The Web Haunt of Ryan K Lindsay

Compiling my list of Top 10 Marvel Characters for the CSBG poll was a hell of a lot easier than doing the DC list.

My quick list filled to 14 very suddenly and then came the process of culling (whereas the DC list was a stretch to meaningfully spread to 10). This list of Marvel characters includes some Icon characters, that was allowed in the rules. Without further ado:

This is my top 10 list of Marvel characters:

10. Emma Frost

There’s something so gleefully fun about Emma Frost that she commands every page she’s on. Maybe it’s the blatant display of her…id on show. She doesn’t edit, and she doesn’t care. A great writer has plenty of fun with that.

9. Dakota North

Blame Ed Brubaker. He brought back a gag character from the 80s and made me care so much for her. I would love nothing more than to see Dakota get more time opposite Matt Murdock in the future. And her own mini. She’s a strong chick who stands out because she feels real. I dig that.

8. Legion of Monsters

I’m a horror lad, always have been, and this group has it all. The vampire, mummy, werewolf, manphibian, kick ass babe. Each, on their own, might not crack the list but as a collective they’re just simply too awesome to stop. I really dug them in the Franken-Castle tale and I’ll be back for more in a few months when their mini drops.

7. Davos – Steel Serpent

He’s the anti-Iron Fist and that’s pretty cool but then Fraction/Aja/Brubaker gave him an arc that was not to be ignored. There’s some serious drama behind this character and also some very serious strength. I’m still waiting for Davos to be used to perfection now that he’s defined as a character. I hope…one day.

6. Beta Ray Bill

The visual and/or the inner stoicism is what gets me. Beta Ray Bill looks like a goofy character but instead has become this warrior poet who cruises space and has the ability to defeat Galactus. What’s not to love?

5. Spider-Woman

Strangely enough, Bendis brought her to my attention once more but he can’t write her decently at all. He plays her off as a romantic pawn or just haphazardly inneffective at best. A shame because there’s a brilliant run for this lady waiting to smash through…one day.

4. Casanova Quinn

A character so clearly made to be cool and he’s come through as so unbelievably cool. That’s a hard trick to pull off. Casanova Quinn stars in one of the best comics ever and here’s hoping the relaunch/continuation can keep the dream alive.

3. Eric O’Grady

Sleazeball superhero is an angle not nearly enough played up. Especially not with this much charm. Easily Kirkman’s best Marvel work, Eric O’Grady leapt off the page and straight into my heart. I’ve followed him from title to title and while he’s never been as gloriously good as he was in those first 6 issues, he’s still got a hold of me.

2. Iron Fist

Kung Fu Billionnaire. That’s one way to sell it. I’d also put in mystical playboy and facade with a dark past behind it. Danny Rand is a layered character and as the Iron Fist he also gets to be one hell of a visual fighter. I’m always tuning in for this guy.

1. Daredevil

This spot will always be Daredevil. I buy anything he headlines, and sometimes things he shares a background with. Mostly, I’m pleased with what he appears in. It’s nice to love the hero but also love the man beneath. Matt Murdock is one of the most intriguing and fantastic characters to ever grace a page and when he’s done right there’s no better flawed hero out there.

These are my Marvel Top 10, what are yours?

Posted on August 3rd, 2011 by ryan
Filed under: comics