[The Canadian Content]

The Brain Trust
Iron Man
Mr. Fantastic
Beast
Hank Pym
Amadeus Cho

The Brimstone Society
John Constantine
The Shade
Black Adam
Jason Blood
Alucard

[DevSop]

Brain Trust, easy.

[Deadly]

Brain Trust is a great team. Sorry Brimstone Society.

[Batman]

To me, the Brain Trust is too much of the same basic thing. While the characters in Brimstone Society all share a dark tone they're all very distinct character types. I like them.

[Lucky]

Agreed with you in principle, Serge. Again, I think the reason Brain Trust works for me is that despite it being 5 geniuses its 5 distinct characters. Reed Richards, the consummate leader and fatherly figure with fantastic powers. Iron Man, the brash and arrogant lady's man with an aggressive nature and some personal problems. Beast, the liberal genius who has overcome some tough breaks and prejudice and speaks for the weak and silent with some amazing natural agility and strength. Hank Pym, the genius that gets overshadowed by his peers and carries deep seeded resentment and self esteem issues along with an arsenal of super powered identities and skills. And Cho... the guy I don't know but who I guess fits naturally enough in as the "young genius" with stuff to learn from these 4 but also some stuff to add.

"Five Geniuses" is an idea that if Gator had told me before the draft I would think is a bad idea. And its one I didn't like when I realized he was doing it mid-draft. But the team he put together has a lot of nice variety in powers and personalities that go well beyond their intellect. Even the level of their "intellect" is kind of different. Reed is largely a "space race" scientist focused on expanding the universe. Iron Man's basically a weapons designer. Beats is basically a student of mutation and human genetics. Pym is a computer guy much less intrested in weapons or space stuff as Reed or Tony and more focused on practical application. If he had snuck a medical doctor in there I might be in awe.

[Batman]

I halfway agree with you, Lucky. The team has more variety and character dynamic than you would expect from an all-genius team. With Reed, Stark, and Cho, you have the thoughtful leader, the brash young man, and the eager kid. McCoy steps on Reed's toes a little in the "loquacious nerd" category, but he's acceptable. The team's real weak link is Pym. Nobody gives a damn about Hank Pym. Marvel has been trying to figure out a gimmick or hook for him that really works since 1963 with no success. You know who Gator should have put in that slot instead? A really different *kind* of genius and someone who would add that cross-company dream-team thing?--Terrific. *That* team I would have voted for over the Brimstones.

[Lucky]

Agreed on Pym and yes, Terrific was the same guy I would have loved. When I said "doctor" I was also thinking of Dr. Midnite but I suspected you'd be the only one who cared about him. Pym sucks and he can torpedo a team, he just doesn't do it here for me. He'll be a bigger issue down the line when the Brain Trust lock up against a Frontline or Cap's team.

[Deleted]

Right up until the end, I was very very VERY close to replacing Pym with Black Panther. Seemed like TOO many leaders at that point, though, as I was even unsure about keeping Stark with Reed.

We'll see how it all pans out in the end.