Top Ten Comic Book Heroes
Superman is the blueprint for the modern superhero. He’s arguably the single most important creation in the history of superhero comics. Superman is a hero that reflects the potential in all of us for greatness; a beacon of light in times that are grim and a glimmer of hope for the hopeless.
Batman made it all the way to number 2 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
In 2011, Spider-Man placed third on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time, behind DC Comics characters Superman and Batman. and sixth in their 2012 list of "The Top 50 Avengers". In 2014, IGN identified Spider-Man the greatest Marvel Comics character of all time.
Wolverine is ever the busy fellow, but there's a reason for that. This seemingly immortal mutant has seen enough loss and suffering to fill several lifetimes. Endless superhero adventures merely keep him focused on the present and not the past. Wolverine is ultimately a failed samurai at heart.
Wonder Woman made it all the way to number 5 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Captain America First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (Mar. 1941) There’s a reason why Cap is the one that gets to shout “Avengers Assemble!” when the troops need to be rallied.
Outside of comics, Hal Jordan has appeared in various animated projects, video games, and a live-action movie. Jordan's original design in the comics was based on actor Paul Newman, and the character is ranked 7th on IGN's in the Top 100 Comic Book Heroes in 2011. In 2013, Hal Jordan placed 4th on IGN's Top 25 Heroes of DC Comics.
Wally West is a fictional superhero that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the third Flash and the first Kid Flash. His power consists mainly of superhuman speed.
The Hulk made it all the way to number 9 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Daredevil is also able to hear a heartbeat from 20 feet away, as well as identify people by their individual beat rhythm, or detect whether they are lying or not by the changes in their heartbeat, though a pace maker or self control will confuse his reading.
Iron Man made it all the way to number 12 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Jean Grey First Appearance: X-Men #1 (Sept. 1963) She may spend long periods dead or missing, but Jean Grey exerts an influence on the X-Men franchise few can rival.
Additionally, archival footage of Hemsworth as Thor were used in the episodes "Pilot" and "The Well" of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Thor placed 14th on IGN's list of "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time" in 2011, and first in their list of "The Top 50 Avengers" in 2012.
Dream was named the sixth-greatest comic book character by Empire Magazine. He was also named fifteenth in IGN's 100 Top Comic Book Heroes list.
Rorschach made it all the way to number 16 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Barbara quickly rose to prominence as a key member of the Bat-family. Unfortunately, this role was not to last. In a controversial plot point of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke, Barbara was shot and subsequently paralyzed from the waist down by the Joker.
From the Nazis to alien races, superheroes have protected the Earth and countless other universes from ultimate destruction time and time again. But who are the best and brightest of these heroes? Much as we did with last year’s Top 100 Comic Book Villains, IGN has pulled together a comprehensive list of the greatest heroes to ever grace the pages of the funny books.
When it comes to Batman's greatest allies, Commissioner James Gordon easily ranks as one of the Dark Knight's oldest, most important, and most well known—sharing the Caped Crusader's commitment to ridding Gotham City of corruption and crime.
However, something stood out; Catwoman was far more playful. Her crimes were relatively tame in comparison to that of The Joker or Mr. Freeze, and soon Catwoman’s exploits became a game of, well, cat and.. bat. Then, in the last couple of decades, Catwoman began to evolve. She straddled the line between hero and villain more than ever before.
First Appearance: The Spirit #1 (June 1940) The Spirit might have started out as a Sunday strip in a newspaper that was looking to capitalize on the budding comic book industry, but now the character represents one of the medium’s biggest influences for sequential, serialized storytelling aimed at adults.
And in the interest of selecting just one member of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, we're going with Raphael. Compared to the fun-loving Michelangelo or the born leader Leonardo, Raphael is a far darker and more confrontational turtle.
Much like other American comic book superheroes such as Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Daredevil, and Spawn, Hellboy is constantly tormented by the knowledge of his past. One example being in Wake the Devil where he describes his mindset since the aftermath of Seed of Destruction by saying, "I like not knowing.
Rick Grimes is the main protagonist of Image Comics' The Walking Dead who was first encountered in Issue 1, and one of the last remaining Atlanta survivors. The Comic Series is meant to follow his life for the approximate 300 issue run.
Superheroes don't kill. The Punisher is no superhero. Frank Castle has spent years exacting vengeance for the deaths of his family by punishing criminals everywhere. His skull insignia inspires fear throughout the underworld. But Punisher's appeal rests on more than his ability to do what the rest of Marvel's heroes won't.
See, while Swamp Thing is considered the “Dark Avatar” right now, Alec Holland has also returned in Brightest Day as Earth’s “ultimate savior.” It seems the Swamp Thing entity is about to be taught a hard lesson about imitation.
John Constantine (/ ˈ k ɒ n s t ən t aɪ n /) is a fictional antihero, appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and its alternative imprint Vertigo. The character first appeared in The Saga of Swamp Thing #25 (June 1984), and was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Jamie Delano and John Ridgway.
Outfitting himself with arrows that shoot tear gas, smoke, nets, and more, Green Arrow has a trick shot for every obstacle. A modern-day Robin Hood, he constantly fights for the little guy as a crusading symbol for revolution.
It's hard not to love a comic book character who realizes he's a comic book character. Deadpool's addled, pop culture-saturated brain and fourth wall-breaking antics will always earn him a legion of followers.
Robin is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson, to serve as a junior counterpart to the superhero Batman. The character's first incarnation, Dick Grayson, debuted in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940).
According to the comic books, Nick Fury's aging has been slowed greatly by the Infinity Formula, a serum created by Dr. Berthold Sternberg. Fury was first inoculated with the serum in the 1940s. Fury took the serum annually for many years.
Custer is also a hard-drinking, thieving man with some serious family issues. Despite all that, he's one of the most moral and honorable heroes in all of comics. Custer's quest was a long and difficult one, but readers never stopped rooting for him.
Americans may know Dredd mainly from the lackluster Sylvester Stallone film of the '90s, but overseas, the hero is one of the most popular in comics. Dredd's escapades as judge, jury, and executioner in a bleak future have unfolded for years in the pages of 2000 AD.
Spawn made it all the way to number 36 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Doctor Strange is a skilled athlete and martial artist with substantial medical and magical knowledge. Though an expert surgeon, Strange's nerve-damaged hands prevent him from performing surgery except when supplemented by magic.
Cyclops was the first of Xavier's X-Men, and their field leader from the beginning. Cyclops hasn't always been able to boast a fanbase to rival the likes of Wolverine -- mostly because of his grim, humorless personality. But as Cyclops has taken charge of the X-Men, the character has undergone a radical transformation.
Mr. Fantastic, also known as Reed Richards, is the leader of the Fantastic Four and the resident autistic super-genius as well as the boyfriend (and later husband) of Susan Storm - despite his vast intelligence Reed suffers from a bit of autism and often gets himself and others in trouble with his experiments.
The Silver Surfer is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.The character also appears in a number of movies, television, and video game adaptations.
Storm made it all the way to number 42 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Martian Manhunter is a force to be reckoned with. Yet for all of his power and wisdom, this near-immortal is still troubled by that which destroyed his world—fire. Though it continues to haunt him, he has learned to channel his fear and transform it into resilience, one of mankind’s greatest traits.
Hawkeye (Clinton Francis "Clint" Barton) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck, the character first appeared as a villain in Tales of Suspense #57 (Sept. 1964) and later joined the Avengers in The Avengers #16 (May 1965).
Spider Jerusalem made it all the way to number 45 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Human Torch made it all the way to number 46 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
Kitty Pryde First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men #129 (Jan. 1980) X-Men writers have often found it useful to introduce younger teen recruits to offset the experienced members of the team.
Barry Allen (The Flash) made it all the way to number 49 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. Check out which Comic Book Heroe made it to number 1!
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Panther is a king of men, a brilliant scientist, and a warrior of peerless skill. And yes, his time as an Avenger has made him a superhero too. As readers are consistently reminded, T'Challa is a hero and a force to be reckoned with regardless of his technology and resources.
Comic readers know better, though. They've come to love Aquaman as a noble (and very powerful) figure who is forever torn between the worlds of land and sea. Recent television appearances have helped repair Aquaman's reputation, and now the hero is soaring to new heights in the comics after his resurrection in Blackest Night.