If the (big 7) Justice league were to add an official 8th member who would it be

[TheRay]

On the other hand, what if we made it Robin?

[John Venus]

What does Hawkgirl add to the team? She flies and she hits things. Not much personality to speak of. Plus she can’t really have any long term romantic relationships with other characters because she’s so tied in with Hawkman.

Back in the Satellite era, Hawkgirl was more of a scientist type. The Hawks had a rocket ship as a second home that orbited the earth and that was where they kept their Thanagarian gear.

I think you could play her as a specialist in alien technology. Maybe not an Einstein type but more of a Gadgeteer Genius like Rocket Raccoon, who knows this stuff because she has first hand experience with it and what's fantastical for us is normal for her.

[John Venus]

On the other hand, what if we made it Robin?

Which opens it's own can of worms like why Robin and not [insert favorite character from that generation who is not on the League]?

[Samm]

What does Hawkgirl add to the team? She flies and she hits things. Not much personality to speak of. Plus she can’t really have any long term romantic relationships with other characters because she’s so tied in with Hawkman.

Nostalgia. I hate Cyborg with the JL, he’s a Titan and I think it’s stupid that they treat the Titans team as a Jr minor JL that you graduate from! No thank you! Also Hawkgirl beat other DC women on Reddit poll on which woman should join the DCEU JL, so she’s a popular addition to the League


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.red...ustice_league/

[Stanlos]

I thought the Hawks also brought Thanagarian tech, galactic knowledge, and military aerial prowess. At least Shayera does. Thanagarians are superhumanly strong but with Wonder Woman and Superman on your team you're covered there. But the Hawks bring some of the most destructive weapons known.

If it is the incarnation style, then there's a ton of historical knowledge and proficiency with with archaic weapons. They also have the plot device that is Nth Metal.

[Stanlos]

Nostalgia. I hate Cyborg with the JL, he’s a Titan and I think it’s stupid that they treat the Titans team as a Jr minor JL that you graduate from! No thank you! Also Hawkgirl beat other DC women on Reddit poll on which woman should join the DCEU JL, so she’s a popular addition to the League


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.red...ustice_league/

I revisited Super Powers and I guess I can see Vic and Firestorm being added but John Stewart would have been preferable and the most logical but whatevs

[John Venus]

I thought the Hawks also brought Thanagarian tech, galactic knowledge, and military aerial prowess. At least Shayera does. Thanagarians are superhumanly strong but with Wonder Woman and Superman on your team you're covered there. But the Hawks bring some of the most destructive weapons known.

If it is the incarnation style, then there's a ton of historical knowledge and proficiency with with archaic weapons. They also have the plot device that is Nth Metal.

The thing about the Hawks is that they have a strong visual; winged humaoids mixed with sci fi fantasy or mysticism. They will stand out even if they are just standing in the background.

Plus, unlike J'onn and Superman, they are not the only ones of their race still remaining and their conflict stems from being torn between Thanagar and their own people.

[Alpha]

What does Hawkgirl add to the team? She flies and she hits things. Not much personality to speak of. Plus she can’t really have any long term romantic relationships with other characters because she’s so tied in with Hawkman.

Nor can the Flash. Nor can Aquaman. Nor can Superman. They are coworkers and friends, we don't need to see them date each other. Or do you really think romance is necessary for storytelling in a team? Heck, has Black Canary ever been romantic with anypne on the league apart from Green Arrow? Has Zatanna been in a romance with anyone within JL stories? (Her and Batman have flirted in other books but not in JL I believe)

[Jim Kelly]

Some characters come as a pair. For decades, Batman and Robin were a double act and it made no sense to split them up for team adventures. Most every WORLD'S FINEST adventure included Robin as an equal partner. If Batman was in the League, you'd expect to see Robin at his side. So it was confusing when the Boy Wonder wasn't there. I think splitting him off from Robin, and then having Robin go off to form the Teen Titans, is what contributed to the breakdown of the partnership. And then later writers retconned that into an actual antagonism between Bruce and Dick.

With Hawkman and Hawkgirl of Thanagar, they were introduced as a team. When the League chose Hawkman, he should have insisted that his partner be a member, as well. It's like if a pair of cops, who worked together for years, suddenly saw one of them selected for special duties--in fact it is that since Katar and Shayera were cops.

In the Justice Society likewise, the duos of Hawkman and Hawkgirl should have been respected. And other similar pairs, too. In the Seven Soldiers of Victory, they let duos stick together--Green Arrow and Speedy, Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, Crimson Avenger and Wing, Shining Knight and Winged Victory--only Vigilante was cold enough to leave his other partners in the dust.

With Green Arrow and Black Canary, it was the other way around. They were each selected independent of each other. But when readers saw the chemistry between them, they then became a long-lasting duo.

By the way, Zatanna did have a thing for Barry Allen. But nothing came of it. His fiancée was driven insane and then his wife came back from the dead, so there was no place for Z. in that confusion.

With Elongated Man, Sue was key to Ralph's popularity as a character. It just wasn't the same if his wife wasn't there helping him solve mysteries. While he was forced to abandon his mate in his early League outings, Sue eventually inserted herself in the team--with the Detroit League and with every other iteration of the League thereafter that included l'Homme Étenu.

[Johnny]

Black Lightning, Zatanna or Vixen.

[TheRay]

Which opens it's own can of worms like why Robin and not [insert favorite character from that generation who is not on the League]?

Well I think the same question could be asked of any of the choices given.

[Adekis]

There's not really a consistent Big 7 in the first place. More like a usual "Big Five" of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and GL. The additional two "Big 7" slots rotate between Martian Manhunter, Cyborg, Aquaman, a Hawk, or sometimes even Green Arrow or Captain Marvel. There are enough characters in the sixth and seventh slots to make a whole 'nother Big 5!

[Digifiend]

What does Hawkgirl add to the team? She flies and she hits things. Not much personality to speak of. Plus she can’t really have any long term romantic relationships with other characters because she’s so tied in with Hawkman.

She actually CAN, now that Hawkgirl and Hawkwoman have been separated so they can co-exist. Hawkman is with Hawkwoman. Hawkgirl is free to pursue other relationships - she ended up with Martian Manhunter.

[Ascended]

Not reading all the pages but....

If we're going with raw historical importance, it's gotta be Ollie, Canary, Nightwing, Zee, Hawkman/Hawkwoman, or Atom.

Of those, I think either Zee or Atom make the most sense. They have unique (high end) powers, bring unique locations and story elements to the table, and have skills, talents, and personalities that enrich the established cast. Everyone else is absolutely great and are awesome enough to deserve full time League membership, but for one reason or another I don't think they bring enough new/unique elements to the table.

But if we look at things from a slightly wider perspective I think we also have to consider Black Lightning, Vixen, Cyborg, or Shazam (Mary or Billy, or perhaps you could rotate various Shazamily members in and out, it's a versatile IP). These guys all have unique powers and skills, interesting personalities, long histories, and plenty of nerd cred. Of these guys, I think you gotta look closest at Vixen and Cyborg, honestly. Shazam is great and has the strongest pedigree (and rogues gallery), but is too similar to Clark and Diana in terms of ability and subgenre, and Lightning is too close to the same kind of street level/pulp stuff that Bruce already provides. But Vixen brings magic and an African pantheon with her, and Vic brings both cyberpunk aesthetics and New Gods connections. Mari is connected to an industry and lifestyle the other Leaguers aren't, and Vic (as a former Titan) brings the element of generational heroism with him in much the same way Wally used to.

If I had to pick just one hero? I guess it's gonna be Vixen. But honestly, the League is where the A-list go to hang out, it's not the place that creates A-listers (even characters who *should* be A-list but aren't) so I don't believe you can just add someone to the Big 7 and have it be anything other than lip service. If we were dealing with raw A-list status (or as close to it as anyone outside the Big 7 gets) we'd have to be talking about Deathstroke and Harley Quinn, and nobody wants those guys on the Justice League.

[Sutekh]

I'd rather Black Canary *or* Hawkwoman (for all the reasons listed above, not just 'chick who hits things' but also 'chick with her own spaceship, and supply of alien tech/weaponry') as the seventh, instead of Martian Manhunter or Cyborg, and if adding an eighth, add the other lady, or Vixen, or Black Lightning! So many options!