Originally posted by darthgooberMy initial impression would be that, on average throughout the world's population, Goku is more popular and recognizable than Superman.
It'd be funny as Hell if DC decided to give Supes the equivalent of a Kaoken just to irritate DBZ fans. Next year... Kryptonian Spirit Bomb
What do you guys think?
Originally posted by Smurph
Popular? Sure.Recognizable? mmm
It's pretty hard to beat Superman's iconography.
Originally posted by carver9
I agree with Smurph here. Everyone knows Superman but everyone loves Goku. Superman is boring.
Originally posted by abhilegendI'm not saying he's not popular. I just can accept that his fanbase is probably smaller and less invested than Goku's. Maybe I'm wrong about that.
Eh, Superman is still pretty damn popular. His merchandise sells more than any other superhero besides Spider-Man and Batman.
If he's boring, you wouldn't hate him so much. Just because he beats all your favorites doesn't make him boring.
My main point was just the distinction between popular and recognizable. Goku might have more avid fans but I bet more people would recognize Superman based on minimal details. Like the S, or just his colours. Or how "kryptonite" is a pretty common metaphor for one major weakness. There's something about Superman that seems particularly universal.
Originally posted by Smurph
I'm not saying he's not popular. I just can accept that his fanbase is probably smaller and less invested than Goku's. Maybe I'm wrong about that.My main point was just the distinction between popular and recognizable. Goku might have more avid fans but I bet more people would recognize Superman based on minimal details. Like the S, or just his colours. Or how "kryptonite" is a pretty common metaphor for one major weakness. There's something about Superman that seems particularly universal.
Generally speaking, it feels (in my experience) anime/manga is far popular than comics in modern age due to multiple factors(far more easier to understand because no extensive history etc)
So the fact Goku is more popular than Superman really isn't saying much in terms of Superman's characteristics. I mean, Goku probably is more popular than Hulk. But I didn't see Carver mentions Hulk is boring lol
Originally posted by abhilegend
Eh, Superman is still pretty damn popular. His merchandise sells more than any other superhero besides Spider-Man and Batman.
If he's boring, you wouldn't hate him so much. Just because he beats all your favorites doesn't make him boring.
I wonder how the list looks when you add licensed IP?
Like Star Wars or TMNT? Does Spidey and Bats outsell even them?
Originally posted by qwertyuiop1998
Generally speaking, it feels (in my experience) anime/manga is far popular than comics in modern age due to multiple factors(far more easier to understand because no extensive history etc)So the fact Goku is more popular than Superman really isn't saying much in terms of Superman's characteristics. I mean, Goku probably is more popular than Hulk. But I didn't see Carver mentions Hulk is boring lol
Goku is more popular than Hulk and would kill Hulk (and Superman) with his index finger, but Superman is a boring character. Only people saying otherwise are Superman fans. He's boring.
Originally posted by carver9
Goku is more popular than Hulk and would kill Hulk (and Superman) with his index finger, but Superman is a boring character. Only people saying otherwise are Superman fans. He's boring.
Canon.
Originally posted by cdtm
Goku may as well try surpassing Zeno. 👆
This is more canon than what you posted. At least real writers were involved...
Originally posted by ODGHmm, I honestly don't know.
My initial impression would be that, on average throughout the world's population, Goku is more popular and recognizable than Superman.What do you guys think?
In terms of general popularity, yeah, probably Goku.
In terms of sheer recognizability, though, it's probably a wash.
Imo, it's like the Coke vs. Pepsi conundrum. People might like one more than the other, but you can still acknowledge/recognize both brands equally.
Superman is more recognizable than Goku, no doubt. He's had more media and merchandise coverage.
But it's important to distinguish recognizably from popularity. Superman books aren't exactly flying off the shelves from what I understand. But Goku is surprisingly popular considering he hasn't had a good story since the nineties.
And you can experiment with different countries, time periods, and search categories here.
Originally posted by abhilegend👆
Because Superman is essentially modern Hercules, he's more an archetype at this point than a character. Goku is still a shonen anime character, Superman has transcended comics and is more like the archetypes of fiction such as Sherlock Holmes, James Bond or Dracula. When you think detective, you think of Holmes, a spy, James Bond, a superhero, Superman.
Yes, this.