It's harder for heroes than villains, but Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo were sensational-- that's two off the top. I'll even say Bale showed precisely what it takes (at least at first); although I know people question him as "Batman," he had that smart public-face, private-brooding thing down pat pretty well. Smart characters, plenty of depth, memorably performed.

For villains, I could rattle off a good number.