For some reason, when I was younger, Plasticman seemed to strike a chord with me and for the life of me I don’t know why
Spider-man…I see too much of myself in him. He’s every high-school nerd’s fantasy alter ego! But I don’t think there’s any other hero that has his heart- he’s constantly faced with choosing an easier path, but he always takes the harder, more responsible way. This usually leaves him out of money, out of a job, losing the girl, etc. So in a lot of ways, he’s just like a normal antisocial genius- his own worst enemy. But I’ve read too many of his comics where he’s totally outmatched and outclassed, but he stays and fights because there’s no one else to stand up to the bad guy. He gets his ass kicked, but he does it cheerfully, and can usually pull out the win.
The Punisher is over 30 years old. That’s not too modern.
Of the old guard in DC…I’ve recently grown to like Hourman. Why? Because he’s just fought through so much to be a hero, even his addiction to being a hero itself, to fight the bad guys. Angst is fine, but if you have to resist the urge to go out and fight crime because you know it’s unhealthy, THAT’S interesting.
Also, James Robinson made Starman interesting to me.
Marvel: I’m really not a Marvel fan, but if I had to choose…Colossus? He’s got a simple power and he’s a complex guy.
Vision - Coz he looked really cool and had an interesting power (manipulating his own density without altering his size).
However, unfortunately, I never saw him kick anyone’s ass, so if anyone has a Vision kick-ass story, other than simply adding density while sticking his arm into someone, I’d love it.
Quicksilver.
I like that he is arrogant, a bit bigoted, not really a superhero because he wants to help people but simply because he has the power. I like that he is tied into every facet of the Marvel universe save for the street level heroes like Daredevil and Spiderman.
I like that he’s been a hero and villain multiple times throughout his career.
I am curious about his new limited series. I didn’t read any of House of M but stayed a bit up to date with what happened.
Spider-Man, just ‘cause he’s got an Achilles’ Torso that prevents him from getting too uppity. 
And yes, I liked him more before he married the babe and got on top of the world. Totally unrealistic, that.
The Flash.
Because he was a scientist, he was nervous around his girlfriend and had a PhD, but didn’t make people call him Dr. Allen.
I’m way out of the loop with current Marvel, but I assume you read X-Factor #87 from around 1993 or '94, by Peter David and Joe Quesada? One of the best Quicksilver stories ever, and I’m not even a big fan or a major expert.
Fantastic Four, no question. Spiderman was just too whiny, and soapy. The Hulk, well, he was kind of stupid, no? FF dealt with their problems without whining, mostly (hey, it’s Marvel), and they had interesting powers. Mr. Fantastic was kind of a pain, being so mature and all, but I dealt with it.
I regret that I never read X-Men; they might have been cool
No DC heroes need apply, except for Batman. My only problem with Batman is Robin. I really didn’t need Bruce’s ward (whatever the hell that is) to relate to my kiddie brain.
DC’s Ragman-The Tatterdemalion of Justice.It was so wtf.I loved it
I have an artist friend who can’t understand my devotion to the original Green Lantern – hands down my favorite costume of all time.
Less than 1/2 of Superman’s age. And he wasn’t seen until the 70’s. The late 70’s, I believe. As a villain. A second string villain.
He only got popular in the late 80’s.
I have to join in with the Green Lantern suppport.
Alan Scott. Earth’s First, Only and True Green Lantern. Not those xeno-technology sporting kids beholden to alien overlords…
(or The Spectre. God’s Vengeance personified. But his tighty-greenies, hood and cape costume just doesn’t work as well.)
"That’s Professor Zoom! I didn’t do eight years and a dissertation at zoom school to be called ‘Mr. Zoom!’ "
Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern… that grey at the temples, that incredibly defined musculature in the green body suit, those dark grey/black tights…
alright, I admit, it was (and is) lust, lust, lust
I don’t see why this should disqualify him. His lack of heroism, maybe, but certainly not the date of his creation as compared to Superman. And I’d say he was popular at least since the early-to-mid '80s.
Plus, people aren’t naming other second-string characters here? A red and purple-clad Green Lantern, for example? I like him too, but come on, Alan Scott practically defines “second-string,” and is a hell of a lot less recognizable than the Punisher.
Jay Garrick, the original Flash.
(Talk about a classic costume!)
And upon reflection… **Black Bolt ** from Marvel’s The Inhumans was pretty hot to. Ah yes, the late 60’s, when homosexuality was just recently decriminalized…
Ghost Rider. In both incarnations.
Even though the first was not a super hero.