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THE 200 GREATEST COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME
In honor of our 200th Issue, Wizard runs down the 200 comic book characters that stand apart from the rest! Today: Numbers 200 - 180!
By The Wizard Staff
Posted 5/13/2008
As much as we admire the riveting words of our favorite writers and the skilled craftsmanship of the industry's many fine artists, it is their multi-layered creations that we can't live without.
Hero or villain, superhuman or super-average, icon or screw-up, our love of the medium begins and ends with how much we invest ourselves emotionally in the trials and tribulations of the penciled people on the page.
What follows is a rundown of the 200 stars who have transcended their original concepts and are, whether it's from direct influence or a distant ripple effect, those that resonate in 2008. In some cases, we've followed their stories for decades; others made only a single, but spectacular, impression. But all of them possess dimensions so real that we can practically imagine their lungs expanding, their triumphs and tragedies as poignant as anything on the front page.
These are the illustrated icons that keep us turning the pages, fuel our imaginations and populate our modern mythologies. One thing's for sure�they've all got character.
200. Superman-Prime
Earth-Prime's boy of steel fought so valiantly during the original Crisis on Infinite Earths. But thanks to an off-the-charts superiority complex, he totally went berserk, morphing into the worst, most twisted version of our greatest icon.
199. Golden Age Sandman
Together, his mask and method make the noir-ish mystery man (and DC's first Sandman) a haunting figure, while human vulnerability makes him a compelling hero.
198. Twitch
Todd McFarlane's diminutive detective and partner to the brawny Sam is charmingly inconspicuous yet wholeheartedly effective as the duo's foremost case-solver and genius marksman.
197. Kid Miracleman
The sadistic former sidekick of Alan Moore's complex masterpiece and his traumatized child form are together one of the most intriguing and terrifying villains of all time.
196. Superboy
His clone lineage was part-Superman and part-Luthor, but Connor Kent was all hero when he lost a decidedly deadly battle to a deranged Superboy-Prime to save the multiverse.
195. Iron Fist
Once viewed as a shameless example of Marvel's '70s exploitation phase, Danny Rand has stepped up his kung fu to the level of greatness by kicking his way through legions of warriors with a confident sneer.
194. Leo Patterson
Firmly committed to saving his own ass, Criminal's Leo Patterson is a consummate pro who makes you believe crime really could pay�if it weren't for all the punks trying to rip you off.
193. Sabretooth
'Tooth is that most dangerous of villains: a man lacking in restraint. Catch a glimpse of his macabre sneer and his feral nature guarantees that whatever comes next is likely to be sudden, quick and bloody. He's a walking crime scene.
192. Beta Ray Bill
The last of an alien race, the genetically-engineered Bill was one of the few beings worthy of fondling mighty Mjolnir. In high-concept terms, he's Thor meets Terminator.
191. Timber Wolf
Not the smartest dude on the ranch, this classic version of the super-strong, feral Legion of Super-Heroes member�a precursor to Wolverine�actually made it okay to be a dimwit at times. He made up for it with a ferocious heart.
