Bucky's Favorite Marvel Super Heroes

 Hi everyone,

Had the inspiration the other day to come up with a list of my favorite Marvel Super Heroes, so here we go!

1. The Incredible Hulk (Bruce Banner). I grew up watching the live action Hulk TV series that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Several years after the show debuted, I got into reading the Hulk comic book series. I still have a long run of that title today. The Jekyll and Hyde struggle between Banner and the physical manifestation of his rage and anger is what initially attracted me to the character. Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema's magnificent storytelling and art during the Hulk's gain and loss of Banner's intellect is one of the greatest comic book storylines that I've ever read. Both Banner and his gamma-spawned alter ego have continued to change and remain important parts of the Marvel Universe through the years.

2. Spider-Man (Peter Parker). Spidey has been my #2 favorite super hero for quite some time. I vividly remember seeing a cartoon that retold his classic origin story. Parker's humanity is probably what attracted me to the character. Sure, he has amazing powers and abilities, but he's also a normal human being. Pete has the same worries and fears as anyone else. He's a unique character, one that's I've watched on TV, at the movies and in his different comic book titles.

3. Captain America (Steve Rogers). Cap is one of Marvel's oldest characters, and I'm glad thatt he was revived in the 1960's. He just seemed like the epitome of what a Marvel hero should be like. I'm glad that his character has been inspiring other people and residents of the Marvelsphere for decades. 

4. Wolverine (James Howlett/Logan). I first learned about this character by seeing him in an old episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends in the 80's. His character was much more fleshed out in the 90's X-Men cartoon and the comic titles during that time. I went back and read his first appearances in the Incredible Hulk and then went on to read several of his solo stories and exploits with the X-Men and Alpha Flight. It's interesting that when Magneto ripped the adamantium from his bones that Logan, in a very feral state, was the most human he'd ever been to me. 

5. ROM, Spaceknight. Even though ROM technically wasn't a super hero, I loved his comic book title. The first 30 issues by Mantlo and Buscema are some of the best comics I've ever read. Marvel is now reprinting those works in omnibus collections, so it's possible that this beloved character that was initially a gimmicky robot toy may return to interacting with Marvel characters once more. 

6. Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. I started reading this comic years ago after picking up a few issues from a comic book store's bargain bin. I was captured by the storylines and artwork. Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck, Gene Day and others brought many of Sax Rohmer's characters to live in ways that were very entertaining. I'm glad that the character, who was largely forgotten after that title was cancelled, is enjoying a resurgence.

7. Luke Cage. I first started reading about this character in his own magazine, which was later expanded to add Iron Fist, after Danny Rand's own title was cancelled after 15 issues. Luke's a no-nonsense dude that's sometimes overlooked and underappreciated. 

8. The Thing. I read a lot of issue of Marvel Two-In-One growing up, and still have most issues of that title's run. Ben is tough on the outside but gentle on the inside. I kinda feel bad that he's never been able to remain human for long stretches of time, but maybe that's something that's just not meant to be. He's been an important member of the Fantastic Four and the Marvel world for a very long time, and I don't see that ever changing.

9. Daredevil. I didn't know much about this blind superhero at first, but he's someone who often flies under the radar. It wasn't until renowned creators like Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. put their own unique spins on the character that I started paying attention. The first Typhoid Mary storyline is well worth reading. 

10. She-Hulk. Rumor has it that Stan Lee developed this character to prevent a television studio from creating someone similar to it. At first, I didn't know what to think about Bruce Banner's cousin, who was so unlike him in many ways. I like that her comics have always had a sense of humor and that Jennifer Walters has mostly been able to transform back and forth at will. 

Well, there you have it: my 10 favorite Marvel super heroes! Next time, I'll write about my favorite Marvel Super Villains. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.