The Nation's Favourite Wizard

[the guy who be short]

Ahem...

I actually prefer Dumbledore, as wizards go. There are several reasons, not all of which I know. I'll try to think of a few:

- As funny as Gandalf can be at times, I much prefer Dumbledore's dry sense of humour that permeates more or less everything he says.
- Dumbledore is not grouchy. He is always calm and controlled, whatever the situation.
- He is a human. Gandalf is a Maia. Dumbledore therefore feels that much more accessible and all of that.
- Dumbledore does magic! And rather magnificently, too.

So, feel free to shout.

[Lalwendë]

Dumbledore does have the added bonus that he tends to have a bag of sweets on him at all times. And he has that handy Pensieve too.

But Gandalf has Pipe-weed and he could teach you to blow smoke-rings. Now that is cool.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by the guy who be short

Ahem...

I actually prefer Dumbledore, as wizards go. There are several reasons, not all of which I know. I'll try to think of a few:

- As funny as Gandalf can be at times, I much prefer Dumbledore's dry sense of humour that permeates more or less everything he says.
- Dumbledore is not grouchy. He is always calm and controlled, whatever the situation.
- He is a human. Gandalf is a Maia. Dumbledore therefore feels that much more accessible and all of that.
- Dumbledore does magic! And rather magnificently, too.

So, feel free to shout.

I would say that the fact that Dumbledore is never grouchy makes him untrustworthy. . .Gandalf seem more human even though he is not.

[Morthoron]

I'd have to say Gandalf is the most consistent characterization and most forceful, with the caveat that T.H. White's reiteration of Merlin is, for me, the most endearing (imagine the difficulty of living backwards in time while everyone else is going forwards). Unfortunately, Merlin has been kicked around by so many authors (from Mary Stewart's somber, almost humorless character, to Zimmer-Bradley's use of 'the Merlin' as a title and giving it to more than one character, to the distant and arcane Merlin of Malory), and so poor Merlin has some baggage that Gandalf does not. I don't consider Dumbledore in the same league as Gandalf or Merlin, but then I never really was a fan of the Potter books.

[The Sixth Wizard]

Well, evidently if he had been so listed, The Sixth Wizard would have stormed the competition, being the only one with a definite article as part of his title. Of course, this would be massively tipped in the aforementioned's favour, thus his exclusion from this particular contest. I'll get you back for this, Guardian Unlimited!

I think I prefer Merlin as a wizard stereotype.

Between Gandalf and Dumbledore it's tough to choose; whenever one appears on the scene of action, you are uplifted, knowing (or thinking) it's going to be okay; whenever they speak, you know you are talking to an elder and better, a teacher but not a peer however friendly they are; we know each is not perfect (Gandalf makes the 'mistake' of tackling Moria and makes others, Dumbledore procrastinates) but has the right intentions ... I also saw that Gandalf frightened Gollum with fire and Dumbledore threatened Kreacher the same way, though neither wanted to... Okay I'm rambling now.

(flips coin) Gandalf for not being a nutter!

[The Sixth Wizard]

- He is a human. Gandalf is a Maia. Dumbledore therefore feels that much more accessible and all of that.

Actually I find Gandalf more accessible, mainly because he can just sit down with the hobbits and have a smoke and a chat, whereas Dumbledore certainly can't with Harry etc.

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

I think I prefer Merlin as a wizard stereotype.

Yup. Merlin is the wizard, unless some archeologist literati discovers an even older wizard stereotype. I mean, where would Gandalf and Dumbledore be without Merlin? Of course being Gandalf or Albus would have perks, say that their authors have had more stereotypes and archetypes known, and that they've had a bit of those. Gandalf had some of the hero archetype in him, like teh reluctance to go to the quest and stuff like that.

(Throw something at me now, I'm not British, not even Western!)

[Kitanna]

I find it rather upsetting Merlin placed so low. Behind Harry Potter? What is that all about? I can understand Merlin following Dumbledore, but Harry Potter?

As far as the stereotype for wizards go I believe Merlin and Gandalf embody it. Both come from a time and place filled with elves and dragons and guiding kings to the throne. And though Harry Potter has dragons and such, it takes place in the present. Sort of destroying the whole magic of a land so far away, knowing that Harry came from our world and often returns. But the real point is without the legendary wizarding efforts of Merlin the whole stereotype would not exist and Gandalf, Dumbledore, and Potter would never have a chance. The Wizard from Oz might, but only because he was just some guy from Kansas who had no idea how to pilot a balloon.

[MatthewM]

I would just like to say that although I have never read any Harry Potter books, I like the movies, and although I have no idea what happened in the books, in this latest movie (The Order of the Phoenix) Dumbledore impressed me a lot. His power was shown in a much greater scale than I thought he possessed.

Still, he has nothing on Gandalf!