Who or What is the most iconic SciFi character?

[imported_space monkey]

SUPERMAN!!!!!!!!!

[Tabitha]

I think it is quite hard to imagine what it must be like for a non-sf fan. I mean, have you ever made a reference to 2001 "Open the pod bay doors HAL", or some other smug comment, and the person you are with just looks at you blankly? I have had that happen quite a lot, so I am not sure I understand exactly what things someone who doesn't like SF much or at all might recognise from within the genre.
I would imagine there would be some recognition of all of the characters above, but I think everyone has heard of Arnold Swarzenegger, and it is hard to know who Arnie is without thinking of his portrayal of The Terminator.
But then, maybe if you are not a SF fan, your first memory of Arnie is in Twins? Or Pumping Iron

[Qwxy]

well i know people who hate scifi but take the micky out of people dressed like 3p0 by asking if the borg have changed colour or saying 'ooh resistance is futile is it?' before beating the person up also asking people dressed like some wierd thing from doctor who which episode of and i quote though i dont like it 'dork trek' and telling them to beam up to the enterprise

i mean i cant think of anyone who hasnt heard of the enterprise or kirk, hell the very first space shuttle is called enterprise and it is broadcast in over 100 countries, translated into 47 languages including hebrew portugese swedish and dutch also more than 250,000 people have learnt the klingon language and that was from a count yeeeeeeeeeaaaaarrrrssss ago also a 1993 study showed that american kids learned more about science from startrek than from any other source!!!

[Dave]

The question is about characters though -- the most iconic character -- not about the series/film/book/universe.

It is a harder question to answer.

I think that spacemonkey may have a point too with Superman. Before Star Trek and Star Wars were invented, there was Superman for a few decades previously.

[Qwxy]

if ur going comic then what about the human torch (origional robot one) or the sub mariner or even Captain America they were all out before supes also what is wrong with spidey?? he has actually beaten superman before in a crossover (yay marvel!!) so supes is not as good also more people should know spidey and the x-men and daredevil at the mo' cos of the films out now and supes and batty films were ageeeeees ago

[Tabitha]

Captain America existed before Superman?

But I though Superman was the original super-hero as we know them today

Seriously, I thought Marvel and its main characters didn't take off until the 60s, but Supes and Bats had been around since the 30s or something?

Whatever came first, I would still guess that out of the wide range of superheroes, Superman and Batman would top out a recognition test with the general public.

[Qwxy]

ok maybe im wrong about marvel but if u think of recent poublicity marvel is more likely to spring to mind

[Gaia]

ok, just for the use of the word "iconic" i'd have to answer superman or spiderman. i think the 'superhero' thing is more engrained in popular culture than the strictly 'scifi' thing.

minus any superheroes as a choice though, i'd have to choose between capt kirk & darth vader....hmmmm...impossible choice!!!

[Tabitha]

Yeah, it kind of muddies the waters a little, adding superheroes. I would imagine that they are on the whole, more recognisable than your average SF hero or villain, but they have made such an impact on cinema that I feel they had to be included.

[Qwxy]

if you are going by cinema then y did you leave out the ants from 'THEM!'

[Aoanla.]

Voted for Superman.
Superman comes from another planet and can shoot laser beams from his eyes,so qualifies as Sci-Fi in my book.
Also the earliest media[newspaper]serialised ,internationally recognised character.
The only real way to answer this question would be to count all the posters,pyjamas and bed-spreads in the world,Darth Vader V Superman.:rolly2:
My money's on Supe'.

[Dave]

I guess we should now add Riddick (Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick).

I'm surprised more haven't gone for Ripley as she is one of the strongest female characters that have been portrayed.

[Maria8475]

Okay obviously Darth Vader and Superman get the vote. But putting them to the side for a minute, there's Buffy. She's a pretty strong female character and has been everywhere for the last few years. Lots of people I know who aren't sci-fi fans are annoyed by SMG

I don't agree with the Kirk thing. Star Trek, yes but i think that the Enterprise, Spock and 'Beam me up, Scotty' are more easily associated with trek then Kirk is.

[little smaug]

I agree about Kirk. Is there anything in particular that Kirk is remembered for? Spock and Scotty are definately more iconic than him.

And I think that Buffy would be pretty high up on the list, she stands for girl power, and she shows that people can be more than what they appear on the surface.

[Stryker]

Have to go with Capt Kirk

You got to admit he has been around a long time.



Stryker