@cbishop: Back in the day before Matt Fraction became MATT FRACTION, he ran a comics webzine called SAVANT which I wrote (and edited) for. Larry Young, the publisher of AIT/Planet Lar wrote one of our long-running columns called True Facts. Larry and I always got along well (probably because we're both Harlan Ellison fans) and one Christmas as a thank you for years of really great in-depth reviews of his published catalogue, he sent me a copy of every book in the AIT/Planet Lar line. The man is a true mensch. That said, there are definitely some duds in the lineup and I was never a fan of the Sky Ape stuff. It doesn't get better as you go.
@cbishop: Yeah, I did the original list about four years ago and it had like maybe 50 things on it. Then a few weeks ago someone asked on the Harlan Ellison fan Facebook Page if he had ever done any comic book work and someone else replied with a link to my list. I was going to just let it go but then Maggie Thompson gently suggested that I fix some factual inaccuracies and expand it into something useful. So, now I have this Brobdingnagian monstrosity to contend with. I still don't think the thing is complete, and it's killing me that I can't re-order the entries so that they're alphabetical, but I am pretty pleased with it.
Okay this is a fabulous list, I disagree with Negasonic Teenage Warhead though, and Doc Rocket is a far superior speedster name than say, The Whizzer.
I once asked Jack Kirby how he pronounced Darkseid and he said, "I get asked that question a lot and today I'm going with, either way is fine." However I do believe every time he pops up in the DC cartoons it's Darkside. Some other names for you to consider:
Tigra the Were Woman (let's all get on the same page with what the prefix "were" means.)
Lady Rawhide (although it would make an absolutely fine brand name for a line of chew toys marketed towards lady dogs? Don't laugh, both Lego and Nerf do it, there's precedent.)
Cherry Poptart (just... just no.)
Lashina (adding ina doesn't make it female either)
Maxie Zeus
Garganta and Rad (also from FemForce... shudder)
for that matter FemForce
Matter Eater Lad (more than a little on point)
Bouncing Boy (even more than more than a little on point)
Nightcrawler (lets face it great character, suck code name)
Rainbow Raider (not to mention the dude's name is Roy G. Bivolo)
and if we really wanna play the how the hell do I pronounce it game, Mr. Mxyzptlk
Codpiece and Coagula (both awful...just awful code names.)
Steppenwulf (seriously, the dude doesn't even own a magic carpet) (nor is he on record as being any kind of fan of Hermann Hesse either.)
I always kind of liked Rachel Summers, (mostly I think because I always wished Claremont would cut the poor girl a break.) I totally agree with you on Dazzler and Psylocke. I am curious though, what caused you to flip on Surge.
I wonder why Wolverine makes the list as well? I agree with you, but knowing your writing and the fact that you never make a list without a lot of thought behind it, I'll bet there's a good story there. Care to share?
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