5. Jolt
She’s got electric powers so it works. Plus she was on the Thunderbolts once, and they all had little bolt logos, so that’s double points.
4. Mage
He’s the modern embodiment of King Arthur, and he wears a shirt that has something vaguely to do with that. Either way, they sold a lot of t-shirts. And you, down there in the comments, the guy who’s gonna say he’s not a superhero? Shut it.
3. Madman
I have never had a completely grasp on how to explain Frank Einstein, but regardless, that is one hell of a design, and perhaps the most striking of all the bolts in graphic form.
2. The Flash
Flash is probably going to be the first guy you think of when someone says superhero and lightning bolt, they think of Barry Allen, or Wally West, or Jay Garrick, or Bart Allen, or Max M– you get the idea. Perhaps the best thing about writing Wally West out of continuity is that we don’t have to see that last costume they designed for him recently. Either way.
1. Captain Marvel
He’s called Captain Marvel, and he was created a year before Jay Garrick, and his bolt gets the top spot. You say the magic word-KRAKOOM-and there’s the famous jersey/tunic/shirt/suit thing. He’ll go up against anyone in comics, and have a shot, but also have the childlike wonder that these symbols were originally meant to represent. At least until recently.
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I get the feeling you may not get so many comments on this one, Josh, so just me me say HANK PYM to start that up again
let me help you out:
HANK PYM and BEFORE WATCHMEN.
3.99 pricepoints…fear itself….there will only be digital comics in the future…
any one of these topics could incite a cyber riot.
what’s wrong with you creepy people?
you could probably do a top 5 superheroes that SHOULD have lightning bolt logos, like storm and thor.
Or ones who have them for no reason like Airwave
yeah, “top 5 superheroes with inaccurate logos” sounds like a fun list!
Pfffft Flash over Shazam all the way for me! Barry Allen WAS lightning once! 😉
Honorable mention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zot!
THAT’S the one I was trying to remember. Loved Zot.
The complete Zot! is of my favorite books. If you only know Scott McCloud from his non-fiction, you should really check it out. Emotionally resonant and deceivingly complex. And he writes an awesome essay about each issue, so it’s great if you’re into process. And he wears a Zot shirt in understanding comics, so maybe he should be on the list.
I’d give the top three spots to the Flash: Wally West, Barry Allen, and Jay Garrick!
Ahem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_%28comics%29
NEXUS! Indeed.
http://www.comicbookdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Nexus-and-New-X-Men.jpg
http://www.steverude.com/rudesite/media/DialBforBlog_files/nexus1.gif
http://www.steverude.com/rudesite/media/DialBforBlog_files/nexus_sketch.jpg
Francavilla’s rendition
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VhmOXLql6Y8/TMQM3KyBgsI/AAAAAAAAJZM/PJ6Kz10_xKQ/s1600/nexus_low.jpg
I’ll give an honorable mention to DC’s Live Wire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livewire_(DC_Comics)
Apparently, there is also a villain in the Marvel Universe called Live Wire. (http://marvel.com/universe/Live_Wire) Who knew?
i just realized that this is missing quicksilver and black lightning. quicksilver i can forgive because you have the flash and they’re pretty similar. you don’t want too many speedsters on the list. but black lightning? i mean, it’s in the guy’s name!
Has anyone ever pointed out that Black Lightning and Lightning Lad are basically wearing the same costume?
http://www.comicvine.com/freakazoid/29-76899/
in his hair….
Yes, there are a lot.
The best use of the ‘bolt logo are those that point to the hero’s “business.”
Captain Marvel dresses to the right.
Well… with pants that tight, you have to choose a side and stick with it…
The fastest man alive who is perpetually wrapped in the speed force has the smallest logo…its pretty obvious everyone else is just compensating… =)
On first read I scoffed at this but then I realized lightning bolts are on a lot of people’s costumes.
Which is more prevalent, bolts or stars?
In my opinion, Flash is better and more recognizable then Shazam/Captain Marvel
“Better” is debatable. Flash may be a deeper, more fleshed-out, and more relatable character. If we’re talking about who would win in a fight, I’m pretty sure CM would waste Barry if he could catch him. More recognizable? Probably. Though I’m sure some old-timers would argue that.
Just curious: Was MAGE an interesting book? I personally like all things Arthurian.
Mage was fantastic. It was great to see such early work by Wagner. Then Mage II showed how much he had grown. Love that series (and hopefully Mage III will come out some time this decade…..)
OK, thanks for your opinion!
When I saw this article, before I even clicked on it, i said “Please let Kevin matchstick be on here!” And my wish was granted. Huzzah!
Does Skeeter from Doug count?
Excellent collection! Here is another article that lists the top 10 super hero logos and the thinking behind each of them: http://www.logodesignworks.com/blog/top-10-superhero-logos
Let’s give credit where it is due: The origin of the lightning bolt symbol was Douglas Fairbanks’ Robin Hood.(1922) As the Earl of Huntingdon in the film’s opening, Fairbanks wore a LIGHTNING BOLT symbol on his chest. (The influence of movies on Golden Age comics is well known.) The popular film has, sadly, deteriorated but you can still make out his lightning bolt symbol. Here’s a link to a pic:
http://cornucopia.theiapolis.com/goodies/8yv0D/alan-hale-and-douglas-fairbanks-robin-hood-1922.html