# Is Spock the most famous alien in the history of fiction/pop culture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040 "2009-05-01T22:41:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/21 "2009-05-02T00:04:05Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I see you’ve met my friends… Heh. I laughed. You’re always good for a good natured post, **Khadaji**. You’re a good guy. Disclaimer: I may be a little tipsy, but the point still stands. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/22 "2009-05-02T00:06:27Z")
I’d definitely say Superman. If you are doing humanoid aliens, Spock and the Mork. For alien aliens, Yoda is number one - ET doesn’t have a Weird Al song about him. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/23 "2009-05-02T00:19:50Z")
[Marvin the Martian](http://planetcrunch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/marvin-the-martian.jpg) must be in the top 10 somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/24 "2009-05-02T00:36:52Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Heh. I laughed. You’re always good for a good natured post, **Khadaji**. You’re a good guy. > > Disclaimer: I may be a little tipsy, but the point still stands. Thank you for your kind words. It will ever surprise me how a few passing kind words from a relative stranger can brighten one’s day! 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 2, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/25 "2009-05-02T00:38:43Z")
Superman, definitely. People know Superman even if they’ve never seen the comics or movies. He’s far more famous than any other alien. For non-human-shaped aliens, the Daleks are probably better known worldwide than anything else. They’ve been part of popular culture for almost half a century. The Martians are also well known, though there are many different depictions of them. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/26 "2009-05-02T00:50:48Z")
If part aliens count then Jesus - he supposedly had a non-human father. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/27 "2009-05-02T01:03:50Z")
The obvious answer is [Jehovah 1!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JHVH-1) ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/28 "2009-05-02T01:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > And the green skin. But he also _acts_ alien. He has a distinct non-human viewpoint, beliefs, and mannerisms. Superman’s just an over-grown Kansas farmboy. Spock has green skin now? News to me. 😉 I’d also say that ET and Yoda are both just as easily well known as Spock, and more “alien” to boot. Thinking about the Superman thing it occured to me if you asked someone what species Luke Skywalker or Han Solo are most people would say human because the movies don’t define them as anything else. If you asked someone what species Superman was they’d say “kryptonian.” His alien origins are an integral part of the stories that feature him and are well known. Should that count for anything? Can the OP make a ruling on this? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/29 "2009-05-02T01:54:03Z")
Are we just talking about the US? If not, The Doctor is my choice for famous alien. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/30 "2009-05-02T02:11:12Z")
Superman is disqualified. He lives a double life as a human without shapeshifting or really even changing his personality much, besides acting timid and occasionally faking a cold-- I don’t think Spock could pull that off. Yoda is the most famous alien per the OP; even my grandpa knew who Yoda was, and I seriously doubt he knew who Spock was. Overall, without conditions, then it’s probably Superman, but under the rules in this thread I don’t think he counts. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/31 "2009-05-02T02:28:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > For non-human-shaped aliens, the Daleks are probably better known worldwide than anything else. They’ve been part of popular culture for almost half a century. What are Daleks? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/32 "2009-05-02T02:35:24Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > Spock has green skin now? News to me. 😉 That green blooded son of a bitch! It’s his revenge for all those arguments he lost! -Leonard McCoy, _The Search for Spock._ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/33 "2009-05-02T02:35:52Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Are we just talking about the US? If not, The Doctor is my choice for famous alien. Are you talking about Dr Who? He’s an alien? I mean, I knew he wore a scarf, but… ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/34 "2009-05-02T02:37:28Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Superman is disqualified. He lives a double life as a human without shapeshifting or really even changing his personality much, besides acting timid and occasionally faking a cold-- I don’t think Spock could pull that off. . I still don’t think Superman should be disqualified. His disguise as Clark is pretty tenuous–and I don’t mean the glasses. He doesn’t get bruises & scrapes when he should, so he has to avoid situations in which anyone would notice. He doesn’t react to cold & heat as humans do, either. And so on. Moreover, his alienness is very basic to his story. Pick a random non-comic fan and ask them about Supes, and they’ll say, “Well, he’s an alien from another planet with godlike powers, boy-scout morals, and a dorkish fashion sense.” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/35 "2009-05-02T02:50:18Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > What are Daleks? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vAk2HjHSGbo/hqdefault.jpg "The Dalek Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAk2HjHSGbo) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/36 "2009-05-02T03:04:46Z")
I would’ve thought the Alien xenomorph would be in the running. It has quite a lot of recognition factor. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/37 "2009-05-02T03:05:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Pick a random non-comic fan and ask them about Supes, “Supes”? Sounds like a preppy White girl’s name for her boy friends tallywhacker. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/38 "2009-05-02T03:06:12Z")
No love for Gordon Shumway? ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/39 "2009-05-02T03:06:18Z")
I dunno if Superman counts. Sure, if you ask, most people will say that they have a vague sense that Superman is from another planet, but it’s not a major part of his character as seen by pop culture. Superman is a comic book superhero, so he really could’ve gotten his super powers from radiation or genetic engineering or a wizard or something. Most people know Superman just as a strangely dressed strong guy who can fly and stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Being an alien is part of his backstory, but it doesn’t really define who he is. If you want the most recognizable figure that also happens to be an alien, then Superman would win. But if you want the most recognizable figure that is recognizeable for being an alien, I’d go with either Marvin the Martian or Yoda. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040/40 "2009-05-02T03:22:33Z")
> [@](#): > > “Look! Up in the sky!” “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” “It’s Superman!” > Yes, it’s Superman … strange visitor from another planet, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Sounds pretty alien to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spock-the-most-famous-alien-in-the-history-of-fiction-pop-culture/495040.md?page=3)