home > Other > Fictional Characters
Tags: comics, comic book characters, fictional characters, super heroes, comic books, best characters, superheroes
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.
5,133 voters +
52 reranks
see all
- 1Up 2041Down 901DC Universe
- 2Up 1665Down 915
- 3Up 1619Down 909Marvel Universe
- 4Up 1541Down 834Marvel Universe
- 5Up 1374Down 747Marvel Universe
- 6Up 1413Down 739Marvel Universe
- 7Up 1329Down 656Marvel Universe
- 8Up 1162Down 633Marvel Universe
- 9Up 1052Down 657DC Universe
- 10Up 804Down 730DC Universe
- 11Up 888Down 695
Green Lantern
- 12Up 1037Down 685Marvel Universeadded by: JesusPerez
- 13Up 854Down 619
Nightwing
- 14Up 823Down 559Marvel Universe
- 15Up 760Down 647Marvel Universe
- 16Up 854Down 606Marvel Universe
- 17Up 748Down 409DC Universeadded by: IvanBarba
- 18Up 664Down 633Marvel Universe
- 19Up 693Down 593Marvel Universe
- 20Up 686Down 584Marvel Universeadded by: RatedMMA
- 21Up 581Down 643Marvel Universe
- 22Up 630Down 504Marvel Universe
- 23Up 590Down 483Marvel Universe
- 24Up 586Down 556DC Universeadded by: Logan2011
- 25Up 713Down 650
Rorschach
Watchmen - 26Up 596Down 557
- 27Up 602Down 504Marvel Universe
- 28Up 607Down 568Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
- 29Up 549Down 494DC Universe
- 30Up 528Down 471Marvel Universe
- 31Up 514Down 550Marvel Universe
- 32Up 288Down 231
Optimus Prime
Transformers Universe - 33Up 537Down 543Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
- 34Up 473Down 390
- 35Up 378Down 363Marvel Universe
- 36Up 499Down 501added by: Logan2011
- 37Up 420Down 493Marvel Universeadded by: cptron
- 38Up 545Down 509added by: Logan2011
- 39Up 386Down 342
Wonder Woman
- 40Up 470Down 574DC Universe
- 41Up 389Down 455
- 42Up 487Down 567DC Universe , Sesame Street
- 43Up 380Down 425DC Universeadded by: dayton72
- 44Up 406Down 466added by: Logan2011
- 45Up 299Down 374DC Universe
- 46Up 383Down 435added by: Logan2011
- 47Up 368Down 448
- 48Up 258Down 256
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
added by: StoneMesser - 49Up 279Down 302Marvel Universe
- 50Up 354Down 275Marvel Universeadded by: IvanBarba“ marvel universe
„ -
items 1 - 50 of 96
rerank this list your way embed list
what's a rerank? -
LOADING HISTORY
today on Ranker
start a list with results
close sorting window
Rank Name
use the search box to filter your list
leave a comment
Best Comic Book Superheroes of All Time at 1/12/2013 6:30 AM