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Superheroes tend to take the spotlight in comic books, for obvious reasons. It’s reasonable to assume comic readers would rather watch Batman go up against the Joker than watch a political leader discuss trade routes a la Phantom Menace. Still, this being comic books, politicians aren’t the typical bureaucrats here.
Some politicians hold a lot of power, and not just in the political sense. As leaders in a world where metahumans are commonplace, they need their powers to stay on top. Their blend of intelligence and strength makes them a lot of fun to watch.
Jack Napier
In the Elseworlds story White Knight, the Joker cures himself of his insanity after seeing his rival take “the game” one step too far. As the reformed Jack Napier, he decides to continue his rivalry against Batman, but not as a villain. Instead, he makes himself the city’s White Knight. He used his ill-gotten wealth to give back to the city, to prove a point.
It should be noted that Jack Napier’s Joker is a far less evil being than the mainline Joker. He’s more of a Clown Prince of Crime than a sadistic murderer. That’s why he becomes so unsettled by Batman’s increasingly violent tactics, as it meant he was no longer fighting the paragon of justice he was so obsessed with.
Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller is without a doubt the most ruthless politician in the DC Universe. Always scheming on her own, and with an audacity that even the likes of Lex Luthor find intimidating, she’s used her determination and intelligence to bring the Task Force X program to incredible heights. Her politicking has allowed her to maintain a position of power without any powers or wealth.
Amanda Waller remains a fixture of the U.S. Government in the DC Universe because she is genuinely important to running several departments. She’s a legitimately competent leader, and where other politicians burn out, she remains steadfast in her beliefs.
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is one of the most powerful men in the DC Universe, and he became so without any superpowers of his own. His intelligence and vast wealth allowed him to reach the highest position in the country.
His run as the President of the United States was a controversial one in the universe, considering all the crimes he committed in his vendetta against Superman. Eventually, the stress of the office leads to him breaking down, which unfortunately for the public, manifested in him beating up Superman.
Singularity Jain
Singularity Jain is a relatively obscure Green Lantern villain from recent times, and yet she establishes her strength rather quickly. Moonlighting as a ruthless lawyer, Singularity Jain is actually a sentient “black hole”. She not only absorbs all matter with her powers, but also concepts like “negative emotions” to strengthen herself.
Singularity Jain claims that she could take on the entire League. It’s a bold claim, but there’s no denying that she’s a huge threat to the heroes 1v1. What makes her truly evil, however, is how she destroys peoples’ lives through her lawyer work. She feeds off the despair her opponents feel before consuming them entirely.
Jay Garrick
Jay Garrick has the benefit of being one of the most stable speedsters in the DC Universe. No Flashpoints under his belt, nor the immaturity of Wally, Jay Garrick was a mature and responsible hero. He was a fixture of the Justice Society of America and was responsible for much of its acceptance by the public.
Eventually, his statesman qualities combined with his general affability led to him being voted Mayor of Monument Point. It’s a testament to his character that he remains one of the few speedsters who never let their powers get the best of them. Or at the very least, not to the extent that it has the likes of Barry or Wally.
Augustus Freeman
Augustus Freeman, much like Clark Kent, was once an alien who crash-landed on farmland in America and was taken in by kindly parents. Unfortunately, Augustus Freeman landed in a cotton field, and his kind family was slaves. He had to fight for his adoptive family’s basic human rights, and that led to him participating in the Civil War.
Eventually, out of gratitude to the people who took him in, Augustus pursued law to help disenfranchise minorities from systemic oppression. He kept his powers under wraps, believing in his ability to change the system. It wasn’t until a young girl convinced him to use both that he became the superhero Icon. Augustus’ role as a black superhero is handled very well, thanks to the writing chops of Dwayne McDuffie.
Black Adam
While more known to the mainstream as Shazam’s arch-nemesis, it should never be forgotten that he is also the sovereign leader of Kahndaq. While he’s usually seen exchanging blows with heavy hitters like Shazam and Superman, he does all of it out of genuine concern for his people. He truly does care for the well-being of his country, ruthless as he may be in his protection of it.
There are even occasions where he’s perfectly content with just remaining neutral in conflicts. Even rarer, he works with the Justice League if something threatens to end the entire world, mostly out of concern for his own people. Although he has become a tyrant in his own way, he views himself as the lesser evil when compared to the dictators who ruled Kahndaq before.
Arthur Curry
Aquaman is a core member of the Justice League, but his priority is always Atlantis. As its acting ruler, he will always act in its best interest. This has led to no shortage of tension with surface dwellers, who continue to pollute the world’s oceans with their corporate waste. As the representative of Atlantis, he’s played both diplomat and military general during conflicts.
It’s even shown in Elseworlds stories that pushing Aquaman too far leads to bad things for the surface. As a military power, Atlantis is one of the most dangerous nations on the planet. Their ability to sink entire countries should they so choose gives many world powers pause when dealing with him.
Diana of Themyscira
While she may be Wonder Woman to the general public, she is officially recognized as an ambassador of Themyscira. Her presence in “man’s world” is Hippolyta’s way of keeping an eye on the going-on outside of her island. Not only that, she firmly believes that Diana is the key to ensuring peace between Amazons and the rest of the world.
Diana has certainly stepped up to the task. Her role as a founding member of the Justice League obviously garnered tons of goodwill. She’s also been a champion for women's rights on the surface, always taking an active role in saving them from the flaws of a patriarchal society. Diana is just as important a person as her Wonder Woman persona.
Kal-L
Red Son is a unique take on Superman’s story. Landing in Soviet Russia instead of a simple farm in Kansas, Superman is raised on values of strength and ruthlessness. Yet, at the same time, he remains a genuinely good man, with compassion for the people under him. Unfortunately, Stalin’s fatherhood robbed him of the human element he usually had.
As the leader of the Soviet Union, Kal-L still resorts to brainwashing and propaganda. While he is nowhere near as callous and cruel as Stalin, he has trouble understanding the plight of the common man. In his perspective, brainwashing and propaganda are what get them through their day. It’s frankly a miracle he’s still got good in him after being raised by Stalin.