With 2025 in the books, it’s time for year-end rankings. In this case, we have the top fifty comic book characters. You’ll see characters from various comic book companies, ongoing, and miniseries, heroes and villains, and some surprises.
There are a lot of things to be considered when ranking the best characters in a sea of hundreds. Among them are influence on the story and the company, entertainment value, and whether they overachieved. So, rather than take up more of your time, let’s begin.
50. Doug Ramsey (Revelation)
No one had the glow-up that Doug Ramsey did. He went from being a weird choice as the replacement for Apocalypse to sending the world into turmoil. The Age of Revelation crossover has only been a few months, but Revelation removed people’s ability to speak, commanded soldiers to murder in his name, and brainwashed people he once respected and loved. He’s easily one of the most deplorable villains in comics.
49. She-Hulk
Jennifer Walters didn’t have a lot of appearances in comics, but whenever she did, it was good. That’s on top of the expectations of her series Planet She-Hulk by Stephanie Phillips. Even without the expectations, she’s clearly becoming a better character by adding intergalactic detective to her resume.
48. Rennie Bethary
Rennie had a deep storyline in only five issues. It says a lot about the character and the creative team that a memorable tale could be told in a short amount of time. Also, Rennie literally cut down kidnappers and slavers to pieces for messing with her friend in one of the best ten action scenes of 2025.
47. Akeldama Bledsoe
Akeldama is a character with a lot of layers. She wants to be part of a police force that holds people down because it's what her father did, but she is also willing to fight for people in need. And just when you think you know who Akeldama is, she shows you there’s more to her. 2026 will be a big year for her growth.
46. Hulk
There was a lot of smashing from the Hulk in 2025. Within the destruction and fighting of supernatural beings, Phillip Kennedy Johnson answers the question of whether he’s a man or a monster. The answer is yes, but he’s also compassionate.
45. Space Ghost
In Space Ghost 2 issues Nos. 4 and 5, Space Ghost saved a planet from destruction twice. This seems like a major accomplishment, and it is, but this is nothing new for him. David Pepose has made his character do this throughout his run, showing that he's more than a guy with power bands and force fields. He’s an intergalactic hero with a genius-level intellect.
44. Jan
Jan isn’t Space Ghost’s sidekick. On more than a few occasions, she’s been the difference between life and death for her team and entire species. It’s even more impressive because she’s not even a teenager (or barely is) and shows the courage and skills of someone twice her age.
43. Olivia Pearce
Olivia Pearce's villainy took time. Eventually, she made Bludhaven’s police department more aggressive and provided them with weapons and tech that’s overkill for the people they’re arresting. What’s more interesting is that there’s a reason for her madness, and some may call it justified. In the end, her actions forced Dick Grayson to do something rarely seen. He lost his cool.
42. Hieronymus Hale
Considering his childhood, it’s understandable that Hale would have issues, but that doesn’t excuse his deplorable behavior. Beyond framing the Ninja Turtles, he put Foot Ninjas in the police force so they could abuse mutants and their supporters. He was the perfect villain to start a new era of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.
41. Absolute Superman
Kal-El of DC Comics' Absolute Universe has spent this year figuring himself out. As this isn’t the Superman fans are used to seeing, it’s hard to remember that he’s young, wasn’t raised by Ma and Pa Kent, and spent months alone flying through outer space.
But that’s the beauty of his character. He’s learning on the fly and still doing a good job. Taking all of that into account, I expect him to be higher on this list in 2026.
40. Laura Kinney (Wolverine)
This could be the first time that Laura Kinney had a better year than her dad. In one year, she traveled the world saving mutants, fought alongside Nightwing, and joined the Avengers. While those are amazing accomplishments, Laura becoming a different kind of Wolverine separated her from Logan and made her a better character.
39. Annalise
Annalise was one of the funniest characters of the year. She’s a genius teenager with the fighting skills of an Avenger, the stealth of a spy, and the fighting brutality and creativity of Deadpool. I can’t wait until Matthew Rosenberg continues her story within his universe. Her devious nature will be legendary.
38. Emma Frost
Emma is back to doing what she does better than anyone: helping young mutants become even better heroes (Exceptional X-Men by Eve L. Ewing). On top of that, Amy Chu’s miniseries (Emma Frost: The White Queen) showed how talented a telepath she is, and how her cunning isn’t limited to her mutant powers.
37. Patricia “Patty” Reynolds
Patty can’t bend metal, fly, or melt things with her eyes. But she can raise two kids (one who randomly became a monster as a teenager), walk the dogs, write, and maintain a household and friendships. And she’s doing it with snarky remarks in the middle of a world that’s a tipping point away from destruction.
36. Battle Beast
If you asked anyone if there was more to Battle Beast than fighting and searching for someone tough enough to kill himself, you wouldn’t find many. Yet, here we are, and learning that the blood-soaked killing machine is deeper than anyone knew. Fans have known he isn’t mindless, but it’s good to know that there is some compassion within him. Look for Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley to explore that more in 2026.
35. Absolute Bane
When Absolute Bane was introduced, he was terrifying. As the series “Abomination” continued, we learn that we haven’t seen anything yet. Even in his defeat, he left the series a legend. It took a militia of people with Batman and Killer Croc, being hit by the Batmobile, and having a building fall on him. Even after all of that, it was an overload of venom that finally slowed him down.
34. Barbara Gordon
Every team she supports runs like a well-oiled machine. And unlike some leaders, she’s not so stubborn that she won’t listen to her teammates or admit when she’s wrong. Plus, we know that she isn’t afraid to fight. Just ask Batman when Bruce went too far, and Oracle had to become Batgirl again in Hush 2.
33. Absolute Brainiac
I never knew I needed a more deranged version of Brainiac until this year. This guy makes weapons that would scare Red Skull and tortures people in ways that would make Mr. Sinister puke. He’s also terrifying to look at, which isn’t shocking since the universe was made in Darkseid’s image.
32. Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain had a breakout 2025. She is far from Gotham and doesn’t have any of her backup in the Birds of Prey or the Bat Family. With all of that working against her, she is becoming more than a better hero. Cassie is becoming a leader and learning to trust her instincts. Considering how often she was lied to, it’s good that she is.
31. Absolute Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred being a more physically imposing and ruthless father figure to Bruce Wayne has been great to see. Alfred may be stubborn, but he’s still doing all the things Batman needs. Among them is trusting his mentee, even when the plan looks bad or complicated. Sadly, I think we will see him die in 2026.
30. Moon Knight
In 2025, Moon Knight defeated an Asgardian god, helped stop an illegal drug that was killing people, and kept the Midnight Mission going strong while motivating his team to be better heroes. The travelers of the night are safer because of him and his unwavering desire to help people.
29. Barda
Barda has a permanent residency in my heart thanks to Kelly Thompson’s Birds of Prey. Not just because she’s hilarious (and she is). Barda remains a petty and arrogant New God while showing compassion that her fellow deities don’t. She also kicked all sorts of butt all year.
28. Lex Luthor
As a person on Superman’s side, Lex Luthor was intriguing. Readers saw what could have been if Lex had focused more on helping people instead of killing Superman. He was getting along with his daughter, Lois, and Clark Kent. This made his return to a life of villainy even better. He didn’t just come back and fight. Luthor returned with furious vengeance in the DC K.O. tournament with ruthless attacks and almost killed Superman.
27. Gwen Stacy (Ghost Spider-Man)
It’s been a joy watching Gwen Stacy grow as a hero and person. She’s learning to understand her emotions and not to let them control her. Chief among them is her anger. Gwen gets that it’s normal to be angry, but not when lives are at stake.
She also defeated Loki to save her universe. There aren’t many people who can outsmart the God of Mischief, and she did it with a little help and encouragement from Jean Grey.
26. Ultimate Peter Parker
There have been some less-than-exciting moments in this series, but none of the slower moments involve Peter Parker. The impressive part is that no one has learned the superhero ropes quicker than him. This is all while still being an amazing father and husband.
Ultimate Peter Parker could be the happiest Peter Parker in the multiverse. This should worry fans since no Spider-Men have a happy ending.
25. Santa Valentina
I’m continuously amazed at Valentina. She has the power of a literal angel with a heart to match. And despite all the selfishness, destruction, and death she’s seen, Valentina somehow manages to be kind. That being said, it wouldn’t be shocking if we see her breaking point in 2026.
24. Lois Lane
Lois Lane went from having the powers of a god back to being the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet. But that didn’t mean that she was any less important or powerful. Being in charge of the new worldwide Daily Planet means she’s keeping people informed everywhere. And despite her new role, Lois is still on the front lines getting scoops.
23. Nightwing
Nightwing has gone from having one of the most productive times of his adult life to being dragged through hell. Olivia Pearce and a supernatural being called the Zanni. All while trying to stop police brutality, protect gangs from killing each other, and mentor an adolescent kid with the powers of Superman. Others lower than him may have done “greater” things, but Dick Grayson does the most with less.
22. Absolute Ra’s Al Ghul
Everything about Absolute Ra’s Al Ghul is impressive. His physical stature is intimidating, but that's nothing compared to his composure under pressure. Combined, he may be the perfect package. Even in defeat, he hasn’t really lost. He controls one of the most powerful companies in the world and will never lose his grip over it. In short, he’s been 2025’s best villain in the Absolute Universe.
21. Ransom
No new character in recent history has shown more promise than Ransom. He has Wolverine’s need to be a protector, the potential to be as good of a leader as Cyclops, and Storm’s compassion. And he isn’t doing it with the benefit of having a Danger Room or a mansion. It’s in the middle of Louisiana where he’s learning to be a better man, leader, and friend.
I fully expect him to be the future of the X-Men sooner rather than later. He has the kind of promise that hasn’t been seen since Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, and Kamala Khan.
20. Absolute Joker
Sorry to tell you, but Absolute Joker is proof that monsters are real. I don’t just mean his demon form (which is nightmare fuel). In Absolute Batman No. 15, readers learn that he’s worked with Nazis, helped create the atomic bomb, and executed so many more atrocities for cover one hundred years. And he’s just getting started. Imagine what will happen when he and the Absolute Justice League come out of the shadows.
19. Miles Morales
Cody Ziglar has taken Miles Morales to new heights in this series. He’s teamed up with Hercules to defeat multiple gods (among them being a powered-up Ares), made sure that his brother/clone felt wanted in life, continued going to therapy, and traveled across the multiverse to save his baby sister in the Maker’s Ultimate Universe. While there, Miles went up against and defeated Magik and Emmanuel Da Costa. It was an exciting year, and Cody Ziglar isn’t taking their foot off the gas.
18. Aquaman
All of those jokes about Arthur Curry only being able to talk to fish can stop. After defeating a god, he became one of the most powerful beings in the universe. And it looks like there’s no upper limit to what he can do with control of the blue. Hawkman learned that the hard way in his fight during the DC K.O. tournament.
16. Loki
While everyone is playing checkers, Loki is playing chess. Every move they’ve made was cruel, but calculated. We may not be seeing the endgame, but that’s the beauty of it. We’re all waiting to see how the God of Stories ends his tale and why they’ve chosen a new path.
15. Black Panther
T’Challa gave up his title as King of Wakanda years ago, but people in Marvel Comics still bow to him as if he's a ruler. And now, thanks to the events of Imperial, Black Panther is once again sitting high on a throne of sorts. However, being the leader of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is bigger than just ruling a country.
16. The Terminators
Winning has to be rewarded, and the Terminators won it all. They don’t have personalities that will make you laugh or cry, but they don’t need it. They mastered time travel, espionage (Terminator: Metal No. 2), and they continue to evolve. It’s doubtful this story ends with humanity winning. They’re just too good.
15. Mr. Terrific
Most of the leaders have a turn to be on watch on the Justice League’s Watchtower, but it seems that Michael Holt (Mr. Terrific) is always on shift. And it’s with good reason. He flawlessly sends the right people to emergencies based on the situational needs, and doesn’t panic, no matter how dire things are.
Another reason he’s on this list (and so high) is his miniseries (Mr. Terrific: Year One). This story showed a side of Michael Holt not normally seen. All of this was a perfect way to introduce him to new readers after Mr. Terrific made his DCU debut in Superman.
14. Megatron
Megatron is one of the worst villains of 2025. It wasn’t the slaughtering of humans (even though that’s bad). What makes him especially revolting is how he treats the Decepticons. These are the people who follow him into battle, but he treats them like garbage.
Not only is the physical abuse cruel, but he’s also manipulative. He tricks the Decepticons into following him by beating them and later telling them that only he can save them and complimenting them (read Transformers No. 25 for that). It’s a tactic used with abusive people like Iceberg Slim. But, as deplorable as it is, you have to admit that Megatron is clearly a masterfully created character.
13. Absolute Lois Lane
This version of Lois Lane may be the most interesting character in Absolute Superman. Just like her counterpart, she’s all about finding out the truth and exposing evil, even if it means she could die. However, she is in more danger than Prime Universe Lois has ever been. She has Superman to watch her back, but this Man of Steel is still learning the ropes and hasn’t quite figured out who he is. You can also make a debate that Kal-El would be dead or under Ra’s al Ghul’s thumb without her.
12. Batman
Bruce Wayne regained his billions back in late 2024 and immediately went to work making things better for everyone. He’s helping people in unfortunate situations by doing more than donating money. He’s paying attention to how to better serve everyone. That includes villains like Killer Croc and Riddler (read Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez’s Batman for that story).
Of course, Batman still saves the day with the Justice League, his Robins, and other heroes (there’s also the Dark Patterns series). But the stuff he’s doing outside of the cape and cowl is more impressive.
11. Optimus Prime
Everything readers have seen from Optimus Prime is a reminder of why he’s been beloved for decades. He doesn’t win all of his fights, but he never backs down. Prime also motivates his Autobots with speeches that make them feel like they can’t lose.
It isn’t just his words. Optimus Prime gives up his body to show he will take the punishment for his team. It’s why he’s respected by everyone, including the Decepticons. So much so that one of them recently joined their side (Transformers No. 26 and 27).
9. Donatello
Donatello is the most underrated character on this list. He isn’t the best fighter on his team, nor is he the toughest. But none of them has the heart he does.
When Donatello rejoined his brothers, he was malnourished, and they thought he was weak and hearing voices that didn’t exist. But he was the one who kept everyone together and reminded his family that they’re stronger together. Imagine how bad things would have gotten for the Ninja Turtles and New York if he had given up or been killed.
8. Superman
This wasn’t just another year for the Man of Steel. He had to fight evil versions of people who inspired him (Darkseid’s Legion) while teaming up with Superboy-Prime, who is normally his enemy. And there’s so much Green Kryptnite on Earth that people are using it for lipstick and jewelry on top of weapons. And let’s not forget that he’s in the DC K.O. tournament, hoping to win and keep the world spinning. But, despite all of that, he still keeps his faith in humanity.
7. Storm
Storm’s first stint as an Avenger was short and disappointing. This time around, writer Jed MacKay wasn’t messing around. Ororo Munroe received a personal invite from Thor, who said the Avengers need a god to replace him. Storm proved that she was the right god to replace him.
In her other life, Ororo fought off death, Dr. Doom, and the possession of a celestial being. Storm has also defeated a few Gods of Thunder who wanted her dead. Those are incredible feats individually. Combined is something uncanny.
6. Thor/Sigurd Jarlson
Thor is the greatest god in comics, but even the greatest of the gods can have hard times. But Thor showed that even outclassed, overpowered, and surprised, he can overcome everything. Sadly, trusting his sibling, Loki, was his downfall.
As Sigurd Jarlson, he remains a person who fights for the people. It’s great seeing that no matter what his powers are, the God of Thunder remains a hero.
5. Darkseid
Darkseid hasn’t been seen much in 2026, but his presence is felt throughout the multiverse. He created a universe that made Joker a trillionaire with multiple fighting styles, a Ra’s al Ghul with a worldwide billion-dollar corporation, and a terrifying Batman and magical Wonder Woman.
If that isn’t enough, his Legion is slaughtering people throughout the multiverse in his name. And after the most recent DC K.O. tie-in (and tricking the Justice League by inhabiting Booster Gold’s body), it’s easy to see that things will get worse before they get better.
4. Absolute Batman
No money, Bat Cave, or international training? That’s no problem for Absolute Batman. He still finds ways to succeed in a Gotham City that’s a bigger nightmare than any other. But it isn’t just his time as the Dark Knight that put him in the top three. He’s accomplishing a lot of things fans have wanted him to do. Among them are asking for help, being a loving son, and interacting with friends.
3. Absolute Wonder Woman
Diana of the Wild Isle is such a phenomenal character. In many ways, she’s like her Prime Universe counterpart, except she uses magic more than her fists. And the way she communes with the Greek Gods for help and guidance has been fantastic.
Sadly, not all of the Gods of Olympus are on her side. Some are actively trying to destroy her and the idea of Amazons in general. That’s on top of Director Cale and the rest of the (Evil) Justice League going against her in secret. Nevertheless, Absolute Wonder Woman continues to be a hero and does it with positivity in her heart.
2. Doctor Doom
Victor Von Doom ruled the world, and most of the people loved him for it. Yes, he did something awful to get there, but the accomplishment can’t be taken away from him. To top it all off, he only relinquished his rule because he killed Valeria. That means it was his world to lose. You can count on one hand how many villains can say that.
1. Etienne Lux
You’re probably wondering how Victor Von Doom could accomplish all of that and be number two. It’s simple, for decades, Etienne Lux pretty much controlled the world by keeping superpowers in check and depowering the ones he deemed too powerful, and did it without needing the spotlight. In fact, if it weren’t for Valentina confronting him, he would have remained in control from behind the curtains. He was a less arrogant Wizard of Oz.
In issue No. 13 of The Power Fantasy, Ettiene is killed, but who knows if he’s really dead? That’s the part of what makes him great. No matter what you think you know, there’s more to it. He has plans, within plans, within those plans. Don’t be surprised if he returns in 2026.
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