On the bright side, he’s one of the most powerful characters in comics, with a wide array of powers that puts even Superman to shame.Ħ3. He’s too late for the Golden Age and too early for the Silver Age. Martian Manhunter (DC, 1955): The Manhunter from Mars is a man without an era. Striking first and preaching subjugation of his adversaries, he has become the enemy he hated.Ħ2. He perceives himself as the victim because of his tragic childhood during the Nazi regime but he learned the wrong lessons. The first Loki appeared in Marvel’s Venus stories in 1949, though he bore little resemblance to the later version we all love to hate. He’s a manipulator, a liar, an uncertain ally and a dangerous foe. Magneto (Marvel, 1963): Here are a couple of classic villains who have pestered Thor and the X-Men from the beginning. With apologies to Forbush Man, Herbie the Fat Fury and the Inferior Five, you had to be there and I wasn’t.Ħ1. But few of the other humorous characters provoke even a chuckle. I like the Substitutes, even though they were often played for laughs. Side-bar: Comedy doesn’t translate well across eras. They formed their own team and proved that determination is just as important than ability. They were turned down by the Legion of Super-Heroes because their powers are (mostly) useless. Legion of Substitute Heroes (DC, 1963): They’re (almost) everybody’s favorite underdogs. However, she’s become an indelible part of the Superman canon and her presence added all kinds of possibilities for romantic triangles and entanglements.ĥ9. Lana Lang (DC, 1950): Lana Lang was the last character to make the list as she’s little more than your standard ingénue. Then Ace the Bat-Hound, Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse and Beppo the Super-Moneky followed in Krypto’s paw-prints.ĥ8. Rex the Wonder Dog and Detective Chimp were introduced to comic book fans before Krypto came along. Side-bar: The ‘50s were a good decade for animal heroes. That goes double for dogs who wear a cape and can fly. Krypto the Super-Dog (DC, 1955): Everybody loves dogs. He’s the Godfather or the Teflon Don of comics.ĥ7. He portrays menace, while mostly getting others to do his dirty work. He has a distinctive look, with his bald head, white coat and formidable size. The Kingpin (Marvel, 1967): The Kingpin is a great villain, whether he’s giving trouble to Spider-Man, Daredevil or anyone else. And, by reversing the Flash’s color scheme, he always had one of the most likable costumes as well.ĥ6. Wally West was always one of the most likable sidekicks. He’s a nephew who likes to hang out with his uncle, and whose uncle happens to be a superhero. Kid Flash (DC, 1959): He’s just a normal kid. He overmatches the heroes with advanced technology and an intense drive to succeed.ĥ5. Kang the Conqueror is a time-travelling villain who attacks the present in order to establish and preserve his empire in the future. Kang the Conqueror (Marvel, 1963): Arguably the Avengers’ greatest foe. Forget the Go-Gos and the Spice Girls- the Pussycats were there first.ĥ4. Josie and the Pussycats (Archie, 1963): Dan DeCarlo introduced this power trio girl band into the world of Archie, inspiring girls with their independent attitude while enthralling boys with their cat-print bathing suits. But I’ve grown fond of his bombastic style, his belligerent attitude and even his brush-cut.ĥ3. Jonah Jameson (Marvel, 1963): I’ve learned to appreciate J. He might have been a formidable foe, but he followed Superman into stories of domestic deception.Yet despite his flaws- or perhaps because of them- the Jaguar is a fun and memorable character.ĥ2. His mystical belt gives him the power of the jaguar, which somehow includes the power of flight. He might have looked cool in his sleek red costume, except for the matching jaguar belt and boots. The Jaguar (Archie, 1961): The Jaguar is a wonderful example of Silver Age excess. So keep reading to find out if your favorite heroes made my list, and feel free to respond with your different opinions.ĥ1. These kinds of lists are always less the definitive end of the conversation than the start of one. Last week, I started a two-part column on the greatest comic book characters of the 1950s and ‘60s.
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