An Absorbascommenter wrote me a private email about the idea of applying our "Dynastic Centerpiece Model" to teams instead of individuals. Let's!
For those who've just joined us, the Dynastic Centerpiece (DC) model is the loose application of a set of character archtypes to building a mythos around a central figure, a "dynastic centerpiece". Here's an example: Centerpiece (Batman), Junior Version (Nightwing), Sidekick (Robin), Black Sheep (Huntress), Elder Statesman (NONE), Animal Companion (Bathound), Female Version (Batgirl), Authority Figure (Commissioner Gordon), Civilian Companion (Alfred), etc. This model applies to many of DC's iconic characters to varying degrees.
To some degree, I guess, it applies to supergroups as well. Centerpiece (JLA), Junior Version (Outsiders), Sidekick (Teen Titans), Black Sheep (JLElite), Elder Statesman (JSA), Animal Companion (I'm not sure the Legion of SuperPets counts!), Female Version (expand the Birds of Prey a bit...), Authority Figure (DEO), Civilian Companion (nothing there).
9 comments:
Wouldn't Snapper Carr count as a civilian companion? Or would it have to be a team of civilians...? Like the Challengers of the Unkown, perhaps.
I've gotta say, I'm a huge fan of the Dynastic Centerpiece.
The "Justice Civilians" could exist either of two ways, I think.
Either you band together the companions of the groups, or the companions of the members of the centerpiece (JLA).
The former would be pretty small: Ma Hunkle, Jesse Quick, Snapper Carr, Jarvis. Oh, wait; not Jarvis.
The latter might be a hoot! Imagine something like: Alfred Pennyworth, Jimmy Olsen, Ferdinand the Cook, Carol Ferris, Hartley Rathaway, Esther Maris, and Woozy Winks.
Whoa; that's scary. Not to criminals, but to ME.
I read this, I immediately thought of Snapper, but benari had beat me to it.
In the Flash storyline "The Human Race" didn't Wonder Woman co-opt everyone on the planet into being reserve/honorary members of the JLA?
So, Civilan Counterpart = Everyone else on the planet.
I was dispapointed that Geroge Perez didn't think about this when allegedly drawing every emmber of the JLA and Avengers for the cover of JLA/Avengers 3
Ugh! The less said about "The Human Race" the better!
Sorry about that - and so early in the morning for you guys too.
How about: the cops in Gotham Central? Checkmate? the Sea Devils? The All-Reporter Squad (Lois, Jimmy, Vikki Vale, Vic Sage, Jack Ryder, Linda Park)? Cave Carson and his Spelunking Club? the Newsboy Legion? The Green Team? Scooter and his Pals?
OOOoooo!
The Legion of Stupid Reporters! Let me work on that...
Well, upon further reflection...I think there have always been certain civilian characters who have played large roles in JLA history. Snapper Carr, of course. Oberon and Maxwell Lord (sigh) and Sue Dibney (double sigh) and Catherine Cobert (UN liaison/coordinator, I believe) during the Giffen/DeMatteis years. I don't know that you need to band all the individual members' companions together - that would actually get to be too huge to manage, I think. The JLA itself, as a group, actually has a long history of its own unique civilian companions without having to dip into the individual members' models...
There are a few books on the subject, some very
Post a Comment