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The yin to the tantalizing yang that is my "Least useful..." thread. Probably a lot harder to decide too.

Characters on superhero teams range in powers, skills etc. So when taking into account the all-round abilities of characters which ones are most useful? Which team member is so integral that a team couldn't function without them on the following teams:

Astonishing X-Men
Fantastic Four
The original JLA
The Authority
New Avengers
Teen Titans
The Inhumans
Runaways
Young Avengers
Alpha Flight
The Outsiders
Excalibur
JSA
Thunderbolts
Birds of Prey
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati
Great Lakes Avengers
Doom Patrol
Stormwatch
Defenders
New Warriors
Imperial Guard
Exiles
Squadron Supreme
X-Factor
New JLA line-up

For any of these it need not be the most recent incarnation of the team.

Astonishing X-Men --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Fantastic Four --- Reed
The original JLA --- Martian Manhunter
The Authority --- Midnighter/Jack
New Avengers --- Iron Man
Teen Titans --- Not too familiar with the line-up
The Inhumans --- Black Bolt (no contest)
Runaways --- I suppose the goth chick
Young Avengers --- The magician kid
Alpha Flight --- Shaman
The Outsiders --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Excalibur --- Not too familiar with the line-up
JSA --- Sentinal
Thunderbolts --- Original team - Zemo, good guy team - Hawkeye, current team - Zemo again
Birds of Prey --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati --- Iron Man (it was his idea)
Great Lakes Avengers --- Mr Immortal
Doom Patrol --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Stormwatch --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Defenders --- Strange/Surfer
New Warriors --- I used to think Darkhawk was their best guy, or old version Nova
Imperial Guard --- Gladiator
Exiles --- Blink
Squadron Supreme --- Hyperion
X-Factor --- Not too familiar with the line-up

I'll give it a shot

Astonishing X-Men-Cyclops. Flapship team must have flapship leader imo.
Fantastic Four-Reed. His inventions/dicscoveries make up most of the FF's adventures
The original JLA-Tough. I'd say MM
The Authority-Another toughie since I think either member can leave and I wouldn't care but I'd say Jenny
New Avengers-Can't have any sort of Avengers without Cap
Teen Titans-Robin. Dick was amazing as Robin in the TT and Tim is looking to go even further
The Inhumans-Black Bolt. The epitome of the strong, silent type
Runaways-That skrull chick?
Young Avengers-Patriot. He's their version of Cap
Alpha Flight-Major Mapleleaf
The Outsiders-Nightwing. I think he fits for the covert ops
Excalibur-Captain Britain
JSA-Hawkman. SHould be permanent chairman
Thunderbolts-I used to think Abe but I'm really liking Zemo right now
Birds of Prey-Black Canary

Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati-Tony
Great Lakes Avengers-Mr Immortal
Doom Patrol-Don't know much bout these guys so I'll pass
Stormwatch-Same as above
Defenders-I've always loved Namor as a Defender
New Warriors-Night Thrasher. Rest in peace
Imperial Guard-Mohawk dude. Name escapes me
Exiles-Blink
Squadron Supreme-Hyperion
X-Factor-Madrox
New JLA line-up-Big three. If I had to pick one I'd be Superman

Originally posted by Scoobless
Astonishing X-Men --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Fantastic Four --- Reed
The original JLA --- Martian Manhunter
The Authority --- Midnighter/Jack
New Avengers --- Iron Man
Teen Titans --- Not too familiar with the line-up
The Inhumans --- Black Bolt (no contest)
Runaways --- I suppose the goth chick
Young Avengers --- The magician kid
Alpha Flight --- Shaman
The Outsiders --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Excalibur --- Not too familiar with the line-up
JSA --- Sentinal
Thunderbolts --- Original team - Zemo, good guy team - Hawkeye, current team - Zemo again
Birds of Prey --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati --- Iron Man (it was his idea)
Great Lakes Avengers --- Mr Immortal
Doom Patrol --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Stormwatch --- Not too familiar with the line-up
Defenders --- Strange/Surfer
New Warriors --- I used to think Darkhawk was their best guy, or old version Nova
Imperial Guard --- Gladiator
Exiles --- Blink
Squadron Supreme --- Hyperion
X-Factor --- Not too familiar with the line-up
I agree with most of your list but.

I'll put Flash with Alan for the JSA
I would like to put GL Hal for the JLA but it's really Superman.
Illuminati-Dr.Strange(Screw Ironman..)
Squadron Supreme-Dr.Spectrum.

Originally posted by Scoobless
You know if you're not to familiar with the line-up... you can leave the team out.

I would say back when Jenny Sparks was in the Authority she was the most useful. She was their centre. And look at the shit Jack got them into when he tried to assume her mantle.

I don't think Iron Man founding the Illuminati automatically qualifies him as the most useful.

Astonishing X-Men - Emma Frost
Fantastic Four - Mr. Fantastic
The original JLA - Martain Manhunter
The Authority - Jenny _____
New Avengers - Iron Man
Teen Titans - Probably Cyborg or Raven
The Inhumans - Black Bolt
Runaways - ???
Young Avengers - Wiccan
Alpha Flight - ???
The Outsiders - Nightwing
Excalibur - Juggernaut
JSA - Dr. Fate
Thunderbolts -???
Birds of Prey - ???
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati - Mr. Fantastic
Great Lakes Avengers - Squirrel Girl
Doom Patrol - Mento
Stormwatch - I guess Battalion or Sparks
Defenders - Strange
New Warriors - ???
Imperial Guard - Gladiator because that the only one I know lozzle
Exiles - Blink
Squadron Supreme - Hyperion
X-Factor - Cyke or Jean
New JLA line-up - Supes or Hal

Astonishing X-Men -- I'm actually gonna go with Cyke here.
Fantastic Four -- Sue. She keeps the gang together.
The original JLA -- Martian Manhunter.
The Authority -- Not really sure, but i'll go with Hawksmoor.
New Avengers -- Iron Man
Teen Titans -- Current? Probably Cyborg.
The Inhumans -- Black Bolt
Runaways -- Hmm... Vic.
Young Avengers -- Wiccan
Alpha Flight -- Shaman
The Outsiders -- Nightwing
Excalibur -- Captain Britain.
JSA -- Sentinal
Thunderbolts -- Zemo at the moment (though i'm doubt he'll stay useful for long)
Birds of Prey -- Oracle
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati -- Dr. Strange
Great Lakes Avengers -- Mr Immortal
Doom Patrol -- wouldn't know...
Stormwatch -- Wouldn't know...
Defenders -- Dr. Strange
New Warriors -- Nova
Imperial Guard -- Gladiator
Exiles -- Blink
Squadron Supreme -- Hyperion
X-Factor -- Layla Miller
New JLA line-up -- Too early to know. I'm hoping it'll be Red Tornado though.

Deciding between Vic and Nico in the Runaways is difficult but I'd lean towards Nico because she's both the leader and has a plot device Staff. I don't think they'd have much direction without her.

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
Deciding between Vic and Nico in the Runaways is difficult but I'd lean towards Nico because she's both the leader and has a plot device Staff. I don't think they'd have much direction without her. I do actually agree with you at the moment, but i think eventually Vic will become just as, if not more, integral to the team.

He'll definitely be very integral I'm sure, he's Magneto-lite Kid Ultron - very handy indeed. Besides he's getting lucky with the leader now... that bodes well for him in terms of essentialness. Look at Emma Frost.

Well Vic is supposedly going to become the most powerful superhuman on the planet (if you believed that storyline)

Something seems to be going on with him and his bro, Vision, in Civil War: Runaways/Young Avengers

Originally posted by B dot Rob

Great Lakes Avengers - Squirrel Girl


damn straight

Astonishing X-Men - Emma Frost
Fantastic Four - Mr. Fantastic
The original JLA - Green Lantern
The Authority - Hawksmoor
New Avengers - Iron Man
Teen Titans - Raven
The Inhumans - Black Bolt
The Outsiders - Nightwing
JSA - Green Lantern/Flash/Dr. Fate
Thunderbolts - Zemo currently, was Genis
Birds of Prey - Oracle
Marvel's Illuminati - Strange
Great Lakes Avengers - Squirrel Girl
Doom Patrol - Beast Boy
Defenders - Dr. Strange
Imperial Guard - Gladiator
Exiles - Blink
Squadron Supreme - Hyperion
New JLA line-up - Green Lantern

Originally posted by Lucid Lui
Fantastic Four -- Sue. She keeps the gang together

Im actually going to have to disagree with you there.

Usually its either Johnny or Ben that has kept the team toghether.

More recently, Johnny.

Astonishing X-Men - Cyclops, look whats happened to the team since he was put in a coma

Fantastic Four - Like before, its hard to say which is the most important as its nearly impossible to replace a member of the four, however, im going to say Sue here. When Reed "died", she took over as the leader and did a great job

The original JLA - As in the big 7? MM has always been the soul of the team

The Authority - Midnighter. No doubt one of the most badass characters ever

New Avengers - Cap. He's the true soul of the team

Teen Titans - Current - Cyborg. Original - Donna Troy

The Inhumans - Black Bolt

Runaways - Niko, she is pretty much the team's contcience

Young Avengers - "Hawkeye", as much as I hate her with that name, she is what keeps the team toghether

Alpha Flight - Guardian

The Outsiders - Nightwing

Excalibur - Captain Britan

JSA - Wildcat

Thunderbolts - Zemo

Birds of Prey - Oracle

Marvel's Illuminati - Iron Man

Great Lakes Avengers - Mr. Immortal is pretty much the heart of the team

Doom Patrol - Mento

Defenders - Dr. Strange

New Warriors - Speedball

Imperial Guard - Gladiator

Squadron Supreme - Blur

Exiles - Blink

X-Factor - Madrox

New JLA line-up - Red Tornado

Astonishing X-Men- Cyclops
Fantastic Four- Reed
The original JLA- Green Lantern, i think.
New Avengers- Iron Man
The Inhumans- Can anyone say it's not Black Bolt?
Alpha Flight- Shaman
Excalibur- Current? Captain Britain, i believe.
Marvel's Illuminati- Dr. Strange
Great Lakes Avengers- Mr. Immortal
Defenders- Dr. Strange
Imperial Guard- Gladiator
X-Factor- Madrox

Originally posted by Grimm22
New JLA line-up - Red Tornado


I'm not picking at your list but reading that and knowing Red Tornado is likely going to end up as a heap of scrap on the floor at some point was just too much.

Red Tornado is gonna be like the "token" ensign that Kirk always takes on away missions. LOL

Originally posted by Validus


I'm not picking at your list but reading that and knowing Red Tornado is likely going to end up as a heap of scrap on the floor at some point was just too much.

Well he's going to be a hell of a lot more important than Batman

Originally posted by Grimm22
Well he's going to be a hell of a lot more important than Batman

No he's not. Batman is part of the Big three.
He will always look good.
Plus he easily has the best sales outta all of them.

Astonishing X-Men - Beast off the field, Emma in battle

Fantastic Four - Mr. Fastastic off the field, Sue in a battle

The original JLA - Hal or J'onn

The Authority - the Doctor

New Avengers - Iron Man

Teen Titans - Cyborg or the Flash

The Inhumans - Black Bolt

Young Avengers - Wiccan

Alpha Flight - Shaman

The Outsiders - Nightwing

Excalibur - Captain Britain

JSA - Dr. Fate or Alan Scott

Thunderbolts - Zemo

Marvel's Illuminati - Dr. Strange

Defenders - Dr. Strange

Exiles - Blink

X-Factor - Jamie Madrox

New JLA - Superman

Not gonna do all of them just now,

Astonishing X-Men-Kitty. The other X-men got taken out by the Hellfire Club, she also saved them from the blast on Genoshea (sp?) and then stopped the giant sentinel from attacking them.

Fantastic Four-IW, probably the most versatile i'd say.

The original JLA-MM, again the most versatile.

New Avengers-Iron Man

Excalibur-Captain Britain of course

Originally posted by UniOmni
No he's not. Batman is part of the Big three.
He will always look good.
Plus he easily has the best sales outta all of them.

That dosent mean he's going to be more important than RT

Originally posted by Grimm22
Well he's going to be a hell of a lot more important than Batman

That's rubbish, and you know it. For this JLA line up, Batman is definitely going to be the planner/strategizer of the group, which is one of the more important jobs. Just because he doesn't do as much dirty work on the field doesn't mean he isn't one of the more important people or one of the more integral people. His overall knowledge makes him one of the tops, especially in this new line up which consists of Hawkgirl, Black Lightning, and Speedy.

Seriously man, he hasn't been called Speedy in years. You might as well call Dick Grayson Robin.

Originally posted by Validus
Seriously man, he hasn't been called Speedy in years. You might as well call Dick Grayson Robin.

blah

In short: you smell.

You suck at life.

sadwalk

Originally posted by batdude123
That's rubbish, and you know it. For this JLA line up, Batman is definitely going to be the planner/strategizer of the group, which is one of the more important jobs. Just because he doesn't do as much dirty work on the field doesn't mean he isn't one of the more important people or one of the more integral people. His overall knowledge makes him one of the tops, especially in this new line up which consists of Hawkgirl, Black Lightning, and Speedy.

If that's the case, one must wonder why is DC bringing back elements of Superman's enhanced intelligence and computational abilities? hmm

Originally posted by TheKahn
If that's the case, one must wonder why is DC bringing back elements of Superman's enhanced intelligence and computational abilities? hmm

He's getting closer and closer by the year of being back to his pre-crisis days.

Originally posted by batdude123
That's rubbish, and you know it. For this JLA line up, Batman is definitely going to be the planner/strategizer of the group, which is one of the more important jobs. Just because he doesn't do as much dirty work on the field doesn't mean he isn't one of the more important people or one of the more integral people. His overall knowledge makes him one of the tops, especially in this new line up which consists of Hawkgirl, Black Lightning, and Speedy.

Im just joking

Bats has always been an esential part of the team.

In reality, im going to say that Arsenal is the least important

Although I HATE his new Red Arrow costume

Originally posted by Grimm22
Im just joking

Bats has always been an esential part of the team.

In reality, im going to say that Arsenal is the least important

Although I HATE his new Red Arrow costume

You're of course entitled to your own opinion, however I feel that Hawkigirl will be even less important to the team than Arsenal.

Originally posted by batdude123
You're of course entitled to your own opinion, however I feel that Hawkigirl will be even less important to the team than Arsenal.

Eh

I think she has a ton of potential to unlock.

Arsenal belongs in the Outsiders with Nightwing.

Originally posted by Grimm22
Eh

I think she has a ton of potential to unlock.

Arsenal belongs in the Outsiders with Nightwing.

Unless she's getting her "anti magic" mace or the Claw of Horus, she has absolutely NO purpose on the team if you think about it. The JLA already have the flying and hitting people hard section covered. Not to mention she isn't even a FRACTION of what WW and Superman bring to the table in that area.

Originally posted by batdude123
Unless she's getting her "anti magic" mace or the Claw of Horus, she has absolutely NO purpose on the team if you think about it. The JLA already have the flying and hitting people hard section covered. Not to mention she isn't even a FRACTION of what WW and Superman bring to the table in that area.

But...

Hawkman is awesome

Originally posted by Grimm22
But...

Hawkman is awesome

Hawkman is awesome, Hawkgirl is not. And besides, he's the one with the Claw of Horus.

First off neither Hawkman or Hawkgirl are awesome.

Second off, Roy is infinitely more fun to read about than Ollie. He deserves his shot at the big time.

Third, I don't really have a third but you guys were slightly annoying to me.

So it's a crime to like Hawkman?

And what was so annoying about my posts?

Yes, it's a crime to like Hawkman. In some places it's a felony in others just a misdemeanor.

How can people think anyone's more useful to X-Factor than Layla Miller. Hell, half of them would be dead or not there if it weren;t for her.

Isn't she sort of a walking deus ex machina?

Exactly. What's more useful than that?

A flying deus ex machina.

lol... Well, you got me there.

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
A flying deus ex machina.

Originally posted by Validus
First off neither Hawkman or Hawkgirl are awesome.

Second off, Roy is infinitely more fun to read about than Ollie. He deserves his shot at the big time.

Third, I don't really have a third but you guys were slightly annoying to me.

Hawkman = Awesome underrated character

Second, I like Roy however that costume just puts him back in Ollie's shadow

Third, Take a ham and shove it down your pants zorro

Bump.

The yin to the tantalizing yang that is my "Least useful..." thread. Probably a lot harder to decide too.

Characters on superhero teams range in powers, skills etc. So when taking into account the all-round abilities of characters which ones are most useful? Which team member is so integral that a team couldn't function without them on the following teams:


Astonishing X-Men
Fantastic Four
The original JLA
The Authority
New Avengers
Teen Titans
The Inhumans
Runaways
Young Avengers
Alpha Flight
The Outsiders
Excalibur
JSA
Thunderbolts
Birds of Prey
Some more:
Marvel's Illuminati
Great Lakes Avengers
Doom Patrol
Stormwatch
Defenders
New Warriors
Imperial Guard
Exiles
Squadron Supreme
X-Factor
New JLA line-up

For any of these it need not be the most recent incarnation of the team.

I'm honestly quite surprised no one made a 'tantalizing yang' joke...

Originally posted by Soljer
I'm honestly quite surprised no one made a 'tantalizing yang' joke... You can honestly surprise me with your tantalizing yang any time, dearest. vin

Is this usefulness in terms of powers, or leadership?

Anyway, all the votes for Jack on the Authority....well, I disagree with them. Jenny or Doctor, easily. The Doctor has the most power, and Jenny leads. Jack was only really needed as the group's leader during the interim between Jenny incarnations.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
Is this usefulness in terms of powers, or leadership? Basically overall what they bring to the table, be it leadership, connections, skills, powers and so on. Overall, who would be considered the most useful.

Jonn is the most useful on any team he is on.That is all you need to know.


Jason was in Outsiders for like 2 issues and was more helpful then any....

Ragman pwns up Shadowpact hard.

Bump.

Meh. On paper MM's probably the most useful... but no one ever says this looks like a job for J'onn...

Alpha Flight -- Puck, since he is almost always and without fail the glue that helps hold the team together.

Parallel bumpage.

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
but no one ever says this looks like a job for J'onn...

I take great delight in saying how wrong this is.

Horsemen of Apocalypse, Dark Riders, Alliance of Evil, Heralds of Galactus, and Heavy Troopers.