If we're sticking to
Super-Heroes, then I'll go with
Hal Jordan:
I got into him, and the whole GL, pretty late compared with other characters, like Batman and Spider-Man. But I've outgrown them, whereas my appreciation for GL as a whole has only increased. I actually got into GL around 2009, when I bought my 3GS and downloaded comic book apps, which got me into then-current comics. Up until then I was only reading Ultimate Spider-Man, which came out monthly the same as in the US. If I have any actual childhood nostalgia for a Capecharacter, it's Ultimate Spider-Man, and Ultimate Marvel in general. It's the quintessential 00s line and it captured the zeitgeist completely. That, plus WildStorm, but that's another story. Anyway, point is, before GL, I was into comic book characters in a "oh yeah, I like Batman and Spider-Man so I'll buy this Bat-Trashcan, this Spider-Piggy-Bank and this action figure". I bought the vidya, I bought the pillowcases, etc. If we're talking childhood, Spider-Man was my guy. I suppose I still have some slight attachment to him, compared to Batman.
Anyway, back to GL. I got into him a bit later than I got into Iron Man, whom I started being interested into due to buying a Civil War TPB, Ultimates and some reprints of old stories. GL is, IMO, the best Sub-Verse in comics. I know many people dislike the Rainbow Corps, but for me it's what completes the lore. I like how the GLs are basically Space Cops, which allows for a different take over "random space cape" or "regular cape". It gives them a goal and identity. Moreover, the entire universe is their playground, which means that anything you can think of can happen in a GL book. Ancient Aliens, Eldritch Horrors, more straightforward Sci-Fi, anything. You can write a Police Procedural, or you can treat them as Knights, or whatever else you want. It jsut taps into a lot of genres instead of just being one thing limited by Cape**** rules.
But most importantly, I just like how the actual power is literally Willpower. I never liked all the "moral lessons" from cheap Cape****, I just wanted to pass the time. It all felt hollow and empty, when it came from static characters dressed in tights and blessed with godlike powers, fortunes greater than Count Monte Cristo's, and so on and so forth. I felt that it cheapened the pure entertainment value. And here's GL with an actualy good lesson, which is "just will it". Yes, yes, I know, you've got every other Cape doing their DBZ moment, but after that part's done, they go back to their usual, static self. It's less of a character trait with them, but more of a forgotten add-on. Meanwhile GL is just pure Will personified. And I find that rather interesting. The whole Emotional Spectrum, really. I like particularly how Johns made Love into a Xenomorph-esque creature, symbolozing the predatory, raw and all encompasing power of pure Love, instead of going with some boring, cutesy plushy. Anyway, GL just means business and has a very study core that is transcendal of capes, which makes him my favourite. It brings some comfort to "tap into" the GL Oath and pretend to overcome fear and so on. "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.", as someone else would say...
As for why Hal specifically, it's because he's the type that just wants to go beyond. He's the kid inside you who wanted to be an astronaut and still hoped to board a spaceship and go on great adventures. It appeals to me when every other GL is more basic. Fleshed out characters or not, their aspirations are more gounded. So, yeah, Hal.
I didn't go with Tony because I don't consider him a proper "Super-Hero" in the sense that most people mean. Hal has that luxury since he deals with more "black and white" threats, while Tony lives in the grey. If you asked me my Top 5 Comic Book Characters, it's probably stabillized to (in no particular order):
1. Doctor Doom
2. Hal Jordan
3. Iron Man
4. Punisher
5. Judge Dredd
Honourable Mention: Deathstroke
A lot have come and go, but these are the ones that've remained past "oh yeah, I like that guy". I stuck to comics only, because otherwise we'd be here all day. Vader is up there in my all-time favourites due to various reasons, including nostalgia, for example. If we add movies, books, videogames, wew!
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