Earlier on, someone asked of wizard origins, well they are ainur of the maiar division, the less powerful of the two ainur divisions. 5 maiar were sent to ME to help against Sauron and formed the Istari order.
The most powerful maia was Eonwe (Sauron also was), while the most powerful of the Valar was Melkor/Morgoth (my fave), thus being the mightiest ainu. Sauron's my second fave.
Personally, I think I like Pippin the best. Frodo and Legolas come in close seconds, in that order. When I first started reading it, I liked Legolas, but my second time through, and in the movies, it was Pippin and Frodo. (And I like them for the characters, not because of how the actors who played them looked.)