Top 10 Heroes Characters

On the one hand, she’s a brilliantly badass character; on the other, hers is one of the most tragic stories in the entire series. Kristen Bell gives a truly sizzling performance as Elle, who is able to generate electricity at the wave of her hand, after she was brutally experimented on by her father during childhood. It’s a great power for destroying things, but it’s terrible in terms of maintaining relationships, or anything close to a normal life. So, she’s left feeling alone, isolated, angry, and sometimes she gets a little psychotic. But who can blame her??

A lawyer and an ambitious politician with his eyes on the White House, Nathan serves as the outspoken leader of the Petrelli clan. However, underneath his public persona and well-pressed shirts, this guy also has the ability to fly. Nathan’s relationship with his power is an ever-changing one; at first he tries to hide it, then he believes it’s heaven-sent. It drives him to depression too, and he’s always campaigning either for or against people with powers, so you’re never too sure if he’s a good guy or a villain. He keeps his cards close to his chest, even if his feet definitely aren’t on the ground.

Another character whose role in the series drastically changes from start to finish, Mohinder began the show as a genuinely ‘ordinary’ person. A genetics professor researching evolved humans, he becomes embroiled in the dangerous world of abilities when searching for his father’s killer. Eventually, he applies his already scientific mind and learns how to artificially create superpowers, before dosing himself with super-strength. But his is no upstanding, Captain America kind of story; Mohinder’s experiments go wildly awry, and a good person falls victim to the dark side.

Also known as HRG, or ‘the man in horn-rimmed glasses’, Noah is a former agent of The Company. A one-time bad guy depending on whose side you’re on, he’s also a fierce and loyal protector of his daughter, Claire. He’s often partnered with René the Haitian, another born-again good guy, and the pair are considered one of the most dangerous forces in the show. But generally, Noah rolls with his own moral code, built almost exclusively on the need to keep his ‘Claire Bear’ safe. He’s like a super-protective parent, only with enhanced combat skills.

For most people, the ability to read minds would likely be one of the first superpowers you’d wish for. But while it can be extremely beneficial for aspiring cop Matt Parkman, it can also be quite a curse. Matt struggles with his ability more than most, and it often leads him to overhear thoughts he’d rather not. He’s usually the underdog, he’s often ironically slow on the uptake, and he looks a little ridiculous when actually engaging with his ability… But despite all that, we can’t help but root for him!

Though every character on this list has ‘issues’ to some degree, Niki Sanders really does have her share of problems. She’s an all-but single mother having to work as a webcam stripper to earn extra cash; she had an upbringing so rough she can’t even remember most of it; and she has a highly ingrained split personality – the other half of which is a violent murderer named Jessica. Above all of that though, she’s a devoted mother to Micah, the gifted boy who can manipulate technology. Niki’s heart is definitely in the right place, but her head… maybe not so much.

‘Save the cheerleader, save the world’; the entire first season of “Heroes” is largely built on one concept and around one character, Claire Bennet. As the cheerleader in question, she spent her teenage years learning an amazing truth about herself: she couldn’t die, no matter how many attempts she’d make to do so. Strictly speaking, her ability is known as ‘rapid cell regeneration’. Either way, she’s able to repetitively throw herself off of bridges, into fires and into all manner of dangerous situations, and live. Claire proved to be a breakout role for Hayden Panettiere, and an iconic character for the series in general.

The younger brother to Nathan, Peter initially struggles to stand out amongst a string of successful and influential Petrellis. He has big ideas but little promise, and he lacks Nathan’s ruthless edge. However, everything changes when Peter discovers his status as an evolved human, and the sibling rivalry starts to intensify. Because Peter has the ability to absorb other people’s powers, his superhuman spectrum is apparently endless, and his significance to the world is seemingly unmatched. Not bad for a no hoper, eh?

For anyone who’s ever watched an episode of the show, Sylar is prime nightmare material. In the first series especially, he’s about as ruthless and bloodthirsty as you can possibly be: he’s both a serial killer and a serious collector of abilities. This is exactly what drives Sylar: the need to know how each and every power works. If you have any form of superpower then you’re likely on his list, and chances are you’re gonna have your head cut open and your brain removed. Sure, Sylar isn’t always completely evil, but that’s what he’s remembered for!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Isaac Mendez

Daphne Millbrook

Emma Coolidge

Samuel Sullivan

Angela Petrelli

Our winner is more than just a namesake for the show itself; he’s where it all began, and arguably the most important of all evolved humans. Hiro has the ability to bend time and space, and to manipulate the lives of everyone else accordingly. Often partnered with Ando, his best friend and deputy, Hiro’s intent on saving the world, and conducting himself like all his favorite comic book characters. He falls in love, he makes us laugh, and he’s undeniably a good guy. If we could have our time again, we’d still place him at the top of this countdown!

Do you agree with our list? Which Heroes characters did we miss? For more out-of-the-ordinary top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.