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December 15, 2023
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Family, blood-related or not, is the most important bond in life and is no different when it comes to superhero comics. Many heroes couldn’t do what they do without the support of their superfamilies, sometimes building a dynasty that has become as iconic as the man or woman that started it all.
Here is, in no particular order, a list of some of the best superhero families in comics, and they are measured by the number of great stories that they have, how iconic they are, how interesting each character is individually, and their interactions with one another. So let’s begin!
They are not only the most successful indie comic of all time but also one of the most iconic families in the medium. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo were four tiny turtles that ended up exposed to radioactive waste, resulting in their humanoid forms, and they were saved and trained in the sewers by their adoptive, a talking rat called Splinter, who taught them everything they know as warriors.
The four mutant turtles protect the streets of New York while doing goofy brotherly things, bickering with one another, protecting each other’s backs, and overall being one of the best families in comics. When you break them down, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics celebrate what true family is.
There is a solid argument to be made that the Fantastic Four were the first true superhero family in comics. While Superman had his cousin, Supergirl, and Batman had Robin during most of the 40s and 50s, Marvel’s first family was fully introduced as a family, and many of their stories are centered around that dynamic.
Whether it’s Johnny and Sue’s love as siblings, Ben Grimm’s constant bickering with Johnny, or Sue and Reed’s love as a married couple, there is much to appreciate and value about these four characters as they fight evil and save the world. And when you throw Sue and Reed’s kids into the mix, particularly the God-like powers of their son, Franklin Richards, there is a recipe for a lot of superhero shenanigans!
One of the most underrated themes of the Batman mythos in the comics, which is often ignored when adapting the Dark Knight to other mediums, is the element of a family, not necessarily blood-related. Still, they are a family – the Bat Family.
After Bruce Wayne watches his parents die in front of him and trains to become Batman, his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, takes over the father figure role for the remainder of his life. Meanwhile, Bruce adopts Dick Grayson, a young acrobat that went through the same experience as the Dark Knight and trains him to become the first Robin.
Later came Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Bruce’s sole biological son, Damian Wayne, to expand the Bat-family. Characters like Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Selina Kyle have only added and expanded the family, making Batman’s inner circle all the more vast and tridimensional.
The family of the most important superhero of all time cannot be left off this list! Superman’s family tree might be one of the most interesting to analyze and consider in this discussion.
As everybody knows, Superman’s entire family and race were wiped out as planet Krypton was destroyed, resulting in him and his cousin, Supergirl, being the sole survivors (well, there’s Zodd… but let’s not go there). Many people don’t know that they are descendants of the Sun God Rao, which adds a twist to the Superman character.
Of course, it also has to be pointed out that Superman would end up having a kid with Lois Lane, Jon Ken, who follows in his father’s footsteps and becomes Superboy, carrying the legacy of the Man of Steel and the House of El.
Thor’s family is often ignored regarding this topic and for shame! The God of Thunder has arguably one of the most powerful and imposing families in the entire Marvel Universe, and they could be a dreadful enemy if they felt like it. Just think about all the problems Loki has caused over the years on his own!
Yes, you have Thor and Loki, who are very powerful in their own right, but you also have Father of All, Odin himself, who was extremely capable of fighting against some of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe. Now throw in characters like Baldur, Tyr, Frigga, and Angela, and you have enough firepower to challenge almost any family in comics.
Don’t sleep on Thor’s family since they have much to offer!
This is a family that is often forgotten for two reasons:
1) They are a part of the X-Men comics, so they have a lot of characters to juggle with and don’t get the attention they deserve
2) Their family tree is a bit unique
Okay, first of all, Cyclops, also known as Scott Summers, and his wife, Jean Grey. They have their son from the future, Cable, and Scott’s brothers, Havok and Vulcan, who are also very powerful in their own right. Add Adam-X, an often-forgotten character who happens to be Scott’s half-brother, and you have another exciting member of the Summers household.
Then there is the element of family members that come from different realities and circumstances, much like Cable but without a lot of development, in the flesh of Hope Summers, Nate Grey, and Rachel Summers, making this family one of the most extensive and most complicated in the entire medium of comics, which has often led to a lot of confusions by fans over the years.
So, there you have it, the World’s Coolest Nerd’s list of the best families in comics. While some may not be a traditional family, all the elements of the family are there. What are your favorite Comic Superhero Families?
