Comic heroes are not only superhumans that can fight or fly. They are also comic characters created with kindness in their heart. Heroes have the willingness to do good and an insatiable hunger to see justice served. They will stand up against evil and fight the good fight for the less privileged.
Comics are usually of sci-fi superhero genres, depicting one or more heroes and villains. There have been hundreds of thousands of comic heroes produced over time.
Presenting the 10 Best Heroes from Comic Books
10. Black Panther
The Black Panther is a Marvel Comic created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. With his first appearance in July 1966, in Fantastic Four (no 52), the Black Panther is no ordinary superhero. He is a leader of his people, the king of the fictional African country, Wakanda. King T’Challa inherited the Black Panther and the throne of Wakanda from his father, as it was hereditary and usually passed from father to son.
It all started when a meteor landed in Wakanda. Vibranium, a vibration-absorbing metal, was the primary metal present in the meteor. Wakandans built their country’s defense and economy with the help of Vibranium, and they shielded this technology from the rest of the world.
A drink produced from a local vibranium-influenced herb gifts the Black Panther with enhanced abilities. T’Challa also dons a sophisticated, indestructible suit made from Vibranium. The Black Panther is the first-ever comic that portrays a black superhero as its main act.
9. Thor
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber created Thor for Marvel Comics, although the Norse mythology heavily influences the comics. This comic depicts the life and trail of Thor, son of Odin (the All-Father), and goddess Gaea of Earth. He is the Asgardian god of thunder.
Thor possesses superhuman strength and speed. He is also a wonderful warrior whose favorite weapon is a magical hammer called Mjolnir. Moreover, Mjolnir grants Thor with added powers such as flight, the ability to manipulate weather and electricity, and it also helps him travel between space and time.
He was the defender of Asgard, Earth, and even any part of the universe that needs help. He has fought so many supervillains, including his adoptive brother Loki, Absorbing Man, Enchantress, amongst many others. Thor’s first appearance was in Journey into Mystery (no 82), in August 1962.
8. Daredevil
Daredevil, popularly known as the devil of hell’s kitchen, debuted in Daredevil (no 1), in April 1964. Stan Lee, Bill Everett, and Jack Kirby created this comic character, then Marvel comics produced he comics.
Matt Murdock was a healthy kid when he tried to save an older man from an out-of-control vehicle carrying a toxic radioactive substance. After successfully saving the man, the accident made the radioactive material spill in his eyes, making him lose his sight forever. But there was a silver lining, the same substance that made him lose his sight had heightened all his remaining senses to a superhuman level.
A crime boss, the Fixer, murdered Murdock’s father, who was a boxer, for not throwing a match. The orphaned Matt Murdock had to harness his skills and abilities to survive. With the help of a mysterious blind master named “Stick,” he trained himself in various forms of hand-to-hand fighting and martial arts. He then studied law and became a lawyer alongside his good friend Foggy Nelson.
Matt Murdock became the Daredevil to protect his city from criminals as a vigilante and a criminal lawyer to fight for justice. He adorned both personas well by fighting crime as a vigilante at night and fighting crime as a lawyer during the day.
7. Wonder Woman
William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter created the Wonder Woman comic. This creation, which ran through the publishing process of DC Comics, first appeared in December 1941, in All Star Comics (no 8).
The Wonder Woman is an Amazonian Princess whose origin said her mother, Queen Hippolyta, molded her from clay. At first, speculations told that Zeus gave her the clay. Tales later confirmed her origin as the daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta.
A plane crash brought a young pilot (Steve Trevor) to the shore of Themyscira, where the amazons found and nursed him backed to life. The Amazons made a contest to decide who will return Steve Trevor to the land of men and stay there as an emissary of peace to help the humans fight evil and protect them. Princess Diana, who her mother forbade her to take part, won the contest. She then donned her iconic costume, which her mother created, and the amazons charged her with the duty of being earth’s protector.
Living amongst humans, she took up the name Diana Prince to be her human name. The Wonder Woman possesses superhuman strength, speed, flight, she does not age, and she is near being indestructible. She arms herself with the lasso of truth, a projectile tiara, sword, shield, and a pair of indestructible bracelets.
6. Wolverine
The trio of Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita created the Wolverine, and Marvel Comics published the stories. Wolverine, born as James Howlett, is a mutant whose powers manifested when he witnessed his father’s death (John Howlett) by a man who claimed to be his father (Thomas Logan). In retaliation to this devilish act, he killed Thomas with the bone claws that ensued from his knuckles.
The young boy left home and grew up to be a troubled man. He killed his girlfriend Rose accidentally, lived with wolves in a jungle, became a world war veteran. The Weapon X program later captured and experimented on his mind and body until his later escape.
Wolverine had seen the worst of humanity, and somehow, he still fought for good and was a superhero. His first major appearance was in October 1974, in The Incredible Hulk (no 181).
5. Spiderman
In August 1962, Spider-man first featured in Marvel Comics’ Amazing Fantasy (no 15). Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-Man. He must be the most relatable superhero because the character has real-life problems like financial crises and struggles with adolescent issues like bullying.
Spider-man is Peter Parker, a teenage high school student who a radioactive spider bit during a school excursion to a science lab. The bite then gave him superhuman strength, the ability to cling onto solid surfaces, superhuman reflexes, balance, and accelerated healing. He later built a web-shooting device that he mounts on his wrist.
4. Iron Man
Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby created the Iron man for Marvel Comics. Tony Stark, a boy genius, inherited tremendous wealth from his parent Howard and Maria Stark, after their ghastly car accident. Tony grew up to become a wealthy playboy billionaire, running his father’s multi-billion company, Stark Industries, which produces weapons.
A notorious terrorist kidnaped Tony in a bid to force him to create a weapon of mass destruction. With the help of an already imprisoned Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Tony built an armored suit and escaped from his captors. After rejoining civilization, Tony concentrated his efforts on improving his armored suit to help humanity, and he became The Iron Man! Of course, his first appearance was in March 1963, in Tales of Suspense (no 39).
3. Captain America
Captain America, produced by Marvel comic, first featured in March 1941 in Captain America Comics (no 1). This production was the creation of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
Steve Rogers was a young immigrant who lost his father as a child and later lost his mother as a teenager. He grew to become a skinny and frail-looking young man. Then World War II started, and America was going to join the war. Steve Rogers tried to enlist in the U.S Army, but the army rejected his application because of his physical appearance. A U.S General noticed his resolution and determination then enrolled him in a special government program. Steve Rogers became the test subject, and the project gave him a special serum to enhance his body. The experiment was successful.
This experiment gave Steve Rogers superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes. He has accelerated healing and slow aging. He arms himself with an indestructible shield made of Vibranium. Towards the end of the World War, ice trapped and preserved Steve Rogers, now Captain America, who remained in hibernation for almost seventy years. He woke up in modern times, where he continues his role as a superhero.
2. Batman
The duo of Bob Kane and Bill Finger created Batman, then DC Comics published the comics. As he watched the murder of his parents by a gunman, Bruce Wayne became traumatized. This event drove him to vow to use his life to fight crime. He became the sole heir to Wayne Enterprises. The company became his unlimited access to funds.
Through pure determination, Bruce Wayne trained his body and mind, becoming a master in hand-to-hand combat and over one hundred different forms of fighting. Unlike most superheroes, Bruce Wayne (Batman) has no superhuman abilities. He relies solely on his incredible fighting skill, sophisticated weaponry (through Wayne Enterprises), and detective skills. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics (no 27), in March 1939.
1. Superman
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman, then DC Comics published the comics. Superman is the best comic superhero ever produced. His original appearance was in Action Comics (no 1), in June 1938. He sets the standard for what a superhero should be with his messiah concepts. Born Kal-El on a distant planet called Krypton.
His parents sent Kal-El to earth as the sole survivor of a dying planet. Then, his space pod landed on a farm in Smallville, where Johnathan and Martha Kent found then raised him as their adopted son, Clark Kent. Raised by his earth parents, Clark grew to become the savior he was destined to be. His powers range from superhuman strength, speed, agility, heat vision, x-ray vision, telescopic vision, super breath, accelerated healing, and flight.
Final Thoughts
Of all the superheroes ever created, these ten are the best. They all fought to be a better version of themselves. They will serve as worthy mentors and role models for children and reference good behavior and moral standards for parents to correct their children with.
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
My ten favorites are 1. The Spectre, 2. Superman, 3. The original Captain Marvel, 4. Captain America, 5. The classic Question, 6. The first Green Lantern, 7. The first Flash, 8. The original Shield, 9. Uncle Sam (from Quality Comics), and 10. The first Hourman.
Great list but your placement is off in my opinion. Spider-Man is definitely higher than Ironman and Cap, below Superman if not equal to if only because of how generic Superman has become(still one of my favs).