So, yeah, I’ve
decided to extend my series of lists for small ensembles in fiction, though it’s
a bit questionable to still call an ensemble “small” when it has beyond five members. Anyway, regardless of its validity
to be part of that series, this list serves to identify the hexads or sextets or six-member
groups in fiction which I found most interesting.
10.) THE DRAGON
WARRIOR AND THE FURIOUS FIVE
As the main protagonist
of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, the martial arts-loving but clumsy Po turns out being the foretold, mythical “Dragon
Warrior.” Though the Furious Five – a
quintet of China’s best martial arts masters (based on the Five Animals
Southern styles of Chinese martial arts) – initially doubted that he’s the
Dragon Warrior, Po earned their respect and friendship by displaying great
heart and aptitude. Thus, once Po
finally began comfortably exhibiting the qualities of the Dragon Warrior, the
Furious Five eagerly acknowledged him as their master and embraced the role of
associates.
Each one is a
very capable martial artist, but they are more entertaining and formidable when fighting as a unit under the direction of Po.
9.) T.J. AND FRIENDS
Even at a young
age, T.J. has displayed great proficiency as a mastermind, constantly rallying
his gang of fourth-graders – athletic Vince, tough girl Spinelli, plump Mikey, academic
whiz Gretchen, and meek army kid Gus – into various mischievous enterprises for
the purpose of surviving through school life and having fun while at it, especially
during recess time.
8.) ILLUMINATI
Made up of
Namor, Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, and
Professor X, the Illuminati was a secret superhero cabal that existed and
operated under the radar of the superhero community. They occasionally met in secret to exchange
critical information and, sometimes, manipulated events in the superhero world behind
the scenes. Prior Secret Wars, they even conducted several covert alternate-world-destroying
operations in order to save their own.
The Illuminati has ever since been exposed and disbanded.
7.) WILDC.A.T.S.
I’ve actually never
read the comics, but I loved the 90’s cartoons (which I understand has some
significant differences from the comics) as a kid. The cartoon lineup consists of Spartan,
Zealot, Grifter, Voodoo, Maul, and Warblade. Void
and Jacob Marlowe (Lord Emp) are also in the cartoons, but they serve more of a support and
administrative role to the team – similar to what Zordon and Alpha 5 do for the
Power Rangers – rather than be on-field participants.
The animated
series only ran for 13 episodes. But
with a kickass theme and enjoyable family-friendly superhero action, it served as
a more than ample stand-in before I got to my next X-Men: TAS fix. Hence, its
six-member lineup became almost as memorable to me as the 90’s X-Men.
6.) RUNAWAYS
The original Runaways run had been one of the
greatest comic book reads I had during the 2000’s. Though it seemed to have a teen superhero team
setup, it wasn’t the Young Avengers
(also a great comic back then) kind of stuff you would expect. It had the feel of being more of a science
fiction drama. Since its creator is
Brian K. Vaughn, the same guy behind the fantastic science fiction drama comics Saga and Paper Girls, that should not come as a surprise.
The Runaways have
since expanded their roster, but the original six – the founding members – are the
children of the members of “The Pride”, a secret criminal group made up of mob
bosses, time-travelers, dark wizards, mad scientists, alien invaders, and telepathic
mutants. Shocked and horrified that
their parents are evil, they – Nico Minoru, a magician and the daughter
of dark wizards; Alex Wilder, a master strategist and the son of mafia bosses; Karolina
Dean, who has the power to fly and manipulate solar light, and the daughter of alien
invaders; Molly Hayes, a super-strong and invulnerable mutant, and the daughter
of telepathic mutants; Chase Stein, a capable mechanic with flame-manipulating
gauntlets, and the son of mad scientists; and Gertrude Yorkes, who has a psychic
link with “Old Lace”, a dinosaur, and daughter of time-traveling criminals –
decided to band together and to destroy their parents’ criminal hold on Los
Angeles. Their dynamic really makes some exciting
comic book storytelling. Also, one of
them is a traitor!
5.) CAPTAIN
PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS
Kwame: “Let our
powers combine. Earth!”
Linka: “Wind!”
GI: “Water!”
Ma-Ti: “Heart!”
Captain Planet: “By
your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!”
Such is the very
memorable sequence in Captain
Planet and the Planeteers. It’s not
the greatest of cartoons, and it gets a bit too preachy at times, but a group of multi-national teens with
elemental-themed rings that can summon a powerful, wise-cracking environmental warrior
is still extremely fun to watch.
4.) ANNIHILATORS
When Star-Lord
assembled the Guardians of the Galaxy, he acknowledged that his team didn’t really
have the kind of power that was capable of taking on galactic threats (but,
ironically, that was the charm of the team). He shared to teammate Cosmo his thoughts of wanting to form a proactive
team of powerful superheroes that would address threats before they can put the
galaxy in grave danger.
So when
Star-Lord seemingly died (he didn’t) and the Guardians of the Galaxy disbanded
(temporarily), Cosmo recruits cosmic heavy-hitters Quasar, Silver Surfer, Beta
Ray Bill, Gladiator, and Ronan the Accuser to form the “Annihilators”, fulfilling
the function that Star-Lord envisioned.
3.) ALADDIN’S GANG
If you have seen
the excellent Aladdin: The Animated Series, I think you would have also developed the perception that the eclectic
adventure squad of Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Carpet, Abu, and Iago can and will
prevail – somehow and someway – against any obstacle and adversary.
2.) SINISTER SIX
The most notable
sextet in comics is the villainous group known as the “Sinister Six.” It has undergone several iterations through
the years – including a hilarious one led by Boomerang (read Superior Foes of Spider-Man) – but the
common theme is that it’s made up of characters from Spider-Man’s rogue
gallery.
However, the
most iconic version remains the original: Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Mysterio, Electro, Sandman,
and Kraven the Hunter.
1.) FRIENDS
Is there a six-member ensemble that is as iconic and endearing as what the terrific, unparalleled sitcom Friends had?
Okay, maybe...
BONUS: MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS
Okay, maybe...
BONUS: MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS
Since I already
gave the top spot for best fictional fivesome to the original lineup of the Mighty
Morphin Power Rangers, I initially intended not to include the six-member, Tommy Oliver-led Power Rangers to this list, so that there would be room to feature
other ensembles.
However, it can’t
be denied that the addition of the Green Ranger (later becoming the White
Ranger) brought a significant change to the initial Power Rangers dynamic, which
means the resulting new-look, six-man Mighty Morphin Power Rangers lineup deserves
to be recognized independently from the original five-man team.
Consider this
bonus entry as a tie with the first spot.
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