It was my brother’s birthday on Monday, and you may remember him from various comments he’s posted on my articles, or that one  blog post he wrote about robots. I’ve tried to get him to write more posts, seeing as how he’s both funny and a good writer, but I guess he’s just got something better to do than help out his brother’s blog. It’s not like I’m providing a completely free and easy way to get his voice out to the masses or anything. But I digress. Today’s List of Six is his Happy Birthday present, because I’m a cheap schmuck.

Soon there will be war

So siblings are a thing. And like most things, they’ve worked their way into pop culture. Fancy that. But no, seriously, they’re everywhere! Pop culture and fiction especially like twins. But we’re not twins. We just look like twins. Other than his massive beard, of course. Several of the characters on this list have beards. So it all kind of comes full circle. Here are the 6 best brother pairs in pop culture!

6. Sam and Dean Winchester

One of them just has to be the bad boy

I wish I watched more Supernatural. It sounds awesome. Two kickass brothers battling all manner of supernatural villains and beings. I love mythology-rich shows, and the Winchester brothers are apparently the kings. Demons, angels, bigfeet, ghosts, ghouls, other things, no doubt. It’s a popular cult series on The CW, and no doubt it helps that Supernatural has two hunky studs as the stars. I’m sure female fans have a lot of debate over which one is hotter. It’s Dean, isn’t it?

5. Kane and the Undertaker

My brother and I need fancy costumes

Oh, for the days of the Attitude Era, when Kane was actually menacing, and the Undertaker wasn’t yet a Kid Rock-loving biker dork. When the Brothers of Destruction were a force to be reckoned with, a wicked tag team of brutal bashings and costumed curb-stomping! The WWF was all the better for this duo of decimation. They popularized the chokeslam, for cryin’ out loud! And Kane’s old costume was just awesome. Why they ditched it to make him look like any other wrestler is beyond me. But perhaps that’s why I haven’t watched wrestling since they failed to make the ultimate connection by having Kane join Degeneration X alongside X-Pac and changing his classic costume from red to D-X green. You all remember the moment I’m talking about. Still, this pair is legendary for a reason. Respect the evil.

4. Connor and Murphy McManus

What’s a ‘boondock’ anyway?

In nomine Patri. Et Fili. Spiritus Sancti. Is there any more badass movie than The Boondock Saints? Has Willem Dafoe ever been more awesome? Even the sequel was pretty good. If only this film hadn’t come out around the time of the Columbine tragedy, I’m sure it would have a much higher profile. This is one of the purest Punisher movies ever made, even better than the actual Punisher movies. The McManus brothers are the ultimate vigilante fantasy. And the Catholic imagery and prayer just makes it all the more badass for some reason. Plus, it’s a great place to see Darryl from The Walking Dead before he used his killing skills against zombies.

3. Cyclops and Havok

Sons of a space pirate

One is the world’s coolest mutant revolutionary. The other is a sellout to Captain America. But back in the day, Cyclops and Havok were both awesome X-Men. They’ve also both had semi-successful movie careers and appeared in the various X-Men cartoons. Though Havok only had one appearance in the 90s cartoon, and they never pursued his relationship to Cyclops for some reason. Still, bitchin’ optic blasts and whatever it is that Havok can do make for a powerful pair of superheroes. If only Havok had Cyclops’ awesome fashion sense.

2. Hank and Dean Venture

They don’t have a mom

Go Team Venture! Why the heck has the wait for the fifth season of The Venture Bros. been so long? Did anybody catch the recent Halloween special? Of all the lunacy and wackiness that goes down on The Venture Bros., they’ve actually done a great job advancing Hank and Dean in the past few seasons. They started as almost a subplot, with all the show’s focus on Brock Samson or Dr. Venture, but once the brothers ‘died’, the two characters have actually grown as people. They have their own personalities and their own adventures in puberty. Kind of fun, really. Even if Hank didn’t wear his Batman costume for Halloween, and Dean has grown the lamest of mustaches!

1. Mario and Luigi

Their plumbing business is in the toilet

If only my brother and I weren’t both fat bastards, and one of us was tall and skinny, we could have had the ultimate Halloween costumes all those years growing up. Mario and Luigi are the ultimate team, whether they’re saving the princess, racing go-karts, throwing parties or playing soccer. Though I’ve always found it kind of funny to beat a Mario Bros. game as Luigi and have the Princess thank Mario…that poor green schmuck gets no respect. Even though he’s the Ghostbuster, and Mario isn’t. You’d think that would count for something. Still, Mario and Luigi are the ultimate showcase in multiplayer gaming, and for that I tip my hat to them.

And, yes, there is a big letter ‘S’ on the front of my hat.