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100 Greatest Fictional Characters #2: Superman

October 22, 2009 at 11:00 am
Fandomania
7

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 #2!

2. Superman

superman0

Appears In: DC Comics
Created By: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

superman1

Influence:

Superman certainly has had an immense impact as a character by establishing the costumed superhero as a genre defining protagonist. Even greater than that, however, is Superman’s influence on comic books as a whole. The success of the initial Superman comics proved to publishers that comics were a viable and lucrative medium, paving the way for all future heroic exploits. Superman established so many tropes of comic books and comics heroes that it’s nearly impossible to imagine the modern pop culture landscape if the Man of Steel never had donned his red cape and taken to the sky.

superman2

Fandom:

Mild-mannered Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet, is a relatable Everyman, but when he removes his trademark glasses he becomes Superman, the last son of Krypton and orphan heir to a magnificent alien lineage. As this dual character, Superman strikes a chord in so many diverse people that it’s easy to see why he’s ranked so highly on this list. Superman has transcended his comic book origins to appear in cartoons, movies, TV shows, video games, and any other format you can name, and he is an undeniable role model for young and old.

superman3

Voter Comments:

“Without the ideal (Superman) we would hardly have the ever-present option of perfection that is the Dark Knight. Superman changed everything.” – Dean Trippe
“Superman, the father of superheroes.” – Larry Davis
“Superman – not only can I identify with him on some levels, [but] he represents what we can and should strive to be like.” – Ginny Keller

Previous character: #3
Our countdown concludes tomorrow with the #1 Greatest Fictional Character of All Time!

DC Comics, Lists, superheroes, superman

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About the Author
7 Comments
  1. SJM August 13, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Superman is the defining comic book character, surpassing generations, and even connecting the gap between them. The pathos of Superman is the root of the character’s continual appeal. His strength of heart and reason is greater than his physical prowess, and his greatest weakness is not kryptonite, or magic, or the devious plots of Luthor; it is his immense capacity for caring.

    Superman was the start of my love for comic books, and he remains my absolute favourite, the epitome in an imaginary incarnation of how so many of us would hope to be: selfless, wise, compassionate, but not without trouble.

  2. GEMENI November 27, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I love Smallville!!

  3. Derrick Williams November 27, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    came here only for smallville.

  4. Jim July 13, 2011 at 8:07 am

    Superman should be no.1.

    • None of your business May 8, 2014 at 2:45 pm

      @Jim: NO HE SHOULDN’T superman is an overrated loser

    • eric August 29, 2014 at 8:23 am

      @Jim: It would be nice if Superman was number one.But times are different now. Characters like Batman,Wolverine and The Punisher reflect the world we now live in today.

  5. FC December 13, 2014 at 6:04 am

    Pfffttt… Fan based voting.. I’m not surprised by the results.. The top spot is always taken by whoever is the most popular during the voting stage..

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