Pretty, Fizzy Paradise

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Saturday, February 03, 2007

Procrastinating a Post of Substance...

Okay. Darnit. I give up. I'm too tired for a post of any sort of substance today.

So instead I've decided that this is a post about favorites! In the comments, tell me who's your favorite character and why. (Go as little or as much in depth as you want! And if you want to choose more than one, go ahead!)

Anyone who's a regular reader of my blog knows I have four favorite characters. Two DC and two Marvel. But for repetition's sake, my favorites are:

Guy Gardner: Because he makes me laugh and is weirdly complicated, and is great fodder for analysis.

Sanderson Hawkins: Because I like quiet, snarky, competent characters that always seem like they have more going on under the surface than they show. Also, he is frequently naked.

Bucky Barnes: Because his resurrection ought to have been stupid, and he angsts better than Nightwing. (Though he and Cap really need to hug!)

Hank Pym: ...Honestly, I don't know why. He's crazy but oddly compelling. Also, he's like someone shoved Scott Summers and Reed Richards into a blender on high and added extra crazy. Besides, his family tree is impressive for a man with no biological children.

So what about you guys?

posted by kalinara @ 5:56 AM  

16 Comments:

  • At February 03, 2007 9:36 AM, Blogger CalvinPitt said…

    Spider-Man: Interesting powers, wide range of enemies, knows he doesn't have a perfect life, but also knows it ain't bad (at least, he knew that when I started reading comics), interesting cast of supporting characters, allowing for a range of interactions.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 9:59 AM, Blogger ShellyS said…

    No secret. My favorite is Roy Harper, be he Speedy or Arsenal, or... Red Arrow? As to why? Well, I fell in love with him when I was 12. I had a thing for Dick Grayson, too, back then, and dark-haired guys are more my thing (I even married one), but that red-headed Roy caught my eye. And when he was in Teen Titans, I loved his attitude. Roy and Ollie were second fiddles to Dick and Bruce and I've got a thing for second fiddles, too.

    My other favs are Supergirl (Kara, the closest to a role model for me, we kinda grew up together back in the '60s) and Donna Troy (another teen girl doing good).

    Now I've got Grifter from the WildCats to round out my top 4 because he's such a lovable idiot, but with an edge, a perfect bad boy good guy.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 10:10 AM, Blogger Jason said…

    As a character, I've always loved Moon Knight. I hae no idea why, but to my twelve yearl-old mind, he was just plain cool. He was like Batman without the years of continuity baggage, plus, he was crazier. I have yet to pick up the new series as I'm waiting for the softcover, but I keep the Essential volume next to my bed in case I need a fix right before sleepy-time.

    Another fav is a team: The Legion of Substitute Heroes. When I was a kid (and even now) I always loved the loser teams/heroes. They always seemed cooler to me. Sure, Batman's got it tough, what with the dead parents and being a billionairre and all, but how about having all of the other heroes calling you a loser when you go out to do good? Now that's commitment.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 10:29 AM, Blogger SallyP said…

    My first love was Thor, but I was only fifteen, and also had a mad crush on John Denver. *sigh*

    Lt. Blueberry, is a fabulous character that nobody's ever heard of, but he's from the French Westerns by Charlier and Giraud (Moebius). Lots of Civil War action (the REAL one), Indians and exploding locomotives.

    But my one true loves have to be the Green Lanterns. Guy's best of course...you have SUCH good taste! But I also adore Kilowog, and even Hal...the big doofus. The Lanterns are such a great concept, AND they have the best costumes of any superhero.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 10:41 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I have to admit that many of my favorite, favorites are heavy hitters like Wonder Woman (who is a symbol of peace, love and femininity) and Superman (who is a symbol of hope) -- again, I likes me the DC characters because they are iconic.

    But, just to shake things up, let me go with characters off the beaten track:

    1) Cloak and Dagger - Even though they can be a bit simplistic in terms of he's the darkness and she's the light to show him the way, I like the idea of these characters who need each other and look over young kids who might be exploited. And, frankly, Cloak's design is just too cool.

    2) Luke Cage and Iron Fist - I especially liked them as a team back in the 70s. I have to admit I always liked that street level fighter.

    3) Black Lightning - Also a street fighter, put with more active powers. Yet, he's come up in the world and is now a member of the JLA...my baby's all grown up!

    4) Skyrocket - There's just something about this character from Power Company that intrigues me. I think she's severely underutilized and hope she gets time to shine.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 11:14 AM, Blogger Flidget Jerome said…

    I love Batman for reasons inexplicable, She Hulk for being sexy, intelligent, funny and having a love of punching things, the Shade for being Arsene Lupin with superpowers, Jaime Maddox and Jack Knight for being as incredibly irresponsible as I would be, Power Girl for having all of Superman's powers but none of his hang-ups and Hank Pym for being so good when he's at the top of his game and so bad when he isn't.

    Victor Manchas, my current top favorite, I love for being so perfect and so doomed, a Marty Stu who can't help being one because it's how he's made, to be a living bomb-casing and a human shield. It doesn't hurt he happens to be pretty much the culmination and victim of all of Hank Pym's scientific triumphs and stupid decisions.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 11:35 AM, Blogger Jason said…

    I can't believe I actually forgot to post my One True Favorite. It's gotta be the Jack Knight Starman. I still tear up every time I read the page when Ted Knight dies and all you see is Jack saying, "Dad...." The pages are always so dusty, that must be it. If I could own one page or original art in the world, that would be it.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 11:52 AM, Blogger Will Staples said…

    Alan "Green Lantern" Scott -- He's the elder statesman of super-heroics. Everyone looks up to Alan. Even Superman. He's just 100% class.

    Billy "Captain Marvel" Batson -- The captain of lightning and thunders. The man with the boy in his eyes. The Big Red Cheese. When written well, he encapsulates everything that was good about the Golden Age of comics. Pure childish exuberance.

    Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters -- In total honesty, the thing that drew my attention to Jen as a teenager was the fact that she's, well, really really hawt. *hides face* Once I actually read her comic, though, I realized that she was smart, cool, and most importantly, funny. (And hawt.) She's the only Marvel character I really like.

    Mathilda "The Red Tornado" Hunkel -- There's just something really cool about 80-something ladies who kick ass and take names. Take that, ya buncha palookas! I'm fairly sure that Ma is the first super-heroine in history (or at least one of the first), and I know that her comic strip was one of the smartest and funniest of the 1940s. Plus, her old costume? Pure awesome.

    Michael "Mister Terrific" Holt -- One of the few super-heroes whom I genuinely relate to on a personal level. It's tough being an atheist in a Christian's world (especially when angels join the Justice League and the Wrath of God Hisself shows up for every crossover), but Michael gets along just fine.

    Ted "Blue Beetle" Kord and Michael Jon "Booster Gold" Carter -- The best comedy duo in comics, bar none. Nothing against Jaime Reyes, but it was a bad move on DC's part to break them up. (Also the only two guys for whom I condone slashing, but I won't get into that. :P)

    Wesley "The Sandman" Dobbs -- I have to admit that I've never completely gotten his character, but hey -- he fought crime in a three-piece suit, cape, and gasmask. That's a real class act.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 12:48 PM, Blogger D.Bishop (aka Mr. Allison Blaire) said…

    Spider Man will always be number one.
    Then guys like Ben Grimm, Hawkeye, Batman, I'm most like Pete but Ben and Clint are like guys I hang with in real life.

    Then theres always the kid heroes all the way from the original Titans to the Young Justice kids. Have a soft spot for third generation guys like Kyle and Wally. I avoided Young Avengers and the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle books but now they're among my favorites.

    So overall I like the kids that strive to be real heroes and the Joe Shmoes that might be diamonds in the rough but will always be the hardest heroes to give up the fight.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 2:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    1. Superman: From childhood on, he's "Da Man".

    2. Spider-Man: Ditto.

    3. The Barry Allen Flash.

    4. Thor: Love the character's somewhat exaggerated mythic nobility.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 2:21 PM, Blogger Aero! said…

    Booster Gold: Because he's hilarious and easy to relate to.

    Big Barda: She's just a mixture of everything I like and want to see more of. She's got Kirby Kosmicness, she's got a happy and functional marriage, she doesn't just look like every other hero but with different colors...

    Animal Man: Because he interacts with me, the reader, in such a fun way.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 4:28 PM, Blogger Evan Waters said…

    Ted Kord: He's what I would be like if I were a superhero- geeky, supportive, not taking the job too seriously.

     

  • At February 03, 2007 9:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Spider-Man is the first, because he is the most perfect character in all of comics. No matter how hard you push him or change him, his nature stays the same. You can do a dark Spidey story or you can do Spidey Hearts MJ, but it all works. He has incredible range and resonance. The ultimate everyman and the best character in comics, and possibly even fiction, period.

    The Flash still has one of my favorite powers. It's so flexible and the costume just works.

    I love Luke Cage more than is probably healthy, and the Heroes for Hire team is a great one. Blaxploitation and kung-fu together again.

    There are more, but those are probably my top superheroic three.

     

  • At February 04, 2007 5:42 PM, Blogger Derek said…

    Can... Can I just "ditto" Filby's?

    Okay, I'll do my own.

    Marvel

    Beast: I identify with him. Why would I identify with a big palooka with an inferiority complex who uses humour as a defense mechanism? I can't imagine.

    Plus, he's intelligent without flaunting his intelligence, he doesn't look down on people who aren't as smart as him, and he can hold his own in a fight.

    Deadpool: An insane, amoral mercenary with a healing factor and the knowledge that he's a comic book character. Throw in some meta-textual humour and a time-traveling best friend, and I can't understand how anyone could not like Deadpool.

    DC

    The Question: Insatiable curiosity and a genuine desire do good; what's not to like?

    He tends to be more grim and gritty than I usually like, but that just makes the light-hearted moments all the more enjoyable.

    The Riddler: Hey, you didn't specify heroes. Besides, the illustrious Mr. Nigma has recently gone legit, so I think he should count anyway.

    I like him because he's arrogantly intelligent. I know that should make me dislike him, but I can't help it. There's something about a man who thinks of himself as surrounded by imbeciles that I enjoy. It's the same reason I like the Blackadder TV series.

    But there's also the fact that there was always some good in the Riddler. A subconscious desire to be caught when he committed any wrong-doing. (I personally hope this detective/P.I/whatever thing works out for him, but unfortunately, I can easily see him slipping back into his old habits.)

    So I guess, I summation, I like intelligence and humour. Not much of a revelation, considering I visit your blog every day.

     

  • At February 05, 2007 12:48 AM, Blogger Brainfreeze said…

    Hm. Well, I share your fondness for the Winter Soldier--so much yet-untapped potential!

    And I've always liked the Black Knight, the classic good guy who just can't get a break.

     

  • At February 05, 2007 4:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Little known and ludicrous throw-off characters like Charlie Vickers the theatre-nerd GL, General Dar-Nx Warlord of Krypton, the Hypno-Hustler, Infectious Lass, Prez, the Brotherhood of Dada, Dr. Domino, etc...

    Henri Ducard's first appearance in Detective #600 was well written and memorable - probably my favourite minor character who only rose to prominence for one story arc.

     

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