Summary
- A superhero may enforce their will with superpowers or abilities, but it's their catchphrases and quotes that make them legends.
- Whether it's Captain America saying "I Can Do This All Day" becoming movie history, or Superman's spirit defined by "Truth, Justice..." words make all the difference.
- We're examining the most iconic in comics history, proving a perfectly written line can become just as famous as a hero's origin, costume, or most unforgettable stories.
Nothing makes a superhero famous like a good catchphrase. The best mottos and slogans are the ones that not only encapsulate the hero's role, attitude, or sense of humor, but remind audiences around the world of a shared memory. Especially those who may not even read the comics.
Some catchphrases can seem nonsensical to mainstream audiences (who nevertheless know them by heart), while others are so powerful, they end up included in other movies and TV shows, reaching a new level of popularity. Whether it is a statement a hero yells before heading into a fight, or a motto a character lives his or her life by, some superhero catchphrases have a life bigger than those who say them.
20 "I Can Do This All Day." — Captain America
An MCU Catchphrase Becomes a Comic Staple for the Character
"I can do this all day" became not only a major superhero catchphrase in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it also became a funny joke that was pulled out more than once. This is a line Captain America would say to prove he would never stop fighting, regardless of the odds.
In Avengers: Endgame, it was played for comedy when he fought a past version of himself and his line was used against him. The Disney+ series Hawkeye then made it a legendary catchphrase when it was a song in the Captain American Broadway musical, and it even got a full end credit scene with the performance.
Steve Rogers first says "I can do this all day" in Captain America: The First Avenger.
19 "Truth, Justice..." — Superman
The Definitive Superman Quote
The saying is now, "truth, justice, and a better tomorrow," which obviously fits the Man of Tomorrow.
Superman has always had one major catchphrase that signified how he lived his life. This was him saying that he stood for "truth, justice and the American way." That has changed in recent times, but the entire "truth, justice" remains intact, one of the longest-running catchphrases in comic book history.
The saying is now, "truth, justice, and a better tomorrow," which obviously fits the Man of Tomorrow. In the end, it represents the same values that Superman always stood by: honesty, justice, and doing things the right way.
18 "Holy ___, Batman." — Robin
The Lighthearted Contrast to a Dark Knight
When the classic TV show introduced them, Robin's big catchphrase became as legendary as his tights.
Robin was the first real sidekick in comic book history and he remains the template for all sidekicks to be judged. DC brought him in to help ease the tension of Batman comics and to give him a younger hero to work with to bring in younger fans. Most writers used his innocence to counteract Batman's brooding.
When the classic TV show introduced them, Robin's big catchphrase became as legendary as his tights. Robin would often be astonished at something and exclaim, "Holy" and then add in a pun before finishing with "Batman." It became a running joke that stuck. It went from common ones, like "holy switcheroo, Batman" to strange ones, like "holy bouncy boiler plate."
Robin first uses the "Holy..." exclamation in 1941's Batman #7 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, and George Roussos. The 1966 Batman show would popularize the pun when Robin drops his first "Holy..." onscreen in the pilot episode, "Hi, Diddle Diddle."
17 "Odin's Beard!" — Thor
A Godly Exclamation Befitting a God
Thor is the prince of Asgard, and he was always rebellious, so it is no shock that his superhero catchphrase would use his father's name. This catchphrase is "Odin's Beard," and it is almost exclusively used by Thor in the comics when he sees something that shocks him.
Thor uses this all the time in the comics and has used it in the MCU movies as well. While it isn't as cool as other superhero catchphrases, it fits Thor perfectly considering his quaint way of speaking.
16 "Great, Hera!" - Wonder Woman
A Godly Exclamation Befitting a Goddess
In the same way that "Odin's Beard" is a Godly equivalent to "Oh, God!" in the Marvel Universe, the DC Universe has something similar for the Goddess in Wonder Woman. For Wonder Woman, whenever she calls on the Gods in a moment of being humble or surprised, "Merciful Minerva!" or, most prominently, "Great Hera!" rank up there as some of Diana's most iconic comic book catchphrases.
It's a simple notion for Wonder Woman to express, but from a writing perspective, it also serves as a simple means of showcasing to readers just how high the stakes at the center of the story have become. If Wonder Woman pulls out a "Great Hera!" from her vernacular, that is all readers need to see to know that business is about to pick up, and that Diana might be in real trouble.
15 "Shazam!" - The Captain
A Battle Cry That Has Practically Become Meta
The newly dubbed Captain still using "Shazam!" as his battle cry has become as defiant as a rallying cry as it is a meta line. What makes the line practically meta at this point is the history revolving around the name. Canonically, Billy Batson was anointed Captain Marvel by the Wizard Shazam after bestowing his powers onto the boy. Of course, due to legal troubles with the company Marvel, a name change was due next.
For years, Captain Marvel was known as just Shazam, which was simpler, but in story, it's not a name that he could ever introduce himself as. Saying so while powered would take his powers away in an instant. As a compromise in recent memory, DC now calls him The Captain. In canon, it's a nickname given to him by his siblings in mockery due to a mysterious "maritime" accident that Billy doesn't want to talk about. "At least it's [a name] I can say out loud."
14 "In brightest day, in blackest night ..." - Green Lantern
An Oath That Makes Legends Out of Green Lanterns
Much like how Billy Batson needs to rally himself into hero mode with his battle cry, the Green Lanterns often find themselves uttering a battle cry of their own before they break into action. It's hard to think of any Green Lantern in the legendary line-up without thinking of their famous oath. "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light!" It's hard not to read that and not get excited - or at least goosebumps - for what's to come.
It's a legendary phrase that in its epicness is enough to make legends of anyone who reps a Green Lantern ring. It's a legendary phrase that in its epicness is enough to make legends of anyone who reps a Green Lantern ring. The line quickly became a staple of the franchise after being introduced during Alan Scott's run.
While different variations of the oath were seen previously, the oath that has since become a classic was introduced in 1943's Green Lantern #9.
13 "Cowabunga!" - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
A Staple of the Show Becomes a Staple of the Franchise
Like many catchphrases on this list, "Cowabunga!" is one that has its roots on the screen rather than any comic origins, but the line onscreen grew so popular that it ended up bleeding into the comics. The phrase was first coined during the 1987 animated series, particularly by Michelangelo, but was one of the catchphrases that all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would use. It became so beloved by audiences that the comics to this day make reference to it.
Modern TMNT comics take a grittier approach to storytelling compared to the kid-friendly cartoon, but that doesn't mean that there is not any room for a lighthearted moment. "Cowabunga!" is the best means to lighten the tone, both by introducing some nostalgia and because it's just a fun word to read, almost as fun as it is to say.
12 "I am Iron Man" - Iron Man
An MCU Act of Defiance Becomes a Battle Cry
The end of the first MCU movie ends with Tony Stark exposing his superhero escapades by declaring to the world, "I am Iron Man." Fast forward to Avengers: Endgame and it serves as the perfect bookend to the character's journey. "I am Iron Man" has become the perfect descriptor for a man who has worked past his ego and self-centered attitude to become one of the greatest superheroes that Marvel has to offer. It's arguably the most important line to come out of the MCU, and now, the line has become a recurring one for him in the comics.
It should come as no surprise, as the movies were so vital in popularizing the Marvel character. "I am Iron Man" became a definitive line for the character not just on the big screen, but also on-panel.
11 "Spoon!" — The Tick
Line Written by Ben Edlund for Tick #7
At the end of the day, it might be the best battle cry of all time.
When it comes to superhero catchphrases, most of them are based on either the history of the character, their persona, or a characteristic of their powers. In the case of The Tick, it is a little more bizarre. Just like The Tick is a superhero spoof, his catchphrase makes no sense either.
In Tick #7, he was trying to find a catchphrase. He was eating and looked at his spoon, and he just yelled out "Spoon." When Arthur asked what was wrong, he said that he liked the word spoon and it became his battle cry. At the end of the day, it might be the best battle cry of all time.
10 "Flame On!" — The Human Torch
Line Written by Stan Lee for Fantastic Four #4
Johnny Storm had one of the first catchphrases in Marvel Comics. Appearing in the first superhero comic book in Marvel, the Human Torch's powers allow him to burst into flames at will, and while he doesn't have to say anything to light up, he still yells "Flame on!" when he does.
This isn't as creative as other catchphrases since it just describes what is happening, but Johnny Storm loves fame and being flamboyant, so this catchphrase stuck as a perfect representation of the character.
9 "Sweet Christmas!" — Luke Cage
Line Written By Bill Mantlo for Power Man #27
One bizarre catchphrase in Marvel Comics comes from the New York street-level hero Luke Cage: "Sweet Christmas." The first time that Cage ever said something similar was in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #3 by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, and Billy Graham, where he said "Sweet Sister."
He then used “Christmas” as a catchphrase in issue #8. In Power Man #27 by Bill Mantlo, George Perez, and Al McWilliams, combined the two statements for the first time, and it became his most famous catchphrase. He even used it in the Netflix series of the same name.
8 "By The Hoary Hosts Of Hoggoth." — Doctor Strange
A Strange Catchphrase, Indeed
The catchphrase that seems strangest is one that Doctor Strange uses. Unlike Luke Cage's "Sweet Christmas," which is just an exclamation of surprise, Doctor Strange uses a catchphrase that plays perfectly with his role as the Master of Mystic Arts.
When he sees something he can't believe, Strange will say "By The Hoary Hosts Of Hoggoth". As an explanation, the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth is one of the many gibberish invocations that Stan Lee put into his early Dr. Strange comics. Later, it was explained that Hoggoth is one of the Vishanti, a trio of mystical beings of immense power, who is surrounded by a host of ancient ("hoary2) spirits.
7 "Imperius Rex!" — Namor, The Sub-Mariner
Line Written by Stan Lee for Tales to Astonish #40
Namor's catchphrase "Imperius Rex" is meant to sound intimidating with two Latin words that fit the character's name, originally conceived by Bill Everett who simply reversed the spelling of "Roman."
Namor has used the catchphrase "Imperius Rex" for years with no one really knowing what it meant. However, it remained very cool to read, despite the catchphrase's mysterious origin, because it seemed perfect for someone with Namor's arrogance to yell as he heads into battle. Namor's catchphrase "Imperius Rex" is meant to sound intimidating with two Latin words that fit the character's name, originally conceived by Bill Everett who simply reversed the spelling of "Roman."
Marvel finally revealed the catchphrase's definition in 2018's Thor #1 by Jason Aaron and Mike Del Mundo. Thor asked what the catchphrase meant, and Namor said it meant he would feed him to the biggest shark he could find.
6 "Avengers Assemble!" — The Avengers
Line Written by Stan Lee for Avengers #16
"Avengers Assemble" has always been a fantastic catchphrase, as it is a way to call together all Earth's Mightiest Heroes together to battle. Just hearing someone yell "Avengers Assemble" clues in the readers that the bad guys are about to get what is coming to them.
However, what made this catchphrase even cooler was Avengers: Endgame, where the superheroes readied to battle Thanos. When Captain America realized all the heroes were back, he grabbed Mjolnir and said "Avengers Assemble," resulting in one of the coolest crowd-pleasing moments in any superhero movie.
5 "I’m The Best There Is At What I Do." — Wolverine
Line Written by Chris Claremont for Wolverine #1
The motto was so cool that wrestling legend Chris Jericho even used it as his own catchphrase for years as well.
What makes catchphrases even cooler is when they are more than just an exclamation yelled before an attack, but actual mottos that heroes live by. For Wolverine, his catchphrase is "I'm the best there is at what I do," and he often adds on, "but what I do isn't very nice."
This proved that Wolverine was the toughest of the tough. He's different from other heroes because he's willing to get his hands (and claws) dirty (usually with blood), and accept the consequences. The motto was so cool that wrestling legend Chris Jericho even used it as his own catchphrase for years as well.
4 "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." — Spider-Man
Line Written by Stan Lee for Amazing Fantasy #15
It perfectly represents Spider-Man's nature as a tragic hero who is willing to shoulder the responsibilities that no one else would.
While Wolverine's catchphrase/motto was great, there is one that is even more iconic, and much cooler in the world of Marvel Comics, and that belongs to one web-slinger in particular. Spider-Man has a catchphrase that became his calling card for how he lives his life.
While the common belief that Spider-Man's Uncle Ben gave him this catchphrase is wrong, "with great power comes great responsibility" became one of the most iconic sentences in superhero comics and in popular culture in general, transitioning into countless media. It perfectly represents Spider-Man's nature as a tragic hero who is willing to shoulder the responsibilities that no one else would.
3 "It's Clobberin' Time!" — The Thing
Line Written By Stan Lee for Fantastic Four #22
There are some catchphrases that are simply a warning that the hero is about to bring the pain, but some of them are cooler than others. While Johnny Storm used his "Flame on!" to show off when he lights on fire, his Fantastic Four teammate has his own catchphrase that is iconic and one of the best in all comics.
Right before destroying a villain, The Thing yells "It's Clobberin' Time." This catchphrase has become so prolific that wrestler CM Punk even uses it for himself, stolen right from Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew.
2 "Hulk Smash!" — Hulk
Line Written by Stan Lee for Tales to Astonish #88
While The Thing's "It's Clobberin' Time" quote is iconic and quite cool, nothing is better than hearing Hulk yell out "Hulk Smash" before causing mass destruction. This is a quote that originated for the first time in 1967's Tales to Astonish #88 by Stan Lee and Gil Kane.
While Hulk has a second catchphrase in "Hulk is the strongest one there is," that doesn't quite reach the level of simple brilliance that "Hulk Smash" does. Even Captain America used the catchphrase in The Avengers.
1 "I'm Batman." — Batman
A Perfect Movie Quote Becomes the Coolest Batman Catchphrase
The coolest catchphrase in comic book history didn't even start in the comics. "I'm Batman" actually first appeared in the 1989's Batman movie by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton as the titular character.
Once he said it, the line stuck, and it has become Batman's coolest catchphrase since that moment. Almost every Batman comic book writer has used it, as has every movie that followed that first Batman film.