What are your thoughts on describing comic characters as "A-List", "B-List", "C-List", etc.? Here are mine:

The A-List: The characters on the A-List are those whose names sell comics. They have decades of sales with their name on the cover, and they have appearances in other books specifically to improve sales of another title. They almost certainly have made a major titled appearance in mainstream media outside of comics and cartoons.

Examples: Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Wolverine.

On the bubble: Wonder Woman, Deadpool.

Disqualifications: No villain can truly be on the A-List, despite their importance in the canon. I suppose the closest thing to an A-List villain was Venom, and I'm not sure he still qualifies for the A-List. A team may be considered A-List, but that does not grant A-list status to individuals.

The B-List: This is the home of the heroes that have their own titles that run for longer than a couple of years, but are prone to being almost as well known for their part in team-ups, or appear as backups in other titles. Characters in long running team books (5+ years) with a well-established roster are almost always B-List. Long-established arch enemies of A-Listers are never better than B-List, with the best of the "big name villains" solid B-List material.

Examples: Green Lantern, Thor, Daredevil, many members of the Teen Titans, X-Men and Legion of Super-Heroes, Fantastic Four. Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, Green Goblin, Joker.

On the bubble: Incredible Hulk, Aquaman

The C-List: Characters that appear almost exclusively in books they do not headline, have a series that is mostly guest stars, or those that are essentially interchangeable on a team book. They may appear more-or-less exclusively in a short-running (3 years or less) series. Recurring villains that generate the "oh yeah, him/her" response.

Examples: Spider-Woman, Atom, Mystique. Those other members of the X-Men, Teen Titans, JLA, And all members of the Suicide Squad, Secret Six, Runaways, Metal Men, etc. etc.

On the bubble: She-Hulk, Martian Manhunter.

The D-List: Characters that originate as one-shots (usually villains, but occasionally heroes) that never graduate to the C-List. They are prone to being given the "Mary Sue" treatment. D-List status is confirmed when they don't make it on teams of C-Listers and generate resentment on A-list teams like the Avngers, JLA or F4.

Examples: JL Detroit, Half of Busiek's Avengers. Almost all characters in Bendis' run of Daredevil.

Your D-list is missing a lot of mutants.

I would think that Green Lantern would be an A-list but the Green Arrow be on the B-list

I have to disagree; that seems somewhat arbitrary. Joker and Catwoman have had their own titles, Luthor had his own back-up feature in early issues of the 1980's Byrne Superman reboot, and comics featuring Darkseid tend to do really well.

C and D-listers are more my bag, especially the Legion of Super-Heroes and the Legion of Substitute Heroes.

And I don't care how popular they are, Avengers Academy is always a great read.

I dont even know how Hulk is only a bubble list B-Lister... He had a comic that ran for 500+ issues and has headlined 2 Movies by himself. Plus a solo cartoon,a 70s TV show a theme park ride. He is way more known than the Legion, Green Goblin any many other in your B-List. I dare say he is more known that both of your bubble A Listers Wondy and Deadpool

I'd also say that Dr Doom is A-List.
He has had a place in the original "Super-Villian Team-Up" book as a lead character, a few back-up stories here and there and there was the "Doom 2099" series.

"Having had a title" doesn't make a character A-List...that is simply trademark protection. Catwoman's title had her on the bubble (possibly) of A-List, but A-Listers on the list for 10+ years.

Hulk is On the A-list side of the B-list Bubble, IMO. I agree that he's very much like Wonder Woman, except that the appeal to girls of WW is stronger than the appeal to angry science geeks. Also WW has decades on the Hulk.

If you're talking about society at large, the A-listers are Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Hulk, and maybe Wolverine.

Outside of comic book fans, those are the characters that everyone knows.

Deadpool, Green Lantern, Iron Man, the Avengers, etc., are all A-listers to comic fans, but even with hit movies/cartoons, they don't have the brand recognition of Superman or Batman. Not even close.

I had to put Deadpool on the bubble of A-List even if I don't think he's exactly A-List material. Somehow the character is in a bajillion Marvel titles, and has been for a long enough time...but I concede the point about non-comic fans probably not recognizing him.

Deadpool is still a good B-lister. He's been in a lot of Marvel titles over the last few years. He's well-known among the comic fans, but he's hardly recognizable to the general public. He also hasn't had a series that lasted 100 issues (or whatever the req is). I think Robin would be about on the same level as Deadpool, a good B-lister. And Robin had a series that ran a good 150+ issues; also his infamous history with Batman. Catwoman would also be a good B-lister.

If Dr. Doom is considered A-list, so would the Fantastic Four as a group and The Joker.

Legion of Superheroes is B-list? I consider them to be G-list at best.

I'm not saying I hate them or anything, but they're very unknown to the masses. The highest level of fame I can recall them achieving was having a Saturday morning cartoon show that lasted for about a year and was mostly about Superman.

If they've been headlining a movie the last few years, they're probably considered "A-List" to the masses.

I'd say that was a given.

I would argue A list is how easily recognized someone is if looking at it from a 'how recognizable is this person'.

Spider-man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, Hulk Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman, and possibly Green Lantern are all pretty easily recognized by the general public.

Then you get into down into B-listers. Those who are easily recognizable by those with passing comic fancy or know people that read comics.

Thor springs to mind (all though with the movie out, he's definitely at the cusp of A list status), as might some others.

I'd also disagree on Villains not being A list, Doc Ock, Lex Luthor and Joker are all pretty easily recognizable people by the public.

If going by a comic perspective I'd say you'd lean more towards who plays a major role in their universes comics (i.e. headline a major series or major part of a team book).

I.E. Thor is clearly A list in Marvel, JSA would be A list for DC to me

Heck, we just had a year of "Action Comics Starring Lex Luthor" plus numerous mini-series with him.

I would say he's pretty much a nigh-household name and we have seen him used to boost title sales with guest appearances (e.g. - "Swamp Thing" or even, more recently, "Secret Six").