TOP 10 NON-SUPERHERO COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS

[Scary Terry]

OK -- the superhero poll was fun -- but there are so many NON superhero comic book characters to consider -- so how about a separate poll?  I'm sticking with American comic books (my list of European/Asian favorites would be quite long) -- and no newspaper strip characters (also a long list). I'll start out.

Dick Briefer's FRANKENSTEIN
Joe Kubert's TARZAN
SNIFFER (from the GA Daredevil comics -- especially the Carl Hubbell-drawn episodes)
Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT
BAT LASH (Cardy/O'Neil/Aragones)
John Stanley's LITTLE LULU
ENEMY ACE (Joe Kubert)
JOHNNY DYNAMITE (Pete Morisi)
MS. TREE (yes, one of my own -- but she paid the rent for 11 years, too)
ZIPPY THE PINHEAD (Bill Griffith)

[Wich2]

Well, first there's all the Disneys (I pretty much missed out on Barks during my childhood, and have been catching up on his genius.) So that's:

- Donald Duck, The Nephews, Uncle Scrooge, Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, et al.
- The Losers (Kirby version)
- The Iron Corporal (from Willi Franz & Sam Glanzman's woefully underappreciated Charlton strip, one of the best_war_comics_ever)
- Gilbert Shelton's Wonder Warthog & Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
- Dr. Graves
- Howard Chaykin's Reuben Flagg
- Archie & the Riverdale gang (esp. Silver Age)
- Lee Falk's The Phantom (if you can sneak in the prose & strip character Tarzan, I'll pick one I first new from comics!)
- The Unknown Soldier (Michelinie/Talaoc version)
- And you betcha, the tough & lovely Michael Tree belongs on this list (thanks again to you & Max, Terry!)

Happy holidays,
-Craig

[Zombiology]

Mine tend mostly to 50s DC and 80s independant though there are some good stuff going on now.

Tales of the Unexpected (loved this one even before Space Ranger)
Swamp Thing (Alan Moore)
Sandman (Neil Gaimen)
Fables (can't say enough about this one)
Cerebus (many attempts to copy but never equalled)
Capt. Storm (original)
American Flagg (Chaykin's art was equalled by his writing)
Ms. Tree (yes, thank you Terry and Max.  These will always stay in my collection)
House of Mystery (& Secrets) with Cain and Able
Strange Adventures

I'm sure I will add to this as I remember others from other posts.

[Dr. Madd]

Cain and Able from one of the DC Horror comics.
Jonah Hex
The Cryptkeeper
Richie Rich
Archie, Jughead, et al

[Scary Terry]

Craig --

I never read the Disney Duck comics as a kid, so came to Barks as an adult, too.  Great stuff.  Likewise with Stanley's Little Lulu -- and tons of other humor/kid comics.  I jumped straight into the hero/adventure stuff right away and skipped the funny stuff (except MAD, which was required reading).  Love reading it all now -- Herbie, Wilbur, Sniffer, Archie , Sugar & Spike, etc. -- lots of fun and great cartooning.

And for those who haven't posted yet -- you don't HAVE to list Ms. Tree to participate in this poll -- you really don't!

[Zombiology]

And for those who haven't posted yet -- you don't HAVE to list Ms. Tree to participate in this poll -- you really don't!

Don't surprised if you see more lol.  It was one of the better ones that decade.  I ran a comic shop in that decade and most of the regulars liked reading it.

[Dr. Madd]

Agreed- Scrooge McDuck for the win.

[Pauspy]

Does herbie count as a non-super-hero? He did some amazing things, but wasn't really a "hero". I also occasionally liked Sugar and Spike and Sad Sack, though I was usually laid up in a hospital when I did 

[Radioactive Rod Whitenack]

I think Conan the Barbarian might count. He's not really a superhero.

[Scary Terry]

Herbie counts -- only if he's not in his "Fat Fury" guise.

Of course Conan is a non-superhero character.

[Wich2]

Dunno about Conan - if he's not a Superhero, Bats isn't either...

[marsattacks666]

Hmmmmmmmm.......

1. Hot Stuff
2. Casper
3. Any comic book Zombie
So many to list!

[Scary Terry]

Conan doesn't wear a costume, have a secret identity or have super powers.  He doesn't fight crime (in fact, he often commits them!). He has none of the qualities one typically expects of a superhero, except he has his own comic book. Not a superhero.

Strictly speaking, Batman is a costumed hero with no super powers -- but it's become accepted to include any comic book costumed character under the "superhero" banner.  If you'd ask DC for a list of their popular superheroes, they'd include Batman.

[Flower]

Walt Disney's Comics and Stores (I really want number 48) .. Love Carl Barks!
Dell Four Color Comics
Archie .. love them all.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Tom & Jerry
Heckle & Jeckle
Mighty Mouse
Woody Woodpecker
Andy Panda
Casper
Wendy

[Radioactive Rod Whitenack]

Mighty Mouse is most definitely, 100% a superhero!