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Post by spiderwasp on Jun 22, 2010 1:08:12 GMT -5
I wasn't how to use a quote and start a new thread so I just cut and pasted this quote from Bong on the Worst Avengers thread.
"I think what we've discussed more often in the past (back when I was making the polls of avengers to be individually rated, for example), was who are the best seven avengers. Only IMO that question is not as interesting, as we usually end up with a combination of the founders -with Cap instead of the Hulk- (or most of them) and the (other) Big Three: Hawkeye, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch."
I had already been thinking along those same lines and it made me come up with this poll. Who are the7 best Avengers who became active after the 60s. This eliminates Captain America, Ironman, Thor, Hank Pym, Wasp, Hulk, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, Black Knight, Vision, and Black Panther. I didn't eliminate Wonderman and Swordsman because their memberships in the 60s weren't real memberships since they were both simply infiltrating the team and therefore their real runs didn't come till the 70s and Black Widow never actually joined the team till the 70s so I didn't eliminate her either.
To keep it from getting out of hand, I'd prefer to keep things with an actual official Avengers team rather than Young Avengers, Initiative and so forth but I'd say that decision for interpretation should be left up to each person who chooses to post.
Here's my list:
1. Wonderman- His return was something different. He was so out of place and afraid that he truly needed the Avengers as much as they needed his power. 2. Beast - I love fun in a comic book and Hank could always provide this. That's why he was better here, IMO, than in any of the X books. 3. She-Hulk- Another fun character and one my all-time favorites. 4. Captain Marvel/Photon - I hated the way her run ended but for most of it, I thought she was one of the most likeable Avengers ever. She was an excellent fit for the team. 5. Justice - I loved his eagerness to please and his sense of being overwhelmed by the likes of Captain America. Seeing the Avengers through his eyes was part of how Busiek reminded us of the teams greatness. 6. Tigra - Another thing I love in a character is to watch them develop slowly. Watching Tigra go from being scared to death to being a competent member of the team was good. I wasn't crazy about that weird period when she went crazy and Hank Pym had to shrink her but other than that... 7. Quasar - He added a lot of power to the team but he was also an excellent team player.
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Doctor Bong
Young Avenger
Master of belly dancing! (No, really...)
Posts: 73
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Post by Doctor Bong on Jun 22, 2010 4:40:49 GMT -5
Well, if we're talking a good fit for the team, I agree on almost all your choices, except I would take Tigra out of my list and put Mockingbird in it instead. If we're talking personal favorites, though, my list would be:
1) She-Hulk. I like a sense of fun in my comics as well.
2) Tigra. Dig the idea of a werecat. IMO every team should have one.
3) Quasar. One of my favorite Marvel characters, thanks to Gruenwald. 4) Thor II / Thunderstrike. Likewise, a favorite of mine; an average Joe dealing with the powers of a god.
5) Crystal. Take it as you will, I liked the Harras era, but I do wish her powers would be better defined. Then again, it's not like that's not the case with some other avengers.
6) Firebird. Really like her, especially the way she was portrayed by Busiek during that Kang storyline. Always wished she had stayed longer in an active roster at some point in time.
7) Mockingbird. Loved her in Avengers West Coast, the way Clint and her would banter around. IMO the writer/s was(were) very often able to create the sense that this was a "real" couple, with troubles and issues yet with a deep afection between the two of them. And despite her not having any superpowers, most of the time she carried her weight around in the team and never (or seldom, at any rate) played the role of damsel in distress. Also, to me, she was almost as much as Clint the soul of the Wackos.
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kidcage
Reservist Avenger
Posts: 167
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Post by kidcage on Jun 22, 2010 13:43:33 GMT -5
Oooh, I like this thread.
1) She-Hulk: Aside from Hawkeye, my all-time favorite Avenger. The run where it was Cap/Thor/Wasp/IM/Hawkeye/She-Hulk was probably the best lineup that I saw. All it was missing was...
2) Ms. Marvel: Carol has always been a big favorite of mine as well.
3) Quasar: I Did enjoy this character, and having read his solo run off-and-on, he was definitely a fun guy to have on the team.
4) USAgent: While I don't necessarily like the character, I thought he was a fun addition to the Avengers because he was one they didn't WANT. He was forced on them but yet he did take his job on the Avengers seriously (it seemed) at times. Might not be the greatest memory of Avengers, but he was definitely memorable.
5) Beast: I love Beast and Wonder-Man's interaction, and Beast was always good for a grin.
6) Tigra/Mockingbird: I tied these because they really helped WCA be a great book to read. I enjoyed Mockingbird's relationship with Hawkeye, and Tigra being... well... Tigra was just fun.
7) Jarvis: Now I don't know if he'd count as "post 1960s", but it was in the 70s - 80s I think we saw more of this character. Being such a focal point of the Mansion under Siege storyline, I always thought he was a needed piece to Avengers lore.
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Post by Shiryu on Jun 22, 2010 14:31:48 GMT -5
This is surprisingly difficult actually.
Let's see...
1) Justice & Firestar, I count them as one. I loved the way they grew as characters during the first part of V3.
2) Photon, or whatever she is called today. Great powers and even greater personality. And I like the fact that her being black skinned wasn't actually a plot point in any story, but just a fact. It's a pity she has been underused more or less ever since.
3) Quasar. He reminds me of DC's Captain Marvel for some reason, a very sunny character.
4) Ms Marvel/Warbird. I'm surprised no one mentioned her so far, she is another strong personality and has interesting powers. A bit all over the place at times, but she often has something to say.
5) Wonder Man. I haven't read him on WCA and probably that's a good thing, but I see him most of the times as a nice, level-headed guy, often at the centre of some sort of relationship, be it friendship, romance, brotherhood or something else.
I have to think about 6 and 7. I'm intrigued by Starfox and Namor but they haven't been around a lot really. Jarvis of course is a top member in any possible group, but I suppose we should focus on super powered people. I'm tempted to say Spider-Man, would I ever be forgiven? ;D
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Post by sharkar on Jun 22, 2010 20:31:03 GMT -5
Great question. I'm going to exclude characters like Namor and Ben, since they have such strong personas outside of their tenures with the Avengers. Here's my seven:
1. Black Widow. Since SW's rules state she is eligible, she's my number one. I've always liked her; her "powers" aren't anything to write home about, so she relies on her intelligence and toughness. She can work on a team or go solo.
2. Sersi. Love her look (especially the green costume), her powers, and yes, I liked the Gatherers storyline.
3. Crystal. Okay, this is purely subjective--I don't consider her to be a great, or even good, Avenger...I just like the character.
4. Jocasta
5. Wonder Man
6. Starfox. Great look and personality.
7. Stingray. Just kidding. I don't really have a strong preference here, so I'll stick the always-entertaining USAgent in this slot.
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kidcage
Reservist Avenger
Posts: 167
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Post by kidcage on Jun 23, 2010 14:50:26 GMT -5
I feel bad because I neglected Captain Marvel/Photon. Let's change my #6 pick for her.
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Post by spiderwasp on Jun 23, 2010 16:24:44 GMT -5
I feel bad because I neglected Captain Marvel/Photon. Let's change my #6 pick for her. Good thing you changed that. You don't want Monica mad at you. She's tough to hide from.
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Post by humanbelly on Jun 23, 2010 17:17:50 GMT -5
Okay, let's see, let's see. Wellllll, I'm gonna fudge and go initially w/ my favorite Avengers from that period. The criteria here being more along the lines of whose story I was consistently interested in, who I was rooting for, and the like. More or less chronologically:
Beast Wonderman Jocasta She-Hulk Photon (Monica of Many Names) Quasar
and. . . a toss-up between Namor & Spidey. I'm gonna (gulp!) still go with Spidey, just 'cause I stubbornly enjoy him on the team. I know, I know. . . this flies in the face of the majority opinion 'round here. But I can't seem to get my tastes to conform that readily. I mean, I love Little Debbie Star Crunches, too-- go figure. . .
HOWEVER-- if we're thinking that "Best" may be more synonymous w/ "indispensable", or that they may have been figures that the team at some point simply couldn't have thrived without, then I think it suggests a different list:
Black Widow-- Gatherers & Post-gatherers, she was the authoritative glue for the team. Kind of the forgotten chairman/leader, I think.
Beast-- His generally spirited, team-friendly camaraderie was indispensable. I'm remembering a simple scene during a stakeout where he was schlepping hot chocolate or coffee around to everyone else. . .
Photon/Capt Marvel-- Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't she the first official Chairman that wasn't a founder or at least someone who joined in the 60's?
She-Hulk-- For her aggressive personality as much as her raw power. And she seemed to have some kind of relationship with everybody.
WonderMan-- Simply because, like Hercules, he's been an active Avenger for a heck of a lot longer than people realize. Sort of like an Offensive Lineman who keeps quietly playing season after season.
Justice & Firestar-- the young, rookie heart of Busiek's Avengers. Idealistic and eager to please. Gave that team a very necessary sense of optimism and the need to strive past one's limits.
Dr. Strange-- Hey, I'm lookin' at the big picture! Luke Cage may be Bendis' main man, but that NA team would have been multiple slices of toast if not for Stephen Strange's resourcefulness, knowledge, abilities, and quiet leadership. Other than the fact that his "voice" was never appropriately handled, I was happy to see him on the team, and it's darned good for them that he was there-!
Okay, two lists for the same thread--- whatta bargain---
HB
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kidcage
Reservist Avenger
Posts: 167
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Post by kidcage on Jun 24, 2010 13:51:25 GMT -5
Oooh, HB with a tangent that made me think. And you know, you bring in just about anyone I could think of, because everyone you've listed almost seems to be more underrated in what they brought to the team.
Justice/Firestar were one of my reasons for loving Busiek's Avengers. I thought the fact that you had Hawkeye see something in them and then the team brought them in was great. And besides, that picture of Cap calling out for Avengers Assemble and you see Justice with that pose of "this is the greatest thing in my superhero life" just had a fanboy look that didn't seem cheesy.
I really like your points about Black Widow and Dr. Strange. While Strange wasn't my first thought of "he'd make a cool Avenger", when he was brought in, and how he was needed, definitely made it very easy to enjoy him on the team.
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Post by starfoxxx on Jul 7, 2010 13:50:54 GMT -5
Beast She-Hulk Tigra Starfox Jocasta Capt Marvel/Photon Firestar....Firebird could easily have replaced Firestar here, similar idea ( i liked the Espirita phase), she just was underused. Firestar's new costume SUCKED, though.
Also Stingray, Quasar, and Wonder Man and Black Widow. Rhodey was a big part of the old Wackos stories that i loved, too. But the first seven are my favorites.
and Dr Strange, Spider-Woman and Iron Fist are 3 i always wanted on the Avengers, but with Bendis it just fell flat, for me. Too bad.
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nova36
Force Works-er
Posts: 19
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Post by nova36 on Jul 17, 2010 8:09:45 GMT -5
You know when you think of it this is really hard, there are quite a few Meh Avengers since the 60's, but here goes. 1.) She-Hulk as a contrast to her cousin what a great Avenger, funny, get's along well with others cept for Hawkeye which made for some great fights, and great in a fight and most of all a strong female Chara. 2.) Captain Marvel/pulsar/photon/Monica Whatever you wanna call her a great avenger, was great as a rookie..slowly developed in a great Chara and eventually a decent leader ( had to put up with doc druid after all).I think she deserves a comeback. 3.)Quasar A fantastic Avenger, with a great run in his own book by Gru everything about Wendall works, he has been great in Nova recently and i hope after The Thanos Imperative he gets a shot in some Avengers title, extremely likable 4.)Justice and Firestar I liked em first time i saw em in New warriors..well actually i saw Vance in GoTG and Firestar in spidey and his amazing friends but i digress. They worked extremely well in the Avengers..Vance with his Fandom and Firestar with her concerns ( health and otherwise.). I am sorry they broke up..vance seems to be a vet now in Avengers academy and Firestar seems to be the natural choice for leader of the young allies...two great Avengers. 5.) Black widow She works as a leader or just a special operative, she works better now in a covert type group but i really like Natasha. 6.) Beast I am not one for crossing franchises but hank works soo much better in the Avengers and i am not much of a wonderman fan but with hank it really works. His humor is excellent has a tech background and works well with others. 7.) i am leaving this blank in the hopes that my fav new Chara in the Marvel U will leave his mark, come on Brubaker you can do it make the kid a star ;D
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