Just imagine... a DC earth very similar to the usual one in most ways, but differing in some key events:
Krypton exploded early, killing all Kryptonians with no survivors. The same for any alternate Kryptons, so there are no versions of Superman, Supergirl, Superboy etc anywhere.
Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson died along with their parents. There is never a Batman, no Robins, and no Bat Family of any kind. There is just Alfred, retired and living alone at Wayne Manor.
Abin Sur crash lands on another planet and survives to fight another day. No Green Lanterns are selected from earth, and it stays that way because the Guardians note that earth has plenty of other powered protectors already. In the past, the Guardians also never created the Starheart as they decided it was too dangerous to attempt.
Many centuries ago an undersea volcano erupted and completely destroyed Atlantis and all its inhabitants. The following earthquake and tsunami triiggered by the volcano also wiped Themyscira from the map, along with all Amazons.
A lightning bolt strikes near Barry Allen, electrocuting him and showering glass and deadly chemicals on him. He dies almost instantly.
Erdel's teleportation experiment transports Martian Manhunter from Mars into the core of the sun instead of to earth. Jo'nn is killed instantly and Erdel is unaware he even existed, thinking the experiment was a failure and shutting it down.
Also Billy Batson is run over by a train and killed when he follows an old guy into a subway station. Shazam decides maybe the world is not yet ready for the Marvel powers to return, and he goes back into hiding.
With the usual candidates out the way the way this world needs a "Big Seven" Justice League.
So assuming for the purpose of the thread that the rest of the world has remained largely unchanged by the above events, from DC's remaining superheroes who would you pick?
The candidates should present a good mix of power sets, talents, and abilities, like the original Big Seven.
They need to have enough smarts and sheer power to take on planetary threats, team buster villains, super-villain teams, alien invasions etc.
Finally, they should have what you think it takes to be iconic heroes in their own right and be able to gain the support of the public in general. No Gypsy and Vibe types need apply.
At least Hal, Guy, John etc are still alive and okay out there somewhere...
I know he wasn't quite one of the Big Seven, but he was involved in that era and he was just such an obvious substitute I decided he needed to go to get new ideas.
Zatanna was a definite choice for me, she's not as well known as WW but she is a very iconic character with great design and brings a magic user to the team.
Dr. Light: good choice did not think of her. But that's another design I like with useful powers and an additional scientist. Could definitely see her being one of the new iconic seven... will use her.
Geo-force and Red Tornado - also interesting ones. I like Red's design.
Mr. Terrific - also slipped under my radar but I think I could use him too.
Captain Comet was one of my choices too, and Atom. Now how did I forget about Firestorm...
So for mine at the moment I have about 6:
Captain Comet
Zatanna
Captain Atom or Firestorm
Dr. Fate
Atom or Mr. Terrific
Dr. Light
Might be a bit Doctor, Atom, and Captain-heavy depending on the choices. But there is a good mix of strength, energy control, flight, TP/TK, magic and science there.
I need a hardcore street-leveler to replace Batman. Someone who brings more skills than just top fighting abilities.
Also I think maybe I need to swap someone out for another top physical powerhouse. There's Icon but he's a bit too much of a Superman clone. Orion is a bit crazy and might not be liked by the public like Supes, WW, MM are.
Capt Atom is a top physical powerhouse, depending on version so can Dr Fate be.
The problem for me is as a JSA fan boy for me Fate and Terrific just automatically belong in the JSA not JLA.
I see both Firestorm and The Ray as automic replacements for a GL both can create things out of nothing like a GL construct. Miss America (Joan Dale) of the freedom fighters and Jack O'Lantern of the global Guardians are the only others I can think of that do that (thoughbin Jack O'lanterns case it might only be illusions).
Outside the flash family there are only Jessie and Johnny Quick, and Max Mercury that are viable replacements for a speedster if you want to keep that powerset. Johnny and Max are just too old to be on the premier league team red and Blue trinity etc are just too slow
The only non Atlantean aquatic heroes That come to kind are Tsunami Niade and Neptune Perkins.
Mr Mirracle is the only really viable non bat family Batman replacement (at least covering a lot if not all of his skills). Intelligent, great inventor, escape artist on top of fighting skills. Ted Kord might be another due to intellect, Question is the only non Bat Family character I can think of that is a detective.
Last edited by beatboks on Jan 8th, 2023 at 02:18 PM
I like the thread, but I'm stuck between picking a team for which I think there'd be good stories to write about, a team whose members I like, or just flat-out picking a team that has the various abilities and background to handle various threats, assuming they work well together.
Let's say:
Lex [Smarts]
Orion [God]
Maxima [Alien]
Zatanna [Magic]
Firestorm [Science]
Cyborg [Tech]
Animal Man [connection to the fundamentals]
It's a race to self implosion with Lex and Orion in the same team, but it'd be a nice journey until then.
Following that, The Atom/Mr. Miracle would replace Lex/Orion. Maxima would also leave, and be replaced by the Weird.
So final team is:
The Atom
Mr Miracle
The Weird
Zatanna
Firestorm
Cyborg
Animal Man
It depends what you mean by physical powerhouse. He is physical. And he is powerful. Sometimes in a house.
He is serviceable, though.
__________________
“Perhaps this is the ultimate freedom. The freedom to leave.”
^Lex, Orion, and Maxima on the same team? That's some trouble right there!
I want someone with the physical power of Orion and Maxima though, just not sure they meet all the needed criteria. Maybe Maxima. There's Icon and Majestic, not sure about them either but Majestic would bring a lot of power and skills to the team.
For a street leveler I want someone who has fighting skills and maybe espionage, strategy, someone like Batman who can think a bit dark to understand the villains as well. But not a killer type. Batman was the darkest hero of the Big Seven but could still be respected by Superman, WW etc. Hard to fit that bill.
I had the same feeling about Dr. Fate, too tied up in the JSA even though he's been a Leaguer too. But he's powerful and he's got one of the most iconic designs. I'd swap him out of my team maybe for a physical heavy hitter since I have Zatanna for magic. Cap is definitely strong but after that Mary Marvel incident not sure he is top tier... However along with his energy powers Cap also brings a military service that helps with the public image, and a cool design.
Interesting lineup... certainly a diverse bunch of skillsets, maybe too much JLA Dark. And I'm not sure when they're standing on the podium outside the Hall of Justice that they are going to fit the bill of the 'Big Seven', world's premier team, iconic heroes respected by the public. Especially if Anthro starts dialing the likes of King Kandy, Mighty Moppet, Balloon Boy etc
Ok after some deliberation my lineup for the new Big 7 is:
Captain Comet - various psi powers, TP, TK, clairvoyance, intellect, flight, strength, shields etc. A bunch of useful powers. Like this character and the visuals.
Majestic - wanted a Supes-type powerhouse and I always kind of liked the classic Majestros design. And since Captain Atom, Plas, Shazam and others came from other companies into the League, I figured this scenario was time for him to step up and join the premier team. Brings flight, super strength and speed, and various other powers. He's genius level and can handle super-tech, and has military and combat skills and weapons. Very useful.
Dr. Light - good energy powerset with a variety of light based powers and extra senses, flight, durability, and also a top scientist and medical doctor.
Firestorm - energy powers, transmutation, strength, durability, flight, intangibility etc and I guess some more science background too. And a cool design.
Zatanna - one of the most powerful and versatile of the magical heroes and an expert in the supernatural and mystic threats. And a great classic design too. Good reasons this character has been around so long.
Mr. Terrific - sure, he's linked with the JSA. But other characters like Fate have done their stint in the JLA, and Holt isn't an actual original JSA'er, so I decided he can fill a position here. Brings genius intellect, a ton of tech, team communications, expert in many fields of science, medicine, and technology, high level martial artist, multilingual, surveillance and stealth tech etc. Pretty handy guy.
Black Canary - another classic character design. On top of martial arts skills and another useful ability with the canary cry, brings a lot of experience in espionage, criminal networks, surveillance and stealth. And I figure with Canary and Holt on the team together they can cover a lot of the skills that make Batman so useful.
[Reserves - Dr. Fate, The Atom, Captain Atom]
So I think this team has what it takes to become the new Big 7 JLA. Heroes who can gain the respect of the public. The powers, the skills, and the experience to protect the earth from all threats, the cool iconic designs to become the most recognized and premier team of the world.
Captain Atom
Zatanna
Mr Miracle
Booster Gold
Vixen
Geo Force
The Atom.
A mix of celebs (Vixen/Miracle/Booster) for the public perception. Science based heroes, magicians, royalty, military - these guys can meet threats, have powerhouses whilst being loved by the public.
CAPTAIN ATOM & BOMBSHELL
The dedicated leader of the Govt. sponsored team the Justice League, and his distaff counterpart.
SHAGGY MAN
Gen. Eiling is a career Military man entrusted to inhabit an indestructible bio engineered body.
MANITOU RAVEN & MANITOU DAWN
The husband and wife duo are powerful mystics w. differing styles of magic that embrace darkness and light respectively.
THE ATOM
The pint sized powerhouse brings decades of experience to the table, and the occasional atomic punch.
RAVEN
The Native American bird themed Demi Goddess is aloof but effective.
KID QUANTUM & KID QUANTUM
The fast flying, energy wielding siblings are 31st century refugees who’ve offered their services to the Govt. in exchange for safe haven.
S.T.R.I.P.E.
Pat Dugan is a gifted mechanical engineer in a giant high tech mecha of his own design.
SIREN
The ocean colored youngster has potent psychic and aquatic abilities. She’s been a villain but wants to do better.
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Jan 5th, 2023 01:09 PM
at Billy
