Inspired by Yoshi's Flash thread, I thought this might make for some interesting discussions.
What are some of your favourite comic book characters? Are there some that you never get tired of, regardless of how bad their stories might be written? Are there some that you love the concept and mythos of more than the stories? Or maybe there's some key stories that really jump out for you. What about them makes them your favourite(s)?
Here's some of mine, in some order:
1) Superman - No surprise there. I grew up on the big guy, love what he stands for, and believe that - with the right writer(s) - he can be the most relatable character. For me, he's unbridled childhood fantasy. The kind of character that kids love to imagine themselves as, like I did when I "flew" around the house with my Super Nicholas cape that Mom made me.
Favourite Stories: Superman: Secret Identity, All Star Superman, Birthright (more for the logic Waid used in his revisions than the story), and the Death/Funeral/Return of Superman trilogy, because it got me back into comics.
2) Daredevil - I'm not sure what it is about 'ol hornhead that I find so interesting. He's got a great background, not just in his superhero origins, but his character. Father was a pug boxer, mother was a nun (I wonder if their story has ever been told?). He's one of the few comic book characters where religion plays a major role in his character (Irish Catholic). Plus, since the Marvel Knights relaunch that Kevin Smith wrote, his book has been consistently one of the best with some of the best creative teams, including writers like Bendis, Brubaker, and Waid. And of course, you've also got Frank Miller's famous run which pretty much recreated Daredevil into how we know him now.
Favourite stories: Part of a Hole by David Mack, Miller's run, Bendis' run.
3) The Flash - Specifically Wally West, and most especially Geoff Johns' earlier run on the character, with art by Scott Kolins. He gave Central City this great Chicago-like motor city feel, with a strong blue collar population. Similarly, he gave Wally a great can-do attitude rather than just being a hyperactive manchild we've seen in Justice League.
Favourite stories: The Return of Barry Allen; the one written by Mark Waid back in the 90's. It was the story that made me fall in love with The Flash and I feel it's one of the best pure superhero stories. Also, pretty much all of Johns' original run on the title.
4) Steel - I loved the character from day one, but I really loved when Christopher Priest wrote him. My favourite quote said it all, where Steel said he could think clearer with a wrench in his hand. I've just always loved the character. If I were to ever write for DC, Steel would be high on my list of characters to have a solo title.
5) Hellboy - Similar to The Flash, his attitude is like a blue collar worker. Yeah, he kills demons, but it's just a job. He'd much prefer to sit back with a beer and watch football or something with his friend, Abe. I haven't picked up a lot of the later Hellboy comics, but I love the richness of his mythos. And the movies were great.
Favourite stories: I can't name them, off hand, but I think my favourite medium to read the character were some of the novels written by Christopher Golden.
6) The Hulk - Such a great, broken and tragic character. He's Frankenstein's monster and Jekyll & Hyde all rolled into a giant, green, monstrous man-child. I don't know what I'd do different with the character, myself, but I'd love to write him.
Favourite stories: Planet Hulk, Dogs of War, Peter David's amazing run, as well as Bruce Jones' somewhat forgotten run. The latter I liked because he treated The Hulk as something for special moments. Bruce Banner, through meditation techniques, had learned to control his anger and had complete control over his other personality. Hulk usually only appeared at the end of each arc, but it made those appearances special.
What are some of your favourite comic book characters? Are there some that you never get tired of, regardless of how bad their stories might be written? Are there some that you love the concept and mythos of more than the stories? Or maybe there's some key stories that really jump out for you. What about them makes them your favourite(s)?
Here's some of mine, in some order:
1) Superman - No surprise there. I grew up on the big guy, love what he stands for, and believe that - with the right writer(s) - he can be the most relatable character. For me, he's unbridled childhood fantasy. The kind of character that kids love to imagine themselves as, like I did when I "flew" around the house with my Super Nicholas cape that Mom made me.
Favourite Stories: Superman: Secret Identity, All Star Superman, Birthright (more for the logic Waid used in his revisions than the story), and the Death/Funeral/Return of Superman trilogy, because it got me back into comics.
2) Daredevil - I'm not sure what it is about 'ol hornhead that I find so interesting. He's got a great background, not just in his superhero origins, but his character. Father was a pug boxer, mother was a nun (I wonder if their story has ever been told?). He's one of the few comic book characters where religion plays a major role in his character (Irish Catholic). Plus, since the Marvel Knights relaunch that Kevin Smith wrote, his book has been consistently one of the best with some of the best creative teams, including writers like Bendis, Brubaker, and Waid. And of course, you've also got Frank Miller's famous run which pretty much recreated Daredevil into how we know him now.
Favourite stories: Part of a Hole by David Mack, Miller's run, Bendis' run.
3) The Flash - Specifically Wally West, and most especially Geoff Johns' earlier run on the character, with art by Scott Kolins. He gave Central City this great Chicago-like motor city feel, with a strong blue collar population. Similarly, he gave Wally a great can-do attitude rather than just being a hyperactive manchild we've seen in Justice League.
Favourite stories: The Return of Barry Allen; the one written by Mark Waid back in the 90's. It was the story that made me fall in love with The Flash and I feel it's one of the best pure superhero stories. Also, pretty much all of Johns' original run on the title.
4) Steel - I loved the character from day one, but I really loved when Christopher Priest wrote him. My favourite quote said it all, where Steel said he could think clearer with a wrench in his hand. I've just always loved the character. If I were to ever write for DC, Steel would be high on my list of characters to have a solo title.
5) Hellboy - Similar to The Flash, his attitude is like a blue collar worker. Yeah, he kills demons, but it's just a job. He'd much prefer to sit back with a beer and watch football or something with his friend, Abe. I haven't picked up a lot of the later Hellboy comics, but I love the richness of his mythos. And the movies were great.
Favourite stories: I can't name them, off hand, but I think my favourite medium to read the character were some of the novels written by Christopher Golden.
6) The Hulk - Such a great, broken and tragic character. He's Frankenstein's monster and Jekyll & Hyde all rolled into a giant, green, monstrous man-child. I don't know what I'd do different with the character, myself, but I'd love to write him.
Favourite stories: Planet Hulk, Dogs of War, Peter David's amazing run, as well as Bruce Jones' somewhat forgotten run. The latter I liked because he treated The Hulk as something for special moments. Bruce Banner, through meditation techniques, had learned to control his anger and had complete control over his other personality. Hulk usually only appeared at the end of each arc, but it made those appearances special.
