Best supporting non-super character in comics?

[Supreme Serpent]

J.Jonah Jameson. Perry White. Lois Lane. Jimmy Olsen. Aunt May. Alfred Pennyworth. Edwin Jarvis. Rick Jones (sometimes disqualified). Foggy Nelson. Mrs. Arbrogast. Pepper Potts. The list goes on and on. Way too many interesting choices to make a 10-option poll.

Inspired a bit from the JJJ thread - who's the best/your favorite supporting character from supers comics? Those who don't put on the tights, don't beat up the villains, aren't true villains themselves, but still help make the stories more interesting.

[GoldenAge]

Lois Lane
Alfred

[Hermit]

Despite the fact I've switched my Subscription from ASM to Thing, one of the things I HAVE enjoyed (and may continue to enjoy in trades) is how JMS is handling the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter Parker. Holy hell, a SUPPORTIVE wife who nevertheless has her own problems and concerns and life? and to his credit, JMS has made it work. I've always liked Mary Jane. When written correctly, and with depth, she has been an interesting person to contrast with Peter. Someone who is not afraid to disagree with him, or offer her own insights, yet still ends up by his side.

Jarvis of the Avengers. Seriously, I don't care if he did start out as some sort of Alfred rip off, he's a sweet guy, a loyal friend, and has enough honor that most heroes should be admiring the hell out of him. Pardon me for getting biblical, but the phrase "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" could be his tagline.

Hindsight lad, okay, he did put on a costume. He could be an obnoxious twit, and he blackmailed his way into the New Warriors... but I loved him, because in my less ethical moments when I was his age I would have been tempted to do the same thing just to be part of a world like that. And when push came to shove, he honestly DID try to do the work.

JJJ... for reasons mentioned in another thread. Spider-Man once said something like "under neath that crusty greedy sensationalizing exterior beats a heart of gold... and under that is more crusty greed..." ;) JJJ is best when portrayed as the foil with standards imo.


My goodness, there are so many.. I'll post a few more later, or more likely go 'seconded' when someone mentions others. :)

[BobGreenwade]

I have yet to see an incarnation of Alfred Pennyworth that I didn't like.

[John Desmarais]

My vote would go to the entire supporting cast of the Superman titles (Lois, Jimmy, Perry, et al). There are non-powered supporting characters who were interesting enough to make the books still worth readin during the time that Superman was "dead". That's a pretty good feat.

[Hermit]

My favorite incarnation of Alfred has to be from Batman: The Animated Series.
Batman: "You think you know me so well, don't you?"
Alfred: "I diapered your bottom, I bloody well OUGHT to....sir."
:)

And yes, Alfred is great.

Alas, I am not as up on my D.C. comics, so I can't wax as poetic about others ;)

I liked Maxwell Lord before they made him into a killer. *Sigh* It was great to see established super heroes see this guy in a suit with a 'deal' to offer, approaching and go "Oh no." or "Run!" in response :)

Come to think of it, Blue Devil had a great cast of "DNPCs" and so on period. :)

[Blue]

JJ Is pretty entrtaining, but hardly supporting :)
(I'm pretty sure you mean supporting the comic book)
I like Foggy.
Jarvis always felt like an Alfred knockoff.

Never really liked Jimmy Olsen, Aunt May, and Rick Jones sometimes was pretty annoying.

I'm farily indifferent to most.

With all that said: 1)Alfred, 2)JJJ, 3) Lois Lane

Something cool about a butler who can treat phosphorous burns.

[Bloodstone]

Uncle Ben ;)

[Marketeer]

Alfred, by far.

[Enforcer84]

Didn't Alfred recently shoot some punk who was trying to blackmail Bruce Wayne because he found out he was Batman?


Anyway, my favorites:

Jarvis
Alfred
Mary Jane
Thunderbolt Ross (as a foil)
Aunt May
JJJ (see, Ross, Thunderbolt)
Flash Thompson
Lois Lane
Ma & Pa Kent

[Log-Man]

I guess we're forgiving the super identities of Lois, Lana, Jimmy and Rick for now. Those stories were all pretty much pre-crisis anyway, iirc.

I think it would have to be JJJ. Few others got me so riled up or had me laughing out loud at different times. He is the very embodiment of you-love-to-hate-him. Perhaps it is because he is one of the most human characters out there. His portrayal in the movies was one of the greatest achievements of said movies.

I do like Alfred, too. He's been a very interesting wise old man archetype that became much more prominent and necessary as Bats descended into obsession.

Pre-Lyja, Alicia Masters was a favorite (natch). But when she got involved with the Surfer...well, the less said of that the better.

[BigJackBrass]

Lois? Alfred? Jimmy? Mere hangers-on.

No no, for a real example of the indispensable ally, the indefatigable Everyman, there is only one character worthy of notice:

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Woozy Winks.

[Beetle]

Jarvis!

[austenandrews]

Commissioner Gordon

[bigdamnhero]

Another vote for JJJ and Aunt May. Really, all of Spidey's supporting cast were excellent.

Never had much emotionally invested in Jarvis, but always thought Wong was the $%#@. OK, technically he was a master martial artist, but compared to most of the beings that attacked Dr. Strange's mansion, he was definitely DNPC, Incompetant.

Never was much of a DC reader back when, but Max Lord was fun at one point.


bigdamnhero
[twack!] “Message for you, sir.”

[keithcurtis]

Ma and Pa Kent were two of the best characters to come out of the crisis. They have done more to humanize and ground Superman into a character we can identify than an army of Lois Lanes. Though many people moan and cry over changes in the post-crisis Superman stable, keeping those two alive has been a stroke of genius.

Keith "Oh, and Alfred, too" Curtis

PS. It's a shame Alfred's WWII past has gotten further and further from the possible.

PPS. An army of Lois (Teri Hatcher) Lanes. Mmmm.

[Lollygagger]

Ben Urich from the Daredevil series was always one of my favorites. A guy who keeps a superhero's secret identity because he knows in the long run society is better off, but who isn't afraid of using the threat of outing the hero to blackmail the hero into doing the right thing when the right thing needs done.

Oh... and go Alfred.

[austenandrews]

No love for Gordon? Does he not count because he's a cop?

[Hermit]

No love for Gordon? Does he not count because he's a cop?

Actually, if you'll allow me to switch the medium from Comics back to the Animated series... I'll give a big thumbs up for most of Gotham PD.

Renee Montoya was my favorite. We get to see her rise up from honest blues cop to detective. Bullock was great as the cop you love to hate, and Gordan? In or out of Batman:tAS

It's good to see an authority figure in the comics who isn't bumbling, arrogant, or bigotted and when he DOES get over his head, is man enough to admit it.

[caris]

Lois? Alfred? Jimmy? Mere hangers-on.

No no, for a real example of the indispensable ally, the indefatigable Everyman, there is only one character worthy of notice:

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Woozy Winks.

Except in Woozy's first appearance Police Comics #13, November 1942, Woozy did have Super Powers. Zambi the Soothsayer bestowed upon Woozy "protection from nature," which pretty much made him indistructable and impossible to capture.

[caris]

Sue Dibny, who has many of the same traits that Hermit praises in Mary Jane.

I'm tempted to put Ma Hunkel, the golden age Red Tornado here, because she was a supporting character in Scribbly.

Mindy Mayers was brilliant (as was most of Wonder Woman's supporting cast during the Perez run).

Grant Morrison's version of the Baker Family in Animal Man.

[Hermit]

Sue Dibny, who has many of the same traits that Hermit praises in Mary Jane.

And, to be fair, was doing so BEFORE Mary Jane and Peter were married. Good call.

[Vanguard00]

Alfred ranks pretty near the top, if not numero uno. Aunt May is a close second, with Jarvis and Jameson tied for third.

Honorable mention to Ben Urich, Robbie Robertson, Alicia Masters, Commish Gordon and Willie Lumpkin. Some of my favorite "non super" moments in comics have been with these characters. Does Sharon Carter (Agent of SHIELD) count?

[kave99]

Alfred,for all the right reasons
Heather Hudson per powered armor[Alpha Flight],for having the life of peter parker till she becomes Vindicator.

[Hugh Neilson]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Woozy Winks.

Did he lose his superpowers? Woozy was originally blessed by nature - nothing could harm him. I think you're right that this has been downplayed or written out in current continuity, however.

[assault]

Woozy Winks, of course. Even with powers.
Jimmy Olsen. He managed to sustain his own series for decades. Some of his stories truly rocked.
Lois Lane, for similar reasons.
Lana Lang - honourable mention.
Alfred.
Commissioner Gordon.
Funky Flashman!
Dan "Terrible" Turpin.

I'll leave out the Newsboy Legion, since they were originally stars rather than supporting cast.

[Enforcer84]

I gotta give props to Sue Dibney too. She was awesome. And something else I will always hold against DC.

[assault]

I gotta give props to Sue Dibney too. She was awesome. And something else I will always hold against DC.

Yep. Another exercise in stupidity in the current wave of stupidity.



Another non-super I like: Holly, from Catwoman.

[Vorsch]

Mr Miracles promoter, he made me laugh.

Kinda like the 4thed deathstroke reboot promoter

PS I just got HD and cant open HD files from heo central, what gives.

[BigJackBrass]

Well yes, I'll admit that Woozy has had superpowers of a sort... (not that he exactly uses his abilities.) This aspect has been seriously toned down, though. Still, given how many "non-super" supporting characters have temporarily had superpowers or adopted heroic personas over the decades I'm still going to stand by Mr Winks, despite his taste in shirts.

[Vanguard00]

Mr Miracles promoter, he made me laugh.
Oberon? The little grumpy guy? Yeah, I liked him a lot.


Kinda like the 4thed deathstroke reboot promoter Not sure who you mean here, but I'm not as up on my Deathstroke history as I should be. Wasn't Winters his man for a long time (at least until he killed him)?


PS I just got HD and cant open HD files from heo central, what gives.
Um...dunno. Hit the HD forum and give Simon a shout.

[McCoy]

Willy Lumpkin

[McCoy]

Sue Dibny, who has many of the same traits that Hermit praises in Mary Jane.

I'm tempted to put Ma Hunkel, the golden age Red Tornado here, because she was a supporting character in Scribbly.
Good call on Sue.

And the original Red Tornado, the first transvestite Superhero! :thumbup:

[BoneDaddy]

My top five, in no particular order

Pa Kent
Alfred
Mary Jane
Aunt May
Aquaman

[Vanguard00]

Aquaman
BWAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha...heheh...

That's not funny.



gigglesnort.
:D

[keithcurtis]

The Superman cast was awesome. Unfortunately, they have been utilized less and less well, and less consitently since the Death of Superman era. Some faves:
Bibbo, the most unlikely of Superman's friends. A retired boxer, club owner and roustabout. Nevertheless, he has an iron resolve and an unerring faith in the Man of Steel.

Professor Hamilton (Mini-Rant: Now a freakin' villain?-He lost an arm as the result of a super battle and didn't hold it against Superman. He played honky-tonk piano and had a plain jane girlfriend and did his best to remain independant of Luthor and STAR. I realize he started out a villain, but I don't hold someone's origin against them, otherwise, I'd have to believe Ambush Bug wa a murderer. Uh, end rant)

Maggie Sawyer and Dan Turpin, Especially Dan. This is a normal guy taking on the forces of Darkseid as well as Superman's other toughest foes and surviving on pure guts. Like Alfred, his WWII roots are now inaccesible, but a great Kirby creation. Ditto the Newsboy Legion.

Jimmy "Mr. Action" Olsen, When I was a kid, I wanted to be Jimmy Olsen.

Gangbuster, who always felt like a normal guy trying his best to be a superhero.

Perry White, Rock solid paternal figure to the Metropolis pantheon. Great Man of the City.

There are others, but thinking about how they've been so poorly used in the last few years gets me depressed.

Keith "Superfan" Curtis

[FenrisUlf]

Best supporting characters?

I like the way they're handling Aunt May in recent issues of Spider-Man. She doesn't take any guff from anyone, even Wolverine.

Jolly Jonah from both the comics and the movies. Oh, and that one animated series too.

Just about everyone in the Dini & Timm Batman and Superman.

And say... does Volstagg of the Warriors Three count? I always did like him. Lazy, cowardly, a braggart, a real Falstaff of an Asgardian, but he still came through in the end for his family and friends.

[Log-Man]

Mr Miracles promoter, he made me laugh.
Oberon? The little grumpy guy? Yeah, I liked him a lot.

Oberon? The little grumpy guy? Yeah, I liked him a lot...

Actually, I think he's referring to the Funky Flashman, who is another you-love-to-hate-him guy. Real sleaze, but funny.

Oberon! I can't believe I forgot the little guy! :stupid: He's high on my list. Right above Alfred. (What can I say, I was a JLI junkie.)

[CandidGamera]

L-Ron, in his normal "robot" body. Not really super, and provides an excellent foil for Max Lord.

Him, or Cheeks, the Toy Wonder.

[Enforcer84]

My top five, in no particular order

Pa Kent
Alfred
Mary Jane
Aunt May
Aquaman
you are a mean man!:tsk:

[keithcurtis]

Cheeks! sob!

Keith "P-poor little guy" Curtis

[Lollygagger]

Have they ever stated outright that Jim Gordon knows Bruce Wayne is Batman and that Perry White knows Superman is Clark Kent? I know they've hinted around it some. Batman thinking something about how White is too good a reporter to not have figured it out and Superman thinking the same thing about Jim Gordon's skills as a detective. But have they ever come out and said it?

[Blue]

Ooh! Ooh!...

Ben Urich! Especially in The Pulse. (That question about White knowing about Superman reminded me what Urich knows)

Jessica Jones too, when they're not trying to give her superpowers.

[lapsedgamer]

Ooh! Ooh!...

Ben Urich! Especially in The Pulse. (That question about White knowing about Superman reminded me what Urich knows)

Jessica Jones too, when they're not trying to give her superpowers.

I was going to say Jessica Jones, but I thought she wouldn't qualify for this thread because she is a certified super. She tends to downplay it, but she has quite a bit of power. I would estimate 35-40 STR, flight, heightened DEX and some resistant defenses. But, as a character, I really like her.

[Jeff T.]

Alicia Masters

[AndyM]

I'd like to give some love to Rick Jones. There's a guy who has hung out with: Hulk, Captain Marvel (the good one), and Cap. He wears a parachute under his jacket (because you never know) ... and -- did you see his batchelor party? Captain America hired a stripper and his wife-to-be was in a "stag movie".

How much better does life get?

Andy

[AndyM]

whoa! that was my 100th post. You may genuflect in my general direction.

:hail: Andy

[Mr. Negative]

Gwen Stacy.

I don't know exactly why, but she really always got to me. Particularly in Spiderman: Blue, where the whole story almost breaks your heart.

Assuming that I can ignore the recent Norman Osborne love affair, accelerated aging clones story lines, of course.

[MisterBaldy]

Alfred Pennyworth...A+ choice.
Rick Jones...not really "superpowered"
The Kingpin
The Joker
Alicia Masters
J. Jonah Jameson
Ben Urich
Judge Hershey (2000AD/Judge Dredd)

[BobGreenwade]

Who has the most shout-outs so far? It looks to me like Alfred, Alicia, JJJ, and Rick Jones are up at the front of the pack....

[Lollygagger]

The more I go back to this issue, the more I have to say Alfred Pennyworth, the Batman's batman. He's the perfect supporting character, if for no other reason than he's at least as heroic as the man he works for. At least. And hey, he's the only member of the "Batman family" that Batman trusts to own and use a gun.

[FenrisUlf]

Who has the most shout-outs so far? It looks to me like Alfred, Alicia, JJJ, and Rick Jones are up at the front of the pack....

So - Alfred versus Jonah versus Rick Jones: who would win?

More importantly, could any of them defeat Firelord? :snicker:

[Hermit]

More importantly, could any of them defeat Firelord? :snicker:

Only if they got really REALLY angry.... and Firelord was suffering from low sugar levels due to not getting his pizza.

;)

[lapsedgamer]

So - Alfred versus Jonah versus Rick Jones: who would win?

More importantly, could any of them defeat Firelord? :snicker:
JJJ isn't even in there. Rick was once in training with Captain America to be the new Bucky, so he probably has skills. However, Alfred was an MI-6 operative during WWII in some versions. Rick has the advantage of youth, but Alfred would probably shoot him from ambush. I go with Alfred.

[the Haunt]

My top 5 (in no particular order) would be.

Mark's Mom from "Invincible"
Alfred from "Batman"
Liz from "Nobel Causes"
Ma and Pa Kent from "Superman" and "Teen Titans"
Jarvis from "the Ultimates"

[Hugh Neilson]

Only if they got really REALLY angry.... and Firelord was suffering from low sugar levels due to not getting his pizza.

;)

Based on Firelord's track record, I wouldn't bet against any of them!

Annihilation is supposed to have an arc on former Heralds. Maybe Firelord will finally win a fight, or alternatively be placed out of his misery.

[bigdamnhero]

So - Alfred versus Jonah versus Rick Jones: who would win?
My money's on Aunt May.


bigdamnhero
“I stole the candles from the chapel. Jesus won't begrudge them and the chaplain works for me.”

[the Haunt]

bigdamnhero Quote:

My money's on Aunt May.


ah! the Golden Oldie Greatest of Galactius' Hearlds :D

http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/images/aunt_may/mtu137_golden_oldie.jpg

[FenrisUlf]

ah! the Golden Oldie Greatest of Galactius' Hearlds :D

http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/images/aunt_may/mtu137_golden_oldie.jpg

Uh, that was a What If? issue, right?

I'd hate to think that the Marvel editors took that idea seriously. But these days, it's hard to tell.

[Chuckg]

It was an Assistant Editor's Month gag, and a dream sequence.

[FenrisUlf]

Whew! :wipes forehead:

At least they're not that crazy... yet.

[Hugh Neilson]

At least Golden Oldie (unlike Firelord ;) ) could take SpiderMan