The Last, Best Hope of Humanity

This list does not shy away from what so many seem to be afraid of- ethical criticism and judgements! This list quickly goes through some mainstream comic book characters who, at the core of their ethical stance, symbolize the reasons I read comic books- great characters with ethically/morally laudable or praiseworthy ideas, be they explicit or subtextual.   
 
The list is huge, partly to finish a quest and also because it was interesting to think about the moral/ethical implications of as many heroes as I could think of. 
  
You also might notice the preponderance of DC characters. Well, now you know where my loyalty is and what 99.9% of my comics are.  

An brief explanation is given for the first 10, with the others providing food for thought. Feel free to add your own!