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.
After counting down the previous 99 characters, today we bring you the character who topped the voting list and earned the #1 spot!
1. Batman
Appears In: DC Comics
Created By: Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Influence:
It’s no huge surprise to us that the Caped Crusader is the top character on our list of the Greatest Fictional Characters of All Time, as voted by our readers. From his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939 through his current movie dynasty, cartoon series, and comic books, Batman has been an enduring hero for the ages. His origin and storylines have influenced future comic heroes toward darker tales, and his rogue’s gallery has redefined the importance of entertaining and engaging villains. Batman’s cultural impact is evident and unquestionable.
Fandom:
Batman is a superhero without superpowers. In the face of tragedy and adversity, he has trained himself to be the most brilliant and capable man he can be, and he uses gadgets and tools to appear otherworldly to his enemies. He also operates with a strict code of conduct and ethics, setting him apart from the villains he pursues. It is Batman’s reliance on his own human abilities, coupled with his unbending morality, that makes him a unique and favorite character for legions of fans.
Voter Comments:
“Batman is almost self-explanatory as a choice for number one. He is vengeance, he is the night, but he is also the very best and worst of humanity distilled. Who else is a coldblooded badass and a sensitive loner? Who else is as unforgiving and merciful? Everyday life is our Gotham, and Batman is that innate sense of justice that we all feel deep down when someone picks on the little guy.” – Perry Frost
“He’s simply the best any normal human can be.” – ADP
Previous character: #2
Thank you for following our countdown all the way from 100 to 1! On Monday we’ll look back at some of the characters who didn’t quite make the list, and we’ll also examine some rankings and selections that surprised us.
I agree. Btw, Dumbledore should be on the list somewhere. Or maybe I missed him?
Buffy the vampire slayer?!?!
R u for f—n real?!?!
On top of darth vader, spiderman, wolwerine!!! Homer Simpson even!!
Who made this s— selection?!?! FIRED!!!
This is a joke!! I’m NEVER taking this website seriously
What is wrong with you people!!!
Where the f___ is Tony Soprano?
So much of this I disagreed with, but putting Batman at the top? You just made up for a lot of it.
Batman?! Seriously? How is batman greater than much much more deeper characters like Gregory House, almost any Lost character or Fox Mulder and, Dana Scully? Just to name a few?! How about Walt White?! Most of my favorite characters didnt even make the list and the ones I love were far behind.
The list fails without Son Goku.
I enjoyed reading this all but the entire top five was BS. Batman and Superman are kind of expected however boring that is, but as soon as each of the other three pages loaded and I saw who it was, an uncontrollable “WHAT?!” burst through my lips, for one reason or another. And I had no urge to read any of the descriptions of these top five characters.
Everyone who is complaining about the “makers of this list” and the general ordering of the list is stupid. Did you not notice that it was entirely determined by VOTERS? You are all illiterate.
no Lost characters?
Where’s Barbie? I thought she’s popular… LOLLLLL
Awww I wanted it to be Harry Potter but no he was no. 8 and Hermione?!?!why #89!?!
Why didnt Ron Weasley make it to the list and btw..the people voting for batman are mostly boys!!,!
Mr. Miyagi, Rocky Balboa, Doc from Back to the Future, Goku, The Terminator, Palpatine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Woody from Toy Story, Dumbledore,
Lex Luthor,Forrest Gump, The Shark from Jaws, Peter Griffin, Hanibal Lector, George Bailey, Gollum,
Not a single X Files character. None at all. So Mulder, Scully, Skinner, the Smoking Man, etc, all happened in a pop culture vacuum? Like there wasn’t an entire Simpsons episode parodying the show?
Also, Jack Nicholson’s Joker wasn’t panned, there were Batman movies before Scowly Face Bale and Plastic Nipples Clooney were around.
Also needs more Wong Fei Hung.
Superman is the lamest character ever,he cant die….Batman however has skills,not saying he should be number 1 but hes still better than superman.
I think number one should have been THE DOCTOR!The longest running sci-fi show ever!!!!:P
WHERE THE FUCK IS SMEAGLE?
Please explain to me how the hell Harry Potter was placed above Frodo Baggins. There is nothing to compare. Yes, Harry is an unlikely hero, but his constant complaining and stubbornness almost make me with he had died. He does not treat his friends properly, and he blows up at pretty much every character. No, Frodo may not possess Harry’s physical strength, but Frodo is clearly superior. He rarely complains, remains open-minded, does not take Sam for granted, and rarely loses his temper. Frodo is ten million times the hero Frodo will ever be.