Geektastic Challenge: Create a dream team of X-Men characters.
The Rules
1) Team must consist of 7 characters
2) Mainstream Marvel Universe (Earth-616) only
3) All characters must have been a member of an X-team at some point or another
4) Character does not need to be presently living. (Because who can keep track?)
5) Team should be selected based on not only overall coolness, but how interesting the dynamic between the characters would be.
DYLAN'S LIST
So, this was the very first little challenge one of us gave the other, which I asked kind of casually because I knew Ren was an X-Men fan. Turns out she's an expert, but just to make sure she made a well-thought-out decision, she spent the next half-hour on Mutatis Mutandis. I did the same, and came up with my own team.
I call them X-pionage, a sort of super-spy X-team whose missions would involve a lot of sneaking around, with the occasional all-out Mutant fight we've come to expect from good X-Men series.
Mystique: Our team leader, well-versed in the moral gray areas of spying and sleuthing. She's been on both sides of the line between good and evil and has become extremely adept at tip-toeing across it. Mystique is the brains of the operation, and also one of its most useful resources.
Nightcrawler: The boss's kid, all grown up of course, but nevertheless gets the sort of preferential treatment/higher expectations from Mystique. He's been a team leader himself, and often takes up the role of field commander when Mommy's off sneaking around. He's not entirely comfortable flirting with the dark side, and sometimes takes it upon himself to remind Mystique when she's riding the line.
X-23: She's a big gun, daughter/clone of Wolverine. Just as badass, about a third as annoying and seriously underused as a character. She's still sort of learning how to be a superhero as opposed to just a killing machine, but when the team needs killing done, she'll do it without flinching. A ying to Kurt's yang, X-23 is the devil on Mystique's shoulder, impulsive, unfeeling.
Forge: If X-pionage is like the MI:6 of the X-Men teams, the Forge is Q. Just because you've got superpowers doesn't mean you never need some awesome gadgetry, and if Forge can imagine it, he can build it. To use a different analogy, Mystique is Kirk, Nightcrawler is Bones, X-23 is Spock and Forge is Scotty.
Armor: She's the youngest team member, only joining the institute recently in Astonishing X-Men, but she's a powerhouse, able to build a suit of near-impenetrable energy armor around her body. She's just discovering her potential and this is her first taste of what it's like to be on a real X-team. She's driven, spunky and often saves their asses.
Shadowcat: What can I say about Kitty Pryde? She's my very favorite a lot of the time and though she doesn't really fit on this team I couldn't leave her behind. Her power is very handy for espionage, her honest and true personality doesn't gel well with Mystique's Machiavellian leadership style. She's here under protest, but she understands that she's needed and will do her best to protect the interests of the Mutant community at large.
Pyro: Because every team needs a badass asshole in black who's just there to light things on fire. He's worked with Mystique before as a baddie, and usually sits out the parts of missions that involve cunning, since he's kind of a dunce.
REN'S LIST
Cyclops: Despite some people's beliefs, Slim is not just an asshole. In fact, he isn't really an asshole at all. He's a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and tactical genius. His optical beams come in handy quite often, and his understanding of trigonometry can use these beams to pull off impossible feats.
Beast: I love Hank McCoy. Whether he is normal!Beast or cat!Beast, he is ridiculously smart, witty, and wise. He also has physical strength and agility.
Gambit: Gambit, despite his douchebaggery in X-Treme X-Men, has several useful skills. Primarily, his kinetic energy powers can be used for demolition purposes, his charm powers can be used to manipulate women (because manipulating women is fun), and his bo-staff skills are useful in more traditional hand-to-hand situations. Also, his skills as a pickpocket and rogue are useful for more shady dealings. His chemistry with Scott, and his chemistry with Rogue make for an interesting team dynamic. He can piss off Scott and make Rogue be simultaneously horny and emo.
Psylocke: Ah, Psylocke. This is a character with whom I've had little exposure, but she seems to be a pretty interesting character. Also, I needed a person telekinetic or telepathic powers. She is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, and I like my characters to be multi-talented. She also adds a level of diversity to the team, being British AND Asian.
Rogue: I hate Rogue. Just throwing that out there. She's whiny, she's overused, and the Gambit/Rogue fiasco makes me want to punch babies. But, Rogue provides the team with the ever important gift of flight, the gift of nigh-invulnerability, and the gift of super-strength.
Squirrel Girl: My personal favorite. She is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, beating several super-villains single-handedly. She adds a bit of silly charm to the group, balancing out the serious people and the emo people.
Deadpool: Deadpool. The Deadpool. Despite his recent Wolverine Publicity, I still love Deadpool. He kills like very few others can, and tears down the fourth wall like no one else. He would provide comedic value in the team. But, he would not be all-powerful and overwhelming, as Squirrel Girl would be there to balance him out. He fears her.
Got your own ideas? Post your own dream team or just tear ours apart. Or make a request for the next Geektastic Challenge.
