Empire's 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters: 1. Superman

Billions of billious blue blistering barnicles, what sort of anaclouthon has not heard of Captain Haddock? That's bilge I tell you, bilge from stem to stern.

Sorry, it's just great to go at someone like Captain Haddock, ten thousand thundering typhoons! And Zaz, what in the name of Marlinspike happened to the Tintin thread in here?

 

#48 - HARVEY PEKAR

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Overview: Harvey Pekar, a fairly miserable and obsessive fellow who works as a file clerk in a Veterans? Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, is the creation of Harvey Pekar, a writer who sets out to chronicle his everyday life in comic form, recruiting artist Robert Crumb and others to illustrate anecdotes about the cranky hero?s mundane, frustrating life. Eventually, the irregularly-published comic book ? and its several sequels (Our Cancer Year, Our Movie Year, The Quitter) ? made Pekar a fringe celeb, better-known for his fractious, controversial appearances on The David Letterman Show until the film adaptation brought attention to his ongoing comics. Besides covering his courtships, marriage, illnesses, career reversals and brushes with fame, Pekar has opened up the comic to chronicle the lives of his friends.

First Appearance: American Splendor #1 (1976)

Created By: Harvey Pekar and Robert Crumb

Trademarks: Poor fashion sense, middle-aged frustration, dour outlook and general whining.

On Screen: Cinematic sad sack Paul Giamatti plays Pekar in the film version of American Splendor.

Did You Know? Jonathan Demme tried to adapt American Splendor in the ?80s, but the project never came to fruition as Demme wasn't yet an established director.

 

#47 - APOLLO AND THE MIDNIGHTER

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Overview: Technically this is clearly two characters, but how could we separate comics? most significant out-and-proud couple? In the often simplistically macho world of superheroes, these two were introduced as an off-kilter Superman and Batman into Warren Ellis? excellent Stormwatch series, but after a series of gradual hints were revealed as a couple in the Authority series which followed, hopefully shaking at least a few fanboy prejudices out of existence. Now married, with an adoptive (super)daughter, the pair have starred in a number of controversial storylines (including an implied rape) as befits the darker tone of the more adult Authority, but have recently been reunited after a mind-wipe took Midnighter away and broke up their home (these things are why the superhero divorce rate is so high). Now reunited, expect them to keep flying the rainbow flag and beating up anyone who gets in their way.

First Appearance: Stormwatch Vol. 2, #4 (1999)

Created By: Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch

Trademarks: Apollo can absorb solar energy and convert it to superstrength, flight and heat beams from his eyes; The Midnighter has enhanced physical abilities, a spare heart, and the capacity to anticipate his opponent?s moves.

On Screen: Think a blonde Superman-type for Apollo ? maybe Matthew McConaughey? ? and a brooding, darker figure for The Midnighter ? say, Josh Brolin.

Did You Know? Marvel?s gay pride poster-boy is Alpha Flight?s North Star. Only implicitly gay when the series was launched in 1983, Northstar has since come out and even developed a crush on Iceman during a stint with the X-Men in 2002.

 

I have to say that I never heard of the above, but I'm not surprised.

 

#46 - J. JONAH JAMESON

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Overview: Throughout his career, Spider-Man?s major nemesis has not been Dr Octopus, the Green Goblin, the Kingpin or any other conventional super-foe, but J. Jonah Jameson, editor-publisher of the New York Daily Bugle - a newspaper which has run a campaign against Spider-Man (and other masked vigilantes) that has often turned the public against superheroes. Initially annoyed that Spider-Man got more acclaim than his astronaut son, whom he wanted to boost as ?a real hero?, Jameson?s hatred of Peter Parker?s alter ego has grown into an overpowering obsession which has threatened his health and business. Ironically, he is also Parker?s most frequent employer, buying the freelance photographer?s blurry, out of focus shots of Spider-Man in action for the front page ? and paying as little as possible for them.

First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963)

Created By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Trademarks: Hitler moustache, brush-cut and an ever-present cigar.

On Screen: J.K. Simmons perfectly captures JJJ in the Spider-Man films. David White played the part in the 1970s TV pilot but was replaced by Robert F. Simon in the subsequent action series, and various Spider-Man cartoons have cast Keith Carradine, William Woodson, Ed Asner, Paul Kligman and Darran Norris.

Did You Know? JJJ financed several super-villains, including the robot Spider-Slayers and the Scorpion.

 

Love Jameson. He is a strange character that too easily becomes one dimensional but in the hands of the right writer he becomes one of the more interesting supporting Spidey characters there is. The cantankerous, cigar chompin' bully was always an amusing foil for the ever downtrodden Parker, as the readers mused over the irony that he was employing the very man he loathed most. The moment he discovered the truth was priceless and will forever be an underrated highlight of Marvel's Civil War. As much as he might annoy people and as twisted as his logic may be he is one the earliest and arguable more influential supporting player in Spidey's inner circle. A Spider-Man story without him just isn't the same...which is one more reason that Brand New Day is really missing the mark. I can't wait for his triumphant return.

In addition, I never thought I would see the day that someone could top Ed Asner's take on the character but J.K. Simmons not only knock it out of the park, he knocked it out of the Universe. I can't imagine anyone else ever playing the character again and doing it justice.

 

J.K. Simmons as JJJ is one of the greatest casting choices in the history of cinema.

 

He's the only character Sam Raimi got right in the Spider-Man films. And you're right, Spiderfan, J.K. knocked it out of the universe.

 

Spiderfan said everything I wanted to, and much better than I would have.

 

I love the triple J, too. Nasty.

 

JK Simmons's role in the films was one of the few things I really loved in those overrated movies. He even managed to upstage Bruce Campbell's hilarious cameos with lines like "Call Deborah." "The caterer?!?" "Tell her not to open the caviar." when his son is left at the altar by MJ.

 

#45 - DEADPOOL

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Overview: When he first appeared on the scene in 1991, Deadpool was a minor character, hailed as the mutant answer to Spider-Man. Or, rather, the mutant rip-off of Spider-Man, right down to the red costume with coloured rings around the eyes, the extraordinary agility and a propensity for delivering one-liners in the middle of a fight. But the Rob Liefeld/Fabian Nicieza creation quickly became a fan favourite and established a demented identity of his own. The constant regeneration of his brain cells has turned the former Weapon X subject certifiably insane ? so much so that he realises he?s in a comic book, and frequently refers to the fact. Although he began life as a villain, the Merc With A Mouth was given his own title in 1997 (although cancelled in 2002, Marvel?s having another crack later this year) and is now officially a hero. Well, an anti-hero. And one of the most entertaining ones around.

First Appearance: The New Mutants #98 (1991)

Created By: Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza

Trademarks: Mutant with a healing factor (which constantly regenerates his cancer-ridden body), enhanced strength and agility, a variety of swords and daggers and the ability to wisecrack like no-one else.

On Screen: Ryan Reynolds will play Deadpool, with a view to his own spin-off, in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, due next May. Let?s hope it works out better for him than Blade: Trinity...

Did You Know? He once had his head cut off - and survived. His healing factor kicking in once the errant noggin was reattached.

 

I love JJJ. Especially on the rare occasions when his usual grouchy guard is down and he shows himself to be a decent human being at heart.

 

I haven't read much Deadpool really, but I'm almost always a sucker for meta-fiction.

 

Ryan Reynolds made Blade Trinity watchable. Thus, I have no worries about a Deadpool movie with him in it.

 

Sadly given the number of characters (or more precisely the specific characters) popping up in Wolverine, I am still concerned that its heading down the same road as X-Men The Last Stand. So though the casting may be spot on and while the trailer that leaked certainly looks interesting, I get the feeling a lot of Deadpool fans will be disappointed.

 

#44 - JENNY SPARKS

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Overview: Born on January 1st, 1900, died exactly one hundred years later ? though she stopped ageing in her early twenties because she was mostly made of electricity, the motive force of the 20th Century. Though she was introduced as a new recruit to fairly conventional superhero team Stormwatch, she became a key player in the more ambitious, ambiguous and generally cooler line-up mostly known as The Authority. Various flashbacks have filled in her previous history as a WWII spy, a 1950s space-woman and a 1960s British superheroine, involved in a longstanding conflict with an alternate reality (Sliding Albion) where England rules the world thanks to collaboration with aristocratic aliens.

First Appearance: Stormwatch #37 (1997)

Created By: Warren Ellis

Trademarks: Union jack t-shirt, bad temper, alcoholism, tough-but-posh British accent and control over electricity.

On Screen: We?re thinking Keira Knightley or Rosamund Pike.

Did You Know? When she died, she was replaced by another newborn century baby, Jenny Quantum.

 

Ellis's stormwatch and Authority was the best thing.

 

#43 - Astro Boy

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Overview: A perky, atomic-powered robot created by Dr Tenma (translated as Professor Boyton or Professor Balfus) to replace his deceased son, Tetsuwan Atomo (Astro Boy) proved unsatisfactory and was sold to a circus ? but emerged as a long-running hero working for the Ministry of Science. Besides having superheroic powers, the naïve young robot grappled with human emotions and personal interaction. He also got into at least one destructive fight with another robot or super-powered baddie each issue.

First Appearance: Ambassador Atom (1952)

Created By: Osamu Tezuka

Trademarks: Spiky shiny 'hair', red boots and his theme song: 'There you go, Astro Boy! On your flight into space!, etc.'

On Screen: There was a live-action TV series in Japan in 1959-60, and several episodes were cut together into a feature film, but Tetsuwan Atomo became internationally known (well, famous in America) thanks to an animated TV show which began in 1963 and was imported to the US as Astro Boy.

Did You Know? The English name Astro Boy was selected after the closer translation ?the Mighty Atom? was rejected as ?too generic? (and, perhaps as infringement of the DC Comics shrinking hero.

 

I am happy to say I've never, ever seen this.

 

#42 - The Saint Of Killers

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Overview: Garth Ennis? masterpiece, Preacher, is so good that two characters from it make our list (the other is? well, you?ll see). Choosing from the likes of Cassidy, Arseface, Herr Starr and Jesse Custer was tough, but if we hadn?t plumped for the Saint Of Killers, he might have found us and killed us. A grim, taciturn, implacable killing machine charged by God himself to be his gun for hire, the Saint is an engine of pure hatred, driven by his thirst for vengeance (his family were killed, which precipitated his fall from grace). He?s like the Terminator with a mullet. Indestructible and inexorable ? like death himself ? he?s so badass that he manages to kill both the Devil and ? spoiler warning! ? God. Which makes him just about the most powerful character in the history of comic books, as far as we?re concerned.

First Appearance: Preacher #1 (1995)

Created By: Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

Trademarks: The Angel of Death reinvented as a cowboy: stone-cold snarl, battered hat and a green trenchcoat concealing Colts that can slay a small army in seconds.

On Screen: Ennis always saw the character as a combo of Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood (although his artist, Steve Dillon, and Preacher cover artist Glenn Fabry made him look ten times more physically imposing). Nowadays, Tommy Lee Jones wouldn?t be a bad bet.

Did You Know? He made a very brief cameo appearance in Ennis? excellent DC series, Hitman, about a wise-cracking assassin plying his trade in Gotham City.

 

You'd think a guy who kills God and all His Angels would be higher on the list.

 

The ranking seems a bit low, no question...