Have one member from every continent at a time. Countries can rotate through the six open slots, while Captain Antarctica is in the permanent leadership position.
Also, Captain Antarctica is a hyper-intelligent, telepathic dinosaur that ended up in Antarctica by glacier movements.
Hmm... Excuse me, I have to go draw something.
edited 22nd Aug '11 3:33:35 PM by Braincogs
"How to keep the characters from becoming stereotypical, a common accusation? Maybe by basing them on hero types made in those countries? (eg. a cyborg hero from Japan ala Kamen Rider?)"
Or basing them on national legends. For example, in Poland we have legend about Jan Twardowski, who made a deal with the devil and sold his soul for great magical power, but added rule to the contract that devil can take his soul only in Rome. Devil ruled him to the inn named Rome, but Twardowski escaped by summoning giant chicking and rflying on it to the Moon, where he resides until this day. Now this guy could made nice superhero. In personality he was every stereotype of Polish XV Ith century nobles, but nobody will be offended by portaying him like that, because you're staying close to soruce material. Following that, take Arabic hero from 1001 Arabian Nights tales (I'm strongly suggesting Abu-Hasan, because there could be nothing better than a team up between dude riding giant chicken and a man, whose greates achievement was farting so loudly it made it into calendar), Greek hero can be based on Greek Mythology (Atalante for example, to go with somebody who isn't a psychopath), Jewish culture represented by Samson (man who killed hundred of people with donkey's jaw) and so on.
"What would its structure be? Ideally you'd want one hero from every country, but that would be hundreds of characters, too many to write at once. Maybe a team composed of representatives of the World's major cultures Eg. American, Hispanic, Arabic, etc? Or a combination eg. a rotating cast based on who is needed at a time?"
I would go with the latter.
"Where would they be based? On a neutral territory, like an island? The United Nations building? A mobile base? Or several ones around the world? What transportation would they use?"
Several bases sound okay. And maybye they should have JLU-style satelite or JLA-style Moon Base?
"How would they handle international politics? Would they stay out of armed conflicts? Have diplomatic immunity? etc."
Probably would count as UN peace force, deployed into war zones only with official's premission.
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One per continent doesn't seem fair when there are so many nations to represent (Australia would only get one member- Crocodile Dundee maybe?
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(Mental note: must make list of cultures to represent.)
I actually like Captain Antartica, sounds really funny! Hey if you draw it, let us see it!
Heh, I'd never heard that Polish folk tale! Yeah, mythology would definitely play here, I love the All Myths Are True trope. But I'd also like to have more modern heroes as well.
Oh, I'd forgotten about the Space Base option. Interesting, but may be too advanced for the setting (Reed Richards Is Useless should apply to keep the world from being too different from the real one.)
I've been thinking of basing them on the United Nations Peace Corps.
edited 22nd Aug '11 4:28:17 PM by Sijo
I'm thinking that this will need to be a UN-sponsored team to avoid accusations of favouring one country over another. This also provides a handy reason for all these heroes from multiple countries to be working together instead of just fighting crime and terrorism in their home countries.
Their base should be an artificial island in international waters; again, this is so they can plausibly claim to not favour one state over another.
The core members should probably consist of one each from America, Britain, France, Russia, and China to cover the UN Security Council, with others brought in as needed.
If I may make a suggestion for an Irish superhero, you can't go wrong with a hard-drinking, hard-fighting Boisterous Bruiser type. If they have magic powers, they might be a changeling, a person who was kidnapped by fairies as a child and replaces with a baby fairy. Presumably, this person got magic from the fairies they lived with, and then managed to escape and decided to use their powers for good. Celtic mythology doesn't really have any trickster gods I'm aware of, but you could probably spin to the Fomorians or certain fairies into villains if you're that way inclined.
Also, look up Cúchullain, Fionn Mac Cumhaill (also spelled MacCool, the Fianna, Queen Maeve, and the Red Branch Knights for some ideas. One of my favourite moments from the mythology I learned in school was when Cúchullain single-handedly defended Ulster against an invasion by Maeve's army. Cúchulainn defeated two of Maeve's champions easily, so then Maeve sent in Ferdia, and old friend of Cúchullain's. They fought for three days, at the end of which birds were flying through their massive wounds. Ferdia died first, but even Cúchullain couldn't survive long with that kind of injury, so he tied himself to a tree in order to die on his feet. Maeve's army were so scared of him that they refused to cross the river into Ulster until they saw a raven land on his head and pluck out his eye.
There's another story about how he died, as well. During one of his adventures, he obtained three spears, each of which would kill a king. While fending off the Connaught army, he threw all three spears at them, but they all missed, because there were no kings in Maeve's army. The soldiers then picked up the spears and threw them back. The first his Cúchulainn's page, because he was some sort of king among messengers. The second his his horse, because it was a king among horses. The third hit Cúchullain himself, because he was king of the warriors.
Ahem.
If you're looking for Irish superhero comics, Slaine is a good bet. It takes all the cool bits from Irish mythology and blends them with (it must be said, at times anvilicious) political satire and commentary, and the result is frequently awesome. It's easier to find in America than a lot of other British comics; I gather it's quite popular in California.
There's also The League of Volunteers
. This is a more traditional team of Irish superheroes, except they're a covert squad formed to oppose the Nazis while allowing the Irish government to appear neutral. Since it's an indie comic, there is so far only one issue out, but it's worth a look nonetheless.
Yes, the team must definitely have some sort of deal with the UN if they want permission to enter their member countries. And you're right, the Security Council nations probably will demand to be represented in the team as a condition. Thanks!
I know very little about Celtic Myth, a situation I'm definitely going to correct. Wow, Cu Chulain sounds like a superhero comic from the 90's!
I'll check out Slaine as well.
edited 22nd Aug '11 5:07:58 PM by Sijo
So, your idea to avoid stereotypes is basing the heroes powers on national stereotypes? If you really want to avoid it, just give them random superpowers that are in no way connected to their ethnicity or nationality at all. I.e. an Argentinian Speedster, a Chinese who can grow, Danish telepath and a fire controller from Ghana. And Captain Antarctica, because a talking dinosaur is way cool!
No, what I mean by "stereotypes" are characters created with ignorance of their actual, modern cultures. I have no problem with, for example, the Henshin Hero type, because *it was created in Japan*. Most American ideas of what a Japanese superhero should be involved Ninjas or Samurais. And some are, of course, but not the majority, as I understand it.
1. I don't know how to do this. I like the local legend idea but that itself is stereotypical.
2. What would the different regions to represent be? Ideally we'd have:
United States/Canada Latin America/Caribbean Western Europe(maybe even two of these) Eastern Europe Middle East/Northern Africa Southern Africa Australia/Oceania Indian Subcontinent East Asia Pacific Islands
I miss anyone? Either way get one(or two if it's a particularly big region) from each of these and rotate them out depending on what powers are needed for missions.
3. The base would likely be on an island that's in international waters. If there isn't such an island that no one has claimed they could always build one, they are superheroes after all. If not then they could have one base in each region and move members into different ones depending on the situations they're dealing with.
4. I'd assume since they're sanctioned by the U.N.(presumably) they'd need to have their approval before getting involved in any conflicts. Perhaps they could be considered a special international military unit? I don't quite know how these things work to be honest.
edited 22nd Aug '11 6:26:09 PM by Kostya
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Mythical heroes do represent their cultures so I have no problem with them except that I want to remind the audience that most countries today have progressed a lot and avoid the Spexicos or Quracs. But with some research I think they can be adjusted to modern times.
United States/Canada Latin America/Caribbean Western Europe(maybe even two of these) Eastern Europe Middle East/Northern Africa Southern Africa Australia/Oceania Indian Subcontinent East Asia Pacific Islands
Yes I was thinking along those lines, and as Vampire Buddha pointed out, the Security Council Nations must have at least a permanent member in the team each. Gotta check that, I think Japan was added to the council recently?
A deserted island would be perfect for the main base (I do agree having more than one is useful, but considering that they are often a target for villains it's safer to have them away from population centers.) For transportation suborbital planes would probably be best, for quick long-distance deployment.
And the members would likely be granted Diplomatic Immunity which basically means they can ignore the laws of the country they act in as long as the UN allows them to keep it, that is. (See the Diplomatic Immunity page for details.)
edited 22nd Aug '11 7:23:48 PM by Sijo
When I've thought about this type of thing before the problem I had with officially sanctioned international teams. If each government gets to choose one candidate how many would be willing to choose super heroine? I doubt the Chinese government would if they had any other options, and would the USA nominate a female if they had Captain America or an equivalent (Captain Atom for DC) available?
My only soloutions were either for there to be a limited amount of superhumans available in the setting or for the team to have founded independantly from the UN. The former obviously wouldn't be possible if you wanted a Marvel or DC team, while the latter requires an explanation as to why the team is internationaly balanced.
Am I a good man or a bad man?![]()
True. I guess it depends on the kind of myth and the writers would have to be really careful how they portray it. What would America get though? If this is Marvel I'm assuming they'll use Cap but who could DC have? Superman wouldn't consider himself a representative solely of the U.S.
It wasn't already? Well this means that America, Russia, France, Britain, and China are guaranteed a spot. I think the others rotate but they usually do a pretty good job at giving the different regions a voice.
That's what I was thinking. The island would be the main base where they all hang out when nothing is happening but when they have a mission a group is formed based on who is most suited to the task at hand. They then go to the base nearest the area where the problem is occurring. I assume transport would be through things like the Quinjet, which they'd need several of.
That could actually make for an interesting bit of drama. I could see some of the less moral members of the group considering that a loophole to be as aggressive as needed to stop the threat.
Assuming the U.N. sets this thing up(easiest way to explain IMO) perhaps they could enforce a quota of sorts.
Wait would they even have the ability to do that? Also how do we go about picking them? Does each country nominate someone or do we gather a bunch of bureaucrats and have them debate over who is most qualified to represent each country?
Typically superheroes tend to be independent from their governments except when they are sponsored by them (ex. Alpha Flight). However the fact that they cannot just cross international borders to chase a villain or perform rescues without possibly causing an international incident could be what gets them to request authorization from the UN to do it. By the same token even if most nations were uncomfortable about working with heroes it's simply too obvious that sometimes you have to do so, especially when dealing with supervillains, who couldn't care less about permission to act on foreign soil. So I see the group as forming on its own and working with the UN, which grants it rights and resources as long as they don't abuse them. And yes I see plenty of story potential in these angles.
Who joins from which country would also have to be a matter of "negotiation" between the nations and the hero group. Only the UN Security Council nations would get to choose who represents them, the rest would join of their own accord, thought of course they could also be working for their own governments for ex. in Marvel the Alpha Flight project could decide to send one of its members (I'd use Vindicator since they have two of those in the team.) The US would probably send USAgent. Not sure who the DCU gov would use, since Captain Atom no longer works for them.
In an original setting we'd decide who joins and why of course.
edited 22nd Aug '11 9:08:19 PM by Sijo
I can't believe I missed 14 posts of this, I've practically been working on this idea forever. I want to say "It's easy" but I'm just crazy.
My version called Heroes Unlimited
has a rotating cast that it told from the point of view of their distrusting and analytical leader who considers himself the only same person.
The team is under the control of the Untied Nations however this world's UN is different from the real UN in that they are actually significant and do have real power, and they are almost their own government. They also moved their building to a remote island on international waters. They essentially deal with international law, terrorists, and saving civilians during times of war while the UN tries to quell conflict on the political side of things.
The Blog The ArtAbout goverments putting women into the team - this is hardly a problem. Just give some countries women who are their equivalents of Captain America or Superman - Chinesse goverment could clearly go with sending woman to the team if that woman would be considered their greatest superhero. Or you may go with popularity. If, say, Russia has one superheroine who is well know outside the country and group of others, who may be better and more powerfull, but nobody really knows about them, they might send popular girl to the team and keep their aces in the sleeve.
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Hey, nice work! And btw you've reminded me of another problem I have: What do I call this team? Because every name I come up with is taken: Global Guardians? Taken. Protectors of the Globe? Taken. International Super Teams? Taken. World Heroes? Taken! Arrgh!! Any suggestions?
Hey, isn't there an actual, public-domain Russian superheroine named Octobriana? She might work for the team!
edited 23rd Aug '11 5:32:07 AM by Sijo
Atlas is okay, if you don't mind that Marvel has Agents Of Atlas. Alternatively you can go with name appropirate for the theme. For example, I once created Russian superhero team featuring seven members each dressed in differend color of the rainbow, so I called them the Rainbow (through everywhere outside Russia they're called Russian Rainbow). If you're gonna go with mythological theme, maybye call them "Legends" or something like that? However, I would still keep Atlas Island, that's a great name.
edited 23rd Aug '11 7:51:27 AM by PrimoVictoria
Also, I am a wee bit confused about "choosing a representative" sort of idea, I just go with "If they think they're good enough hand they want to join,t they get them". The whole "Pick a representative for X country" is too limiting. I just make a character and if their backstory means they are from a particular country, so be it. I mean in my HU I have three guys (two full characters, and one that's still in the development phase) from India, and two of them are brothers that are victims of the caste system, but they were noticed for their desire to do good their abilities (One with magnetism and one can match the strengths and weaknesses of a person they come in contact with temporarily.)
Instead of picking by nationality, it may be best to go the Atlantis The Lost Empire route and go with specialists who happen to come from X country, like you'll need sharpshooters/archers, you'll need tech experts, energy experts, healers, psychologists, detectives, spies, I mean I literally have a rock star on the team because she was one of the best inventors of combat acoustics they could find and you never know when you'll need a sound expert.
The Blog The Art

I've always liked the idea of an international superhero group; after all heroes more than anybody should know that they have to work together to keep the world safe. Plus I think that (when used well) it's a great vehicle for exploring multiple cultures.
However I haven't been completely satisfied with the versions I've seen. Marvel Comics has never had an official one, for example (unless you count the X Men, at certain periods); DC Comics had one, the Global Guardians (not to be confused with the Global Guardians PBEM Universe) but didn't do much with it, instead dissolving it to let them be absorbed into their Justice League International title which frankly was more about its American members (and comedy) than anything else. Wildstorm had Storm Watch, but that was more paramilitary in nature (I think), etc.
I've always wanted to make my own version. But there are issues to deal with:
Opinions?
edited 22nd Aug '11 1:10:05 PM by Sijo