A team book for characters that have fan bases, but aren’t solo material.

[mathew101281]

Important elements, I'll grant you, very important. But I think the most important factor is the hero or heroine. Building a largely team character up to a solo character means making the character likeable, sympathetic, charismatic, and someone the readers can really get behind. Neglect that, or indeed the other elements for success in a solo character, and the title will fail to catch on. It's not rocket science, but it does requite the writer to actually think the whole thing through, which most don't, it seems.

Their are plenty of “team” superheroes that are like able though(Black Canary). The real difference between a team hero and a solo hero is that team heroes are built around the team dynamics and solo heroes are built around themselves.

[DrNewGod]

A good example of solo character vs team character is The Flash vs quick silver...

I don't know that those two speedsters are good comparators. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch do not really seem to have been created as continually appearing characters. Their function was primarily to be the sympathetic members of the badguy team in a title that, at the time, nobody was yet sure was going to last.

There are definitely examples of non-solo-material characters created in teams (most of the X-Men, as you point out), but there are counter examples as well. The Thing has supported both team-up and multiple solo titles over the years. You also have team characters whose abilities are pretty diverse and complex (like Blackbolt or Cyborg).

Their are plenty of “team” superheroes that are like able though(Black Canary).

Black Canary was created as a solo character. She replaced Johnny Thunder in his feature in Flash Comics in 1947. She's been attached to the JL for so long, it's easy to forget her roots.

The real difference between a team hero and a solo hero is that team heroes are built around the team dynamics and solo heroes are built around themselves.

I do agree with your point here. Sticking with my examples of Blackbolt and Cyborg, neither has proven to have legs as a solo property over the long-haul.

[LordAllMIghty]

Justice League Task Force could have been the perfect answer for this if it had the staying power, just like Secret Defenders

Agree. I even have a team in mind.

[Dred]

A good example of solo character vs team character is The Flash vs quick silver. Both have superhuman speed, but clearly the Flash is on another level. How these characters were created has a lot to do with how their abilities are depicted and how they are represented as characters. The Flash was conceptualized from the beginning as a solo hero. So from the very beginning their was a definite focus on making the character as self sufficient as possible. He had his own supporting cast and villains, city etc. This way of thinking also effects how his powers work. People say the Flash's power is superhuman speed, but this is only partially true. His Speed is a catalyst for a whole arsenal of abilities including time travel of all things.

Quicksilver on the other hand was built as part of a team. Whether it's the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the X men, the Avengers, or even just a duo with his sister, Quicksilver is first and foremost a team player. On most superhero teams their is a definite goal of balance in most cases. Usually each hero has a clear strength and clear weaknesses that's covered by other members of the team. This means that most heroes in teams tend to be specialists. Notice that Quicksilver usually isn't depicted as having nearly as many sub powers as the Flash. That's because having a character that powerful in a team dynamic would overshadow the rest of the team.

Allstar teams like the Justice League and the Avengers are really the only exception to the rule and their whole premise is "hey, lets throw all are solo heroes together in one book." This is why Cyborg had to get a serious upgrade (mother box) to make sense as part of DC's big seven. All the other members of the new 52 league were definite solo heroes, and the difference in power level was glaring when you compare them to standard pre new 52 Cyborg. Cyborg's old team however (Teen Titans) is a more standard superhero team, with a bunch of specialists.

The first two characters you list in this thread were Martian Manhunter and Power Girl

The thing that separates a solo and a team book hero is not their "generalist" or "specialist" status. It is popularity and push.

[king81992]

Agree. I even have a team in mind.

Who was on your dream roster?

[mathew101281]

The first two characters you list in this thread were Martian Manhunter and Power Girl

The thing that separates a solo and a team book hero is not their "generalist" or "specialist" status. It is popularity and push.

Wouldn't my Martian manhunter team, be more of an all-star model then a standard team model. All these characters have had solo books at some point. And in the case of Wally he had it for quite some time. Also, I clearly placed them into definite roles.

Martian Manhunter: leader
Green arrow: Lancer
Powergirl: Big guy (metaphorically)
the Atom: smart Guy
Wally West: the heart (When ever they stop trying to destroy the character)
And Vixen in versatile sixth ranger role.

[Masterff]

Important elements, I'll grant you, very important. But I think the most important factor is the hero or heroine. Building a largely team character up to a solo character means making the character likeable, sympathetic, charismatic, and someone the readers can really get behind. Neglect that, or indeed the other elements for success in a solo character, and the title will fail to catch on. It's not rocket science, but it does requite the writer to actually think the whole thing through, which most don't, it seems.

Not really....

I would say there are different factors:
1. Age (some heroes are better when they are teenagers and some better as adults)
2. Supporting cast
3. Storylines
4. Freedom (how big is the city etc.)
5. How the hero is shown
.
.


There are heroes whose first Solo-Run I REALLY REALLY loved while I didnt like their second Solo-Run at all...

[Dred]

Wouldn't my Martian manhunter team, be more of an all-star model then a standard team model. All these characters have had solo books at some point. And in the case of Wally he had it for quite some time. Also, I clearly placed them into definite roles.

Martian Manhunter: leader
Green arrow: Lancer
Powergirl: Big guy (metaphorically)
the Atom: smart Guy
Wally West: the heart (When ever they stop trying to destroy the character)
And Vixen in versatile sixth ranger role.

No superhero in DC has a more expansive and versatile power set than MMH. Power girl just has the same superpowers as Superman, who I doubt you would classify as a team book specialist. Your examples do not fit your logic.

[poroto678]

You would have to have a nice blend of semi-popular heroes to make it sell. Sadly, you would have to have someone from the MAJOR families for it sell.

I would love to see J'onn create his own team of Heroes

I think the writer is much more important. The usually give that kind of books to newcomers and they don't make enough waves. Do you remember that JLU episode where Ollie, Dinah, Huntress and Question hang out? No one really "major" there (keep in mind this was before the CW show). Also, how much attention did Tom King get with The Vision? Anyone who says he's a major character is a blind fanboy.

I totally love when the give C and D list characters to awesome writers and that's pretty much the only way such a thing would work, IMHO.

[achilles]

I think the writer is much more important. The usually give that kind of books to newcomers and they don't make enough waves. Do you remember that JLU episode where Ollie, Dinah, Huntress and Question hang out? No one really "major" there (keep in mind this was before the CW show). Also, how much attention did Tom King get with The Vision? Anyone who says he's a major character is a blind fanboy.

I totally love when the give C and D list characters to awesome writers and that's pretty much the only way such a thing would work, IMHO.

That's a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a solo to succeed, especially with the sort of characters we're talking about. Other needed elements are a writer who cares about the character, and one who understands what makes the character tick, or what could make it tick, and has a plan for the title, complete with a niche for the character, and a middle game, and eventual end point for a run.

Then of course, there's the artist, who should have a style that's suited to the character. For some of the character mentioned, those elements haven't come together yet.

[Riv86672]

That's a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a solo to succeed, especially with the sort of characters we're talking about. Other needed elements are a writer who cares about the character, and one who understands what makes the character tick, or what could make it tick, and has a plan for the title, complete with a niche for the character, and a middle game, and eventual end point for a run.

Then of course, there's the artist, who should have a style that's suited to the character. For some of the character mentioned, those elements haven't come together yet.

A great example of what you just described was Marvel’s 1997 Ka-Zar book. Andy Kubert’s re-imagining of all the characters and dynamic take on the Savage Land was highly regarded, and Waid’s story had a beginning/middle/end.
Once they left the book it limped along for a few more issues then tanked.
But your formula DID work.