This can be somewhat considered
as a sequel to my series on fictional ensembles. For while I was making those four lists, I consciously
avoided including any families, since I thought they deserve a list of
their own. This is that list.
Just as families are the most
basic unit of society, families are also the most basic ensembles in fiction. Thus, there are dozens and dozens of notable
fictional families. For this list, to
narrow the pool down, only literal families (i.e. kin of each other, or at
least functioning in accordance with the traditional definition) are considered, while thematic families (e.g. the Bat-Family, Vongola Famiglia) aren’t. Moreover, priorities are given to those that
are the most “nuclear” or “immediate” (per the words’ definition in relation to the
context of family).
Honoroble Mentions: The Sons (Dragon Ball Z), The Griffins (Family
Guy), The Sungcals (Pugad Baboy),
The Thornberrys (The Wild Thornberrys),
The March Family (Little Women), The
Munsters (The Munsters)
10.) THE STUPIDS
I rewatched The Stupids last year. I
chuckled but barely laughed. It was hard
for me to imagine that, as a kid, I thought it was immensely hilarious and worth rewatching several times (which I did). Nevertheless,
I let them have the tenth spot over the Munsters due to the reason that there
was a time that I really believed their name-embodying behavior is the funniest
thing ever.
9.) THE PARKERS
The current main continuity Peter
Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man has been unmarried since the godawful “One More Day”
retcon. Of course, there are a couple of
alternate realities in the Marvel Universe wherein Spider-Man has a family (the
most popular one is probably in MC2 a.k.a. Earth-982, where Pete and MJ have
a daughter named Mayday Parker, who grew up to become Spider-Girl).
The latest Parker family is my most
favorite.
First introduced as one of the
fragmented realities that consisted Battleworld during Secret Wars, the universe of Amazing
Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows features Pete and MJ married and having a daughter named Annie May, who inherited her father’s spider powers. In addition, this version of MJ has a power
suit reversed engineered by Pete that mimics Spidey’s powers. Thus, both wife (who names herself “Spinneret”)
and daughter (named by Pete, part jokingly, as “Spiderling”) stubbornly insist
of assisting Pete whenever he goes web-slinging as a superhero, much to his
initial opposition. But the whole
dynamic is extremely delightful, making Amazing
Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows as my second favorite Spider title at the present (first is Spider-Man/Deadpool).
8.) THE KENTS
Meanwhile, over at DC, Superman
is also maintaining a family.
The current Superman in DC’s main
continuity, “The New 52 Universe”, is not the New 52 Superman at all but the pre-New 52 Superman. He and his
wife, the pre-New 52 Lois Lane, are
able to conceive a son, Jon, during the multiversal mega-event Convergence. In its aftermath, they enter the “beginning”
of the New 52 Universe, where they live secretly for nine years. But after the death of New 52 Superman, pre-New 52
Superman takes his place. Jon discovers
his origin, which eventually leads to him to become the new Superboy, be mentored by his father, and develop a
friendly rivalry with Damien Wayne (current Robin, and Batman’s biological son). Meanwhile, pre-New 52 Lois decides to live the life of New 52 Lois Lane, who has also recently met her demise.
All these things make their
family complex and fascinating, and a significant reason why reading Superman comics are extremely exciting
right now.
7.) THE VON TRAPPS
This is a no-brainer for anyone
who has watched the classic musical film The
Sound of Music (which is a fictional portrayal of the real-life von Trapp
family).
6.) THE FLINTSTONES
The charm of the Flintstones as a
family is how their anachronistic “Stone Age” everyday lives – including their
interactions with their next-door neighbors/bestfriends, the Rubbles – serve as
both a parody and commentary of modern society (particularly that of a 20th
century context, when the animated series initially ran). The ongoing comic book series from DC brilliantly
brings the concept to the next level.
5.) THE JETSONS
The Jetsons basically offers the same thing that The Flintstones does – only, instead of
a Stone Age family, the focus is on a Space Age family. As a kid, I liked the Jetsons family a bit
more than the Flintstones because I was more fascinated with the futuristic
setting they’re in.
4.) THE ADDAMSES
I haven’t watched the original The Addams Family TV
series, but I did watch the animated series and the live-action movies as a kid. And I quite enjoyed them – even now, I still
do whenever I rewatch them. I simply love
the idea of a satirical macabre, monster-themed family. (And my fondness for this family was what
also led me to enjoy a similarly conceptualized fictional family: the
Munsters).
3.) THE ROBINSONS
The Swiss Family Robinson was one of the novels that I enjoyed reading
over and over again when I was a kid and a teen (I usually read it back-to-back
with Robinson Crusoe). There’s just something specially endearing
about a shipwrecked family having adventures and building a great domestic life
for themselves in a strange desert island (where there’s a geographically impossible
variety of plant and animal species), while Christian values are learned along
the way.
2.) THE SIMPSONS
As the titular family of the
longest-running TV series of all time (and still ongoing!), which also happens
to be one of my most favorite animated series ever, the Simpsons deserve a high
spot in this list. During the show’s
peak, this family was able to make me laugh harder than all the other
comedic families in this list put together.
1.) THE PARRS a.k.a. THE INCREDIBLES
The Incredibles is considered by many (me included) as the best Fantastic Four movie ever made so
far. Though that’s technically
incorrect, they completely captured the essence of Fantastic Four: a family
first, a superhero team second. On the
other hand, the three live-action adaptations of FF so far (with the latest one
ending up being one of the worst comic book movies ever made) have all failed in giving
justice to the material.
The appeal of the Parrs/Incredibles
may not be necessarily derived from a formula originally theirs. But they have definitely perfected it – effectively
making them the best family in fiction in my book.
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