10 Best Kevin Smith Characters

Kevin Smith, the comic book-loving, Indie filmmaker from the great state of New Jersey, has made ten films. Six of these films are part of what Smith calls the View Askewniverse, a reality named after his production company View Askew. This list is going to concern itself with just those six particular films. As for the director’s other four films, both Red State and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, are enjoyable films to a certain extent, but neither has any character that shines over the others. As for the other two, it is probably better if we just do not mention them here. Anyway, without further ado, here is my list of the 10 Best Kevin Smith Characters.

10. Dante Hicks in Clerks./Clerks II

The poor schmuck.  He’s not even supposed to be there today. Dante, as played by Brian O’Halloran in Smith’s vanguard indie film, as well as its decidedly lesser long time a-comin’ sequel, is the quintessential everyman – the epitome of the frustrated retail employee. Luckily he has his troublemaking friend, Randal, to keep him on his toes.

9. Rufus in Dogma

I am normally not that much of a Chris Rock fan, but his smart-mouthed angel, dropping naked from the sky here is a hell of a lot of fun. In fact, it is he, along with Matt Damon’s Loki (see below), who makes this film work as well as it does. Plus, it’s Rufus who gets all the best lines.

8. Shannon Hamilton in Mallrats

Many lists of this ilk would include Ben Affleck’s lead character from Chasing Amy – and I did have him penciled in, in a preliminary version of this list – but let’s face it, the guy is so good at playing assholes. Just take a look at O’Bannion in Dazed and Confused and this total douche from Mallrats.

7. Alyssa Jones in Chasing Amy

The bisexual Miss Jones, object of both affection and apprehension, is played by, and somewhat loosely based on, Joey Lauren Adams, who just happened to be Kevin Smith’s girlfriend at the time. Alyssa is an intriguing character who manages to get one character to fall in love with he and another to despise and resent her.

6. Loki in Dogma

Okay, maybe Rufus doesn’t have all the best lines in Dogma (see above), because Matt Damon as Loki, the fallen Angel of Death, has some really kickass lines here. Apparently, Loki decides to give God the finger, and he and his buddy Bartleby are banished to Wisconsin. The only thing worse?  They make their way to New Jersey.

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