Among the hidden treasures of my comic book collection about which no one else cares is an issue of ‘Justice League Quarterly’ in which all the former Charlton Comics Action Hero properties (Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Nightshade, Thunderbolt, Peacemaker and Judomaster) combine their forces to fight some 90s menace or other under the leadership of Blue Beetle. It’s an issue that makes me sad that Ted Kord was always overshadowed in the Justice League by Superman or Batman, neither of whom has ever been a particularly effective leadership presence in my eyes. (One’s too controlling, the other too laissez-faire.) Of course, the same could be said a Marvel Comics for the likes of Namorita in ‘New Warriors’ or Black Panther in ‘Avengers.’ Many heroes that AREN’T Captain America, Batman, Cosmic Boy or Cyclops seem to have skills that would make them effective front men/women, a lamentation that leads us to today’s glass-ceiling query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) thinks that The Falcon as Avengers field leader is a long time coming, and that perhaps Shang-Chi might get his due as well, asking: What character do you think most deserves the chance to be a team leader?
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Now, when I think about it, most superheroes seem to be pretty terrible leaders. They are brash, individualistic and often make quite bad decisions. Of the ones not been team leaders, at least recently, I think Justice League should give Aquaman a shot. Hes already a king and has been happily married for long time and thats rare for a superhero, so he cant be totally terrible at handling people, right?
I can see it now. The most powerful superheroes in the universe gather.
Superman: We need a leader.
Batman: I’d have a better time playing in used cat liter.
Wonder Woman: We need somebody to ride herd on all you disgusting men!
Green Arrow: And that would be YOU, Ms. Empowerment, who flies around in an invisible plane so everybody can look up her skirt?
Flash: Maybe we ought to go with Aquaman? He’s used to ruling over a bunch of nitwits who’ve got all the brains of a clam.
Batman: Right. The guy who Talks to Fishes. Good Call. (Snort)
Green Lantern: At least we’d never want for Sushi…