Any discussion that ends with the phrase “of all time” is sure to draw plenty of debate, and in the world of superheros and comic books it is especially so. Few comic book fans feel the same about the top five, much less the number one slot. This list is based on a survey of all the people at my own local comic shop. There were twenty five people involved, and all are huge comic fans of at least ten to twenty years each. Here are the top five superhero comic book characters of all time! (or at least of our shop)
5. Wonder Woman - Wonder Woman was a bit of a surprise to me coming in at such a high position, though I expect that the large number of women I included in the rankings would vote her quite high. Diana was among the first powerful women in print, and has done little to lose that standing over the years. The comic book heroine is also helped by the fact that Lynda Carter thrilled many a young man back in the day with the television show of the same name. What a costume that was!
4. Spiderman - The wall crawling web spinner slides in at number four, though I personally had him at number two. With the wit and great artistical teams that have penned web head over the years, it is still among the best reads out there in comic book land. Peter Parker is still one of the kings in the world of make believe.
3. Batman - Batman is one of the most fascinating characters out there. The incredibly sad story of how Batman lost his parents as a child connects with virtually any reader, and it is not hard at all to understand how that might send him into a life of chasing down crime in Gotham City. The darker Batman is certainly more entertaining than the hokey television Batman starring Adam West, and Batman is sure to remain high on this list forever.
2. Wolverine - Wolverine is certainly one of the most popular of all time, especially of the younger generation. The newer generation has seen the X-man in a number of high budget films and he is now getting his own new movie to help push him even higher. Wolverine is a very unusual hero in that he is a bit more likely to rip your guts out than the other heroes on this list. He is not your mother’s Superhero to be sure.
1. Superman - After all these years, Superman is still at the top of this list. The Man of Steel is a cultural icon of supreme proportions, and he will be near the top of this list forever. Out of the twenty five people surveyed, twenty had him at number one. I was one of the few that had him lower, but that is only because of the fact I have always been a huge Batman fan. Ole supes still is worthy of a big thumbs up in the world of comics, film, and animation.
