Greatest 12 Characters of the 1890's

Who is on this list, what this list is about and how they got on the list!

Synopsis  
This is one of a set of lists I made showing a progression of the greatest characters in a heroic style throughout time. Focusing for the most part on one decade at a time. The heroes that we know and love today were inspired by heroes before them. Some are even real people who moved into folklore. Before comics there were pulp magazines. Before that there was dime novels and before that was the penny dreadfuls. There were many others as well like Gothic novels, story papers and yes even a real novel.  
 
The List  
This is a list of the greatest characters between the years of 1890 and 1899.  These would be characters who will go on to be the biggest influences in comics either directly or indirectly.  In other words these will become great inspirations to future comic characters and stories. Right now they are in order of year.
 

New Stuff 
These characters are not just inspirational they are some of the greatest, classic, characters, of all times.  Dracula, Dorian Gray, The Time Traveler, James Moriarty, Moreau and the Invisible Man are know by just about everyone.  These are legends that are timeless.
 
Here is the past list
Greatest 12 Characters of the 1880's
Here is the next list 
Greatest 12 Characters of the 1900's

List items

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  1. Dorian Gray

  Dorian Gray first appeared in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. Dorian was an immortal human being and very much a villain of his own making.

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  2. Irene Adler

  "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in July 1891. Irene is one of the few characters to outwit the legendary Sherlock.

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  3. James Moriarty

  He is not a hero but after Holmes was establish the great Professor Moriarty became his arch nemesis and one of the first genius evil masterminds. He is also considered the Napoleon of Crime. He first appeared in the Memories of Sherlock Holmes in 1893. Even Lex Luthor has to look up to Moriarty.

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  4. Mycroft Holmes

  "The Greek Interpreter" in 1893. Mycroft is Sherlock's older brother who is smarter than Sherlock with even better deductive and detective skill but lacks the interest and desire to be one.

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  5. The Time Traveller

  Before Rip Hunter and the Time Masters before Booster Gold, before time travel stories, before multiverse and hell even before A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, before it all was the Time Traveler from the Novel the Time Machine written was written in 1895.

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  6. Dr. Moreau

  Doctor Moreau first appeared in the novel The Island of Doctor Moreau is a 1896. He is one of the very first Mad Scientist.

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  7. Abraham Van Helsing

  Abraham Van Helsing the first vampire hunter. Characters like Blade and so many others owe there existence to Abraham Van Helsing. His first appearance was in the novel Dracula written in 1897.

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  8. Dracula

  Dracula is no hero but what a character. The Novel Dracula is the bible for all vampire stories that came after. His first appearance was in the novel Dracula written in 1897.

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  9. The Invisible Man

  The Invisible Man was a villain not a hero but was an inspiration to many characters that followed. He first appeared in the novel the Invisible Man in 1897.

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  10. Wilhelmina Murray

  Wilhelmina may or may not had the role that would cast her into greatness like others from this decade but she continues to inspire and new aspects to her character continually appear. Her first appearance was in the novel Dracula written in 1897.

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  11. John Seward

  Sometimes the hero, sometimes the villain and sometime the victim. In some stories John Seward has even been Jack the Ripper. His character is full of depth and layers. His first appearance was in the novel Dracula written in 1897.

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  12. Jonathan Harker

  Is he a hero? I don't know but he slit Dracula's throat with a kukri knife. He is one of the first vampire killers.