The Best Comic Book Characters

[Paul 584]

I will update this with two or three every day, as I can manage between work and theatre. :)

 

 

Character - Magneto

 

Position - 50 (Joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? - Nope.

 

Stuff and nonsense - We all know who Magneto is, if you havent read the comics or seen the cartoons then you've seen the films! Sometimes leader of the X men, sometimes their biggest enemy, Magneto is a villain who transcends villainy. Even when trying to enslave non mutants you understand why, hes a product of his history! A survivor of the Nazi concentration camps; Magneto wants to avoid mutants suffering like the Jews did.

[Maxximus 353]

I'd just like to add, this concept is boss. I'm already in love with this thread.

[Paul 584]

Character - Herr Starr

 

Position - 50 (Joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? Nope

 

Stuff and nonsense - Writer Garth Ennis created one of the most colorful comic book villains of all time when he conjured up Herr Starr, foe of Preacher protagonist Jesse Custer. A former German special forces solider, Starr is recruited by the Grail and tasked with recovering Custer - but he has plans of his own. He intends to use Custer in his own scheme to overthrow the leadership of the Grail.

 

Starr's countenance is marred by a series of scars around his right eye that form star shape - they were put there by bullies in his youth whom he has long since dispatched with. He is a skilled marksman, despite not having sight in one eye, but is not especially adept at unarmed combat - his justification for this is that he has "no intention of being unarmed."

 

Through a bizarre string of punishment that is meted out to Starr, a running gag in the series, the character becomes even more disfigured. He loses a leg after being attacked by three hillbillies, he has his right ear shot off, and Jesse cuts a penis-shaped gash in his forehead. Oh, and to add insult to injury a Rottweiler bites off his genitals. After each humiliating incident, Starr merely utters a glib, "S***." That's his final word, in fact, as he's killed by Tulip who shoots a bullet through his chin and blows off the top of his head.

[Paul 584]

Character - Shockwave (Transformers)

 

Position - 50 (Joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? - Nope.

 

Stuff and nonsense - As the Decepticons' military operations commander, Shockwave's power is second only to Megatron, and even that is disputed. His actions are carried out with the cold, brutal clarity and perfection one would expect of a purely mechanical being—his way is not that of blood lust, like so many other Decepticons, but rather that of a scientist attempting to solve a problem. And that problem is: how can he use his abilities to most effectively eliminate the greatest number of enemies? Unfortunately for the Autobots, it is rare that Shockwave does not find an answer.

 

Unlike most early Transformers Shockwave was not modified into an Earthly form, and retains his Cybertron alternate mode—a 35-foot-long ray gun. He possesses the power of flight in both modes, and commands the totality of the electromagnetic spectrum allowing him to emit beams of energy in a wide variety of forms. His high energy output makes him particularly fuel inefficient, but radioactive fuel sources stored in the reactor in his chest can help Shockwave to overcome this problem. Although his logical brain center is usually an advantage, human adversaries often pose more of a difficulty to Shockwave, as more intuitive and emotional thought processes often confound him.

 

While the animated series established Shockwave as fanatically loyal to Megatron, Shockwave's original bio and most fiction since have described him as coldly and patiently looking for ways to overthrow Megatron, not for personal power (as Starscream would) but simply because it was logical for him to do so. Shockwave concluded that he should rule so that no emotion should prevent the Decepticons from conquering the universe. This was retained in most comic books, where Shockwave became leader of the Decepticons.

[Paul 584]

Character - Deaths Head (Transformers)

 

Position - 50 (Joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? - Nope.

 

Stuff and nonsense - Deaths Head has appeared in stories with characters as far apart as The Transformers and Doctor Who. A bounty hunter who will take any job, no matter what it is. Deaths Head has even managed to kill Shockwave!

[Paul 584]

Character - The Sentry

 

Position - 50 (Joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? - Nope.

 

Stuff and nonsense - The Sentry is Marvels Superman... but unlike Superman he is deeply flawed. You see not only is he a super hero, but he has an unconcious alter ego (The Void) who commits acts of evil that balance out the acts of good that Sentry performs. As The Sentry he is able to battle Galactus to a standstill, but as The Void he was able to easily overpower The Hulk!

[Guest Phil]

Just out of interest, how many people sent in answers? And are we allowed to discuss who put who on their list?

[Paul 584]

I think about 8 sets of votes. And say what you want about your picks.

[Guest Phil]

Cool. Was just going to say I'm glad I'm not the only one who picked The Sentry. I don't like the whole 'he's a superhero who has everything and only one weakness' kind of thing, but I do like the fact that The Sentry is, literally, his own worst enemy as well. To the point that, when he was created, Marvel managed to convince everyone he'd always been around, but was so dangerous all knowledge of him had been wiped from public memory.

[DC 536]

What I'm going to like is that Darkstar can get a Top 50 from only eighty votes. That shows a lot of diversity among us comic-book lovers.

[Guest Inno]

Death's Head was mine. Great character, always wanted an action figure of him, Marvel announced one at one point, but not heard any more. How cool is this custom figure though: http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5209/deathshead.jpg

[Guest Boyo]

Yeah I remember Death's Head from Transformers back in the day when Marvel UK published it weekly. At the time I really didn't like him (sticking with my strict G1 upbringing :P) but I've recently gone and bought the collected trade paperbacks of all the US and UK stuff, which of course features Death's Head, and he's kinda grown on me, yes.

 

Cheers!

[Paul 584]

Character - Carnage

 

Position - 39 (joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? Nope.

 

Stuff and Nonesense - Also known as Cletus Kasady, Carnage was born killing. As a child he pushed his grandmother down the stairs, tortured his dog and burnt down his orphanage. After getting put in prison for being oh, a serial killer, his cellmate ends up being a one Eddie Brock (Venom). Brock's Venom symbiote has a baby, since they can produce asexually and all, and bonds with Kasady through a cut. Kasady becomes Carnage, Carnage escapes and then the real fun begins.

 

The Carnage symbiote ends up being stronger than Spider-Man and Venom combined. He can shape-shift, create weapons like knives and axes with its web substance and plant ideas in people's heads. He can crawl like Spider-Man, regenerate and is immune to infection and disease. This comes in handy since Kasady, without the symbiote, has a form of cancer. He feeds on his victims by just touching them and can see from any part of his body. Carnage even at one point develops immunity to the sonic booms symbiotes usually are vulnerable to. For every murder, Kasady writes "Carnage Rules" on the walls with his own blood.

 

Carnage is so powerful that Spider-Man has to make a truce with his arch nemesis Venom just to fight him. Even when Venom re-absorbs his child's symbiote, Kasady just can't stop killing. He paints himself red and goes to town as a regular human murderer. Carnage even has a psychological streak, believing that everybody wants to kill, he just has the guts to do it. He doesn't want money or power, he just likes killing. First introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #344 Carnage was modeled after The Joker to be a darker version of Venom.

[Paul 584]

Character - Dazzler.

 

Position - 39 (joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone? Nope.

 

Stuff and Nonesense - A somewhat ... surprising choice here. But each to their own.

 

Alison Blaire was born to Carter Blaire and Katherine Blaire in the Long Island suburb of Gardendale, New York. Her parents had a tense relationship: her father was a stoic law student, while her mother was a free-spirited entertainer. Ultimately, this led to Katherine walking out on Carter and a toddler-aged Alison, leaving Carter to raise Alison with the help of his mother.Katherine's leaving had a profound effect on Carter, who had kept the shameful secret of Katherine from Alison all her life. As Alison entered adolescence and developed dreams of becoming a singer, her father became increasingly intolerant to the idea. Instead, he forced Alison to choose a life path similar to his own; Alison would become an academic star, and continue on a path to law school. Alison's grandmother, Bella Blaire, was more sympathetic to young Alison, and encouraged her to explore her creative energies.

However, while performing at a middle-school dance, Alison manifested her mutant abilities, blinding all in attendance save herself. For years, Alison kept her powers a secret from those closest to her, further alienating her from her father. By the time she reached university, Alison began to explore her powers and her musical ability. She crafted her own performing suit and accessories, naming herself "The Dazzler." It was at this moment Alison decided to abandon her father's dream. While at her graduation ceremony, Alison informed Carter that she would not be attending the law school he had selected for her, and would pursue a life as a singer, without her father's blessing or financial support.The Dazzler used her light-based mutant powers as a draw for her performances. Taking the sound of the music and converting it into dazzling displays of color drew the young singer enough attention to land her gigs at several New York clubs and discotheques. However, Alison knew that she, a mutant, would have to keep the nature of her powers a secret. Marketing her light shows as a "technological secret," Alison was able to bypass critical speculation for some time. Yet while this little white lie fooled the club managers and others in her life, it did not escape the notice of Emma Frost, White Queen of the Hellfire Club, or Charles Xavier, founder and mentor of the X-Men.

 

Both the Hellfire Club and the X-Men sent entourages to a Dazzler performance to recruit Alison to their respective ideological side. The X-Men sent Phoenix, Cyclops, and Nightcrawler to have a discussion with the young woman, while the Hellfire Club sent a group of armed men to take her by force. The combined powers of Dazzler and the X-Men suppressed the foes, and the new team also worked to free other members of the X-Men held captive by the Hellfire Club. Professor Xavier offered Alison a position within the X-Men, but she declined, instead choosing to focus on her career.At this time, Alison became an increased target for superheroic phenomena. In one instance, she was possessed by the foe Lightmaster, and was thankfully saved by Spider-Man. In another, she acquainted herself with Johnny Storm -- the Human Torch -- at a posh nightclub. As the Dazzler was becoming more popular in the club circuit, she was becoming more known in the superhero circuit as well.

 

This co-mingling of superheroes and career proved both beneficial and detrimental to Alison. Needing a well-deserved break, Alison auditioned and won a performance spot at up-and-coming nightspot Numero Uno. Unfortunately, the singer bested the Enchantress, who -- so incensed by the outcome -- vowed to have revenge upon the Dazzler. As her new superheroic friends packed the club, the Enchantress summoned her minions, erupting in a large battle. It was Alison herself who sealed back the Enchantress' nefarious energies, ending her plans. While she won a battle against a powerful adversary, her performance was in ruins. Despite this outcome, Alison continued to follow her dream. When given lemons, the Dazzler made lemonade. She signed on as a singer with a reputable agent -- Harry Osgood -- and was given a formal stage manager, back-up band, and a knockout performance spot at a United Nations charity summit! Unfortunately, before she could perform, the Dazzler encountered Doctor Doom, intent on stealing one of the "Jewels of Doom" currently held on display at the UN. Dr. Doom then used the chanteuse to retrieve another of these jewels from the villainous Nightmare in his Nightmare Dimension. In the dimension, Dazzler was confronted with her own self-doubts and insecurities her father planted within her. Overcoming this obstacle, Alison retrieved the jewel and destroyed them. As Doom was to seek retaliation, the Human Torch came to her rescue. The Dazzler again survived a brutal encounter, but at the expense of her career.

 

But for Alison Blaire, her powers still proved to be a curse. While riding the New York subway, a couple was being harassed by men with armed weapons. Alison quickly used her powers to subdue them, only to find that she, then, became the enemy. The couple she "saved" quickly began harassing her, and as a crowd formed to assail her, she fled. Clearly, there was no place for mutants in the larger society.Her career fared no better. After another performance was soiled -- this time by Hulk -- Harry Osgood became increasingly curious over the nature of Alison's stage effects. The "technological secret" was in question. When Harry confronted Alison about the nature of her powers, she stormed out, defensive. How could she reveal her true identity? To make matters worse, an old enemy of Osgood sent the Enforcers -- a group of mercenaries -- to harm him. When Harry Osgood was kidnapped, Alison made it her mission to find and protect him. After defeating the Enforcers and saving Harry, she confessed to Harry her most hidden secret: that she was a mutant! Not knowing how the first non-superhero would react to such a revelation, Alison breathed a sigh of relief when Harry gave her his support, and vowed to keep her "technological secret" safe.

 

Alison's "technological secret" may have been safe regarding the average citizen, but for the U.S. Government, it was a pressing affair. Alison was whisked away by Project: PEGASUS against her will to undergo several strenuous tests regarding her mutant powers. While at PEGASUS, Dazzler witnessed several other super-powered beings being held captive, including Klaw and Solarr. As time went on, Alison became increasingly intolerant toward the members of Project: PEGASUS. The researchers found that Alison had no natural limit to her abilities, and theoretically could be the most powerful mutant on Earth, with unlimited energy potential. Intolerance swiftly turned into aggression, and -- upon witnessing Klaw being tested by PEGASUS technicians -- inadvertently freed the villain. Klaw then turned his energies upon Dazzler, unaware that her mutant ability transformed sonic energy into light-based energy. As Dazzler began to absorb Klaw's essence, she found she could not stop the process. The Dazzler had fully absorbed Klaw into her body, storing it as light energy.

 

 

 

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/universe/Dazzler_(Alison_Blaire)#ixzz2DoeMwHNG

[Paul 584]

Character - Guyver 1

 

Position - 39 (joint)

 

Was it voted number 1 by anyone?- Nope.

 

Stuff and Nonesense - The Guyver is the first non Western comic character to make an apperance. A suit of bio-mechanical armour that enhances strength, speed and agility, as well as providing enough weaponry to take down pretty much everything. Ever. Oh, and it can fly.

The Guyver 1 unit is worn by 17 year old Sho Fukamatchi and is the cause of him battling against the Chronos Corperation. Guyver translated quite well into animation (shame about the terrible dubbing), but the live action versions are pure C Movie, and thats when being generous! Not even Mark Hamill could save the first film from essentialy being Power Rangers on a smaller budget.