The Incomparable Mothership #149 July 13, 2013
Superhero draft.

Gleekless (A Superhero Draft)

The Incomparable’s Superhero Draft is now in session, and justice is on the clock! Hear our collection of panelists assemble several excellent super-teams. Who will inhabit the Hall of Justice? And why are Superman and Batman looking on forlornly? Are they just not team players? Take your Sharknado to the Evil Museum and ponder just why Iron Man might not be the hero you think he is.

Listen to this episode (1 hour, 27 minutes)

Show Notes

Thanks again to our sponsor, 23andme.

Thanks to Michael Warner for editing this episode.

Below are the final lists. If you want to be surprised while listening to the episode, don’t read any futher.

SPOILER HORN

Lisa Schmeiser

  • Emma Frost
  • Oracle
  • Big Barda
  • Kitty Pryde
  • Multiple Man
  • Omni-Man
  • Elixir

Jason’s suggestion: “X-Women”

Dan Moren

  • Green Arrow
  • Storm
  • American Maid
  • X-O Manowar
  • Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde
  • Martian Manhunter
  • Human Target

Jason’s suggestion: “New Revengers”

Scott McNulty

  • The Thing
  • Mr. Fantastic
  • Human Torch
  • Invisible Woman
  • Franklin Richards
  • Speedball
  • Savage Dragon

Jason’s suggestion: “Sensational 7”

Steve Lutz

  • Aquaman
  • Wonder Twins
  • Harvey Birdman
  • The Brown Hornet
  • Plastic Man
  • Matter-Eater Lad
  • Krypto

Jason’s suggestion: “Moist Justice”

Monty Ashley

  • The Question
  • Great & Powerful Turtle
  • Red Sonja
  • The Phantom Stranger
  • Warlock
  • Freakazoid
  • Tom Strong

Jason’s suggestion: “The Federalists”

Jason Snell

  • Spider-Man
  • The Tick
  • Blue Beetle
  • Black Widow
  • Ant-Man
  • Bug
  • Ultimate Spider-Woman

Jason’s suggestion: “Bug Squad”

Tony Sindelar was on vacation and couldn’t participate, but he sent this list:

  • Batman
  • Doctor Strange
  • Forge
  • Rorschach
  • The Question

Premise: Batman, Rorschach, and The Question open the ultimate detective agency. Their combined abilities allow them to quickly deal with the most unsolvable mysteries, the deepest conspiracies, and the most elaborate government coverups. The one thing they can’t solve is their own paranoia and deep seated psychologically issues. Forge makes guest appearances as their gruff but wise IT consultant. Doctor Strange runs their daily group therapy sessions (“By Hoggoth, you inability to open up will always be your greatest nemesis!”)

  • Batman had to be the first seed to avoid not getting snapped up by someone else.
  • Dr Strange was less integral to the premise, but got moved up the ticket for name recognition / chance that someone else might draft him. I know Doctor Strange’s abilities are wasted in this scenario, but I love his speech mannerisms, and who know’s maybe he’s the one person who can help these crazies.
  • Forge is also clearly slumming it at an IT consultant (who doesn’t want to take a break from future weapons design to go manage an Exchange server?), but I think there’d be some great interplay with the detectives, plus the new Hawkeye has taught me that watching superheroes deal with mundane annoyance of everyday life can be delightful.
  • Nerds will note that putting Rorschach and The Question on a team-up is either a cop-out or delightful homage to the fact that Rorschach is based on The Question when Alan Moore couldn’t get permission to use existing DC properties in Watchmen.