My Top 10(ish) Superheroes

Was so wildly inclined to update my top 10(ish) superheroes of comics, films and television. Behold…my thoughts! As you can see, I’m a total slööt for Dat Jack Kirby sh!t, especially his work at marvel.

10.

Art by Jim Steranko/Frank Franzetta

“Okh ohem oktei oeeis Barsoom.”

“The game is afoot.”

My number 10 spot is shared because it’s my list and I do what want. John Carter of Mars and Sherlock Holmes. Many people think Superman is the first superhero, but I disagree. It’s the heroes of pulp who started it all. They were THE prototypes for what eventually became the superhero.

John Carter of Mars was a classic western archetype. A veteran of the Civil War and wanderer on the American frontier, fervently in search of opportunity. Only what he found wasn’t land or gold…but the call to adventure. Transported to the far off land of Barsoom (the planet known to Earth as Mars), John Carter represented a inversion of the iconic Superman myth: a visitor from another world comes from sky, wielding strange and amazing powers bestowed by their environment, and becoming a hero of that world’s people. Superman came to Earth, where the rays of the yellow sun gave him amazing strength and the ability to leap amazing heights (and eventually fly). He fought corruption and injustice in the slums of Metropolis, becoming a hero for the voiceless and disenfranchised. John Carter, conversely, comes to Barsoom/Mars and finds that the low gravity combined with his molecular density give him amazing strength as well (along with the ability to leap great heights). He goes on to free the various aspects of Martian society from tyranny as the Warlord of Mars. I’m particularly fond of the unfairly maligned Disney film that came out in 2012, starring Taylor Kitche and Lynn Collins. The film was such an earnest and genuine work of pulp adventure, with a single cynical or pretentious bone in its body. It simply loved the source material and wanted to make something fun and epic. And I think it succeeded.

But if John Carter of Mars is the granddaddy of Superman, then who’s his Batmanish counterpart? That would be Sherlock Holmes, The consulting detective. An eccentric genius, Holmes used his amazing intellect to weed out justice and solve murders on the streets of London. Alongside his trusty companion, Watson, and a network of street kids called The Irregulars, Holmes amassed a dense mythology of mysteries and murders as well his own rogues gallery. The rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty is one of the most prolific hero/villain dynamics ever put to fiction.

Without Carter & Holmes, we wouldn’t have superheroes. Simple as that.

9.

Art by Mike Allred

“To me, my board!”

And now, a Jack Kirby creation that I’ve grown to love recently: The Silver Surfer. He’s a quiet, ponderous alien of immense power. Cursed to wander the cosmos in search of worlds for his planet-devouring God of a Master, Norrin Radd sacrificed his freedom on and sold his own soul to have his world spared from the Armageddon of the world-eating Galactus. He soar around the stars upon his silver surfboard, fueled by the boundless power cosmic (brought to life by the mesmerizing Kirby Krackle). His sleek, simple design is iconic, the gorgeous cosmic imagery he explores from issue to issue is dazzling, and his arc of reluctant, villainous henchman to stalwart hero is amazing. I especially love run of comics created by Dan Slott and The Allreds. The Allred’s art especially made me fall in love with the character, as well as Slott’s character work.

8.

Art by Mike Mignola

Pulpy noir detective in a world overrun by Lovecraftian horrors beyond comprehension, ghosts, evil frogs and monkeys with guns. Mike Mignola crafted a dense, sprawling mythology with this character that is only rivaled by the works of Jack Kirby. Hellboy is a sardonic and clever but down-to-earth Everyman type who happens to be the child of a high ranking demon and a human witch, he was raised by an occult investigator Professor Trevor Bruttenholm. Destined to ultimately usher in the end of the world, he wields the right hand of doom: a stone hand designed to unleash hell on earth. In spite of all this, he’d much rather just get drunk with skeletons and hang out with friends like the fishman Abe Sapien or Johann Krauss, a walking cloud ectoplasm (contained within a steampunk scuba suit). His world is so weird and unique, yet grounded by his warmly human core as a man who just wants to do good. His villains are creepy and pulpy, ranging from nazi scientiests to the Russian sorcerer Grigori Rasputin and his mentor in darkness: The Baba Yaga. Hellboy is just damn cool, you guys.

7.

Promotional art from Disney’s Moongirl & Devil Dinosaur

“Moongirl Magic!”

It’s a classic story. A young girl genius invents a portal and finds herself a pet dinosaur. What do you do with a pet dinosaur? You fight crime with it, of course. Duh-doy. Come on, keep up guys. A modernized update on a Jack Kirby cult character, Moongirl and Devil Dinosaur are just sci fi fun for all ages. Lunella Lafayette is delightful and Devil is always badass and adorable. Moongirl is a very new presence within Marvel canon, having just debuted in the last 10 years (I think), but I think she’s really catching on now that she has her own animated series. A series, I might add, that is also positively delightful: with a great voice cast, an amazing animation style and stellar soundtrack of Funk, R&B and soul. Originally created by Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder and artist Natacha Bustos in 2015, Lunella’s spunky zeal for science and adventure is contagious (matched only by her incredible genius and desire to do good for the people of her neighborhood). She is a perfect homage to all the themes and aesthetics Jack Kirby brought to the world of comics with his revolutionary work across the 60s and 70s, but with a modern twist. In the comics she is an Inhuman with ability to swap bodies with her Dinosaur companion (a power she doesn’t have in animated series, where she is just an ordinary human girl with a genius intellect). The mighty tyrannosaur, Devil, was created Kirby himself in 1978 in a pulpy “land of the lost” type comic series. Within the story of Moongirl, he is a refugee from a prehistoric dimension where he reigned as king of The Valley of Flame: an unrelenting scourge to all who threatened peace in his domain, thus earning him the title of “Devil” by his enemies (also inspired to his red skin and horns). For years he fought beside Moonboy, a child from a tribe of Ape-like creatures called The Small Folk (constantly being targeted by their murderous sister tribe: The Killer Folk). I believe the comics established Lunella as the smartest person on Earth-616, a fact that has brought her in conflict with the petty-as-sin Doctor Doom. You know if Doctor Doom feels threatened by you, you’re a badass. The crime fighting duo of Moongirl & Devil Dinosaur is so weird and wholesome, I just love it.

6.

Art by David Mack

“I’m a really good lawyer.”

Matt Murdock/ Daredevil is an adrenaline junkie haunted by catholic guilt and daddy issues (and also mommy issues). He’s a train wreck of a human being who tries his best to make a difference in his corner of the world and i just find that awesome. His rogues gallery is underrated and awesome, with vicious rivalries with the Kingpin of crime (who is one of my favorite supervillains and has been amazingly realized on screen multiple times), Bullseye, Typhoid Mary, Gladiator, The Owl, The Hand and finally: Elektra. Their romance is so famously toxic but I can’t help but love them together. She brings out his darkest impulses but also always helps him back to who he really is: a warrior. I also love how DD pivots between gritty vigilante and silver age swashbuckler. He has one of the longest running and prolific successions of consistently great comic runs under a revolving door of great writers from Dennis O’Neil to Mark Waid. Frank Miller might be a sore topic since he got old and completely lost his mind, but his work on Daredevil in the late 80s is honestly better than the work he did on Batman, but of course Batman gets the spotlight because Batman the poster child of basic superhero fandom. I especially love Ann Noccenti’s run on Daredevil and her contribution to his lore with Typhoid Mary and the Wild Boys. Daredevil is low key one of Marvel’s best and most consistent characters, even starring in a show that’s largely held as one of their best adaptations…but people just want to talk about the avengers and Spider-man. Well I say Daredevil deserves some respect too 😤

5.

Art by Steve Ditko

“Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain.”

Trippy 60s psychedelia mixed with Lovecraftian cosmic horror with a dash of Vincent Price thrown in? Give me 12, please. Doctor Strange is brainchild of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and one of their most unique creations. He fills an important but lonely role as the Sorcerer Supreme (the central figurehead of all things magic within the Marvel Canon), and works on a cosmic-scaled level of stakes that completely eclipses the likes of Spider-man (another Lee/Ditko creation). He protects the entire universe itself from mystical and cosmic threats from other dimensions in the form of gods like Dormammu, Loki (the Norse trickster god and brother to avenger Thor), the living embodiment of Nightmares, and rival sorcerers like Baron Mordo and even Scarlet Witch when she’s having a bad day. A pragmatist who dabbles in Machiavellian philosophy, he works in shades of grey to ensure the safety of every life in creation. His primary power is his brilliant mind, limited only by his imagination and knowledge of the mystic arts. I also love MCU version of Strange, played to perfection by Benedict Cumberbatch who brilliantly portrays the internal struggle of a once arrogant, selfish man who has since given himself to a cause much greater than himself. Multiverse of Madness gets some heat from people but I honestly love that movie and it might be my favorite marvel film. Sam Raimi’s style and sensibilities as a filmmaker fit the character like a glove (more so than they did Spider-Man, in my opinion). The film perfectly captures the gothic-meets-psychedelic roots of a character who was obviously inspired by Vincent Price movie (specifically Roger Corman’s The Raven, which is another great movie by the way).

4.

Art by Russell Dauterman

“The Scarlet Witch is not born; she is forged. She has no coven or need for incantation. Her power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme.”

Wanda Maximoff, aka The Scarlet Witch. I just find her and her journey fascinating. Her mythology is so convoluted but intriguing, starting as a villain to X-Men and daughter to Magneto. Then she switches sides to become an Avenger, is revealed to have some secret origin connection to The High Evolutionary and his lab on Mount Wundagore. She’s struggled with poor mental health, having various breaks with reality (which is bad because her power is literally warping reality). She accidentally wiped out half the mutant population on earth, found redemption, learned Magneto wasn’t actually her father, accepted him as her adoptive father anyway, is constantly at odds with her narcissistic twin brother Pietro/Quicksivler, has an on-again-off-again relationship with The Vision (robotic offspring of The Avengers’ nemesis Ultron). She created magic children to raise with her robotic husband while playing house in the suburbs, who both grew up to be accomplished heroes themselves. She trained in magic under the tutelage of the witch, Agatha Harkness, and has both fought with and alongsideThe Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange. She’s had flirtations with Doctor Doom, the biggest bad in the Marvel Universe. She’s been all over the mythological spectrum as a hero, a villain, and everything in between. She’s had a prolific presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2015 in Avengers: Age of Ultron that’s done a decent job of touching on all the milestones of her convoluted history. Her mainstream popularity came to a head with her own hit spinoff show, Wandavision, before becoming the twist villain of Doctor Strange’s second solo outing in theaters. Her appearance in Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness certainly proved controversial, but I personally loved seeing the trajectory of her arc through 5 or 6 movies come to its tragic climax. Even after her death, she’s still affecting the course of the MCU in Agatha All Along (and is rumored to be making a comeback for the new Avengers event at The Multiverse Saga’s conclusion). Elizabeth Olsen is fantastic in the role and had lovely chemistry with Paul Bethany as Vison. I remember when Wandavision first hit screens and every Wednesday became cultural event as we watched the mystery of Westview unfold before us. I can only hope that rumors of the Scarlet Witch’s return are true, and even better still, that she’s finally getting her own movie.

3.

Art by Alex Ross

“Don’t make me angry…you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

Godzilla meets Jekyll & Hyde with a dash of the Wolfman and Frankenstein? Yes. Frickin. Please. A true atomic age promethean myth mixed with troubling psychodrama and all the trappings of a 50s creature feature. The tragic tale of Bruce Banner is an enduring, complex journey through loneliness and trauma as one man battles with and alongside his literal personal demons. He’s another Kirby creation that just hit the jackpot on being unique and resonant in the cultural zeitgeist. Whether it’s Bill

Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, Eric Bana or Mark Ruffalo, Hulk is an iconic hero who finds a way to do the right thing and help people despite his inner darkness and personal handicaps. He’s a great metaphor for living with mental illness (a fact portrayed best in the Ang Lee film and first 2 Avengers movies, I think). The Hulk is just awesome, you guys.

We need another hulk movie with Mark Ruafflo yesterday, damnit 😤

2.

Art by Gurihiru

“Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. And on my soul, I swear that until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice are the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting.”

The golden ideal of what superheroes can be as well as all that is good in people. Superman is THE superhero. Immigrant story, social justice icon and symbol for hope at the worst of times. Superman has lasted almost a hundred years and for good reason. His backstory is the definition of timeless and iconic. The red S is one of the most famous and recognizable symbols on the planet. Superman simply is the genre, and it’s a genre that will always be there, constantly evolving and shaping the imaginations of children and adults alike.

2.

Still from Godzilla vs Hedorah

“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.”

Godzilla is many things to many people. Most iconically, he’s a promethean allegory for nature punishing mankind’s arrogance, the horrors of atomic warfare and American Imperialism. But Godzilla has evolved several times in his 70 years stomping through cinemas…he’s been a living symbol of terror but also he’s been a hero to millions of children. The 60s and 70s took this scarred, wrathful mutant and slapped him on a lunchbox, giving him wrestler poses as he squared up against a rogues gallery of evil monsters, aliens, subterranean Romans and robots. And you know what? All Godzillas are valid. Yeah. I love the darker, more horror-themed Godzilla and find him at his most compelling when he’s reminding humanity how small they really are. But Hero Godzilla is just as awesome, and has a great filmography of fun, colorful blockbusters like Godzilla vs The Smog Monster, Terror of MechaGodzilla and Destroy All Monsters (the original Avengers: Endgame). He has fun allies like Anguiris, King Caesar and Jet Jaguar. He even gets a bombastic, brass-heavy hero theme to replace the darker, ominous Godzilla March. It’s not as cool or iconic but hey, it works! I’ve gone back and forth on including Godzilla here BECAUSE he’s so much more famous for villainous or anti-heroic stories, but after the success and fun of the American movies bringing back Nostalgia for Showa Hero Godzilla, I had to reassess. I grew up loving Godzilla movies. I watched them with my Mom and Grandpa. I still watch them with my Mom when we can. I’ve even started sharing this love with my wife, and she seems pretty into it! Granted I’ve only shown Godzilla vs Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, but she still dug it. Godzilla has been a huge part of my identity and informed a lot of my creative sensibility as a writer. He’s been a staple of pop culture for 70 years and I think he’s got another 70 in him. Godzilla forever!