A distinctive, easily remembered costume given widespread media exposure is the key here. That is what makes the top six stick in collective memory. No matter who draws them or who wears the costume in a movie they are easily recognizable. Yes, I know The Hulk doesn’t wear a costume, but his green skin works the same way.
Wolverine? He’s Hugh Jackman with a shitty haircut to almost everybody. Show a non-reader a picture of Wolverine in his original dumb yellow costume from a 70’s comic and you’ll get a blank look. Give a non-reader a picture of Batman from any of his media incarnations and they’ll identify him every time.
And there was a comic book published just last month that had Superman in it; that doesn’t make Superman new. We’re looking for recent characters, not recent books. This would also apply to Sandman and Death.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Doesn’t make him wrong though. Wolverine is the correct answer. People keep wanting to pigeonhole universal to mean everybody and their grandmother when it reality, as long as you’ve got just everybody, you’re pretty universally known.
It’s not the geeks’ fault some people live under a rock when it comes to mainstream media.
Except that even the people who do live under a rock will still recognize Superman. If we’re going to call Wolverine “universal”, then what’s Supes?
There’s different levels of universal. Look at the biggest musical acts. Lady Gaga was interviewed by Oprah, but even after watching it, how many of her viewers know she’s a singer?
What I’m trying to say is that recognition on sight isn’t necessary for universality.
Umm, what word?
Wolverine is mainstream. If you want to stick to a strict definition of “universal,” then you have ruled out everybody. Superman is not “universally” known. Mickey Mouse is not “universally” known. Mario is not “universally” known. Jesus is not even universally known. I have family members who don’t know who Michael Jackson is (was), and he’s probably at least as “universal” as Superman.
I think a lot of you are underestimating how popular the X-Men cartoon was with people who are now ~20 to ~35, and most parents are at least passingly familiar with what their kids are watching, so that bumps it back another generation.
He was named by Marvel Comics writers (they all were), and the comic technically showed first. (But a commercial showed before either.) Remember, the date on the comic was something like three months before the actual date, in those days. Long story about how long to keep things on a newsstand.
Only as long as there are X-Movies in current rotation and he’s played by a famous hot actor. I really question whether it will be true in 5 years. I hang around with a lot of people who would recognize Wolverine and a lot who wouldn’t. I don’t think he’s in the same range as Spider-man or Hulk, or even Iron Man, honestly. It’s close, but I think they have more name recognition.
I would also throw in the Flash and possibly the Green Lantern into the mix. The Flash is more iconic, and so more people would probably recognize “the guy who runs really fast” vs the green ring, but both have some popular appeal.
For a non-American, quasi-Third World perspective, I vote Wolverine. the X-Men movies are shown on broadcast TV here in SA, as were the cartoons. Hugh Jackman is a favourite of the ladies, too.
Multiversal?
Pikachu occurred to me earlier actually. Good suggestion.
Garfield is very recognisable, possibly wider recognised than Calvin etc.
I wasn’t just looking for superheroes but Wolverine does seem like he would be well known. I’m going to show my mother (in her 60s, Irish) a picture of Wolverine and see if she knows him. 
Do the Men in Black (1990) count?
I’d say that Wolverine with his claws out counts as a “costume” at least as much as the Hulk with no shirt on does.
Can I include cartoon characters? My vote is Spongebob Squarepants. The dude is ubiquitous. Apologies if he’s already mentioned.
Snoopy.
With Charlie Brown a close second.
Point taken.
However, in addition to a distinctive appearance, appearing in something other than comic books is critical. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Captain America, and the Hulk have all had cartoons, TV shows, and movies (though WW’s and CA’s movies/shows were craptastic). These characters are cultural icons going back decades. Wolverine may well become one with the success of the movie series and the animated shows; but he also needs a live action show and time. When even the “old folks” can identify him from a drawing or movie still, then he’s universally known.
Well, not quite. I have never heard of this character, and have no idea what he looks like. Perhaps ‘very nearly ubiquitous’.
Captain America? I guess so - I vaguely recall a TV show in the 80’s. He’s questionable in my mind.
I agree with Justin_Bailey’s list, though might vary the order in Wonder Woman, Hulk, and Spiderman - they’re all pretty even, though.
I also agree that I don’t think anyone else has really made that transition. Wolverine is on the cusp.
There are more players at the second tier level. Wolverine probably heads that list, but it includes the Fantastic Four, Ironman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Actually Turtles may outrank Wolverine.
To be honest, to really tell these things look at popular media and frequency of appearance. How often do people turn to the well? Superman? All the time. Batman? All the time. Spiderman? Been on Seasame Street, for Pete’s sake. Wolverine is starting to get there. Sure, there have been a lot of movies lately bringing heros to mainstream attention, but having a movie or two out in this current climate doesn’t guarantee anything. It’s popular to make “comic book movies”, so studios are trying to find the next big property.
Really, it takes time to establish a breakout. Old people who don’t follow comic books aren’t going to pay much attention to comic book movies, and not going to absorb the characters from ads only. The best way to make sure old people know your property is to have your property in mainstream attention long enough for your audience to become old people.
I’m going to stick to superheroes, rather than the broader category. Different markets, different exposure levels, different reasons for being well-known.
As an interesting addition, I’ll throw out GI Joe. Comic books, tv cartoon, huge toy line, now live-action movie. I know he started as just a doll - er, 12 inch action figure, but the cartoon/comic book version has rebranded the look. GI Joe may be fighting with Wolverine for transition to the top tier.
The Punisher doesn’t even register on my radar. Okay, I’ve heard the name, and seen the logo, but don’t always connect the two, and know bubkis about him other than that.
Ellis Dee said:
Going with that analogy, Superman is Joe Dimaggio. Batman is Yoggi Berra. Wolverine is A-Rod. “Tom Brady” and “Pudge Rodriguez” are Nite-owl and Aquaman - they’re known by followers of the genre, but not audiences at large. (I’ve never heard of those two sports people.)
RealityChuck said:
To my mind, that doesn’t count. They stole common lore and made a modern comic book hero out of it. Not the same as a Superman, or Wolverine - newly created character. Besides, you’re the first I’ve heard of that comic.
Eh, I’m not sure I’d count the Ninja Turtles or G.I. Joe or the Transformers.
The Turtles because most people have no idea they even are comic book characters and the Joes and the Transformers are disqualified in my mind because while both debuted in comics, the toy line/cartoon were much more important to the franchise and only debuted later because of the lead time needed to make a TV show or toy versus a comic book.