The ILC Favourite Characters Of All Time

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Man, two in a row. I should describe Marvel characters for a livin'.

Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:18 (eighteen years ago) link

31. Dr Manhattan (Watchmen)

(83 points)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/DrManhattan.jpg

Alan Moore's take on a cosmically powered supercharacter is at heart a standard what-is-this-thing-called-emotion story arc (tho with a last issue twist of sorts) but Dr M is so well realised you hardly care. His mechanistic perspective on the universe maps nicely onto the hyperformalism of Watchmen, and what's more he was naked for pretty much the whole series.

Greatest Moment: "Watchmen #4 in its entirety" (Vic F)

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:35 (eighteen years ago) link

still... greatest comic book punchline ever?

Haha, yes.

Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:37 (eighteen years ago) link

A quick refresher course now we're (ahem) halfway through

60. Opus
59. Roy Race
58. Corto Maltese
57. Martian Manhunter
56. Guy Gardner (Giffen/DeM)
55. Spider-Man (Dan Slott)
54. Acid Archie
53. Manhog
52. Mo
51. Black Lois Lane
50. Spider Jerusalem
49. Optimus Prime
48. Flex Mentallo
47. Marv
46. Darkseid
45. Hellboy
44. Mek-Quake
43. Tharg The Mighty
42. Mona Lisa Ludacristits
41. A Homosexual
40. Cassidy
39. Tara Chace
38. Robotman (Grant M)
37. Wally West Flash
36. Astoria
35. Emma Frost
34. Robert Crumb
33. The Thing
32. Jessica Jones
31. Dr Manhattan

"Stand by" for #30 on!

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:41 (eighteen years ago) link

I'll be holding my breath.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:53 (eighteen years ago) link

Do I have time to make popcorn?

Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 15:53 (eighteen years ago) link

"Back in the Spring"

Vic F (Vic Fluro), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 20:36 (eighteen years ago) link

Still no Bibbo.

Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 20:37 (eighteen years ago) link

I like the artwork for Jessica Jones, I think, and know nothing about the character or series. School me, if needed, please.

Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:43 (eighteen years ago) link

My take on Dr Manhattan: "Look out below, big blue swinging penis comin' thru."

Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:45 (eighteen years ago) link

Chris P - check this thread out to get schooled: Explain me Alias

David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 20 April 2006 00:16 (eighteen years ago) link

30. Beast (X-Men/Avengers)

(88 points)

http://www.unificationfrance.com/IMG/jpg/xmen_beast.jpg

"One of the few marvel mutant characters to break out of the narrow field and into the larger fictional world, he's changed with the times, remaining on, or at least slightly behind, the forefront of cool. Early experiments with 'beat culture' changed to full-on hippiedom, drinking and 'alleged' smoking of dope. When the mutant comics became angst-filled, meandering plots-that-go-nowhere coolfests, he was there too, tragically losing his supermind by degrees before being replaced by his own evil twin from an alternate Earth! And for the new century, he reinvented himself again as a smooth-talking metrosexual." (Vic F)

"If the X-Men, more than about race or sexuality, are about plain old-fashioned teenage alienation, surely Hank McCoy is one of the best role models the series can muster. He’s been dealt one hell of a rough hand – unlike most of his fellow mutants, his powers are not hidden and he doesn’t look like an extra from “Melrose Place” – and yet he whines about it considerably less than most of his colleagues. Which pays off – first x-man to join the Avengers, respected member of the scientific community, Beast has adapted to real life as well as anyone in his crew. The Marvel universe’s proof that you can be both a giant nerd and the life of any party, and that smarts, wit and bonhomie make up for a hell of a lot." (Daniel_Rf)

Greatest Moment: "At the Coffee-A-Go-Go he is made king of the
Beat-niks. His road to ruin begins here."
(Vic F)

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 20 April 2006 09:57 (eighteen years ago) link

I am glad to see the Beast do this well. If we were to do the poll now I wonder how much of the Morrison halo effect would have lingered.

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 20 April 2006 10:20 (eighteen years ago) link

My take on The Beast: "Look out below, big blue swinging penis comin' thru."

Pete (Pete), Thursday, 20 April 2006 12:49 (eighteen years ago) link

Chris, I can mail you the first two Alias trades!

Huk-L (Huk-L), Thursday, 20 April 2006 13:44 (eighteen years ago) link

huh, where'd you get those?

s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:57 (eighteen years ago) link

29. Daredevil (Daredevil)

(89 points)

http://www.grovel.org.uk/reviews/darede01/darede03.gif

The Stan Lee Daredevil is yr standard garish romp, twin brothers and fights with the likes of the Owl. But - maybe accidentally, maybe alchemically - Lee had hit on a character with massive symbolic freight: a lawyer, a vigilante, living the high life, from the mean streets, and get this he's blind! The result is the hero probably best able to sensibly carry the weight as comics got darker and grittier - DD's campy past never preys on him like it does on Batman, there's rarely the lurking shadow of the ludicrous. Which means that when Daredevil's comics get grim it doesn't feel so affected. Of course this might be hindsight because Miller and Bendis did what they did so well - but it seems to me that they found something that was already there.

Greatest Moment: Playing russian roulette with a comatose Bullseye (Daredevil #191) (I think this was Leee's pick)

Tom (Groke), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Don't forget Ann Nocenti's DD! I think we discussed it on some other thread, but as a kid that was pretty mind-blowing to me (moreso than Miller's run). I mean, it had all the freaky stuff like Ultron and Lucifer and the descent to Hell, yet it all somehow played to the strength of the character, though in a very different way than Miller's take.

Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:34 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, such an overlooked run. Marvel really need to collect it.

chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, I wuv Nocenti's DD, even though re-reading it it's *really* overwritten sometimes. But in a good, ambitious way.

Tom (Groke), Friday, 21 April 2006 22:31 (eighteen years ago) link

that daredevil trade by miller and mazzuchelli (is it born again) is about the most riveting cominc book i've read, in terms of pacing.

i am not a nugget (stevie), Sunday, 23 April 2006 15:32 (eighteen years ago) link

28. Silver Surfer (Fantastic Four etc.)

(89 points)

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/news/silver-surfer/silver-surfer-movie.jpg

In Kirbyworld, the Surfer was a cold, alien figure incapable of understanding human emotion yet capable of sacrificing his freedom to save the human race – a postmodern take on the Christ story. In Stan Lee’s hands, he was a bit more mundane, and prone to sleep-inducing lectures – yet the fascination of the character remained. (JD)

Greatest Moment: Over to you!

Tom (Groke), Friday, 28 April 2006 11:40 (eighteen years ago) link

(My own opinion is "Silver SuXoR more like" - fantastic design, but beyond his first appearance a pretty drab character.)

Tom (Groke), Friday, 28 April 2006 11:42 (eighteen years ago) link

I bought Silver Surfer in the 80s 'cause I thought he was Iceman from the Spiderman cartoon.

I was probably a bit thick in the 80s.

Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Friday, 28 April 2006 11:44 (eighteen years ago) link

High point = being completely sidelined during the recent Defenders series.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 28 April 2006 11:46 (eighteen years ago) link

While sporting the bug-eyed Communion look!

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 28 April 2006 11:47 (eighteen years ago) link

I've always found the Silver Surfer to be deathly dull. How can he be higher place than THE THING!!!

Pete (Pete), Friday, 28 April 2006 13:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Isn't the whole thing about Silver Surfer is that he LOOKS really cool, but is actually about as interesting as a Joe Satriani album?

Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 28 April 2006 14:00 (eighteen years ago) link

(by which I mean, hey, yeah, I actually remember buying one or two Silver Surfer comics in the 80s--during my little discussed Marvel-curious phase--and, ugh)

Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 28 April 2006 14:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Greatest Moment: In the first issue of the Engelhart Silver Surfer, when he realizes he can escape the Earth by just doing some cosmic atomical hoonja-doonja w/ his boogie board (thanks to the Thing!), and then zzzzips into the cosmos courtesy of some great Marshall Rogers splashpage work. SMILING! I LOVE IT! And then Mantis hops on board a few issues later, and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzork.

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 28 April 2006 14:13 (eighteen years ago) link

27. Blue Beetle (JLI Version)

http://www.hembeck.com/Images/FredSez/BlueBeetleJLA380.jpg

(91 points)

From Steve Ditko's faux-Spider-Man to Giffen & DeMatteis's most sympathetic character, Ted Kord spoke to the insecurities in all of us. And for that, we killed him like a Kennedy. (Huk-L)

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten as angry about the offing of a fictional character as I did when DC decided to do away with Blue Beetle. How to justify such emotional investment? The best that I can come up with is that, unlike Booster Gold say, Blue Beetle isn’t just a moderately pleasant clown: he’s the prankster that reads Chekov, the c-list character that, precisely because of his mediocre status, often ends up looking a lot more heroic than Superman, Batman or any of the other big guns. (Daniel_Rf)

Greatest Moment: Meeting Catherine Cobert for the "first" time in JLA #8, "Moving Day" (Iodine)

Tom (Groke), Friday, 28 April 2006 14:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, but how many votes would he have gotten if he hadn't died.

Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 28 April 2006 15:02 (eighteen years ago) link

You don't know what you've got until some Sam Neill looking motherfucker shoots it in the head like common gutter trash.

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 28 April 2006 15:12 (eighteen years ago) link

Because common gutter trash is always shot in the head.

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 28 April 2006 15:16 (eighteen years ago) link

And then Mantis hops on board a few issues later, and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzork.

Does "zzzzzzzzork" mean "then they fucked like bunnies" or "and then the title started sucking bigtime" or something else?

pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 April 2006 15:41 (eighteen years ago) link

It's both! It's multipurpose!

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 28 April 2006 15:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Okay, that makes "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzork" my new favorite word.

pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Friday, 28 April 2006 16:05 (eighteen years ago) link

26. John Constantine (Swamp Thing/Hellblazer)

(96 points)

http://www.dogmaticblog.com/images/blog_images/constantine.jpg

John Constantine is the ultimate "Mary Sue" character - pretty much everyone who writes him infects him with their own habits and concerns, and no surprise as he's the perfect vehicle to live out both yr coolness fantasies and yr bastard ones: unlike most Mary-Sues he allows writers to explore self-disgust as well as self-glorification. He's also - albeit intermittently - one of the only convincing British characters in US comics, which may explain a lot of his votes.

Greatest Moment: Despite a 200+ issue ongoing series (not bad for someone designed to look like Sting!) his biggest impact is still his first dozen or so appearances, as the plot device and Greek chorus behind "American Gothic". Alan Moore's concept of an outsider who sees how the bits fit together has been ripped off umpteen times since but these appearances are still the freshest. Swamp Thing #46, the CRISIS tie-in issue, might be the best crossover issue of all time and shows how well the guy works in a shared universe.

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:02 (eighteen years ago) link

Of course the Swamp Thing stuff combines Mary Sueness and Britishness to excelsis - there's nothing wannabe-smart UK types like better than to see themselves as the cynical voice of dark experience in amidst the gaudy costume parade of American life!

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:04 (eighteen years ago) link

Huh, I had JC down as top twenty at least. I think part of his appeal lies in the simplicity of the character concept. Despite twenty plus years of often convuluted backstory, all you really need to know is, "He's a magician. He drinks smokes and swears. He's a bit of a bastard." There's none of the reliance on comic lore and postmodernism that so many recent creations have.

chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Is it a consistent part of his character that he's a magician who would rather be a schemer, he avoids blatant displays of power?

That's one of my favourite aspects of him, which is why my favourite moment is still the big scene in Books Of Magic.

Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:27 (eighteen years ago) link

The Constantine chapter is easily the best part of that boringly expositional and bafflingly overrated book.

chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:30 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah he's good in BoM too, again cos he's a Best Supporting Actor rather than Best Actor. I have barely ever enjoyed Hellblazer the comic, it tends to brutally lack thrill-power, but he is - or used to be - an incredibly high-impact guest star.

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:30 (eighteen years ago) link

25. The Spirit (The Spirit)

(99 points)

http://www.austinbooks.com/images/DCArchiveWESpirit17.jpg

Leaving aside the visual mastery and narrative genius of Will Eisner, Denny Colt still stands as a classic character. The Spirit contained everything we would love about adventure heroes in the years to come. Like James Bond, he knew the importance of a well-tailored suit. Like Indiana Jones, he usually took more punches than he threw. He was occasionally cruel to those he cared about, but he always maintained a stoic sense of duty. In a lot of ways, he was camp before camp was cool. (Huk-L)

Greatest Moment: "The Post-War Strips" sez Huk.

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 11:47 (eighteen years ago) link

I've still never read any Eisner. This is a MASSIVE oversight, right?

chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 12:33 (eighteen years ago) link

There's a reason that the Spirit was very much best when Feiffer was writing.

kit brash (kit brash), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 13:05 (eighteen years ago) link

JC would've been in my top five probably, but I didn't vote. He seems like the best comics character for audience identification, having a kind of believable, non-fabulist escapism that a superhero wouldn't have.

As for the Spirit--it's one of my favorite comics, but does anyone actually like the Spirit? I've never wondered what would happen to him, what he was like, etc. He just seemed like an automated "Main Character" for Eisner to send out into gigantic diminishing points of perspective and multi-colored postmodern metafictions.

kenchen, Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:14 (eighteen years ago) link

I think that's exactly what I like about him.

Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Like Indiana Jones, he usually took more punches than he threw. He was occasionally cruel to those he cared about, but he always maintained a stoic sense of duty.

but this could be any noir hero no? philip marlowe, the continental op...

s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:19 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes but how many other convincing noir heroes are there in comics?

Also - this is true of the Surfer too - a "good character" isn't just down to the writer! How the character stands, poses, moves, looks, smiles are just as important and that's where the Spirit picks up points and votes, surely.

Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:21 (eighteen years ago) link


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