Is Chris Smith DC’s saddest boy? If you’ve watched “Peacemaker” Season 1, you might think the answer is “yes,” but the video above demonstrates that the DC Comics universe boasts a plethora of sad boy heroes. While Peacemaker doesn’t top the list, his story is undeniably heartbreaking. As unveiled in “Peacemaker” Season 1, Smith’s upbringing under his father, the White Dragon—a deranged white supremacist villain—was marked by severe abuse. This torment was so extreme it contributed to the accidental death of his brother, solidifying his difficult past.

Given his traumatic childhood, it’s easy to see why some might label Peacemaker as DC’s ultimate sad boy. Yet, despite his hardships, he is not alone in experiencing childhood trauma. Batman’s story, for example, is equally tragic; Bruce Wayne witnessed his parents’ murder as a child. Like Chris Smith, Wayne channels his past adversities into his heroic endeavors. Over the years, portrayals of Batman have grown darker and more introspective, with Robert Pattinson’s emo iteration starkly differing from Adam West’s lighthearted portrayal.

Though Bruce Wayne is arguably the most iconic sad boy of DC, grappling with childhood trauma, he and Peacemaker are among many DC figures molded by troubled backgrounds. The Bat-family alone includes characters like Jason Todd, who first appeared as Robin but later took on the Red Hood identity. Orphaned, Todd resorted to crime under duress from his father and caretaker to his mother, who battled substance abuse. Yet these tales of woe extend beyond Gotham.

John Stewart, the Green Lantern, is plagued by guilt over his inability to save planet Xanshi, and Aquaman, too, is depicted with a tragic backstory. Although Jason Momoa’s cinematic portrayal of Arthur Curry seems free from somberness, the comics reveal a sorrowful past involving the murder of Curry’s infant son by Black Manta, leading to his separation from Mera and a more somber Aquaman. Villains, too, exhibit sad boy traits; for instance, Mr. Freeze’s criminal acts are driven by his quest to fund research for a cure for his wife’s terminal illness. For a thorough exploration of DC’s saddest characters, including some female ones, watch Looper’s video.