Comments on: Top 50 DC Characters #45-41 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/ Comic Book Resources Presents... Comics Should Be Good! Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:32:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mr Hughes http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-204611 Mr Hughes Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:18:38 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-204611 Don't get me wrong. I realise the Civil War was not just about slavery after all, the prime reason that the Union wanted freedom for the slaves was for purely financial reasons. The thing that gets me is the that American fiction seems to romanticise the whole Confederate rebel thing, white washing (excuse the pun) the fact that those guys in grey where fighting for, at least in part, the continuation of slavery. Just to clarify I've read Hex stories and some of them I think are great, especially the Joe R. Lansdale Vertigo series. I'm just fed up, I suppose, of the glossing over of the this simple fact. If you fought for the South during the Civil war you pretty much where fighting for the continuation of slavery. I hope that I'm seriously out of date with this and that I'll read the current series of Hex and find that these issues have been addressed by the writers in some way. Sorry to hijack this thread; I'll just shut up now. Don't get me wrong. I realise the Civil War was not just about slavery after all, the prime reason that the Union wanted freedom for the slaves was for purely financial reasons.
The thing that gets me is the that American fiction seems to romanticise the whole Confederate rebel thing, white washing (excuse the pun) the fact that those guys in grey where fighting for, at least in part, the continuation of slavery. Just to clarify I've read Hex stories and some of them I think are great, especially the Joe R. Lansdale Vertigo series. I'm just fed up, I suppose, of the glossing over of the this simple fact. If you fought for the South during the Civil war you pretty much where fighting for the continuation of slavery. I hope that I'm seriously out of date with this and that I'll read the current series of Hex and find that these issues have been addressed by the writers in some way. Sorry to hijack this thread; I'll just shut up now.

]]> By: DanCJ http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-203432 DanCJ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:19:04 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-203432 I'm far from an expert on the American Civil War, but as I understand it it was about a lot more than just slavery. I'm sure there would have been people fighting on the Conferates side who were anti slavery, but pro other aspects of whatever it was that the Confederates stood for. I'm far from an expert on the American Civil War, but as I understand it it was about a lot more than just slavery. I'm sure there would have been people fighting on the Conferates side who were anti slavery, but pro other aspects of whatever it was that the Confederates stood for.

]]> By: Mr Hughes http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-203191 Mr Hughes Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:05:59 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-203191 The thing about Jonah Hex that has always got to me is this. During the American civil war he fought for the Confederates. The pro slavery confederates. Sorry but how this is considered heroism is beyond me. The thing about Jonah Hex that has always got to me is this. During the American civil war he fought for the Confederates. The pro slavery confederates. Sorry but how this is considered heroism is beyond me.

]]> By: Gilda http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-197877 Gilda Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:33:32 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-197877 It's good to see Jonah making the list. I've always been a fan of western comics and Jonah Hex was the best of the bunch. This is the second of the offbeat characters I had on my list to make the top 50. Very nice. It's good to see Jonah making the list. I've always been a fan of western comics and Jonah Hex was the best of the bunch.

This is the second of the offbeat characters I had on my list to make the top 50. Very nice.

]]> By: Salamurai http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-197469 Salamurai Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:39:26 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-197469 I never had much interest in the Flash or speedsters in general ... until Impulse. Impulse's own title was great fun, month after month. I felt the "Graduation Day" story changed the character irreperably. I wish DC had just left him the hell alone. I never had much interest in the Flash or speedsters in general ... until Impulse. Impulse's own title was great fun, month after month. I felt the "Graduation Day" story changed the character irreperably. I wish DC had just left him the hell alone.

]]> By: fourthworlder http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-197186 fourthworlder Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:08:46 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-197186 I'm annoyed that I didn't even think of Bizarro. He might have squeezed into my ten. But the Flashes never did much for me. I'm annoyed that I didn't even think of Bizarro. He might have squeezed into my ten.

But the Flashes never did much for me.

]]> By: Mark http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-195551 Mark Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:19:12 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-195551 Plastic Man was (possibly still is) Hugh Hefner's favorite superhero. This was a major factor in picking him as number one. Plastic Man was (possibly still is) Hugh Hefner's favorite superhero. This was a major factor in picking him as number one.

]]> By: taylor http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-195443 taylor Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:13:43 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-195443 I was really hoping that plas would rank out higher. i had him as my #3 I was really hoping that plas would rank out higher. i had him as my #3

]]> By: stephen cade http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-195322 stephen cade Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:20:55 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-195322 Ah, Jay garrick--my favorite Flash--Not surprised he wasn't higher--but if I'd listed all 50 in my mind, he'd be higher. I'm sort of disappointed, but not surprised Plas wasn't higher--but he's a great character Ah, Jay garrick--my favorite Flash--Not surprised he wasn't higher--but if I'd listed all 50 in my mind, he'd be higher.

I'm sort of disappointed, but not surprised Plas wasn't higher--but he's a great character

]]> By: Kristen http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-195026 Kristen Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:54:27 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-195026 Jonah Hex ended up being my #11 and it was very hard to not include him. I was flipping through my father's copies almost before I knew how to read. Happy to see he made the list. How do you bring up Bizarro and not recommend the ASS arc? I'm now going to go see whether Cliff Cornwall has a Wikipedia entry. Jonah Hex ended up being my #11 and it was very hard to not include him. I was flipping through my father's copies almost before I knew how to read. Happy to see he made the list.

How do you bring up Bizarro and not recommend the ASS arc?

I'm now going to go see whether Cliff Cornwall has a Wikipedia entry.

]]> By: Hondo http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-195017 Hondo Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:42:01 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-195017 Well, here's 2 of my votes on the list. Bizarro and Hex. Bizarro's, well, bizarreness and backward ways are hilarious to me. Why DC doesn't promote the character more is weird to me. Hex is a great western character who's definitely his own man who, despite the gun for hire motiff, does definitely have a conscience and a solid set of morals. Plas, was one of my top picks but didn't make it. He is a card and definitely a one of a kind. Impulse / Bart, will always be Impulse to me. I really dug him as Kid Flash tho in a retro way. Still don't care for him as Flash. It would have been a natural progression but it was all too fast now. Didio's eliminating duplicate character types makes sense, and god knows there are a ton of speedsters, but this was too quick. Bart was best as Impulse. Jay Garrick - One of the classic JSAers. Always level-headed and genuine. Great guy. Well, here's 2 of my votes on the list. Bizarro and Hex. Bizarro's, well, bizarreness and backward ways are hilarious to me. Why DC doesn't promote the character more is weird to me. Hex is a great western character who's definitely his own man who, despite the gun for hire motiff, does definitely have a conscience and a solid set of morals.

Plas, was one of my top picks but didn't make it. He is a card and definitely a one of a kind.

Impulse / Bart, will always be Impulse to me. I really dug him as Kid Flash tho in a retro way. Still don't care for him as Flash. It would have been a natural progression but it was all too fast now. Didio's eliminating duplicate character types makes sense, and god knows there are a ton of speedsters, but this was too quick. Bart was best as Impulse.

Jay Garrick - One of the classic JSAers. Always level-headed and genuine. Great guy.

]]> By: Teebore http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194917 Teebore Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:43:39 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194917 I'm really surprised Plas ranked higher than Ralph Dibney. Personally, I prefer Plas (he almost made my list) especially after the Baker series, but geez, the internet as a whole just seems to go ga-ga over Ralph. I'm really surprised Plas ranked higher than Ralph Dibney. Personally, I prefer Plas (he almost made my list) especially after the Baker series, but geez, the internet as a whole just seems to go ga-ga over Ralph.

]]> By: buttler http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194908 buttler Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:32:47 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194908 Decent picks, all. I never much cared for Bart myself, but then I never gave a fig for Kon or Cassie either. If I were a teenager myself when they showed up I might have liked them better. I expect #711 from that Police Comics cover above to make a strong showing higher up in the list. I mean, his secret identity was a prison inmate, and he'd sneak out to fight crime! How cool is that? Decent picks, all. I never much cared for Bart myself, but then I never gave a fig for Kon or Cassie either. If I were a teenager myself when they showed up I might have liked them better.

I expect #711 from that Police Comics cover above to make a strong showing higher up in the list. I mean, his secret identity was a prison inmate, and he'd sneak out to fight crime! How cool is that?

]]> By: Paperghost http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194892 Paperghost Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:21:26 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194892 "Tragically, during a battle with the Rogues, Bart lost his powers due to a machine built by his evil clone, Inertia. He fought the Rogues valiantly, but in the end, they killed him." ....and the whole thing was a debacle, Amen. "Tragically, during a battle with the Rogues, Bart lost his powers due to a machine built by his evil clone, Inertia. He fought the Rogues valiantly, but in the end, they killed him."

....and the whole thing was a debacle, Amen.

]]> By: suedenim http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194780 suedenim Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:45:24 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194780 Jonah Hex is the first DC character to make my Top 10 list so far. There's something about the character that just plain *works*. I think some of it is all the little details, like the scarring and the Confederate cavalry uniform, that all have intriguing backstories, but aren't talked about incessantly (or, usually, at all, Jonah not being the most talkative of fellas.) Interesting to see him next to the gimmicky high-concept characters who round out Showcase Volume 1 with Jonah, a high-concept character who *works*. (I need that Showcase Volume 2, dammit!) Bizarro's a fun character, though his more recent appearances usually annoy me, with writers not quite "getting the point" in some way or another. IMO, Bizarro should be "sort of" dangerous (mostly by well-meaning accident), but *never* truly malevolent or murderous. And it annoys me when people take his "opposite" talk too literally. Bizarros are imperfect duplicates, and their *imperfection* is imperfect too! Bizarro dialogue shouldn't have to be parsed with a "reverse every single word's meaning" algorithm. Anthony Strand's description of Jay Garrick is a great one, and the perspective kind of makes him, for me, the epitome of the Greatest Generation's superhero. Like the vast majority of the guys who licked Fascism and saved the world, Jay was no particular paragon, but when he needed to step up and was given the means to do so, he did. Jonah Hex is the first DC character to make my Top 10 list so far. There's something about the character that just plain *works*. I think some of it is all the little details, like the scarring and the Confederate cavalry uniform, that all have intriguing backstories, but aren't talked about incessantly (or, usually, at all, Jonah not being the most talkative of fellas.) Interesting to see him next to the gimmicky high-concept characters who round out Showcase Volume 1 with Jonah, a high-concept character who *works*. (I need that Showcase Volume 2, dammit!)

Bizarro's a fun character, though his more recent appearances usually annoy me, with writers not quite "getting the point" in some way or another. IMO, Bizarro should be "sort of" dangerous (mostly by well-meaning accident), but *never* truly malevolent or murderous. And it annoys me when people take his "opposite" talk too literally. Bizarros are imperfect duplicates, and their *imperfection* is imperfect too! Bizarro dialogue shouldn't have to be parsed with a "reverse every single word's meaning" algorithm.

Anthony Strand's description of Jay Garrick is a great one, and the perspective kind of makes him, for me, the epitome of the Greatest Generation's superhero. Like the vast majority of the guys who licked Fascism and saved the world, Jay was no particular paragon, but when he needed to step up and was given the means to do so, he did.

]]> By: Eric http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194711 Eric Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:51:55 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194711 Bizarro is my first character I voted for to rank! Both he and Jessica Jones ranked today, and I had them both as my number 3 on each list. I just think that Bizarro is such a great, goofy Silver Age concept. I think that along with the likes of Plastic Man and Captain Marvel and the Legion os Super-Heroes, he is a concept that is clearly rooted in comics and no other media could have produced him. On top of that, they are all also unique in comics. I'm resisting the urge to speak Bizarro-speak, so I'll end here. Bizarro is my first character I voted for to rank! Both he and Jessica Jones ranked today, and I had them both as my number 3 on each list.
I just think that Bizarro is such a great, goofy Silver Age concept. I think that along with the likes of Plastic Man and Captain Marvel and the Legion os Super-Heroes, he is a concept that is clearly rooted in comics and no other media could have produced him. On top of that, they are all also unique in comics. I'm resisting the urge to speak Bizarro-speak, so I'll end here.

]]> By: John Seavey http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194618 John Seavey Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:25:44 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194618 Oh, I'll second that. 'Showcase Presents Jonah Hex' belongs on every comic fan's shelf. Hex is such a well-drawn character, every story is just purely honed Western goodness...I'm not even much of a Western fan, and Jonah Hex won me over by the end of the first story. Don't recall if I put him on my top ten (the DC universe is a crowded place), but I'm glad to see him on this list. Oh, I'll second that. 'Showcase Presents Jonah Hex' belongs on every comic fan's shelf. Hex is such a well-drawn character, every story is just purely honed Western goodness...I'm not even much of a Western fan, and Jonah Hex won me over by the end of the first story. Don't recall if I put him on my top ten (the DC universe is a crowded place), but I'm glad to see him on this list.

]]> By: ryan s. http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194591 ryan s. Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:36:34 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194591 The Jonah Hex Showcase Presents book is super cool. He's "the killingest man that ever was!" I hope volume two comes out eventually... The Jonah Hex Showcase Presents book is super cool. He's "the killingest man that ever was!" I hope volume two comes out eventually...

]]> By: DanCJ http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194589 DanCJ Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:35:34 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194589 Jay was one of my ones who nearly made it to my list. Jay was one of my ones who nearly made it to my list.

]]> By: Graham Vingoe http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/comment-page-1/#comment-194505 Graham Vingoe Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:18:00 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/13/top-50-dc-characters-45-41/#comment-194505 I voted for the Wally West Flash in my top 10 but truthfully it could have been any of the Flashes in there. Good to see the original gets a placing in the final 50- with 3 other popular flashes to deal with he could have been frozen out. I voted for the Wally West Flash in my top 10 but truthfully it could have been any of the Flashes in there. Good to see the original gets a placing in the final 50- with 3 other popular flashes to deal with he could have been frozen out.

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