Fierce Five: My Top Favorite Heroes of all Time
- joshuahadenwrites
- Oct 9
- 4 min read
When it comes to superheroes, I’m a big fan. The action, the violence, the powers- I have never been able to stay away from the good stuff. I don’t discriminate either. Marvel, DC, The Boys Comics, Jupiter’s Legacy – if there are superhumans involved in the plot, I’m getting into it. Given that there are so many characters spanning these fantastic universes, it can be hard to pick favorites. I, however, have no problem naming a few of some of my most beloved heroes, some of which continue to inspire my own characters and writing. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Batman
He’s a legend, what can I say? His beatdowns are brutal. His gadgets and modes of transportation are just cool. His character is deep and drives his reason for being Gotham’s hero vigilante. What impresses me the most about Bruce “Batman” Wayne is the fact that he actually has no powers at all. His skill in combat and extremely high intelligence makes him a formidable foe against any villain who stands against him. He finds himself at the leadership table with DC’s team of most powerful heroes, the Justice League, and he stands there equally amongst gods as a human. Granted, his money takes him a long way and does aid Batman in performing badassery. Overall, Batman’s dark past and tendencies for brutality inspire the anger that lurks under the surface of my own characters, and the action scenes in the Christian Bale “Dark Knight” series are top-tier excellence. Next!
The Invisible Woman
When you first hear of her and the basic level of her powers (invisibility and force shield projection), you might think she’s not worth too much of a thought on the battlefield. You would be quite wrong. Sue Storm’s ability to manipulate light into different forms allows her to use force shields for levitation, blasts of attacks on enemies, and can even form barriers of manipulated energy inside the body of another, imploding them from within. Also, have you seen the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Not even Galactus could overpower her abilities when pushed to mega levels. In addition, Sue Storm’s dedication to protecting her family makes her character complete and aligned with the powers she possesses. Though she might not be a Superman or a Wonder Woman, her powers are of a vast potential. Her moral compass and her human body’s physical limitations keep her from amassing such power all at once.
Cyborg
A DC legend, Cyborg first came into my life as a kid. Cartoon Network’s Teen Titans introduced me to him as a member of their team, and his cybernetic enhanced body makes him a unique hero. Like many of my favorites on this list, his powers are vast, ranging from superhuman strength, speed, and stamina to energy blasts to computer interfacing. His cyber-soldier character reminds me the most of science fiction, and the split between human and technology makes for his character to have depth with an extensive background story. I sincerely hope to see him show up in James Gunn’s new DC Universe, as Gunn’s vision seems to align more with the comic version of DC’s heroes.
Scarlet Witch
The MCU Avengers movies had me head over heels for Miss Scarlet. Her use of chaos magic made her an immensely powerful being, her abilities ranging from energy manipulation to telekinesis, to influencing and controlling minds and warping reality itself on massive scales. The scenes in which she takes down her enemies are nothing short of iconic (yes, I’m alluding to Avengers: Infinity War – how did she take out an entire quarter of Thanos’ army by herself?). Another character driven by her emotions, I always found Scarlet so interesting in the fact that her moral compass was more so driven by the people she loved and not the civilians she was protecting. Her decision to join the Avengers was due to her brother, Quicksilver, joining hesitantly alongside her and dying at the hands of enemies. Her journey into villain territory was driven by the loss of her love, Vision, and her children. A character with such trauma is bound to use their powers in chaotic ways, which makes her ability to control chaos magic perfect. She is by far one of the most powerful mutants in the MCU, and her story inspires female powerhouses within my own stories.
Nightcrawler
Teleportation. That’s a sick power. To disappear to another dimension and reappear anywhere you want in the current one – who wouldn’t love that? Marvel Comic’s Nightcrawler is a significantly important member of the X-Men, and his powers are most notably used to not only fight his enemies with agility and precision, but to save his friends who might not be able to save themselves when trapped, falling, or in a dangerous predicament. On top of that, Nighcrawler’s humanoid physical appearance, with his blue skin and powerful dagger-like tail, makes him a unique and unforgettable character, inspiring unique physical attributes within my own heroes.
Comments