X-Men or Avengers?

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:30 pm

Well, suppose an omnipotent being (Q, Beyonder, or Azathoth) makes you an offer to be born again as a Marvel superhero. Would you rather be an X-Man or an Avenger? Would you rather be a heroic mutant, who's striving and fighting for equality while being scorned and feared by the population you've sworn to protect? Or would you rather be an "official superhero", who's praised and admired by the population while working closely with the authority?

As for myself, I'd rather be an Avenger for these following reasons:

(1) When I was a kid, my Marvel literatures were mostly Avengers and Fantastic Four; it was the 80's and X-Men was not popular in Indonesia. So my "iconic" Marvel character are always the Avengers like Thor, Vision, or Ironman since they are the one who bring nostalgia.

(2) The anti-hero concept was not yet widely accepted during the 80's (my childhood era), so I always have an "old-school", traditional views on superheroes. I dunno', but I've never been comfortable with anti-hero characters like Wolverine, Hellboy, or Spawn (or maybe I'm just getting old). In my point of view, a superhero should be a "lawful good" character; sanctioned by the authority while defending justice and humanity in lawful manner. The Avengers is an example, Superman is another. Even the darker, Post-Crisis Batman is still sanctioned by Gotham Police Department.

So I guess I'll choose to be an Avenger. What's your choice?

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:03 pm

See, Wolverine is not a normal X-Man. He's just a overblow fanboy attracter. I mean seriously an ex-super spy made into a living weapon gone rouge? Cyclops, Beast, Storm are closer to the soul of the team. A group of people who just want to be able to go into the damn supermarket and buy some milk without worrying about being lynched.

The Avengers never really clicked with me. The only Avenger I really connect with is Captain America (who I imagine is of... lesser standing in Indonesia). Tony Stark and Wasp are millionaries with fancy toys, so I couldn't find much in common with them their soap opera sytle problems not withstanding. Thor is a damn god for crying out loud. They seemed like Hollywood performing a policing role to me.

Hedgecore · Post by **Hedgecore** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:04 pm

I like the X-Men far more than either the Avengers or the FF. The characters are much more interesting, and there's a lot more going on in the X-Men books. I've never liked the Avengers or FF, in both cases I found them too one dimensional....though now, I guess Spider-Man and Wolverine (and Daredevil?) are in the Avengers...so I don't know where that puts me.

But the question is "which would you rather be in," which is more difficult. Given the choice, its hard to imagine people wanting to be a mutant in that universe. Almost like wanting to be Jewish in WWII Europe, or black in the south in the 1960's...or mid 1800s. Then again...some of the Avengers are mutants also, like Scarlet Witch (Magneto's daughter, no less).

Really, though, what is the most important factor: 'who has better chicks?' and X-Men wins hands down. mmmm...Psylocke.

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:51 pm

frigidmagi wrote:See, Wolverine is not a normal X-Man. He's just a overblow fanboy attracter. I mean seriously an ex-super spy made into a living weapon gone rouge? Cyclops, Beast, Storm are closer to the soul of the team. A group of people who just want to be able to go into the damn supermarket and buy some milk without worrying about being lynched.

I have to admit that X-Men has more intriguing premise than the standard 'bash-the-supervillain' story cliche, as well as more 'grayed' moral dillemma. I don't know, I actually like 'grey area' in superhero stories, like the 'Triune Understanding' storyline in Avengers, or Lex Luthor being a legitimate businessman in Post-Crisis Superman, but I find it harder and harder to take X-Men as 'superhero' comicbooks.

Or maybe I've been missing the Silver Age too much....

frigidmagi wrote:The Avengers never really clicked with me. The only Avenger I really connect with is Captain America (who I imagine is of... lesser standing in Indonesia).

Huh? Captain America was very popular in Indonesia during my childhood. Granted DC was much more familiar than Marvel at that time, but Captain America and Spiderman were the two Marvel characters whose popularity rivaling those of DC; paving the way for other iconic Marvel heroes like Vision, Ironman, and Hawkeye.

My problem with Captain America is that he ain't got no superpower!!! In fact, he is probably the weakest among other Marvel Characters. So his leadership and inspiring bravery are often exagerrated for him to keep up with the likes of Thor and Ironman. And no, I still find it difficult to imagine Cap as war hero. I mean, it's easier to suspend disbelief when Cap is bashing some criminal mastermind, instead of surviving the battlefield with no superpower and all-colorful uniform!

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:12 am

Huh? Captain America was very popular in Indonesia during my childhood.

While I was in Okinawa I was told Captain America wasn't all that popular in the Pacific. He was appearently seen has American Chest Beating and such. This was in 2000.

Huh? Captain America was very popular in Indonesia during my childhood. Granted DC was much more familiar than Marvel at that time, but Captain America and Spiderman were the two Marvel characters whose popularity rivaling those of DC; paving the way for other iconic Marvel heroes like Vision, Ironman, and Hawkeye.

Actually Cap does have a super power, it's just a very low level one. He has enchanced agility, strength and endurance. How many guys you know can do triple summersaults in bloody chainmail?

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:30 am

I really like the Ultimates (the Avengers in Marvel's Ultimate universe). Captian "Surrender?! Do you think this letter on my head stands for France?!" America is very badass (kicks the Hulk in the groin with enough force to get him to double over and trashes Giant Man in giant form) and a damn good, although lonely, leader. The rest of the team is pretty cool to.

Narsil · Post by **Narsil** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:16 am

X-Men... 'tis more internationally accessable, rather than the American Chestbeater. Which I find sort of patronizing since I'm not an american, nor do I care all that much about saving America for "Liberty and Justice" thus: I'd join the X-Men, saving the world is a bit of a bigger job anyway, and you're GUARANTEED powers in X-Men, not so with Avengers.

Of course, choosing a power would be difficult, I'd probably choose telekinesis though (if capable) because at least I know what that can DO... unlike some random powers I've seen.

Hedgecore · Post by **Hedgecore** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:47 am

Isn't Cap's deal that the super-soldier serum basically made him peak physical human? The fastest, strongest, most agile a normal human could achieve? Basically, it puts him at Batman-level, except he didn't have to work for it.

Maybe you can tell, I don't like Captain America. Here's an example of why (and further proof that i'm a huge dork): In Maximum Carnage there's a part where the whole group of hero's is fighting all the baddies. So a couple of them try to attack Shreik, and while she's fighting them off, Cap throw's his sheild from behind taking her out. So, Firestar says "Good one, Cap!"

To which he responds (I shit you not) "Don't thank me, thank teamwork!"

C'mon! "thank teamwork"!? Who says that? I also hate how everyone grovels and praises him as the greatest hero ever. But, meh, I'm kind of rambling now.

Narsil · Post by **Narsil** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:01 am

To which he responds (I shit you not) "Don't thank me, thank teamwork!"

C'mon! "thank teamwork"!? Who says that? I also hate how everyone grovels and praises him as the greatest hero ever. But, meh, I'm kind of rambling now.

I personally would have said "You're buying the drinks later then."

Because it is TRADITION that the person who had their arse saved, must buy the drink.

Surlethe · Post by **Surlethe** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:30 am

What?! I'm the only one to vote "Stomp Kreshna's Testicles"? Where is everybody?

Narsil · Post by **Narsil** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:09 am

What?! I'm the only one to vote "Stomp Kreshna's Testicles"? Where is everybody?

They caught seriousansweritus... it's an epidemic I say!

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:59 am

Surlethe wrote:What?! I'm the only one to vote "Stomp Kreshna's Testicles"? Where is everybody?

Well, since now I'm a member of the Avengers, this is what will happen if my testicles got stomped:

Captain America: Avengers, assemble!

Thor: what hath happened, Captain America? What worries thou?

Vision: our sensor has detected a distress signal sent by our reserve member KAN. The transmission is 'garbled', but the computer has extrapolated a readable signal, although the content sounds a little bit odd. What is 'testicle stomping'?

Ironman: (winces)

Hawkeye: I vote we go immediately to rescue KAN!

Black Knight: nay! KAN is the Sick, Twisted Fuck and testicle stomping should serve him right. I vote we all stomp KAN's testicles.

Captain America: I vote we vote to decide which voting we should vote.....

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:54 pm

I protest, Captain America leads the Avengers like a Military Unit when in crisis situations.

"Just cause we're defending democracy doesn't mean we are one Mister."

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