Matt O'Dare

Few characters capture the gritty, noir-soaked soul of James Robinson and Tony Harris's landmark Starman run quite like Matt O'Dare — a Opal City cop whose story unfolded across one of DC's most celebrated Modern Age series. Debuting in 1994 alongside the launch of that beloved title, Matt became a recurring presence through the series' seven-year run, sharing pages with the likes of Jack Knight, Ted Knight, the enigmatic Richard Swift, and the immortal Shade. With 26 catalog appearances spread across Starman and its annuals, he's the kind of street-level figure who gives a superhero universe its texture and weight — exactly the sort of character that rewards readers who dive deep into one of the 1990s' most atmospheric and literary comics.