Stan Lee's 100% Guaranteed Fool Proof Recipe for a Superhero Team

           Stan Lee's influence over the comic industry cannot be underestimated. However, even his creative outpourings were not solely unique. Many of the tropes engaged by Stan Lee came to be standard faire in the comic industry and in his own work. The Avengers and X-Men came out in the same year, 1963, from the same basic creative unit, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. While both achieved wide spread popularity and support, there is no doubt that the creators employed many of the same tropes within these twin works.
           Possibly the most obvious comparison is between the composition of the two teams. Lee and Kirby's creations fit into 5 simple categories.

1) The Monster Mash - Hulk and Beast
These two characters are perhaps the most obvious comparison. They are distinctly combinations of the human and the animal/other body. They are large, muscular and their skin changes color. (Even though beast only acquires his blue color later). They represent the strength on the team, the pure might. There is an almost gorilla-ish quality to both of them, distinctly melding the animal in ways other members of the teams do not. The Thing from the Fantastic Four also features the same character trope.

2) Man of Myth - Thor and Angel
In this case classical mythology is called upon to add depth and merit to the team. Much like in Wonder Woman, drawing on mythology gives the comic credence by establishing an ancient lineal history and a sense of otherworldliness at the same time.  By rooting down into historical figures of power the reader immediately has access to a reality where magical powers or mythical beasts exist. The connection to mythology cannot be underestimated, and the very visceral representations of gods and angels lends a sense of background to the comics.

3) Man Child - Ironman and Iceman
These two are perhaps the most different at first glance. They share a basic similarity in that they are both subsumed by another element when acting as a superhero, but beyond that they seem quite dissimilar. Tony is angry, standoffish and detached while Bobby is honest and emotionally accessible. However, they both maintain a childishness, even down to their nickname, Tony and Bobby. They cause emotional issues within the group without being the main romantic leads. The Human Torch from the Fantastic Four fits in really well with these two.

4) Intelligent Female Leader - Ms. Marvel and Wasp
The token woman would probably be enough of a trope to unite these two characters, but they are also remarkably similar in many ways. They are portrayed as being independent, empowered and highly educated, but also fashion forward and emotionally adept. The ride a fine line between being a fantastic representation of modern women and simply a fantasy in the form of a nonexistent female trope. They tend to be highly idealized in pretty much every aspect. They also are married to the following trope, The Broody Male Leader. The Invisible Girl completes the Lee trifecta.

5) Broody Male Leader- Ant Man - Cyclops
Once again, the two characters appear to be dissimilar in many ways. I had originally slated Cyclops against iron man, tech enabled and empowered super humans. However, I think below that, they serve a similar role in the eyes of the reader. They become the idealized male lead to pair with the idealized female lead. They are brooding, dominant male figures with the female companionship to prove it. Last but not least, Mr. Fantastic completes the Fantastic Four's Lee-Style Superhero group recipe.