Next week sees the publication of SFX’s Comic Books Heroes special edition. To coincide, here’s the first part of the results of the reader poll we ran to discover your favourite superheroes of all time. Today we reveal the the superheroes you placed in positions 50 to 11, and we'lllet you know who's in the Top 10 next week.
In the meantime, if you want to predict the top 10, leave your suggestions in the comments section below. If anyone gets the the full Top 10 in the correct order then there’s a prize on offer (if more than one of you gets it then it goes to the usual names-out-of-hat stage). You could become the proud owner of the following two books (click on the covers for more info):
Anyway, here goes:
50 She-Hulk
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Savage She-Hulk #1, 1980
Created by: Stan Lee, John Buscema
Jennifer Walters becomes She-Hulk after receiving a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner. Initially, like Bruce, she transforms when she’s angry, but eventually gains control over her changing into her alter ego and elects to stay that way permanently. It helps that, unlike her cousin, she retains her own intelligence and personality. During her second run as the star of her own comic, writer/artist John Byrne experimented with the post-modernist approach now associated with Deadpool – She-Hulk had an awareness of her own status as a comic book character. At various times she's been a member of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Heroes For Hire, Defenders, Fantastic Force, and S.H.I.E.L.D
49 Cyclops
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: X-Men #1, 1963
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Long-time leader of the X-Men and eternally moping boyfriend of Jean Grey, Scott Summers is a mutant with laser-like eyes beams that can only be controlled by his ruby quartz visor or spectacles.
48 Elektra
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Daredevil #168, 1981
Created by: Frank Miller
Greek-born, ninja assassin, introduced in Frank Miller’s celebrated run on Daredevil as an adversary for the blind superhero. They soon had a love/hate relationship, with the emphasis ever more on love. Nowadays pretty much one of the good guys.
47 Hawkman
Publisher: DC
First appearance: Flash Comics #1, 1940
Created by: Gardner Fox, Dennis Neville
In the Golden Age of comics he was a the reincarnation of an ancient God. In the silver age he was an alien. After that a series of retconning devices to explain the discrepancy only served to muddle things (he became Hawkgod briefly). But throughout, he's looked like an outcast from Flash Gordon’s Hawkmen and had a bit of a mouth on him. Depending on which Hawkster you're dealing with he's either been a key member of the Justice Society Of America and the Justice League Of America.
46 Iceman
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: X-Men #1, 1963
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Bobby Drake was saved from a life looking like a snowman by enrolling at Xavier’s School Fore Gifted Youngsters, where he was taught to look a look cooler.
45 Midnighter
Publisher: Wildstorm
First appearance: Stormwatch Volume Two #4, 1998
Created by: Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch
Bioengineered member of The Authority, with enhanced physical capabilities and the ability to predict an opponent's moves. A kind of scuzzy, more ruthless Batman who seemingly lives in his costume, he's also gay and married to fellow Authority member Apollo.
44 Colossus
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1975
Created by: Len Wein, Dave Cockrum
Russian farm boy Piotr Rasputin’s ability to change into a superstrong, organic-steel-skinned mutant saw him becoming a key member of Professor‘s Xavier’s second band of X-Men. Has had a on-off relationship with Kitty Pryde (mainly off when he died for a while) and is the star of an X-Men cover that has become every bit as iconic as that Athena poster of a naked guy with a baby.
43 Jamie Madrox
AKA, Multiple Man
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Giant-Sized Fantastic Four #4, 1975
Created by: Len Wein, Chris Claremont, John Buscema
Bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “playing with yourself” Jamie Madrox has the mutant ability to duplicate himself many times over. A bit of a cheeky chappie, he's been a member of X-Factor.
42 Northstar
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Uncanny X-Men #120
Created by: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Sulky, quick-tempered Canadian who was a Olympic skier before his powers made him unbeatable (cheat!), Jean-Paul Barbier was a super-fast, flying member of Alpha Flight along with his twin sister, Jeanne-Marie, aka Aurora. One of the first openly gay superheroes.
41 The Question
Publisher: Charlton/DC
First appearance: Blue Beetle #1, 1967
Created by: Steve Ditko
An enigmatic crimefighter with a faceless mask, The Question is like The Spirit with a philosophy degree. Patrolling the streets of corrupt Hub City, he's been reinvented a number of times, most recently handing over his mantle to a female question.
Go to superheroes 40-31
