Superman
-The original 1939 version. When he couldn't withstand a nuclear explosion, or turn back time, or push planets around, or eat kryptonite. When he fought politicians, and beat the hell out of guys who hit their wife. When he actually went against real problems, and went after the true villians of the world. That Superman.
Lex Luthor
-The Post-Crisis version, for many of the reasons Mxy listed. He's believable, and, in a realistic sense, quite possible. A man that can create a formula to make giant monkeys is silly. A man that can buy your family's land, and totally ruin your life through financial and political means.....that's scary.
Deathstroke, the Terminator
-Slade Wilson, the original 'Man-Who-Beat-Batman'. Not only the guy who pulled me into DC Comics (ala' The Judas Contract), but, the guy who can utilize ninety-percent of his brain. The guy who, single-handedly, broke the Titans down with his bare hands. The real Titans. The Nightwing, Raven, Kid Flash Titans. The threats. Can't wait to see what Meltzer does with him in IC.
Jack Knight, the Starman
-I almost disagree with putting the title 'Starman' by his name. Jack Knight is a character unto himself, even without the family legacy, or the cosmic staff. He's the most realistic character set within a Superhero-genre that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The true inheritor to Peter Parker's 'Hero-With-Problems' motif. Except, Jack is just fucking cool.
Jenny Sparks
-I won't use any of Ellis' over-hyped taglines like 'The Woman That Killed God' shit. I will say, though, that she is one of my two favorite women in the comic medium. She has personality, drive, honor, loyalty, and sexuality. She can wear baggy pants, a Brit-flag shirt, smoke a pack a day, and still, doesn't have a problem making you understand that she could out-fight, out-drink, and out-fuck any man or woman in the room. Not to mention she shagged Elijah Snow. An honestly wonderful character.
Spider Jerusalem
-Say what you want about Ellis' Hunter S. Thompson-wannabe slant, Spider still rates as a character I can get behind. He hates the things I hate, and loves the things I cherish. And, in the end, he is balls-to-the-wall dedicated to his cause, showing no sign of sway. Truly a character that is unique.
Hippolytia
-The only real Wonder Woman in my eyes. And, the other female on my top-two hit list. There is none of the 'Let's Talk About Our Feelings'-Deanna Troi-crappola that Diana consistently tries to funnel down people's throats. She came, sword in hand, saw, and kicked ass. Whether it was laying down Nazi blood with her sword, or, making Ted Grant her bitch in bed, Polly will always be the superior Wonder Woman in my eyes.
Connor Hawke
-Hard to say why I like him so much. Maybe it's because he's Green Arrow withOUT the out-dated machoism of his father. Maybe it's because he's this Buddist Monk, content with the peace of flying a pinpoint-precision arrowhead into your temple. Maybe it was Grant Morrison's "The Key" storyline from JLA. I don't know. All I do know is, Connor is THE Green Arrow to me.
Jay Garrick
-A man so famous, you don't even have to use his code-name these days. The original Fastest Man Alive. Truly, the ultimate father-figure of the metahuman society, without falling into cheesy-cliches. He's paternal, not, Leave It To Beaver. He's wise, not all-knowing. And, he's fast. Sure, he can't break light speed. But, then again, who here can truly fathom such a thing? I find it much more exciting to imagine a man that can crack Mach One with his own two feet. And, no one else could pull off that damn helmet and make it work. He is, in my opinion, the epitome of 'cool' when it comes to the Golden Age.
Morpheus, the Dream
-Sorry, but, Daniel just doesn't cut it. And, as everyone else has gone into detail about him, I'll just make it simple: He's fucking Dream!! What's not to be impressed by? One of the best characters ever created in graphic form. A literary masterpiece.
