50 Most Influential Fictional Characters #35-31

From November 28th to December 25th 2013, we collected top ten lists from both members of the Facebook group and visitors to the site to compile the list of CBNAH Top 50 Most Influential Fictional Characters of All Time. Today we bring counting down from #35-31

35. Death

From: Mythology and Various

Death is something so horrifying and real. Death is all around us, waiting to take us to the other life at any single instant. In mythology Death can be a skeletal figure with a large scythe and in a black cloak with a hood or in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series as a young goth woman. In the end, no human can escape from Death.

34. Elizabeth Bennet

Created By: Jane Austen
From: Pride and Prejudice
First Appearance: Pride and Prejudice (1813)

The second child to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet is one of the most famous heroines in British literature. She's independent, intelligence and quick-witted. Making Pride and Prejudice into one of the most adapted and recognize novels ever.

33. Hulk

Created By: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
From: The Incredible Hulk
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)

What makes The Hulk such an unique character is that people can relate to him and all of his anger issues. There are times when someone is mad, a lot of them just want to "Hulk Out," and vent out their pain. The Hulk is an american icon with a great concept and even appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

32. Bugs Bunny

Created By: Ben Hardaway, Cal Dalton and Tex Avery
From: Warner Bros. Cartoons
First Appearance: A Wild Hare (1940)

Bugs Bunny has been making people laugh since 1940. His over the top comedic style and wise guy personal made him "the" mascot of Warner Brothers. Bugs is one of a handful of animated characters to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

31. Rorschach

Created By: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
From: Watchmen
First Appearance: Watchmen #1 (1986)

Watchmen kicked off the Dark Age of Comics in '86. Pre-Watchmen avid comic readers would dream or fantasize of being a Superhero. Fighting for good, justice, saving the innocent and hooking up with the dream girl/guy. But Watchmen ripped those rules apart. Rorschach is frightening and crazy. His actions cruel, but it gets the job done. A complex character that changed the face of comics.

Throwback Thursday 11/21/13

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe 1983

 
   This month I am going to do something a little different. Since Thanksgiving is the month for us here in the US, I thought that this month each Throwback Thursday will be a character, book, or story I am thankful for. This week “The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe” takes the stage. 

   In 1983, Marvel decided to take on the daunting task of cataloging almost every Marvel character. Mark Gruenwald had the daunting task of creating an encyclopedia of the Marvel Universe. From the Abomination to Zzzax the “The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe” gives an excellent overview of nearly every Marvel character. With illustrations by some of Marvel's best talent at the time. Delving back into these issues were a treat. There really isn't a lot to say about the OHotMU, it's a resource tool. If you ever need to figure out what exactly Thundra's powers are, or lean Ursa Major's origin you are in luck. These books are full of that, along with technical drawings of buildings, vehicles, and weapons. What more could you want from a book like this? It makes me smile just thinking about it. 

   When I was a kid I couldn't afford a lot of comics, but what I could buy were issues of the OHotMU. I would devour them, read every single entry, learn all I could about characters who I knew well, and others who were a complete mystery to me. These books turned me into a knowledge hungry Marvel fan. I had to know who each character was, who their opposite number was, who would win in a fight. I would invent stories with characters who I had never read a comic from, yet I knew their history. This book sparked my imagination. I would think about how awesome a team up between Stingray and Spider-Man would go. Or Stingray and Wolverine, or Stingray and Doctor Strange. Can you tell I had a slight obsession with Stingray? I don't have a real good reason why I like him. It may be that I had an obsession with the ocean and scuba diving, or it could be I just thought he looked really cool. Regardless, this was the first minor character I fell in love with, I still get giddy when I see him in a comic now a days. 

   One thing I noticed going over these issues, I only had a handful of these as a kid. I never had much of the first half of the alphabet, I had a lot of the later half. Looking at the “S” issues in particular brought back some great memories. So many C and D list characters became my favorites because a whole page was devoted to them. I always though that if a full page was devoted to a character they must be important. Sadly Red Wolf was not a lynch pin in the Marvel Universe. 

   The OHotMU changed my life. I liked comics as a kid, but these books made me love them. Made me want to devour every scrap of knowledge I could find. It made me discover what kinds of characters I wanted to follow. It was the stepping stone I needed to climb that impenetrable wall that is comics. While there may not be a story to the OHotMU, it is one of my favorite comics of all time. It made me the fan I am today.

2 Cent Reviews - Everything part 1

Hey everyone and welcome back to Oz' 2 Cent Reviews, where our reviews are short (about 2 SENTences worth..get it?) and get straight to the point.  I took a nice holiday break but I'm really eager to get back in it!  So without further ado, this week is Transfusion 2, Saga 8 and 9, Wolverine and the X-Men 23, New Avengers 1 and 2, X-Factor 250, Nowhere Men 2, Fantastic Four 3, Multiple Warheads 3, Justice League 15, Justice League Dark 15 and Flash 15.  Come back sooner then usual because I still have another half-pile to go!

 Nowhere Men #2: I've dropped this book. There are two parts to this story, one that bores me and the other that I enjoy. The negative is the latter reminds me too much of the movie Prometheus. They even have a David type character. Pass.

 Transfusion #2: Smoky, beautiful art throughout. Story: struggle of the final living forms on Earth, the vampires. Versus the robots. Both their sustenance is blood and the human race is just about extinct. What's a poor bloodsucka to do?

 Multiple Warheads #2: Original as always, accompanied with great art. So much scattered treasure in some panels it had my eyes working. You have to liberate your imagination to truly enjoy all the merits of this book. Brandon Graham filled my 2012 quota for stoners actually making it in the industry.

 Justice League #15: Earlier in the months, this issue was solicited to feature the addition of new members Shazam and The Atom. That got me really excited. So where the fuck are they? Instead, we get part 1 of 5 Atlantis Rising (or whatever) which just felt like a sub plot from Flashpoint. The Atlanteans are attacking again...yawn. Really Geoff Johns? You pulled a switcheroo on us in the solicits to push a Fish-Man story? Weak.

 The Flash #15: When will the exposition stop? Flash did nothing the entire issue but sleep. This book is supposed to be about the fastest man alive but it's moving too slow. I get they are baking a love pie here but fuck man....four months of this monkeying around? Yes I went there. Close to considering another drop here.

 Wolverine & The X-Men #23: I'm really glad this arc is done. I'm ready to be entertained again. Stop wasting Nick Bradshaw's talents on this circusy shit. Circus of Crime, these guys ain't.

 Justice League Dark #15: Where did Amethyst go? I really feel like I missed an ish. ReFocusing: The death of magic starts here. The team travels to a mystically rich dimension and a few of our anti-heroes feel the burn. Tim Hunter is the key to everything and Constantine is the man to turn him but the young mage continues to refuse his birthright. Which is bad timing since, as always, their lives hang in the balance.

 New Avengers #1: Hickman sure does love using the set-up method in his premier issues. If you're not a fan of comics for the written word, then I wouldn't suggest trying New Avengers. Anyway, Black Panther is the focal point here, but it ends with an assembly.

 New Avengers #2: It's more talking heads in issue two but keeping in mind the cast involved, it was pretty fucking awesome. Black Bolt steals the entire issue with two panels.  All goodness and future potential aside, I still noticed a giant lack of Beast. What up with that Hickman?

 Fantastic Four #3: A much better show this month around. Finally, things start happening to the first family. Interesting things. Tentacley things...

 Saga #8: This book always leaves me clamouring for more. The last page mind-fucks always shock your scrotum from the inside. The story is going to be insane once fully collected, especially for new readers. Saga, book of the year hands down.

 Saga #9: The all-Will issue. Also, it's the formation of a new zoo crew and they are pretty much the anti-thesis to our main cast. Hopefully, things can end happy and they can all become a big family. But knowing BKV, there will be blood. Always.

X-Factor #250: So X-Factor is awesome again. I'm still not sure what the intention of BREAKING POINT was since almost everyone that left seems to be back. Not complaining though. This first chapter (to the current arc) starts off thumping. Thumping everywhere.