The Great Hero Showdown (First Round Voting Results Up!)

Just a heads-up people, but we're actually up to number 70 now because Thrall and Corwin of Amber both got marked as number 16.

Also, please remember to number your entries and post pictures and biographies.

70. The Punisher



Name: Frank Castle, AKA The Punisher.

Biography: No symbol strikes more fear into the hearts of criminals than the Punisher's trademark white skull on a black field. Although some consider the Punisher to be a bloodthirsty vigilante who is just as bad as the criminals he hunts, others consider him a hero who has made the streets of New York City a safer place by hunting down and exterminating those who prey upon the innocent.

Long ago, the Punisher was a decorated Vietnam war hero named Frank Castle who wanted nothing more than to live in peace with his wife and two young children. Unfortunately, this was not meant to be, and his family was murdered simply because they had the misfortune of witnessing a mafia hit during a picnic in central park. When the law failed to punish his family's killers, Frank snapped and donned the persona of the Punisher: his crusade against crime first took him against the hitmen who murdered his family, and then extended to all criminals unfortunate enough to be found by him. His one-man war against crime has spanned nearly 3 decades, and he's taken down countless drug dealers, gangsters, murderers, terrorists, mercenaries, and even the occasional supervillain (sometimes with the aid of other Marvelverse heroes).

The Punisher is a quiet, serious man who rarely shows emotion and never smiles (although he does occationally make a dry, witty remark before he offs a bad guy). He's highly intelligent and very patient, and has a gift for planning ambushes and assults. He is an expert with weapons of all kinds as well as hand-to-hand combat, and fears nothing (not even death). Although he has no qualms about killing and/or torturing the criminals he hunts, he never harms innocents, and would willingly sacrifice his own life to save an innocent if there was no other choice.

71. John Carter of Mars

Formerly an officer in the army of the Confederate States of America travelling in the far west, John Carter takes shelter from a mob of Apaches in a cave and wakes up naked in a different world: Barsoom, known to us on Earth as Mars. John Carter weds beautiful Barsoomian Princess Dejah Thoris of Helium and is propelled into a savage series of adventures. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan.

72. Captain America

As the world teetered on the brink of global war, frail Steve Rogers entered a secret laboratory and was transformed into the American super soldier! For four thrilling years, he battled the Axis powers - until a freak stroke of fate threw him into suspended animation. When he awoke, he was a man decades out of his time! Since that fateful day, Steve Rogers has sought his destiny in this brave new world!

73. Tarzan

An English lord thrown into the savage African jungle, Tarzan grows up among the beasts of the jungle to learn their ways and eventually become their noble lord and valiant defender. Tarzan is eventually touched by civilization, but it is always the smaller part of who he is. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of John Carter of Mars.

74. Aragorn

Heir of Isildur through thirty-nine generations, Chieftain of the Dúnedain of the North and, after the War of the Ring, King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. Called by Gandalf 'the greatest traveller and huntsman in this age of the world', Aragorn experienced many great adventures, and travelled to many distant lands, before claiming his kingship

75. Gandalf the Grey

In origin a Maia of Manwë and Varda, Gandalf came to the northwest of Middle-earth after a thousand years of the Third Age had passed, with four others of his order. At the Grey Havens, Círdan entrusted him with the Red Ring, Narya, to aid him in contesting the will of Sauron.

Gandalf wandered widely in Middle-earth, and learned much of its races and peoples. Unlike his fellow Wizards Saruman and Radagast, he never settled in a single place. He was instrumental in the victory of the War of the Ring, but during that conflict he battled with a Balrog, and though he was ultimately victorious, his spirit left his body, but was sent back to Middle-earth to complete his task.

Gandalf finally left Middle-earth in 3021 (Third Age), when he departed over the sea with the Ring-bearers

For everyone's benefit, the next hero should be #76. The numbers got all wacky for a sec.

76. John Sheridan (Babylon 5)

When Commander Sinclair was recalled from Babylon 5 after President Santiago's death, Sheridan was appointed its new commander by President Clark.

Obi-Wan has already been nominated.