Comic books were once a small segment found at the local newspaper. They were small segments that offered mild entertainment but could also be something else. The main concept of a comic book is that the reader reads a panel with an image or certain dialogue that tells the story. One would think it’s like a stop motion cartoon but gives a different experience. Throughout the year’s comic books have become collector’s items and have helped introduced heroes into the lives of peoples. Comic book heroes share that same certain vibe to them which has helped some stretch beyond the borders of other media. There are a lot of them but only a few have made their name solid in the industry. And here’s the top 5 to name a few.
1. Superman
Superman made his debut back in 1938 underwriter Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. Superman needs no introduction as he is one of the most famous comic book superheroes around. His classic intro is “It’s A Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman”. Superman has all the power like super strength, speed, laser vision, x-ray vision, and super breath. It seems that he would be one tough hero to beat which also kind of makes him a bit cheap.
He is weak against Kryptonite but what if his enemies don’t have access to it then they’ll just be another victim. Then again, in the Superman universe, there are enemies that reside in the realm of the supernatural and fantasy. Superman does have the heart of a human despite not being one himself.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The TMNT crew got published back in 1984 by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. They’re mean, green and fighting machines are what the Ninja Turtles are. Four innocent turtles toss down the sewers who have then mutated due to some toxic wastes. They then underwent the tutelage of yet another mutated rat named Master Splinter. The four turtles underwent ninja training and became proficient in a weapon of their specialization.
They were also named after 4 great Renaissance artists namely Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The TMNT series have gone out into other forms of media and its most popular adaptation was the 1987 cartoon series which literally boosted the series’ fame. The TMNT is known to change its motif from its comedic pizza-eating sections to a more dark and sinister environment.
3. Wolverine
Despite Wolverine being a member of the X-Men he did not make his comic book debut with them back in 1963. He made his first appearance in an Incredible Hulk comic issue back in 1974. He then made his way to be a member of the X-Men and has become one of the most popular ever since. Wolverine also belonged to several factions like the Avengers but his sole identity makes him loved by the fans. Wolverine uses his adamant bone claws as well as his high-speed regeneration.
According to his back story, he is very old but due to his powers, he has managed to keep his baby face look. What fans really like about him aside from his powers is his carefree attitude even towards his fellow comrades. He just lays back, drinks a beer, and utters his trademark word “Bub” even in the most chaotic situations.
4. Spiderman
Spiderman first appeared back in 1962 under creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Spiderman has a story that a lot of people can relate to. First of all, he got his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. He then gets the powers of a spider such as the ability to climb up walls and ceilings. The original issue had him make his web artificially instead of it being a part of his powers. His human story is what really captivated the viewers.
Peter Parker is your average everyday guy relying on his low paying work. He also lost his parents and uncle during his younger years. Parker also doesn’t seem to have any luck with the ladies prior to his Spiderman days. Spiderman’s strong point is that he is too human which is why a lot of people like him.
5. Batman
Batman first appeared back in 1939 under Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Out of all the superheroes out there, Batman is one of the few that fights without any super powers. In short, he’s just a regular guy doing exercises and making weapons for his fight against crime. Batman lost his parents at a young age and was taken care of by his butler Alfred. Batman decides to take on the streets assaulting the thugs from the shadows as his specialty.
He does have a lot of money underneath that mask thus funding his crusade against crime. Unlike other heroes, Batman was first considered to be a nuisance by the law enforcers and people barely knew of his existence because he didn’t like anyone seeing him. Batman is like the normal hero of heroes but as he always says “I’m Batman!”
Comic books are still present today and a lot of the classic heroes have gone through some changes and reboots but their influence still lives on. These comic book heroes still remain relevant today having some sort of existence whether on the big or small screen.