100 Greatest Fictional Characters #3: Buffy Summers
We collected input from hundreds of visitors to the site, convention attendees, and industry professionals to compile the list of the 100 Greatest Fictional Characters of All Time. You can see the beginning of the project here, where you’ll also find an index of all the results to date.
We are now in the final week of revealing the winners, and today we bring you #3!
3. Buffy Summers
Appears In: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Created By: Joss Whedon
Influence:
Buffy’s influence on pop culture and on genre TV in particular is immense. From her supernaturally gifted character to her propensity to make up and own new words and phrases, Buffy Summers echoes throughout modern television. It’s hard to find a current series with smart, dark, and funny writing that doesn’t owe something to Buffy and her Scoobies. Aside from her obvious impact on television and the arts, Buffy also has become an empowering icon for young women, not to mention that academic conferences and classes now meet to discuss her character and the overall TV series.
Fandom:
Buffy’s success as an enduring character is largely thanks to her cult fanbase that grew into a true force to be reckoned with. Even now, more than six years after the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired, websites like Whedonesque.com keep legions of fans abreast of what’s going on with “Buffyverse” actors and crew. Buffy’s tale continues to be so popular that Dark Horse Comics now produces an official comic book continuation of the TV series, while IDW publishes a comic continuation of the Buffy spinoff, Angel. So many fans have identified with Buffy that a veritable new genre has sprung up around them.
Voter Comments:
“Buffy is my chief hero. I can identify with her.” – Ginny Keller
“Buffy changed TV in the ’90s. Dark Angel would follow, as well as Alias. Buffy made it possible.” – Dax Collins
“I think [Buffy] has become more than she was meant to be. She’s iconized and used as an example, and girls look to her as a role model, despite her flaws.” – Kelley Harkins
Previous character: #4
Check back tomorrow for #2!
October 28th, 2010 at 1:15 am
BUFFY!!!? REALLY!!!! You’ve got to be kidding ahead of Darth Vader,The Joker,Han Solo,Luke Skywalker,and a bunch of other better characters. This makes no sense.
January 10th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Wow what a mess to the list. Buffy of all characters in number 3? Where’s The Joker? Is this a joke? Come on. There are more interesting characters than her. Rebuild this list. She should be way down below top ten.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:48 am
Buffy higher than the Doctor I don’t think so. So wasn’t even the best character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer!!!
January 31st, 2011 at 4:23 am
Buffy kicks ass! She’s a role model to millions of girls! Just because she’s not a guy with a light saber or a time machine doesn’t mean she isn’t powerful or great. She gave the power of the slayer to millions of girls and I know every time I feel like I can’t do something I just think of that and I can do whatever I fear.
February 16th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Buffy as #3?!?! You’re joking, right? Over Darth Vader, Cthulhu, and so many other extremely better characters? Very disappointing.
March 12th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
BUFFY?! What?! This is such a fandom-driven poll. Don’t get me wrong, I loved that show. But not for Buffy herself, it was the supporting cast that really shone. I mean, if one Whedon creation’s getting a chance to shine, give it to Dr Horrible or Malcolm Reynolds.
March 19th, 2011 at 12:11 am
Buffy beat out Tarzan!? This must have been a teen fanboy poll.
April 4th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
For all of you who claim that Buffy should not be here, you’re wrong. Buffy was a huge icon, and while I was disappointed that Westley made it and not Spike, or Willow, Buffy deserves this spot. She was THE girl, the one who sacrificed everything so that she could save the world again and again, without thanks. She inspired girls everywhere, and became the icon for female empowerment across the nation. She deserves #3.
July 13th, 2011 at 8:13 am
Holy*(&^, did you forget other options :
1) Dick Grayson A.K.A. The new Batman also Nightwing & the first Robin.
2) Spider-Man.
3) Wolverine – The best there is.
& a lot of other but buffy.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
When i was a little kid growing up in the 90′s i watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the first show i ever watched on a regular basis. Every friday night i would stay up to watch the new episode of that show featuring a hot blonde kicking monster ass. And Joss Whedon is just incredible, i love everything he does. but no way does buffy summers deserve to be number 3. you know who should be number 3? Spike. If it were Spike i could live with that. but not buffy summers.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
This is screwed up, man. You’re telling me that this “Buffy” character is the THIRD GREATEST FICTIONAL CHARACTER OF ALL TIME??!
You honestly put BUFFY SUMMERS- a character that was original introduced to the public in 1992 AS A JOKE- is greater, presumably in terms of allure and impact, than:
1) EVERY SINGLE FICTIONAL CHARACTER created before 1932
2) EVERY SINGLE FICTIONAL CHARACTER created after 1992
3) EVERY SINGLE FICTIONAL CHARACTER created in the years between 1932 and 1992, besides Batman
4) EVERY SINGLE FICTIONAL CHARACTER created in any country than America
Think about how many MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of characters you have there. And not a single one was thought to be better than BUFFY?! Mickey Mouse? Gulliver? Gilligan? MARIO, anybody? Heracles? The Joker? Vincent Vega? ATTICUS FINCH? MOBY DICK?! SPIDER-MAN? ZORRO????? Disco Stu. THINK! USE YOUR MIIIIND!!!
August 16th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Or… or I don’t know, Rosie the Riveter. Uncle Sam. Pop ‘n’ Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy. Wonder Woman. Any Disney princess. The head scientist from “The Right Stuff.” R2-D2. He-Man. I don’t care, but this “Buffy” should be down in the 70′s. I haven’t heard about her since about 2001, I think. People are still talking about fictionalized Will Smith from “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
IMPACT. Think of IMPACT!!!!
August 18th, 2011 at 12:35 am
BUFFY ?!?! WTF !!!!!! ???????????? what about JESUS !! ?? He’s pretty big. And I’d rather see Satan or Billbo or Princess Leia or jessica rabbit in front whatever this gilr’s name.
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:00 am
y’all killed it with this 1. 1 batman 2 superman, 3 would’ve really legitmazied this listing of the top fictional charcters Spiferman. Moreover, i think this whomever did the final editing of this post and pushed the publish button was letting the whole world know, FANDOMANIA is hanging off of joss sack. literally with wolverwene 4, i doubt you even bart simpson but to have this has 3 is mocking, and uh thumbs down and or dislike
December 21st, 2011 at 10:23 pm
What is wrong with any of you people that said Buffy wasn’t supposed to be here. Especially anonymous. Buffy was not released as a joke. Do your research. Joss wanted it to be dark scary and have a female finally kick some as*, instead of the blonde being killed by Micheal Myers. But the way the actors in the 1992 film portrayed the characters was funny and that was the opposite of what Joss wanted so he created the TV show which was not taken jokingly and made more seriously
December 27th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
I’m thinking all the people who expressed their disdain for Buffy as number 3 are either idiots, or guys who take things way too seriously. First off, I’m a 20 year old male and I believe Buffy as a show is the greatest show of all time. Without Buffy, TV would be so different. Alias, Lost, even 24 to an extent, owes Buffy because it was able to create long, season and even series long story arcs, with amazing character development to boot. It would also be nice if we didn’t let 12 year olds comment on this things. Because any adult would know that art is inherently subjective, so while you may not agree with the statement, acting like a child because of it is just plain stupid and a waste of time. Like her or not, she’s influential in ALL aspects of pop culture. I, for one, do not like Star Wars, or its franchise, but even I know how influential George Lucas is, and I respect that. Get a life, people.
January 15th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
I like the # 1 pick. However, Buffy is way too high on this list.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Your list fails. Mickey Mouse is easily top 5. No question. The iconic fictional character created by the greatest entertainer in history should be there, not 51. Buffy sucks, in my opinion, she might squeak in the 90-100 range. You missed so many characters. Spongebob? Tom and Jerry? Inspector Gadget? Where’s Yosemite Sam? Elmer Fud? Goofy and Donald? You put Optimus Prime at #59 and Yoda at #60? Mario should be higher. Donkey Kong? The only supporting character that goes in front of a protagonist is Han Solo. Skywalker was great, but Harrison Ford killed it with his part. I’m going to put together a list myself, and put this one to shame. Your top 5 is solid with the exception of Buffy.
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:00 pm
LOL! The list, which I was to some extent eagerly going through, LOST all credibility for THIS ONE!!
Buffy at number 3 in a ALL-TIME LIST which has Anakin SkyWalker/Darth Vader sitting at number 15?
TOTALLY RIDICULOUS, LUDICROUS and even OUTRAGEOUS!
April 21st, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Luigi should take her place