Top 3 Marvel Characters

[mswas]

Who are the top 3 most famous Marvel Comics characters?

Not your favorites, but who are the 'Flagship' character so to speak.

Like DC has Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

I'd say, Spiderman, Wolverine and Captain America.

[Justin_Bailey]

Who are the top 3 most famous Marvel Comics characters?

Not your favorites, but who are the 'Flagship' character so to speak.


Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk. In that order.

Although after last Summer, maybe Iron Man replaces the Hulk.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Iron Man when written as a non-asshole; Spider-Man when written as a non-wanker grownup; and Thor when written as the baddest badass on the superhero landscape, who's an Avenger because THEY need HIM, and he kind of likes them.

[shy guy]

Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk. In that order.
I'd put Hulk in front of Wolverine just because of the 70's TV show, but otherwise I agree with you.

[Bryan Ekers]

I'd put Hulk in front of Wolverine just because of the 70's TV show, but otherwise I agree with you.

Shocking though it may seem, there are adults who don't even remember that series. I figure Wolverine's top-three rep will firmly established by the upcoming movie, though he won't beat Spider-Man for top spot. Third (I'd guess) is Hulk though Captain America is a contender.

[Tom Tildrum]

Is Captain America still dead?

I don't think Cap belongs in the top 3. He's a sentimental holdover from earlier times but ultimately a minor player, analogous to Captain Marvel in the DCU.

I agree with Justin_Bailey.

[shy guy]

I don't think Cap belongs in the top 3. He's a sentimental holdover from earlier times but ultimately a minor player, analogous to Captain Marvel in the DCU.
Except that Captain America has been leader of the Avengers more often than not for the past forty years and his title is currently one of Marvel's best-sellers and has been for some time now.

[mswas]

Except that Captain America has been leader of the Avengers more often than not for the past forty years and his title is currently one of Marvel's best-sellers and has been for some time now.

That and he is likely too be recgnized as readily as Superman.

[Scumpup]

Are we talking iconic status or sales leaders when you say "flagship?"

If you mean as cultural icons it'd be in no particular order:
1. Captain America
2. Spiderman
3. The Incredible Hulk

Even people who've never read a comic book have been aware of these characters for decades.

As sales leaders? Not a clue.

[Tom Tildrum]

Except that Captain America has been leader of the Avengers more often than not for the past forty years and his title is currently one of Marvel's best-sellers and has been for some time now.

Ignorance fought! I didn't realize he was selling that well.

But leader of the Avengers, that's mostly an administrative position. Renewing the Quinjet license with the FAA, deciding on cable or DSL at the mansion, planning the holiday party, etc. ;)

That and he is likely too be recgnized as readily as Superman.

Even people who've never read a comic book have been aware of these characters for decades.

Here I still think I disagree somewhat. Outside the comics community, I think there's certainly awareness that there is someone called Captain America, but I think fewer people could describe him or tell you much about him without being shown a picture than would be true for Spidey, the Hulk, or Wolverine.

It's the movie exposure, of course, that's driving my point of view, and this could certainly change after an Avengers movie.

[drastic_quench]

My measuring stick is "how many middle age middle class moms out of ten could recognize and name the character on sight" - because they're a demo that is largely outside of these interests, ie, lame. (Please spare me the details of how you're an exception)

That said:
Spider-Man
Hulk
Wolverine (perhaps Iron Man after another movie)

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Spiderman
The Thing
The Hulk

They've all been continuously published, often in multiple titles, and shellhead, Cap & Thor have gone without their titles for years at time.

[Sir T-Cups]

I seem to be agreeing

Spiderman

The Hulk

Fantastic Four

[Stuffy]

Here I still think I disagree somewhat. Outside the comics community, I think there's certainly awareness that there is someone called Captain America, but I think fewer people could describe him or tell you much about him without being shown a picture than would be true for Spidey, the Hulk, or Wolverine. .

In the interest of Science, I just asked my wife who to my knowledge has never picked up a comic book to describe Cap, and with the exception of the "A" on his forhead described him desribed him perfectly.


My choices:

Spiderman
Hulk
Wolverine

[DJ Motorbike]

Spiderman is the obvious pick for number one. He is a silver age character who has seen countless titles and was syndicated in newspapers for many years. He is easily Marvels most well-known character. He rivals Superman and Batman.

If the Fantastic Four could be selected as a group I think they would be just behind Spiderman. They've been around longer than Spiderman or the Uncanny X-men. Human Torch is a golden age character, but the first incarnation of Human torch had nothing to do with Johnny Storm. The first Human Torch was actually an android. Stan Lee basically recycled the original concept for the Human torch and created Johnny Storm.

Among Marvel's golden age characters including Sub-Mariner and Human Torch only Captain America really stands out on his own so I would have to say as a stand-alone he would have to be second.

The third slot would have to be Wolverine but only third because he hasn't been around as long as the others. He wasn't even among the original X-men and didn't really have much background or appearances before he came to that title. I think Wolverine is the most memorable of any comic book character since the Silver age (DC or Marvel) and is highly notable in that regard.

Given time I think Wolverine will be on par with Superman, Batman and Spiderman.


Spiderman
Captain America (Fantastic Four if allowed as a group)
Wolverine

[Bryan Ekers]

What's the longest Wolverine has ever had his own title? For that matter, has he ever had his own title?

On reflection, Wolverine has a major hurdle to his popularity - he's Canadian.

[DJ Motorbike]

What's the longest Wolverine has ever had his own title? For that matter, has he ever had his own title?

On reflection, Wolverine has a major hurdle to his popularity - he's Canadian.

Wolverine has had his own ongoing, and uninterrupted title since the late 80's. It doesn't matter where he's from. The kids love him. I can not think of a more recent comic book character who is more well-know and popular. Spawn, I think may be a distant second. Help me out if I'm missing someone. Really I'm at a loss.

[tim314]

What's the longest Wolverine has ever had his own title? For that matter, has he ever had his own title?He's had an ongoing monthly title since 1988 or so.

He's also had numerous mini series, has been a mainstay of the X-Men since 1975 (often appearing in multiple X-Men titles each month) and has been featured in countless cameos in other books as well.

[Bryan Ekers]

Huh. For some reason I thought Wolvie had had a number of mini-series, and short-lived runs, but nothing lasting.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Huh. For some reason I thought Wolvie had had a number of mini-series, and short-lived runs, but nothing lasting.
:eek::confused::smack:

Brain-to-eyeballs...does not compute!!

[shy guy]

Heck, Wolverine has two ongoing titles right now, and has for a few years. That's in addition to appearing in almost every single X-book every month, New Avengers for a while, and numerous cameos in every single book Marvel publishes

[Bryan Ekers]

:eek::confused::smack:

Brain-to-eyeballs...does not compute!!

He was never one of my favourites.

Still isn't, though I'll give Jackman props. I just wish his wasn't the pivotal character in all three movies.

[prodicus]

Scumpup got it right - I'd wager that if you ask even someone in their 50s or older, they'd know Spider-Man, Hulk and Captain America for sure. Not so Wolverine or Iron Man.

[levdrakon]

Wolverine has had his own ongoing, and uninterrupted title since the late 80's. It doesn't matter where he's from. The kids love him. I can not think of a more recent comic book character who is more well-know and popular. Spawn, I think may be a distant second. Help me out if I'm missing someone. Really I'm at a loss.Spiderman and Hulk for sure. Wolverine maybe, but I haven't been paying attention for 13 years or so.

Wasn't Spawn created by someone who broke off from Marvel?

[Spoke]

Most famous? Most recognizable to John and Jane Q. Public?

Well, the runaway success of the Robert Downey, Jr. movie has easily broken Iron Man into the top 3 if fame is the criterion. Iron Man easily surpassed the box office of any of the X-Men movies, and the Fantastic Four movies don't even come close. Captain America is well-known to older folks, but virtually unknown to most people under 35 or so (comic book devotees excepted).

So I'd say if you went and stopped people on the street and asked them if they'd heard of particular characters, Captain America, Wolverine and the FF would not make the top three.

These would:

Spider-Man
Hulk
Iron Man

[Sage Rat]

I'd actually put it as Spiderman, Hulk, and the Punisher. Guy's had what, three or four movies about him now? True, none of them did jack at the box office, but that Hollywood keeps grabbing him seems to indicate that his presence has been pretty noticeable outside the comic book world.

I'd agree that Hugh Jackman has done a good job spreading knowledge of Wolverine, but that's only among the under-30 crowd.

[foolsguinea]

Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America.

[Asylum]

Spider-Man. Spider(hypen)Man. The hyphen is very important. I don't know why it is, but it is.