Gail Simone, the acclaimed writer of series such as Birds of Prey and Secret Six, has challenged fans on Twitter to share which character was their first comic crush. This comic writer has a reputation for presenting intriguing questions and hashtags for fans to engage with, which are frequently found trending on the social media site, and her latest question to comic fans is one of the most fun yet.
Fans have been presented with a classic challenge: reveal their very first comic crush. This task calls for characters that are #FineAs5Fridays, quoting X-Men ally Domino's opinion of Shang-Chi when she meets him in Simone, David Baldeon, Anthony Piper, and Jesus Aburtov's Domino #3. It's no secret fans have their favorite comic characters, many of whom are known for being incredibly attractive. While certain DC and Marvel characters were expected, there were a few that were less anticipated - though pleasantly surprising!
The fact that Nightcrawler and Nightwing (whose excellent butt has become a running joke in DC Comics) appear many times isn't surprising, and likewise Black Cat and Poison Ivy. However, even a pre-transformation Hank McCoy (aka X-Men's Beast) and Morbius the Living Vampire find themselves counted among these comic crushes. Ultimately, while Batman has some of the most attractive associates, it seems the most crush-worthy team is Marvel's X-Men.
Nightwing and various versions of Robin are high up on fans' lists, as well as Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Zatanna. Gotham is full of attractive heroes and villains. One former Robin who is often overshadowed by Dick Grayson is Jason Todd. This is particularly true during his Red Hood era. However, it's clear that he definitely shouldn't be counted out if fans like Alice Janesa have anything to say about it.
There are also several expected mutant inclusions, such as Rogue and Gambit (the latter appearing in the below tweet from AboutAGeekGirl.) These two are always top contenders for not just most popular X-characters, but also most attractive. Remy Lebeau and Anna Marie manage to steal hearts left and right. From Colossus to Emma Frost, Iceman to Jean Grey, the X-Men are particularly well represented. Storm ranks in the top mentions, along with Psylocke. Ororo Monroe's a classic beauty who has stolen numerous hearts, including that of A Lantern of Hope, who describes their 14-year-old self as a "smitten kitten." Black Panther, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Forge have all lost their hearts to Storm over the years, and it's no wonder why! The X-Men may compete with teams like the Avengers and Justice League for fan-favorite status, but when it comes to crushes, they win hands down.
Many lesser known characters have been shared by fans, from DC's Liberty Belle to Marvel's Meggan (shared by Sheldon Pink, among others.) There are also numerous characters not under Marvel and DC's ownership, such as Cutter from Elfquest and Willow from Epic Comics' Dreadstar. Even oft-overlooked Aquaman ally Dolphin gets a mention. Western comics aren't the only ones considered, as manga is also represented. The most surprising inclusion is definitely Trunks from Dragon Ball Z, who was volunteered by @mylittlegeekery. Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma were nowhere to be seen, though this question angled with a manga focus may be needed for fairer representation. Another manga character included as a response was Madoka Ayukawa from the 1980s series Kimagure Orange Road.
No gathering of fan crushes would be complete without Marvel's She-Hulk, as she was also a top mention (including the tweet below from namonaug). Similarly, DC's Jade popped up, revealing a love for viridescent heroes in comics. She-Hulk's popularity also shows being strong is an incredibly attractive trait that leaves a long-term impression.
The major takeaway from these fan responses is that many reader are thrilling to various heroes' looks as much as their adventures, and that there's something for everyone in the big, wide world of comics. It's also clear that having worked with beloved teams like the Birds of Prey has given Gail Simone an accurate understanding of how a lot of comic fans feel about their heroes.
Sources: Alice Janesa, AboutAGeekGirl, A Lantern of Hope Sheldon Pink, @mylittlegeekery, namonaug