Then again, this IS a popularity contest after all.

I know next to nothing about manga, I admit.

Okay, Lynxara. I'll correct it next time, thanks.

Yeah - Usagi Yojimbo is a completely American comic. Easy mistake to make though. I used to think it was Manga too.

It was originally published in English rather than Japanese, has not to date ever (IIRC) been published in ten dollar "manga format" by any of the major manga localizers, and has basically been issued in sequential American-style issues rather than collections forever. The actual storytelling style Sakai uses shares little in common with manga layout tropes, and his artwork has nothing to do with manga and everything to do with American cartooning. Usagi Yojimbo has appeared in both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, even, possible due to Yojimbo's creation being contemporaneous with the 80's black & white boom that created the Turtles.

I really feel Yojimbo should be classed as a non-superhero work, since it's essentially a historical action-adventure epic wearing a funny, furry hat. While Sakai's family name is Japanese and the subject matter concerns Japan, the mode in which Yojimbo is published and tells its stories is entirely that of the American independent comic book.

And while I love superheroes as much as anyone, I don't even like it that the formula is so widespread and dominant.

Now, Plastic Man… it can be genius (taking your word for it), it’s just not the industry standard.

So your agrument is 'cause everyone isn't ripping him off Cole's Plas isn't important?

I disagree. Lots. First of all: Plastic Man was MUCH more important in the development of independent comics than any of the Marvel books. Even Ditko.

But I've got both of 'em out in front of me, and I'm seeing a heck of a lot of Plastic Man influence in Kurtzman's MAD, both in tone and in elastic figure drawing. He was also paying more attention to page design than any of his contemperaries I'm aware of, 'cept for Eisner and has a better pure grasp of panel design than.. well, pretty much anyone ever.

And, hey, correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of anyone doing that kind of exagerrated, cartoonish effect in comic BOOKS before Cole... So Cole... Kurtzman... Crumb... all independent comics to this day.
Plastic Man's a singular accomplishment, and a HUGE step up in craft from everything around it. (Except, again, for Eisner. )

Plastic Man moved the goalposts - CHanged the boundaries of what can be accomplished with the comics form, and moved the people who CONTINUED to expand on the scope of the medium.

I love Roy's Avengers to death... But not in the same league.

Kirby's probably more important in the grand scheme of things, but Thor is just one work, and it's not as influential as Fantastic Four, his earliest stuff where he's helping to invent comic time, or New Gods.

And Ditko's Strange was absolutely expanding the scope of comic art... But it wasn't defining the language of comics the way Cole did.

Now, Plastic Man... it can be genius (taking your word for it), it's just not the industry standard. You could even make a case that it's uniqueness only make it better, and that its genius make it harder to be replicated than the sometimes formulaic angsty superhero team thingie, but the later is a much, much more pervasive influence in comic books.

Thor and Doc Strange... Kirby's Thor really is THE mythological superhero book, and Ditko's Doc Strange is THE mystical superhero book. Both are specialized niches, sure, but I dare say the humorous superhero book also has remained a small part of the industry (perhaps regretably). And, say, someone of Neil Gaiman's stature has confessed being inspired by both Ditko's Strange and Kirby's Thor, for instance, so I wouldn't take that so lightly.

I find it far more unfair that Lee/Ditko Doc Strange, Lee/Kirby Thor, and Roy Thomas’ Avengers are so low.

While Jack Cole’s Plastic Man can be a work of genius (I never read it), the three above works are not only classics, they also were influential in ways Plastic Man wasn’t.

I guess, if by "influential" you mean 'part of the Marvel Universe."

Lemme put it this way: Geoff Johns was inspired by Roy Thomas. Art Speigelman was inspired by Jack Cole.... And I don't think it's debatable which of these two guys is more important.

I like all four or these runs a hell of a lot (I haven't read a lot of Thor, but have read all of Tales of Asgard) but Jack Cole is still THE humorous superhero artist. He defined his niche in the way the other guys haven't, Avengers isn't THE important superhero team. Doctor STrange isn't THE important Ditko, (although quite possibly his best) and Thor isn't THE important Kirby. Plastic Man is THE humorous superhero book,

(And Plastic Man is one of two superhero runs that I voted for. And I've read damn near everything. So that should count for something.)

Only 4 of my 10 picks are runs that I've read in my first bout of comic book collecting, in my starry-eyed kid phase. The other 6 picks are all more mature tastes.

Only 1 of them all is a comic that I couldn't read when it was released so I hunt it down later.

Likewise, I suspect the number of voters who read Cole's Plastic Man when it first came out is much lower than the number who read Alias off the stands (and, given the expense of the Archives volumes, that probably also extends to reprints and back issues as well) so Plas probably did better as a ratio of those who felt qualified to vote for it to those who actually did so. It's a logical result of online demographics.