The Sensational Character Find of... Every Year

General Discussion Comic Books
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In DETECTIVE COMICS #38, Robin was hailed as “The Sensational Character Find of 1940.” But who held that title for every other year of DC Comics? Here are my proposals, which I’ll add to over time. If you have any nominees, I’ll hear them!

1935: Dr. Occult
1936: Pep Morgan
1937: Slam Bradley
1938: Superman
1939: Batman
1940: Robin

1941: Wonder Woman
1942: Two-Face
1943: Alfred Pennyworth
1944; Solomon Grundy
1945: Black Adam
1946: Crazy Quilt
1947: Black Canary
1948: Riddler
1949: Ohiyesa Smith
1950: Lana Lang

1951: Captain Comet
1952: Phantom Stranger
1953: Angle Man
1954: Space Cabbie
1955: Martian Manhunter
1956: Barry Allen
1957: Captain Cold
1958: Saturn Girl
1959: Hal Jordan
1960: Aqualad

1961: Ray Palmer
1962: Ultra Boy
1963: Mera
1964: Zatanna
1965: Donna Troy
1966: Poison Ivy
1967: Barbara Gordon
1968: Guy Gardner
1969: Abel
1970: Darkseid

1971: John Stewart
1972: Swamp Thing
1973: Wildfire
1974: Harvey Bullock
1975: Warlord
1976: Power Girl
1977: Black Lightning
1978: Firestorm
1979: Fire
1980: Cyborg

1981: Vixen
1982: Terra
1983: Jason Todd
1984: Jericho
1985: John Constantine
1986: Booster Gold
1987: Captain Atom
1988: Ice
1989: Tim Drake
1990: Hank Henshaw

1991: Waverider
1992: Harley Quinn
1993: Kon-El
1994: Kyle Rayner
1995: Neron
1996: Cassandra Sandsmark
1997: Michael Holt
1998: Midnighter
1999: Stargirl
2000: Whisper A’Daire

2001: Mia Dearden
2002:
2003:
2004: Jason Rusch
2005: Soranik Natu
2006: Damian Wayne
2007: Atrocitus
2008:
2009:
2010: Kaldur’ahm

2011:
2012: Simon Baz
2013: Jessica Cruz
2014:
2015: Jon Kent
2016:
2017: The Batman Who Laughs
2018:
2019: Naomi
2020: Punchline

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I’d nominate the Court of Owls for 2011 if they pass as one character.

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They do not. Otherwise I’d probably put the Legion of Super-Heroes in for 1958, and the Justice League of America for 1960, and so on.

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I love the idea, but maybe we could have this list for hereos and a separate list for villains?

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Maybe, but then you get into the question of who qualifies as a “hero” or “villain.” Heel turns and redemption arcs are always on the table.

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Dr Occult

Merlin

David Knight (Starman)

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Punchline

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I’ll give you this one.

Merlin?

David Knight is kind of a lesser Starman. I mean, 1990 was also the debut of Hank Henshaw, Danny the Street… I’ll have to think about this.

Probably too soon to make this call, but hell, they called Robin in 1940. I’ll allow it.

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yeah, I was wondering if this would count, this was his first DC appearance

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Nah, I don’t think I’d count it.

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slam bradely

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Yeah, that’s gotta be the one.

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Batman who laughs

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I challenge your Punchline with Clownhunter and Ghost-Maker. Probably Ghost-Maker.

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I mean, I personally prefer those characters, but there’s no denial that Punchline has made a bigger cultural impact.

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Between writing that post and now I read the Punchline Special, which may have changed my mind. Point is, Tynion’s really on a tear, isn’t he?

Also, for 1936, hear me out:

Pandora

Yeah, I know, she’s an adaptation of a character from an earlier mythology, but 70-some years later she would be the story explanation for the origin of the New 52, appear in all 52 #1 issues, get her own book, and be the focal point of Trinity War.

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1946: Dr. Sivana

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1949: Perry White

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Hmm. I think I’d count that Pandora as a 2011 character, though. She’s significantly different from the mythological one.

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1954: Assuming Jimmy Olsen and Catwoman don’t count because that’s just their Earth 1 debut, so instead, Space Cabbie?

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