Do we like Velma Dinkley?
A character from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969)
Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back her. She's the one who works out the mystery, she stays loyal to her friends, and she never believes in monsters. Just don't ask her to find her glasses.
Velma is the brains of Mystery Inc. The gang are teenagers who drive around in a van called the Mystery Machine. They keep running into ghosts, monsters and haunted places. Along with Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, she investigates whatever spooky thing is troubling the locals.
Her role is steady in every version. She is the sceptic who looks for a rational explanation, collects the clues and puts the pieces together. She is also practical and inventive, and her gadgets have turned up in several versions of the franchise. Her catchphrase "Jinkies!" announces that she has found a clue.
We score her high because she is the most reliable member of the gang. She is clever without being smug, and she stays calm when the others panic. She keeps the team pointed at the truth and not at the scary costume. The one real knock against her is that her poor eyesight puts her in more trouble than she'd like.