# Pick a team of fictional characters to save the world **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142 "2009-09-07T04:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/21 "2009-09-07T12:18:39Z")
**Leadership** Colonel Jennifer Sparks. Head of the Authority and spirit of the 20th Century. Able to inspire and remains focused on her team’s goals. Once managed to kill God upon that entity’s return from touring the galaxy. Personal motto: Bugger this. I want a better world. **Muscle** Superman. The may be others just as strong but his ability to inspire and unwillingness to give up make him the case for galactic-level muscle and determination. Likely would disapprove of Sparks in her leadership role but would go along for the greater good. **Cosmic Influence** The Phoenix. Unlike that priss Dr. Manhattan, the lady with the red hair doesn’t get all wrapped up in predestination and such. Her ability to manipulate matter is up there with anyone ever conceived. Has the ability to manipulate events to such an extent that she can not only make an opponent no longer exist but she can make it so that opponent NEVER existed. **Reset button** Kevin Thorn. From the Fables Universe Thorn is recently revealed as a ‘literal’ in that he is one of the few beings that predated everything. Thorn is _the writer_ and has shown the ability to rewrite events, beings, and history to suit his own desires. If he writes something out of the story then it’s gone for good. **Indestructibility/Comic Relief** Indiana Jones. An intelligent human in his own right and possessor of a PhD in archaeology, Jones is a true hero. He’s also clearly an indestructible hero in the classic mold and has the gene for ‘making it up as he goes’ which lends a certain amusing aspect to the whole thing. Plus, without a doubt he’d end up in bed with both Sparks and the Phoenix at some point and that’s a scene I wouldn’t mind seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/22 "2009-09-07T13:20:50Z")
\*\*Leader \*\*: **Sam Vimes**. I can rely on him to do the right think, keep his head on his shoulders, and above all, not die. Also, he will never. stop. \*\*Tank \*\*: **Geralt of Rivia** , from the Witcher series. Knows how to deal with both men and monsters, can do some magic in a pinch, and his potions give him one heck of an edge. His moral amorality meshes well with Vimes’s. **Support** : Probably **Inoue Orihime** , of \*Bleach \*fame. Her healing and defensive abilities are seriously overpowered, and under the influence of the two above she just might become less of a wet hen and use her (also overpowered) offensive ones. \*\*Damage Dealer \*\*: There is nothing \*\*Deadpool \*\*can’t shoot, stab, blow up, stab and then piss on. **Wild Card** : **Silke** , of the _Belgariad_. He can think like a thief, finance any cockamamie operation the other four have got going, and in a pinch can kick surprising ass. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/23 "2009-09-07T13:45:23Z")
**James Bond** - Super efficient spy with a license to kill. **Gandalf** - Wizard with great command of earthly powers. **Spider-Man** - Superhero who is rarely defeated, and can climb walls. **The Doctor** - Charismatic time traveller with a deep understanding of the universe. **Igor** - Can fix anything and anybody. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/24 "2009-09-07T14:02:52Z")
**Green Lantern**. A character who, in theory, can do ANYTHING, limited only by inagination and willpower. I am tempted to take Ion here instead, but that’s hardly sporting–and he might well qualify as a god. **Doctor Strange**. The most competent sorceror in the Marvel universe, and probably the most reliable in any mileu. **Doctor Manhattan**. Sheer power, limited only by his awareness. **Doctor Who**. Portrayed as a bumbling idiot, but always somehow able to craft a technological solution where the “better” scientists fail. Doesn’t look the part, but has the goods when it counts. **Tiresias**. We need an all-knowing seer for this group, and he fits the bill perfectly. Granted, his usual limitation is not being able to do anything about what he foresees, but the other four on this team should be able to balance that nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/25 "2009-09-07T17:53:50Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I read the OP as saying only one pick per universe. So I don’t think you can pick Superman and Batman or Reed Richards and Doctor Strange. This is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/26 "2009-09-07T18:10:16Z")
And my own team: 1. Doc Savage–team leader, expert in everything, also can serve as a doctor. 2. Elminster–team wizard, able to cast Wish, Time Stop, and can manipulate Spellfire. 3. Superman–the tank, should be able to hold aggro on anything physical. 4. Montgomery Scott–as far as I know, did not go to Georgia Tech, but is still a helluva engineer. 5. Lady Sally Callahan–Time travel, Galactic Guardian of unknown power, also runs an upscale bordello which could host the victory party. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/27 "2009-09-07T18:25:13Z")
Batman and Jason Bourne could, with their efforts combined, defeat the sun itself. So, them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/28 "2009-09-07T20:00:22Z")
Some borrowed, some new: 1: Sam Vimes (Discworld). Not only is he about the only guy who could successfully lead a ragtag bunch like this (as long as I don’t include any vampires), he’s also pretty good at figuring out just what exactly is actually going on, in time to do something about it. 2: The Amazing Skeeve (Myth-Adventures). Sure, he knows he’s usually in way over his head, but nobody else in the multiverse seems to ever realize it. I probably don’t have enough magical firepower at my disposal no matter what magician I pick, but Skeeve’s all about casting smarter, not harder. 3: Agatha Heterodyne (Girl Genius). Sure, Macgyver can improvise a single-shot cannon from materials at hand, but Agatha can improvise a hand-held death ray that leaves a three-meter hole in a dozen layers of stone walls. 4: Bink (Xanth). If I have magic, then whatever the nebulous threat is probably does, too. If the problem involves magic at all, and Bink’s on the team, then they’re pretty much guaranteed not to fail. Plus, even against nonmagical threats, Piers Anthony is one of the very few authors cheesy enough to actually give his main characters explicit plot armor. 1. Green Lantern Hal Jordan (DC). Once we figure out what the threat is, we’ll have to do something about it. Superman may have more raw power, but he’s not very versatile: His skill set is mostly limited to “hit things really hard”. Hal, though, can do pretty much anything he wants, as long as it’s green. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/29 "2009-09-07T20:37:58Z")
Indiana Jones Rincewind The Stainless Steel Rat Judge Dredd Sherlock Holmes ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/30 "2009-09-07T21:19:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Some borrowed, some new: > > 1: Sam Vimes (Discworld). Not only is he about the only guy who could successfully lead a ragtag bunch like this (as long as I don’t include any vampires), he’s also pretty good at figuring out just what exactly is actually going on, in time to do something about it. > > 2: The Amazing Skeeve (Myth-Adventures). Sure, he knows he’s usually in way over his head, but nobody else in the multiverse seems to ever realize it. I probably don’t have enough magical firepower at my disposal no matter what magician I pick, but Skeeve’s all about casting smarter, not harder. > > 3: Agatha Heterodyne (Girl Genius). Sure, Macgyver can improvise a single-shot cannon from materials at hand, but Agatha can improvise a hand-held death ray that leaves a three-meter hole in a dozen layers of stone walls. > > 4: Bink (Xanth). If I have magic, then whatever the nebulous threat is probably does, too. If the problem involves magic at all, and Bink’s on the team, then they’re pretty much guaranteed not to fail. Plus, even against nonmagical threats, Piers Anthony is one of the very few authors cheesy enough to actually give his main characters explicit plot armor. > > 1. Green Lantern Hal Jordan (DC). Once we figure out what the threat is, we’ll have to do something about it. Superman may have more raw power, but he’s not very versatile: His skill set is mostly limited to “hit things really hard”. Hal, though, can do pretty much anything he wants, as long as it’s green. Not bad. However– Dump Vimes. Replace with James T. Kirk, Galactic Badass. Very good leader, has some science smarts, deals _very well_ with the unusual. Dump Jordan, replace with Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. All of Jordan’s power, lots more experience, more of a team player, backup leader. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/31 "2009-09-07T21:39:04Z")
Gandalf - Great leadership abilities, magic, and can wield a blade as well. Jack Bauer - Sneaky bastard. Can handle anything thrown his way. Isn’t afraid to break the rules. Frank Martin from The Transporter - He’ll be the driver. Also good with a gun and hand to hand combat. Cameron, The Terminator - No one really expects her to be any trouble. Faithfully follows orders. C3P0 - Gandalf takes care of hobbits, Jack is always saving Kim’s ass, Frank always has a damsel in distress and Cameron is always looking after John Connor. They all need some accident prone dumbass to keep them on track. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/32 "2009-09-08T00:03:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Dump Vimes. > > Replace with James T. Kirk, Galactic Badass. Very good leader, has some science smarts, deals very well with the unusual. > > Dump Jordan, replace with Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. All of Jordan’s power, lots more experience, more of a team player, backup leader. Vimes is primarily in there as a leader, and let’s face it, Kirk isn’t much of an inspirational figure. And it’s my impression that Jordan has more experience with cosmic-level threats than Scott, and uses his powers more creatively, though I admit I’m not an expert on Lantern lore. And I must admit that **Peter Morris** ’s choice of the Stainless Steel Rat has a lot to offer, though he needs to be kept supplied with gadgets. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/33 "2009-09-08T02:44:18Z")
Just for fun, I allowed myself no repeats of other people’s lists. Brains: Mike, from _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. The original super-smart AI, Mike will handle every last little organizational detail. He will tirelessly gather information from every imaginable source, and correlate the hell out of it. And from the very beginning, he’ll have it planned out to the endgame. Muscle: The Master Chief, from _HALO_. For when it absolutely, positively, has to be blown up overnight. Grease: Luke Skywalker, from _Star Wars_. For situations that require a little more finesse than the Master Chief can provide. Smart, agile, and all the Force power we’ll need. Magic: Albus Dumbledore, from _Harry Potter_. Smart as a whip, accomplished duelist, and cool under fire. Oh, yeah, and he’s magical, too. Technology: Dr. Henry Deacon, from _Eureka_. If it ever worked, he can fix it. If it ever might work, he can build it. And if it’s science related, he knows about it. I kind of wanted Professor X and Agatha Heterodyne, but they were already spoken for. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/34 "2009-09-08T03:04:32Z")
Hmm, problem is you got a bunch of type-A’s who’ll spend as much time infighting and showing each other up as working against the mutual foe… So, trying to not use anyone already listed: Leader - Captain Carrot (_Discworld_). So much charisma people will do anything for him. Tech - Data (_ST:TNG_). The Doctor is my first thought, but he’s a maverick. Data doesn’t have any real ego issues to get in they way, andonce you take away the bad writers, he can probably think circles around the rest of the techies. Muscle - Terminator from _T2_, appropriately programmed, of course. Magic - Sparrowhawk, in his prime. All-Around Moxie - Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl (_The Incredibles_). Superhero, can work in a team, can fly a plane, you name it. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/35 "2009-09-08T03:51:47Z")
I’m feeling that this party needs to be fairly pragmatic and morally ambiguous. Muscle/Intimidation/Assassination/Comic Relief: HK-47 (Star Wars, Knights of the Old Republic) When you absolutely have to shred every last meatbag in the room, accept no substitutes. No morals. Mind Control/Propaganda/Subterfuge: The Mule (Foundation). You can’t refuse him. Brains/Technology: Minerva (computer) (Heinlein, World as a Myth/Future History) Can coordinate, build, monitor, and find anything. Cunning Leadership: Roland the Gunslinger (Dark Tower), the ability to form a ka-tet with the rest of the group to guide their actions and bring them to face down the challenge. Also he knows when to shoot first and ask questions later. Magic/Occult/Paranormal: Harry Dresden (Dresden Files), he’s resourceful and gives the team not only magic, but occult and paranormal knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/36 "2009-09-08T04:03:16Z")
Samus Aran from the _Metroid_ series - Ready to kick the spine out of anyone Zaraki Kenpachi from _Bleach_ - The epitome of badass Sherlock Holmes - Same reasons as everyone else picked him Tommy - Just in case cosmic pinball is involved Gandalf - He covers for Tommy in times of no cosmic pinball ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/37 "2009-09-08T05:17:50Z")
I’m stacking my deck by trying to multitask. **Batman - Greatest Detective, Leader, and a whole lot more** He beats out Sherlock Holmes by bringing muscle, tech, billions, tactical genius, the coolest base ever, and ultra-dickery, in addition to being the world’s greatest detective. Oh, and he can be (MUST be) the leader too. But picking him costs me Superman. **Incredible Hulk - professor version, muscle AND superbrains** The madder he gets, the stronger he gets – so infinite muscle, plus this version is a top-level superscientist even when he’s not Bruce Banner. **The Saint of Killers - Patron Saint of Slaughter and Assassination.** > **[List of Preacher characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Preacher#Saint_of_Killers)** > > The following is a list of characters from the comic book series Preacher, created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, and the adaptation developed by Sam Catlin, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen. > The following actors have been credited in the opening titles of the television series adaptation of Preacher. > Jesse Custer, also known as Jesse L'Angelle, is a small-town church pastor who becomes fused with a powerful entity named Genesis, giving him the ability to cause people to obey whatever he comma... Can’t be harmed. Can kill anything - even God - with a single shot. In case my muscle, Hulk, is tied up, this guy can finish any fight. **The Freed Genie from Disney’s Aladdin** Nobody expected Robin Williams! But magic-wise, this guy can do anything. So there. And seeing Robin Williams pester the ever-living hell out of Batman with his coke-fueled routines would be priceless. **The Borg Queen from Star Trek First Contact + Cube** Hey, I got a lady, well half a lady (minus her lady-half) on my list! I don’t think it’s too much of a wank that she comes with her spaceship, since Batman gets all his stuff. I don’t even need her millions of soldiers, if that evens it up. She could always make more after being summoned – hey an innumerable army is quite an asset. She’s here for that nigh unstoppable spacecraft - just in case my team needs to go off planet. The tech is a huge plus. I really like my picks. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/38 "2009-09-08T05:31:06Z")
Ah, it appears the Genie has three limitations on his powers: > [@](#): > > he could break the laws of nature, shapeshift into virtually anything, break the fourth wall, warp reality at a whim, lift the palace of Agrabah with no problems, give other people his power, undo the works of any magic, and escape a magically sealed cave. \*\*However, he had three limits to his powers; he could not kill, could not make people fall in love, and could not raise the dead \*\*(though he states that he can perform resurrections, but simply does not enjoy doing so as the resurrected are implied to be turned into zombies which he describes as “not a pretty picture”). Not a big deal. He stays. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/39 "2009-09-08T06:20:35Z")
For the sake of fun…a 1-voice-actor team…all characters voiced at some point by Cam Clarke… 1. Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) - Leader. Skilled swordsman. 2. Max Sterling (Robotech) - best Veritech pilot of his generation…possibly ever. Veritechs being powerful transforming mechs, capable of transforming between the forms of fighter jets, or automatic-weapon-wielding humanoid robots, or a hybrid form. 3. Reed Richards (Marvel U) - brains and tech. Just imagine the upgrades he could give Max’s VT. 4. Drizzt Do’Urden (D&D/Forgotten Realms) - skilled fighter, Drow heritage, granting him minor magical abilities and resistances, a good number of magical goodies. 5. Medivh (Warcraft) - powerful magic user, prophet. Immortal. Unfortunately possessed by a malefic being, making him moderately unpredictable, I think it’s worth chancing this to have a dedicated magic user. Aside from Medivh, a rather low-powered group, but… ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142/40 "2009-09-08T07:18:25Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > **The Saint of Killers - Patron Saint of Slaughter and Assassination.** > [List of Preacher characters - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Preacher#Saint_of_Killers) > Can’t be harmed. Can kill anything - even God - with a single shot. In case my muscle, Hulk, is tied up, this guy can finish any fight. God, you’re right, how did I miss him ? He’s less funny than Deadpool, that’s for sure, but the sumbitch’ll one shot Death itself if that’s what it takes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-a-team-of-fictional-characters-to-save-the-world/509142.md?page=3)