Few filmmakers know how to craft a great cinematic hero like John Carpenter, leaving in his legacy many alluring characters throughout his directorial career. Perhaps better known for his horror movie villains, Carpenter's grim sense of creativity perhaps lends itself more to the darker side of a given narrative, with iconic antagonists like Lo-Pan, The Thing, and the Halloween serial killer Michael Myers all springing from his twisted mind. But as great as John Carpenter's best villains are, he also deserves recognition for his entertaining cinematic heroes.

The success of John Carpenter's characters can be measured in various ways. Some of them are legendary simply for their ability to weather the insidious circumstances of John Carpenter's best films, surviving slashers and subhuman creatures alike. Others are more watchable than likable, responsible for classic line deliveries and bold maneuvers that keep them worthy of rooting for even decades later.

Dr. Loomis...