Five-Man Band/Comic Books
 | This page needs some cleaning up to be presentable. Examples Need Sorting. I'm pretty sure that Batman and Fantastic Four are not Archie Comics characters... |
The Five-Man Band is a group of characters whose members fall into archetypes which all complement one another. They are a very specific team with skills that contribute to the group in a unique way. Here are some places where the trope occurs in comic books:
Avengers
The original Avengers
| The Hero | Thor |
| The Lancer | Iron Man |
| The Smart Guy | Ant-Man |
| The Big Guy | Hulk |
| The Chick | Wasp |
| The Sixth Ranger | Captain America (comics) |
Classic Avengers
| The Hero | Captain America (comics) |
| The Lancer | Hawkeye or Iron Man; Originally, The Hulk They've both got a long history of not getting along with Cap, but neither can touch The Hulk in terms of being uncooperative. |
| The Smart Guy | Hank Pym... even when he's Giant Man |
| The Big Guy | Thor |
| The Chick | The Wasp |
Heroic Age Avengers
| The Hero | Captain America |
| The Lancer(s) | Hawkeye, Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Iron Man and Protector |
| The Big Guy | Thor |
| The Chick | Spider-Woman |
| Kid Appeal Character | Spider-Man |
| Sixth Ranger | Red Hulk |
Avengers Academy Teaching Staff
| The Hero | Justice |
| The Lancer | Tigra |
| The Smart Guy | |
| The Big Guy | Quicksilver |
| The Chick | Speedball |
Mighty Avengers
| The Hero(es) | Iron Man and Ms. Marvel |
| The Lancer(s) | Ares and Black Widow |
| The Big Guy(s) | Ares, The Sentry, and Wonder Man |
| The Smart Guy | Iron Man |
| The Chick | Wasp |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | Spider-Woman |
Post Secret Invasion Mighty Avengers
| The Hero | Wasp (Henry Pym) |
| The Lancer(s) | U.S. Agent, Quicksilver |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Pym, Amadeus Cho, Vision |
| The Big Guy | Hercules |
| The Chick(s) | Stature and Jocasta |
| Team Mom | Jarvis |
Original New Avengers
| The Hero | Captain America (comics) |
| The Lancer(s) | Spider-Man and Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Iron Man |
| The Big Guy | Luke Cage, Hero for Hire |
| The Chick | Spider-Woman |
| Sixth Ranger | Sentry and first Ronin |
Post Civil War New Avengers
| The Hero | Luke Cage |
| The Lancer | Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Doctor Strange |
| The Big Guy(s) | Luke Cage, Spider-Man, and Iron Fist |
| The Chick | Spider-Woman, later Echo |
| Sixth Ranger | Echo and second Ronin |
| The Mole | Spider-Woman |
Post Secret Invasion New Avengers
| The Hero(es) | Ronin and New Captain America |
| The Lancer(s) | Spider-Man and Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Mockingbird |
| The Big Guy(s) | Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel |
| The Chick | Spider-Woman |
Heroic Age New Avengers
| The Hero | Luke Cage |
| The Lancer | Hawkeye |
| The Smart Guy | Iron Fist |
| The Big Guy(s) | Thing and Ms. Marvel |
| Team Mom | Jessica Jones |
| The Mentor | Doctor Strange |
| The Chick | Victoria Hand |
| The Hero | Throg (Frog of Thunder) |
| The Lancer | Redwing |
| The Big Guy | Zabu |
| The Smart Guy | Lockheed |
| The Chick | Ms. Lion |
| The Mentor | Lockjaw |
| Sixth Ranger | Hairball |
Secret Avengers
| The Hero | Steve Rogers |
| The Lancer | Ant-Man, Black Widow, Moon Knight |
| The Smart Guy | Beast |
| The Big Guy | Valkyrie, War Machine, and Nova |
| The Chick | Agent 13 |
X-Men (original lineup)
| The Hero | Cyclops |
| The Lancer | Angel (Cyclops' main rival and a hothead with authority problems) or Iceman (the youngest member and jokester to contrast Cyclops as The Stoic) |
| The Big Guy | The Beast (While a Genius Bruiser, his strength took the forefront in those days) |
| The Smart Guy | Iceman (as The Smartass Guy and the guy with the most versatile and creative powers) Later, Beast would grow into the Genius Bruiser. |
| The Chick | Marvel Girl (definitely the heart of the team) |
| The Mentor | Professor X |
| The Sixth Ranger | Mimic, and later Havok and Polaris |
The "All-New, All-Different" X-Men
| The Hero | Cyclops |
| The Lancer(s) | Wolverine and Thunderbird (Their personalities were so similar, an editor decided one of them should be killed off) |
| The Big Guy | Colossus |
| The Smart Guy | Storm (Until she was flanderized into a trite Action Girl, Ororo was the thoughtful member of the team who provided most of the psychological, ethical, and spiritual insights -- even to Professor X) |
| The Chick | Nightcrawler |
| The Mentor | Professor X |
| Sixth Ranger | Phoenix |
| Tagalong Kid | Kitty Pryde |
| Team Pet | Lockheed |
New X-Men (Grant Morrison run)
| The Hero | Cyclops |
| The Lancer | Jean Grey |
| The Big Guy | Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Beast |
| The Chick | Emma Frost |
| Sixth Ranger | Xorn |
| Tagalong Kid | Beak |
Astonishing X-Men
| The Hero | Cyclops |
| The Lancer | Emma Frost |
| The Big Guy | Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Beast |
| The Chick | Kitty Pryde |
| Sixth Ranger | Colossus |
| Tagalong Kid | Armor |
Post House of M New X-Men
| The Hero | Surge |
| The Lancer | Hellion |
| The Big Guy | Rockslide |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Elixir and later Prodigy |
| The Chick | Dust |
| Sixth Ranger | X-23 |
| Big Good | Valerie Cooper |
| The Hero | Havok |
| The Lancer | Polaris |
| The Smart Guy | Quicksilver |
| The Big Guy | Strong Guy |
| The Chick | Wolfsbane |
| The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Ranger | Multiple Man |
X-Factor - Current Lineup
| The Hero | Multiple Man |
| The Lancer | Siryn and Layla Miller |
| The Smart Guy | Rictor and M |
| The Big Guy(s) | Strong Guy and Shatterstar |
| The Chick | Wolfsbane |
| The Sixth Ranger | Longshot |
| The Hero | Wolverine |
| The Lancer | Archangel |
| The Smart Guy | X-23 |
| The Big Guy | Warpath |
| The Chick | Wolfsbane and later Elixir |
| Sixth Ranger | Domino |
Uncanny X-Force
| The Hero | Wolverine |
| The Lancer | Archangel |
| The Smart Guy | Fantomex |
| The Big Guy | Deadpool |
| The Chick | Psylocke |
X-Statix
| The Hero | The Orphan/Mr. Sensitive, Zeitgeist (originally) |
| The Lancer | The Anarchist (was actually even designed to look like the lone wolf with an attitude problem; Dead Girl is the friendlier variant) |
| The Big Guy | Phat |
| The Smart Guy | Vivisector (For a guy whose mutation basically makes him a werewolf, he's still mostly useful to the team in an intellectual capacity) |
| The Chick | U-Go Girl and Venus Dee Milo |
| The Sixth Ranger | El Guapo |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | The Spike (originally a secondary Big Guy and the best melee fighter in the group, he betrayed the team several times in his desire to become the leader) |
| Team Pet | Doop (It's not exactly clear what he is, precisely, but what is known is that he can go toe-to-toe with Thor and speaks his own language (with its own unique alphabet) and looks like a flying potato with arms.) |
Generation Hope
| The Hero | Hope Summers |
| The Lancer | Gabriel, who doubles as a love interest |
| The Big Guy | Teon |
| The Smart Guy | Laurie |
| The Chick | Idie |
| The Sixth Ranger | Kenji |
Archie Comics
Archie Comics: The main group:
| The Hero | Archie Andrews |
| The Lancer | Jughead Jones |
| The Smart Guy | Betty Cooper |
| The Big Guy | Reggie Mantle |
| The Chick | Veronica Lodge |
Archie Comics: The whole gang:
| The Hero | Archie Andrews |
| The Lancer | Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones |
| The Smart Guy | Dilton Doiley |
| The Big Guy | Moose Mason |
| The Heart | Betty Cooper |
| The Chick | Veronica Lodge, Midge Klump and Ethel Muggs |
| Team Pet | Hot Dog |
| Sixth Ranger | Chuck Clayton, Nancy Woods and Cheryl Blossom |
Archie Comics: When it's just the girls:
| The Hero | Betty Cooper |
| The Lancer | Veronica Lodge |
| The Smart Guy | Nancy Woods |
| The Big Guy | Ethel Muggs |
| The Chick | Midge Klump |
| Sixth Ranger | Cheryl Blossom |
Archie Comics: Riverdale High's faculty:
| The Hero | Mr. Weatherbee |
| The Lancer | Miss Grundy |
| The Smart Guy | Prof. Flutesnoot and Miss Haggly |
| The Big Guy | Coach Kleats and Coach Clayton |
| The Chick | Miss Beazley |
| The Heart | Mr. Svenson |
| The Mentor | Superintendent Hassle |
| Sixth Ranger | Ms. Phlips and Mr. Howitzer |
| The Hero | Josie Jones |
| The Lancer | Alexander and Alexandra Cabot |
| The Smart Guy | Valerie Smith |
| The Big Guy | Alan M. Mayberry |
| The Chick | Melody Valentine |
| Team Pet | Sebastian |
| The Hero | Josie Jones |
| The Lancer | Alexander Cabot |
| The Smart Guy | Pepper |
| The Big Guy | Sock |
| The Heart | Albert |
| The Chick | Melody Valentine |
| Sixth Ranger | Alexandra Cabot |
| The Hero | Katy Keene |
| The Lancer | Gloria Granbilt |
| The Smart Guy | Randy van Ronson |
| The Big Guy | K.O. Kelly |
| The Chick | Lucki Lorelei |
| Tagalong Kid | Sis Keene |
Li'l Jinx
| The Hero | Jinx Holliday |
| The Lancer | Gigi and Greg |
| The Smart Guy | Mort and Russ |
| The Big Guy | Charley Hawse |
| The Chick | Roz |
| The Hero | Sabrina Spellman |
| The Lancer | Aunt Hilda |
| The Smart Guy and The Chick | Aunt Zedla |
| The Big Guy | Cousin Ambrose |
| The Heart | Harvey Kinkle |
| The Mentor | Della the Head Witch |
| Team Pet | Salem |
Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog:
Things have changed over time. From issue #3:
| The Hero | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| The Lancer | Sally Acorn |
| The Smart Guy | Rotor Walrus |
| The Big Guy | Bunnie Rabbot |
| The Chick | Antoine D'Coolette |
| Tagalong Kid | Tails |
| Team Mom | Rosie |
| Sixth Ranger | Knuckles (from #26) |
Things evolved with character development to #177, when spinal injuries forced Rotor from active duty:
Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog (from issue #177)
| Big Good | Princess Sally, who doubles as The Smart Guy |
| The Hero | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| The Lancer | Tails |
| The Big Guy | Bunnie D'Coolette (née Rabbot) & Antoine D'Coolette |
| The Chick | Amy Rose |
| The Mentor | Rotor Walrus |
* The Chaotix in the Archie Comics are similar to the Fleetway version sans Mentor and sans Sonic.
That Wilkin Boy
| The Hero | Bingo Wilkin |
| The Lancer and The Big Guy | "Tough" Teddy Tambourine |
| The Smart Guy and The Chick | Samantha Smythe |
| The Quiet One | Buddy Drumhead |
| Team Pet | Rebel |
Wilbur Comics
| The Hero | Wilbur Wilkin |
| The Lancer | Linda Moore |
| The Smart Guy | Red |
| The Big Guy | Slats |
| The Chick | Laurie Lake |
| The Hero | Jimmy Woo |
| The Lancer | Gorilla Man |
| The Smart Guy | Marvel Boy |
| The Big Guy(s) | M-11, The Human Robot |
| The Chick | Venus |
| Sixth Ranger | Namora |
Annihilators
| The Hero | Quasar |
| The Lancer(s) | Ronan and Gladiator |
| The Big Guy | Beta Ray Bill |
| The Smart Guy | Silver Surfer |
| Sixth Ranger | Ikon |
| Team Pet and Mission Control | Cosmo |
Dirty Half-Dozen from Annihilation: Conquest
| The Hero | Peter Quill (the jaded ex-superhero) |
| The Lancer(s) | Captain Universe and Bug (the idealistic rookie and the lady-lovin' loverbug) |
| The Smart Guy | Rocket Racoon (the quick-witted anthropomorfic animal) |
| The Big Guy | Groot (the giant plant who cares only for honor) |
| The Chick | Mantis (the self-proclaimed savior of the universe) |
| Sixth Ranger | Deathcry (who was an original member, but still a disembler) |
The Atomic Knights
| The Hero | Gardner Grayle: Leader of the Atomic Knights |
| The Lancer | Douglas Herald: Schoolteacher |
| The Big Guy | Wayne and Hollis Hobard: Identical twins, former soldiers and loyal Atomic Knights |
| The Smart Guy | Bryndon: One of the last scientists on Earth |
| The Chick | Marene Herald: Douglas's sister |
| The Hero | Jenny Sparks, Jack Hawskmoor (after her death), later Jenny Quantum (which is also Sixth Ranger) |
| The Lancer(s) | Jack Hawskmoor, Midnighter |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Doctor and Engineer |
| The Big Guy | Apollo |
| The Chick | Swift |
| Sixth Ranger | Second Doctor, Rose Tatoo (which is also Sixth Ranger Traitor) |
| The Hero | Batman |
| The Lancer | Nightwing |
| The Smart Guy | Robin, also Oracle |
| The Big Guy | Batgirl |
| The Chick | Alfred (being the one who cleans up after them, is medically skilled, and often settles emotional disputes. A truly awesome Team Mom) |
Birds of Prey (classic)
| The Hero | Black Canary |
| The Lancer | Huntress |
| The Smart Guy | Oracle |
| The Big Guy | Creote |
| The Chick | Savant, also Vixen |
| Team Dad | Wildcat |
Birds of Prey (new series)
| The Hero | Black Canary |
| The Lancer | Huntress |
| The Smart Guy | Oracle |
| The Big Guy | Hawk (Lady Blackhawk probably fits here as well) |
| The Chick | Dove |
| The Hero | Thorn Harvestar |
| The Lancer | Phoney Bone |
| The Smart Guy | Fone Bone |
| The Big Guy | Rose "Gran'ma" Ben |
| The Chick | Smiley Bone |
| Team Pet | Bartleby |
| The Hero | Billy Butcher |
| The Lancer | Mother's Milk |
| The Big Guy | The Female (Subversion: Is an unassuming young woman), Frenchie |
| The Smart Guy | Mother's Milk |
| The Chick | Wee Hughie, Mother's Milk |
| Team Pet | Jamie (Wee Hughie's hamster) or Terror (Butcher's bulldog) |
The Boys spin-off Herogasm issue #3 has a picture of the Fantastic Four parody Fantastico as a band with their version of Mr. Fantastic as the lead singer, Human Torch clone as the guitarist, Doofer (Thing-like being) as the drummer and Invisi-lass as the bassplayer:
The Challengers of the Unknown
| The Hero | Ace Morgan |
| The Lancer | Red Ryan |
| The Big Guy | Rocky Davis |
| The Smart Guy | Prof Haley |
| The Chick | June Robbins or Corinna Stark |
Doom Patrol (original version)
| The Hero / The Big Guy | Robotman |
| The Lancer | Negative Man |
| The Smart Guy | The Chief |
| The Chick | Elasti-Girl |
| Sixth Ranger | Mento |
| Tagalong Kid | Beast Boy |
Doom Patrol (Grant Morrison lineup)
| The Hero | Robotman/Cliff Steele |
| The Lancer | Larry Trainor/Dr. Poole/Rebis |
| The Big Guy | Crazy Jane/Kay Challis (at least in most personalities.) |
| The Smart Guy | Tempest/Joshua Clay |
| The Chick | Dorothy Spinner |
| The Mentor | The Chief/Doctor Caulder |
| Sixth Ranger | Danny The Street |
The Doom Patrol (2003)
| The Hero | Robotman |
| The Lancer | Fever (a spacey Cloudcuckoolander and Naive Everygirl) |
| The Big Guy | Freak (basically the only person besides Robotman with particularly physical powers.) |
| The Smart Guy | |
| The Chick | Kid Slick (mostly due to how mellow and introspective he is.) |
| The Hero | Slingshot |
| The Lancer | Myriad |
| The Big Guy | Scatterbrain |
| The Smart Guy | Visionary |
| Cute Bruiser | Scrap |
| Sink or Swim Mentor | Maddie Warner |
The dynamic changed slightly when their powers changed:
| The Hero | Supervision (formerly Scrap) |
| The Lancer | Wraith (formerly Myriad) |
| The Big Guy | Ramjet (formerly Scatterbrain) |
| The Smart Guy | Smasher (formerly Visionary) |
| The Chick | Menagerie (formerly Slingshot) |
| Sink or Swim Mentor | still Maddie Warner |
Fables (principal cast)
| The Hero(es) | Boy Blue and Flycatcher |
| The Lancer(s) | Bigby and Snow White |
| The Smart Guy | Frau Totenkinder |
| The Big Guy | Beast |
| The Chick | Beauty |
| Team Pet | Bufkin |
| The Hero | Varies by story (usually Mr. Fantastic) |
| The Lancer | The Human Torch |
| The Big Guy | The Thing |
| The Smart Guy | Mister Fantastic |
| The Chick | The Invisible Girl/Woman |
| The Hero | Ned Slade |
| The Lancer | Cameron Spector (or Greg Feely) |
| The Smart Guy | Moog Mercury |
| The Big Guy | Dmitri-9 |
| The Chick | Miami Nil |
Jack Kirby's Forever People
| The Hero | Mark Moonrider |
| The Big Guy / The Lancer | Big Bear |
| The Smart Guy | Vykin the Black (Back-Up Lancer) |
| The Chick | Beautiful Dreamer |
| Serafin |
* Note: Quiet, sensitive, innocent, emotional Serafin is such a Chick that he'd be unequivocally The Chick if psychic, illusionist, female perpetual kidnapee Beautiful Dreamer wasn't even more The Chick.
| The Hero | Hercules |
| The Lancer | Amadeus Cho |
| The Smart Guy | Ajak |
| The Big Guy | Demogorge |
| The Chick | Snowbird |
| Token Evil Teammate | Amatsu-Mikaboshi |
| Team Pet, The Mole | Kirby |
Second God Squad
| The Hero | Hercules |
| The Lancer | Amadeus Cho |
| The Big Guy | Galactus |
| The Smart Guy | Silver Surfer |
| The Chick | Sersi |
| The Heart | Venus |
| Token Evil Teammate | Daimon Hellstorm, the Son Of Satan |
| Sixth Ranger, Team Pet | Panther God Of Wakanda |
Get Fuzzy (Only in one story arc, but)
| The Hero | Bucky Katt |
| The Lancer | Mac Manc Mcmanx |
| The Smart Guy | Shakespug |
| The Big Guy | Foodar |
| The Chick | Satchel Pooch |
| The Heart | Chubby Huggs |
| The Hero | Hal Jordan |
| The Lancer | John and Guy (switch off) |
| The Smart Guy | John Stewart (No relation) |
| The Big Guy | Guy Gardner |
| The Chick | Kyle Rayner (He's The Woobie, and you know it.) |
| The Mentor | Alan Scott |
Alternatively:
| The Hero | Hal Jordan |
| The Lancer | Kyle Rayner |
| The Smart Guy | John Stewart |
| The Big Guy | Kilowog |
| The Chick | Soranik Natu |
| Sixth Ranger | Guy Gardner |
| The Mentor | Ganthet |
And during Blackest Night:
| The Hero | Hal Jordan |
| The Lancer | Sinestro |
| The Smart Guy | Indigo-1 |
| The Big Guy | Atrocitus |
| The Chick | Carol Ferris |
| Kid Appeal Character | Larfleeze (though, in a subversion, he's probably the oldest.) |
| The Heart | Saint Walker |
* The Green Lantern Corps premise is The Chosen Many: There are 3600-7200 Green Lanterns in the Galaxy as a whole. Earth alone has enough GLs to make a Five-Man Band of their own.
| The Hero | Hellboy (of course) |
| The Lancer | Abe Sapien |
| The Smart Guy | Johann Kraus (Arguably. Abe Sapien also fills this role) |
| The Big Guy | Roger the Homoculus |
| The Chick | Liz Sherman |
Heroes For Hire
| The Hero | Misty Knight |
| The Lancer | Coleen Wing, Tarantula |
| The Smart Guy | Bug |
| The Big Guy | Shang-Chi |
| The Chick | Black Cat |
| Token Evil Teammate | Paladin |
| Team Pet | Moon Boy |
| The Hero | King Mob (also The Mentor) |
| The Lancer | Jack Frost |
| The Big Guy | Boy (later Jolly Roger) |
| The Smart Guy | Lord Fanny |
| The Chick | Ragged Robin |
| The Hero | The Flash |
| The Lancer | Green Lantern |
| The Big Guy | Aquaman |
| The Smart Guy | Martian Manhunter |
| The Chick | Black Canary |
| Sixth Ranger | Green Arrow |
| Tagalong Kid | "Snapper" Carr |
JLA-- Classic Big Seven
| The Hero | Superman |
| The Lancer | Batman |
| The Big Guy | Green Lantern |
| The Smart Guy | Martian Manhunter |
| The Chick | Wonder Woman |
| The Heart | The Flash |
| Sixth Ranger | Aquaman |
| The Hero | Captain Atom |
| The Lancer | Power Girl |
| The Big Guy(s) | Rocket Red and Metamorpho |
| The Smart Guy | Ralph Dibny |
| The Chick(s) | The Crimson Fox and the Silver Sorceress |
| Team Mom(s) | Catherine Cobert and Sue Dibny |
| Team Pet | Power Girl's cat |
| The Hero | Bob Herzog (Using the term loosely) |
| The Lancer | Dave Harcord Bozwell |
| The Big Guy and The Smart Guy | Brian Montgomery VanHoose |
| The Chick and Fourth Ranger | Sara Felton |
Knights of the Old Republic (the comic spin-off, not the games)
| The Hero | Zayne Carrick |
| The Lancer | Gryph Hierogryph |
| The Big Guy | Elbee (T1-LB) |
| The Smart Guy | Camper (Gorman Vandrayk) |
| The Chick | Jarael |
| Sixth Ranger | Rohlan |
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (comic version)
| The Hero | Mina Harker |
| The Lancer | Allan Quatermain (Although in the first volume Mina is thoroughly disappointed by him and he's not terribly effective.) |
| The Big Guy | Edward Hyde |
| The Smart Guy | Captain Nemo |
| The Chick | Dr. Henry Jekyll |
| Sixth Ranger | Hawley Griffin (The Invisible Man) |
The Legion of Super-Heroes (core team)
| The Hero | Cosmic Boy |
| The Lancer | Saturn Girl (originally), then Lightning Lad |
| The Big Guy | Superboy, Mon-El, or Supergirl (depending on the era) |
| The Smart Guy | Brainiac 5 |
| The Chick | Lightning Lad (originally), then Saturn Girl |
| The Hero | Stem Cell (Despite being the team's resident tech specialist) |
| The Lancer | Hollowpoint Ninja (The "stealthy loner" type) |
| The Big Guy | Gothic Lolita (Actually the smallest, but she's still "500 adorable pounds of beat-em-upness".) |
| The Smart Guy | Cornfed (A Genius Bruiser who rarely gets physical, he's mostly just The Medic, despite his Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness) |
| The Chick | Social Butterfly (Programmed to read social cues like a book, she's a master of the Jedi Mind Trick. Did we mention the pheromones?) |
Lullaby
| The Hero | Alice of Wonderland (A jaded warrior from another world and the hand of the Queen) |
| The Lancer | Jim Hawkins (A hotheaded pirate with a parrot and a living sword) |
| The Big Guy | Red (a confrontational little fox-girl who can take on aspects of the wolf) |
| The Smart Guy | Cheshire Cat (a Deadpan Snarker who always knows what he's talking about) |
| The Chick | Piper (The adopted son of Pied Piper) (Quiet, emotional virtuoso who plays enchanted music and has a fate intertwined with Alice's) |
| The Tagalong Kid | Pinocchio (Until he was Touched by Vorlons, he was almost The Millstone) |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | Milady (An arrogant French swordswoman who stole the swords, and souls, of the Three Musketeers before setting her sights on Jim) |
| The Hero | Gold |
| The Lancer | Mercury |
| The Smart Guy | Tin |
| The Big Guy(s) | Iron and Lead |
| The Chick | Platinum |
| Sixth Ranger | Copper |
| Team Dad | Doc Magnus |
Modern Guardians Of The Galaxy
First Team
| The Hero | Star Lord |
| The Lancer | Rocket Racoon, sometimes Adam |
| The Smart Guy | Adam Warlock |
| The Big Guy | Drax, Gamora (is a Big Girl) |
| The Chick | Subverted with Quasar |
| Team Pet | Rocket Racoon |
Second Team
| The Hero | Rocket Racoon |
| The Lancer(s) | Cosmo and Major Victory |
| The Smart Guy | Mantis |
| The Big Guy | Groot |
| The Chick | Bug |
And later these two variations merged, creating something between a Five-Man Band and a Command Roster:
| The Hero(es) | Star Lord, Major Victory |
| The Lancer(s) | Martyr, Rocket Raccoon |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Mantis, Adam Warlock |
| The Big Guy(s) | Drax, Gamora and Groot |
| The Chick(s) | Moondragon, Bug |
| Team Pet | Cosmo |
The Omega Men (original lineup)
| The Hero | Primus |
| The Lancer | Tigorr |
| The Big Guy | Broot |
| The Smart Guy | Nimbus |
| The Chick | Kalista |
Planetary
| The Hero | Elijah Snow |
| The Lancer | Jakita Wagner |
| The Smart Guy | The Drummer |
| The Big Guy | Ambrose Chase |
| Sixth Ranger | Jim Wilder |
| The Hero | Alex Power |
| The Lancer and The Smart Guy | Julie Power |
| The Big Guy | Jack Power |
| The Chick | Katie Power |
| Sixth Ranger | Franklin Richards |
| The Hero | Kid Mischief |
| The Lancer | Scotch Bonnet |
| The Smart Guy | Chip Cheetah |
| The Big Guy | Unison |
| The Chick | Suravi |
| Sixth Ranger | Kid Olympus |
Runaways (at any point after the first arc)
| The Hero | Nico Minoru |
| The Lancer | Xavin or Gert Yorkes (depending on whether Gert's alive at this point...) |
| The Big Guy(s) | Chase Stein and Molly Hayes |
| The Smart Guy | Victor Mancha |
| The Chick | Karolina Dean |
| The Sixth Ranger | Klara Prast |
Heroes For Hire
| The Hero | Misty Knight |
| The Lancer | Coleen Wing, Tarantula |
| The Smart Guy | Bug |
| The Big Guy | Shang-Chi |
| The Chick | Black Cat |
| Token Evil Teammate | Paladin |
| Team Pet | Moon Boy |
The Sandman - The Endless
| The Hero | Dream |
| The Lancer | Death |
| The Big Guy | Despair |
| The Smart Guy | Desire |
| The Chick | Delirium |
| Sixth Ranger | Destruction |
| Team Dad | Destiny |
The Sandman - Inhabitants of the Dreaming
| The Hero | Dream |
| The Lancer / The Smart Guy | Lucien |
| The Big Guy | Merv Pumpkinhead |
| The Chick(s) | Cain and Abel |
| Sixth Ranger | Nuala |
| Team Pet | Matthew the Raven |
| The Hero | Fang |
| The Lancer | Screamqueen |
| The Smart Guy | Slither |
| The Big Guy | Grossout |
| The Chick | Slither (pulling double duty) |
| The Mentor | Arnie Burnsteel |
Secret Six (Villains United incarnation)
| The Hero/ The Smart Guy | Scandal |
| The Lancer | Deadshot and Catman |
| The Big Guy | Parademon |
| The Chick | Rag Doll |
| The Mole | Cheshire |
Secret Six (current incarnation)
| The Hero/ The Smart Guy | Scandal |
| The Lancer | Catman and Deadshot |
| The Big Guy | Bane |
| The Chick | Rag Doll |
| Sixth Ranger | Jeanette |
Seven Soldiers (Grant Morrison version). Yes, they almost never meet, but if they did...
| The Hero | Shining Knight, as classic an example as you can get. |
| The Lancer | Manhattan Guardian |
| The Smart Guy | Zatanna |
| The Big Guy | Frankenstein, both the Genius Bruiser variety and very, very big. |
| The Chick by way of The Heart | Bulleteer |
| Token Evil Teammate | Klarion |
| Seventh Ranger | Mr. Miracle, whose story has arguably the least influence on everyone else's and contains a lot of foreshadowing for Final Crisis. |
| Team Pet | Teekl the cat, Vanguard the flying horse and Metal Mickey, Bulleteer's super-strong, invulnerable pet mouse. |
Shadowpact
| The Hero | Nightmaster (Initially), then Blue Devil (stepped up) |
| The Lancer | Ragman |
| The Smart Guy | Detective Chimp |
| The Big Guy | Blue Devil, followed by Nightmaster |
| The Chick | Nightshade |
| Sixth Ranger | Enchantress and/or Zauriel |
| The Hero | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| The Lancer | Amy Rose |
| The Smart Guy | Porker Lewis and/or Tekno the Canary |
| The Big Guy | Johnny Lightfoot and/or Shortfuse the Cybernik |
| The Chick | Tails |
This dynamic also applies to the Chaotix Crew when they're teamed with either Sonic or Knuckles:
| The Hero | Sonic the Hedgehog or Knuckles the Echidna |
| The Lancer | Espio the Chamelion (Nack before his Face Heel Turn) |
| The Smart Guy | Vector the Crocodile |
| The Big Guy | Mighty the Armadillo |
| The Chick | Charmy the Bee |
| The Mentor | The Omni-Viewer |
| The Hero | Fox [McCloud] |
| The Lancer | Falco Lombardi |
| The Obi-Wan | Peppy Hare |
| The Smart Guy | Slippy Toad |
| The Sixth Ranger | Fara Phoenix |
| The Hero | Quinlan Vos |
| The Lancer | Aayla Secura |
| The Smart Guy | Master Tholme |
| The Big Guy | Vilmarh Grahrk |
| The Chick | Khaleen Hentz |
The Stuff of Legend: Stretched to Eight Man Band, go figure.
| The Hero | The Colonel |
| The Lancer | Jester |
| The Big Guy | Maxwell |
| The Smart Guy | Percy |
| Action Girl | The Princess |
| The Heart | Harmony |
| Kid Appeal Character | Quackers |
| Team Pet (literally!) | Scout |
| The Hero | Hyperion (If a real person tried to be The Cape (trope)...) |
| The Lancer | Nighthawk (Darker and Edgier than any of the others. Has a huge problem with Hyperion.) |
| The Big Guy | Shape (Mentally Handicapped Superstrong Rubber Man |
| Team Pet | The Amphibian (Naive Raised by nobody Wild Child) |
| The Smart Guy | Doc Spectrum (Snarky wielder of a proto-Green Lantern Ring that sometimes has control over him) |
| The Chick | The Blur (Fragile Speedster with no direction in his life) |
| Sixth Ranger | Zarda (Ax Crazy Stalker with a Crush with a few full frontal assaults to her name) |
| Token Evil Teammate | Emil Zebediah Burbank (Evil Genius and Smartest Man on the Planet.) |
Founding Teen Titans
| The Hero | Robin |
| The Lancer | Aqualad |
| The Big Guy | Wonder Girl |
| The Smart Guy | Kid Flash |
| The Chick | Wonder Girl |
| Sixth Ranger | Speedy |
80's Teen Titans
| The Hero | Robin/Nightwing |
| The Lancer | Donna Troy, or at times Cyborg (Donna even became leader for a while) |
| The Big Guy | Cyborg and most certainly Starfire (Both of them packed a big punch in terms of power, and Star was often hard to restrain) |
| The Smart Guy | Cyborg or Robin/Nightwing (Nightwing has detective skills, Cyborg has tech skills) |
| The Chick | Donna Troy or Raven (Donna was SO the Team Mom meanwhile Raven was naive and the one who bought the team together.) |
| Sixth Ranger | Jericho and later Danny Chase (Both "shook up" the team), Jericho (also very much The Chick) |
| The Tagalong Kid | Changeling (constantly complaining of being treated like a kid as the youngest) |
Pre-Flashpoint Teen Titans (keep in mind they're constantly changing)
| The Hero | Robin (Also doubles as Smart Guy) |
| The Lancer(s) | Wonder Girl and Static |
| The Big Guy(s) | Red Devil and Blue Beetle (a comedic duo with huge amounts of power) |
| The Smart Guy | Robin (doubles as the leader) |
| The Chick | Miss Martian and Red Devil (at times) |
| Sixth Ranger | Ravager and later Bombshell (Both "shook up" the team) |
| The Hero | Red Robin |
| The Lancer | Kid Flash |
| The Big Guy | Wonder Girl |
| The Smart Guy | Bunker |
| The Chick | Solstice |
| Sixth Ranger | Superboy and Skitter |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage (started out as a comic)
| The Hero | Leonardo |
| The Lancer/The Big Guy | Raphael |
| The Smart Guy | Donatello |
| Kid Appeal Character | Michelangelo |
| The Chick | April O'Neil |
| The Mentor | Master Splinter |
| Sixth Ranger | Casey Jones |
| The Hero | Tintin |
| The Lancer/The Big Guy | Captain Haddock |
| The Smart Guy | Professor Calculus |
| The Chick | Thompson and Thomson (the cowarders of the team, sometimes used to manipulate Haddock) |
| Team Pet | Snowy |
Terra Obscura
| The Hero | The Magnet |
| The Lancer | Fighting Spirit |
| The Big Guy | The Liberator |
| The Smart Guy | Dr. Tom Strange |
| The Chick | The Woman In Red |
| Badass Normal | Miss Masque |
| Genius Bruiser | Scarab |
| Tagalong Kid | Tim Roland |
| Team Pet | Adam the Ape |
| Big Brother Mentor | The Ghost (also The Terror) |
Terra Obscura (Volume II)
| The Hero | Dr. Tom Strange (he's the viewpoint character this time around) |
| The Lancer | Princess Pantha (fills the void left by both Tom's sidekick Mike AND his girlfriend Virginia) |
| The Big Guy(s) | Thoth (Scarab) and Set (Mystico) |
| The Smart Guy | The Ghost (takes a more active role in this story) |
| The Chick | Miss Masque |
| Team Pet | Adam the Ape |
post Civil War Thunderbolts
| The Hero | Songbird |
| The Lancer | Moonstone |
| The Big Guy | Venom |
| The Smart Guy | Radioactive Man |
| The Chick | Penance |
| Psycho for Hire | Bullseye |
| Mission Control | Norman Osborn |
Tom Strong
| The Hero / The Smart Guy | Tom Strong |
| The Lancer | King Solomon |
| The Big Guy | Pneuman |
| The Chick | Dhalua Strong |
| Action Girl | Tesla Strong |
| The Mentor | Chief Omotu |
| Tagalong Kids | The Strongmen of America |
Tom Strong and America's Best
| The Hero | Tom Strong |
| The Lancer | Greyshirt |
| The Big Guy | Johnny Future (later replaced by his niece, JONNI Future) |
| The Smart Guy | Jack B. Quick |
| The Chick / Ms. Fanservice | Cobweb (Clarice too, obviously) |
| Plucky Comic Relief | Splash Brannigan |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | Promethea (subverted in that she's not evil; her destiny puts her at odds with the rest of the team) |
Top 10
| The Hero | Sgt. Kemlo Caesar (he's essentially the leader) |
| The Lancer(s) | Dust Devil, Shock-Headed Peter |
| The Big Guy(s) | Smax, Irma Geddon, King Peacock, Wolfspider |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Synaesthesia, Joe Pi, Micro-Maid |
| The Chick | Toybox (even though she's most often the viewpoint character) |
| Sixth Ranger(s) | Peregrine, Multi-Woman (they showed up a little later; Joe Pi would probably count as well) |
| Ms. Fanservice | Girl One |
| Cool Big Sis | Jackie Phantom |
| The Mentor | Jetman |
| The Hero | Cyclops |
| The Lancer | Wolverine |
| The Smart Guy | Beast |
| The Big Guy | Colossus, sometimes Storm |
| The Chick | Jean (but not useless) |
| The Mentor | Xavier |
| Tagalong Kid | Iceman |
Original Wilds C.A.T.S
| The Hero | Spratan, Lord Emp (who's also a Mentor) |
| The Lancer | Grifter, Zealot, Warblade |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Void and Lord Emp, Maul in human form |
| The Big Guy | Maul |
| The Chick | Vodoo |
| The Hero | Will |
| The Lancer | Cornelia |
| The Smart Guy | Taranee |
| The Big Guy | Irma, somtimes Hay Lin |
| Kid Appeal Character | Hay Lin, sometimes Irma |
| The Sixth Ranger | Orube |
| The Hero | Patriot |
| The Lancer | Hawkeye |
| The Smart Guy | Vision |
| The Big Guy(s) | Hulkling and Stature |
| The Chick | Wiccan |
| Sixth Ranger | Speed |
| The Hero | Robin |
| The Lancer | Superboy (whose mood swings often throw the team for a loop, and Wonder Girl, who actually becomes leader later on.) |
| The Big Guy(s) | Li'l Lobo/Slobo and Wonder Girl |
| The Smart Guy | Impulse (Actually. Yeah, he's usually about as sharp as a doorknob, but his idiosyncratic thought process leads him to conclusions no one else would consider.), Robin (also doubles, in this category.) |
| The Chick | The Secret (from her indirect-but still formidable-powers to her massive crush on Robin to her extreme naivite.) Arrowette (when she was around, she got along with everybody.) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Empress (who started out as an Aloof Ally and happens to be the daughter of one of Those Two Bad Guys), and Ray (a slick, handsome guy with light based powers.) |
| The Mentor | Red Tornado (a Tin Man desperate to be with his family again) |
- Back to Five-Man Band