Marvel Comics Announces The Ten “Top Heroes” of 2007
Marvel Comics staffers pick the heroes that made the most impact last year, characters that shaped 2007 and will continue to mold the Marvel Universe of 2008.
10. JAMIE MADROX
Why He Makes the List: With times tougher than ever for mutants in the Marvel Universe, even the X-Men can't handle it all, which makes those who fall through the cracks lucky to have Jamie Madrox and X-Factor Investigations there to catch them. In between tracking down his own wayward duplicates, Madrox defended Mutant Town against threats like X-Cell and the Isolationist and even managed to bed Monet and Siryn on one drunken night with two bodies—classy.
9. EMMA FROST
Why She Makes the List: The lovely Emma Frost has come a long way since her days as the devious White Queen of the Hellfire Club and proved herself an asset to the X-Men many times over in 2007. In addition to giving her lover, Cyclops, the emotional support he needed to lead the X-Men and providing the New X-Men with plenty of ‘tough love,’ Emma put her own wellbeing on the line time and again, braving the uncharted Breakworld with the Astonishing team and pitting her psychic powers against no less than Mr. Sinister during ‘Messiah CompleX.’
8. THOR
Why He Makes the List: For three years, fans everywhere bemoaned the lack of Thor in the pages of Marvel comics, but in 2007, the thunder returned in a big way. Reunited with his Donald Blake alter ego, Thor emerged from the ‘dead’ more powerful than ever, bringing Asgard with him and setting up shop over Oklahoma of all places. Seeking out the lost Asgardians, the Thunder God has addressed serious issues like the fallout of Hurricane Katrina and regional disputes in Africa along the way, proving himself one god who stands among the people even if he lives above them.
Click HERE to read my review of Thor #1!
7. CAPTAIN AMERICA
Why He Makes the List: Call Steve Rogers what you will, but don't call him somebody who doesn't stand by what he believes in, because he carried his convictions, sadly, all the way to the grave. Captain America stood up for the civil liberties of his comrades in arms during Civil War, but proved himself the bigger man by ending the conflict when he saw the harm it had done to his beloved country. Felled by a bullet, the scrawny kid who became a larger than life legend continues to inspire in death as he did in life.
Click HERE to read my review of Fallen Son: Avengers!
6. SPIDER-MAN
Why He Makes the List: Most years, Spider-Man proves he's a hero just by surviving the hardships he endures in order to do the right thing and protect those he loves, but this year he showed a lot of guts just being able to stand up. Peter Parker lost his friends, his home, his privacy and nearly his aunt; he found himself hunted as an outlaw like never before while villains he had put behind bars paraded as heroes, but he still put the mask on and proved he hasn't forgotten his great responsibility—a hero through and through.
5. THE WINTER SOLDIER
Why He Makes the List: After losing decades of your life to a tortured existence as a mind-controlled assassin, most folks would throw in the towel and hit the showers, but that's not how the guy who once served as Captain America's kid sidekick, Bucky, rolls, and this year he proved what a man he has grown into. Unexpectedly losing his best friend and mentor before he ever even really got him back when Cap died, Bucky rededicated his life to protecting Steve Rogers' personal world and the ideals he gave his life for. By year's end, the Winter Soldier proved himself ready to step into the role he has been destined for since boyhood.
4. NOVA
Why He Makes the List: Plenty of heroes can brag about saving the Earth time and again, but while most of Marvel's good guys were bickering over registration in the early part of 2007, Nova took on the small task of saving the entire freakin' universe! Under the surprisingly capable leadership of Rich Rider, cosmic also-rans like Star-Lord and Drax united to overcome incredible odds and put up the ultimate goal line stance against Annihilus and his Negative Zone armies with Nova nailing the key sack in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. Since then, while the Avengers and friends patrol Earth, Nova has made everything else his beat.
3. CYCLOPS
Why He Makes the List: The days of nerdy bespectacled boyscout Scott ‘Slim’ Summers long gone in the rear view, Cyclops led the X-Men through some of their darkest days this year like the stalwart mutant general he has become. With lover Emma Frost at his side and the Children of the Atom following his lead, Cyclops took bold risks, even standing up to mentor Professor X, and kept his cool and composure during the first half of ‘Messiah Complex,’ holding the X-Men together against the Marauders, Purifiers and threats from within.
2. LUKE CAGE
Why He Makes the List: With Captain America dead and Iron Man's team dealing with the bright, shiny threats, somebody needed to lead the Avengers and make sure Earth's Mightiest Heroes would still look out for the common man—who ever thought that person would be Luke Cage? The one-time Hero for Hire no longer fights for money, but to protect those who can't protect themselves. With the big guns out of the picture, Cage has assumed command of the New Avengers and taken on the Hand and the Hood's super villain army while also keeping an eye on the impending Skrull threat, getting his hands dirty when nobody else will.
Click HERE to read my review of New Avengers #31!
1. IRON MAN
Why He Makes the List: To be a hero, one must learn to sacrifice for the greater good, and nobody sacrificed more this year for what he believed to be right than Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. He may have won the Civil War, but Tony lost his share of friends and allies in victory—including his best friend, Captain America—and endured beatdowns courtesy of everybody from Thor to the Hulk for his actions. But in the end, the 50 State Initiative has proven a success and S.H.I.E.L.D. runs more efficiently than ever under Director Stark. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but luckily Tony Stark has neck muscles stronger than iron.
Click HERE to read my review of Iron Man #21!
For the complete story from Marvel News click HERE!
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