Draft for 2011 Comic Vine Top 100 Superheroes list (with nomination reasons)
Just a draft...
List items
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This is the character who popularized superheroes for this generation. He is an iconic character and one of the names that is known in and out of the comic book fan niche. Everybody knows who Superman is. They may not know what company he's from, they may not know what his origin is, they may not know that he's an alien from Krypton, but they damn sure know that he is Earth's most iconic hero. He goes back to the beginning of superhero comics and helped to shepherd them into the day and age that they've now arrived at. Pretty much every generation has been host to either a Superman television show or movie and through cartoons he's been introduced to younger readers. He is a true blue hero, but most certainly has his own ethics and complexities. To not include him on a list of the best superheroes would be a complete and utter travesty.
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Richard 'Dick' Grayson, is somewhat of a mixed bag. He has the tragedy in his past that are somewhat reminiscent of Batman, but he also has a positive aura around him that make him an interesting character, both when he was created and now. He has become, because of this an even more complex and intricate character. He has a dark past, but he doesn't let that stop him or change his core. He has friendships all over the Superhero community and many would follow him willingly into battle because of his keen mind and pleasant personality. Dick, more than any other character, portrays what it means to be human. He deals with his faults and his strained relationship with his mentor, constantly trying to live up to him, doing his best, which is why Dick Grayson is a lovable character.
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Kara Zor-El, is someone who understand what it means to be power and how it should be controlled. Being one of the youngest characters in the DC Universe and the strongest character within her age bracket, she has had to deal with constant control over herself. She has to face the trouble of not letting loose like a normal teenager would, instead having to keep herself under control. She has to deal with what it is to be one of the strongest and also what is means to fit into the shoes of her older cousin, who everyone adores. While Superman would do everything perfectly, Kara does her best, but for some, it just isn't enough.
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As far as DC goes, other than Superman, he is the most recognizable character in the mainstream. Host to a rather large assortment of television shows (going all the way back to the Adam West series in the 1960's, every generation has known at least one Batman show. He transcends comic books and goes into movies, games, he's even mentioned in several songs (as is Superman). What makes Batman so interesting to me though, isn't his popularity, it's his personality. Bruce Wayne is a troubled man, anybody who says he doesn't have issues clearly doesn't know the character. But instead of allowing those issues and that childhood tragedy turn him into something terrible, something ugly, he became the hero that Gotham needed to keep it safe, just perhaps not the one that they wanted. His methods can be questionable, but his motives are pure. He is NOT a true blue hero, but he is a big damn hero.
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Wonder Woman is the first to represent feminine power to its fullest potentially. Just as strong as Superman, being a little bit faster, she is more than a match for him and thus she has become a model for many and rightly so. She shows us Strength and how we can better and improve ourselves.
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Legacy characters are a prevalent thing among comics. Whether it's characters based off of originals, clones, or people who were inspired by the original and took up the mantle. Superboy is a legacy character (and coincidentally also a clone....kind of), done correctly. He is the genetically bio-engineered clone/offspring of the combined genetic material of one of the world's greatest heroes (Superman) and one of it's most devious masterminds (Lex Luthor). From the very beginning this made for an interesting dynamic with the character. He wasn't born. He was created. And he had no real guiding force in his life until Clark found him. Eventually he wound up on that familiar farm on Smallville, living a similar life to the younger Clark Kent. We've seen this character grow and develop over the years. We've seen him struggle (that whole debacle during Teen Titans when he shaves his head, I'm foggy on the details, though) and most of all, we've seen him become incredibly interesting. He's not a rip off of either of the characters he takes his genetic material from, instead he is entirely his own.
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Comics started out as something aimed at the younger ages, even though older readers could enjoy it just as much, albeit with less seriousness. Billy Batson, took this a step further, since it allowed a younger mind, to pass and imagine what it would be to actually be an older Superhero. Billy Batson let all of the young readers dream about what if it was them there, in a much more feasible story. Let's face it, most children didn't have a huge fortune, manor and butler and they definitely weren't born in an alien world. Batson gave them something that could happen to them. The prospect of suddenly transforming into a superhero and achieving respect from everyone in society, was something that thrills many at a young age. This is why he is such a great character, he achieves so much, not allowing his age to become a barrier.
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As a concept, Invincible may not be the most interesting subject to talk about. The character as a concept, is as generic as generic gets. This is in theory of course. When put into practice, Invincible does everything right. He's a typical kid, trying to move on with life, thrilled at the prospect of being a Superhero at first, but through plot twist, maturing into a beautiful hero, capable of overcoming even the largest problems. Who cares whether his Powers were ripped straight off Superman and a gazzillion other character. You don't like invincible because of his powers, you like it because of the rich background the world of Invincible has, as well as the pure fun you get out of reading his Self-Titles comic book. He's fun. It's the best way to describe him
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The original teenage superhero and the best of the trade, Spider-Man is a superhero icon. Marvel's poster-boy and the third most recognizable superhero on Earth, it'd be crazy not to have Peter Parker on this list of Comicvine's Favorite Superheroes. For decades, Spider-Man has been teaching us how to do the right thing, even though the people may not be on your side. "With great power, comes great responsibility" is a phrase I'll be taking to my grave. We love you, Spidey!
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"I'm the best there is at what I do.. and what I do ain't very nice." This is why Wolverine is a beloved character in all of comicdom. He's not the strongest, or the most handsome, but he's the most willing to get his hands dirty for the greater good. Since The Incredible Hulk #181, Wolverine has been slicin' and dicin' his way into epic stories, crossovers, and into our geeky hearts. Besides, if he found out he wouldn't be a part of this list, he would've put out his cigar on your face and eviscerated you by now.
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The 1940's was tough for everyone with World War II plaguing Europe and the United States. Vast numbers of superheroes were created to ease the harsh realities of war, but one of them rose above the rest and literally survived up until now. I'm obviously talking about the one and only Captain America. America's favorite super-soldier isn't afraid to do whatever's right, even if his own government doesn't back him up. He's for the people, and he hates bullies. He's the leader of the best superhero team in the world and he represents a whole nation. He's Captain America, and he's "Loyal to nothing... Except the dream." We salute you, Captain America.
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The 70's and 80's were an interesting time for comic books. After Marvel published their Spider-Man story on the horrors of drug abuse, many other companies and titles followed suit. For DC's character, Ollie Queen, this was his chance to shine. Ollie's not like the normal superheroes. He's never afraid to speak his mind, no matter what the subject is. While the Incredible Hulk was a metaphor for rebellion since his creation in the 1960's, Ollie was one of the first (and probably was the first because of his attitude), to really stick it to the man. He'd challenge anyone who he felt didn't treat others equally. He even went so far to call Hal Jordan of being prejudice about the people he chooses to save. Ollie taught a whole generation of comic book readers on what it meant to be a good individual by questioning the authority, and making things right by his own way. Green Arrow's great and his attitude is one-of-a-kind.
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Flash Fact: There've been three men who have carried the Flash mantle since the Golden Age of comic books. Flash Fact: One fought the good fight in WWII, another reinvented DC in the 1950's with his appearance in Showcase #4, and the other is the best Scarlet Speedster the multiverse has ever seen. I'm talking about Wally West. One of the best heroes to have started out when he was a kid, he filled those gold boots like nobody's business after his mentor, Barry Allen passed away. Funny, powerful, and quick as a wit (most definitely faster, though) Wally West is a prime example of just how great a superhero should be.
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As many Flashes there were over the years, that number is dwarfed by the numbers of Green Lanterns there are. Of the four of these intergalactic police men, one of them has always stood out with the brightest green light in his ring. I'm talking about the one and only Kyle Rayner. After Hal Jordan caused so much destruction as Paralax, Kyle was the one that got people believing in the Green Lantern again. Even his colleagues in the Justice League of America had their doubts about him when he was a rookie, he evened the odds and became, in my opinion, the greatest Green Lantern of all. To every Darkest Night is a Brightest Day, and Kyle's certainly the Brightest Green Day.
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Billionaire, genius, and charismatic are few of the many, many words one could use to describe Tony Stark. He's a founding member of the Avengers, he's constantly doing something to save the entire world, and he survived a major disease that's plagued millions of people: alcoholism. When characters like Spider-Man or Green Arrow are showing you the horrors of drug abuse and racism, Tony's actually lived through one of these terrible things and still continues to fight alongside Earth's Mightiest Superheroes. Stark is an inspiration. Stark earned his spot on the list. And if that's not good enough? He is Iron Man.
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Matt Murdock is unique. He's a lawyer by day, crime-fighter by night. He deals with rapists, drug dealers, and crime lords on an everyday basis. ...and he's blind. One of the first disabled superheroes on the scene, Daredevil is an inspiration to anyone with a disability. On top of this, he's suffered traumatic experiences, mental breakdowns, outed by the press, and was even possesed by a demon at one point, Daredevil still puts on his horn-headed mask and continues to clean up Hell's Kitchen because he knows it's the right thing to do. Daredevil is one of the best comic book characters Marvel ever created. It'd practically be a mortal sin if he wasn't allowed his spot on the list.
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This guy represents how any of us can be a hero, and how through uncompromising odds, the love for our family will keep us going, even if it takes us down the darkest paths.
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Premier heroine of the Top Cow universe, Sara Pezzini shows how, and WHY, strong female characters should have their own successful ongoing series
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Spawn shows how that just because you're not part of Marvel and DC, doesn't mean you can't have an extremely successful series that gains critical and media attention, thankfully he has had some of the industries most brightest and talented behind him
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top cow heavy hitter, everyone loves a anti-hero, especially one that can control tiny tiny demons
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kick ass green man dragon... need I say more?
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unlikely hero in a colourful world, bringing a new definition to what a hero is...
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the ultimate adrenaline junkie babe who has made quite a name for herself in the comic book world, thanks to some amazing creators like Adam Hughes and Michael Turner behind her
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My all time favourite, so many reasons why she deserves to be on the list
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The greatest character from the greatest story. Never compromising in his beliefs. I suppose he sees the world in a way many people can never understand and so they deem him a psychopath. The judgements and praise of others is not why Rorschach does what he does. As he said in the film... "We do not do this thing because we are permitted, we do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled." While he may see the world in black and white, I don't think there's any question to Rorschach's commitment to justice and protecting the innocent from the real villains.
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Having long runs in with both the X-Men and Excalibur, Nightcrawler is one the most enduring characters in Marvel. The one guy everyone can rely on to have faith in them, who will always be a friend. Despite his difficult life within the Carnival and having to hide his looks, Kurt ended up as the opposite of the demon look he has. He has shown his badass abilities on occasion like in X2's opening scene or when he removed Deadpool's head in an alternate universe. It's no wonder why so many people are fans of Nightcrawler's.
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The silent ninja master from G.I. Joe. Basically pulling off miracles and taking out the bad guys everyday and getting no credit because he works for an organization that doesn't exist. There is no one more reliable, devoted, and dangerous than Snake-Eyes. G.I. Joe has been an ongoing title whether it's one publisher or another for over 25 years now and he's unquestionably their most popular and greatest hero.
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Maybe he's not a hero in the traditional sense but there's not many I'd rather have on my side than Marv. Despite his violent ways there is a code of morals that he does follow. In Frank Miller's Sin City story The Hard Goodbye Marv is willing to sacrifice himself in order to bring justice and revenge to the true evil in Kevin and Cardinal Rourke. One of the toughest and baddest sob's to be in comics even when they give him the electric chair he takes it and responds with... "that the best you can do? you pansies?"
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The demon who defies his destiny. Since 1995 Mike Mignola's Hellboy has been an established hero in comics and despite them being released as mini's they have been consistant through the years with a loyal comic book following, not to mention two feature films. Hellboy might not be the friendliest hero but there's never been one more fearless. Hellboy is someone that will stand up for the little... no case is too small or too big. Hellboy fights nazi's and is easily one of the most badass characters to exist, so yeah...
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Many people will say that Luke Skywalker is the hero of Star Wars but I will go with the man who was known as "The Negotiator" because of his calm presence and demeanor. Friend and teacher to both Anakin and Luke Skywalker, he is one of the central characters in the extremely large and popular franchise. Obi-Wan defeated Darth Maul, General Grevious, and even Anakin. When Luke was born he took him to his family. He then watched and protected him while living in near solitude for about 20 years. Later he then made another sacrifice so he could transend death to communicate with Luke. Obi-Wan was the guy who never wavered and always stood by the causes of Good and Right.
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Usagi's current ongoing series has been going strong since 1996 and is up to 140 issues. Usagi has appeared with the TMNT's on tv and in comics as well. Usagi Yojimbo is a samurai which makes him live a life of extreme discipline. Practitioners carry themselves with all the qualities of a hero such as honor and sacrifice.
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Starting off as a pulp hero from the 1930's it wasn't untill 1970 that Conan appeared in comics. Since then though he has had a pretty steady run between his time with Marvel and Dark Horse comics. Three feature films have been made about the Conan the Barbarian. He is considered one of the greatest swordsmen in comics and someone who at times fight's for the "little guy." His long-lasting legacy speaks for itself.
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The Phantom is a classic comics character that has appeared in over 1500 comics and plenty of other media. I've picked him because I feel he's an icon that simply deserves to be on the list somewhere. He's not my favorite superhero out there, but I don't think anyone could deny him a spot in the hundred.
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Possibly the most famous vampire in comics, she is also a huge sex symbol. It may seem like a strange reason to put her on the list, but hey, sex sells. Where would comic book pin-up girls be today without Vampirella?
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The Green Hornet has been seen in just about every media outlet there is. Comics is just one of them, and not his first. He may be the only character in existance whose sidekick is more famous than him, and maybe even his car. I am a Green Hornet fan and believe he easily makes a spot on this list
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Here's a name everyone knows! Buck Rogers was one of the FIRST science fiction comic strips, and went on to become a science fiction icon. While he may not appear in a lot of issues, he's certainly left a lasting mark on comic books, and the world.
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It's just icon after icon on this list, and The Lone Ranger is no exception. Lone Ranger is another character appearing in all sorts of media. He's got radio, he's got comics, he's got movies! You name it and this guy's been in it! While he may not be that popular anymore, he was certainly a draw in the 40's. Your grandpa would approve of this guy being on the list!
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I'll say it right now, Black Terror is cool. The name, the costume, the sword... wait why does he have a sword? You should be asking, "Why doesn't he have a sword?" With comic origins dating back to the 40's, Black Terror is no newcomer, though a lot of readers are probably discovering him for the first time in Project Superpowers. I did, eventhough I was given plenty of opportunities to discover him, as he's had a variety of publishers.
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Ted Kord is one of my favorite characters in comic books, and I would have put him at number 1, but I would have felt bad. Ted is a character that is really easy to identify with, for me at least. He represents that "regular joe" superhero of comics. He's had a solid run on the Justice League, as well as multiple series of his own. Sadly, he is dead, but he arguably had one of the best deaths in comics history.
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The Tick is the king of comedic comics, but also a great superhero in his own right. He's enjoyable for all ages, though lately it seems like he's more for kids. Tick was quite popular not too long ago, as he was given his own animated TV show, and live-action TV show. Plus he's a personal favorite and makes me laughs.
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From the people who brought you Captain Marvel, I present to you a very unique character! forget Bat Man, Fly man is our hero!
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According to the history books, the golden age version of this character was one of the first superheros to die in a comic! Now THAT is an accomplishment worthy of a spot on this list!
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Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most unique characters on this list. Though originally from a video game, his story was expanded in comic book form by Archie comics so now there is a whole Sonic Universe...I'm not lying, there is a title called Sonic Universe! Sure he might seem a bit more animated, but assentally he is the blue hedgehog version of the Flash, but way cooler! this speedster has fought for the lives of man and human kind several times over and continues to do so into a new decade!
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When most people think about a patriotic superhero, they think of Uncle Sam or Captain America, but who was the first to wear the red, white and blue? The Shield, of course! First published in 1940 (a year BEFORE Captain America), the shield still stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! No matter who publishes him or what version of the character is present...
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Sue Storm is generally regarded as one of the biggest Marvel characters, and she is rightfully so. As one of the first of the Fantastic Four, she serves not only as an extremley powerful mother and superhero, but also as the one who makes sure the team isn't falling apart. Her powers have devloped throughout various runs on the book, and her raw power has grown to make her an extremley valuable member of the team. She is also one of the only mother-figures in comics, making her a strong role model for parents.
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Why should Amy Rose be on this list of Heroes? You know, I asked that exact question, however as the user did not respond to me, I think I'll try my poetic hand...For one thing, Amy has helped save the world once or twice. Sure, she doesn't wear tights (least I don't think so), but in her own way she has saved the world in addition to the universe a few times along side Sonic. Though a little agressive and WAY obbsessed with Sonic (beyond creepy), Amy is a hero in her own right.
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Many people underestimate the Wasp simply because of her lack of raw power. honestly, she's a really important character in the Marvel U. she was one of the first Avengers, and can almost always(and I mean always) be found on the team. She's been team leader several times, and besides that has had a starring role in Tales to Astonish(where she first made her debut) for quite a long time. She sadly died during the Skurrl invasion, but will always be remebered as one of the core Avengers.
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Many of you will think that this is my self-indulgence choice, and in a way it is. However, Dazzler is a different kind of superhero. She's really a performer first and a hero second. When we first meet her, she doesn't want to become a crime-fighter, and when she joins the X-men, she still needs to learn what her powers can do. As a singer and dancer, her stories are often based in realism, with her relationships with her parents and even love intrests playing an important role. Her powers are honestly, fairly silly, so the real challenge for creators with Dazzler is to think of the ways she can use them, which really leads to some cool and intresting stories. In short, Dazzler is a one of a kind X-Man.
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why? Because it's Optimus Prime! Whether you read the comics, watched one of the many cartoons growing up, or went and saw the live action movies in theaters then you know who Optimus Prime is just how awesome he can be.
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The ultimate space traveling ladies man
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unless you're a die hard fan of G.I. Joe then chances are you have no idea who this is and he won't make the list, but he's still cool!
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The mutant "most" kids wanted to be growing up! Since we couldn't pick overall teams for this list I had the difficult task of choosing one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so I had to go with their leader. This is the guy that killed Shredder! How much more awesome can you be!
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I'll be the first to admit that I know nearly nothing about Doctor Who. But when looking over a list of IDW characters I found out that the Doctor has seen fit to grace IDW comics with nearly 100 appearances. That's a lot for a guy who can travel through time and space!
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probably the best character to ever call herself Batgirl
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Carl is the son of the Rick Grimes, the main protagonist from Robert Kirkman's masterpiece The Walking Dead. It's no secret that his is my all time favorite ongoing title and Carl is by far the best character of the series. Starting the series at only the age of 8 Carl has since gone through more drama than any full grown adult should have to face. From having his mother and newborn baby sister killed before his eyes to actually losing one of his own eyes, Carl is still the most sane character of the book.
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Leader of the X-men
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Protagonist of what is considered one of the greatest comics of all time, Morpheus goes on what to us would seem like an endless journey to get from the bitter, calloused god he was to the man who tries to undo the wrongs of his past over the course of billions of years...but really, it all changed as a result of one seventy-year imprisonment that led him down a road there was no turning back from. Morpheus is a man of duty, and in his duty, he takes on sacrifices most heroes would shy away from. Essential Reading: The Sandman/Essential Listening: The Cure
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Besides being the protagonist of what is currently the longest-running comic from DC or Marvel, John Constantine is most likely the greatest example of a character who's aged in real time, having done so for two and a half decades! For all the crap he's had to go through, it's only fair he gets a spot on the list of greatest heroes. Essential Reading: Hellblazer; Alan Moore's Swamp Thing
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Living in a disgusting far-future future not that unlike our own present, Spider Jerusalem is the voice that shines light in the darkness, exposing the wickedness and corruption for what it is. Spider brings truth and justice to this future America (albeit, amidst a string of profanities and the occasional beating of his less-respectable sources or even going so far as disrupting the bowels of the President). Essential Reading: Transmetropolitan
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Of all the various devils seen in comics throughout the decades, Lucifer has undoubtedly put all of them to shame in terms of solo success. Sure more people may care about Mephisto but has he had an ongoing series, let alone one that lasted seventy-five issues? Although he's not out saving the world out of the goodness of his soul, Lucifer has sought the universe's safety on numerous occasions and really isn't such a bad guy once you get to know him. Essential Reading: Lucifer; The Sandman
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Although not your stereotypical hero, Tank Girl is a character that brings the fun back to comics and is most likely a shoo-in from any group of voters who have to pick the greatest British-created, Australian, female comic character who has sexual relations with a kangaroo. Essential Reading: All things with Tank Girl in the title
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Despite not being super, or necessarily a hero, Jesse Custer deserves to be on a list of greatest heroes more then most modern characters for the simple fact that in an era of dark, gritty and shock-value drenched comics and in fact being the star of one of its finest example Jesse remains a man of honor, values and beliefs that few people in real life could even hold themselves to. Essential Reading: Preacher
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Shade, the Changing Man is a prime example of a comic character that personifies experimentation in the medium, from his hairstyles to his gender to his level of insanity...the only consistent thing about Shade is his love for Kathy (when the angels aren't commanding him to kill her at least). Essential Reading: Shade, the Changing Man V2 #1-70
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Besides being a staple in the industry of "Bad Girl Art" comics, Lady Death is a woman to be respected, or feared. Essential Reading: Anything with Lady Death in the title from the various publishers she's appeared at
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Judge Joe Dredd is a tool of a fascist government. There I said it. It is a true testament to the story telling of John Wagner and Alan Grant that I can say that even with the of knowledge of what Fascisism is, that I would never change that about Dredd. Dredd truly believes that the Judge system is what is best for the people of Mega City One and because of that he will use all the power he has to make sure that corruption and injustice in the system are wiped out. When the Judges failed to save 60 million citizens from the Dark Judges in the Necropolis story-line, Dredd was the first to ask new Chief Judge McGruder to allow a democracy referendum. Dredd is also a character that has been used to look at many political and racial issues using storylines like the Robot Wars (slavery), Apocalypse War (cold war tensions), Democracy (duh) and America (Terrorisim). Judge Dredd is quite simply some (if not the) of the best that 2000 AD has to offer mixing Mature themes with Satire and some good old fashioned Ultra-Violence. He is a character that should by all right be there rights at the top of any list of top comic characters.
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Johnny Alpha was created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra for Starlord a short lived fortnightly anthology comic that could be aimed at a “more mature” audience, after 22 issues it was merged into 2000 AD. Johnny Alpha is a Strontium Dog, a Mutant Time Traveling Bounty Hunter, he along with his sidekick Wulf Sternhamme (a Viking that was accidentally brought into the 22nd century) travel through time and scouring a Nuclear ravaged uk for his bounties. Johnny is a character that represents your wishes to stand up and fight for your rights. In his world being a Mutant rarely gets you some fantastical powers, instead you get thrown into a ghetto and are regarded less than human. Johnny isn’t just some freedom fighter, he has a depth that make you ask yourself “is he truly good?” Johnny’s reasoning can be as fascistic as Dredds, but there is still that existence of goodness inside him that fans have always resonated with.
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Personally I believe that the Ballard of Halo Jones is the best work that Alan Moore has to this day produced. Comic books as a whole are worse off because this series never got past its third book. So what makes Halo Jones such a special character? Nothing. She is just a normal girl who wants to escape from her life. Moore is able to effortlessly create a character that is so relate-able and real, that we fully are able to understand her reasoning behind what she does without having to be told.
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Where Dredd is a stoic faceless bad-assed mother (blank). Judge Cassandra Anderson is kind hearted, caring and critical of the Judge system when she has to be. Starting as a foil to Judge Death and the Dark Judges, Judge Anderson has gone on to have some of the more weird and wonderful adventures, from negotiating salt trades with an all female alien species to hunting down a monk that was close to releasing the Dark Judges from their prisons in an alternate dimension.
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Tharg is the editor of 2000AD, rarely appearing in actual strips he instead has the benefit of 34 years of letters pages and nerve centres of character development. He might not have that same amount of character development that other 2000AD characters do, but instead his arrogance and love of a thrill has made the letter sections too scrotnig to be true.
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Rogue is a GI (Genetic Infantrymen) created by the Southers to fight the Norts on Nu-Earth. After “the Traitor General” causes the Quartz zone massacre, Rogue and his Dog-chip infused gear (Bagman, Gunnar and Helm) hunt the Traitor down over four years. Rogue Trooper is a story that’s strength comes from the way details are slowly told to us, after the initial info-dump we are told little over its four year run. Instead we figure out what little we do learn of Rogue’s past from the details of a war torn world.
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When a space station crashes on a deathworld (quite literally a planet that tries to kill those on it) Zombo the half-human half-zombie is forced to try and get the passengers off the planet safely. Most of them die, some by Zombo’s hands, but the fun of Zombo comes from seeing the thinly veiled digs at Russell Brand, Simon Cowell and Donald Trump (president of the world) die in fun and creative ways. Oh and at the end of the Zombo Vs Obmoz (the anti-zombo) Zombo is reincarnated as a planet. That type of fun is what makes Zombo worthy of a place on this list.
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Invasion! originally ran from 2000AD Progs 1-51, it was the story of the then future of 1999 where the Volgan's People's Republic (Russia) has conquered all of Europe and the UK. Bill was a truck driver that only began his war on the Volgans when his family were killed as collateral damage from a tank shell. Bill’s savagery and merciless killing volgans caught attention of the British resistance and he quickly rose up their ranks. When Invasion! ended in Prog 51 American citizens had been killed and we were lead to believe that the USA would liberate Europe as a result. We had our happy ending (of sorts), However in 2004 it was decided by Editor Matt Smith and original writer Pat Mills to bring Bill back in a contemporary story. It was revealed that the USA decided against invasion and this has turned Bill into a more grimmer and generally sociopathic man. He created the Free European Army (FEAR) and has been used to show the other side of terrorism in a post-9/11 world. Bill Savage has become a deeper character, but I wouldn’t expect less from Pat Mills.
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though many think of him in the 80's cartoon. in the 2000's, Val Staples took it upon himself to try to make a campy cartoon into a serious hero, and he did for the most part. showing us the real human side to the most powerful man in the universe with 3 volumes of he-man and 4 issues of the origin to some of Skeletors most notorious henchmen. Living with the daily lie that he is He-man and constantly looked down upon by many others of his house and public. It goes to show that despite everything we all have the ability to do great things even if others can't see it.
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Mainly a weakness for red heads, but also with just general interest in helping her father and going above what he does for a living. Her real act of heroism comes from the fact she was shot and paralyzed where some people would have given up and done something else to fit there new life style. She did not, she kept fighting crime as Oracle and now is back in the saddle ready to kick ass and take names.
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I felt compelled to add a hero that hits home to me. Rather than Guardian or anything like that. Its someone who quite literally deals with inner demons. though he has control of his sasquatch form. Dr. Langkowski often loses control, but his strength and power can sometimes put him at a threat level of the hulk. His smarts and and strength get him out of many messes which allowed him to defeat the Super Skrull back in the first few issues of Alpha Flight and his relationship with Aurora is always great to see.
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Now kind of a joke, but at the same time the ability for a goat to successfully teleport anywhere is a great feat and take much intelligence to do so. and im always a fan of the supporting characters.
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Meant to do him earliar, but once again. great support character who raised magnus, without people like him there would be no classic characters like magnus to date.
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mainly been a bad ass but not much outside of that.
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One thing I found interesting of this character was he was a jazz musician. interesting character but his stories got too dark for me.
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not much to say on him myself. only know from his own bio.
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Jack is one of the most unique characters to be created in modern day comics. The ability to control and communicate with the cities of the world is a brilliant idea and goes perfectly with the world of the 21 century where everything keeps getting connected. It’s also appropriate that because Jack is privy to so much information that he is very disgruntled and while he always works for the greater good, he’s not afraid to step on some fellow heroes along the way.
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One of the more visually iconic characters to come out of Wildstorm, Backlash was a pretty popular character when he debuted. His book had a longer run than some of the other more well known Wildstorm series. His power is also pretty unique and coupled with his rich background with Team 7 and the history of the Wildstorm Universe, he is greatly involved (directly or indirectly) with a lot of the events that shaped the Wildstorm Universe.
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Probably the most recognizable character from the Wildstorm Universe, Grifter’s design I think is what sells it for him. He’s basically just a modern day gunslinger but couple that with the alien threats the Wildcats faced and his skills have to be taken to a whole new level. Like Backlash, Grifter is also heavily rooted in Wildstorm Universe history being a part of Team 7 as well. I think the fact that he’s got a solo book in the new 52 solidifies the point that he is one of Wildstorm’s best and most recognizable characters.
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Gen 13 in general was a smash hit when it first came out, but if you saw all the fan art (including some still produced today) it’s the teams’ six foot busty redhead who you’ll see. What made Fairchild so appealing was that she started out as a nerdy girl and when she got her powers, she suddenly became like the She-Hulk as far as strength and invulnerability. So now she was a super hot superpowered nerdy girl. What’s not to like about that? She also had an innocence about her that despite all the wardrobe malfunctions she seemed to have, there was still something very modest and wholesome about her. I think it’s this great dichotomy that has made for a very cool and well-liked character.
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If Mr. Freeze didn’t have to wear a containment suit and he ran a secret organization that controlled the world, then you’d have Elijah Snow. This character’s powers definitely match his personality. Even though the use of ice powers is not something new, Snow’s character never let that stop him from coming up with some creative ways to use them against people. But more than that, it’s Elijah’s mind that most people are really scared of. You never know what he’s thinking.
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Apollo is important to comics because he was created by Warren Ellis as a reimage of Superman. He and his fellow stormwatch team mate, Midnighter (a reimage of Batman), are gay lovers. Given Wildstorm's real world feel, it was nice to see homosexual love between two of the most important heroes of the Wildstorm universe.
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Midnighter is important to comics because he was created by Warren Ellis as a reimage of Batman. He and his fellow stormwatch team mate, Apollo (a reimage of superman), are gay lovers. Given Wildstorm's real world feel, it was nice to see homosexual love between two of the most important heroes of the Wildstorm universe
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Voodoo is important because she is an alien halfbreed. Being from two different worlds can always be difficult, but being half a Daemonite on the Wildcat team, who fight Daemonite cane be even harder. The duality of her origin is what makes her special and entertaining. Her struggles to keep her humanity, when the beast within her wants to come out.
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Top AC character and original leader of AC's top Team FemForce. Ms.Victory is a Golden Age Public Domain character originally published by Holyoke
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Another Top AC character she is AC's version of the Public Domain character originally published by Fox in the Golden Age
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Yet another Female Golden Age Public Domain Character revived by AC this one originally published by Harry A. Chesler
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Another Holyoke hero Catman had a female sidekick named "Kitten" and has been retooled and revived by DC as well as by AC.
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Another Golden Age hero revived by AC, He was originally a Harry A. Chesler hero
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The single most powerful Superhero ever
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My favorite character and series--Turok Son of Stone, user
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Far ahead of it's time it would be an Awesome Movie, and remains an incredibly underrated series and character
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Alan Moore used the character much like Grant Morrison’s concept of a hypersigil. Promethea would be a character meant for Alan Moore to teach his concept of Magick and how it related to Sequential Arts. The series Promethea to this date might be the most overall experiential series in comics.
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Alan Moore’s homage to Doc Savage. A character that is in peek human prowess and intellect. Instead of trying to enslave his fellow human race he uses his intellect and ingenuity to help Humanity from any threats.
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Legendary Hunter and considered leader of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. One of the major reason writers are now looking into public domain characters.
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The Half-ogre Dragonslayer who is the unstoppable force on the Top 10 Police roster.
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