Here are 25 fictional characters from books, movies, comics and cartoon strips that have influenced me.
| 25. |  |
Who: Aslan Where: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis When: Grades 1-3 Why: A leader and good, all-round role model. And for a lack of a better reason: he’s a lion. |
|---|---|---|
| 24. |  |
Who: Grimmy Where: Mother Goose and Grimm by Mike Peters When: Grades 6-8 Why: Goofy and mischievous he one of the reasons why I read comics as a kid. |
| 23. |  |
Who: Beach Head Where: G.I. Joe When: Grades 1-3 Why: Never rolls up his sleeves to get shit done. He does it in a balaclava, much classier. |
| 22. |  |
Who: Atticus Finch Where: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee When: High School Why: The father that knows best and knows when an innocent man is wrongly tried. |
| 21. |  |
Who: Dwight Where: Sin City by Frank Miller When: Post University Why: There’s a vindictive streak in him but never one that deviates from gritty chivalry. |
| 20. |  |
Who: Sam Bowden Where: Cape Fear (1962) When: High School Why: You never know what a man pushed to the edge will do, especially for his family. |
| 19. |  |
Who: Jack Shephard Where: Lost When: Career Why: Self-righteous, moral relativist but a heck of a surgeon. And who isn’t self-righteous when marooned on a tropical island with polar bears and a big black mist. |
| 18. |  |
Who: Marvin (the Martian) Where: Looney Tunes When: Elementary School Why: This guy never gives up, and given his daffy adversary. I don’t blame him. |
| 17. |  |
Who: Hal Jordan Where: Green Lantern by DC Comics When: Elementary School Why: He’s by-the-book, which should make Ryan Reynolds’ adaptation of the best Lantern interesting. |
| 16. |  |
Who: James Bond Where: Any film or novel based on Ian Fleming’s spy character. When: High School and University Why: I prefer the Brosnan Bond. He’s a smartass, and throws in those good puns at the end. |
| 15. |  |
Who: Wolverine Where: X-Men by Marvel Comics When: Elementary school Why: A bit of a lone wolf, but does come to aid when it’s needed. |
| 14. |  |
Who: Jim Rockford Where: Rockford Files When: High School Why: Take a look back at the Brosnan Bond. Ex-con Rockford is a smartass and the token anti-hero who somehow solves his capers after driving into the right car chase. |
| 13. |  |
Who: Gambit Where: X-Men by Marvel Comics When: High School Why: The Cajun heir apparent to Logan’s individuality. Both have fiery personalities. |
| 12. |  |
Who: “Dirty” Harry Callahan Where: Dirty Harry When: University Why: I like my justice swift, stern and actual punishment. So when I came across Dirty Harry, I was like, “Right on”. |
| 11. |  |
Who: Optimus Prime Where: Transformers by Hasbro When: Elementary school Why: He’s not a socialist, but he’s certainly the Honest Abe of the Cybertron bunch. Optimus was fair but just. |
| 10. |  |
Who: Peter Venkman Where: Ghostbusters When: Since 1984 Why: Sarcasm readers go off the charts when this one enters the room. It’s like “Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!” |
| 9. |  |
Who: Wayne Campbell Where: Wayne’s World When: Since 1992 Why: Rock and roll music. Hockey. His own cable access show. Does this guy live the dream. Sha! |
| 8. |  |
Who: Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski Where: The Big Lebowski When: Since 1998 Why: Bowling, beer and carpets. The Dude abides. He was also a roadie for Metallica, Speed of Sound tour. |
| 7. |  |
Who: Batman Where: Detective Comics by DC Comics When: Converted during the teenage years via Superman Why: A realist. A dark, brooding figure who tries to balance justice with cruel, harsh punishment. |
| 6. |  |
Who: Garfield Where: Garfield by Jim Davis When: Since birth Why: I grew up with the lasagna eating furball in part thanks to my uncle’s cache of annuals depicting the Chat d’Orange’s hijinks. |
| 5. |  |
Who: Indiana Jones Where: Raiders of the Lost Ark When: Elementary school Why: Up until the most recent Lucas fiasco – the one that “Nuked the fridge”, I loved the movies. Indy was why I got into archaeology, not ufology. |
| 4. |  |
Who: Sam Spade Where: Maltese Falcon by Humphrey Bogart When: Since 1987 Why: You got to love Hammett’s hardboiled characters. Film Noir is a fave of mine, and Bogie brings the characters to life. |
| 3. |  |
Who: Fox Mulder Where: The X-Files by Chris Carter When: Since 1993 Why: I was a paranormal geek in high school and it did spill over into university. Then after graduating to the real world the paranormal vanished. |
| 2. |  |
Who: Rick Blaine Where: Casablanca When: Since 1987 Why: Though he professes to “Stick his neck out for nobody”, Rick knows when someone needs help and when a cause needs a hand. He chooses his hills to die on, wisely. |
| 1. |  |
Who: Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV Where: Magnum P.I. When: Pert near close to birth Why: My mom watched the show from the beginning and it wasn’t long until I was old enough to watch, and let’s just say Magnum P.I. was my idol. |