ToonZone's "Top 25 Comic Book Characters of all Time" Nominations!

[Jin Kazama]

Every winter, we here at the CBC do our annual Year End Awards, in which we honor the comics and creators that have given us the best moments in comics over the past year. But this year, we asked ourselves “Why Only Do Something Special at the End of the Year?” and “Why Does This Only Have To Cover The Past Year?”

So, our fellow posters, this year we are introducing a little summer fun project. This year, we’d like to determine the Top 25 Comic Book Characters of All Time!

Here’s how we’d like to do it: Everybody posts their own Top 10 picks. They need to be ranked in order, with number one being your choice for the best ever, going down the line until you reach number 10. The voting will open on June 1st, and will be open for three weeks. On June 22nd, the voting will be closed and the votes counted. Shortly after, the list chosen by the CBC posters will be shown.

The Rules:

-You only get ten picks. They must be in order. You can change your picks or your order at any time by editing your original post (in an effort to keep things clean and avoid an excess of multiple posts). Editing can be done up until 11:59pm on June 21st, at which point all votes are final, and the list compiled.

-We understand that comics are a diverse medium, and that they have branched off into multiple different forms of entertainment, but this is for “Comic” characters. For example, you may love Aquaman, but make sure you vote for the one that has appeared in comics form, as opposed to, say, the one from the “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” cartoon.

-Many characters have had multiple people portray that role. Make sure you specify which iteration of a character you wish to pick. As an example, you may choose The Flash as a pick, but you must specify if it’s Barry Allen, Wally West, etc.

-Everyone is entitled to their opinions. There’s a good chance you may disagree with someone’s picks. But respect everyone’s opinion. No one’s opinion is wrong. We encourage discussion of picks, but please keep it civil.

-You don’t have to list explanations of every pick, but if you want to, we’d be glad to read them.

-It’s a Top 25 list, but its size may lengthen or shorten depending of vote turnout.

So vote, discuss, and, most importantly, have fun!

[ryandcow]

So will it be whoever gets the most 1st place votes wins?

[Bloody Marquis]

1. Death of the Endless
2. Spider Jerusalem
3. Deadpool
4. Rorschach
5. Batman (Bruce Wayne)
6. Wallace Wells
7. Bigby Wolf
8. Renee Montoya
9. Machine Man (Nextwave version)
10. John Constantine

[ryandcow]

10.)Superman
9.)The Question (Vic Sage)
8.)The Rouges (While James Jesse is still alive and evil)
7.)Rorschach
6.)Hal Jordan
5.)Black Adam
4.)The Joker
3.)Wally West
2.)Batman (Bruce Wayne)
1.)Booster Gold

Almost Made it- Mr. Miracle, The Spectre, and Ralph Dinby.

[wonderfly]

So will it be whoever gets the most 1st place votes wins?

Not necessarily. It might be a character that appears at #5 or below, but is on every single list...it's not necessarily whoever appears the most at 1st place on each person's list. That's why the rank at which you list your picks is important...

[ryandcow]

Not necessarily. It might be a character that appears at #5 or below, but is on every single list...it's not necessarily whoever appears the most at 1st place on each person's list. That's why the rank at which you list your picks is important...

Ok so let's say 1st = 1 point, 2nd=2 pts etc. And the person with the lowest total wins?

[wonderfly]

Ok so let's say 1st = 1 point, 2nd=2 pts etc. And the person with the lowest total wins?

It's more along the lines of "1st = 10 points, 2nd = 9 pts" etc. But we'll handle the math, you just focus on casting your votes for your favorite characters. :)

[ryandcow]

Already did. :)

[Anthonynotes]

Question: does this include comic strips/comic strip characters at all?

-B.

[Shawn Hopkins]

10. Mickey Death
9. Jughead Jones
8. Donald Duck
7. Spider-Man
6. Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
5. The three animal soldiers from WE3
4. Jesse Custer
3. John Constantine
2. Superman
1. Ambush Bug

If I could do a top 20 Barry Ween, Molly Hayes, Booster Gold, Captain America, Veronica Lodge, Batman, Ice, Guy Gardner, Amanda Waller, and Mickey Mouse would definitely make the list. Probably. Lists like these are hard to do because you're always forgetting something or leaving something out.

[Manga4life]

Hmm, interesting concept. This list is not so much my all-time favorite but instead it's more or less my favorite characters from the past year or two, some names may not be known by the mainstream comic readers.

1. Spider-Man (616)
2. Batman (DC Continuity)
3. Captain America (Steve Rodgers 616)
4. Death Defyin' Devil (Dynamite version)
5. Superman (DC Continuity)
6. Iron Man (616)
7. Scrap (Dynamo 5)
8. Black Terror (Dynamite version)
9. Moon Knight (616)
10. Thor (616)

[Jin Kazama]

Lists like these are hard to do because you're always forgetting something or leaving something out.

That's why we're allowing edits up until the deadline. If there's anything you want to adjust to it, feel free to. We won't begin the actual vote counting until the deadline for voting has expired.


Hmm, interesting concept. This list is not so much my all-time favorite but instead it's more or less my favorite characters from the past year or two

You can make whatever list you want, but please be aware that the intent of this is an "of all time" list. Whatever you pick will be considered, for vote counting, your pick of "for all time."

[rggkjg1]

1 - superman (kal-el/clark kent)
2 - batman (bruce wayne)
3 - the question (vic sage)
4 - spider-man (peter parker)
5 - the punisher (frank castle)
6 - wonder woman (diana)
7 - wolverine (logan)
8 - captain america (steve rogers)
9 - robin (dick grayson)
10 - supergirl (kara zor-el)

[John Pannozzi]

1. Howard the Duck
2. Batman (Bruce Wayne)
3. Raphael (TMNT)
4. Casey Jones (TMNT)
5. Shadow Jones (TMNT)
6. Scrooge McDuck
7. Spider-Man (Peter Parker )
8. Robin (Carrie Kelly)
9. The Tick
10. Rorschach (Watchmen)

[Jin Kazama]

Question: does this include comic strips/comic strip characters at all?

-B.



7. Son Goku (Dragon Ball) (if manga counts)


For the record, this is just for Comic Book Characters. Comic Strip/Manga aren't being counted in this.

[Shawn Hopkins]

For the record, this is just for Comic Book Characters. Comic Strip/Manga aren't being counted in this.

But manga are comic boo-

But most comic strips have been collected into books, which could readily be called and are in fact comic boo-

No, I won't go there. :) But you have to admit it is a sticky wicket.

[Jin Kazama]

But most comic strips have been collected into books, which could readily be called and are in fact comic boo-

Those aren't comic books. They're "Collections." :)

Manga's a whole 'nother beast. We allow that, it's a brand new can of worms. The Anime forum did something similar to this, and allowed Manga, so just for that sake, the call is made to exclude them from this particular outing.

[wonderfly]

But manga are comic boo-

But most comic strips have been collected into books, which could readily be called and are in fact comic boo-

No, I won't go there. :) But you have to admit it is a sticky wicket.

It's more the fact that a "Top 25 Manga" was already handled by the Anime forum. (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=238092) This thread was inspired by that one.

Comic strips are a different format of storytelling: usually a daily 3 or 4 panel strip, compared to the multi-page monthly publications in comic books. So this thread is focusing on monthly comics (along with multi-page graphic novels).

Having said that, there is some crossover between the different formats that we'll certainly take into consideration: Spider-Man has a daily comic strip, for instance, and Astro Boy appeared in an American comic book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy_%28NOW_Comics%29) (so I'm fine if someone voted for Astro Boy if THAT'S the version they had in mind).

EDIT: I see Jin already responded to this. At any rate, keep the votes coming, folks!!

[Gen200]

Do webcomics count?

[Rud]

eh, here goes

1. Bruce Wayne (Batman)
2. Dick Grayson
3. Peter Parker (Spiderman)
4. The Joker
5. Gambit
6. Magneto
7. Hal Jordan
8. The Punisher
9. Wolverine
10. Deadpool

[Shawn Hopkins]

This is just because I think the definition debate is interesting, not because I'm trying to tell you how to run the poll.

To put it simply, any book of sequential visual storytelling is a comic book, it doesn't matter where the material originated and it doesn't matter how long the stories in the book are, as long as they are more than one image. After all the very first real American comic book, Famous Funnies, was made up of reprinted comic strips. It's easy to get distracted and stick things in categories by national origin, or length, or origin of the material, but that misses the overriding question of form. A comic book is a book of comics.

Now, single panel strips like Ziggy and Far Side and Family Circus do not become comic books when collected in book form. That's because they aren't comics in the first place, because they aren't sequential art.

[Daxdiv]

Would stuff that's published by Oni Press count as comic books? I ask because they mostly go straight to Graphic Novel format, and I'm wondering if by comic books, you mean series that start out as a comic book you can get in a store, then collected into a graphic novel?

[ryandcow]

Would stuff that's published by Oni Press count as comic books? I ask because they mostly go straight to Graphic Novel format, and I'm wondering if by comic books, you mean series that start out as a comic book you can get in a store, then collected into a graphic novel?

I'm not familiar with ONI press, but Trades would definitly count. For example I have the trades of The Tower of Babel, ID Crisis and the first 2 volumes of 52 in my backpack. They all are combinations of several issues of CBs, therefore are completely ok. At least IMO as long as you have trades of comic books and not magnas or something.

[Jin Kazama]

Do webcomics count?

Only if it's eventually published in print.


Would stuff that's published by Oni Press count as comic books? I ask because they mostly go straight to Graphic Novel format, and I'm wondering if by comic books, you mean series that start out as a comic book you can get in a store, then collected into a graphic novel?

As wonderfly metioned, original material Graphic Novels do count.

[wonderfly]

This is just because I think the definition debate is interesting, not because I'm trying to tell you how to run the poll.

To put it simply, any book of sequential visual storytelling is a comic book, it doesn't matter where the material originated and it doesn't matter how long the stories in the book are, as long as they are more than one image. After all the very first real American comic book, Famous Funnies, was made up of reprinted comic strips. It's easy to get distracted and stick things in categories by national origin, or length, or origin of the material, but that misses the overriding question of form. A comic book is a book of comics.

Now, single panel strips like Ziggy and Far Side and Family Circus do not become comic books when collected in book form. That's because they aren't comics in the first place, because they aren't sequential art.

Well, if it's any consolation, just like manga was already handled in another thread, we'll eventually get around to doing a thread devoted specifically to "comic strips". In the mean time, if we've answered everyone's questions, feel free to cast some more votes!!

[Anthonynotes]

OK, no comic strips. Not sure if my voting will have much impact anyway, given A) my interests and B) Batman and/or the Joker are going to win #1 anyway, but here goes...

EDIT: OK, since we're allowed to choose teams, and since this list is apparently more about personal favorites vs. who's the best objectively (the only reason Batman ranked as high on my list as he did :-p ), some revision is in order...

1. Superman (yeah, big surprise from me, I know :-p )
2. The Flash (Barry Allen)
3. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
4. Superboy (Kal-El version)
5. The Justice League of America (favorite version: the "Satellite Years" era, though the original Silver Age version and what I've read of the "humorous" late 80s versions were good too)
6. Uncle Scrooge
7. The Thing (one of my favorite Marvel characters, though I like Spider-Man too---but wanted room for non-superhero entries on this list, so decided to skip Spidey)
8. Wonder Woman
9. Archie Andrews (though I like Sabrina as well)
10. The Marvel Family (Capt. Marvel, Mary Marvel, and Capt. Marvel Jr.)

-B.

[Shawn Hopkins]

Since the animals in WE3 are technically a team, change my vote from the whole team to just 2. That's my favorite one.

[wonderfly]

Assuming we're not allowed to pick teams (thus leaving the JLA, JSA, entire Fantastic Four, etc. out), here's mine:



Since the animals in WE3 are technically a team, change my vote from the whole team to just 2. That's my favorite one.

Okay, just so you know, voting for teams is allowed. There are many teams that it makes sense to vote for the whole team, not just one character ("WE3" being a perfect example of that). Also, the Fantastic Four are first and foremost a family, so it makes sense to vote for them as a whole. Other teams are more individually oriented, but we'll still allow voting for teams. As a nice follow up, if you have a team on your list, you might also list alongside just who your favorite member of the team is (but that's optional).

Now, are there anymore questions?!? :p

Otherwise, keep your votes coming, folks!! :)

[jlaking]

1. Firestorm (Jason Rusch)
2. Hawkman (Carter Hall)
3. Power Girl
4. Green Arrow (Oliver Queen)
5. Batman (Bruce Wayne)
6. The Question (Vic Sage)
7. Black Lightning
8. Blue Devil
9. Etrigan (aka The Demon)
10. Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)

[the_joker]

1. batman (bruce wayne)
2. superman (clark kent)
3. green lantern (hal jordan)
4. flash (barry allen)
5. joker
6. booster gold
7. nightwing
8. spectre
9. spider-man (peter parker)
10. green arrow (oliver queen)

[Shawn Hopkins]

Even with Brainatra taking him off his list, Batman is in like Flynn, already. There's no way any other character can make up the points deficit. And I really thought Ambush Bug had a shot.:D

Anyway, I changed one of mine from Reggie to Jughead. I was really torn about it but the better Jughead stories are better than the better Reggie stories. And one time Jughead hit Reggie over the head with a drum, which puts him over the top.

[CountAbyss]

01. Scott Pilgrim
02. Cyclops (Scott Summers)
03. The Flash (Barry Allen)
04. Captain America (Steve Rogers)
05. The Flash (Wally West)
06. Hawkeye (Clint Barton)
07. Thor
08. Robin (Tim Drake)
09. Wolverine (Logan)
10. Shadowcat (Kitty Pride)

[ryandcow]

Even with Brainatra taking him off his list, Batman is in like Flynn, already. There's no way any other character can make up the points deficit. And I really thought Ambush Bug had a shot.:D

Anyway, I changed one of mine from Reggie to Jughead. I was really torn about it but the better Jughead stories are better than the better Reggie stories. And one time Jughead hit Reggie over the head with a drum, which puts him over the top.
Superman is fairly close behind but yea, Bats is gonna win. Too bad this couldn't have taken place in September or late August so I could have picked Old Bruce and Terry.

[Shawn Hopkins]

Superman is fairly close behind but yea, Bats is gonna win. Too bad this couldn't have taken place in September or late August so I could have picked Old Bruce and Terry.

I don't understand why you couldn't. Those characters have been in comic books, right?

[ryandcow]

I don't understand why you couldn't. Those characters have been in comic books, right?

Only cameo's and they just had a full issue. I'd feel like I was going off the animated characters if I voted for them at this point. But after the miniseries starts I feel like I could go off the comic characters. (who were the same so far)

[wonderfly]

Everyone, keep in mind: you are certainly free to vote for whoever you choose, but you can vote for more than just super-heroes....you can also vote for villains, love interests, supporting cast members, figures from non-superhero books, etc...


and since this list is apparently more about personal favorites vs. who's the best objectively (the only reason Batman ranked as high on my list as he did :-p )

To be clear, people are allowed to vote however they wish, whether they list personal favorites or objectively list the most important comic characters, either way is fine.


Even with Brainatra taking him off his list, Batman is in like Flynn, already. There's no way any other character can make up the points deficit.

Hey, there's still plenty of voting time left; anything's possible depending on voter turnout! :) It's pretty obvious the "Big 3" (Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man) will all be towards the top, and there's nothing wrong with that necessarily. I'm more interested in seeing what other characters make it into the "Top 25". This type of list isn't necessarily about who wins the top spot, it's rather "how high did your favorite character get on the list, and why"?


Only cameo's and they just had a full issue. I'd feel like I was going off the animated characters if I voted for them at this point. But after the miniseries starts I feel like I could go off the comic characters. (who were the same so far)

The Animated Series has appeared in comic format (http://www.mycomicshop.com/comicbooks/item?IID=4980801) before now, so you could certainly vote for those characters, if you feel the comic book was what you were voting for, and not the animated series.

[Daxdiv]

1. Sam & Max (Sam and Max)
2. Scott Pilgrim
3. Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt
4. Fone Bone
5. Dave Lizewski/Kick Ass
6. Green Lanturn/Hal Jordan
7. Scrooge McDuck (Carl Barks comics)
8. Iron Man/Tony Stark
9. Wolverine/Logan
10. Spider-Man/Peter Parker

[wonderfly]

1. Sam (Sam and Max)
2. Max (Sam and Max)


I hardly ever think of them as seperate individuals. They could be listed together on the same line, if you so choose (and free up room for one more on to be added to your list...if you so choose).

[Daxdiv]

I hardly ever think of them as seperate individuals. They could be listed together on the same line, if you so choose (and free up room for one more on to be added to your list...if you so choose).

OK then, edited my post and included one more character to fill in the space.

[wonderfly]

Time for my picks (along with my explanations). I may change the order around, but I'm pretty content with the characters on this list:

10. Ghost Rider: The guy has a flaming skull of hellfire! Besides the striking visual, the origin story is solid: Johnny Blaze sold his soul to the devil to save a loved one's life, only to be cheated by the devil and forced into becoming a wandering "Spirit of Vengeance".

9. Jonah Hex: The best Western character in modern comics (and I love Marvel's western characters, but they can't hold a candle to Jonah).

8. Mary Jane Watson-Parker: The greatest love-interest of all time (take that, Lois Lane)! Even if she is single again nowadays, readers still thrill to see her story unfold. It wasn't just Spider-Man that "hit the jackpot" when they were introduced to her back in Amazing Spider-Man #15.

7. Punisher: The opening pages of Garth Ennis' "Punisher Max" series from 2004 explain his origin: how his family was gunned down by mobsters during a picnic in the park. His response sums up the mentality of the character: "And now, every night, I go out and make the world sane." A classic character, even before Garth Ennis came along.

6. Magneto: The only characters from the "X-Men" corner of the Marvel universe to make it onto my list, Magneto is the greatest super-villain in all of comics because he rose above his "I want to conquer the world" 1960's origins, and became a noble figure you can sympathize with. His Holocaust origins, and charismatic leadership make him one of a kind.

5. Batman: Does he need explanaition? Listen, he's not just an iconic part of pop-culture, he's also a fascinating character to explore.

4. Fone Bone: Yes, I know it was published at Image for a while, but "Bone" is the greatest self-published comic of all time (take that, Cerebus)! And Fone Bone was the glue that held that comic together, a loveable "everyman" character amidst the high fantasy elements of the series.

3. Hulk: A story of one man's inner demons, and the price one pays for giving in to your anger. He's not just a super-hero, he's a super-villain (or is it Banner that's the villain)?

2. Conan the Barbarian: The greatest fantasy comic book of all time, and the first book to break free from the stranglehold that superheroes had on the marketplace. Plus, he's one of the greatest "anti-heroes" ever.

1. Spider-Man: The great "everyman" character whom we all share a little bit in common with. The lesson he learned about "Great power and responsibility" make him both an iconic inspiration and a humble reminder of our own failings. Plus, he's got the best villains, and the greatest love interests.

Runner-ups included Swamp Thing, Rorshach, John Constantine, Dr. Octopus, Silver Surfer, Booster Gold, Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Starman, The Sandman (both Dream of the Endless, and Wesley Dodds), Death of the Endless, Grendel, Marv from Sin City, Red Sonja, "V" from "V for Vendetta", the Aliens from Dark Horse Comics, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Legion of Super-Heroes as a whole...

[MachSabre]

I won't include Batman, Superman or Spider-Man because they're pretty much guaranteed. So for the others, in no particular order...



Iron Man / Tony Stark (I won't lie, the movie version has painted my opinion of him in a more positive light, but I firmly believe that he's also become a more interesting comic character now that he's been placed center stage and his potential is being met more.)
Firestorm / Ronnie Raymond (Though I'd be very happy with Jason too.)
Nightwing / Batman / Richard Grayson (He's almost a guarantee too, huh?)
Robin / Red Robin / Tim Drake (Him too.)
Power Girl / Karen Starr (Hey, I liked her back when we all thought she was an Atlantean!)
Thor (Verily!)
Captain Atom / Nathaniel Adam (All time favorite hero.)
Captain Britain / Brian Braddock (Especially when by Alan Davis)
Grimlock (Seriously... Comic book version? Total badass.)
The Thing (Really, he's kinda all around likable. Who hates the Thing?)

[Jin Kazama]

Alright people, we have a little under two weeks left for voting, so make sure to get your picks or changes in soon!

Now, my (lengthy) turn!

As with everyone else’s lists, this could be changed/adjusted as we get closer to the deadline.

Staring out with some honorable mentions: Bruce Wayne/Batman is a given, as he should be. The Flash (Wally West) has been in some of my favorite comics, but while considering this, I had to think if it was him that made those comics so enjoyable, or his supporting cast. Which is why I have to give recognition to Captain Cold, one of the best villains ever. A list that also includes Sinestro and The Kingpin. Lastly, Billy Batson/Captain Marvel is one of the best concepts of a super hero ever, an easy fit for kids to love, and to this day confuses me as to why he’s not one of the most popular characters in comics.

My Top 10:

10. Oliver Queen/Green Arrow: To me, he’s a great hero because he’s that hard-edge vigilante style character, but not in the “out for vengeance” character of a Punisher or Batman, but for the more political and social reasoning. He’s out there because it needs to be done, and he feels no one else is doing it.

9. Mitchell Hundred: Reasons for replacement here (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3630803&postcount=74).

8. Matt Murdock/Daredevil: I can’t really pinpoint why I love the character so much, I just do. He’s a deeply tragic character, and he never really tries to come up from that. But the stories are interesting, the blind lawyer-thing is a neat cover, and his comics always entertain me.

7. Conner Kent/Superboy: They’ve taken a concept that should have been dead years ago (a super-hip teenaged clone of Superman), and turned him into this layered character. The half Luthor/half Clark DNA is a neat twist. Slightly adjusting his powers to keep him in the Superman line, but letting him create his own identity. The recent “Boy of Steel” storyline was just amazing, and so full of heart. It’s the kind of comics I want to read.

6. Clint Barton/Hawkeye/Ronin: He’s been a hero. A villain. A team player. A team leader. He’s the go-to guy, and he proves why he is. Although he primarily uses the bow, he’s shown with his stints as Goliath and Ronin that he’s much more than it. He can be used in so many ways without feeling forced into it.

5. Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern: With Kyle, it’s like he was always playing catch-up to Hal. But, in the process of doing it, he really forged his own identity, and came into his own. Pretty much everything going on with the Green Lantern franchise wouldn’t be possible without what Kyle did. He brought back the Guardians. He re-started the Corps. The fact that he got to that point from being “not Hal,” and you were there with him the whole journey, was great.

4. Yorick Brown: Just the average guy who was thrown into a situation way over his head. Yet, even with the character growth in the series, retained who he was through it all. He wasn’t perfect, but you knew he had good intentions.

3. Steve Rogers/Captain America: So easily could he have been stuck as “that patriotic character” over the decades he’s been around. Just a caricature of a long-gone war era. Yet, they’ve evolved him into a character that just loves his country, and would do anything for it. Even if it means going against it at time, in and out of the costume. He’s an everyman. He’s a super hero. He’s the entire ideals of a country. And yet he still remains just Steve Rogers, that skinny kid that just wanted to do anything for his country.

2. Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing: The sidekick success story. People often think of Wally West as the success story, but he took over a role. Dick created his own. He didn’t want to be Batman. And even now, with him in that role, he’s made it clear, he doesn’t want it. Dick carved out his own identity, and did it the way he wanted to.

1. Tim Drake/Robin: Dick was chosen. Jason was found. Tim took it. To me, that put him in a class all his own, and shaped his character right from the start. Not to mention, I’ve always said that Tim is one of the most tragic characters in comic. Both his parents died. His adopted father “died.” His title-long girlfriend died. His two best friends in Superboy and Impulse died. Yet, amid all of it, he was still hopeful. He still pushed forward. He was the only one that believed that Bruce was still alive. Because that’s Tim. He’s analytical, but his heart is always at the front.

[Superpan]

1. Superman (Clark Kent)
2. Captain America (Steve Rogers)
3.Robin (Dick Grayson)
4. Nite-Owl (Dan Dreiberg)
5. Captain Marvel (Billy Batson)
6. Lex Luthor
7. Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)
8. The Question (Vic Sage)
9. Batman (Bruce Wayne)
10. Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Nothing against Bruce or Pete, I just want Superman to win.

[witness]

Ok, wondering why no one's brought this up yet... Why are we only allowed 10 picks if it is a top 25 list??? Seems silly to me. I could easily make one for heroes and one for villians. Anyways, here are my ten.

1. Batman (Bruce Wayne)
2. Joker
3. Amanda Waller (one of the baddest female characters that you never want to cross)
4. Buffy (always loved her struggle of being a normal person and a slayer)
5. Angel (another character struggling to be what he is and how he relates to/fits in with everyone else)
6. Secret Six (quite possibly the most hilarious team of misfit villians ever assembled)
7. Ultimate Spiderman (like the fact that it was a fresh take on an established character and I didn't have to know all of the continuity)
8. Sinestro (with his new corps, he got me interested in Green Lantern)
9. Captain Cold (love the way he handles/leads the rogues)
10. Robin/Damian Wayne (little brat is so full of himself that I love it!)

[wonderfly]

Ok, wondering why no one's brought this up yet... Why are we only allowed 10 picks if it is a top 25 list??? Seems silly to me. I could easily make one for heroes and one for villians. Anyways, here are my ten.


Well...

#1: because it matches the format set up by our friends over on the Anime/Manga forum. (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=238092)

#2: because in theory we should get enough votes from everyone's own "Top 10" list to construct a "Top 25" list. We're not asking for your own "Top 25", it's a voting game to see which characters win amongst all of our votes. Having said that...

#3: We welcome you to list others besides your own "Top 10" (notice how Jin Kazama, Shawn Hopkins, and myself listed "runner ups" in our voting posts). List as many others as you like!

#4: As for "why not list your Top 10 Heroes" and "Top 10 Villains"? We may do something more along those lines next year, but we wanted to do "Top 10 CHARACTERS" to see if non-superhero/supervillain characters might make it on the list. Because even though we love the costumed characters, there's more to comic books then superheroes!! But vote however you like (superhero/non-superhero)...

[ryandcow]

Now that groups are in, the spectre gets the boot from my list and The Rouges (The Flash) Slide into the 8 slot.

[Miyamoto Musashi]

1. Spider-Man/Peter Benjamin Parker (Marvel 616): Slightly altered me, given awesome superpowers
2. Superman/ Kal-El/Clark Kent (DC Earth1): I used to prefer Batman, I knew Superman first, but I preferred Batman, until I saw the comics becoming more messy by the creative team behind the main books. Superman has the most fun comic book series, period
3. Batman/Bruce Wayne (DC Earth1): I love the character, I love his gadgets, I admire his sidekicks, all except Jason, and I admire him taking them in. My favorite TV series of all time is his animated series, my all time favorite movies have 3 of his films on the top
4. Iron Man/Anthony Edward Stark (Marvel 616): He was on the forgettable list to me, that was before I read all praises about the movie, so I decided to collect his comics, I really enjoyed them, but still can't rank the movie more than 3.5/5. He was ten on my top 10 heroes, but the more I read of him the more I enjoy
5. Rick Jones (Marvel 616): Ever since the 80s animated Hulk series I admired the young man who takes responsibility for a mistake he did once. Seeing how in comics he is far greater as a character, much better than Snapper Carr
6. Jimmy Olsen (DC Earth1): Superman's pal, great adventurer, Silver Age Jimmy is my favorite
7. Hal Jordan/Green Lantern (DC Earth1)
8. The Flash/Barry Allen (DC Earth 1)
9. Deadpool/Wade Wilson (Marvel 616)
10. Victor von Doom (Marvel 616)

[wonderfly]

Now that groups are in, the spectre gets the boot from my list and The Rouges (The Flash) Slide into the 8 slot.

I bumped Mary Jane Watson from #4 to #8 on my list (thus pushing "V" from "V for Vendetta" off all together), to make way at #4 for Fone Bone! I can't believe I forgot about the "Bone" comic book (it's simply been so long since I read it, it slipped my mind, but it's still a classic)...:)

[ryandcow]

Ive never read the bone comics.... They're good? They'd go under Kingdom Come and The Long Halloween for my "To read list" though.

[witness]

Well...

#1: because it matches the format set up by our friends over on the Anime/Manga forum. (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=238092)

#2: because in theory we should get enough votes from everyone's own "Top 10" list to construct a "Top 25" list. We're not asking for your own "Top 25", it's a voting game to see which characters win amongst all of our votes. Having said that...

#3: We welcome you to list others besides your own "Top 10" (notice how Jin Kazama, Shawn Hopkins, and myself listed "runner ups" in our voting posts). List as many others as you like!

#4: As for "why not list your Top 10 Heroes" and "Top 10 Villains"? We may do something more along those lines next year, but we wanted to do "Top 10 CHARACTERS" to see if non-superhero/supervillain characters might make it on the list. Because even though we love the costumed characters, there's more to comic books then superheroes!! But vote however you like (superhero/non-superhero)...

#1: Oops, actually forgot that I read in this thread that the Anime forum had done something similar.

#2: As soon as I had typed it, I thought it would be this. Wish I would have kept my mouth shut that time. haha

#3: Oh, man! I could list practically every other character in DC/Buffy/Angel/Marvel universe! I will see if I can come up with a few very good honorable mentions.

#4: I look forward to those lists coming in the future then!

[Jadeling]

Superman is fairly close behind but yea, Bats is gonna win. Too bad this couldn't have taken place in September or late August so I could have picked Old Bruce and Terry.Actually for the run of the show; there was a Batman Beyond comic, similar to the Justice League comic based on the cartoon. It had 20+ issues besides the six issue mini that appeared during the first season and the RtoJ issue (I should know, I have the trade paperback ;)). I think some of the writers also actually wrote some of the episodes too. Some of the issues were not so good, but some had interesting stories like you find out that the character Terminal pretty much becomes like a second Two-Face. So you should add them to your list.

Here's my list:

1. Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat
2. Lockheed
3. Scott Summers/Cyclops
4. Uncle Scrooge
5. Donald Duck
6. Sadie (from Mouse Guard)
7. Dick Grayson/Nightwing
8. Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
9. Ororo Munro/Storm
10. T'challa/Black Panther

[Miyamoto Musashi]

10. T'challa/Black PantherYeah, another fan of the Panther
I don't read much of his adventures, but from what I read they are really great

[wonderfly]

Just following up on a couple things posted early on in this thread:



10 - (i'll think about this one)

So have you thought enough about it to decide yet? ;) Just reminding you that you can still cast one more vote on your list. :)



3. Raphael (TMNT)


I got to thinking, the Ninja Turtles are another example of characters that it makes sense to vote for them as a group. So I just wanted to let you know that, if you so choose, you could vote for all 4 of the Ninja Turtles, you didn't have to limit yourself to just one. But you can vote either way. :)

In the meantime, ANY MORE VOTES?!?

[The Cartoon]

1. The Question (Vic Sage)
2. Zatanna
3. Donald Duck
4. The Joker
5. Solomon Grundy
6. Scrooge McDuck
7. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
8. Gorilla Grodd
9. Mad Hatter
10. The Scarecrow

That wasn't easy. I considered Gentleman Ghost, but I think I enjoy him more in Brave & The Bold than in the comics where is a much more underdeveloped character.

[Spider-Man]

10. Lois Lane
9. Lex Luthor
8. Mary-Jane Watson
7. Green Goblin
6. The Joker
5. Dick Grayson
4. Wolverine
3. Superman
2. Batman
1. Spider-Man

[RedNinja84]

10. The Hulk
9. Nightcrawler
8. Storm
7. The Flash
6. Marvel Girl/Phoenix/Jean Grey
5. Spider Man
4. Dr. Doom
3. Magneto
2. Wolverine
1. Batman

I mostly read Marvel as a kid so I have a bias but still think Batman is the comic book character ever.

[ryandcow]

7. The Flash

You have to specify which one you would like to pick, Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West or Bart Allen.


1. Batman

You Probably mean Bruce Wayne here though.

[Shredhead]

1. Wolverine
2. The Joker
3. Batman Bruce Wayne
4. Jean Grey
5. Nightcrawler
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
7. Deadpool
8. Magneto
9. Spider-Man Peter Parker
10 Mary Jane Watson

[RedNinja84]

You have to specify which one you would like to pick, Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West or Bart Allen.

You Probably mean Bruce Wayne here though.

Barry Allen Flash and of course Bruce Wayne.

[Michael24]

Okay, here's my list of personal favorites . . .

1. Batman (Bruce Wayne*)
2. Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
3. ShadowHawk (Paul Johnstone)
4. Spawn (Al Simmons)
5. Joker
6. Gambit
7. Wolverine
8. Robin (Tim Drake)
9. Two-Face
10. Captain America (Steve Rogers)

* Bruce Wayne needs to be specified as Batman? I must be missing something. :confused:

[ryandcow]

Okay, here's my list of personal favorites . . .

1. Batman (Bruce Wayne*)
2. Spider-Man
3. ShadowHawk (Paul Johnstone)
4. Spawn (Al Simmons)
5. Joker
6. Gambit
7. Robin (Tim Drake)
8. Wolverine
9. Two-Face
10. Captain America

* Bruce Wayne needs to be specified as Batman? I must be missing something. :confused:

He "died" in Final Crisis, so Dick took over the mantle, though he's coming back. Also it could be Terry McGuiness.

[Shawn Hopkins]

It could also be Jean-Paul Valley. I personally will be assuming everyone who doesn't specify means that sensational psychotic with the big scary claws, Azbats, and in the interest of making the vote more interesting I hope the mods will, too. :)

[ryandcow]

It could also be Jean-Paul Valley. I personally will be assuming everyone who doesn't specify means that sensational psychotic with the big scary claws, Azbats, and in the interest of making the vote more interesting I hope the mods will, too. :)
Ha, Arazel Bats does look cool though.

[Jin Kazama]

Just a reminder that we now have only one week left to get your voting in, or make any changes to your votes.

[Ed Liu]

This is by no means a final list, or meant to be my final ordering. Just want to start getting some thoughts down on my candidates. Ordering to follow -- am willing to accept arguments trying to sway me :D.

EDIT: First version of the top 10 is here. Unless I change my mind more (and I might), I can live with the following 10 and their positions on the list.


Superman: He's the one who launched an industry, and I'm having a hard time going against his fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Even though his character's seen better days, I'm not sure we'd be having the discussions that we are today without him, so he gets the top spot out of respect for his stature in the biz if nothing else.
Cerebus the Aardvark: He's an ornery, greedy, nasty little cuss, and he gets increasingly unreadable as the 300 issue limited series he was in wears on. However, at the creative peak of the series, he's absolutely unforgettable and unique among comic book characters, stepping well outside of his initial Conan parody into his own territory.
Concrete: The title character of Paul Chadwick's comic book series for Dark Horse is easily one of the best things about the title. He's an entirely believable human being in an extraordinary situation, and he's as prone to screwing up and falling flat on his face as any of us are.
J. Jonah Jameson: Yeah, everyone else is going to say Spider-Man, but for my money, JJJ is the really memorable character among the cast of that comic book. Trying to imagine Spider-Man without JJJ is like trying to imagine him without Uncle Ben or Aunt May, and in a weird way I think that he's as powerful a contributor to Spidey's moral compass as either of his two surrogate parents.
Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski: Terry Moore has admitted that he started Strangers in Paradise with two characters and a scene (Francine tearing her clothes off in the park) and made it all up as he went along afterwards mostly because he liked the characters and wanted to see where they went. Considering how long I followed the series before noticing that, I think he succeeded in making two unforgettable characters, but I think I have to give the nod to Katchoo, who resolutely refuses to be anyone but herself.
Astro City's The Confessor: The first one, not the second. I'm surprised I didn't put him on my first cut of characters. Astro City: Confession is one of my desert island books (not desert island comics -- desert island books), and I think the Confessor is a huge reason why. He starts off looking like one thing and ends up looking like something entirely different while somehow staying exactly the same, and that all makes sense if you've read it. He's central to one of the greatest plot twists I've ever read, which ends up powerfully reinforcing the self-sacrificing ideal that we expect from superheroes. And, as a side note, he's a man of faith where that faith is so finely crafted that it's critical to understanding his character without it being his only defining trait. It's a pretty damn good trick.
Snake Eyes: He never says a word and you never see his face or know his name, and yet he's probably the most popular member of Larry Hama's G.I. Joe team. I suspect part of the reason is that his complete "man of mystery" act means that he's the ultimate audience identification character -- he could be anyone under there (despite the occasional depiction out-of-costume as a blond-haired white dude). Regardless, if nothing else, you gotta respect a character who became an icon without ever saying a word.
Doctor Doom: Because Doom is awesome, worm.
John Constantine: OK, I was originally going to go with either the Phantom Stranger or Swamp Thing, but I'm going for this member of the trenchcoat brigade instead because he's the one who really makes an impression in nearly every comic book he's in. Another character who refuses to be anybody but himself, almost regardless of who's writing him, and who always seems to attract your attention without even trying. Also, coincidentally, perhaps one of the only truly original characters Alan Moore's ever come up with -- make of that what you will.
Top 10's Joe Pi: Simultaneously embodies and upends every single science fiction cliché about artificial intelligences. In a book stuffed to the gills with clever ideas and appealing characters, he managed to outdo everyone else even though he only shows up in the last third of the original mini-series. He's wise, he's witty, he's warmer than most of the people despite being a machine, and he's wonderful. I started skimming the book to refresh my memory about him and ended up re-reading that whole chunk again, top to bottom. Plus, it's kind of fitting to make him the 10th selection on the list for a bunch of reasons.

[wonderfly]

This is by no means a final list, or meant to be my final ordering. Just want to start getting some thoughts down on my candidates. Ordering to follow -- am willing to accept arguments trying to sway me :D


Okay, that's a first for this thread: asking for people to help sway additions to your list. :) I like the idea though, as I think this thread could use some people rallying for their favorite characters (not just for your list, but for other people's lists).

Anyway, if I were you, I'd definitly vote for Swamp Thing over the Phantom Stranger. And as I said in my votes: (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3620078&postcount=40) Fone Bone trumps Cerebus in Independent Awesomeness.

I'm surprised not to see Conan, Red Sonja, or Atomic Robo on your list of choices. Vote for Conan or he'll crush your skull with his battle ax!!! ;)

Also surprised not to see somebody from the X-Men mythos on there, considering your fondness for the 80's X-Men back in the day...but perhaps nostalgia is eclipsed by your dislike of Marvel comics today?

[Ed Liu]

Anyway, if I were you, I'd definitly vote for Swamp Thing over the Phantom Stranger. And as I said in my votes: (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3620078&postcount=40) Fone Bone trumps Cerebus in Independent Awesomeness.

Fone Bone was considered, but in the end, I thought that there were too many other characters in comics kind of like him to keep him from being really distinctive. He's almost more of an archetype than a character, I guess. Cerebus went horribly awry as it wore on, but as a character he's pretty unforgettable and there's never been anyone quite like him before or since.


I'm surprised not to see Conan, Red Sonja, or Atomic Robo on your list of choices. Vote for Conan or he'll crush your skull with his battle ax!!! ;)I thought about all three. I associate Conan with the REH prose more than the comics, and I think the best comic depictions of him are the ones that get closest to Howard. It didn't seem right to call him a "comic book character" as a result. While I have a (mostly) inexplicable attachment to Red Sonja, I think she has the same problem as Fone Bone in that she's not distinctive enough as a character as much as an archetype. Robo is awesome, but I'm just not certain that he's been around long enough to warrant landing on the "Top 25 of All Time" list. Then again, Top 10's Joe Pi is still being considered in my head, so I think Robo should go on there, too.


Also surprised not to see somebody from the X-Men mythos on there, considering your fondness for the 80's X-Men back in the day...but perhaps nostalgia is eclipsed by your dislike of Marvel comics today?Unfortunately, the only X-Man I could think to put on there would be Wolverine, which I refused on general principle :). The problem with the rest of the X-Men is that they don't make it over my own standards for a "Best. Ever." sort of list. I love Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Professor X, and Cyclops, but best ever? Would have to think long and hard on that one. Cyke especially suffers because he's so horribly inconsistently written, which suggests that perhaps his "character" isn't quite as well-defined as it might seem. Too many people write him as the boring, "stick-up-his-butt" rigid, uptight, straight-arrow, vs. the tall cool embodiment of Teddy Roosevelt's "speak softly and carry a big stick" that Chris Claremont brought to the table. Despite his wild overexposure, Wolverine is always notably Wolverine wherever he is.

Gee, writing down all of the above is also makes me question whether I should really have Superman in the top spot, since it's more about Superman as a historical figure than Superman as a character, as such. Then again, the fact that he IS a historical figure and has a sense of character above and beyond any single story regardless of medium, and that he was the first comic book character to get there, could just as easily argue for him to stay.

Oh, decisions decisions. I think I'm going to have to really get it down in my head what my exact criteria are for "Top Comic Book Character."

[Miyamoto Musashi]

He "died" in Final Crisis, so Dick took over the mantle, though he's coming back. Also it could be Terry McGuiness.
Six Issue Mini Series Running: Return of Bruce Wayne

[Anthonynotes]

Gee, writing down all of the above is also makes me question whether I should really have Superman in the top spot, since it's more about Superman as a historical figure than Superman as a character, as such. Then again, the fact that he IS a historical figure and has a sense of character above and beyond any single story regardless of medium, and that he was the first comic book character to get there, could just as easily argue for him to stay.

Oh, decisions decisions. I think I'm going to have to really get it down in my head what my exact criteria are for "Top Comic Book Character."

Forget about all that---keep Superman #1. ;-)

Then again, nobody else besides me and a few others have voted for him, so I suspect he either won't make the top 25 at all or will be extremely low on the list...

-B.

[ryandcow]

I actually need to be swayed as well. Should Mr. Miracle be on my list over The Question (Vic Sage)?

[wonderfly]

I thought about all three. I associate Conan with the REH prose more than the comics, and I think the best comic depictions of him are the ones that get closest to Howard. It didn't seem right to call him a "comic book character" as a result. While I have a (mostly) inexplicable attachment to Red Sonja, I think she has the same problem as Fone Bone in that she's not distinctive enough as a character as much as an archetype. Robo is awesome, but I'm just not certain that he's been around long enough to warrant landing on the "Top 25 of All Time" list. Then again, Top 10's Joe Pi is still being considered in my head, so I think Robo should go on there, too.


See, I most closely associate Conan with the comics as that's where I was first introduced to him. Also, similar to what you said about Superman, Conan's enough of an icon to make him noteworthy (a character who's arrival on the scene signaled a shift in comics - in Conan's case, a shift away from superheroes).

Everything else that you said, I can kind of agree with though...



Gee, writing down all of the above is also makes me question whether I should really have Superman in the top spot, since it's more about Superman as a historical figure than Superman as a character, as such. Then again, the fact that he IS a historical figure and has a sense of character above and beyond any single story regardless of medium, and that he was the first comic book character to get there, could just as easily argue for him to stay.

Oh, decisions decisions. I think I'm going to have to really get it down in my head what my exact criteria are for "Top Comic Book Character."And this seems like a good time to remind people that you can vote for characters on your list however you want - either for their historical significance, or because of their personality, or because you personally just find them to be the most awesome character ever!! :)

So, any other last minute votes?!?

[Jin Kazama]

Alright, folks. We have about 48 hours left, so get your last minute votes and changes in now!

[wonderfly]

Ah, I see your list is finally up, Ed!



EDIT: First version of the top 10 is here. Unless I change my mind more (and I might), I can live with the following 10 and their positions on the list.


Superman: He's the one who launched an industry, and I'm having a hard time going against his fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Even though his character's seen better days, I'm not sure we'd be having the discussions that we are today without him, so he gets the top spot out of respect for his stature in the biz if nothing else.
Cerebus the Aardvark: He's an ornery, greedy, nasty little cuss, and he gets increasingly unreadable as the 300 issue limited series he was in wears on. However, at the creative peak of the series, he's absolutely unforgettable and unique among comic book characters, stepping well outside of his initial Conan parody into his own territory.
Concrete: The title character of Paul Chadwick's comic book series for Dark Horse is easily one of the best things about the title. He's an entirely believable human being in an extraordinary situation, and he's as prone to screwing up and falling flat on his face as any of us are.
J. Jonah Jameson: Yeah, everyone else is going to say Spider-Man, but for my money, JJJ is the really memorable character among the cast of that comic book. Trying to imagine Spider-Man without JJJ is like trying to imagine him without Uncle Ben or Aunt May, and in a weird way I think that he's as powerful a contributor to Spidey's moral compass as either of his two surrogate parents.
Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski: Terry Moore has admitted that he started Strangers in Paradise with two characters and a scene (Francine tearing her clothes off in the park) and made it all up as he went along afterwards mostly because he liked the characters and wanted to see where they went. Considering how long I followed the series before noticing that, I think he succeeded in making two unforgettable characters, but I think I have to give the nod to Katchoo, who resolutely refuses to be anyone but herself.
Astro City's The Confessor: The first one, not the second. I'm surprised I didn't put him on my first cut of characters. Astro City: Confession is one of my desert island books (not desert island comics -- desert island books), and I think the Confessor is a huge reason why. He starts off looking like one thing and ends up looking like something entirely different while somehow staying exactly the same, and that all makes sense if you've read it. He's central to one of the greatest plot twists I've ever read, which ends up powerfully reinforcing the self-sacrificing ideal that we expect from superheroes. And, as a side note, he's a man of faith where that faith is so finely crafted that it's critical to understanding his character without it being his only defining trait. It's a pretty damn good trick.
Snake Eyes: He never says a word and you never see his face or know his name, and yet he's probably the most popular member of Larry Hama's G.I. Joe team. I suspect part of the reason is that his complete "man of mystery" act means that he's the ultimate audience identification character -- he could be anyone under there (despite the occasional depiction out-of-costume as a blond-haired white dude). Regardless, if nothing else, you gotta respect a character who became an icon without ever saying a word.
Doctor Doom: Because Doom is awesome, worm.
John Constantine: OK, I was originally going to go with either the Phantom Stranger or Swamp Thing, but I'm going for this member of the trenchcoat brigade instead because he's the one who really makes an impression in nearly every comic book he's in. Another character who refuses to be anybody but himself, almost regardless of who's writing him, and who always seems to attract your attention without even trying. Also, coincidentally, perhaps one of the only truly original characters Alan Moore's ever come up with -- make of that what you will.
Top 10's Joe Pi: Simultaneously embodies and upends every single science fiction cliché about artificial intelligences. In a book stuffed to the gills with clever ideas and appealing characters, he managed to outdo everyone else even though he only shows up in the last third of the original mini-series. He's wise, he's witty, he's warmer than most of the people despite being a machine, and he's wonderful. I started skimming the book to refresh my memory about him and ended up re-reading that whole chunk again, top to bottom. Plus, it's kind of fitting to make him the 10th selection on the list for a bunch of reasons.


Some awesome choices indeed (good to see some choices move beyond "Superman", "Batman", and "Spider-Man"). I forgot to ask earlier if "The Confessor" might be a contender for your list, glad to see he made it on there (can you believe that's the one Astro City storyline I never read? I'll get around to it someday)...

I also wanted to ask if "Grendel" (Hunter Rose) was a contender for your list, considering how much you praise the series. Not that I want you to change your list (unless you want to) was just curious...

Anyway, I believe that makes 24 people casting votes in this thread. I'd like to see us get up to at least "25", considering it's a "Top 25" list. :)

Any other votes?!?

Look through these lists over the last few pages for some worthy contenders, and get your votes in, will be tallying the votes soon enough.

[Jin Kazama]

So, made a last minute adjustment to my vote. I replaced Booster Gold with Mitchell Hundred from Ex Machina. Unfortunately, this removes Booster from my list, but Booster's got a few votes already, so it's not a total loss. It came down to removing him or Green Arrow, and it all boiled down to me just respecting a guy with no powers more than a guy with a power suit.

As for reasoning for putting Hundred on there? I'm reading the ninth trade of the series right now, and maybe it's because it's fresh in my mind, but I had forgotten how much I love that character, and how strong of a character that he is. It's a political comic, but he's not driven by politics. He's driven by his drive and ideals. He doesn't care who backs which side, or, heck, who backs him. He just does what he feels is right, and what he feels needs to be done. It's kind of similar to my reasons for picking Green Arrow, but Hundred gets the edge because he's more working the inside and making change from within as opposed to doing it through super heroics.

[Xurk]

Is it still fashionable to be late to parties? Or doesn't that apply when you're the last one to arrive? :p Anyway, here's my list.

I had a really hard time looking at this objectively and have to admit that in the end, I didn't entirely. My "favourites" are heavily influenced by what I'm reading at the time. If you asked me five years ago, it would've included a lot of characters which have faded into the back of my memory now, but were heavily-used now. And I've tried to filter out as many characters from my "innocent, wide-eyed view of comics" that I had when I was a kid - because no one wants a list "polluted" with the likes of those oh-so-cool '90s characters ;)

I couldn't take as long as I would have liked to write up this list due to lack of time (as you can tell from my late submission), so it's 100% possible that I've left out a bunch of heroes and enemies which would've ranked very high on this list, but I couldn't think of unless I really scratched the back of my mind. So like I stated above, this is going to be heavily influenced by what I've been reading for the past couple of years :)

Without further ado, here goes! *If I find time tomorrow, I'll try to edit this post and add motivations for each of my choices / rankings. But for now, it's "all about the ranks", isn't it!*

--- The List

10. Rorschach (Watchmen)

09. Kick-Ass (Dave Lizewski)

08. Sinestro

07. Daredevil (Matt Murdoch)

06. Spider-Man / Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly)

05. Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel)

04. Spider-Girl (May "Mayday" Parker)

03. Batman (Bruce Wayne)

02. Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)

01. Spider-Man (Peter Parker) - This guy has to be on #1. The only character I've read non-stop from the age of eight years old to the present day. And of whom I've read so many spin-off titles, mini-series, tie-ins and titles he featured in - only to get hooked on some those titles as well, even after he left them! He may be kind of a square sometimes, but he is one of the most respectable characters in comics, with one of the best designs and one of the best rogues' galleries and supporting cast.

--- Honourable Mentions


Deadpool (Wade Wilson)
Booster Gold (Michael Carter)
Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
Mary-Jane Watson-Parker
Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley)

[Ed Liu]

I also wanted to ask if "Grendel" (Hunter Rose) was a contender for your list, considering how much you praise the series. Not that I want you to change your list (unless you want to) was just curious...
He was considered, although I didn't think he quite measured up compared to the rest of my picks. If I had to pick a Grendel for this list and I had a few more picks, it probably would have been Orion Assante, since his character arc throughout the Grendel saga was one of the most interesting.

I'm also still torn a bit between Joe Pi and Atomic Robo, and may ditch both of them for Marvel's Runaways (partially because Runaways is/was awesome and partially to get a few more women on the list). Not that I expect any of them make it anywhere near the top 25 considering that I'm the only one who's mentioned them, I think :p.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I had Molly, but I made her a runner up.

Ooh, I forgot Mr. Sensitive/The Orphan and Dead Girl. And Squirrel Girl. And the Heckler. And Infectious Lass. And the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. And Groo. And the Defenestrator from Section 8 in Hitman. I like him so much better than even Dogwelder and Bueno Excellente because he's so absurdly specific and situational. If you want someone thrown through a window, he's your guy. I guess Dogwelder is like that too, though, so I can't really explain why I like him better, I just do.

I think I'm going to back and give some explanation for my suggestions like others have done. I may not get around to that before the end of the nomination period, though.

[wonderfly]

Last chance to vote!! Don't leave your favorite characters out in the cold!!! (or is it "out in the blazing hot summer afternoon?!?)

Going once...going twice...

[GWOtaku]

Hmm, here goes. I'll vote & save comments for after the results at this point.

10. Adrian Veidt
9. The Joker
8. Daredevil (Matt Murdoch)
7. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
6. Wonder Woman
5. Magneto
4. Superman
3. Captain America (Steve Rogers)
2. Spider-Man
1. Batman (Bruce Wayne)

[Jin Kazama]

Alrighty, people. This. Thing. Is. OVER!!!! Any votes or edits made after this point do not count.

Thanks to everyone that cast votes. This was much more of a success than we had initially thought, and it was all thanks to everyone that voted. We will now count the votes, make a nice, fancy looking official thread, and reveal the results. Look for it soon!