# Comic book characters who look like real people **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-books-manga\ **Created:** [January 12, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092 "2023-01-12T10:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/1 "2023-01-12T10:48:14Z")
Herbie Popnecker [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61db4PkPcwL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61db4PkPcwL.jpg) Kim Jong-un [![](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-f61a06c66cd4c8f9e3f0c22abc8e4b56-pjlq) ](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-f61a06c66cd4c8f9e3f0c22abc8e4b56-pjlq) ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/2 "2023-01-12T12:37:42Z")
Xi Jinping [![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5074/production/_96969502_78b75efc-37fe-449f-944e-0fa30805a597.jpg) ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5074/production/_96969502_78b75efc-37fe-449f-944e-0fa30805a597.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/3 "2023-01-12T12:41:27Z")
Ultimate Nick Fury probably doesn’t count, since was explicitly designed to look like Sam Jackson. [![](https://i.insider.com/553eeca5ecad04471349ec88?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ](https://i.insider.com/553eeca5ecad04471349ec88?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/4 "2023-01-12T12:51:28Z")
The Stainless Steel Rat (2000AD) [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5OSFN6IXk80Cyhi1-fAOoq7KaEgNLa2Q3o_TWn4GQ5AEkaLAUAZ6oiuorlH6G8rqOHf4&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5OSFN6IXk80Cyhi1-fAOoq7KaEgNLa2Q3o_TWn4GQ5AEkaLAUAZ6oiuorlH6G8rqOHf4&usqp=CAU) James Coburn [![](https://images.static-bluray.com/products/22/3846_1_front.jpg) ](https://images.static-bluray.com/products/22/3846_1_front.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/5 "2023-01-12T12:57:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Ultimate Nick Fury probably doesn’t count, since was explicitly designed to look like Sam Jackson. By the same token, John Constantine was explicitly intended to look like Sting’s character in _Quadrophenia_. [![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*yCT_6ND6-8ytAC_ZMAdJoQ.jpeg) ](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*yCT_6ND6-8ytAC_ZMAdJoQ.jpeg) [![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/07/02/11/quadrophenia.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp) ](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/07/02/11/quadrophenia.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/6 "2023-01-12T13:16:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > John Constantine was explicitly intended to look like Sting’s character in _Quadrophenia_. I didn’t know that! I looked at the Wikipedia page for more info, and there’s a quote by Alan Moore saying he created the character _because_ the artists wanted to make a character who looked like Sting. That’s a really neat bit of trivia. > But I can state categorically that the character only existed because Steve and John wanted to do a character that looked like Sting. Having been given that challenge, how could I fit Sting into _Swamp Thing_? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/7 "2023-01-12T13:19:26Z")
The original Captain Marvel and … Fred McMurray. > ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/8 "2023-01-12T13:57:29Z")
Do animated characters in general count? This was my first thought: [![](https://i.imgflip.com/2pklrs.jpg) ](https://i.imgflip.com/2pklrs.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/9 "2023-01-12T14:50:19Z")
Personally, I don’t see the resemblance, but many people say that Gil Kane’s version of the silver age Green Lantern was based on Paul Newman. Gil Kane himself said that Sinestro was based on David Niven. In the 1940s, when Bob Kane was the lead artist on Batman, Bruce Wayne bore a strong resemblance to Bob Kane. [![](https://fansofbatman.com/article_img/person_bob-kane.jpg) ](https://fansofbatman.com/article_img/person_bob-kane.jpg) > [@RealityChuck](#): > > The original Captain Marvel and … Fred McMurray. Mary Marvel was based on Judy Garland, Uncle Dudley was based on W.C. Fields, and Mister Tawney the Talking Tiger was based on Bert Lahr’s Cowardly Lion The Hellfire Club: Sebastian Shaw was based on Robert Shaw. Harry Leland was based on Orson Welles. Donald Pierce was based on Donald Sutherland. Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler, was originally overweight and clean-shaven. In the 1941 matinee serial, he was played by William Austin, who was thin and mustachioed. The comic book had a storyline in which Alfred went to a health spa, lost weight, and grew a mustache. Ever since, the comics have drawn him to resemble Austin. The Joker was based in Conrad Veidt’s character in _The Man Who Laughs_. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/48/c1/b648c1932551ef4408f88b32e2f47476.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/48/c1/b648c1932551ef4408f88b32e2f47476.jpg) Writers modeled the Joker’s personality on Richard Widmark’s character in _Kiss of Death._ Kraven the Hunter was based on Leslie Banks in _The Most Dangerous Game._ [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Banks#/media/File:Leslie_Banks_in_The_Most_Dangerous_Game.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Banks#/media/File:Leslie_Banks_in_The_Most_Dangerous_Game.jpg) Wolverine was based on Paul d’Amato’s character in Slapshot [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWFlODM4MGUtY2ZkOS00OWZlLWFjNzctNjQ3ZGNkMTljY2M5XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_FMjpg_UX600_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWFlODM4MGUtY2ZkOS00OWZlLWFjNzctNjQ3ZGNkMTljY2M5XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_FMjpg_UX600_.jpg) Sabretooth is rumored to be based on another character in Slapshot, who, in turn was based on real-life hockey player Bill Goldthorpe. [![](https://i0.wp.com/puckjunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Oglethorpe_Goldthorpe.jpg?resize=1024%2C455) ](https://i0.wp.com/puckjunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Oglethorpe_Goldthorpe.jpg?resize=1024%2C455) ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/10 "2023-01-12T14:54:48Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > The Hellfire Club: > Sebastian Shaw was based on Robert Shaw. > Harry Leland was based on Orson Welles. > Donald Pierce was based on Donald Sutherland. Mastermind in the Hellfire Club sequence was based on Peter Wyngarde. I suppose there is an in-universe explanation for that, since he was using his powers of illusion to disguise his real appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/11 "2023-01-12T15:21:09Z")
Professor Calculus from _Tintin_ was based on the Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard: > **[Tintin et Solar Impulse, une histoire de famille](https://www.tintin.com/fr/news/3995/tintin-et-solar-impulse-une-histoire-de-famille#)** > > Solar Impulse et Moulinsart sont heureux de partager ensemble cette magnifique aventure Across America à... ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/12 "2023-01-12T15:25:45Z")
Does Harvey Pekar count? [![](https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/c/85/photologue/photos/American-Splendor-2.jpg) ](https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/c/85/photologue/photos/American-Splendor-2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/13 "2023-01-12T15:42:02Z")
Mary Jane Watson was supposedly based on Ann Margaret. Tyroc (of the Legion of Super-Heroes) was based on Fred (The Hammer) Williamson. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/14 "2023-01-12T16:30:43Z")
Funky Flashman and Stan Lee, late 1960s [![](https://i2.wp.com/brainstomping.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/funky-flashman-stan-lee.jpg?ssl=1) ](https://i2.wp.com/brainstomping.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/funky-flashman-stan-lee.jpg?ssl=1) Funky Flashman and Stan Lee, early 1970s [![](https://alchetron.com/cdn/funky-flashman-bbed0489-e170-4394-b847-b48019d7e7c-resize-750.jpeg) ](https://alchetron.com/cdn/funky-flashman-bbed0489-e170-4394-b847-b48019d7e7c-resize-750.jpeg) Flashman’s sidekick, Houseroy, and Roy Thomas [![](https://brainstomping.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/funky-flashman-houseroy-roy-thomas.jpg) ](https://brainstomping.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/funky-flashman-houseroy-roy-thomas.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/15 "2023-01-12T16:36:51Z")
I think the OP means a fictional character that looks like a real person, and Pekar wasn’t fictional. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/16 "2023-01-12T17:25:52Z")
Yeah sorry about that. I meant to be tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/17 "2023-01-12T21:38:27Z")
> **[Sean Connery And Marlon Brando by Paul Gulacy](http://capnscomics.blogspot.com/2017/11/sean-connery-and-marlon-brando-by-paul.html)** > > Okay, and maybe a jet-pack or three.  Great page from Master of Kung-Fu #47 > [@mbh](#): > > Gil Kane himself said that Sinestro was based on David Niven. That can be seen here: [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJXIjl1G_q4/TfnGcvmBWzI/AAAAAAAAJI8/fqEtMydT7Cw/s1600/Green_Lantern-SA-007-10.jpg) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJXIjl1G_q4/TfnGcvmBWzI/AAAAAAAAJI8/fqEtMydT7Cw/s1600/Green_Lantern-SA-007-10.jpg) I have long thought Sinestro bore a strong resemblance to Zachery Scott. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/18 "2023-01-16T15:29:26Z")
Gene Colan based Marvel Comics’ version of Dracula on Jack Palance. [![](https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/4/a0/5f4969c98d460/clean.jpg) ](https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/4/a0/5f4969c98d460/clean.jpg) Palance would play Dracula in a TV movie a year after the comic debuted. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ee/46/0c/ee460c1b6d03e209cf7878859c9f9992--jack-palance-count-dracula.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ee/46/0c/ee460c1b6d03e209cf7878859c9f9992--jack-palance-count-dracula.jpg) Morbius the Living Vampire was supposedly based on Jack Palance, but his eyes and nose are so stylized, I don’t think you can say that with any certainty. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/86/73/73/867373e83070b47f3a62be271b55b691.png) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/86/73/73/867373e83070b47f3a62be271b55b691.png) Darkseid is said to have been based on Jack Palance, but with Jack Kirby’s artwork, who can say for certain? [![](https://www.newsfromme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/palancedarkseid.jpg) ](https://www.newsfromme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/palancedarkseid.jpg) When Black Manta first appeared in the 1960s, he was a pretty generic villain, and nobody knew what he looked like under the mask. In the 1970s, he became a militant black nationalist, and when he took off the helmet, he looked sort of like Stokely Carmichael. (This was the best picture I could find of helmetless Manta. Sorry.) [![](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/f/f8/Cal_Durham_001.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110618010735) ](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/f/f8/Cal_Durham_001.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110618010735) [![](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/stokely-carmichael-6.jpg) ](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/stokely-carmichael-6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/19 "2023-01-17T14:18:30Z")
Steve Ditko said that he based Dr. Strange on Vincent Price [https://www.blackgate.com/2018/07/07/rip-steve-ditko-co-creator-of-dr-strange-and-spider-man/](https://www.blackgate.com/2018/07/07/rip-steve-ditko-co-creator-of-dr-strange-and-spider-man/) > **[Vincent Price | Walk of Fame](https://stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductee/vincent-price/)** ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-book-characters-who-look-like-real-people/978092/20 "2023-01-17T15:53:53Z")
Thor’s companions, the Warriors Three: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/33/78/10337840a4199565b967ed07db8200df.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/33/78/10337840a4199565b967ed07db8200df.jpg) Fandral the Dashing was obviously based on Errol Flynn. Volstagg the Valiant was not based on any one person, but on the character of Sir John Falstaff in Shakespeare’s plays _Henry IV_, _Henry V_, and _The Merry Wives of Windsor_. Hogun the Grim was based on various Charles Bronson characters, although the comic book artists usually drew him **far** more handsome than Bronson **ever** looked.