The best comic book characters, heroes and villains alike, have been around since before World War II. Their popularity has given birth to characters like Superman, Batman, Captain America, Spiderman, and so many more. Although Marvel Comics and Detective Comics were not the first to start the market, they are the most popular and have stood their ground all these years.
However, despite all the possibilities for new superheroes and villains to take the stage, some are shadowed and not even given the treatment they should be given. Indie comic book publishers have created unique tales and even more unique characters.
We’ll review some of the best comic book characters outside of DC Comics and Marvel. However, we won’t be including any from Japanese manga or Chinese manhua, as there are enough of those for a list on their own.
Best Comic Book Characters: Turok The Dinosaur Hunter
[Image via Valiant Entertainment]
Before his big debut on the Nintendo 64 as the best first-person shooter, Turok’s roots go back to 1954 in Four Color Comics. A young Native American named Turok and his brother, Andar, are trapped in a realm known as the Lost Lands. Dinosaurs, robots, demons, and aliens lurk at every turn. Turok must fight for survival and find a way back home.
After Valiant Comics introduced Turok, he received multiple books and video games. He even crossed over with other heroes like X-O Manowar and Magnus, Robot Fighter.
Despite his success, the name is now lost in the world of comics and only mentioned by gamers who remember the FPS best. Turok has had five games released under his name. Fans fondly remember the comics by Valiant Entertainment. Hopefully one day, the Native American hunter will return one day to take down velociraptors with his tek-bow.
X-O Manowar
[Image via Valiant Entertainment]
Valiant Comics has quite a few amazing comics that not enough people notice. A case in point is X-O Manowar, a warrior from the 5th Century abducted by aliens planning to take over Earth. Basically, it’s what happens when you take a Barbarian from Dungeons and Dragons and give him an Iron Man suit. It’s about as awesome as it sounds.
The Spider Aliens plan to destroy Earth, and keep Aric of Dacia prisoner. Yet when Aric acquires the Spider Aliens’ sentient and powerful armored suit, he uses it to break free from their grasp and travels back to Earth. Now stuck in modern times, Aric tries to adjust to living in a time outside of his own, while defending the people as X-O Manowar.
X-O Manowar debuted in 1991 remains Valiant’s best hero to this day. He also starred in video game called Ironman X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal, which was poorly received.
Jackie Estacado ( The Darkness)
[Image via Top Cow Productions]
The Darkness first appeared in an issue of Witchblade #10 in 1996 before getting its comic series by Image Comics. The Darkness acts as a cosmic entity that feeds off the flesh of its enemies and looks for a host to carry out its deeds.
Yes, the Darkness emerged at the same time as other antiheroes rose in popularity. Characters who walk the thin grey line between good and evil pose interesting thematic questions. Plus, fans find them fun.
Born into the world as an orphan, an uncle raises Jackie Estacado to be one of the most dangerous hitmen in the Mafia. After his 21st birthday, he ends up becoming the new host of the Darkness. The Darkness allows Jackie to draw on energy and summon the demons that inhabit it. Constantly questioning his morality and struggling to keep the Darkness from consuming him, Jackie uses this power on those who threaten his empire.
As the title suggests, The Darkness is a very edgy and dark comic series with some of the best artwork in Top Cow Comics. This series has been going on strong for years. It even got two video games released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which are just begging for a remake.
Best Comic Book Characters: Lady Death
[Image via Coffin Comics]
Lady Death is one of the more controversial and iconic female antiheroes in comics. Between her revealing outfit and morally ambiguous motives, she still commands attention from fans. Just not enough to dethrone the likes of Wonder Woman or Black Widow.
Accused of being a witch, Hope is sent to Hell. There, she finds out that her father is actually Lucifer. Forced to embrace the dark and evil power in her, Hope transforms from a frightened girl into the most terrifying and powerful goddess of Hell.
Hence, Lady Death is reborn and become Hell’s new ruler.
Over the years, Lady Death journeys from somewhat of an anti-hero to a little more of a hero. This came after controversy among fans regarding its depiction of Hell and Lady Death’s attitude and quotes. Despite this, fans of dark fantasy still love her. Lady Death even received an animated film in 2004.
Death never looked sexier than this.
Best Comic Book Characters: Mark Grayson, Or Invincible
[Image via Image Comics]
Before Invincible made his big debut on Amazon Prime, Invincible started as a graphic novel made by Robert Kirkman. Yes, the same man behind The Walking Dead. Invincible took the superhero formula and twisted it into a dark satire that, itself, became something special and thought-provoking.
Mark Grayson finds out from his father that he is a Viltrumite gifted with superpowers. With some training and mentoring from said father, Omni-Man, Mark sets out to become the superhero Invincible.
However, very soon after he starts, Mark discovers that being a superhero is not what the comics make it to be. Omni-Man conceals a dark motive. Now, Mark’s journey to discover what it means to be Invincible transforms into something morally complicated.
Even though the series has now become popular thanks to the animated series and reprints of the comics, Invincible was previously pretty unknown. The comic series has actually been around since 2003. Thankfully, now more and more people are discovering what they missed out on in what is arguably Robert Kirkman’s best work.
Best Comic Book Characters: Spawn
[Image via Image Comics]
The ’90s was an interesting time for comic books. Characters started to become edgier, morally grey. Antiheroes, as we mentioned. Dark comics made an impact.
Spawn is one of the biggest “dark comics” of that era. Spawn was a product by Todd McFarlane, who worked on the artwork for The Amazing Spiderman comics before starting his series.
Al Simmons is one the world’s best assassins that always got the job done. One faithful day, his friends betray him. Al’s soul descends straight to hell, where he met a demon lord. Malebolgia offers Al a deal. He’d be allowed to see his wife again if he agreed to lead Hell’s army. Gaining a symbiotic suit and magical abilities granted from Hell, Al Simmons becomes Spawn.
Spawn has been in a large number of comics since his debut in 1992. A live-action movie (which was poorly made). A varying degree of video games. An HBO animated series that gained a cult following. Regarding the animated series, it didn’t hurt that Keith David voiced Spawn.
However, despite getting a cameo appearance in Mortal Kombat 11, Spawn never got as much of a popular streak as his Marvel counterparts. Suffice to say, that Spawn is still enjoyed by those who want to enjoy an antihero.
Sara Pezzini (Witchblade)
[Image via Top Cow Productions]
The Witchblade series has had several characters that took up the mantle. Plus, of course, crossovers with Tomb Raider, Jackie Estacado, and Elektra from Marvel. TNT even hosted a TV series that did well, though TNT ultimately canceled it. Plus, Funimation adapted it into a decent anime that was well-received.
Frankly, Witchblade is Top Cow’s most ambitious title. Published between 1995 to 2015, the story’s since, sadly, faded into obscurity.
There are several Witchblade users, but Sara Pezzini is the most well-known one. A New York detective, an undercover job goes horribly wrong when someone guns Sara down. Fortunately, by some miracle, an artifact known as the Witchblade bonds with Pezzini. It heals her and grants her mystical powers.
Sara tries to piece together what this sentient weapon is about, while keeping it out of the reach of people with horrible intentions for it. In the meantime, she also uses this weapon to help out others.
There were plans for a video game and a movie for Witchblade, but sadly the interest wasn’t there at the time. While executives ultimately scrapped these plans, the future is unwritten!
Best Comic Book Characters: Hellboy
[Image via Dark Horse Comics]
Dark Horse Comics created Hellboy in 1993. The story started as a Comi-Con one-shot that since developed into a fan favorite. Many still consider Hellboy one of the most important dark fantasy comics ever made. Since then, it’s gained a cult following.
Professor Broom adopts Hellboy after finding him in a Nazi occult experimental base in 1944. Originally intended to bring destruction to humanity, Professor Broom instead raises Hellboy to bring peace and investigate the occult. Now he works with the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense alongside other magical and mysterious people. It’s never a dull day when Hellboy comes over to bring the pain and save the day.
Hellboy’s brash and cool attitude makes him likable to any fan of devils, demons, or guys with big guns. Hellboy has had multiple live-action and animated films and recently got a video game: Hellboy Web of Wyrd.
Betty and Veronica (Archie Comics)
[Image via Archie Comics]
Come on, you all knew no one could pick either one of the girls. Archie Comics cemented its role as an important piece of comic book history. The company has been around since 1939 and gives fans a taste of the everyday life of Archie Andrews and his friends in a little town called Rivervale.
Archie’s love interests, Betty and Veronica, most frequently appear around him. Their polar opposite personalities accentuate the love triangle. Betty works as the wholesome girl-next-door who is all about being a good friend, while Veronica is a rich daddy’s girl who is all about taking the spotlight.
While both Betty and Veronica try to date Archie, getting him to choose one or the other? Never gonna happen. This leads to some rather interesting interactions.
Although the series has a loyal fanbase and has received some TV shows and animated series, the interest for more of Archie and friends hasn’t been there. Still, a huge chunk of fans will always argue which girl is the best one.
Judge Dredd
[Image via 2000 AD]
British comics can also hit it out of the park. The 2000 AD comics contain some of the grittiest tales and incredible artwork. They’re also the birthplace of Judge Dredd.
In the industrial city of Mega-City One, Chief Judge Fargo creates Judge Dredd via cloning. Judge Dredd then swears ann oath to be judge, juror, and executioner for this town. He’s a no-nonsense law enforcer who makes sure every bit of the law, no matter how minor, is followed. Along with his partner, Anderson, Judge Dredd faces off with gangsters, robots, killer cyborgs, and rouge judges to bring the law down in this lawless world.
Judge Dredd ended up being popular enough to get two movies in his name. One, made in 1994, starred Sylvester Stallone. 2012’s version starred Karl Urban and was simply titled Dredd.
Miss Masque
[Image via Dynamite Entertainment]
Before Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman started making waves, many superheroes were ordinary people fighting crime their way. It was less about who had super strength and speed and more about how they solved crimes and brought the bad guys to justice.
Miss Masque is an underrated heroine that deserves more attention. The young and beautiful Diana Adams works as a columnist to act as her cover for secret identity as Miss Masque, a vigilante detective who’s ready to lend a hand to the most dangerous cases. Miss Masque’s only powers are her sharp wits, her scrappy attitude, and a few good punches to stop the bad guys in their tracks.
Exciting Comics debuted Miss Masque in 1946. She then transferred to America’s Best Comics and FemForce. The story’s transformed over the years, and now goes by the title Masquerade. Though she has yet to have her movie or cartoon, Miss Masque is a great example of how a classic never goes out of style.
Vampirella
[Image via Harris Publications]
One of the most iconic superheroines? The very definition of eye candy? From her skimpy clothes to her long dark hair, many consider Vampirella one of the sexiest characters since her debut in 1969. Yet there hasn’t been much in the way of bringing her back to the spotlight. Hence, she has fallen into obscurity.
Vampirella’s story changes between publishers, but the constant was that she was born into the world with all the strengths of the vampires and none of their weaknesses. Doing her best to blend into society, she battles the supernatural and magical creatures to protect the people and herself. Once considered an antihero, later publishers transformed her into a hero.
In 1996, Vampirella got her first film starring Talisa Soto. Alas, critics reviewed it poorly for its mismatched casting and lackluster costume designs. However, the sexy vampire from space deserves a redemption. Until then, we still have endless comics to collect and read.
The Green Hornet
[Image via Harvey Comcis]
In the 1930s, the Green Hornet started as a radio serial before finally getting its comic book series in 1940. The series combines the drama and gritty storytelling of film noir with a tale of someone trying to bring order by breaking the law.
Wealthy publisher Britt Reid and his driver Kato decide to go after the criminal underworld to right the wrongs in the only way they know how. With the Hornet’s gadgets and Kato’s martial arts, they take on some of the most dangerous gangs that try to make the city their stomping grounds.
The series started to gain popularity in 1966. After all, Bruce Lee starred in this for his first American TV series. It was so popularthat they even did a crossover episode in the Batman TV series. Since then, studios have made multiple movies, with the most recent being in 2011 and starring… Seth Rogan. Alas, it’s as bad as it sounds and while there has been talk of a reboot happening, there is no news as to when.
Painkiller Jane
[Image via Event Comics]
Jane Vasko is a tough-as-nails cop who always dives headfirst into danger to save the day and keep people alive. However, one day Jane drinks a drug cocktail that changes her body forever. Now nearly indestructible, Jane cleans up New York’s criminal underworld and showa them that no matter how much villains try to break her, Painkiller Jane will keep coming back.
Created in 1996, Jane was published in Event Comics before getting a reboot by Dynamite Entertainment. She’s even had a few crossovers into Marvel’s heroes, a mini-series, and a Sci-Fi Channel movie. However, it has been years since the bulletproof cop has been given any screen time. Fans of The Punisher and Luke Cage would find something to enjoy from this heroine.
SHI
[Image via Crusade Comics]
One of the most obscure yet alluring characters, Shi is a character who not only deserves recognition but a revival within the comic book world. With her geisha makeup and red uniform, Shi looks like something out of a samurai flick.
After yakuza gang members murder her father, Ana Ishikawa swears revenge and dedicates herself to Bushido. Taught by warrior monks, Ana takes on the name Shi, which is Japanese for “death.” Yet thanks to her mother’s teachings, Shi finds herself conflicted with the thought of revenge and swears to never kill out of hatred. Shi has had comics going on since 1993 and has had crossovers with Vampirella, Wolverine, Dare Devil, and Lady Death, facing off against very powerful and even mystical foes.
Crusade Comics had some real potential and even were planning a movie for Shi. Yet they struggled to cast the role, and the script kept changing hands. Despite these setbacks, Shi becomes a great warrior in comics. In the future, who knows? Imagine a video game where you play as a badass samurai girl, chopping up bad guys with a naginata.
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