DC may be fighting to revive the magic its cinematic universe once offered fans, but its sneaker game is still going strong. From Bapesta’s in the noughties to more recent teamups with Reebok and PUMA, there’s been a consistent flow of quality and quantity in the sneaker department. Just take a look at o the best of the best DC sneakers below.
DC COMICS x BAPE BAPESTA Collection (2007)
“You can’t save the world alone”. Back in 2007, A Bathing Ape dropped an entire collection of ultra-shiny Bapestas inspired by DC comics’ most beloved superheroes. Several key Justice League members made appearances, from Superman and Batman to Flash and Wonder Woman. To top things off, they packaged the shoes in blister pack action figure-style packaging so you felt just like a kid again.
Air Jordan 4 Retro “Doernbecher” (2011)
It’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s the “Doernbecher” Jordan 4. This design is one of the only—if not the one and only—AJ4 release to wear Supes iconic “S” logo on the tongue. A young Isaiah Scott created the kicks as part of the Swoosh Label’s Doernbecher Freestyle programme, an annual collab that allows young patients at the Children’s Hospital to share their stories through sneaker design. It may be an unofficial release, but that definitely hasn’t made it less of a grail.
Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro “Chaos Joker” (2020)
Anyone who knows enough about Kobe Bryant knows that The Dark Knight was one of his favourite movies. The baller even had a few of his signature sneakers kitted out in colours inspired by the characters. Included in that lot is the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 Protro “Chaos”. The design is inspired by none other than the Agent of Chaos, the Joker. The white, green, and purple colour scheme is an instant giveaway.
Air Jordan 1 “Joker” (2022)
If there’s one DC villain who has inspired more sneaker designs than we can count, it’s the Joker. Though there are a few actual Air Jordan releases that have borrowed their nickname from the Clown Prince of Crime because of their matching colour schemes, this custom pair by Sean Fontenot adds in all the special details you wouldn’t get from a Jordan drop. Think laughter text, his Arkham Asylum number, and yes, even the prop flower he wears on his lapel.
PUMA Suede x Superman 85th Anniversary (2023)
2023 marked the Diamond Anniversary of the Man of Steel’s debut in comic form. To celebrate the BIG milestone, PUMA joined forces with DC to drop a special edition Suede sneaker. The design is kitted out with special touches, including a Daily Planet-inspired hang tag that nods to Supes’ alter ego. Our favourite little gimmick is the removable Formstrips. You get to re-enact Clark Kent’s iconic quick-change moment in sneaker form.
DC Comics x Reebok Good vs Evil Collection (2022)
Reebok pitted DC heroes and villains against each other for one epic sneaker battle. Heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were featured on the Reebok Shaq Attaq, LX2200, and Nano X2. Fighting for the dark side was Joker’s Club 85, Harley Quinn’s Freestyle Hi, and Lex Luthor’s Workout Plus. They made it hard to pick a side.
BAIT x PUMA RS-X “The Flash” (2023)
While most of us choose to forget 2023’s The Flash movie and all the shenanigans surrounding it, one good thing came from it: the BAIT x PUMA RS-X “The Flash” sneakers. You may not be able to exceed the speed of light in them, but they do make you feel like you could.
Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Batman” (2024)
Very few official Travis Scott Jordan 1 colourways could rival the beauty of this custom pair by Savoir-Faire Paris. It rocks all the colours comic fans associate with the Dark Knight: black, grey, and a pop of yellow.
Jordan Tatum 3 “Superman” (2025)
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum showed off a custom pair of his Tatum 3 sneakers for a tunnel walk in 2025. Sneaker artist Mache Customs crafted these blue, red, and yellow kicks. We bet Tatum felt like the Man of Steel rocking these.
Nike Air Max 95 “Batman” (2025)
Nike may not have an official collaboration with DC comics, but someone in the Swoosh camp must love The Caped Crusader. There are enough black, grey, and yellow kicks in their arsenal to make you feel like they’ve gone full Gotham City on us. One of the best unofficial DC sneakers in their lineup is the “Black/Buff Gold/Anthracite” Air Max 95 from 2025. All it really needs is a bat logo on the tongue.
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