We’ve all encountered a hero of some kind that outshined all of the others. Whether the hero shoots webs and climbs on walls, sticks to the shadows to cloak himself from his prey, or bangs everything with two legs; everyone has that hero. Today, I share with you my top ten favorite heroes in pop culture.
10. Harry Potter (Harry Potter Series, created by J.K. Rowling)
Most people who know me would say that Harry is way too low on this list. While the Harry Potter series is pretty much my entire existence, it doesn’t mean the main protagonist is hands down my favorite hero ever. In fact, Harry isn’t even my favorite male character in the series. That spot is occupied by Fred and George Weasley. The only reason they didn’t make this list is because while they both do heroic things, I don’t exactly think of them as the “heroes” of the story. However, that’s another topic. Harry is an amazing character, and is definitely well written. While there were many instances where I wanted to turn Harry into a toad, I can honestly say that I believe Harry is hands down one of the greatest heroes in pop culture today. He was an orphan who was thrust into an unknown world where he was destined to face-off against his family’s murderer. Most people would act on pure vengeance; I’m looking at you, Ronald. Even with all that adversity and anger to get through, Harry didn’t let his emotions take him over and made sure that he did what he had to do. He protected the people he cared about and sometimes sacrificed himself in the process. In my opinion, that’s a true hero.
9. Piper Halliwell (Charmed Series, created by Constance M. Burge)
Charmed is one of my top three favorite supernatural television series ever. The series is based on three sister witches. Charmed joins the likes of Teen Wolf and Game of Thrones for a spot in my heart. The show had originally caught my attention at the young age of eight. It was my first time ever experiencing magical characters like witches and wizards (I didn’t read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone until the fifth grade) and I absolutely LOVED it. At first, Holly Marie Combs’ character, Piper Halliwell, annoyed the living hell out of me. I wasn’t exactly a “fan” of hers. Then, season four rolled around and as the recently made “oldest” sister, Piper definitely went through a major change. I was in awe. I found myself rooting for the former “middle” sister, encouraging her to make a new path. By the time the series ended, I found myself loving the character development shown in the once quiet Piper. The character had grown to become extremely confident, sassy, and demanding. Piper Halliwell is probably the most developed character in the entire series, and watching her evolve over the years made me appreciate her. Unfortunately, even with the love that I hold for the character, Piper Halliwell only takes the ninth spot on my list of favorite heroes and is my least favorite Charmed character on this list.
8. Iceman (X-Men Comics, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
Along with Scott Summers (Cyclops), Warren Worthington III (Angel/Archangel), Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy (Beast), and Jean Grey (Marvel Girl/Phoenix), Robert “Bobby” Drake is the second and youngest member of the original X-Men. This character is known for his sense of humor and self-confidence. Originally created as a “copy” of the Human Torch, Iceman controls the opposing element. Iceman has been my favorite male comic book character since a very young age, and I don’t see that changing for the next two thousand years. He has the power to control and manipulate one of my favorite elements, is pretty good looking if I say so myself, and is, in my opinion, one of the stronger mutants in the Marvel Universe. He also happens to be the only character I enjoyed in the X-Men film series, but I usually pretend that the entire “Rogue-Bobby” romance didn’t exist. #Where’sGambitThough?
7. Mulan (Mulan, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation)
I shouldn’t have to explain myself. Mulan is awesome. That is all. Carry on.
6. Aladdin (Aladdin, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation)
Aladdin is my favorite Disney prince. While I consider Prince Eric the ‘hottest’ of the Disney princes, the male protagonist of The Little Mermaid is not my favorite. So, don’t mistake my zealous ranting over the dark haired, light eyed hottie as anything more than my appreciating Ariel’s taste in men. Since Aladdin is my favorite Disney prince, it only makes sense for him to join Mulan as the only other Disney character on this list. Of course, I spent about an hour deciding whether he’s seventh and Mulan’s sixth, or if it’s the other way around. Eventually, I decided on this, but even now I question their placement. Let’s just say they’re pretty equal in my eyes. Sure, Mulan would totally whoop Aladdin’s ass, but that’s not important. Aladdin is probably one of the few Disney characters shown as homeless. Witnessing how much the character evolves is pretty amazing. He goes from “street rat” to hero, and it’s always nice to watch the Aladdin and Jasmine romance blossom over-and-over again. Aladdin is everything I’d like in a potential mate. He’s adventurous, daring, funny, protective, and street-smart. Now, if he looked like Eric and was as book smart as Belle, he’d be the perfect dude.
5. Prue Halliwell (Charmed Series, created by Constance M. Burge)
I know that many Charmed fans would immediately disagree with how high up Prue is on this list but, what can I say, this girl had spunk. Prue was independent, outspoken, and very protective of her younger sisters. While she also had her bad qualities, this Charmed sister would have grown to become the strongest of the Charmed Ones. Unfortunately, the eldest Halliwell met her untimely demise at the end of season three, when she was murdered after time was reset. Prue is one of my favorite characters in the Charmed series, and she would have been the favorite if I could have continued to watch her grow. I’ve always wondered how the character would have turned out. I guess that’s why we have fanfiction!
4. Dr. Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds, created by Jeff Davis)
It’s really hard not to like any of the characters of the hit television series, Criminal Minds. Of all of the cast members shown, Dr. Spencer Reid is hands down my favorite. Reid is literally a genius. This guy is absolutely amazing and if I had half the intelligence that he carried, I’d be set for life. Throughout the span of the series, Reid is revealed to have Ph.D.’s in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering, as well as B.A.’s in Psychology and Sociology. During season four he was also working on his B.A. in Philosophy. Reid has an IQ of 187 and is said to be able to read 20,000 words per minute. Which, for all who don’t know, is very impressive. He could read the entire Harry Potter series in less than an hour if he wanted to! That’s pretty awesome. If I could read the series that fast, I’d read the entire series once a day, before class. What’s there not to like about Reid? He’s almost everything you’d want to be! Intelligent, handsome, and he is one of the key members on the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. He’s saved hundreds of lives and he’s barely even 35 years old! Reid is the man.
3. Phoebe Halliwell (Charmed Series, created by Constance M. Burge)
Hands down my favorite “charmed one”, Phoebe went from being the youngest and most rebellious of the sisters, to the middle child (after Paige was discovered). The character starts off as a flirty, curious young woman, who carelessly enters the world of magic and brings her sisters along with her. In the first season, she is the most enthusiastic and curious about magic and during the earlier episodes of the final season, she is the sister who most wants to be “normal”. With everything that she dealt with, you couldn’t blame her. She lost a sister, many former lovers, and missed some of the greatest times of her life because of the craft. With everything she faced, Phoebe continued to strive to be the greatest witch in history. Phoebe was originally considered the weakest of the “charmed ones” by their enemies since she originally didn’t have any offensive abilities. She constantly proved them wrong with her martial arts skills. Eventually, Phoebe learned to project her empathic abilities offensively against her enemies, becoming one of the stronger and more feared of the witches. Phoebe also became the only Charmed sister to continue the Halliwell legacy of having all daughters with P-names. Currently, Phoebe and her sisters continue to live on in the comic book series based on the show.
2. Chris Halliwell (Charmed Series, created by Constance M. Burge)
Chris is Piper and Leo’s second child, is introduced to the series in the season five finale of Charmed. He returns to the past to help save the world from his older brother, Wyatt, who was corrupted and had become evil. Chris appears just in time to save Paige Matthews, the youngest “charmed one”. He lies and tells the sisters that he had come back from the future to help the “charmed ones” defeat the Titans, because they fail, which corrupts his time period. He referred to himself as ‘Chris Perry’, using his middle name as his surname to hide who he really was from his family. Eventually, Phoebe finds out who he truly is and what he was truly there for–leading to his parents and Paige soon finding out the truth as well. In my opinion, Chris Halliwell defines the term “hero”. He did everything in his power to save the world from the hands of his own family. Not many people would be willing to do something like that. Others would sit back and watch as the world continued on in darkness, but Chris chose to do everything in his power to protect the world from the hands of his brother. Chris is an extremely powerful witch and is hands down my favorite character in the Charmed series. With his striking resemblance to his deceased aunt, Prue, and his powerful storyline, Chris Halliwell and season six are two of the best things to come from the series. This is why he deserved the second spot on my top ten.
But, now, it’s time to introduce to you, the only witch amazing enough to take the number one spot as my favorite hero…
1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter Series, created by J.K. Rowling)
Anyone who knows me, knew this was coming. Hermione Granger stands at the top of the list as not only my favorite hero in pop culture, but as my favorite feminist, my favorite female character, and my favorite witch. While the character starts the series off as an obnoxious little girl, Harry and Ron wouldn’t have survived without her. The female icon helped the young boys through some of the toughest obstacles throughout their school years. Without her, Harry probably would have died midway through book one and Ron would have continued living his life as a nobody. The young, muggle born child showed the world that she was the brightest witch of her age and there weren’t many others who could manage their own against her. It came as no surprise when readers learned that Hermione had survived the war at the end of the series. But, of course, if this was Game of Thrones, she probably would have been massacred by book two. Nobody is safe in that series. Hermione is one awesome witch and she shows women that it’s okay to be powerful and it’s okay to be proud of who you are. Preferably with perfect teeth, though. Where’s Madame Pomfrey when you need her to shrink ‘em?