Everyone has a Dad, whether you knew him or not. Even if he rocketed you from a dying planet, or built you in a lab, one exists. As Father’s Day approaches take a look back at the Top Ten Father’s that only existed upon the page, and screen. Take the jump to see who makes the list.
#10 – Dr. Walter Bishop
Father of Peter Bishop. In the super science world of “Fringe”, Walter Bishop watched his son die, and when using a window into a alternate Earth watched as that world’s Peter was about to die too, Walter acted. Because of the love, and loss of one son, Walter ripped a whole in the fabric of space-time in order to save this other world’s Peter. Combined with the universal tears on this alternate Earth, this led to a Multiversal Cold War. Nothing says “I love you son”, like war.
#9 – George Francisco
Father of Emily, and Buck. The Newcomers, alien slaves stranded on Earth, were bread to be hard workers, but they were not machines, that had families. Just like any family, the Francisco’s have their problems; a rebellious teenage son, for one, and a daughter who is picked on in school for being different, but what made George so special besides being a Police Detective, is his ability to rationally deal with his families internal struggles in a very human way.
#8 – Nikola Tesla
Built Atomic Robo. Atomic Robo isn’t just your average action science robot, he is the son of the world’s greatest inventor, Nikola Tesla. Though artificial, Nikola raised Robo as if he were not a machine, growing to “maturity”, but a real boy. Robo learned to fear, and respect his father. Eventually Robo carried on with his father’s name, and company into the 21st century, making sure his legacy was one of glorious Action Science!
#7 – Professor Trevor Bruttenholm
Adoptive father of Hellboy. While on a mission to stop a secret Nazi plot to summon a demon to our world, Bruttenholm becomes the caregiver for said demon. Hellboy was raised as if he were human, eventually he would become the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. Under his father’s guidance Hellboy was able to grow to become a good man, and not be held back by his looks, or origins.
#6 – Henry Jones Sr.
The father of Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. Portrayed by Sean Connery in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, he was a stern, and sometimes distant father that was obsessed with the Holy Grail. Which made him a prime target for Nazi’s in their pursuit for the Cup of Christ, which would grant them immortality. Though junior and senior bickered like no one’s business, in the end they realized that they would be there for one another, especially when Sr. is gut shot by a Nazi.
#5 – James
The father of the Lone Wanderer. No matter what color or race you make for yourself in Fallout 3, James is your Father. He teaches you how to shoot Rad Roaches, and to run away from responsibilities, only when it’s for a greater cause. Without James, there would be no spine for the story of Fallout 3, and his grand goal of purifying the water within the DC Wasteland would never come to fruition. So whether your were a Daddy’s Boy/Girl, or the a rebellious punk, James died in order to keep the Project Purity out of the evil hands of the Enclave’s Colonel August. You’re welcome.
#4 – Bruce Wayne
The adoptive father of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and paternal father of Damian Wayne. Bruce, having lost his own parents to crime, had grown accustom to “picking up strays”, guiding them to fight crime, and be forces of good. Bruce was able to take these broken children under his wing, and teach them to be strong, courageous, and productive members of society. Save for Jason’s penchant for shooting people, and Damian’s homicidal proclivities.
#3 – Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible
Father of Dash, Violet, and Jack-Jack. Once the greatest hero of Metro City, Bob is now the father of three children, and they are a handful. If it’s not Dash’s high-speed antics, or Violet’s self conscious emo withdrawl, it’s the two of them going at it like cat’s and dog’s. Though Jack-Jack is a handful for everyone but his kin, that is but a brief respite, when you have to deal with rambunctious super powered children.
#2 – Ben Parker
Though a Uncle, Ben was a surrogate father for Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man. Raising his deceased brother and sister in-law’s child along with his wife May, Ben was there to mentor a young Peter, guiding him towards the scientific fields, and allowing him to embrace them without backing down. Ben also taught Peter to own up to his actions, to not blame someone else when he could have stopped it from happening. Ben engrained within Peter, “With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility”.
#1 – Jonathan Kent
The adoptive father of the baby Kal-El a.k.a. Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman. Along with his wife, Jonathan raised the alien child as his own. As Clark grew, Jonathan guided him to do what was right, to not use his powers for greed, or malice – to help those who couldn’t help themselves. Clark used Jonathan as a moral guide stone, allowing his father’s teachings to point him in the right direction.
22 Comments
AWw, I was hoping 1# would be a tie between Jonathan and Alfred.
Nice choices all around, though I agreewith dinosaurs, Alfred might need to be in there somewhere.
Nice, stoked about #3.
What about Darth Vader?
Larry said Top Ten, not Bottom Ten. Though that would make a great list.
If it was Top Twenty, I would have put Obi-Wan but most likely not Darth Vader, he cut sons hand of. I guess it was a bad Father’s Day Gift.
“Here Dad. I got you a polka dot tie.” Nooooooooooo! *Luke loses hand*
In Vader’s defense, he was under a lot of stress from the Emperor because the Death Star got blowed up. Can you say you’ve never snapped at anyone while under pressure? Sure, cutting off his son’s hand was a tad extreme, but at least he didn’t spank him or anything that would have set off a media frenzy.
Bruce Wayne as a father figure? No bloody thanks.
Atticus Finch anyone?
YES!! Atticus Finch!
That was the very first name that popped into my mind when I saw this list. But then I remembered that “Fiction” now means Comics/TV/Movies. Not literature.
too bad though. I always saw old Atticus as the best example of father integrity that I’ve forever tried to emulate.
Not Anse Bundren from As I Lay Dying?
Mr. Finch, Esquire is generally held to be the best, but, I mean, Mr. Bundren did force all of his children to carry their dead mother miles across dangerous terrain just so he could try to find a new woman. That’s got to count for something, right? No? Huh.
Well, then honestly, I’d add Marlin from “Finding Nemo” to my personal List.
What? No Peter Griffin?
I’d have put Ben Cartwright from “Bonanza” in there somewhere. Raising three sons he had by three different wives? A good father figure and a “playa”, too? :-)
What? No Red Foreman? I oughta put my foot in your @$$!
Alfred, Jarvis, and let’s not forget Henry Pym and his bouncing baby boy ULTRON!
Thanks Dad.
(Then, there’s Magneto…)
Poor Luna.
whats the batman pic from?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34405634@N08/4547925373/
I think leaving Alfred out was a great oversight. He should have been on the list instead of Bruce Wayne. Though, to be fair to the list maker, Alfred has gone through many different incarnations over the years. He was, at first, a fat little buffoon. Later he was the stereotypical Stiff Upper Lip English Butler. It wasn’t until the Batman TV show when Alfred settled down to be the stanch family retainer who had full knowledge of the Batman’s activities, and even was known to drive the Batmobile around as needed. This incarnation later evolved to where he had combat medical experience, may or may not have been a spy at one time or other, and eventually became more than just a butler but more of a father figure to Bruce. But number one on the list should have been Ranma Saotomi’s dad, Genma. If you haven’t read Ranma 1/2, shame on you.
Oh GOD Genma is such an @ss!
I think the Doctor from Doctor who would be on my list =]
But it’s still a pretty great list, Larry!
I’d probably have added Mr. Myagi in there somewhere. He helped Daniel to grow up and be a man that doesn’t have to go out looking for a fight (unlike Bruce) but gave him the skills to protect himself and the people he loves when he has to. To me that’s a better message than to take mentally vulnerable orphans in and train them to fight crime and constantly put minors in harms way. Not one child that he took in turned down the fighting and became an accountant or something, lol.
Which is why I also prefer Alfred to Bruce as the example, Alfred would probably rather Bruce quit being the Batman, but he knows that he cannot and will not and so he is there to help and take care of him as well as he can.
Reed Richards, especially now in the Future Foundation. He is what being a super hero father is all about.
Jor-El; Because he cared and loved his son so much that he got him off of Krypton before it exploded.
Charles Xavier: ‘Father’ to Scott, Jean, Hank, Bobby, (and in a sense, Warren) as head of the X-Men.
Rupert Giles: More of a father to Buffy Sommers than her own father ever was.