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The Best Comic Book Superheroes of All Time
List of the most badass, tough and iconic comic book superheroes ever created. This list includes central characters from both the DC and Marvel Universe, as well as more non-traditional or underground comic books. The definition of what makes a "superhero" can be quite slippery, and often encompasses characters with questionable morals and behavior (giving rise to the notion of the "anti-hero.") Traditionally, a "superhero" simply means a larger-than-life character, or one gifted with special abilities either organically or via their own genius or inventiveness, who uses his or her powers to protect and defend the public from threats. Though the word "superhero" began to be used as early as the 1910s, the concept really took hold in the public's mind following the introduction of Superman in 1938.
Though Superman and other characters of his day were gifted with special talents and abilities making them particularly suited to crusading for justice, many characters that followed were more 'human' than the noble alien from Krypton, using their intelligence (such as Iron Man or Batman) to create a superheroic persona. A common trope has also become scientific accidents or twists of fate that turn a 'normal person' into a superhero (as is the case with Spider-Man being bitten by a radioactive spider or Bruce Banner becoming The Hulk after being pelted with gamma rays.) Some superheroes also have disabilities that counteract their skills, weapons or unique talents. Of course, a number of superheroes are also not only not human, but god-like beings, such as Marvel's "Thor" character.
Because of the massive popularity of superheroes - particularly at the start of the 21st Century, when superhero films reigned at the box office - a number of deconstructions and analyses of the genre have also been done, culminating in the creation of "meta-superheroes" who comment on the concept of superheroism itself. The Watchmen, a group modeled on classic superhero comics but representing the ways that vigilantism and consolidated power can go wrong, is a good example of this trend.
Though Superman and other characters of his day were gifted with special talents and abilities making them particularly suited to crusading for justice, many characters that followed were more 'human' than the noble alien from Krypton, using their intelligence (such as Iron Man or Batman) to create a superheroic persona. A common trope has also become scientific accidents or twists of fate that turn a 'normal person' into a superhero (as is the case with Spider-Man being bitten by a radioactive spider or Bruce Banner becoming The Hulk after being pelted with gamma rays.) Some superheroes also have disabilities that counteract their skills, weapons or unique talents. Of course, a number of superheroes are also not only not human, but god-like beings, such as Marvel's "Thor" character.
Because of the massive popularity of superheroes - particularly at the start of the 21st Century, when superhero films reigned at the box office - a number of deconstructions and analyses of the genre have also been done, culminating in the creation of "meta-superheroes" who comment on the concept of superheroism itself. The Watchmen, a group modeled on classic superhero comics but representing the ways that vigilantism and consolidated power can go wrong, is a good example of this trend.
List Criteria: Only superhero protagonist characters from comics No villains or superhero teams.
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- 1Up 2111Down 938DC Universe
- 2Up 1738Down 942
- 3Up 1680Down 932Marvel Universe
- 4Up 1606Down 853Marvel Universe
- 5Up 1482Down 752Marvel Universe
- 6Up 1425Down 764Marvel Universe
- 7Up 1379Down 671Marvel Universe
- 8Up 1207Down 651Marvel Universe
- 9Up 1096Down 673DC Universe
- 10Up 831Down 753DC Universe
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Green Lantern
- 12Up 1076Down 709Marvel Universeadded by: JesusPerez
- 13Up 894Down 640
Nightwing
- 14Up 857Down 579Marvel Universe
- 15Up 880Down 628Marvel Universe
- 16Up 792Down 428DC Universeadded by: IvanBarba
- 17Up 782Down 669Marvel Universe
- 18Up 690Down 654Marvel Universe
- 19Up 713Down 614Marvel Universe
- 20Up 713Down 602Marvel Universeadded by: RatedMMA
- 21Up 602Down 662Marvel Universe
- 22Up 657Down 520Marvel Universe
- 23Up 618Down 571DC Universeadded by: Logan2011
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Rorschach
Watchmen - 25Up 615Down 577
- 26Up 604Down 509Marvel Universe
- 27Up 615Down 527Marvel Universe
- 28Up 570Down 512DC Universe
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- 30Up 623Down 587Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
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Optimus Prime
Transformers Universe - 32Up 537Down 565Marvel Universe
- 33Up 554Down 559Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
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- 35Up 570Down 527added by: Logan2011
- 36Up 394Down 382Marvel Universe
- 37Up 518Down 518added by: Logan2011
- 38Up 484Down 592DC Universe
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Wonder Woman
- 40Up 431Down 516Marvel Universeadded by: cptron
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- 42Up 504Down 587DC Universe , Sesame Street
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Green Lantern
DC Universeadded by: IvanBarba - 44Up 399Down 445DC Universeadded by: dayton72
- 45Up 426Down 481added by: Logan2011
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- 47Up 313Down 394DC Universe
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
added by: StoneMesser - 49Up 14Down 10Marvel Universe
- 50Up 294Down 313Marvel Universe
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Best Comic Book Superheroes of All Time at 1/12/2013 6:30 AM