One of the most popular has been the environment, as a number of heroes over time are eco-friendly, something that's potentially even more relevant today (depending on your views on global warming, of course). While you already know some of the worlds most globe-friendly heroes, many you do not. Let's look at some of the most environmentally friendly superheroes.
Captain Planet: You know we had to start here. Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a cartoon show that ran for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, spanning an amazing 113 episodes. Five eco-friendly teenagers were given special rings that could control forces of nature such as wind, water and fire. When they got in big trouble, they could combine their powers and Captain Planet, a light blue superhero with a dry sense of humor, would come to the rescue. While the show was usually goofy (if not completely campy), it aimed to educate children about the environment through a slice of entertainment. The Planeteers battled such foes as Verminous Skumm, Hoggish Greedly and Dr. Blight.
Oh, and if you think Captain Planet was a joke, he did influence some future environmentalists as noted in this Huffington Post article.
Sarah Rainmaker: And now for one that's a little more obscure. Sarah Rainmaker is a character from the DC Comic book series Gen. Her character features powers similar to that of Storm from the X-Men, namely her ability to control the weather with her thoughts. She can fly using wind currents and generate lighting from her hands. Along with that, she spends her non-superhero time attending protests and acting as an environmental activist, sometimes lecturing others.
The Natural Powers: These four ladies just made their appearance, showing up on a new game on the Gala Bingo hub. Named Earth, Wind, Fire and Ice, these four ladies have special powers drawn from nature along with mystery features. The game also features a 1950s-type comic book feel that helps bring the characters to life. Maybe a TV show is on the horizon?
Animal Man: Another DC Comics superhero, Animal Man can mimic the abilities of any animal thanks to an encounter with a crashed alien ship. He can do this by either focusing on an animal near him or from the animal kingdom in general with powers such as strength from a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a bear's anger and even the durability of a roach. He appeared in a number of TV shorts where he completely ignores people in danger to save animals in need.
Poison Ivy: OK, so she's a villain, but she loves plant life maybe even too much. The character dates all the way back to the Batman comics in 1966 and has remained one of the the Caped Crusader's most famous enemies. She uses toxins from plants to pull off her evil schemes, which usually involve committing acts of terrorism in support of ecological or environmental causes. This actually made for an interesting environment clash between her and Batman, whose alter ego Bruce Wayne owns a large company, lives in a gigantic house and relies heavily on technology to do his crime-fighting. The character is so popular, she is being spun off into her own comic book, reports HitFlix.