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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.

Oh man, I wish I thought of this.

1.) Deadpool: The guy is like an in-continuity parody character. He's nuts, he's tragic, he's got the whole package! One thing I find funny about his series is how every single Marvel character pretty much hates him. If they knew he was pretty much one of the only Marvel character's whose comics people buy nowadays they'd might shut up.

Favorite story-line: I'd say the original run where he was introduced. Not the funniest stuff but it had some good action and interestingand made us feel weirdly compassionate for this psychotic assasin.

2.)Scudd the disposable assasin: This guy is probably the greatest independent comic character...EVER! Made to kill one client and then explode, because of his fear of death he makes it so his target stays alive on life-support so that he may live. This becomes hard as Jeff is a psycho murderous bitch.Laughter, loss, all is in Scudd.

3.)Ronin: From the comic of the same name made during Frank Miller's non-crazy days. This comic is a cyber-punk mindfuck that puts Akira to shame. The Ronin is apparently a ghost of a samurai posessing a telekinetic invalid with cybernetic arms awakened only to fight the evil demon Agat who he imprisoned years ago...OR IS HE?! Full of suprise after suprise, Ronin will not disapoint.

4.Spawn:...HAHAHAHAHAHA-no.

Actual 4.)The Mask: Imagine the Joker with super-powers(who ironically get's the mask) and you get the Mask. The mask can literally have any personality as it is constantly changing from user to user. Known to the people as "Big-head" this horrifying killer is probably the most unpredictable psycho of all time.

Favorite story-line: First omnibus. I don't know the name of the story but it's still really good.

Oh man, The Mask. One of these days, I need to buy some of those omnibuses. What I wish I could find was The Mask vs. Lobo. By the end of it, they were just two heads bobbing in the street, swinging clubs at each other with their tongues. So fucking awesome.

ThatNickGuy said:

Oh man, The Mask. One of these days, I need to buy some of those omnibuses. What I wish I could find was The Mask vs. Lobo. By the end of it, they were just two heads bobbing in the street, swinging clubs at each other with their tongues. So fucking awesome.

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I haven't read this, but what you just described sounded like THE COOLEST THING EVER! I need to get more of the omnibus, they make the movie look like CRAP. And the movie was good(albeit they took some liberties).

The Maxx: If you want crazy nineties Image comics, go read the Maxx. Full of psychological mind-fuckery, weird-artwork and a character who makes Spawn/Wolverine/Venom/everyotherninetiesanti-hero look optimistic. I can't wait to finish my TPB collection.

Also, do manga characters count?

Sure, why not?

As for The Maxx, I can see why it appealed to many but I just could never get into it. As you said, it was full of psychological mind-fuckery. Too much for my tastes. I couldn't really follow what was going on half the time.

Ah, thank you, internet!

ThatNickGuy said:

Sure, why not?

As for The Maxx, I can see why it appealed to many but I just could never get into it. As you said, it was full of psychological mind-fuckery. Too much for my tastes. I couldn't really follow what was going on half the time.

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Understandable, I could hardy follow what was going on most of the time.

Black Jack: Probably the coolest doctor ever. After being in an accident at young age, he trained himself to be probably the greates surgeon in the world. There is just about NO surgery he can't perform. The problem...he cost's a pretty penny. Full of rediculous sixties medical science fiction, Black Jack will never dissapoint.

Favorite stories: ALL OF THEM. TEZUKA IS GOD!

Hit-Monkey: A 3 issue run about a monkey avenging his dead family. He fights Bulls-eye. Yes, it exists. And is is as kick-ass as it sounds.

Favorite stories: Hit-monkey, it only had 3 issues. Kind of a shame really.

The Question - 80's DC version. It was a mash-up Nior, Karate, Philosophy genre comic. It also had a great fan mail page, complete with reading list.

Green Arrow - The Longbow Hunters was the 3rd comic I read as a young adult, after Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns. Even though Ollie killed a few times in this comic series he still had a moral compass. Too bad they killed him off.

Batman - I started reading just as the Jason Todd Robin became a complete douche bag. I subscribed to all the titles just after DC killed Jason Todd off. Then 20 years later they cheapen that story.

Oh shit, 80s DC. How could I forget-

Booster Gold: Disgraced foot-ball star Michael Jon-Carter takes several technological relics from a museum he worked at, went back in time to become the super-hero known as Booster Gold. It isn't until he deals with the fame, loss, and stress that supers deal with that he learns what being a true hero means. I suggest the TPB of his first stories, it feels kinda Spider-manesque but with a Iron man twist.

Major Bummer
Slapstick
And yes, Deadpool.

--Patrick

I might catch some flak for this, but Tintin. He's just so deliciously infallible.

Groo the Wanderer
If this comic is not your favourite of all time you are a soulless ginger.


Shroud
I love that this guy is the most uncomplicated superhero. Origin, backstory and powers never change, and he's never died and come back.


Batman
I love the Batman mythos and character. I hate all the liberties taken with the mythos and character.


Ben Grimm
Ben is perhaps the most realistic character ever narrated in the comic world.

I've never been into superheroes and stuff, but will throw Calvin and Hobbes into this thread. Reason: just because they are what they are!
Even if they aren't an actual comic strip but a no longer running newspaper strip. They were great from first to last, and their legacy cannot be measured in any way.

In no particular order.
1. Hellboy and the entire Hellboy universe. What a fantastic world filled with amazing characters. Thank you Mike Mignola for creating this and thank you Lovercraft and 20's and 30's pulp for inspiring him.
2. Batman.
3. Invincible.
4. Ultimate Spiderman.
5. Green Lantern.
I have a very soft spot for Supes but not really the traditional comic. I feel that the best superman stories have generally been told in graphic novels and mini-series where there isn't the mess of continuity/8 different books to spread a storyline over.

1.) Classic Spider-man: Just about anything before One More Day, excluding the Clone saga.
2.) Venom: What can I say? I have a soft-spot for cheesy nineties anti-heroes. BUT ONLY EDDIE BROCK VENOM. Every-other Venom is stupid. I recomend his original series. It's cheesy, violent, and I friggin LOVE it!
3.)Usagi Yojimbo: Partly based on Miyamoto Musashi, this samurai defends his clients with the utmost respect. Fighting everything from yokai to evil shoguns, this rabbit has seen it all. All the TPBs are good, but I recomend Grass Cutter to single one out. Man that was a triiiiiiiiiiiiip.

PatrThom said:

Major Bummer
Slapstick
And yes, Deadpool.

--Patrick

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Did you know Dark Horse recently released a complete collection of the Major Bummer series? I just read it. It's awesome.

What's Major Bummer about?

A guy who gets empowered by a couple of idiot aliens (they're giving people powers for their university paper back home). But he's a total slacker and doesn't even want to be a hero. Hilarity ensues.

Loves me a reluctant hero.

Moon-knight: Probably one of the best psychological super-hero comics I've ever read. I really recomend the essential, it is soooooooooo cool.

The Flash - Wally West

I think I've read the full run about 6 times. From the Porcupine Man to Wally winning the lottery to Geoff John's rewrites of the Rogue Gallery into something worth reading. And the new Zoom and his impact on Wally's wife.

Love it. Barry Allen can suck it.

1) Flash - I love them all, but Wally holds the top spot. Unlike Nick I prefer Mark Waid's run to Geoff Johns'.
2) I'm going to cheat here and say the Outsiders, with or without Batman. Wonderful characters, more than make up for the sometimes goofy stories. The famous cover of the first issue is largely out of context for the tone of the book, and I can't help but feel that it cost the team some popularity. Favorite run, probably the original, but obviously any of it written by Mike Barr works. Ignore Winnicks version (just a "gritty-real!" version of Titans), and stop reading when you see "written by Dan Didio" as that is when he proceeds to make a Big Show (ha!) with the characters.

ThatNickGuy said:

A guy who gets empowered by a couple of idiot aliens (they're giving people powers for their university paper back home). But he's a total slacker and doesn't even want to be a hero. Hilarity ensues.

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"With great power comes great hilarity."

--Patrick

Vulture, from the Goon. He is just soooooooooooo bad-ass! "Something happened, I was not a zomibie who needed to feed on the flesh of man but a man who needed to feed on the flesh of zombies!" One of these days I gotta get his limited series.

The mini-series is collected with one of the later Goon trades, actually. Volume 9 or 10.

ThatNickGuy said:

The mini-series is collected with one of the later Goon trades, actually. Volume 9 or 10.

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See, this is why I love Eric Powell! He puts em all in easy chronology.

Favorite villains:

The Joker: Just about any chronology of the Joker, you'll get either an enjoyable villain or a HORRIFYING villain. He is undredictable, crazy, but has the smarts to lead an entire criminal empire. He was even embassador to the Taliban at one point, where he had access to nukes. DC universe is weird.

Favorite Storyline: Of course, the killing Joke. This series goes so deep into both the psychological aspects of the Joker/Batman relationship as well as giving what is agreed origin to the Joker. Full of surreal imagery, memorable quotes, and Batman goodness The Killing Joke will never disapoint.

Dio Brando from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: When Dio Brando's father died of an unknown illness, young Dio was sent to live with his fater's friend George Joestar with his son Jonathan Joestar(known as JoJo to his friends). He then decides from then on to make Jonathan's life a living hell by killing his father and blaming him and getting the inheritance. When that doesn't work, he uses a stone-mask to become a vampire. Probably one of the most cunning and devious villains in a manga. Since he's only in series 1 & 3, I suggest reading those.

Carnage: Imagine Joker with super-powers and you've pretty much got Carnage. He is vicious, stronger than Venom, and kills just for fun. His ultimate goal is for him to take over the world bringing in an era of hedonism where anyone can do whatever they want. Killing to him is the ultimate form of self-expression. I haven't read all of it, but Maximum Carnage is one of the best.

Silver Surfer, Bigby Wolf and Jesse Custer.

Pretty much sums up my taste in comics.

Hob Gadling from The Sandman. Just a normal medieval peasant who, through some philosophical boasting, wound up knowing Dream and much more. Great character from his intro in "Men of Good Fortune" (my favorite Sandman story) to the end of the series.

pre- Jaka's Story

Gryfter said:

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Stupid, stupid rat creatures!

--Patrick

Yeah Cerebus! Was Jaka's story really that bad?

It was... a departure.

Gryfter said:

It was... a departure.

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The series ended good though right? I heard there was an epic battle.

My favorites

1. Groo the Wanderer, Evanier and Aragones do such a great job with this comic and it's just such a fun read.

2. Hulk, tragedy and triumph and all that goes between. Favorite run so far was the combined smart Hulk/Banner with Peter David at the helm. Huge guns and pink bunny slippers... and the Rhino story with Casey at the Bat as the basis.

3. Nightwing, Dick Grayson on his own and holding his own. A silver-age character that was allowed to grow and change and become his own man.

Sparhawk said:

3. Nightwing, Dick Grayson on his own and holding his own. A silver-age character that was allowed to grow and change and become his own man.

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Golden Age actually.

Covar said:

Golden Age actually.

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I thought the Golden Age Nightwing was Superman in Kandor.

sixpackshaker said:

I thought the Golden Age Nightwing was Superman in Kandor.

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Yeah he was. Silver age Nightwing is Dick Grayson. The whole ages, thing is confusing. I haven't read much of Night-wing, but what I have I've liked.

A real Silver age hero would have to be the original Bizarro. Made by a duplicator ray by Lex Luthor, Bizarro was the polar opposite of Super-man. What I love about Bizarro is that everything he sees as evil, most people see as good and vice-versa. It teaches kids about perspective and that not everyone has the same opinions. And then they made Bizarro Superman's clone who wasn't so much the opposite of Supes as he was pretty much Superman's retarded cousin. Did I mention I hate DC sometimes?

Dick Grayson's a Golden Age character, since he started as Robin, who was around for a very long time before the start of the Silver Age (generally considered to begin with Barry Allen as The Flash). Nightwing as a name started with Superman in Kandor in the Silver Age. It wasn't until the mid-80's that Robin became the Nightwing we all know and love.

ThatNickGuy said:

Dick Grayson's a Golden Age character, since he started as Robin, who was around for a very long time before the start of the Silver Age (generally considered to begin with Barry Allen as The Flash). Nightwing as a name started with Superman in Kandor in the Silver Age. It wasn't until the mid-80's that Robin became the Nightwing we all know and love.

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Oooooooooooooooooh, I get it. Man that's confusing.

To quote MovieBob:

Comics. Are! WEIRD!

I hear ya. How does a side-kick become a full-fledged super? Is it like they go through a right of passage, or more along the lines of "Hey, I Nightwing now. Call me Nightwing." "Everybody:....ooooookay."

Just some of my favorites that I haven't seen here yet:

John Constantine (Hellblazer) -- He's a pretty fascinating character in that he's always trying to do what he thinks is best, but he lives in a world where the "best" option often entails having to screw over everyone he knows and loves. It makes for an extremely dark, oppressing atmosphere

Morpheus (The Sandman) -- This character really shows why Neil Gaiman is considered such a brilliant author. He's created a character whose motives seem entirely alien at times, but still manage to make sense. This leads to stories that are unpredictable without seeming contrived, and makes his very presence terrifying because of the sheer power he holds and the inability to discern quite how he'd react to a given situation.

Atomic Robo (Atomic Robo) -- This character encompasses everything that is good about Brian Clevinger's writing in one metallic body.

Klaus Wulfenbach (Girl Genius) -- Girl Genius was technically a print comic before it went on the web, so I'm going to count it. He's a brilliant subversion of the "evil dictator" cliché, to the point where you're rooting for his success as often as not.

Othar Trygvassen, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER! (Girl Genius, again) -- Girl Genius loves to play against clichés, but not in the way everyone would expect an author to. Othar has every quality that makes up a classic adventure hero -- he's campy, grandiose, loved by all, able to inexplicably escape certain death, and fights the oppressive authorities for the common people. He's also completely insane.

May "Mayday" Parker (Spider-girl) - Quite possibly the one bright mark in Tom DeFalco's career.

Ooooooooh, Morpheus good choice. I love how his sister is death but she is ten time more chipper than he'd ever be.

Sam and Max: Freelance police. One is a six-foot tall talking dog in a suite, and the other is a hyperkinetic rabbity thingy, working to fight the crimes so weird that normal police won't do. Inspiration for one of the GREATEST video-game series EVER.

Oh and it goes without saying...

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Gryfter said:

Oh and it goes without saying...

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Now that I think about it... Othar Trygvassen kind of is the Tick, only with better PR and no nigh-invulnerability.

If we's talkin' webcomic characters: Schlock Mercenary. He's an amorphous regenerating merc with a plasma gun! What's not to love?

The Flash (Wally West and Barry Allen). I have to admit I got into The Flash with Rebirth so I know a lot more about Barry Allen than Wally West.

Green Lantern: All of them. There are so many different characters amongst the Lanterns that it makes it hard for me to choose.

John Constantine: I bought somewhere around 50 issues when I was in high school from a used book store. I loved every single one and have gained a few more since those days.

Spider Jerusalem: I don't know if he counts but, man, wasn't he inspiring for being a foul mouthed fucker.

The Question: My first exposure to the Question was in the JLU cartoon. I've since read the 80's run and 52. I also have developed a fondness for the New Question.

I could go on....

I admit being completely out of the whole superhero comic trend... It just never appealed to me for some reason.

Asterix - surprisingly good quality when it comes to the combination of humour, history and bashing Romans. Some of the later comics have been rather disappointing, mostly because half of the original creators is dead. Personal favourites include Asterix and the Magic Carpet, Obelix and Co. and Asterix and the Black Gold.

Could probably think of others - mostly from webcomics - but feeling a little tired now. May come back later.

Yoshimickster said:

I hear ya. How does a side-kick become a full-fledged super? Is it like they go through a right of passage, or more along the lines of "Hey, I Nightwing now. Call me Nightwing." "Everybody:....ooooookay."

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Hey, that's how they did it with Sue Richards when she stopped being The Invisible Girl and started being The Invisible Woman.

--Patrick

PatrThom said:

Hey, that's how they did it with Sue Richards when she stopped being The Invisible Girl and started being The Invisible Woman.

--Patrick

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Names mean nothing in Comic book universes don't they?

It's all about the costumes, baby.

--Patrick

True. Why else would Hank Pym change his super-hero identity 3 TIMES! Once is too many.

Oh, he changed a lot more than three times.

ThatNickGuy said:

Oh, he changed a lot more than three times.

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Dear lord. And I thought Moon-knight had identity issues!

LittleSin said:

The Question: My first exposure to the Question was in the JLU cartoon. I've since read the 80's run and 52. I also have developed a fondness for the New Question.

I could go on....

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Absolutely, exactly the same for me. Jeffrey Combs' amazing characterization of The Question in JLU immediately hooked me.

I am a fan of the Flash. He 's so damned awesome.


FLASH.

I..don't really have more to add, but he edges out even Batman ever so slightly for me.

Jenny Sparks


Despite having only encountered her in the Authority 1 & 2 this character managed to leave quite an impression on me.

John Constantine from Hellblazer

I have to thank the Keanu Reeves film for getting me into these comics because the character is freaking awesome and the stories are engaging and hard to put down. I have been trying to get my hands on Hellblazer: Bloodlines for some time but it is near on impossible to find at an affordable price.

Edward "WhiteBeard" Newgate from One Piece. We only get to see him in his full potential in a few tankobon, but those few chapters left a HUGE impression on all who read it. Even with his powers of the tremor-tremor fruit, he was a man of great strength. It took 267 sword wounds, 152 gunshot wounds and 46 wounds from cannonballs — adding up to a total of 465 injuries to kill this freakin' guy. And yet no-one stabbed him in the back. He just demanded that much respect by enemy and friend alike.

Nightcrawler has always held a special place in my heart.

Except for the Ultimate universe. Ultimate Nightcrawler was a douchebag. They way he reacted to Collossus coming out of the closet was nothing short of discusting.

Bowielee said:

Nightcrawler has always held a special place in my heart.

Except for the Ultimate universe. Ultimate Nightcrawler was a douchebag. They way he reacted to Collossus coming out of the closet was nothing short of discusting.

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Oh dude, he didn't go all "Being gay is a sin, I'm catholic!" did he? Dammit, Nightcrawler is supposed to be a cool Christian! The one who you could tell him your an atheist and he'd be all "It is not my way, but I respect". Friggin Ultimate Universe. If didn't do that than redact my statement.

Technically, Darkwing Duck counts. That series was probably one of the best comic series I've read in years. I mean hell, in Crisis on Infinite Darkwings there was a freakin Rorscharchwing Duck! And then Disney cancelled it. I hate Disney sometimes.

I'd probably say Captain Marvel (DC comics one). Here's a kid who's life has been fucking awful... parents are dead... always picked on... homeless for a very long time... and he's given the powers of the gods. And what does he do with it? He becomes a paragon of virtue, refusing to take his horrible life out on others, even when they well and truly deserve it. what's more, he does this while he's still homeless. Even when his best friend is being an asshole, he refuses to give in. Even when his sister goes crazy, he refuses to give in. Even when he's shown exactly what others have done with the power he's been given, he still stays as he is.

Some people say Superman is the Cape. Fuck that. Captain Marvel is the Cape in ways Supes never was.

Fuck yeah! And Marvel doesn't whine like a bitch like Super-man does."Oh I'm the last of my kind, no-one relates to me!" SHUT THE FUCK UP! Super-girl, Power-girl,Krypto,Super-boy, Bizarro,Zod and the shrunken city of Kandor prove that he's wrong.Martian Man-hunter is literally the last of his kind but he's able to not whine like a bitch! Sure he's somber but he's a lot more chipper than Supes. Hell he SAW his people being murdered, that's way worse than what Clark went through. He proves that people can go through great loss but still lead full lives. Speaking of Super-man, is any-one else tired of Superman's speech of "I don't believe a hero should use his powers for personal gain"? I remember him giving that speech to Booster Gold and it felt hypocritical as hell. I mean, he monopolizes on the fact that he's Superman to get hard-hitting Superman stories to the Daily Planet, isn't that what using his powers for personal gain? It's more small-scale than Booster but still. Can we please go back to writing Superman as a nice defender of truth justice and the American way and not some whiny hypocrite? I don't mean to insult any Superman fans but still.

Speaking of which, Martian Man-hunter. I haven't read much with him in it, but what I have I've always been pleased. He's just such an emotionally intriguing character. Plus he has like a bajillion super-powers! He could easily kick Superman's ass any day of the week.

Also, can anyone tell me a Superman story when he's not whining up a storm? I've read a lot of the 90s comics and this is my impression of the character. I know there is more to him than this.

Captain Marvel and Martian Manhunter are really interesting in the way they relate to Superman. MM is like the Kryptonian side of Superman, and Billy Batson is like the Human side of Superman.

I think the primary difference between what Clark does and what Booster wanted to do is this: Clark has a nice apartment, a decent car, and makes enough to send some money home to his mom and dad in Smallville. He makes some money, but nothing like he could if he bought a bag of coal and turned it into a bag of diamonds, or licensed the use of himself in merchandise.

Booster Gold wanted to become a world famous celebrity and receive everything that comes with that. He wanted supermodel girlfriends, millions of dollars, a sports car... everything.

Also, Martian Man-Hunter isn't alone. He's got Miss Martian. She may not be family, but they are the closest each other has right now.

AshburnerX said:

I think the primary difference between what Clark does and what Booster wanted to do is this: Clark has a nice apartment, a decent car, and makes enough to send some money home to his mom and dad in Smallville. He makes some money, but nothing like he could if he bought a bag of coal and turned it into a bag of diamonds, or licensed the use of himself in merchandise.

Booster Gold wanted to become a world famous celebrity and receive everything that comes with that. He wanted supermodel girlfriends, millions of dollars, a sports car... everything.

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Yeah I know, but I still feel Supes can be preachy at times. I mean, he is just so mean to anyone who doesn't have his same world view! The way to get people on your side is to show them kindness no matter what and if you don't agree with them . Weirdly enough, I agree with Lex Luthor that Superman believes too much in black and white. I'm not sure if it's in the same in the comic but still. And yeah Gold's hubris ended up biting him in the ass in the end so yeeeeeeeeeeeeah I agree with you there. I still think Superman was a jerk to him, but still.

Miss Martian is a White Martian, so technically, MM is still the last of his kind. Unless that evil green martian from Brightest Day is still around.

Then again, with the relaunch, this is all moot anyway.

Guh, the relaunch. Question, was there any female character who wasn't ruined by that?

Yoshimickster said:

Guh, the relaunch. Question, was there any female character who wasn't ruined by that?

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Superman.

HAH! Youse okay Sparhawk. Speaking of which, has anyone read that story where he was treated as an illegal alian? It looked....generic. Like trying to be X-men generic.

Yoshimickster said:

Guh, the relaunch. Question, was there any female character who wasn't ruined by that?

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I hear Batwoman is good.

They did some real damage, though, IMO.

Barbara Gordon going back to being Batgirl... blech... I loved her as Oracle. She was one of the only truely great disabled superheroes this side of Daredevil.

Bowielee said:

I hear Batwoman is good.

They did some real damage, though, IMO.

Barbara Gordon going back to being Batgirl... blech... I loved her as Oracle. She was one of the only truely great disabled superheroes this side of Daredevil.

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Thank you. Plus her not being disabled means "The Killing Joke" didn't happen. Yes, DC retconned it so one of their greatest Batman stories didn't exist. I friggin HATE DC sometimes.

They haven't brought back The Question yet, but I really fucking hope Renee Montoya is ether still The Question or at least a major character in it. She was one of the few gay/lesbian characters whose sexuality wasn't used for fucking titillation.

AshburnerX said:

They haven't brought back The Question yet, but I really fucking hope Renee Montoya is ether still The Question or at least a major character in it. She was one of the few gay/lesbian characters whose sexuality wasn't used for fucking titillation.

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I know. Makes me think about that year when they tried to make us believe Catwoman was a lesbian. Yeah, with over 40 years of her flirting with Batman she is toooooooootally gay. Or was that a year, it might have been just a couple months do to A.) No-one bought it B.) This was clearly trying to get horny fan-boys to buy more comics.

As I understand it, yes, the Killing Joke is still in cannon, but rather than being crippled for life, Barbara was only crippled for a few years. I still don't like it. I thought she was actually a stronger character as Oracle then as Batgirl. She was THE source that almost every hero turned to for information. She was the-go to investigator for the JLA and ... grrr.... the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. Also, she still kicked ten tons of ass, even in a wheelchair. I've got to go back and read the older Birds of Prey books.

Also, for the record, Batwoman is also a lesbian and is generally not written for titillation. I'm actually thinking about checking out her book when some trades come out.

Matter of fact, Isn't she Montoya's ex-girlfriend?

Bowielee said:

As I understand it, yes, the Killing Joke is still in cannon, but rather than being crippled for life, Barbara was only crippled for a few years. I still don't like it. I thought she was actually a stronger character as Oracle then as Batgirl. She was THE source that almost every hero turned to for information. She was the-go to investigator for the JLA and ... grrr.... the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. Also, she still kicked ten tons of ass, even in a wheelchair. I've got to go back and read the older Birds of Prey books.

Also, for the record, Batwoman is also a lesbian and is generally not written for titillation. I'm actually thinking about checking out her book when some trades come out.

Matter of fact, Isn't she Montoya's ex-girlfriend?

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Yeah I think so. I thought they were still together though! Oh supers, why can't you get your love-lifes together. Speaking of love-interests, Lois Lane got screwed too right? I heard her break-up with Superman was similar to One More Day.