8 J. Jonah Jameson - Spider-Man
Part time antagonist of Spider-Man and fully rounded supporting character, J. Jonah Jameson is one of the few characters on this list that is probably recognisable to those who have never leafed through a comic book in their lives. With his flat-top hairstyle, moustache and cigar permanently drooping from his lips, John Jameson Jr. is as famous for his visage as he is for his brusque, stubborn manner. As both Peter Parker's boss and the one man in New York who cultivates a strong suspicious loathing of Spider-Man, J. Jonah is perfectly placed to exemplify the duality of Parker/Spider-Man. He sees Peter as more like a son, valuing his honesty and strong morality, qualities he cannot see in Spider-Man due to his own bias against the superhero. Jameson is involved in some of the funnier story arcs in the Spider-Man series; the recent storyline involving Spidey blackmailing Jameson into rehiring the fired Robbie Robertson was winningly daft and clever in turns, with the injuries accidentally inflicted upon Jameson being a great reminder that his stubborn nature and foolishness are often the architects of his own downfall.