Top Ten… Superhero Teams!
Note: Apologies for the somewhat bored tone of this entry. I wrote it whilst ill and when I really couldn’t be bothered writing anything. But hell, a top ten’s a top ten, right?
An promised: something on comics. Unless he’s a guy like Superman, Thor or Captain Marvel, your average superhero is often limited to just one or two specialised powers – the Flash, for example can run really fast, but that’s it. It makes sense, therefore, for superheroic types to team up and form groups in order to better combat crime. Submitted for your approval: the top ten superhero teams. Onward!
10. THE HOWLING COMMANDOS
Notable members: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Izzy Cohen, Dino Maneli and Rebel Ralston.
Before Nick Fury was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and before he looked like Samuel L. Jackson, he was the leader of the Howling Commandos, a group of soldiers during WW2. Originally made up of human GIs, a later version of the group took a more supernatural bent with members including Nina Price, N’Kantu, Gorilla-Man and Frankenstein’s Monster.
9. THE DEFENDERS
Notable members: Doctor Strange, the Incredible Hulk, Namor and the Silver Surfer.
A group of heroes known more as individuals than team players, the Defenders were first brought together by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru in Marvel Feature #1. Other notable members have included Hawkeye, Hellcat, Beast and Luke Cage.
8. THE JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Notable members: The Flash, Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Mister America, Doctor Mid-Nite and Liberty Belle.
The original superhero team, making their first apperance in 1940 and featuring the classic Golden Age versions of the Flash and the Green Lantern, the Justice Society of America were the prototype for every team that followed. An updated version of the team appeared in 1999 with members such as Stargirl, Hourman, Judomaster and Power Girl.
7. THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS.
Notable members: Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Kilowog and Guy Gardner.
Less a team and more an orginisation, the Green Lantern Corps operate as a sort of intergalactic police squad, patrolling their assigned planets and keeping the peace. Members of the GLC have also been members of other groups, most famously Hal Jordan in the JLA and Alan Scott in the JSA.
6. THE MINUTEMEN/THE WATCHMEN
Notable members: Rorsach, Ozymandias, Nite Owl, the Comedian, Captain Manhattan and the Silk Spectre.
Known as the Minutemen in the comics and the Watchmen in the movie, the characters of Watchmen are among the most layered and interesting in comics. Inspired by various characters from classic comics, the characters from Watchmen are, thanks to the success of the movie adaptation, almost as well known to casual audiences as Superman and Batman.
5. THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Notable members: Mina Harker, Doctor Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, Alan Quatermain, Captain Nemo and Hawley Griffin.
A group of Victorian literary characters brought together by Alan Moore to protect the intrests of the British Empire. Employed by Mycroft (bother of Sherlock) Holmes, the League have encountered many famous characters, including Victorian characters John Carter of Mars, Fu Manchu and more recent characters such as James Bond, Emma Peel and Bulldog Drummond.
4. THE X-MEN
Notable members: Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Iceman, Shadowcat, Emma Frost, Beast and Jean Grey.
More famous now for Hugh Jackman than as a comic series, the X-Men are nonetheless a classic superhero team. Certainly the most diverse of all the groups of heroes, the X-Men were created by comics gods Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963 are have remained one of the House of Ideas’ most enduring creations with what seems like seventy four million spin off comic book series and four hit movies of varying quality.
3. THE FANTASTIC FOUR
Notable members: Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Thing, the Invisible Girl.
The first hero group of the modern age of comics, the FF were revolutionary when they were introduced as the were the first heroes not to wear costumes (at first) and whose secret identities were known to everyone. Led by Reed “Mr. Fantastic” Ricards, the FF were granted their powers when their experimental spaceship was bombarded by “cosmic rays.”
2. THE AVENGERS
Notable members: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Giant Man and the Wasp.
I’ve written before on this very blog about the Avengers and they’re one on my favorite superhero teams. First appearing in 1963, the Avengers have undergone more roster changes than almost any other group of heroes, but the classic Cap/Thor/Iron Man trio at the heart of the team is one of the most enduring partnerships in comics.
1. THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
Notable members: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, Hawk Man and Aquaman.
For sheer star power alone, the JLA make the top spot on our list. The list of past and present members reads like a who’s who of DC comics, with everyone from Supergirl to the Martian Manhunter joining the roster at one time or another. Formed in 1960 by the great Gardner Fox in The Brave and the Bold #28, the JLA have been protecting the world in one form or another ever since.
I guess the message here is even superheroes get lonley sometimes. Either that or might makes right, but that’s a tad too facistic for my taste, so we’ll stick to the first one. In any case, lemmie know your thoughts below and stay tuned for the next thrilling installment of the never ending top ten series. End transmission.
