Thinking about my salad Spider-Ham days (ham salad? Don't look at me. "salad days" is apparently an appropriate expression) got me to thinking about my good ol' Marvel role playing game. Often, I would get to play with friends, but more often than not, I would simply imagine scenarios on my own, and with a few quick dice rolls, determine the fate of a Marvel universe of my very own. I'm sad to say, the Fantastic Four didn't last too long, but they took out several of my home-brew house-cleaning villain team, the Marauders. (No, not these guys.) At least the Thing survived (making him grow considerable in my estimation) and the team took a few Marauders down with them... but what to do to replace the old "fuddy duddy" FF? Why, with my perennial faves, the Avengers, of course!
At the time, Hank Pym, scientific adventurer, was going through a severe depression and identity crisis. He was helped by Firebird (then, La Espirita) and would soon later go on to become a backbone of a West Coast Avengers team. But what if, instead, La Espirita convinced Pym to take on the role left behind by Mister Fantastic, becoming a true scientific adventurer by way of the FF's super science fiction legacy? He'd be aided by the Hulk, who had a merged personality with Bruce Banner, fulfilling both brain and brawn at the same time. In my story, they fought back the U-Foes (who had a similar origin story to the FF, actually) and recruited their member Vapor as their fourth.
It's just so crazy, it just might work! Hank Pym would have an enlarged role in the Marvel universe, but still grapple with insecurity at filling such a role. Espirita would have to straddle both the role of inspiration and of faith (in a science-based series as well as being the only non-science member-- even Vapor has some legitimately scientifically-based experience!) Hulk is also battling a legacy-- his own as a monster-- while avoiding the temper that could ruin everything. And Vapor also adds that edge with a villain who may not be as reformed as you'd think. Great dynamics, great mix of powers and personalities, and you'd have a great little "bold new direction!" What do you think? I was a genius little storyteller!
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