The Most Popular Superhero in Every Country

Everyone loves Tom Holland—and Spider-Man.
Everyone loves Tom Holland—and Spider-Man. / Marvel Studios
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It makes sense that U.S. residents would have a particular affinity for the superhero named after their country. But according to a new analysis, Captain America isn’t the most popular superhero in the U.S. That spot is reserved for Spider-Man.

Researchers at UK-based video game retailer GAME looked at monthly Google search volume data to find out which superhero dominates search engine activity in dozens of countries around the world. In 57 of them—nearly 49 percent of all countries included in the study—Spider-Man reigns supreme. Captain America, meanwhile, came in first in just four places, including Canada (which is also America, continentally speaking). The second and third most popular characters hail from the DC Comics universe: Wonder Woman was the most searched superhero in 15 countries, spanning from Egypt to England and beyond. People in Thailand, Venezuela, and nine other countries seem to prefer Batman above everyone else.

*Alaska should be red, not blue.
*Alaska should be red, not blue. / GAME

Hollywood’s recent activity can definitely shed some light on the reasons behind the high search volumes for certain characters. Wonder Woman: 1984 came out a matter of months ago; and two different Batmen have been in the news lately. Ben Affleck’s Batman just appeared in Zack Snyder’s director’s cut of 2017’s Justice League, and we’ll see Robert Pattinson in The Batman next March. Two very highly anticipated Spider-Man sequels are in the works, too: Spider-Man: No Way Home, starring Tom Holland, and the still-untitled follow-up to the 2018 animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

As for all the people in Brazil Googling about the Hulk, many of them might not be seeking information on Marvel Comics’ temperamental green giant. The nation is also home to Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, a pretty famous footballer better known by his nickname: Hulk.