# Design your own "Mighty Avengers"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 21, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331 "2005-10-21T20:53:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/1 "2005-10-21T20:53:24Z")
What the heck? We’ve got a [Design your own Justice League](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340851) thread. Why not do a similar one for the Mighty Avengers?
**Captain America** is as essential to the Avengers as Martian Manhunter is to the JLA. You simply can’t have the team without him, so he’s automatically in. Thor & Iron-Man would be part-timers, only showing up occasionally (thus cutting down on the headaches involved in trying to keep up with continuity on too many other monthly series.)
**The Vision** has always been my favorite Avenger. I’d always put him on the team.
**Moondragon** has basically been written as a one-note bitch for the entirety of her existence, and yet I love her. I’d bet there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on beneath her icy exterior that could come out if she was featured regularly (in a well-written series.) She’s onboard.
**Storm** - well in reality, the editors at “the X-Men” would never let her go. But since this is only my wishful thinking, she jumps ship for “Earth’s Mightiest.” (The current team has Wolverine - which IMO simply isn’t logical - Storm would work much better.) She can function as team leader in Cap’s absence (which might occur often, given that he has his own series to anchor.) Plus, I’d _so_ get a kick out seeing a lesbian affair between her & Moondragon!
**Sasquatch** - Every team needs a superstrong guy, and he’s one of my favorites. Since Alpha Flight has apparently been consigned to perpetual limbo, he can trek south. Additionally, he’s a Pym-level genius biologist, which is always a plus.
The original **Spider-Woman** , Jessica Drew, is a personal favorite character of mine (and the only member of the current “New Avengers” I really like). She makes the cut.
**Speedball** of the New Warriors could fit the role of the comic relief/ pain-in-the-arse to his team-mates that every team needs.
And for the rookie, here I take grand liberties and insert a character of my own: the Avenger-in-training would be called **Black Athena**. She is inducted as a Trainee member at the request of her nominal ward - the Black Panther. Black Athena has an innate talent for all forms of physical combat, and an inventing genius geared toward creating weaponry. Unknown to the Avengers or Black Athena herself (at least initially) is the fact that she was not naturally born, but rather biologically engineered by an egomaniacal scientist bent on creating a super-race of warriors to defend Wakanda (thus she is a ‘brain-child’, in a pun on the mythical birth story of Athena.) The Panther of course found out about this questionable experiment (and put a stop to it) only after Black Athena (the prototype) was ‘born.’ T’Challa has taken custody of her, instilled her with a strong sense of ethics & morality, and exposed to her high culture & socal refinement. However, not even he can curb Athena’s innately violent nature.
And thus, my team breaks down as follows -
mentor - Captain America
brains / team leader - Storm
muscle / trooper - Sasquatch
babe - Spider-Woman
trickster - Speedball
rogue - Moondragon
veteran - Vision
rookie - Black Athena
non-powered sidekick - Jarvis (of course)
Waddaya think?
---
### Author:  [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/2 "2005-10-21T21:04:09Z")
Captain America
Vision
Scarlet Witch
Quicksilver
Hawkeye
Wonderman
She-Hulk
I love the classics. I love the messed dynamic that team would have.
---
### Author:  [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/3 "2005-10-21T21:24:25Z")
**Captain America** - Of course. Natural born leader and tactician. Anyone would follow Cap to the brink of hell and not think twice.
**Smart Hulk** - Scientific brains of Banner and Brawn of Hulk, he’s unstoppable. Strongest one there is. He couldn’t exactly go undercover with his ability to switch back to Banner missing, but Hulk isn’t exactly known for stealth.
**Doctor Strange** - Need to have a magician on the team and Wanda isn’t very stable these days. Strange isn’t a big team guy (Defenders either proves or disproves that based on your opinion) but he can always attend the meetings whether he’s even in the same dimension as the rest of the team by astral projection.
**Iron Man** - More brains, but this time devoted to mechanics and weaponry. Plus that suit is damned powerful.
**Spider-Man** - Yeah, I know. He’s a solo guy too, but I always loved it when he popped up in the pages of Avengers and helped out. He lightens up the mood, is nearly impossible to hit, got smoe brains in his head, and he usually winds up one of the survivors in stories set in the future after some big world-shattering event has taken place.
**Jean Grey** - Need a woman on the team, and the fact that she’s one of the world’s most powerful telepaths doesn’t hurt. Yes I know she’s dead this week, but she’ll get better. Which isn’t a bad power either.
Just realized on of the problems with my team…no Blasters save for Iron Man. That’s gonna make for some uncolorful splash pages and a hell of a lot of hand to hand combat.
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### Author:  [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/4 "2005-10-21T21:27:49Z")
I’m sure I’m out of date with my characters (some or all may be dead by now):
Captain America
Iron Man
Thor
Vision
Scarlet Witch
The Black Knight
Hawkeye
I tend to like the folks that aren’t on other teams (no Storm, Silver Surfer, Thing, etc.). So my lineup has got fliers, magic defense and offense, technichal knowhow, and a lot in the way of strategic/tactical genius. It’s also got a fair share of pure power, though adding someone like She-Hulk, Hercules, or even Starfox would bring that quotient up. It’s a tradeoff, but I’m happy with my picks.
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/5 "2005-10-21T22:25:55Z")
Nah, you’ll never come up with a better pairing than John Steed and Emma Peel.
What?
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### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/6 "2005-10-21T22:43:15Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#):
>
> **The Vision** has always been my favorite Avenger. I’d always put him on the team.
Yup, mine too.
> [@](#):
>
> **Moondragon** has basically been written as a one-note bitch for the entirety of her existence, and yet I love her. I’d bet there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on beneath her icy exterior that could come out if she was featured regularly (in a well-written series.) She’s onboard.
Pointless hijack, but I always liked **Vance Astro** , always thought he’d be a good Avenger, and I’ve always wanted him to show up and kick **Moondragon’s** butt around. I mean, he has the whole mind blast thing going on too, but he had a so much cooler personality.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/7 "2005-10-21T23:16:15Z")
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor - the big three as far as I’m concerned
Beast - because he’s smart and he’s been in every supergroup
Dr Strange - you have to have a magician
Jessica Jones and Luke Cage - because the Avengers have to have a couple
Franklin Richards - because he was born in 1968 and it’s about time he grew up and started working
Ms Marvel - good legs
Spider Man II aka Ben Reilly - to drive the fanboys nuts
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/8 "2005-10-21T23:19:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’m sure I’m out of date with my characters (some or all may be dead by now)
I think Hawkeye’s died three times just this year alone.
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### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/9 "2005-10-21T23:19:27Z")
My Avengers, in no particular order, and just so some B-listers can get some sun-time 😃
Always liked Hercules, and his insane strength level doesn’t hurt.
Also Black Knight, he’s a scientist with a magic sword. You gotta love that! Good pick, **Stonebow**!
Havok. He’s lead teams before so he’s used to working with others. If you have to have a Summers, have the interesting one.
Madrox, both for comic relief and to be the “ordinary guy” of the team.
Quasar for cosmic stuff.
Because the Avengers need to be international: Captain Britan
Black Panther, in the Captain America role.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/10 "2005-10-22T00:18:40Z")
**Captain America** , just because.
**Dr. Strange** , magic support.
**Tony Stark** , tech support.
Sashquash is an inspired choice for team muscle, but I’ll vote for **Strong Guy** instead, just because he can double as the team jokester. 😃
**Moondragon** for eye-candy and psychic support.
And for rookie, I’ll ignore that fugly Speedball and go with my oft-forgotten favorite, **Slapstick!** (gotta have the !). Not only does he provide even more comic relief, but being nigh-indestructible is an asset that should never be refused.
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### Author:  [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/11 "2005-10-22T00:27:03Z")
Captain America
Iron Man
Thor
She-Hulk
Dr. Strange – I agree they need this level of Magic support
Ms. Marvel
Vision
Scarlet Witch
Crystal
Quicksilver
---
### Author:  [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/12 "2005-10-22T00:55:14Z")
Here’s a team of actual Avengers who would be fun to read (and they could probably beat the JLA’s “big seven”).
Captain America
Thor
Sentry
Photon (Monica Rambeau, fomerly known as Captain Marvel).
Sersi
Moondragon
Quasar
Pretty much all you need right there. Every 5 issues or so Moondrago would try to mindcontrol all of them.
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/13 "2005-10-22T01:37:35Z")
> [@Lochdale](#):
>
> Here’s a team of actual Avengers who would be fun to read ( **and they could probably beat the JLA’s “big seven”** ).
Should we take up a collection and buy Lochdale a new record?
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### Author:  [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/14 "2005-10-22T02:21:43Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> Should we take up a collection and buy Lochdale a new record?
I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned the JLA in a post before. I think I might have posted on one of the cartoon discussions but I can’t remember. Not sure what your problem is. Regardless, that team would give the JLA a good fight and would most likely win.
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### Author:  [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/15 "2005-10-22T02:25:54Z")
Ooooooh. I wanna play.
Captain America: Of course. He’s the Steve Yzerman of the Avengers.
Iron Man: Provides brains, brawn, and blasts. He also provides the home base with uberkewl gadgets and jets and other things needed for todays supergroups
Black Widow: Well, she’s hot and she’s sly. You have to have somebody at least a little crafty.
Ms. Marvel: She’d be the groups muscle. I just like her as a character.
Luke Cage: I like him more as a character than I used to, and he provides a good anchor for the group.
Speedball: Any team needs comic relief and youthful enthusiasm. Speedball provides both. He’s also nigh-indestructable and his powers are far from fully explored. This provides room for a writer to play around.
I thought about Hawkeye or the Black Knight, but Hawkeye is dead (still or is he back :rolleyes: ) and I never liked the Black Knights medieval look and winged horse. Too silly. I also considered Wonder Man but figured Ms. Marvel was just better suited.
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### Author:  [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/16 "2005-10-22T02:35:19Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> Should we take up a collection and buy Lochdale a new record?
I hate to continue a hijack, but Lochdale has a point. Just about all of the characters that he lists are cosmic level in powers. Thor is a god. I’m not sure on Sentrys power levels but they seem to be near Thor level. Photon can move at the speed of light or at least pretty close if memory serves with the added energy blasts and intangibility. Moondragon has potent martial arts skills and is a cosmic level telepath. Sersi is an eternal so she’s got the durability. She’s got energy blasts and can change someones shape to whatever she feels it should be. Lastly Quasar…well he’s kind of a GL ripoff but he can still kick much booty.
Now I don’t think we should be trying to trade scenarios in this thread, but the line up is potent. If not a win, they could give the JLA a run for their money.
---
### Author:  [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/17 "2005-10-22T03:04:09Z")
What about we hijack the thread some more and make the weakest Avengers team possible?
I have visions of Triathalon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch when she was channeling June Cleaver etc.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/18 "2005-10-22T06:18:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> What about we hijack the thread some more and make the weakest Avengers team possible?
The Swordsman.
“So what powers do you bring to this assembly of the mightiest beings in the universe?”
“Well, I’ve got a sword.”
“Thanks for coming. We’ll call you. Next.”
---
### Author:  [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/19 "2005-10-22T15:06:29Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#):
>
> The Swordsman.
>
> “So what powers do you bring to this assembly of the mightiest beings in the universe?”
> “Well, I’ve got a sword.”
> “Thanks for coming. We’ll call you. Next.”
LOL. He was rather useless though he did have a moustache which is rare among heroes.
---
### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-own-mighty-avengers/327331/20 "2005-10-22T16:21:19Z")
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> Pointless hijack, but I always liked **Vance Astro** , always thought he’d be a good Avenger, and I’ve always wanted him to show up and kick **Moondragon’s** butt around. I mean, he has the whole mind blast thing going on too, but he had a so much cooler personality.
The non-Guardians of the Galaxy Vance Astro has been an Avenger (may still be a reservist).
> [@Little Nemo](#):
>
> Ms Marvel - good legs
If you like orange and lumpy.
My team:
Captain America
The Wasp
Jocasta (because I always liked her and thought she got very short shrift)
Hawkeye
Wonder Man, before he became a Hollywood asshole
And a rotating cast of reservists who can be called in as needed.
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