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 a new 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 been a particularly effective leadership presence in my eyes. Of course, the same could be said a Marvel Comics for the likes of Namorita in ‘New Warriors’ or Scarlet Witch in ‘Avengers’, either of whom would fit the unsung team leader mold. 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 was 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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Captain Atom, now that you mention him. If only the DC version of him wore one of the Charlton uniforms.
Older Kitty seems to be a good teacher. She would also be a good leader, I think. Let characters age and develop organically, it will make better stories than current “put our toys back to box every few months, reboot” stuff.