100 greatest comic book characters of all-time
By Mark Lynch
Greatest comic book characters – 68. Green Arrow
First comic book appearance: X-Men Evolution: “X23”, NYX No. 3
Oliver Queen is more than just the world’s best archer (sorry, Hawkeye). He’s almost as dangerous with his hands. As skilled as a fighter as he is, it comes secondary to his personality. Oliver is a smart-alec. It’s the first thing readers notice. What sticks with them is his confidence. He isn’t arrogant, just sure of himself. He has no problem telling Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman when they’ve messed up. He can be cordial or he can be less so. It’s a quality that the Justice League respects.
A personal favorite is when he kills Prometheus. A villain dangerous enough to take on the Justice League by himself. Oliver knew he had to be put down so he made the decision. The Justice League may not have liked it, but it was the right thing to do.
Greatest comic book characters – 67. Black Canary
First comic book appearance: Flash Comics No. 86
Black Canary has always been one of the most dependable characters in DC Comics. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the Injustice Universe or Earth Prime. She’s the hero you want on your side. Her fighting ability is top-notch, she leads by example, and is more than happy to tell you how she feels regardless of the topic or who she’s talking to. Oliver Queen and Batman can verify that.
She’s currently a member of the Justice League, but that’s not all. With Batgirl/Oracle and Huntress, she’s a part of the Birds of Prey, a group that deals with villainy closer to everyday people. Dinah Lance (Black Canary) tends to notice things that her teammates don’t because she looks in places others won’t. This is because she stays around the average person more than most. A quality that always benefits the people she’s with.