Superman Through the Ages! Forum

In your opinion, do you think that Superman is literally the most well-known fictional character (both past and current) on the planet? If not, where do you think he ranks and why does he rank there?

If you DO think he is, describe in detail how he managed to reach/obtain this status both story and non-storywise.

I've heard that Mickey Mouse, Superman, and Tarzan are the top three. I would still say that Mickey Mouse is probably more recognizable, but as a corporate mascot; fewer and fewer people have ever actually seen Mickey Mouse cartoons, but they've seen the wristwatches.

Superman, on the other hand, has survived even though Superhero comics have declined. The TV shows were in circulation for a number of years, and with the advent of cable television, Superman movies are seen around the world, all of the time. (The Disney channel is too, but rarely plays Mickey cartoons.) Tarzan has had a few movies and cartoons, but they weren't as popular. Tarzan's novels are now increasingly seen as belonging to a bygone era, accused of ethnocentrism, etc.

Mickey is the most recognizable, but Superman is probably the most read and most watched. His books are still being published, his tv shows and movies still in wide circulation.

In my opinion, there are other fictional characters that are at least close to the recognizability of these three:

James Bond

Sherlock Holmes

Batman

Video Game Characters: Pac-Man, Mario, etc.

Zorro

Kids, try not to post your school assignments to the forum.

Where does Santa Claus fit into the equation?

or Hercules?

Or Jesus?

Actually, I'm attending college. This really doesn't have anything to do with my courses. I was just wondering. A question that kept poping into my head recently was "Who doesn't know Superman?”



err...

Anyway, I think Gangbuster has it right with the top three, but I think Sherlock Holmes would probably tie with Tarzan.

Are we talking worldwide?

Then I'd vote Superman

Those top 3 came from a poll done a long time ago.

Who knows what would be the top 5 now?

I've never known how these things were determined in the first place.  I mean, does somebody travel around the world with a pile of flash cards and quiz people on who they do and don't recognize?  Are previous claims of "most recognizable" based on anything even remotely resembling scientific sampling or approved methods of conducting surveys?

Personally, I'm with Mr Owl..."the world may never know."

That said, I think Superman, wearing a garish and unique costume that's been essentially unchanged for 7 decades, has to have an edge on James Bond, who's already had 6 faces and counting, or Sherlock Holmes, whose most famous movies were made in what, the 1940s?  As for Zorro, I'd be surprised if he made the top 50.  And if we're going to open it up to cartoon characters like Pac-Man and Mario (already unknowns to younger folks) then what about Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?

believe it or not, in a insane turn of events one of the most popular games right now for the Xbox 360 is none other than Pac-Man!

read this:

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) - Gamers from around the world are expected to take part in the first-ever Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship, which is getting under way Wednesday.

Microsoft says players will compete until May 9 in the game that's evolved from local pizza parlors and arcades of the 1980s to the Xbox LIVE Arcade on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.

The ten top scorers will be flown to New York City for the finals June 5, with the winner being crowned by Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man.

And the champ will get a lot of good stuff, including a one-of-a-kind Xbox 360 featuring a special design inspired by Pac-Man, 100,000 Microsoft points for games, movies and other content available on Xbox LIVE, and 26 years of free Quiznos toasted subs.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

>>
Actually, I'm attending college. This really doesn't have anything to do with my courses. I was just wondering. A question that kept poping into my head recently was "Who doesn't know Superman?”<<

My four-year-old niece might not... though I've introduced her to Krypto via a few comics, so she must be sort of familiar with the S-logo at least...

I also think it's easier for characters who are public domain (or are psuedo-PD) to make it higher on the list. (Where does Indiana Jones rank, BTW?)


If WB keeps producing Superman movies, the series may go through the 007-style actor change thing as well.


Gangerbuster has listed some examples of how Supes has obtained/maintained a higher position on the list non-storyline wise. Does anyone have their own reasons as to how he has also managed to do the same, but storyline-wise (especially compared to other characters), and if he IS at the top of the list?

 I think his "S" is probably more recognized then he is. About a decade ago a car commercial (probably Mercedes) used some of the most famous symbols in the world to demonstrate that theirs is one of them. Superman's "S" was towards the end. Show someone who's never read a Superman comic before the symbol and they'll still know what it means.

weird... I guess it's probably due to merchandising.

Can anyone still answer this?

Gangerbuster has listed some examples of how Supes has obtained/maintained a higher position on the list non-storyline wise. Does anyone have their own reasons as to how he has also managed to do the same, but storyline-wise (especially compared to other characters)- includings aspects of his story that appeals to the world population, and if he IS at the top of the list?

Not really sure if I understand you correctly, but I don't think the "public at large" (by which I mean people who don't read comics or watch the films, etc.) think of Superman in terms of storylines. Most of the elements of the Superman story (comes from another planet, lots of powers, good guy, double identity) have sort of seeped into the collective consciousness, so that everybody gets the joke about the guy with glasses entering a phone booth; Superman has become an archetype, almost in the Jungian sense: you know who he is even if you never consciously read a Superman story.

As an archetype, he is also invulnerable to continuity, by the way; one of the elements of the story that everybody knows is the Lois-Clark-Superman love triangle, which is why I hate the marriage of Lois and Clark so much: it detracts from the archetype. Sooner or later, someone's going to retcon that back to the Phantom Zone*, right where it belongs.

*Because I still can't say H-E-L-L on this forum.

Kronicpimp writes:


Well, there have already been as many Superman actors as Bond actors, but my point is Superman has that costume; you can put pretty much any good-looking guy in it and people will know he's Superman.  On the other hand, what makes James Bond James Bond?  A tuxedo?  Anyone can wear a tux...no one confused Burt Parks or Myron Floren for 007.  You need to add the gun, the pose, the music and other trappings before people know it's "Bond," whereas with Superman you just need the costume.  And not even all of it...an "S" peeping out from an open shirt will do it.  Bond doesn't have anywhere near that level of recognition.  Even the "007" logo can't come close to the Big Red S.


I don't think ANY character becomes most recognized based on his "storyline."  Millions of people know Spider-Man but don't even know he's married, much less to whom.  Millions know Dick Tracy, but they couldn't tell you how he finished off Flat-Top.  The really immortal characters can be boiled down to one simple premise that's more important than all the piled-on, byzantine continuity of 40 years of X-Men.

Robin Hood: steals from the rich, gives to the poor
Sherlock Holmes: solves mysteries that leave the police baffled
King Arthur: pulls the sword from the stone and unites Britain under one kingdom

And so on.  Of course they're all British heroes.  :D  But Superman is the same: he's strong, he can fly, bullets bounce off him, he fights crime and saves lives.  All the rest, however much it may interest us here, is added on and not that important in terms of keeping Superman "recognizable" and universal.

If you're asking what is it about the character in terms of concept vs. visuals that makes him resonate with people around the world, I'd have to say it's two things: one, he's got super-powers we all wish we had and two, he uses them to help mankind, which makes him a role model.  It's not a lot deeper or more complex than that, if you ask me.  The "super-immigrant" thing, the "orphan boy makes good" appeal, the Biblical parallels are all nice and all there if you want to look for them, but they're secondary at best.  Bottom line is we all wish we were as smart as Holmes, as cool as Bond, as fearless and cunning as Odysseus, and as strong and virtuous as Superman.  The "storylines" may keep us coming back, but they're generally not what hooked us in the first place.

The iconic heroes:
Superman(Well, anyone in a super-outfit)
Batman(same deal)
Robin Hood
Zorro
Ultraman(I'm talking about that red and silver giant from Japan.)
Gamera(He went from Gojira/Godzilla knockoff to a protector of Earth)
Super Sentai(5 colored heroes, Power Rangers, whatever)

How is Gamera there but not Godzilla?!?

Oh and we better add Spidey to that list...

HOLY MOLY!!!

http://boxofficeguru.com/

 :o :o :o

Spider-Man is certainly the most popular character in the world right now, not exactly the most well-recognizaed. And well, he is still a variation of the Superman archetype. Even his movies seems to be following the themes of the Superman movies.

I was saying heroes.  No matter how you look at it, Gojira/Godzilla isn't a hero.  He's just a monster who like to fight.

But as for recognizable, yes Gojira/Godzilla has to be one of the most recognized characters around.

Spider-Man is married?!?

I would agree that the most universally appealing aspect of Superman is the power fantasy --something that most heroes, from Holmes to Hercules to Bond share.  Extraordinary ability and savoir faire/cool.

The headline this week should read: SPIDER-MAN 3 HAS WORST SECOND WEEKEND IN HISTORY

The story was awful. They tried to cram too much into one movie. And yet...I'd still watch it again  ???

IMO He is and I just love it when

Marvel fans..

Spidey-fans..

and LOL

even Thor fans..

Try to dispute it and look ridiculous while doing it.

Try imagining a common man saying "Hey I'm only human y'know i'm not SUPERMAN you know"..

sounds normal

And replace that with  "Hey I'm only human y'know i'm not THOR you know."..

Sy00000pid