Being united as one is much better than standing alone. Many people are strong and smart on their own, but at points in their lives, they need to reach out and gain the help of others. Sometimes, it may be for a short time or the length of a career. This goes the same for fictional works as well. Many super teams in comic books have joined forces to prevent and stop all forms of conflicts. The hottest team right now is the Avengers. With Iron Man being their financial backbone, Captain America as their moral compass, and Thor and Hulk serving as the muscle, The Avengers are pretty formidable. Yet, on the opposite side of business, so are many DC characters. These are characters that could fit the mold and roles that each Avenger has created on the team. But which DC characters will do just that?
The lineup used in The Avengers 2012 film will be discussed for the argument.
Nightwing for Captain America
Captain America adds a little punch to The Avengers because of his super soldier serum. Add to that strategic value from his military experience. But more than anything, he adds the heart, the levity, the wisdom, and morality to his team. Although Nightwing may lack the strength and military experience, he can add heart, levity, wisdom, and morality to any team he is a part of, thanks in large part to having Batman and Alfred around. In a city where monsters exist – in creature and man form – Nightwing always has a level head, keeps optimistic, and sees the light in a dark place. He received training from the best in fighting, detective skills, and tactical awareness. Nightwing is trained so well that he has taken Batman’s spot as the Caped Crusader a few times and has even stepped in for Batman within the Justice League. And just like him, Nightwing does not allow his lack of power to dissuade him from fighting threats of all forms. Nightwing is a natural leader, leading a few teams and mentoring others. His combination of heart, tenacity, and understating will make Captain America proud.
Cyborg for Iron Man
In battle, being more advanced technologically is a significant advantage. Knowing how it works is just as crucial. Iron Man provides that for the Avengers. When someone or the team needs a technological boost, Iron Man provides it. Cyborg has the same mission. But his access to technology is much more effortless. Cyborg doesn’t need to be charged, reset, plugged in, or to call for his suit. He has the suit, the power, the know-how. A superpowered alien box gives him unlimited access to any technology in a vast circle of reach. Any weapon, be it a machine gun, access to launch codes, or global economy, is for Cyborg to control with the ease it takes to formulate a thought. So, to say he is a technological powerhouse is an understatement. What Iron Man could do, Cyborg could match and exceed it. While he serves as the eye-in-the-sky for the team, he could also be another pair of fists in the fight. Cyborg already had intelligence before he merged with the Motherbox, but since he can directly communicate with technology, he brings a new angle to any type of fight. His insight and his versatility are vital for any team to have.
Shazam for Thor
If the title of God of Thunder is attached to any character, that character is already associated with raw power. Thor is that. He can shake the heavens. With his natural godly physiology and the added power from Mjolnir, Thor takes on any opponent head-on. His counterpart is Shazam. While Thor has access to the power his role in the Norse Pantheon gives him, Shazam has the powers from several gods and kings. The most powerful, fastest, and smartest gods and kings give Shazam his abilities. Although he is a child once depowered and acts as such in his godly form, these abilities still make Shazam a strong powerhouse, much the same as Thor since he is unfamiliar with Earth customs or enters a berserker trance at times. Powers are virtually the same as well. And the dilemmas the teams will face will be similar for opposite, humorous reasons. The Avengers don’t always have access to Thor since he has his duties on Asgard, and this new DC-inspired Avengers won’t always have access to Shazam since he has to take his fifth-period Math class. Yet, once Shazam does have the time, he has the power to even best Superman. That power is needed on any superpowered team.
Batwoman for Black Widow
Black Widow could take down an opponent up close, psychologically, by manipulating them and knowing everything about their espionage. She is well-rounded. Adept in many styles of fighting and weapons. Although she may have the looks to lure in romantic interest, she could quickly turn around to be the most dangerous person in the room. Batwoman also has those qualities. Although apprehensive to be fully committed to the Bat Family, Batwoman still has many of the traits that make members of the family so formidable. With that regard, Black Widow could also fit in quite well with the Bat Family. But Batwoman has a different type of aggression than Batman’s and could make her just as dangerous as Black Widow. She has her set of customs and drives. She has fighting skills that could withstand several threats due to her experience in the military and the training she received from around the world. Working alongside great detectives like Batman, Nightwing, and Tim Drake’s Robin, those skills could have easily been rubbed off on her. All skills will make the team that much more robust.
Green Arrow for Hawkeye
Hawkeye gained his master archery skills from his days in the circus, serving as a brief criminal and, depending on the source material, from S.H.I.E.L.D. Among gods, monsters, and super soldiers, his mastery over a primitive form of war may be overlooked. Still, with the versatility of his weaponry and being fully aware of how far the average human body can go, Hawkeye brings in crucial perspective and an arsenal to a team. As does Green Arrow. While Hawkeye is a performer and fighter, Green Arrow is a survivor. Crashed on an island and left to die, Green Arrow had to will his way to see each day that followed his accident. His mastery of archery was crucially vital and self-taught – depending on the source material. Then, he received more training from masters on the island and off, furthering his skills. Once back home, Green Arrow became a vigilante and fought for the little guys, much like Batman, unlike Hawkeye, who was primarily a special operative. What Green Arrow has a little more than Hawkeye is his indomitable human spirit. He was forced to survive in a harsh environment and still works in a harsh environment without losing his sense of humanity. And always looks out for everyday people.
Swamp Thing for Hulk
The story of The Hulk is quite well known. He was a brilliant man who suffered an accident that made him into a monster. The battle to find his humanity inside the monster began, and it was a bitter one. Yet, after years of fighting internally and with others, Hulk finds himself a hero or, at times, is demanded to be a hero. His role as a monster became so much more significant. Swamp Thing finds himself in a similar situation. Swamp Thing starts as a scientist who begins the fight between man and monster, yet he comes to realize his role as a monster is crucial to the survival and stability of Earth. At times, knowing the role of being a monster is more beneficial than being a man. Like Hulk, Swamp Thing prefers a life of solitude, only caring for themselves and jumping into a fight they deem worthy enough to have them involved. While they may see them as monsters in large parts of the world, the people who need them see them both as saviors. He is proving that monsters could be vital heroes to preserve the safety of Earth.
With most of the team lacking extravagant powers, The Avengers pull off the impossible and defeat threats way above their weight class. It’s the determination and friendship they have that get them through the fights. It’s the person with the power – not the power the person has – that makes heroes so great. This line of the ‘DC Avengers’ had to reflect that. Each DC character had to fill up each spot but also fulfill the role each original member offered. Heroes come in many forms, but in some cases, they are similar. This, in this case, is important because specific roles must be met repeatedly to make a team ready to avenge anyone.
