All-time favorite fictional characters

[Mog Elffoe]

Faves from books:
Conan the Cimmerian
Tarzan
John Carter
Kane
Harry Flashman
Elvis Cole
Sam Vimes
Granny Weatherwax
Cohen the Barbarian
Druss the Legend

Faves from comics:
Spider-Man
Hellboy
The Tick
Dr. Doom

Faves from movies:
James Bond
Zatoichi
Han Solo
Indiana Jones
John McClane
Otter & Boon
Jack Burton
Ash
Godzilla
Gamera
King Kong
Navin R. Johnson
Michael Corleone
Jake & Elwood

Faves from TV:
Homer Simpson
Bender
Rupert Giles

 

[Piratecat]

Marcus Didius Falco (Lindsey Davis, historical mysteries), "Slippery Jim" diGriz (Harry Harrison)

Agreed and agreed. I also agree with Rincewind.

I'll also add:

- Sir Harry Flashman, poltroon, liar, bully, blackguard, womanizer, and cad. (George MacDonald Fraser)
- Archie Goodwin, assistant to eccentric detective Nero Wolfe (Rex Stout)
- Travis McGee, problem-solver and part-time boat bum (John D. McDonald)
- John Dortmunder, unlucky thief (Donald E. Westlake)
- Horatio Hornblower, sailor (C.S. Forester)

 

[FireLance]

I find that most of my favorite characters are good planners, strategists and tacticians with an almost uncanny knack of knowing how things are going to work out:

1. The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork (from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels)
2. Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson (also from Pratchett's Discworld novels)
3. Zhuge Liang (from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
4. Brooklyn (from the animated TV series Gargoyles)

 

[diaglo]

Gray Mouser
Elric
Bilbo Baggins

 

[BryonD]

Valentine Michael Smith
Lazarous Long
Mike (from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress)

Pug/Milamber

Tyrion

Francisco D'Anconia

Edward (Anita Blake Series)

 

[Meowzebub]

Felix (John Steakley's Armor)
Nearly all the characters from Dan Simmon's Hyperion

 

[Hand of Evil]

Carson Napier of Venus
John Carter of Mars
Tarzan
Elric
Corwin, Prince of Amber
Owen Deathstaker
Peter Parker
Kane
Flinx & Pip
Ripkin and Bazil Brokentail
James Bond
Spike of Cowboy Bebop
John Criton

But I guess my all time favorite number one fictional character is:
James T. Kirk

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I find that most of my favorite characters are good planners, strategists and tacticians with an almost uncanny knack of knowing how things are going to work out:

1. The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork (from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels)
2. Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson (also from Pratchett's Discworld novels)
3. Zhuge Liang (from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
4. Brooklyn (from the animated TV series Gargoyles)

In a similar vein, I would note:
Grand Admiral Thrawn (Starwars Expanded Universe, Timothy Zahn novels)

Other characters:
- Jean-Luc Picard (well, Patrick Steward seems to be great as well; Startrek)
- Benjamin Sisko (Startrek)
- Death (Terry Pratchett`s Discworld novels)

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[KingOfChaos]

Hmm...let's see..

Movies/TV
Willow (Buffy)
Spike (Angel)
Han Solo (Star Wars)
Indiana Jones
Gimli
D'Argo (Farscape)
Zhan (Farscape)
Rigel (Farscape)
Spock
Khan Singh (Star Trek)
Barbarossa and Jack (PotC)
Marcus (B5)
Ivanova (B5)
Lenier (B5)
Galan (B5: Excalibur)
King Theoden (LOTR)
Saruman (LOTR)
The Hessian (Sleepy Hollow)
Finnegan (Deep Rising)
Benny (The Mummy)

Books:
Liriel Baenre (Tangled Webs Series)
Richard Rahl (Sword of Truth)
The Nameless Necromancer (Grunts)
Aragorn (LOTR)

 

[Joshua Randall]

I'd like to buy a drink for Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye), but as he is underage that might be illegal.

I'd like to learn magic from Ged (Wizard at Earthsea).

I'd like to adventure alongside Sir Harry Flashman (various Flashman books)... although he'd probably sell me out to save his own skin.

It would interesting, but scary, to discuss philosophy with Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment).