In a post a little while ago I espoused my concept for The Order of Action Heroes and The Council of Evil. Both rosters were open to debate and amendment, so I’m making a page here to keep track of them. Here are the current versions:
The Order of Action Heroes
- Indiana Jones
- Cpt. Jack Sparrow
- Connor MacLeod
- John Rambo
- James Bond
- Harry Potter
- Maximus Decimus Meridius
- Ellen Ripley
- Lara Croft
- John McClane
- Han Solo
- Beatrix Kiddo
- Robin Hood
- Yoda
- The Man With No Name
- Aragorn
- Jack Bauer
- The Doctor
- Buffy Summers
- Snake Plissken
Possible additions: James Bolivar diGriz, Number Six, Simon Templar, John Steed.
Disqualified: Neo (too powerful in his own universe, irrelevant outside of it), Blade (too comicky), Eric Draven, (too comicky).
Notes: It’s not about superheroes, and it’s not about comic books, it’s more about action – though all these definitions are very vague and woolly. The only concrete criteria for inclusion is whether a character “feels right” to me. Hey, it’s my list. 
The Council of Evil
- The Joker
- Emperor Palpatine
- The Master
- Professor Moriarty
- Lord Voldemort
- The Kurgan
- Davy Jones
- Ernst Stavro Blofeld
- Sauron
- Freddy Krueger
- Pinhead
- The Wicked Witch of the West
- Hannibal Lecter
Possible additions: Agent Smith.
Disqualified: Darth Vader (repented).
Notes: The Council should always have 13 members, so inclusion of anyone else would mean the removal of one of the existing members. This would be OK though, as I’m not 100% happy with Pinhead or the Witch.
Someone once asked “Why is Neo disqualified, but you’re still considering Agent Smith?” Well, as I’ve now added above, Neo is to all intents and purposes omnipotent in the universe of the Matrix, and if he was transplanted out of that universe then that would imply that the Matrix no longer held sway, therefore his power would cease to be. He just doesn’t work in context of the Order & Council. I suppose the same could be said of Agent Smith. However I like the idea of one of the Council members being non-corporeal – software, in fact. So he’s on the bench. If I had to invent a fiction to justify his inclusion (I don’t, as he’s not included at this time), I would day that perhaps a copy of his program leaked from one universe to another, in the form of a replicating virus that was then appropriated by the Council. Or something.
So there you have it. It’s my idea, so don’t nick it or I’ll kick your face off. Saying that, suggestions and comments are always welcome.
–c.
Number Six probably wouldn’t want to be in a club that would have him as a member.
Very antisocial and unmutual, that one.
If you can have Lara Croft in there, might I suggest a few more possible video game character additions?
Order of Action Heroes
* Solid Snake
* Master Chief
* Gordon Freeman
* Samus Aran
* Max Payne
* Agent 47
Council of EVIL~!
* Liquid Snake/Revolver Ocelot (seeing as they basically become the same guy after Metal Gear Solid)
* G-Man
* …
Hmm, can’t think of many really memorable and nasty videogame baddies that can stand up to the likes of Uncle Palpy, The Master etc.
I would personally like to see Ash the main protagonist from the Evil Dead series up there in the heros mate. He’s a legend.
And as for the council of evil, none other that the purveyor of ultimate filth… Chris de Burgh.
Right. Games characters are out, because there are just too many of them.
Lara Croft crosses over because there is a series of films, and more people now associate Angelina Jolie with the character than remember the games in the first place.
My nomination for the Order of Action Heroes would be (Dirty) Harry Callahan.
Oh, Snake Plissken – that’s a very good addition. Why isn’t Dracula on the Council? He’s a real archetype who turns up right across popular culture rather than in a single franchise and has zero redeeming features. Plus he brings a certain evil suavity to the council to complement the Master, Moriarty and Lecter.
Oh, yer a kid, retract my crits, go to bed.
The agent smith/ neo inclusion/exclusion dabate makes an awesome lunchtime read Clive. I’ve often wondered what sort of physical manifestation Agent Smith would take if he could copy in the essence behind the idea which drives the code to make him so in the digital world it the world of the physical/tangable. I want to see Gandalf up there in your action heroes list, but I think of him less as an action hero, more a positive energy. As an aside I actually have a Jesus Christ action figure at home. Surely a contender now he’s been immortalised in plastic.
Looking on amazon they don’t appear to still make the one I have but you can get an idea by looking at this one. Arrh how the world makes me laugh….
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ-Talking-Action-Figure/dp/B000B91OFU