Fantasy Football III

Remember that I said I wanted these lists to have more Indy characters? Well, I guess Anime will have to suffice, as that's what I've been watching of late. I've never really been one of those guys (and it's pretty much always guys) that is into "Anime" as a genre; I watch what looks interesting to me, or what is considered influential, but that's about it, much the same way I treat all other media. Whilst I'll admit that there is an element of cultural difference that can stymie my enjoyment of Anime, a lot of it is just the domination of "Shonen" style storytelling, like, I'm sure One Piece is really good once you get into it, but I don't feel like committing the time to it when other things are gaining my interest. Enough about me though, let's get to another of these stupid lists my friends keep asking about!


Carter Greyson 

Whilst I wasn't taken enough with Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue to want to watch a lot more Power Rangers, Carter Greyson was a sight to behold. An experienced Firefighter with a proclivity for gun-play, Carter is best known for charging in head-first to dangerous situations and somehow coming out on top. Carter is truly heroic, in or out of the red spandex, ending the series running off to the next disaster, even without his powers, though he seems to still have them in Forever Red. I don't so much see Carter as a great leader, but an excellent NCO, at the head of a strike or response team that needs to get the job done, more of a Captain America type than a mastermind like Nick Fury.


Eraser Head

No, not the excellent David Lynch film, but a semi-retired superhero turned teacher from My Hero Academia, Shota Aizawa is a great team pick not so much for his power, which is middling, but for how well he can use it. Eraser Head can "switch off" the powers of anyone in his line of sight, so long as they stay within his visual range and he doesn't blink; just how much powers can be turned off is nebulous, but still pretty useful. To make the most of his power, Eraser Head has trained himself to not blink and has costume elements that enable him to entangle depowered foes, as well as wearing goggles that made it hard for opponents to see where his gaze is at. In addition to his own skills, Eraser Head has an excellent lateral intelligence, able to help others find new and different ways to use their powers as well.


Kaoru Hanayama 

Whilst it would be a stretch to cover Baki in a "Superhero Media" article, the fighters portrayed therein are certainly near-superhuman in their strength and endurance. Although a member of the Yakusa and a criminal, Kaoru Hanayama is possessed of a rigid code of conduct that sees him defend police against the onslaught of mass-murderer Spec, even at the cost of his own face. Unlike many of the fighters in Baki, Hanayama is untrained, a brawler who relies on his incredible strength and high pain tolerance to win through against more skilled opponents. I'm not the kind of person that thinks a team really needs a "brutal" character like Wolverine or Peacemaker, but Hanayama would certainly be an excellent pick for that kind of role.


Qubit

A super-genius with an affinity for machines, Qubit is perhaps the most interesting character of BOOM! series Irredeemable, able to turn any device into anything else with only his mind. A pacifist who wields world-ending power through his "tele-portals", Qubit's optimism hides a viscous streak that few will push him far enough to see, let alone survive. Qubit is something of a chess player, working ahead of those around him with the end, not the means, foremost in his mind, always trying hard to make the best outcome happen, whilst planning contingencies. In the end, Qubit saves his world, getting a better outcome than any could have hoped for, and he walks away without the credit, because all he's done is his job; be a hero. Qubit doesn't just bring his prodigious intellect to a team, but also mobility through his tele-portals and a solid morality that some heroes lack.


Ultraman (Shinjiro)

Ok, yes, I'm sold on Ultraman now, and Shinjiro is a solid character with a lot to admire. Thrust into the role of planetary defender by destiny, this young man is learning as he goes, rather than being the best from the start. Not wanting to kill where he doesn't have to, Shinjiro's natural talents in the armour make him more "powerful" than the other Ultramen, but we see that power doesn't necessarily translate to efficacy. Much like Supergirl being more engaging than Superman because she has to struggle, Shinjiro is on the way to becoming an excellent hero, which means growing not only in power, but in maturity and wisdom. One of the greats in the making.