Who's your favorite? How did you get exposed to him/her/it? Why do you think you like them so much?

Mine's kind of obvious to any of you with frequent the board:

Iron Man

Back when I was little, my dad would buy me comic books off the rack at the local drug store (there were probaby a few comic stores back in the 70's but they weren't common knowledge, at least, not to most people). For whatever reason, he primarily got me Marvel (although a few DC would sneak in there now and then). I liked to read them, but somehow the idea of the stories continuing beyond whatever issue was in front of me at the time didn't resonate.

Until, by sheer coincidence, my dad brought home two issues of Iron Man in a row. A light bulb when off. The story NEVER ended. It just continued on to the next issue. Better yet, you could go BACK and find earlier issues to learn about what went on before. BOOM! A collector was born!

I got my start with old Shellhead during one of his best runs: the first Bob Layton series. I loved the stories, I loved the art, and I loved the character. His only superpower was his brain and he used it to create that awesome armor (this was also the beginning of the specialty armors like Space and Stealth; a concept which BLEW MY MIND the first time I saw it).

Since then, Iron Man's had his ups and downs ("evil" Iron Man, "teen" Tony, "master manipulator" Stark), but he'll always be my favorite. I like to think he represents an idealized version of me; a guy who uses his brain to solve problems.

All because my Dad brought home two issues of the same title two months in a row. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

What's the story behind your favorite?

I like your story, but I never really had just one that I focused on like that so I don't know what I'd say. From pretty early on I followed particular artists around.

Hawkeye. The second Marvel title I started to collect was West Coast Avengers and Hawkeye was in charge. I like how he doesn't have any super powers, except when he becomes Goliath, and is just a highly skilled archer. A close second would be Iron Man.

DC- Its Batman-- because hes the "God**** Batman- thats why"-- or more importantly because he doesnt have superpowers, hes smart, and he can kick almost anybodys ass-- as a kid- that was the one I most wanted to be like (plus he has the best set of villians out there)- and IS NOT SUPERMAN- my most hated comic character. However as I got more into the comics I think it was Tim Drake -- just because he seemed to have all the characteristics of Batman-- but actually had a social life.

Marvel -- its Nightcrawler and Shadowcat-- partially because I got pulled into marvel comics with Excalibur so they became my favorites--- Nightcrawler was the swashbuckler, the quiet leader and the odd looking outsider that still got the ladies . He was also a very cool design. However I do have to admit I lost interest in him and was disappointed when they went the religious preacher route-- made it hard for me to want to read about him at that point.

Kitty pryde - because she was smart, a computer geek , learned to become a ninja and had a freaking pet dragon, and I always thought her power was cool..

Comics were always about escapism to me- and these characters usually represented to me what I wanted to be and had enough of my characteristics I could identify with.


I was also partial to Hawkeye and Green Arrow-- just beacuse I love the whole archery thing.

My favorite superhero is Silver Surfer.

Why? I like his origin story. Guy makes a deal with Galactus to spare his planet. Something about his lonely existence as a herald traveling through space resonates with me. He is tremendously powerful and yet there is always something slightly melancholy about him. Oh, and Jack Kirby invented him.

Plus, he's all silver. And he has a surf board he controls with his mind.

Isn't that the reason they gave in Crimson Tide....

I have a soft spot for Kitty Pryde as well, but my favorite superheroine is admittedly a bit off the beaten path . . .

Spider-woman (Julia Carpenter version)

I loved the costume and the fact that she was a "new" character at the time (getting her start during Secret Wars). Later on, when we found out she was a single mom that seemed to make her much more "real" to me. In addition, she played a HUGE role in my Marvel Super-Heroes RPG throughout the 80's.

The fact I've already got her in MU form is pretty cool.

BTW I HATE the fact they made her change her name to Arachina because Bendis just HAD to have the original SW back.

For some reason I was thinking I needed to make a historical argument in my first post from childhood up. My current favorite is J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter.

1. His powers are ridiculous and I love it. Reads minds, invisible, intangible, super strong, near invulnerable, can fly, AND shape shifts. It's crazy.

2. I also like oreos.

3. For some reason, when he was killed during Final Crisis I moved him up into my top spot mentally. Kind of like an internal nerd homage (that also manifested into me wanting to own every fig ever made of him, even from lines I don't like, like the Total Justice/JLA one).

4. To shamelessly imitate Dan's comments on SS, there is a sadness he carries around being the last of his kind (pretty much), and losing his family. That adds some depth to him. He never really fits in. So I'm copying Dan on that, but I really did feel that way before I read Dan's comment.

Friggin copy cat.

Super-Pro. Why? Because he has his own football card. Not a comic book trading card. An honest to goodness football card I had to buy numerous packs of football cards to obtain. Each pack something like $1.50. What's he worth now? Maybe 20 cents. Yeah...eat that Batman!

If we're talking just heroes and not villains or characters in general, mine is most definitely Plastic Man. I love Phantom Stranger, the Doom Patrol, and the Metal Men, but favorite favorite? Plas. While the "super powers gained from being showered in chemicals" part of his origin is kinda cliche, there are a lot of other parts of his story that are super badass. He was a gangster first and then became an F.B.I. agent who wears a red leotard with a huge yellow and black belt and white motorcycle goggles and also is in the Justice League. Badass. His sidekick is a fat alcoholic named Woozy Winks (COME ON, DCUC! WOOZY US!) whos only superpower was that he had amazing luck at one point. Badass. He was invented by Jack Cole, who was not only a fantastic writer but also an amazing artist. Badass. He was written (WELL) by Kyle Baker, who, again, is both an amazing writer and artist. Badass. He had his own cartoon series where his hot blonde assistant was all over him, his token minority sidekick was Hawaiian, he was in love with his hot Candace Bergen-meets-Cruella Deville boss, and even though he could turn into a plane himself, he had a company plane. Also he fought Disco Mummy. Badass. AND he could turn himself into a plane, or, for that matter, anything he wanted to at all, and, hilariously, no one noticed that the thing was bright red with yellow & black stripes. Badass. And dont even get me started on the implications that come along with being able to stretch ANY part of your body to any shape or size you want. Badass. No wonder Penny wanted him so bad! When Mego put out a Plastic Man figure to go with the rest of the dc figures, they made him like a stretch armstrong. Badass. Plastic Man is badass.

shishalzafrazz, this may be a bit of a stretch, but I'm getting the impression you think Plastic Man is badass .

My favorite superhero shouldn't come as big surprise to anyone either (he's my avatar). Thor Odinson. He just reeks of awesomeness. His story appealed to me even as a child, because it was based on a lesson of humility. I couldn't be more excited for the movie coming next summer.

Hey there, new one here...
Just wanted to chime in on the dicussion...
Mine is the Flash, Wally West as a matter of fact (I love speedsters). He wasn't my favorite since I was young (that would be spidey) but since I read Geoff Johns' run (pun intended, oh yes) I loved the character, the way the rogues act, the whole speedforce "thing", the heritage, everything about the Flash is something I really like about the character, how he really is the fastest man alive (move over speed of light), the ways he can use super speed to solve problems, I really like how he can read super fast but forget it in an instant, of course, at the speed he "lives" that instant is enough time to learn how to build a bridge and actually do it.
I love his villains, the Rogues are amazing (Zoom is zooper as well), everyone talks about either Batman or Spider-Man villains, for me, it's all about the Rogues, there is no other bad guys team like it, and their motivations and powers are amazing, and as Captain Cold once said (well, I don't know it by heart but it went something like this) "they say a hero is as strong as his villains, then the Flash most be the most powerful of them all".
To me there is no one who can beat the Flash, obviously it all depends on the writer, but really? How can you beat someone who is faster than light? well...I'm sure the rogues can answer that question

PS. Kid Flash (bart allen) is pretty cool too

Batman

He's awesome

I really have too many to name.

Love Green Lantern (Guy Gardner or Salaak if I need to be more specific)
Love Blue Beetle, more so when he is with Booster Gold, even more when they are in JLI with Fire and Ice and Guy

Love the Kirby 4th World.

Love Shade the Changing Man

LOVE Black Orchid

Love the Endless (especially Despair and Destiny)

Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, the Heckler, Major Bummer, Ralph & Sue Dibney, Ray Palmer Atom, Firestorm ... and on and on.

I think my "favorite" changes on a week to week basis depending on what I am reading.

The only book(s) I have ever picked up No-Matter-What are Green Lantern and Justice League. Other than that, I'm into everything at some point.