The Best Comic Book Superheroes Of All Time
This lists the most badass, inspiring, 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 a "superhero" can be quite slippery, and often encompasses characters with questionable morals and behavior (your classic anti-heroes). If you love these superheroes, keep in mind that a few of them have really lame origin stories.
Traditionally, a "superhero" is a larger-than-life character 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 - at times even while maintaining day jobs. 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.
Because of the massive popularity of superheroes – particularly at the start of the 21st Century, when superhero films reign 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. So take a look at this list, decide who your favorite comic book superheroes are, and vote them up. We have your top 50 superheroes, your top 100 superheroes of all time… we even have your top 200 comic book characters of all time. We didn’t include the super villains on this top comic book characters list. Who are the top comic book heroes? Who is the best superhero? You tell us.
- Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, as well as its associated media. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and ...more
- Spider-Man is a fictional superhero created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) in the Silver Age ...more
- Logan is a fictional character from the X-Men series. He is a mutant who possesses animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor, and ...more
- Iron Man is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A wealthy American business magnate, playboy, and ingenious scientist, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark. When ...more
- Thor is a fictional superhero that appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name, is the Asgardian god of thunder ...more
- Deadpool is a fictional antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in The New Mutants ...more
- Captain America is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Captain America ...more
- The Flash is a fictional superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash ...more
- The Hulk is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1. ...more
- Wonder Woman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character is a warrior princess of the Amazons and is known in her homeland as Princess Diana of ...more
- Black Panther is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby, first appearing ...more
- Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange, best known under his alias Doctor Strange, is a fictional superhero that appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A former neurosurgeon, Strange ...more
- The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and ...more
- Nightwing is a fictional character in the 2010 animated action thriller film Batman: Under the Red Hood.
- Venom, or the Venom Symbiote, is a fictional antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Spider-Man. Venom was originally a supervillain when ...more
- Green Lantern is the name of a number of fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. They fight evil with the aid of power rings that grant them a variety of ...more
- Natalia Alianovna Romanova is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the ...more
- Wanda Maximoff is a fictional character, whose code name is Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Superman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, as well as its associated media. Superman is widely considered an American cultural icon. The Superman ...more
- Daredevil is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Daredevil was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of ...more
- The Silver Surfer is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books and other publications produced by Marvel Comics. The character also appears in a number of movies, television, and video game ...more
- Shazam is a comic book character created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. He is an ancient wizard who gives young Billy Batson the power to transform into the superhero Captain ...more
- Groot is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #13. An ...more
- Ghost Rider is a fictional superhero that appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Johnny Blaze is the second Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western ...more
- Jean Grey, or Jean Grey-Summers, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and is a founding member of the X-Men. Jean Grey has been known under the ...more