Most useful...

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'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

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.

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 😖hifty:

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.