Who, in your opinion are the 10 best characters in all of comicdom? Doesn't matter what company they are from (DC, Marvel, Indy) or if they're a hero, villian, or supporting character. When you answer that, tell us why, please. Thanks!

Superman-iconoclastic doer of good. For the most part, has held up to his original ideals of truth, justice, and the (1940's-50's) American way. Who wouldn't want to be him?

Batman- Best early anti-hero. Character lends itself well to many interpretations along the basis of his original concept. Avenging, driven, non-powered spirit of man's vengence. Vigilante with good concepts of law and justice.

Captain America- Another character who stands for truth and justice, but will not be a blind servant of government as shown throughout the years. Believes in the voice of the people whose democracy he vows to protect.

Ben Grimm- Working class morality, whose loyalty cannot come into question. Will never give up, even when clearly over-matched, to protect his family of friends.

Dr. Doom- Perfect ego-maniacle overlord, bent on world domination. Villian who started out on the path of angels but sacrificed all for his people and family. Never sees himself as evil, or even in the wrong and that's part of the genius of Doom!

Spiderman- Best everyman character ever. Relateable, funny, and responsible to an err.

Hulk- Whether you want mindless destruction, or character driven, the Hulk can give you any of these and in-between, depending on the writer. The hulk is emotion incarnate where it be an action filled spree or an examination of Banner's deep psycosis, one of the most fun characters in comics. World War Hulk better be good!

Flash- Jay Garrick, Barry Allen or eventually Wally West. The family of speedsters has always held a spot in my comics hall of fame. Not only would it be ultra cool to be that fast, but the flash has one of the best visuals going in comics. The development of Wally West from trying to fill a Legends shoes to becoming a Legend himself was, for the most part, a wonderful ride I hope they aren't finished with him.

Conan- Many have tried to invent a barbaric character, but they are all pale reflections at best to the one true Conan. Although not a comic-book invention, it was in the comics that I was introduced to him, and probably would never have heard of him until older. The Marvel series was some of the best non-superhero comics ever. A barbarian with a heart and brain, and moarls to boot(relatively speaking of course). Dark Horse re-captured the spirit quite well in its re-incarnation of the Title.

Sue Storm Richards- Although starting her career as the token team hottie, writers have developed her to be one of the most 3 dimensional female characters in comics. She is the strongest member on the team in terms of power and personality, and can no longer be satisfied with "blending in the background" as her namesake would suggest. A devoted Mother, Wife, Sister, and Friend, but she will not cave-in blindly to the decisions of her husband or team or Foreign Nobility or the US government as recently illustrated, to compromise her standards. The original comics Mom I'd Like to...err Date, her character just gets stronger through the years.

Sentry- Nahh! just kidding.

I can't number any of them 1-10, as the best characters always change with the best writers and concepts( i.e... if not for civil war, iron man would definitely been on here too). . But these 10 have been around for a long time respectively. There's a good reason for it. They are great characters. Admittedly, I feel like I've betrayed many of my all-time favorites by not including them here, but you asked for 10 and these are the first 10 that popped in my head.

John Constantine
Jesse Custer
Spider Jerusalem
Dream/Morpheus
Cassiday
Matt Murdock
Captain America
Batman
Lucifer
and currently Jamie Madrox

I might have reasonings for all these guys later, but right now I'm hung over as all hell...

I'm going to give a top 5 to start with. They aren't listed in order, but here are 5 of my 'best' or 'most important'.

Flash Gordon - He's the original one man vs an army comic hero. His strip defined science fiction as we know it. He was just, forth right, and courageous. He paved the way for space stories, aliens, super weapons, and worked his way into the conciousness of a generation. Flash is a hero's hero, someone even Superman and Captain America would look up to.

Dick Tracy - One of the original gumshoes in comics. There wasn't a crime he couldn't solve, and there wasn't a speck of dirt on his squeeky clean image. Tracy was equally adept at solving crimes with his fists or his brain (usually both). His trademark yellow fedora is still recognized today.

Superman - The first powered superhero to go over big. While he wasn't the first guy to 'fly' or the first guy to lift impossible weights, he somehow put it all together in one package that worked. An overnight sensation, he spawned movies and radio programs within a few years of his birth long before the age of mass media. A strident champion of truth and justice, today he's one of the most recognized symbols world wide. His costume is ranked as high as McDonalds or Coca Cola for pop icons. Truth, Justice, and the American way still has a champion. Go get 'em Superman!

Captain America - Proving that the Red, White, and Blue never go out of style. Steve Rogers may be a man out of time, but he's still as vital today as he was almost 70 years ago. Long before America was willing to go to war, Cap was vanquishing the Nazi horde and the evil of hate. He still has something to say to today's generation, even if he doesn't watch American Idol (if anything, that makes me like you a little bit more Cap). When the chips are down, Cap will still go over the top and into the guns. America will prevail.

Spiderman - Love him or hate him, Peter Parker changed heroing forever. Here was the first hero who didn't have everything. He had problems at school, girls didn't go for him, dates were ruined. He is the everyman hero. He isn't a paragon of virtue, or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. He's John Doe, doing everything he can to make the world a little bit better to be in. While his parent company may or may not have made suggestions that they want to tear him down, you're still a hero to Spidey. That's all that really counts

(several of these have disclaimers attached, but some charactors are so vastly different depending on the version the writer is using.)

the ultimates (as a whole, amazing!)

spider-man

batman (especially the darker versions)

the joker

thanos

doctor doom

hulk

elektra (when done right)

iron man (when tony stark is having his own troubles)

she-hulk (especially when she has someone to play off of, can be down right hillarious!)

I'll come back an post why later, I think. But here are my choices b(subject to some changes):

• Superman
• Rorshach
• Spider-Man
• Morpheus
• Batman
• Wolverine
• Invincible
• Sabretooth
• Storm
• Arwyn

Can't wait to hear them, cuz there are some off the beaten path characters there!

Superman and Batman-for the sheer force of iconism.

Jack Knight Starman-for being a person first and a hero second. Robinson probably could have written the whole series with Jack not being a hero.

Morpheus-just phenomenal.

Doctor Doom-Always has been a great character, but better if you read Books of Doom. He always just wanted to not hurt anymore.

Golgoth-Doom and Luthor rolled into one, a loving conqueror.

Captain Cold-A thief and a thug, but one who has a tiny spark of a conscience.

Animal Man-The common man superhero who had to deal with weirder stuff than anybody.

Swamp Thing-Is he a man who's been turned into a vegetable or a vegetable trying to be a man?

Spider-Man-The original Average Joe superhero.

Doc Savage--the one ripped off by so many other heroes that came after him--set the stage for comics

Batman--who else?

The Joker--can't have one without the other

Green Lantern--Hal Jordan--best GL stories are Hal stories. Pure willpower is a cool weapon

Flash--Barry Allen--always wanted to be the Flash as a kid--I was too young for Jay Garrick and Wally West came later. Barry Allen was my Flash.

Daredevil--great comix device--pretending to be blind when he IS blind!

Spiderman--like Stan Lee says..." 'nuff said!"

Captain America--A true hero. They should never kill off the American Dream...I HOPE MARVEL HAS A GREAT PLAN FOR THIS STORY LINE!

Rorschach-- "I have just broken this man's little finger..."

Lex Luthor--pits his brains and nothing else against all the powers in the Universe and manages to keep himself one step ahead of them all.

There are so many others, but this is my list for now.

Doc Savage--the one ripped off by so many other heroes that came after him--set the stage for comics

Batman--who else?

The Joker--can't have one without the other

Green Lantern--Hal Jordan--best GL stories are Hal stories. Pure willpower is a cool weapon

Flash--Barry Allen--always wanted to be the Flash as a kid--I was too young for Jay Garrick and Wally West came later. Barry Allen was my Flash.

Daredevil--great comix device--pretending to be blind when he IS blind!

Spiderman--like Stan Lee says..." 'nuff said!"

Captain America--A true hero. They should never kill off the American Dream...I HOPE MARVEL HAS A GREAT PLAN FOR THIS STORY LINE!

Rorschach-- "I have just broken this man's little finger..."

Lex Luthor--pits his brains and nothing else against all the powers in the Universe and manages to keep himself one step ahead of them all.

There are so many others, but this is my list for now.