophobia) and Water (Aquaphobia)

Of all the heroes on this list, Catman's fears are perhaps the most justified. His claustrophobia and aquaphobia might come off as silly at a glance, but they both connect to his dark past. In the New 52's Secret Six by Gail Simone and Ken Lashley, it's revealed that Catman spent a year trapped in a small cell, which explains his fear of tight spaces.

Moreover, Catman would periodically be sprayed with water during his captivity. This antihero's phobias stem from his trauma, so it's understandable that he continues to reject the things that contributed to his suffering.

4 The Atom (Ryan Choi)

Fear of Heights (Acrophobia) and the Outdoors (Agoraphobia)

The second Atom, Ryan Choi, follows up the last entry with a set of massive fears that - for all intents and purposes - should have prevented him from becoming a hero. He has an unfortunate combination of agoraphobia and acrophobia, both of which used to hold him back from his full potential.

Luckily, encouraging words from the original Atom, Ray Palmer, inspired Ryan to push through his worries and become his successor during his temporary absence. The two Atoms now work together in DC's current continuity, neither of them held back by unreasonable fears of the world around them.

3 Zatanna Zatara

Fear of Puppets (Pupaphobia)

Zatanna is widely regarded as one of the Justice League's strongest heroes in general, yet her fear of puppets has been a persistent thorn in her side. The phobia originates from a childhood incident in which a puppeteer named Oscar Hempel tried to kill her, before her father transformed him into a puppet and wiped her memory of the night altogether.

Zatara's controversial actions clearly traumatized Zatanna, and she spent years getting thrown off every time she battled a villain with a puppetry gimmick. Now, as of Zatanna #11 by Paul Dini and Jamal Igle, she's evolved past her fear at long last.

2 Aquaman (Arthur Curry)

Fear of Water (Aquaphobia)

Aquaman's fear is undoubtedly a strange one for him to have, seeing as he spends a majority of his time underwater as the King of Atlantis. It should be said that he isn't always afraid of water, and this phobia only appears as a result of external meddling.

In Challenge of Super Sons #9 by Peter Tomasi and Max Raynor, Aquaman is exposed to a fear toxin designed by Batman that caused him to be scared of water. To his relief, this weakness doesn't last forever, but Aquaman has still canonically been terrified of the water he resides in.

1 Monkey Prince (Marcus Sun)

Fear of Water (Aquaphobia), Storms (Astraphobia), and Bats (Chiroptophobia)

Monkey Prince tops this list due to his status as the DC hero with the most known fears. A clone of the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong, Marcus Sun shouldn't be inhibited by weakness at all due to his impressive lineage. Nonetheless, he initially had panic attacks at the sight of water, storms, and bats.

His phobia began when Batman infiltrated his home and attacked his parents, which left him with various fears tied to that night. Thankfully, Monkey King's phobias have since subsided after much practice and perseverance, and he's also conquered his disdain for superheroes by becoming one of DC Comics' heroes himself.