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Post by Brandon on Feb 17, 2006 10:30:32 GMT -5
With all this talk about superhero folk, I was wondering what you thought about good old-fashioned, science fiction heroes? Who's the greatest, coolest, most rockin' of all?
I've compiled a list of names here to choose from with the criteria that the character needs to have appeared in some sort of serialized stories (aka more than one appearance) and be popular enough to have warranted an action figure at some point. But, I've also included an "other" category if you have a favorite not on the list here (this is for all you hardcore Captain Video, Matt Mason, Lars of Mars, Jason of Star Command, Magnus Robot Fighter, and Corben Dallas fans out there).
So vote! And give a reason if you feel chatty. ;D
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Post by Admin on Feb 17, 2006 12:10:22 GMT -5
Great idea for a poll, KSM!
I voted for Flash Gordon, a personal favorite of mine (the best villains, and the stoutest allies, and the weirdest settings!), but I want to send a shout out to John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs' gentleman adventurer from Virginia!
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Post by Lantern Lad on Feb 17, 2006 13:23:02 GMT -5
I had to go with 'other'... My personal favorites are not on the list. And I say favorites because I have a tie.
And surprise, surprise, they're both Star Wars characters...
Han Solo. Kind of an anti-hero in the beginning, but an all-out no holds barred hero in the end. He was my favorite throughout my childhood. Plus he wasn't a sister-kisser, yet still ended up with the girl! I bet he hates the fact that he was blinid while Leia wore her bikini...
Then I got older & realized that my #1 would have to be Obi-Wan Kenobi. From Episode 1-6, here's a character that has been the epitomy of what I would call hero. E1, facing off a Sith Lord & defeating him; E2, wearing a mullet & playing amateur detective, not to mention putting up with that whiny Anakin brat; E3, hero of the republic, killing Grievous & chopping off all of that whiny brats limbs! Obi-Wan was, by far, the highlight of the sub-standard, though still enjoyable Prequel Trilogy. E4, lying to Luke & sacrificing himself to the greater good; E5 figuring out how to be a ghosty & delivering Luke to Yoda; E6, finally biting the bullet & telling Luke the truth, then proudly standing next to his redeemed Padawan. A flesh & blood character that lived (sort of) to see the whole saga from start to finish & eventually triumphed.
Long narative done.
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Post by HoM on Feb 17, 2006 13:41:00 GMT -5
Dan Dare, pilot of the future!  I have all the old books |
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Post by brigante133 on Feb 17, 2006 14:17:34 GMT -5
just have to say adam strange... i like that cool helmet of his is all. ;D
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Post by starlord on Feb 17, 2006 14:37:30 GMT -5
My very earliest sci fi memory's are being able to stay up late on a Saturday night and watch reruns of the old Flash Gordon seriels. So as much as I'm a Kirk fan, the greatest IMO, is good old Flash!
Although Scott does really make a very good and strong case for Obi Wan.
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Post by Lantern Lad on Feb 17, 2006 15:09:08 GMT -5
So as much as I'm a Kirk fan, the greatest IMO, is good old Flash! Although Scott does really make a very good and strong case for Obi Wan. I actually debated on hitting the 'Kirk' tab myself. I am a ST fan as well... though I prefer 'Wars'. Obi-Wan is great... <- pretending I have Jedi mind powers. I'm pathetic!  |
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Post by elijahk on Feb 17, 2006 16:52:29 GMT -5
You've forgotten Ender Wiggin.
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Post by artteach on Feb 17, 2006 18:16:27 GMT -5
How does Luke get a spot and not Han Solo? Solo is the greatest hero ever. The guy created his own category of hero.
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Post by Lantern Lad on Feb 17, 2006 19:36:04 GMT -5
Gotta agree with 'the teach' on that one... At least he was able to voice it without a 300 word diatribe.
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Post by Brandon on Feb 17, 2006 19:47:38 GMT -5
Alright! Lots of votes already.
I think you are right, Idlewilder. John Carter probably could have made the list. At first I thought "no action figure", but then I remembered that there WAS an action figure that was part of a weird Tarzan line about 10 years back. So, oops. John Carter fans, hit the "other"!
With Star Wars and Star Trek are both pretty expansive universes at this point with lots of characters so I went with the central, most recognizable heroes to each. Scott does make a good case for Obi-Wan, but honestly I could argue for R2-D2 as being the hero with the most big saves throughout all six movies and being more deserving of the Chosen One title than either Luke OR Anakin. ;D So again, vote in Han if you want and we'll make a tally if he gets enough votes.
Lotsa votes for Flash Gordon so far. It's that cool Queen soundtrack from the movie I betcha.
And Charlie voted for Dan Dare! See, I'm looking out for ya, man.
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Post by soulfly823 on Feb 20, 2006 1:41:46 GMT -5
I have always been a Buck Rogers fan myself.
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Post by Romans Empire on Feb 20, 2006 4:41:25 GMT -5
I had to vote other.
I was thinking either Jettero Heller or dare I say it, Soltan Gris!!!!!!!!
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Post by Brandon on Feb 20, 2006 7:50:48 GMT -5
Cool! I probably don't have to clarify this but the whole action figure/ongoing stories thing was my own criteria for making the initial list. That way I didn't have to decide if Buckaroo Banzai or Skylark Smith or Paul Muad'Dib needed to be there. I could also skip anti-heroes like Mad Max and Mal from Firefly/Serenity. Again, all characters are valid as long as you think they are cool and I love seeing the new names! Ender Wiggins? Never read it!  |
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Post by Romans Empire on Feb 20, 2006 8:56:16 GMT -5
Sorry. I guess I read that wrong. I thought it said popular enough to have warranted an action figure at some point. I didn't know that meant they had to have in action figure. Wouldn't Jettero Heller and Soltan Gris make cool action figures? Of course the Peter Weller's Buckaroo Banzai action figure would be a must have as well!
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Post by Brandon on Feb 20, 2006 9:11:53 GMT -5
No, just for the list I started with. I tried to get the most popular and influential examples to narrow it down and set a few rules for myself. You can vote for whoever you want, no rules. I myself voted for Buck Rogers! The first, the coolest, and the most underused these days. First appearing in 1928 from AMAZING STORIES (Hugh Hefner has a copy of it hanging in the Mansion ), he starred in movies, television, radio dramas, and ran in daily comic strips for almost 40 years and inspired all the others that followed. I've been reading a collected book of the strips and also recently picked up a guide to golden age sci-fi merchandise and it's all pretty fun stuff. He was the man for many years and was worldwide famous as THE space hero. But then little was done to keep the name up and there was the television show in the early 80s, a few games beyond that, and almost nothing since. Truly a shame. The rights have shuffled around from TSR to Disney to who knows where they are now. Why not a movie? Like a Sky Captain deal with a new retro futuristic aesthetic all over the place in CGI? I can dream right? One day! One day Buck will rise again! ;D |
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Post by goldk on Feb 20, 2006 10:20:00 GMT -5
I vote for "Other" I was originally going to vote for Steve Austin. That's what I remember from my youth. I would go outside on Saturdays and lift up old rotten logs going. "dododododo" to make the sound of his bionics. BUT when I read this post . . . . Great idea for a poll, KSM! I voted for Flash Gordon, a personal favorite of mine (the best villains, and the stoutest allies, and the weirdest settings!), but I want to send a shout out to John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs' gentleman adventurer from Virginia! I remembered old John Carter....I don't know what about that appealed to me, but I loved that character . . .and now. . .(thanks to this) I have a reason to go hunting for some back issues! Thanks! |
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Post by starlord on Mar 6, 2006 16:39:20 GMT -5
Luke was whiney?!?! Not compared to his Anakin, he wasn't.  |
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Post by Brandon on Mar 6, 2006 17:55:43 GMT -5
Another name I forgot was Neo. He meets the qualifications and would have been interesting in the poll! Oh well. |
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Post by deadshot042 on Mar 6, 2006 20:56:22 GMT -5
I've recently fallen in love with (not literally) Adam Strange. He kicks serious ass in all of his comics and he was the one redeeming trait of Rann/Thanagar War.
Flash Gordon comes in a close second.
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Post by starlord on Mar 6, 2006 22:51:47 GMT -5
You know, if I had thought about it quicker, I would have mentioned Captain Sheridan, G'Kar, or D'Lenn. I know some of them had action figures because I used to have an Ambassador Londo figure...until my kids got a hold of it.  Oh, and yes, I have wished that I could breath under water...and fly...and shoot my arrows dead on each time. |
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Post by Brandon on Mar 7, 2006 7:46:53 GMT -5
Ha. Yeah, that's a line from The Life Aquatic. I just saw the movie and thought that quote was pretty appropriate. Who is Captain Sheridan? I'll have to look that one up. It's not something obscure like Blake's Seven is it? Ha. |
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Post by starlord on Mar 7, 2006 8:27:51 GMT -5
Babylon 5. One of the greatest space opera's of all time!
Well at least the first three and a half seasons.
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Post by HoM on Mar 7, 2006 12:40:31 GMT -5
Askew slightly from topic, but who here has watched Farscape? Better than Firefly, but I'd vote Firefly in a "Fave Sci Fi" poll because it's clever... The Peacekeeper Wars are on tomorrow, so I'm as happy as a little girl. Giiirl. Giiiiirl.... |
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Post by HoM on Mar 7, 2006 12:41:12 GMT -5
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE JOHN CRICHTON?
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Post by soulfly823 on Mar 7, 2006 13:27:59 GMT -5
Babylon 5. One of the greatest space opera's of all time! Well at least the first three and a half seasons. Yes it was. I loved to own all the seasons on DVD. |
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joker51087
Full Member
Aren't they a nice couple?
Posts: 113
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Post by joker51087 on Mar 7, 2006 22:59:45 GMT -5
I voted for Adam Strange. I bought the Archive and was pleasantly suprised by how good it was.
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Post by Lantern Lad on Mar 7, 2006 23:33:56 GMT -5
B5 was great... Captain Sheridan was so cool... I stopped watching when it changed stations & Sheridan took a backseat to the bitchy new Captain lady.
Never did I think Adam Strange would win a favorite Sci-Fi character poll... how cool is our site?
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I have all the old books 
