What makes a character iconic? It's more than being popular or well-liked. To be an icon you have to transcend the thing that made you famous. Be it a movie, comic book, video game, TV show, or work of literature, iconic characters are just as recognizable as the stories they were created for. They are sometimes funny, inspirational, or even terrifying. However, the one thing that all of the characters on this list have in common is their recognizability and their impact and influence on pop culture. Here are 15 of the most iconic pop culture characters immortalized in Funko form.
When you think of iconic characters, Mickey Mouse is one that instantly springs to mind. People can recognize Mickey just by seeing three circles. He is the face of a company, sure, but he's also more than that. He is the character that arguably did more for the art form of animation than any other. When he debuted in Disney's Steamboat Willie in 1928, he instantly took the world by storm. His sync-sound cartoon helped people see animation as more than a novelty. People all over the world recognized the artistic potential of animation. Once Mickey burst onto the scene, cartoons (and the world) would never be the same.
There could be a lot of debate as to who the most iconic superhero is, but no matter where you stand on that question, you can't deny that Batman must be in the conversation. Introduced in 1939 by Detective Comics, Batman quickly became one of the most popular heroes in the DC pantheon. Batman stood out from other superheroes. His complexity as a character, his relatability as a man without powers, and of course his compelling Rogues' Gallery were all reasons. As time went on, the concept of a vigilante who fought crime and government corruption was easily adapted for modern audiences. Surprisingly grown-up comic runs kept audiences intrigued. These were followed by surprisingly complex films that were basically political thrillers with a guy in a cape. All this led to Batman being one of the most popular and therefore most iconic superheroes in modernity.
Sherlock Holmes is another character that adapted well for a modern audience. He is known for his ability to focus on details and outsmart criminals. He is a rare hero that wins the day with the power of his mind rather than the strength of his arm. Introduced in a series of short stories printed in the newspaper, Sherlock became increasingly popular. In fact, he was so popular that there was a huge public outcry when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed him off as a way to move on to other projects. Following a deluge of angry letters, Doyle resurrected the character and continued writing Sherlock stories. In terms of media, the character has been resurrected and reimagined several times. The flawed genius has resonated with audiences for over a century now and is the most iconic fictional detective ever.
There are a lot of superheroes on this list. That's partly because they seem tailor-made to become icons. Each has a distinct, easily recognizable look. Also, most are inspirational in some way or another. However, the real reason people love them is that they are relatable. Spider-Man broke the mold when it came to the latter. Stan Lee designed the character not as some aspirational image of adulthood for kids to emulate, but rather as a normal kid. Moreover, a kid with a secret, struggling to balance his responsibilities with everyday life. Spider-Man spoke to young people on a level no superhero ever had before. He continues to do so to this day. No matter the decade, no matter the alter-ego, Spider-Man continues to be one of the most beloved and iconic characters in pop culture.
Bond. James Bond. No one can create a spy thriller without drawing comparisons to the most iconic fictional spy in history. Introduced in a novel by Ian Fleming, 007 really became a household name after the success of the 1962 film Dr. No. Since that time, the character has been reimagined again and again.
Despite being created at the height of the Cold War, and definitely being a representation of that era, Bond is still able to resonate with a modern audience. It must be because deep down, 007 is a little bit of what we all want to be. Calm and collected under pressure, he gets the girls and drives the fast cars. He wins the day with his wit, his guile, and his collection of awesome gadgets. Let's face it, James Bond is just cool. He's so cool he's transcended his movies and become the iconic king of the spy genre.
All you need to hear is breathing and the image of Darth Vader springs to mind. He's so iconic we associate him with a necessary function of life. When he first burst onto the big screen in 1977 with the original Star Wars film, audiences were intrigued by and terrified of him. A space samurai who walked around in a giant iron lung? What's not intriguing about that? Then as the mystery surrounding the character unfolded, audiences learned that Lord Vader was one of the richest and most complex characters in the entire Star Wars franchise. To this day, Darth Vader is known in every corner of the world. He is the icon most associated with a franchise that is a global phenomenon.
What's up, Doc? Next to Mickey, Bugs Bunny might be the most recognizable cartoon character in the world. When he first appeared in 1940's "The Hare Hunt," directed by animation legend Tex Avery, Bugs charmed audiences by outwitting the human that was hunting him. We all love an underdog. Plus there was something about a character that could continually outsmart those who would do him harm that was universally appealing. Not only that, but Bugs does it with style. He's funny, he's cool, he's witty. In a way, Bugs is what we all wish we were.
When people hear the word "superhero," Superman is the one that immediately comes to mind. Clark Kent's alter-ego is so iconic he is inseparable from the concept of his own character archetype. The term is even a derivative of the character's name. When created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Superman was more than just a crime fighter. He was often a champion for social justice, even taking on the KKK in his radio drama back in 1946.
Supes has been one of the few classic heroes to transcend the Golden Age of comics. That's thanks in part to the thematic elements of his story that resonate with a modern audience. His origin as an alien trying to assimilate is an easily accessible metaphor for immigrants. Plus his battles with business magnate Lex Luthor speak to class issues in our society. It all adds up to the most iconic superhero of all time.
The wise old wizard in a pointy hat is almost a cliche in the fantasy genre, and part of that is thanks to the popularity and subsequent imitations of Gandalf the Grey. One of the most popular and iconic characters from The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf found a whole new audience when Peter Jackson's film adaptation took the world by storm in the early 2000s. As Merlin did for him, Gandalf continued the tradition of the wise old mentor character, paving the way for other iconic pop culture characters such as Yoda and Dumbledore.
An icon of icons, Dracula is the most famous vampire and the most famous of the Universal Monsters. One could argue that Count Dracula is the most iconic horror character of all time. Drac was born in the pages of Bram Stoker's seminal novel, then brought to the status of pop culture icon in 1931. Bella Lugosi's portrayal of the character, in particular, is the most memorable and beloved. When we think of vampires the first image that comes to mind is a well-dressed man with a Transylvanian accent. There have been countless reboots but none compare to Lugosi's iconic version of the character.
The main character from the most popular literary franchise in recent history, Harry Potter is an iconic pop culture character. The books changed the way we thought about young adult stories, of which there was a sudden boom. Similarly, the character of Harry changed the way we thought about wizards. Usually portrayed as a wise elderly man like Merlin or Gandalf, Harry gave us a unique take on the wizard archetype. Much like Spider-Man, Harry was a kid, just like us, who tried to do what was right with the tremendous power that had been thrust upon him. Kids and adults everywhere instantly identified with him.
George R.R. Martin's book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" was adapted into a television series in the early 2010s. Due to the compelling story and rich, complex characters, the show became a cultural phenomenon. Known for killing characters, Game of Thrones had a large cast of interesting personalities. Arguably the most iconic character from Thrones is Daenerys Targaryen: Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains, and so on. Dany started her story as property and worked her way up to Queen. She became a fan favorite and an iconic pop culture character because of her strength. Okay, having three awesome pet dragons didn't hurt.
Created at the peak of the Silver Age of comic books, Black Panther was also created during the height of the Civil Rights movement in America. Though, not a direct reference to the movement, as the character predates the foundation of the political group The Black Panther Party, Marvel's superhero Black Panther was a very timely concept. His introduction is seen by historians as marking a pivotal shift in the comic industry. After Panther, the door was wide open so to speak, for comic publishers to introduce other diverse characters to the mainstream.
In 2018 Black Panther got his own movie, which became one of highest grossing superhero films of all time, and even snagged an Oscar nomination for Best Picture (something previously unheard of for a comic book film). The success of that movie made Black Panther a pioneer of diversity in the film industry and catapulted the character to iconic pop culture trendsetter.
One of the most iconic pop culture characters in the entire genre of science fiction, Spock was introduced in the original Star Trek series that debuted in 1966. An alien from the planet Vulcan, Spock was a fascinating character who was slavishly ruled by logic, never giving in to emotion. He was often at odds with his best friend and commanding officer, the passionate Captain Kirk. The frequent conflicts between these two friends made for an interesting debate of head vs. heart and became one of the defining traits of the show. It was also part of what made it so good.
Fans identified with Spock, the outsider trying to find his way in a culture driven by emotions he doesn't fully understand. Spock was an unintended representation of neurodivergence before that was even a well-known concept. He lived on even after the show was canceled, appearing in several movies. He was given new life when the film series got a reboot in 2009, but by that point, the character was already well-established as a cultural icon.
We may have saved the best for last. The strong female character has become a staple of modern storytelling. However, back in 1941, a woman who was physically, mentally, and emotionally equal or even superior to the men around her was simply unheard of. Wonder Woman was a pioneer in a time when the majority culture found the very idea of her reprehensible.
The Golden Age of comics saw many female characters, but most were girlfriends who served as the token damsel in distress. The women who were superheroes were little more than sidekicks of their male counterparts. Wonder Woman was different, though. She had her own book, was her own person, and was an inspiration to people of all genders for decades to come. Wonder Woman became such an icon of gender equality, Gloria Steinem even used her image on the cover of the very first issue of Ms. magazine. If that isn't iconic, I don't know what is.
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