#marvel team drafts

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Guardians of the Galaxy team draft

This week’s team draft is (loosely) the Guardians of the Galaxy. In my initial choices I shot for the stars in terms of power but there were a few characters below that level that appealed to me enough to reorder the roster.

The ever-lovin’ blue eyed Thing as leader and pilot. Someone has to take the helm and I choose the most experienced bruiser the Earth has ever shot into space. I love love love the Thing but always pass him over for these lists because there’s always someone more powerful I could use (for instance, I leaned heavily toward the Super Skrull for this team.) This time, the idol of millions is the right guy for the job.

Adam Warlock as space wizard and our number two. Things are going to get esoteric on these adventures and that’s when you want to have Adam. Plus I like his relationship with...

Gamora, the most dangerous woman in the galaxy. She’s one of the greatest fighters Marvel has to offer.

Drax the Destroyer is here, but in his previous form. I love classic Drax, looking like the Hulk on Krypton. Big dumb slab of space meat with one thing on his tiny mind: destroy Thanos. Aside: classic Drax is my number one candidate for a Marvel Legend. There have been two modern Draxes and a handful of Bautistas but never a classic Destroyer. Hasbro, please get on that!

Richard Rider kicks off a trio of younger heroes I would like to see teamed up. Nova brings the authority of the Corps with him and he’s been a regular figure in the Guardians. When the movie was announced I was floored that Rider wasn’t going to be the central character. I had to look up who the hell Starlord was and he sounded like some schmuck with a van, though I guess the same could be said for Han Solo. It worked out.

Darkhawk. I like Darkhawk. I got into comics as a young teen because of Darkhawk. He gets to be on the team and can pal around with Nova. My response to most Marvel comics is that they need more Darkhawk in it, and if there is some Darkhawk then I complain about the lack of Sleepwalker instead.

Genis-Vell is another cosmic guy who’s a lovable fuckup who I think would pair well with Rider and Darkhawk. I like the guy. He’s in.

Time to crank up the power with a Herald of Galactus, Terrax the Tamer. Aside from wielding the Power Cosmic he’s also an omega level mutant. He’s a Luciferian character in that he refuses to bend a knee to anyone no matter how powerful but he uses his own power to become a tyrant. Interesting guy. Big ax.

Beta Ray Bill is our space deity. Always good to have a spare Thor around.

Finally, we have astronaut John Jameson as the Star God of Otherworld. Part esteemable man of action, part werewolf, and part god of war. He’s got a lot of parts. Plus Jameson and Ben Grimm are old friends from the space program.

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Defenders team draft: cards revealed

Last night I drew the cards and this morning I interpret them to assemble the Defenders.

Part one: https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/186104954246/defenders-team-draft-tarot-spread

The first is of course the one card I set aside: the Magician. The Magician diverts the Fool from disaster and introduces him to the four tools/elements he will need to obtain in his journey, for the the Magician is the master of all four. This is the card of Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of Earth Realm and keeper of the First Tarot which he uses to select his Defenders.

His first selection is the Page of Wands, a young man who is restless and waiting for his story to begin. I feel this card is well reflected in the current Nova, Sam Alexander.

Next we have the King of Cups, the card of love applied broadly and universally. This is the card of the philanthropist and best represents Professor Charles Xavier.

Now we are thrown for a curve by the Queen of Cups, the woman whose allure gives her power over others. This is best embodied by Amora the Enchantress. Strange does not question the cards for all Defenders will have their fate to play out. Despite her wickedness Amora is on the team.

The Queen of Swords is an aloof and unobtainable woman, one who cannot be touched. Thus we have Kitty Pryde who can literally pass through others. She’s a favorite of mine but circumstances have long kept her away from what she desires.

Death. Death represents the point of transition as one thing ends and another begins. Ironically the Champion of Life, Adam Warlock, is the embodiment of this card for he so often dies and comes back changed by the experience.

The Knight of Wands invokes a young man who is charismatic and ahead of the trend who craves adventure and will not be contained. Fire is the element of the suit of Wands so we bring into the fold Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.

The Sun represents the culmination of the Fool’s journey for he has mastered himself and the four elements and now his wisdom and light illuminate the next step of his path. The Sun is the completed person, brimming with skill and confidence. I very well could have gone with Nighthawk for this card since he’s a Defenders mainstay but I chose instead the Shroud, an obscure Batman stand-in/parody. On his first day on the job he came gunning for none other than Doctor Doom. Though he operates in and has power over darkness he has insight beyond ordinary sight. His way is lit.

The Hanged Man is he who suffers for the benefit of others, one who makes the sacrifice of self. Who is closer to this than Peter Parker, everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-man? Plus he’s good friends with Doctor Strange, the Human Torch is his best work friend, and I want to see how those ties are disrupted by the guy who thinks he’s Spidey’s best friend...

The Knight of Swords is a dynamic and disruptive wildcard whose thoughts cannot be pinned down and there is none more disruptive than the merc with a mouth, Deadpool.

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Defenders team draft: tarot spread

Part one of my Defenders draft. I should note up front that this is not what Netflix is referring to as the Defenders but the group in the comics traditionally assembled and led by Doctor Strange. He selects members by drawing cards from the First Tarot so I shall as well. I took from my Fradella Adventure Tarot the Major Arcana and the court cards, set the Magician aside, shuffled, and drew nine cards. Some surprises: very few cards were from the Major Arcana and none were from the Court of Pentacles. I did a little reading to freshen up my tarot skills and then chose heroes and mages who I feel are well represented by the cards. My selections will be laid out tomorrow.

Part two: https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/186118712291/defenders-team-draft-cards-revealed

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Brotherhood of Mutants team draft

This week’s team draft is the Brotherhood of Mutants. As usual the team is limited to ten members and in this case must all be terrestrial mutants or else what’s the point? My approach this time focuses on recruitment, with a central figure to rally behind and a roster that supports expansion.

Magneto as leader. He founded the Brotherhood and laid down its principles. Mutants worldwide will flock to his banner.

Selene as lieutenant.

Quicksilver as the voice of reason. Pietro occupies a central place in mutant issues and the larger superhuman community, as a founding member of the Brotherhood, as an X-man, as an Avenger, and as his father’s son. Magneto won’t listen to many and few will oppose him to his face and that’s why Quicksilver is needed.

Destiny as adviser. She holds the key to mutantkind’s future. And if she’s on board...

...then Mystique is on board and will be moderately trustworthy. Mystique is our infiltrator and can also at the drop of a hat attract Sabretooth, Blob, Pyro, and Avalanche.

Caliban to track more mutants for recruitment.

Magik for her mass teleportation ability. She has been on the side of mutant supremacy in recent years. Destiny can reveal new mutants, Caliban can track them, Magik can bring the Brotherhood to them, and Magneto and Mystique can indoctrinate and recruit. And who shall we recruit first?

Nuklo was last seen cured of his excess radiation and working at a gas station. He’s tremendously powerful and has spent most of his life including his development locked in a bunker. He seems like a priority target for recruitment.

Gorgon (Tomi Shishido) is our fighter and polymath.

Mimic can hold off the X-men.

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Thunderbolts team draft

This week’s draft is for the Thunderbolts, being all villains who have at some point made an honest attempt at redemption.

Infamous Iron Man as mastermind and primary on science and technology. WHO SHALL LEAD THE THUNDERBOLTS? NONE BUT DOOOOOOM

Namor the Submariner because I love his dynamic with Doom. They need more chances to pal around.

Songbird because it’s just not the Thunderbolts without her. She is the heart and soul of this team. I only regret that I couldn’t come up with more female characters I wanted to draft. Big ol’ plate of evil sausage over here.

Juggernaut as primary muscle though there’s plenty of beef to go around.

Radioactive Man for energy manipulation as well as backup brains and muscle.

Ares as fighter. Not a particularly good guy but he’ll do right by his son and he handles a chain of command well, though he will play loyal opposition.

Venom for agility. Not talking no Flash or Scorpion. I’m talking Eddie and the Other.

Speed Demon for speed, obvs.

Sandman I think is a handy fit for the Thunderbolts and I’m surprised he’s never been featured on the team.

Ghost for infiltration. Through Ghost’s eyes he’s never been a villain.

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Marvel Drafts suggestions

A request! I’m running low on ideas for teams and criteria to feature on my Marvel Team Drafts feature. I only have a handful more planned (and since I slept all Sunday I kind of skipped this week.) Please respond with what you’d like to see! I may or may not put a draft together tonight since I have a lot of irons in the fire. Stay tuned.

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X-men Team Draft master

Having skipped my team draft feature last weekend I though I would double up this week with X-men Blue and Gold. There are simply too many interesting and useful X-characters for one team so why not have two? Splitting the team helped me organize since certain characters work well or poorly with certain others and of course I could split the redundant specialties. I should note that while both teams have powerful characters and all bases covered I’m confident that the Blue team could handily take out the Gold team.

X-men Blue https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/185316492446/x-men-blue-team-draft

X-men Gold https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/185316835001/x-men-gold-team-draft

Honorable Mentions https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/185315900316/x-men-draft-honorable-mention

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X-men Gold Team Draft

Cable for leadership, telepath, and ranged combat.

Iceman for mundane elemental abilities.

Nightcrawler for agility and teleportation.

Scarlet Witch for arcane energy.

Northstar for aerial speedster.

Elixir for healer.

Sunspot for strength and financial backer.

Prodigy for polymath.

Wolverine for melee fighter.

Polaris because I had one slot left and thought the team could use some more energy powers. Why not go big?

Back to the master list: https://latveriansnailmail.tumblr.com/post/185317043506/x-men-team-draft-master