C-Level Comic Book Stars You Were Obsessed With

[Wee67]

Before we get going, I recognize the difficulty are labeling a character as an A, B or C-level character. Of course, Batman and Captain America are A-listers. I would argue that characters like Martian Manhunter or the Vision are about the B tier.

So, given those VERY loose guidelines, were you obsessed with any deeper cut characters when you were a kid? Maybe it was because it was one of the few #1's I could pick up off a rack growing up, but I clearly remember grabbing Ragman #1 and wanting to get every issue.



I assume others will argue he's not C-level, but another for me was Deadman

[Nostalgiabuff]

i always loved the aesthetic of Hawkman. arguable about whether he is B or C maybe, but DC never really knew what to do with him and were constantly reinventing him. but i still love the look of the classic version. as a kid my brother and I even tried making our own custom figure. mask was cardboard and tape and did not last long, lol. wings were cardboard too

[KingKickass1983]

Faust, love of the damned.

Probably Z grade level character... but he got a movie at least...an awful, but fun movie.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I was, and still am obsessed with the Earth-Two version of Robin. It's why my Name is Earth 2 Chris. Yes, Robin is an A-list hero, but the Earth-Two version is certainly pretty obscure! And while I love the goofiness of his Batmanesque costume, I much, MUCH prefer the red/green/yellow adult update, designed by Neal Adams, but modified by others. I prefer his look in Brave and the Bold #182 by Jim Aparo above all others. Also, my favorite comic of all time, with a wonderful story by the master Alan Brennert!

[PNGwynne]

Totally agree about Hawkman, such a great-looking character but hard to categorize or characterize. Ditko's Creeper is similarly oft-reinvented, and I'd put him on the C-list with the equally interesting and well-designed Deadman and Ragman. I always thought Ragman was very cool. I discovered him in Brave & the Bold and collected the Broderick run.

It's hard to answer this. Other than Batman & Flash, I collected B-listers (Aquaman, Shazam!, Firestorm, & Daredevil). I was very fond of Green Arrow and Falcon, also Bs.

I'll have to mull over newer characters with brief runs or backup features.

[PNGwynne]

Well, if we're also discussing Earth-2 B-listers who are Earth-1 C-listers, I'd suggest Dr. Mid-nite. I always thought he was great.

Where would Doom Patrol fit in? I'm still obsessed with them, but they always seemed marginalized in so many ways.

[Makernaut]

DC had a character named Air Wave that was making infrequent appearances in various books in the late-70s/early 80s. For some "only a kid gets it" reason, I was always on the lookout for stories where Air Wave might show up. I believe it was a Golden Age character that they brought back with a new, modern identity and he had ties to Hal Jordon. They even reverted to the Golden Age Air Wave for some All-Star Squadron appearances since he was around in that period of comics.

[MRP]

For me, it might even have been D-listers.

Ulysses Bloodstone

Claw the Unconquered

Starfire I (not Kory form Titans, the 70s sci-fantasy heroine DC published)


Jack Knight and Shade

Shang Chi

not sure if Vision from Marvel would be a B or C lister, but he was my favorite Avenger as a kid and Avengers was my book of choice through grade school and high school.

Would Phantom Stranger Dr. Fate, Madame Xanadu and Spectre be B or C level characters pre-film era? If you are putting Hawkman at C level (and I love me some Hawkman) they would have to be C level as well. They (along with the Hawks) were my favorite DC heroes for a long time.

-M

I like the big guns as much as most comic fans, but I've always dug into the secondary and tertiary characters in the shared universes because they were much less status quo constraints on the stories you could tell with them.

[Wee67]

Ditko's Creeper is similarly oft-reinvented

Oh yeah! The Creeper was another one I absolutely loved. More than Ragman or Deadman, TBH.

Where would Doom Patrol fit in? I'm still obsessed with them, but they always seemed marginalized in so many ways.

I don't know if they even make the C List, despite having a TV show. You remind me of another C-List group I was fascinated by- Metal Men!

[PNGwynne]

Yes, I would consider Phantom Stanger, The Spectre, and Elongated Man as notable C-listers.