I already listed my 10 favorite villains, and 10 most hated characters. Time to list my top 10 non-villain favorite characters. So, here they come ...
10) Duke Nukem
Type: über macho-badass-action hero
From: Duke Nukem video game series
Everybody loves a badass. Duke Nukem is an epitome of badassery. He is politically incorrect, loves to blow up aliens, and acts like a boss. He is an over-the-top parody of the 80s and 90s action heroes and spouted tons of cheesy one liner like:
"Aaaahh ... much better!" (After taking a pee.)
"What am I, a chimpanzee?" (After grabbing a feces.)
"Your face, your ass, what's the difference?" (During a fight with a monster.)
"I got balls of steel!" (Whenever and wherever he like it.)
"America, FUCK YEAH!!" (Before entering the Hoover Dam to kick alien's ass.)
He is an excellent choice to start this list: cheesy, generic in the 90s, but still outstanding, enjoyable, funny, and memorable.
In other words: If you like any action movie character played by Stallone or Schwarzenegger, you will love the Duke!
9) Darkwing Duck
Type: Egotistical & self-centered superhero
From: Darkwing Duck animated series & Comics
Every superhero has at least one reason to be one. Bruce Wayne saw his parents murdered so he become Batman. Peter Parker felt responsible for the death of his uncle, and fight crime as his personal redemption. Etc.
And we also have Darkwing Duck from Disney. His reason to become a superhero? To fulfill his ego. To get praise. To satisfy his vanity. Yup, his ego is so big that it has its own gravity. His first serious enemy in the series, Taurus Bulba, even ridiculed his ego, mocking his mannerism! Unlike Suzumiya Haruhi though, he satisfied his ego by capturing criminals, and he is really care about everyone, especially those who are close to him.He is the guy whose selfishness benefits everyone around him, so that's make his egoistic rhetorics, decision, and actions so enjoyable!
Another aspect that differentiate him from other superhero, Darkwing is basically an INCOMPETENT hero, because he is both an INCOMPETENT detective, and INCOMPETENT fighter. That's what make the series thrilling. That's why so many villains underestimate him. Boy, that underestimation ALWAYS bite them back in their ass! And every bite is hard and deep. You see, Darkwing actually has potentials. Once you push him to the edge of a cliff, he would turn into a real badass, signed by his famous one liner "LET'S GET DANGEROUS." After that one liner, he ALWAYS kicked ass!
Oh yeah, one last thing, like IGN pointed out, his sidekick is the parody of Han Solo. Definitely the best cartoon superhero sidekick! Far superior in comparison with the most (in)famous sidekick: Robin or any other sidekick.
8) Hubert Florentini
Type: Badass cop
From Wasabi Movie
Like I said in #10: everybody loves a badass. Hubert Florentini is an example how the French, the culture that has effeminate aura and language, interpret badassery. Boy, they really showed that they know exactly what is a badass. Check out their badass cop: Hubert Florentini, played by Jean Reno.
Hubert is just like a stereotypical Frenchmen: a hopeless romantic. He always reminiscent of his long lost love: a Japanese woman whom he met when he was young and still in the intelligence service. But in contemporary days, he busts criminal's face so bad that he even send them flying repeatedly. He got into serious trouble after he broke every single bone of the son of a high-ranking police in one of his bust, and when he tried to apologize, he broke even more bones of him. During this time, suddenly he got a phone from a lawyer in Tokyo. His long lost love lawyer. The lawyer wanted him to be present in Tokyo to hear her testament. Once he got there, he discovered he has a 19 years old daughter with her. Shortly after that, yakuzas try to kidnap his daughter. His solution? Kicked their ass, blew their face, and busted their boss. In the end, Hubert wiped out the entire yakuza almost singlehandedly in every corner of Tokyo to the chagrin of Tokyo's Police.
A badass from French kick some ass in Japan? Hubert secured his place in this list easily.
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| Copyrighted pic, from wikipedia |
Type: über macho-badass-action hero
From: Duke Nukem video game series
Everybody loves a badass. Duke Nukem is an epitome of badassery. He is politically incorrect, loves to blow up aliens, and acts like a boss. He is an over-the-top parody of the 80s and 90s action heroes and spouted tons of cheesy one liner like:
"Aaaahh ... much better!" (After taking a pee.)
"What am I, a chimpanzee?" (After grabbing a feces.)
"Your face, your ass, what's the difference?" (During a fight with a monster.)
"I got balls of steel!" (Whenever and wherever he like it.)
"America, FUCK YEAH!!" (Before entering the Hoover Dam to kick alien's ass.)
He is an excellent choice to start this list: cheesy, generic in the 90s, but still outstanding, enjoyable, funny, and memorable.
In other words: If you like any action movie character played by Stallone or Schwarzenegger, you will love the Duke!
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| Cropped Artwork from Boom Comics |
Type: Egotistical & self-centered superhero
From: Darkwing Duck animated series & Comics
Every superhero has at least one reason to be one. Bruce Wayne saw his parents murdered so he become Batman. Peter Parker felt responsible for the death of his uncle, and fight crime as his personal redemption. Etc.
And we also have Darkwing Duck from Disney. His reason to become a superhero? To fulfill his ego. To get praise. To satisfy his vanity. Yup, his ego is so big that it has its own gravity. His first serious enemy in the series, Taurus Bulba, even ridiculed his ego, mocking his mannerism! Unlike Suzumiya Haruhi though, he satisfied his ego by capturing criminals, and he is really care about everyone, especially those who are close to him.He is the guy whose selfishness benefits everyone around him, so that's make his egoistic rhetorics, decision, and actions so enjoyable!
Another aspect that differentiate him from other superhero, Darkwing is basically an INCOMPETENT hero, because he is both an INCOMPETENT detective, and INCOMPETENT fighter. That's what make the series thrilling. That's why so many villains underestimate him. Boy, that underestimation ALWAYS bite them back in their ass! And every bite is hard and deep. You see, Darkwing actually has potentials. Once you push him to the edge of a cliff, he would turn into a real badass, signed by his famous one liner "LET'S GET DANGEROUS." After that one liner, he ALWAYS kicked ass!
Oh yeah, one last thing, like IGN pointed out, his sidekick is the parody of Han Solo. Definitely the best cartoon superhero sidekick! Far superior in comparison with the most (in)famous sidekick: Robin or any other sidekick.
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| Copyrighted pic from wikipedia |
Type: Badass cop
From Wasabi Movie
Like I said in #10: everybody loves a badass. Hubert Florentini is an example how the French, the culture that has effeminate aura and language, interpret badassery. Boy, they really showed that they know exactly what is a badass. Check out their badass cop: Hubert Florentini, played by Jean Reno.
Hubert is just like a stereotypical Frenchmen: a hopeless romantic. He always reminiscent of his long lost love: a Japanese woman whom he met when he was young and still in the intelligence service. But in contemporary days, he busts criminal's face so bad that he even send them flying repeatedly. He got into serious trouble after he broke every single bone of the son of a high-ranking police in one of his bust, and when he tried to apologize, he broke even more bones of him. During this time, suddenly he got a phone from a lawyer in Tokyo. His long lost love lawyer. The lawyer wanted him to be present in Tokyo to hear her testament. Once he got there, he discovered he has a 19 years old daughter with her. Shortly after that, yakuzas try to kidnap his daughter. His solution? Kicked their ass, blew their face, and busted their boss. In the end, Hubert wiped out the entire yakuza almost singlehandedly in every corner of Tokyo to the chagrin of Tokyo's Police.
A badass from French kick some ass in Japan? Hubert secured his place in this list easily.
7) Dexter
Type: Serial-killer protagonist
From: Dexter TV series
Meet Dexter Morgan, a blood analyst in Miami Metro Police. On surface he is your Joe average guy. He works hard in the office, occasionally buying donuts for everyone in the force, and most cops like him. Those things are all facades, even to his foul mouthed detective sister. He is actually a psychopath who has to control his urge to kill. His late adoptive father, a police detective named Harry, realize this early, and teach him how to mask that urge, and how to cover his track, teaching him "The Code of Harry."
Don't be mistaken here, he is totally aware that he is a monster. The code of Harry is the only thing that make sure he only kills other monsters. You know, other serial killer, serial rapist, violent gangsters, etc. His facades is not perfect. Some cops suspect he hides something. In season 3, after local oceanographists discovered his mutilated victims at the bottom of the sea, the FBI send their top agents to hunt him. He managed to evade all of that and remains free.
He is also far from "too perfect to exist" character like Sherlock Holmes or Hannibal Lecter. He made tons of bad decision that cost him dearly, making him more human, making the series far more interesting. We also hear his inner-voices, my personal favorites are whenever he cynically commented to normal situation that baffled him, for example: "It is amazing that I kill no one during high school," making tons of black humor one-liner.
Watch him if you really like a police thriller and black humor.
Meet Dexter Morgan, a blood analyst in Miami Metro Police. On surface he is your Joe average guy. He works hard in the office, occasionally buying donuts for everyone in the force, and most cops like him. Those things are all facades, even to his foul mouthed detective sister. He is actually a psychopath who has to control his urge to kill. His late adoptive father, a police detective named Harry, realize this early, and teach him how to mask that urge, and how to cover his track, teaching him "The Code of Harry."
Don't be mistaken here, he is totally aware that he is a monster. The code of Harry is the only thing that make sure he only kills other monsters. You know, other serial killer, serial rapist, violent gangsters, etc. His facades is not perfect. Some cops suspect he hides something. In season 3, after local oceanographists discovered his mutilated victims at the bottom of the sea, the FBI send their top agents to hunt him. He managed to evade all of that and remains free.
He is also far from "too perfect to exist" character like Sherlock Holmes or Hannibal Lecter. He made tons of bad decision that cost him dearly, making him more human, making the series far more interesting. We also hear his inner-voices, my personal favorites are whenever he cynically commented to normal situation that baffled him, for example: "It is amazing that I kill no one during high school," making tons of black humor one-liner.
Watch him if you really like a police thriller and black humor.
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| Copyrighted Works. From wikipedia |
6) Vincent Valentine
Type: demon-vampire-human hybrid
From: Final Fantasy VII Role-Playing-Videogame, Dirge of Cerberus First Person Shooter Video game
This one is very popular. Everyone who play Final Fantasy VII idolizes him. He is the only side character in Final Fantasy VII who get his own game: Dirge of Cerberus. Hey, who don't like this dark-brooding-cool vampire, especially if he has cool red cape!
Other than that, he also another badass abilities like ... transforming into an archdemon who can harvested all souls under the heaven.
But the main reason I put him in this list because I hate Twilight. Vincent Valentine showed us how a dark-brooding-forever young-vampire characters could be SUPER COOL if you handle it right.
What? You think he is not a vampire? Do you forget our first encounter with him? At that ime, he slept IN A COFFIN!! Q.E.D.
In the end, I have to admit all the reasons why I like him are aesthetic reasons. He is so GODDAMN COOL, who cares about his back story, personality traits, etc?
5) Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock
Type:Insane(??) Pilot
From: The A-Team TV Series
Ah The A-Team ... this is a series which neither the bad guys nor the heroes could shoot straight. They sprayed bullets all over the place, none of them hits. BUT I LOVE THIS SERIES! All of the characters are memorable. But my personal favorite is Murdock, the insane pilot. This is the man who sponsor "The League to free golf balls from slavery." This is the man who constantly annoyed B.A Baracus and still alive.
But that crazyness is only one side. He is also a brilliant tactician. When the leader of the group, Hannibal Smith, was captured in one episode, everybody else became desperate. Templeton "Face" Peck, Hannibal's 2nd in command included. It was Murdock who pointed out that the key to everything is the bar where they begun this operation. In the end of the episodes, they stormed the bad guys base, and Hannibal was surprised to hear "What? Murdock is the one who can track me and plan all of these?"
No wonder until today, everyone is still wonder whether he is really crazy or just faking it ...
No wonder until today this character never gets old ...
No wonder he becomes the main inspiration for many comedian, for example Jim Carrey ...
Other than that, he also another badass abilities like ... transforming into an archdemon who can harvested all souls under the heaven.
But the main reason I put him in this list because I hate Twilight. Vincent Valentine showed us how a dark-brooding-forever young-vampire characters could be SUPER COOL if you handle it right.
What? You think he is not a vampire? Do you forget our first encounter with him? At that ime, he slept IN A COFFIN!! Q.E.D.
In the end, I have to admit all the reasons why I like him are aesthetic reasons. He is so GODDAMN COOL, who cares about his back story, personality traits, etc?
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| From The-A Team Online |
Type:Insane(??) Pilot
From: The A-Team TV Series
Ah The A-Team ... this is a series which neither the bad guys nor the heroes could shoot straight. They sprayed bullets all over the place, none of them hits. BUT I LOVE THIS SERIES! All of the characters are memorable. But my personal favorite is Murdock, the insane pilot. This is the man who sponsor "The League to free golf balls from slavery." This is the man who constantly annoyed B.A Baracus and still alive.
But that crazyness is only one side. He is also a brilliant tactician. When the leader of the group, Hannibal Smith, was captured in one episode, everybody else became desperate. Templeton "Face" Peck, Hannibal's 2nd in command included. It was Murdock who pointed out that the key to everything is the bar where they begun this operation. In the end of the episodes, they stormed the bad guys base, and Hannibal was surprised to hear "What? Murdock is the one who can track me and plan all of these?"
No wonder until today, everyone is still wonder whether he is really crazy or just faking it ...
No wonder until today this character never gets old ...
No wonder he becomes the main inspiration for many comedian, for example Jim Carrey ...
 |
| Copyrighted pictures. From wikipedia |
Type: Senile-amoral-mad scientist
From: Futurama Animated Series
The creator of the Simpson once decided to create a cartoon series, full with geek and nerd jokes. Thus, Futurama was born. Yes, it is funny, and it is even funnier if you have mathematics or physics or engineering background. For example, in one episode in season 6, the writers create A NEW MATHEMATICAL THEOREM and used it as a plot device. Now, where is the idiots who said that Math can't be fun?
From all of the characters in that series, the senile-amoral-mad professor, Hubert J. Farnsworth is my favorite. Since this is a geek series at heart, despite his senility, Farnsworth arguably become the heart of the whole series. Every scene with him just make me laugh so hard until my belly hurt. He is so over the top that you know exactly his amorality is just a joke.
For example:
When he saw his employees in danger he said "Oh GOD, they need help! But I am already in my pijamas ..." then he fall asleep.
"Good news everyone!" everytime he wants to tell bad news.
"Bad news everyone ..." one time before he told EXTREMELY bad news.
"Oh, I always fear he might runs off like this. Why, why, why, didn't I break his legs?" speaking about his monkey.
Oh yeah, he also sold several Doomsday devices in a garage sale and stated "I suppose I could part with one and still be feared."
With a professor like this, who needs Dr. Evil, Dr. Robotnik, or any other second rate mad scientist?
The creator of the Simpson once decided to create a cartoon series, full with geek and nerd jokes. Thus, Futurama was born. Yes, it is funny, and it is even funnier if you have mathematics or physics or engineering background. For example, in one episode in season 6, the writers create A NEW MATHEMATICAL THEOREM and used it as a plot device. Now, where is the idiots who said that Math can't be fun?
From all of the characters in that series, the senile-amoral-mad professor, Hubert J. Farnsworth is my favorite. Since this is a geek series at heart, despite his senility, Farnsworth arguably become the heart of the whole series. Every scene with him just make me laugh so hard until my belly hurt. He is so over the top that you know exactly his amorality is just a joke.
For example:
When he saw his employees in danger he said "Oh GOD, they need help! But I am already in my pijamas ..." then he fall asleep.
"Good news everyone!" everytime he wants to tell bad news.
"Bad news everyone ..." one time before he told EXTREMELY bad news.
"Oh, I always fear he might runs off like this. Why, why, why, didn't I break his legs?" speaking about his monkey.
Oh yeah, he also sold several Doomsday devices in a garage sale and stated "I suppose I could part with one and still be feared."
With a professor like this, who needs Dr. Evil, Dr. Robotnik, or any other second rate mad scientist?
3) Saito Hajime
Type: Anti-Hero
From: Rurouni Kenshin Anime & Manga
One thing I hate from the Rurouni Kenshin anime: the main character/Kenshin Himura/Hittokiri Battosai's vow not to kill. Great Scott, he never realized that killing some trashes of the world CAN save thousands if not millions! Lucky we have the antidote: his arch nemesis, ex Shinsengumi 3rd division captain, Saito Hajime.
When the series start, Saito was working as a police officer. Unlike Kenshin, Saito kills every evil that he saw. Every single evil. No, their status as a high official couldn't help them. Some of them tried to bribe him. He decapitated them as his response. Now THIS IS the character that we need in this melo-dramatic anime!
Saito is every inch a badass, surviving the turmoil era of 19th century Japan. He fought Hittokiri Battosai repeatedly 10 years before the series began, and earned the nickname "The immortals" because nothing can kill him. Not Battosai, not the Seinan War, not the blind Sword Usui, not Sishio Makoto, not the collapse of Sishio's headquarters, NOTHING could kill him. Looks like he pissed off the god of death so much that they decided to keep him in the mortal world as long as possible.
Oh, lastly, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin himself admitted, that he thought that this character is too scary, since he made everyone who fought him, except Kenshin and Sishio, looked weak.
When the series start, Saito was working as a police officer. Unlike Kenshin, Saito kills every evil that he saw. Every single evil. No, their status as a high official couldn't help them. Some of them tried to bribe him. He decapitated them as his response. Now THIS IS the character that we need in this melo-dramatic anime!
Saito is every inch a badass, surviving the turmoil era of 19th century Japan. He fought Hittokiri Battosai repeatedly 10 years before the series began, and earned the nickname "The immortals" because nothing can kill him. Not Battosai, not the Seinan War, not the blind Sword Usui, not Sishio Makoto, not the collapse of Sishio's headquarters, NOTHING could kill him. Looks like he pissed off the god of death so much that they decided to keep him in the mortal world as long as possible.
Oh, lastly, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin himself admitted, that he thought that this character is too scary, since he made everyone who fought him, except Kenshin and Sishio, looked weak.
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| Copyrighted pictures. From wikipedia |
Type: Anti-Hero
From: Punisher:MAX comics & Punisher: War Zone movie
This american character is similar with the previous anime character. They are the antidote for the naive "I swear not to kill a single soul again" hero(es) of their respective world.
There are 3 main fundamental differences between them that makes this American character superior.
First is, although Saito is a lone wolf, he still worked for the government, for the system. The Punisher said "Fuck it" before going totally solo, and kill every evil he met.
Second is, the Punisher is going all-out. He really massacres those evils, and he totally admit that HE HIMSELF is also a monster like his victims, just like Dexter Morgan. Saito still have this "holier-than-thou" mentality emanated from his presence.
Third is, the Punisher managed to show the naive do-gooder how a kill, however terrible is, is sometimes the best choice. When he returned to New York after his long hiatus, he systematically killed the Gnucci's crime family. When Dino Gnucci was released from the prison due to the flimsiness of the prosecutor's case. Castle decided to snipe him down. He was interrupted by the Daredevil who asked him what the hell he thinks when he decide to become judge jury and executioner? Frank paralyzed the blind superhero using ultrasonic loudspeaker, tied him, and give a revolver to his tied hand, aimed to Castle's head while he prepared to snipe. Castle than informed the now conscious Daredevil, either he shot Castle's head, or Castle snipe down Dino's head. The whiny Daredevil screamed like a pussy, the Punisher only answer with "You asked me before what I think when I kill those monsters. I think exactly like what you think now, either I kill that monster, or it kills other people."
HELL YEAH, finally someone shut those naive superhero up!!
He didn't stop there. In another occasion he blasted Wolverine's balls with a shotgun, and turning Spiderman into a human shield-punching bag, and utilize another anti-hero when Daredevil, Spiderman, and Wolverine decided to gang up on him.
Oh yeah, in case you haven't notice, he doesn't have any super power. He uses his guts, wits, wills, and tons of weaponry to slaughter every criminal he met, to make every naive superhero who try to stop him looks like an outclassed whiny pussy. That my friends ... is badassery in extrimis, securing the #2 spot for this badass anti-hero.
This american character is similar with the previous anime character. They are the antidote for the naive "I swear not to kill a single soul again" hero(es) of their respective world.
There are 3 main fundamental differences between them that makes this American character superior.
First is, although Saito is a lone wolf, he still worked for the government, for the system. The Punisher said "Fuck it" before going totally solo, and kill every evil he met.
Second is, the Punisher is going all-out. He really massacres those evils, and he totally admit that HE HIMSELF is also a monster like his victims, just like Dexter Morgan. Saito still have this "holier-than-thou" mentality emanated from his presence.
Third is, the Punisher managed to show the naive do-gooder how a kill, however terrible is, is sometimes the best choice. When he returned to New York after his long hiatus, he systematically killed the Gnucci's crime family. When Dino Gnucci was released from the prison due to the flimsiness of the prosecutor's case. Castle decided to snipe him down. He was interrupted by the Daredevil who asked him what the hell he thinks when he decide to become judge jury and executioner? Frank paralyzed the blind superhero using ultrasonic loudspeaker, tied him, and give a revolver to his tied hand, aimed to Castle's head while he prepared to snipe. Castle than informed the now conscious Daredevil, either he shot Castle's head, or Castle snipe down Dino's head. The whiny Daredevil screamed like a pussy, the Punisher only answer with "You asked me before what I think when I kill those monsters. I think exactly like what you think now, either I kill that monster, or it kills other people."
HELL YEAH, finally someone shut those naive superhero up!!
He didn't stop there. In another occasion he blasted Wolverine's balls with a shotgun, and turning Spiderman into a human shield-punching bag, and utilize another anti-hero when Daredevil, Spiderman, and Wolverine decided to gang up on him.
Oh yeah, in case you haven't notice, he doesn't have any super power. He uses his guts, wits, wills, and tons of weaponry to slaughter every criminal he met, to make every naive superhero who try to stop him looks like an outclassed whiny pussy. That my friends ... is badassery in extrimis, securing the #2 spot for this badass anti-hero.
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| From wikipedia |
Type: Tragic Hero
From: Babylon 5 TV series
Babylon 5 is the BEST TV series EVER produced by humankind on this planet. Period. They have so many memorable lines, so many memorable villains, so many twists and turns, and of course ... so many interesting characters. My personal favorite is Londo Mollari, easily the best non-villain characters ever.
His story is basically a classic story about the dictum "Be very careful with your wish. You may get it," complete with slow realization and epic redemption. By the way, he also has tons of comedic moments too, AND that didn't dilute his tragic tone, or making his character inconsistent. That is one hell of a good example of story telling.
His story is basically a classic story about the dictum "Be very careful with your wish. You may get it," complete with slow realization and epic redemption. By the way, he also has tons of comedic moments too, AND that didn't dilute his tragic tone, or making his character inconsistent. That is one hell of a good example of story telling.
Let's see ... he started in Season 1 as a diplomat, hungry for glory, frustrated by the weakness and inaction of his own government, and his country was humiliated by another power repeatedly. He was seen by everyone, even his own people, as a buffoon. The fact that his position is considered as a joke among his own people was not helping. Everything change after he finally have enough and blurted his frustration to the wrong guy: the Shadows. First, he finally got everything he want: renaissance of his country, fear from his enemies, and personal power. All beyond his wildest dream in more or less season 3. Unfortunately, at extremely high cost.
Londo steals all the scene that includes him. That is including all of his scenes with G'Kar, Ivanova, Garibaldi, and many other terrific characters. He is an easy choice for #1.
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