So, who's the world's greatest detective? (other than the big two)

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

Mr. Monk, of course...

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

Poirot, and Philip Marlowe are my personal favourites.

Classic, classic stuff.

 

[mexicola]

http://www.esreality.com/files/inlineimages/2009/68786-hercule-poirot.gif

Mr Poirot disapproves of this thread and demands more recognition.

 

[Farther than stars]

What do you mean we can all agree that Batman is one of the greatest detectives of all time? He's not even a detective, he just punches things. And most of the time the bad guys literally leave a calling card, which the police then trace for him.
Personally I'm going to go with Poirot being the greatest detective ever either way. Yes, even better than Holmes. Good old Sherlock may be the most famous, but I'd definitely cite Agatha Christie's Poirot as being more insightful when the situation demands it.

 

[Justanewguy]

Okay, I think we can all agree that Batman and Sherlock Holmes are the greatest detectives in all fiction.

But who, in your opinion, gives them a run for their money?

Maybe Naoto from Persona 4? Professor Layton? Velma?

Personally, I'm going with The Question:

I don't agree that Batman is a great detective. He knows who his enemies are, it's not like there's a huge mystery. Something got frozen? Probably the Iceman. Find a question mark? My money's on the Riddler. Pretty much anyone could do it.

Now, as for a truly great detective...

 

[Thomiroth]

Dr. Doom. Dude can do pretty much anything. I'd say he'd make a fine detective.

 

[4173]

Hercule Poirot by a country mile


I feel old, people don't remember Batman ever being a detective...

 

[Viking Incognito]

L from Death Note
/thread

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Escapist, I am disappoint. This should have been first.

Spoiler

This, this, a thousand times, this.

Near and Mellow were crap in comparison.

EDIT: Also, I'm a little disappointed at another great detectives absence so far...

Spoiler: Too awesome to call himself a traditional detective

Also, while I'm on the non-traditional detectives...

Spoiler: How can we forget about her?

Abby: Best character in the series.

 

[StorytellingIsAMust]

Phoenix Wright. Through sheer power of bluffing and pulling conclusions out of his ass, he has stopped some of Capcom's most ingenious criminals.

I would say Dr House, but he's just Sherlock Holmes with a cane and a drug addiction, so he's disqualified.

As for L, well, he really doesn't do anything with his information, and inaction is just as bad as incompetence.

 

[Images]

NOTHING beats Poirot! Death on The Nile and Murder On The Orient Express are the greatest murder mysteries of all time!

 

[Rawne1980]

I take all of your detectives.

I spit on Batman.

I give you ... the master of hunting criminals.... The most badass detective to ever walk the earth ..... ladies and gentlemen ..... COLUMBO.

 

[Harlemura]

Is there really any other answer?

Spoiler: Dick. Gumshoe.

Sure, you can use your big fancy IQ to go solve cases. But it takes real talent for a moron to be a detective.

 

[Rastien]

I take all of your detectives.

I spit on Batman.

I give you ... the master of hunting criminals.... The most badass detective to ever walk the earth ..... ladies and gentlemen ..... COLUMBO.

COLUMBO WAS A BOSS. Rest in peace. But yeah love me some columbo made my friends sit through a columbo tribute afternoon with smokes and munchies a fine afternon/evening spent.

 

[Trivun]

The only answer here can be L. However, on the supernatural front, Harry Dresden is pretty damn good too, I guess... or House. Solving medical mysteries!

 

[Tsaba]

Steve from Blue's Clues.

All that man needed was his thinking chair.

The show did go to shit with out him though.

 

[therandombear]

I'm gonna split it into anime and real life fiction detectives.

Anime: L from Death Note and Conan from Detective Conan.

Real life fiction: I just love watching Columbo and Poirot :3

 

[Johnnydillinger]

Either Ace Ventura or Vidocq (who was based on a real person with the same name, a guy who started the whole private investigator thing becoming a model for Shelock Holmes).