Great Lakes Avengers: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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* '''Gene "Leather Boy" Lorrene''': Revealed to be an actual founding member of the team who was kicked out early due in part to not actually having powers and partly because he was a [[Leather Man]] and BDSM enthusiast who [[I Thought It Meant|totally missed the point]] of Mr. Immortal's first call for "costumed adventurers". Angered at this, he eventually joined the team's [[Rogues Gallery]], along with Dr. Tannenbaum and Deathurge the squirrel.
* '''Gene "Leather Boy" Lorrene''': Revealed to be an actual founding member of the team who was kicked out early due in part to not actually having powers and partly because he was a [[Leather Man]] and BDSM enthusiast who [[I Thought It Meant|totally missed the point]] of Mr. Immortal's first call for "costumed adventurers". Angered at this, he eventually joined the team's [[Rogues Gallery]], along with Dr. Tannenbaum and Deathurge the squirrel.
* '''Doreen "[[Squirrel Girl]]" Green''': Mutant with squirrel like agility, the ability to [[Speaks Fluent Animal|talk to squirrels]], and a tail. Despite this laughable powerset, she's [[Lethal Joke Character|regarded by S.H.I.E.L.D. as the greatest superhero combatant alive]]. Gone up against, and [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu|defeated Dr. Doom, M.O.D.O.K., Thanos]] and [[Deadpool]] (twice).
* '''Doreen "[[Squirrel Girl]]" Green''': Mutant with squirrel like agility, the ability to [[Speaks Fluent Animal|talk to squirrels]], and a tail. Despite this laughable powerset, she's [[Lethal Joke Character|regarded by S.H.I.E.L.D. as the greatest superhero combatant alive]]. Gone up against, and [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|defeated Dr. Doom, M.O.D.O.K., Thanos]] and [[Deadpool]] (twice).
* '''Monkey Joe''' and '''Tippy Toe''': Squirrel girl's [[Non Human Sidekick|squirrels.]] Have a tendency to [[Medium Awareness|speak to the reader]]. Monkey Joe was killed by a vengeful Leather Boy; [[Distaff Counterpart|Tippy Toe]] became his replacement.
* '''Monkey Joe''' and '''Tippy Toe''': Squirrel girl's [[Non-Human Sidekick|squirrels.]] Have a tendency to [[Medium Awareness|speak to the reader]]. Monkey Joe was killed by a vengeful Leather Boy; [[Distaff Counterpart|Tippy Toe]] became his replacement.
* '''Doug "Grasshopper" Taggert''': The original "Grasshopper" was a Roxxon security guard with a grasshopper themed [[Powered Armor]]. Killed within 5.8 seconds of joining the team with a thrown sai to the face. Others have taken up the mantle, but they didn't do much better: one accidentally jumped all the way to space, one killed by an angry [[Deadpool]], and another turned out to be a Skrull infiltrator.
* '''Doug "Grasshopper" Taggert''': The original "Grasshopper" was a Roxxon security guard with a grasshopper themed [[Powered Armor]]. Killed within 5.8 seconds of joining the team with a thrown sai to the face. Others have taken up the mantle, but they didn't do much better: one accidentally jumped all the way to space, one killed by an angry [[Deadpool]], and another turned out to be a Skrull infiltrator.
* '''Wade [[Deadpool]] Willson''': Technically still a member of the team, he origionally joined out of boredum and to chase after Big Bertha. Caused more conflicts than he helped with. And yes, at one point Deadpool was technically an Avenger.
* '''Wade [[Deadpool]] Willson''': Technically still a member of the team, he origionally joined out of boredum and to chase after Big Bertha. Caused more conflicts than he helped with. And yes, at one point Deadpool was technically an Avenger.
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* [[And This Is For]] - Monkey Joe!
* [[And This Is For]] - Monkey Joe!
{{quote| '''(The Ghost Of) Monkey Joe says''': Whatever. Not like it's gonna bring me back or anything. Feh, I'm outta here.}}
{{quote| '''(The Ghost Of) Monkey Joe says''': Whatever. Not like it's gonna bring me back or anything. Feh, I'm outta here.}}
* [[Animal Themed Superbeing]]: Squirrel Girl, Dinah Soar, and the Grasshopper.
* [[Animal-Themed Superbeing]]: Squirrel Girl, Dinah Soar, and the Grasshopper.
* [[Anyone Can Die]] - Though it's usually Grasshopper.
* [[Anyone Can Die]] - Though it's usually Grasshopper.
** And always Mr Immortal. Often more than once.
** And always Mr Immortal. Often more than once.
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* [[Darker and Edgier]] - Both parodied and played straight in the miniseries.
* [[Darker and Edgier]] - Both parodied and played straight in the miniseries.
* [[Deal With the Devil]] - Mr. Immortal's mother, granting him immortality.
* [[Deal With the Devil]] - Mr. Immortal's mother, granting him immortality.
* [[Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu]] - The team without Squirrel Girl.
* [[Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?]] - The team without Squirrel Girl.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu]] - Squirrel Girl.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]] - Squirrel Girl.
* [[Distaff Counterpart]] - Tippy Toe for Monkey Joe.
* [[Distaff Counterpart]] - Tippy Toe for Monkey Joe.
** Big Bertha has the same power as [[X Men]] enemy [[The Brute|The Blob]], the difference being that she can revert back to normal body build (if you consider a swimsuit model's body build "normal")
** Big Bertha has the same power as [[X Men]] enemy [[The Brute|The Blob]], the difference being that she can revert back to normal body build (if you consider a swimsuit model's body build "normal")
* [[Dude Where's My Respect]] - Mr. Immortal and the others actually once saved the universe from complete annihilation all on their own. Did they get any recognition for doing so? Nope. In fact, they were forced to drop the Avengers name because of it.
* [[Dude, Where's My Respect?]] - Mr. Immortal and the others actually once saved the universe from complete annihilation all on their own. Did they get any recognition for doing so? Nope. In fact, they were forced to drop the Avengers name because of it.
* [[Family Unfriendly Death]] - Well, all of them, but Monkey Joe's especially.
* [[Family-Unfriendly Death]] - Well, all of them, but Monkey Joe's especially.
* [[Fastball Special|Fuzzball Special]]
* [[Fastball Special|Fuzzball Special]]
* [[Fight Unscene]] - Squirrel vs. Thanos
* [[Fight Unscene]] - Squirrel vs. Thanos
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* [[Multiple Choice Past]] - Whether Mr. Immortal's powers come from Deathurge, or Deathurge is merely helping him reach his destiny as ''Homo supreme''.
* [[Multiple Choice Past]] - Whether Mr. Immortal's powers come from Deathurge, or Deathurge is merely helping him reach his destiny as ''Homo supreme''.
* [[Nigh Invulnerability]] - Mr. Immortal. Well, in the long run, anyway. In the short term...
* [[Nigh Invulnerability]] - Mr. Immortal. Well, in the long run, anyway. In the short term...
* [[Non Human Sidekick]] - Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe.
* [[Non-Human Sidekick]] - Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe.
* [[Not Blood Siblings]] - Mr. Immortal once had a romantic relationship with a stepsister. Now, if he could just hook up with some sort of undead, he'd have the near [[Squick]] trifecta.
* [[Not Blood Siblings]] - Mr. Immortal once had a romantic relationship with a stepsister. Now, if he could just hook up with some sort of undead, he'd have the near [[Squick]] trifecta.
* [[Overused Running Gag]] - Squirrel Girl defeating major villains.
* [[Overused Running Gag]] - Squirrel Girl defeating major villains.
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* [[Stalker With a Crush]] - Squirrel Girl for [[New Warriors|New Warrior]] Speedball. She's not a fan of Penance.
* [[Stalker With a Crush]] - Squirrel Girl for [[New Warriors|New Warrior]] Speedball. She's not a fan of Penance.
* [[Super Zeroes]] - Though they've gotten better over time. They still don't get respected, though.
* [[Super Zeroes]] - Though they've gotten better over time. They still don't get respected, though.
* [[Take That Audience]] - Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe like to mock comic book fans.
* [[Take That, Audience!]] - Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe like to mock comic book fans.
* [[Taking You With Me]] - A very hilarious zig-zag. When the villain Maelstrom created a device that would bring about the end of the universe, Mr. Immortal convinced him that if he destroyed everything, there would be nobody left to study what remained. This started to depress Maelstrom, which Mr. Immortal took advantage of. He convinced Maelstrom that the best course of action was suicide. Just to seal the deal, Mr. Immortal even agreed to a suicide pact and die with him. Mr. Immortal shot himself in the head to show he was serious, after which Maelstrom followed suit. Mr. Immortal woke up a few moments later to shut down the device.
* [[Taking You With Me]] - A very hilarious zig-zag. When the villain Maelstrom created a device that would bring about the end of the universe, Mr. Immortal convinced him that if he destroyed everything, there would be nobody left to study what remained. This started to depress Maelstrom, which Mr. Immortal took advantage of. He convinced Maelstrom that the best course of action was suicide. Just to seal the deal, Mr. Immortal even agreed to a suicide pact and die with him. Mr. Immortal shot himself in the head to show he was serious, after which Maelstrom followed suit. Mr. Immortal woke up a few moments later to shut down the device.
* [[The Thing That Would Not Leave]] - Deadpool.
* [[The Thing That Would Not Leave]] - Deadpool.
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** Lampshaded by the Vision, who asked them if the name "Midwest Avengers" wouldn't make more sense. Mr. Immortal argued that no, the name should have something to do with ''coasts''.
** Lampshaded by the Vision, who asked them if the name "Midwest Avengers" wouldn't make more sense. Mr. Immortal argued that no, the name should have something to do with ''coasts''.
* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway|What Kind Of Lame Power Is Being A Door Anyway]] - Or being flat? Or dying a lot? Or being fat? Or <s>talking to squirrels</s>?
* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway|What Kind Of Lame Power Is Being A Door Anyway]] - Or being flat? Or dying a lot? Or being fat? Or <s>talking to squirrels</s>?
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever]] - Mr. Immortal.
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever?]] - Mr. Immortal.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 22:40, 8 January 2014

"I got a message form the Great Lakes Avengers

They offered me a membership, but I did not accept

Because they're a walking disaster!"
Kirby Krackle, in their song Great Lakes Avengers.

Created for Marvel Comics by John Byrne in the July 1989 issue of West Coast Avengers, the Great Lakes Avengers were a group of Mystery Men from Wisconsin. The original roster included:

The team appeared sporadically in Avengers titles during the early 90s, and were even briefly joined by more "official" Avengers members Hawkeye and Mockingbird. After a few years absence, the team returned, renaming themselves the "Lightning Rods" after the Thunderbolts, who were popular at the time, and appearing in both the Thunderbolts and Deadpool comics of the time. Eventually, they reverted back to the name Great Lakes Avengers in time for a series of very small cameos in the JLA/Avengers crossover. (It should be noted that this is around the time the team started calling themselves the GLA. Coincidence? And apparently this confirms that they are actually "real" Avengers after all somehow.) The team roster gained their first solo book in June of 2006, thanks to Dan Slott, with the four part GLA miniseries. This was also the first major roster change since their introduction, as Dinah Soar was killed and Flatman and Doorman went on a recruiting spree. New members included:

  • Gene "Leather Boy" Lorrene: Revealed to be an actual founding member of the team who was kicked out early due in part to not actually having powers and partly because he was a Leather Man and BDSM enthusiast who totally missed the point of Mr. Immortal's first call for "costumed adventurers". Angered at this, he eventually joined the team's Rogues Gallery, along with Dr. Tannenbaum and Deathurge the squirrel.
  • Doreen "Squirrel Girl" Green: Mutant with squirrel like agility, the ability to talk to squirrels, and a tail. Despite this laughable powerset, she's regarded by S.H.I.E.L.D. as the greatest superhero combatant alive. Gone up against, and defeated Dr. Doom, M.O.D.O.K., Thanos and Deadpool (twice).
  • Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe: Squirrel girl's squirrels. Have a tendency to speak to the reader. Monkey Joe was killed by a vengeful Leather Boy; Tippy Toe became his replacement.
  • Doug "Grasshopper" Taggert: The original "Grasshopper" was a Roxxon security guard with a grasshopper themed Powered Armor. Killed within 5.8 seconds of joining the team with a thrown sai to the face. Others have taken up the mantle, but they didn't do much better: one accidentally jumped all the way to space, one killed by an angry Deadpool, and another turned out to be a Skrull infiltrator.
  • Wade Deadpool Willson: Technically still a member of the team, he origionally joined out of boredum and to chase after Big Bertha. Caused more conflicts than he helped with. And yes, at one point Deadpool was technically an Avenger.

Since then, the team has appeared sporadically in a wide variety of titles. At the end of the GLA series, they were forced to change their name for in universe legal reasons. They first settled on the Great Lakes X-Men, then became the Great Lakes Champions after winning a poker game. They registered during the Marvel Civil War event and became the official Initiative team for the state of Wisconsin, and changed their name once again to the Great Lakes Initiative, momentarily taking on Deadpool as a reserve member. Some time after the Secret Invasion, Nevada team leader Gravity was transferred as punishment to head up the Avengers in his home state. Squirrel Girl has recently joined the New Avengers in New York as official nanny for Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.

Flatman and Squirrel Girl did make a guest appearance on Fantastic Four Worlds Greatest Heroes as part of a Terrible Interviewees Montage. Both were rejected. Flatman also appeared in The Super Hero Squad Show.


Provides examples of:

  (The Ghost Of) Monkey Joe says: Whatever. Not like it's gonna bring me back or anything. Feh, I'm outta here.