Marvel Civil War #1, what do you think?

[stevelabny]

Well thats confusing, because the only "A-lister" missing from the team is Thor. And they added Spider-Man and Wolverine who are sales A-listers, and Sentry who is anew character but is one of the most powerful characters in the MU and is someone that they hope will become an A-lister. Cage and Spider-Woman are the only two characters who aren't. This team is too A-lister oriented.

The reason why the Avengers were cool is because they WEREN'T a team of a-listers.
Captain America, Iron Man and Thor are rarely all on the same team at the same time.
The "real" Avengers include Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hank Pym, Wasp, Hawkeye, Wonder Man, and then you're quickly filling out rosters with Black Knight, Tigra, Quasar, Triathalon and a whole bunch of other Z-listers.

The Avengers instantly grant respect and reputation to lesser known heroes, which is why there's been so many stories about people wanting to become Avengers. (like Justice and Firestar...oh wait, if I bring them up as Avengers, Quesada might hunt me down and tell me the Warriors are jokes and could never win a fight)

This is also why I would rather have the Bwahahaha (or even Detroit) version of the Justice League rather than a "big 7".

 

[Felon]

Well thats confusing, because the only "A-lister" missing from the team is Thor. And they added Spider-Man and Wolverine who are sales A-listers

See, I actually did make a distinction between characters that were popular to us in the real world and those that were considered top-tier heroes in the MU. Characters are often popular specifically because they're misfits, outcasts, underdogs, and/or antiheroes.

The reason why the Avengers were cool is because they WEREN'T a team of a-listers. Captain America, Iron Man and Thor are rarely all on the same team at the same time. The "real" Avengers include Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hank Pym, Wasp, Hawkeye, Wonder Man, and then you're quickly filling out rosters with Black Knight, Tigra, Quasar, Triathalon and a whole bunch of other Z-listers.

You were doing okay until you got to Tigra and Triathlon. It's good that Cap and Shellhead are there to provide lend weight to the team. It's not so good that they're leading a bunch of lightweights who should be patrolling alleys for muggers.

I guess some folks might need the concept of an A-list hero explained. The reference is to individuals who are the best choices in their field, be it for their power like Thor, Wonder Man, & Iron Man, or for their expertise like Hank Pym & Mr. Fantastic (and Iron Man again), or for their experience like Captain America. Its often a combination thereof. But putting aside Spidey's real-world popularity, what does he really contribute? They've got super-strength covered. Squirting webby goo? Spideys and quinjets just don't mix.

The Avengers instantly grant respect and reputation to lesser known heroes

Or conversely, allowing minor-leaguers like Triathlon and Spider-Woman into their lowers the reputation of the Avengers.

 

[Silver Moon]

Have they recruited Captain Ultra and Stuntmaster yet?

Actually, in last year's GLA miniseries the Great Lakes Avengers attempted to recruit Captain Ultra but he turned them down.

Every decade or so we get some writer for the JLA or Avengers that think they're revolutionizing the elite superteam by ditching the A-list heroes and bringing in the second-stringers. That goes all the way back to Avengers #16. It starts off novel, then sales dip until eventually somebody gets the genius idea to bring the dream team back. Personally, I long for the day when they decide to just keep the dream team.

Have to say it acutally worked with Avengers #16, even after they added Giant Man back on the team (I always felt Henry Pym was 2nd Tier to begin with), but yes once it got up to the 50's they felt the need to bring back the big guns. On the other hand, that team in the 1980's that featured Dr. Druid as team leader was the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Felon]

Actually, in last year's GLA miniseries the Great Lakes Avengers attempted to recruit Captain Ultra but he turned them down.

Ah yes, great stuff. So far, Dan Slott has been my best discovery of 2006.

 

[WayneLigon]

So what's this about them killing off the New Warriors? Not surprised that one of my favorite teams was going to get offered up on the sacrificial platter, but did any of them live?

 

[Klaus]

So what's this about them killing off the New Warriors? Not surprised that one of my favorite teams was going to get offered up on the sacrificial platter, but did any of them live?

Yes, there are survivors, and the Marvel solicits (at Newsarama) say that the survivors are going to trial for the Disaster.