Who's your all-time favorite superhero, and why?

[Random Axe]

Tie. Superman and Shazam. No surprises there.

These were the first superheroes I was exposed to and fondly remember as a child. They are the embodiment of what's right in humanity. They never had to question their motivations or ethics, they just did what was right even at great sacrifice if needed. I've made some huge mistakes in life and some very wrong choices, but I've always tried to live up to a certain moral and spititual code. When things got tough around here, I decided to stick it out and make the best of it because it was right to do so. I like to think that those decisions are directly related to those two characters and what they represent.

Now, outside of the big two, I've always been drawn to secondary characaters as they have the most potential to be fleshed out and the most opportunity to shine. Hawkeye, Iron Fist and Falcon come to mind. They will never have the drawing power to be in anyone's top ten, but they have so many stories that can be told yet. I think with the right writers they can become tier one characters.

[DaBillmann]

Batman. No question. I may not care for a lot of what they have doen with him in recent years, but Batman. He was the first hero I ever discovered, he's always just captured my imagination.

And he's Da MAN. Given time, he can find a way to beat anybody.

[The Toyroom]

I go back and forth between Superman and Batman...It's like trying to chose between your two children....it can't be done...

[Goblin19]

I'd have to go with Spidey. He was the only comic I read religiously for years. Supes and Bats are right up there, though.

[spacecaps]

For me it's Batman.The Adam West version use to run at 5pm weekdays for years and for me, it was must see TV. It was also the first live action show that ran right after the mid-day cartoons. When the end credits came on, it was dinner time. Whats odd is that I find the best parts of Batman have little to do with Batman himself though. I'm much more interested in his rouges gallery. He has the most interesting villains and I love how the show put them on display. Burgess Meredth's Penguin is my favorite villain in the show which is kind of ironic since I find him to be totally lame in any other incarnation. Gorshin's Riddler is a close second but Astin's Riddler is awful. One of the first comic books I ever bought was Detective Comics. I also use to love reading the Arkham Asylum comic series in the 90's too. I consider the Animated Series the greatest cartoon series ever made and having recently rewatched it, can say that unlike most other cartoons from my childhood, it has held up incredibly well and is just as good as I remembered it to be. The more recent Brave and the Bold was something that both my son and I looked forward to watching. One of my first graphic novels was The Killing Joke, which was pretty intense for a child and the four part Death In The Family story line was the first "big deal" comic book story lines I can remember. Later on I got into Frank Millers The Cult and Year One and Two and Dark Knight. The Keaton movie was one of the most anticipated movies of my life too (I was 10 going on 11 when it came out) so since I was a wee lad, Batman has always been very prevalent in some form or another.

[B-Lister]

For me it is Kid Flash. Bart over Wally (I loved Impulse). Wally is my Flash, but I love Wally's portrayal as KF in both Teen Titans and Young Justice.

Plus Kerschl did him awesome in Teen Titans Year One.

But Bart is just my favorite. He had a legacy, tons of heart, he was a new spin on old tropes, and when he stepped up to fill the KF boots, he found himself equal to the task. I didn't know if I would like a more mature Bart but he managed to stay charming.

Pity they tinkered with him so much, but he was never a dull read.

[jimsmegos]

As a kid, Robin / Dick Grayson - I simply connected with the character and loved the bright colors. Overall though it's still Superman. The ideal of pure honor and clear cut right and wrong. Sure that's an outdated concept but for nostalgia purposes that hope make s me smile.

[Hector]

Marvel: Phoenix/Dark Phoenix, hands down, my favorite female comic character from ANY universe. Why? Because her powers are completely awesome (she could likely take down Thor, Superman, Gladiator and The Hulk and not even break a sweat), and she represents both the best of humanity (Phoenix) and the absolute worst of humanity (Dark Phoenix) all in one really attractive, ginger package!

How about Dark Phoenix vs the Beyonder?

Living Tribunal?

Eternity?

And the baddest of them all...The "One-Above-All"...he would whip everybody, lol.

[bobws]

DC Male : Green Arrow... i don't like how he's been treated over the years and as soon as i started collecting comics he was dropped from Green Lantern/Green Arrow and i had to find him in JLA and World's Finest. But in GL/GA 121 the first issue i bought GL asks GA if he's ready for round 2 with the villian and GA responds
"Sure , i haven't met my bruise qoutient for today" I just knew this guy was fantastic.

DC Female : It should be WW i Might Be Black Canary,but... It has to be Donna Troy Wonder Girl. I first saw her in the Filmation cartoon shorts and that was it.
Too bad DC doesn't treat her right. just try to find her in the new 52!

Marvel Male: Cyclops ... but before he went Phoenix and before he hooked up with Emma Frost.

Marvel Female: Rogue ... again i love characters that they just can't help messing with.

[B-Lister]

While we're at it, feel free to list your favorite villains too!

[Hector]

Galactus is my all time favorite baddie, heck, my email for the last dozen years or so has been Galactusz@... lol.

[thunderbolt]

Hellboy.... the books are a mix of some of my favorites, Jack Kirby, movie serials, Lovecraft, war comics, Tarzan(the raised by a different species bit) and the whole thing, Hellboy and the BPRD seems to be heading for one big finale instead of plodding along in the same old same old. It'll be refreshing to get a story that has an ending in the superhero world.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Judge Dredd. He's awesomely over the top. He even beat Batman.

Don C.

[Gorn Captain]

Favorite bad guy?

Hmmm.
Ultron. Evil robots are cool...
I just like the look of him, with the energy glow coming out of his mouth like robo-halitosis...

[Riffster]

easy tie... Robin(Dick Grayson) or Shazam, they're the reason i collected comics since I was 9