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The "miss the old avengers" post revealed a few posts I find odd. Some say that the avengers MUST always have the big three of Cap, Thor, and Iron Man. Others assume the team should mostly be the core nine (or close to it) of thor, cap, ironman, hawkeye, pym, wasp, vision, scarlet witch, and wonderman.
Though I do say I want at least one or two of the Core nine in my avengers I find it odd how many people discount any other avengers as fake.
Mind you their are some Avengers whose membership I disagree with or dislike (Sentry, Wolverine, Ares, Moon Knight, Jessica Drew, etc.) But their are any second tier (black knight, she-hulk, hercules) and third tier (Justice, Firebird, Living Lightning) Avengers I enjoy and consider valid Avengers.
This leads to a few questions I have.
If you feel the Avengers MUST be composed of the BIG three or the core nine (or a group close to the core nine) why? Do you consider those second and third tier avengers not valid as members or not fitting the avengers feel?
Any my other question is what do you consider traits that make someone avengers material?
What I feel makes a person Avengers Material is the following.
1. Heroic Acts: The character must act consistantly heroic. This means by both being willing to help, protect, and save others selflessly. And being willing and able to do so while on duty.
2. Code Against Killing: Yes I took this ones name from a disadvantage in the Champions superhero RPG. An Avengers should be unwilling to kill and only resort to such in only the most extreme and unlikely of circumstances. And even then stooping to that level should be a burden to him and a decision not reached quickly.
3. Relatively Stable: His mental state should be stable enough to be trusted in a position of power and authority. Sure almost every avenger ever has gone nuts at one time or other, but during his time as an avenger he must prove his stability and reliability in the role.
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I think very few Avengers are "fake", personally... most of the extraneous hangers-on are good for the story that they are in, or for the conflicts/interactions that they have with the "core" Avengers. But, unless they earn a place beyond those interactions, I rarely think of them as being Avengers first, or a core part of the team that could come back at any time. Avengering isn't in their blood so much as it is being in their current circumstances.
My standards for being an Avenger:
1.) Heroic actions - Avengers need to be in the costumed game for the right reasons. Protecting the innocent, saving the helpless, and standing against those who would destroy all of the above. Self-aggrandization, revenge, and the like are not worthy of the Avengers. This mostly rules out those that are too dark to be Avengers, although a few have managed to sneak in.
2.) Reluctance to Kill - Avengers don't kill, easily. While there are some who are more capable of pulling the trigger in difficult situations, like War Machine, Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and the like, it should weigh on them somewhat. Guys who just move on from it without a second thought don't fit as Avengers.
3.) Relative Stability - Almost all of the Avengers are at least a little crazy, but to be a great Avenger, you can't be so in such a way that affects your heroism or endangers others. Quirky crazy is OK... dangerously unstable, not so much.
4.) Good reputation - Not just with the public, which helps, but with their fellow heroes. Bringing disgrace to the Avengers name should be a big deal... and those who are members should seek to avoid it.
5.) Loyalty - Avengers should be loyal to each other and the Avengers organization. When worst comes to worst, the Avengers need to stand together.
TJB
