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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 2108Down 933DC Universe
- 2Up 1729Down 941
- 3Up 1675Down 931Marvel Universe
- 4Up 1601Down 853Marvel Universe
- 5Up 1478Down 752Marvel Universe
- 6Up 1423Down 763Marvel Universe
- 7Up 1375Down 671Marvel Universe
- 8Up 1207Down 650Marvel Universe
- 9Up 1094Down 671DC Universe
- 10Up 831Down 752DC Universe
- 11Up 926Down 720
Green Lantern
- 12Up 1073Down 709Marvel Universeadded by: JesusPerez
- 13Up 894Down 640
Nightwing
- 14Up 856Down 578Marvel Universe
- 15Up 879Down 627Marvel Universe
- 16Up 790Down 427DC Universeadded by: IvanBarba
- 17Up 780Down 669Marvel Universe
- 18Up 688Down 654Marvel Universe
- 19Up 713Down 614Marvel Universe
- 20Up 712Down 602Marvel Universeadded by: RatedMMA
- 21Up 602Down 662Marvel Universe
- 22Up 656Down 519Marvel Universe
- 23Up 617Down 571DC Universeadded by: Logan2011
- 24Up 739Down 669
Rorschach
Watchmen - 25Up 615Down 576
- 26Up 604Down 508Marvel Universe
- 27Up 615Down 526Marvel Universe
- 28Up 570Down 511DC Universe
- 29Up 551Down 484Marvel Universe
- 30Up 623Down 586Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
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Optimus Prime
Transformers Universe - 32Up 535Down 564Marvel Universe
- 33Up 554Down 558Marvel Universe , Earth-11052
- 34Up 491Down 408
- 35Up 569Down 526added by: Logan2011
- 36Up 394Down 381Marvel Universe
- 37Up 517Down 517added by: Logan2011
- 38Up 483Down 591DC Universe
- 39Up 406Down 358
Wonder Woman
- 40Up 431Down 515Marvel Universeadded by: cptron
- 41Up 411Down 473
- 42Up 504Down 586DC Universe , Sesame Street
- 43Up 398Down 444DC Universeadded by: dayton72
- 44Up 25Down 23
Green Lantern
DC Universeadded by: IvanBarba - 45Up 424Down 481added by: Logan2011
- 46Up 398Down 455added by: Logan2011
- 47Up 311Down 394DC Universe
- 48Up 280Down 271
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
added by: StoneMesser - 49Up 12Down 9Marvel Universe
- 50Up 291Down 313Marvel Universe
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Best Comic Book Superheroes of All Time at 1/12/2013 6:30 AM