Who are your Top 10 Comic Book characters?
Oh, well played. Well played indeed.
1. Batman, of course. He was the very first superhero I was introduced to, and his rich history of mythos and constant flow of good writers and artists have kept me attached to the character ever since. Beyond that, he's the best example of a character that has turned something tragic into a tool for guidance and hope.
Dick Grayson is great in the role, but Bruce Wayne is who I will always consider to be the true Batman. And I think to some degree, so will everyone in the DCU.
2. Spider-Man. In almost strict contrast to Batman, he's just a fun character to read, because of his enduring bad luck and his good sense of humor about it. Peter Parker is who we could be, and Spider-Man is who we want to be. He also has the second best rogues gallery in comic books, making for alot of good battles.
3. Superman. The representation of every ideal we hold dear, who happens to be an alien from another world and another culture entirely. There's just something inspiring about that, and it's hard to ignore the impact he's had on comics in general.
4. Daredevil. Particularly because of Frank Miller and Brian Michael Bendis, the character's become a twisted parallel of why I like Batman and Spider-Man. Because a character who's dealt with so much tragedy and still has the will to keep going is admirable.
5. Hal Jordan. Apart from what was introduced to the Green Lantern mythology under his run, Hal's overwhelming fearlessness has proven time and time again why he was chosen to wear the ring. Kyle's a great Lantern aswell, but Hal represents the best of what the Corps are. Geoff Johns' impressive run with Hal only reaffirmed this for me.
6. Iron Man. There isn't a superhero that deals with the issues of greed and technology quite like Tony Stark, and for that, he's become a unique fixture among the Marvel pantheon.
7. Captain America. I didn't used to be such a big fan of Cap, because I found him to be little more than Superman without the flying. But when I delved more into the character's history and Ed Brubaker's run, I discovered what made him unique to Clark, in that he's quite literally the ultimate soldier. Superman uses the motto of "Truth, Justice, and the American Way", but Steve Rogers' example better defines those ideas.
8. The Flash. My favorite has always been Wally West, and while I don't agree with bringing Barry Allen back into the role, it's been entertaining to watch him be reintroduced to the DCU. The concept of a speed force and a link to every super-speedster also intrigues me, and makes for some good science fiction storytelling. The Flashes' sense of family also make them very cool characters.
9. Wolverine. Simply because he exudes pure savagery and the dirtier way of fighting evil, no matter what his peers and teammates think of his actions. He's not afraid to take risks, or throw himself straight into the line of fire, because he knows he can survive it. And he knows he's the best he is at what he does.
10. Nite-Owl/Daniel Drieberg. Rorschach is usually everyone's favorite character from Watchmen, but Nite-Owl is who I could see as the superhero I identify with most. He seems himself as pathetic, even with all of these cool gadgets and a scientific mind. If I had ever went insane and decided to become Batman, I'd end up being more like Nite-Owl by virture of my own self-deprication. Dan's story of gaining self confidence was also a great read, and one excellently executed by Alan Moore.