I'd have to go with Herbie and Godzuki, though Dyna-Girl and Betty would still be hanging around because of Herbie's overt manliness.
Mike Zeidler | Email | 05.21.08 - 1:56 am | #

All are worthy of the honor!
Oscar Blotnik | Email | 05.21.08 - 2:27 am | #

Crow and Popeye.
Anonymous | 05.21.08 - 2:53 am | #

Who could resist the sheer awesome spinach induced might of Popeye, or the imagination of the legendary Calvin?

Scrappy Doo is a strong contender for the Masters of Evil. Lil' Bastard!
Grendel Red | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 3:23 am | #

Who is this Calvin you speak of? That is obviously the famed Captain Stupendous!
LurkerWithout | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 3:29 am | #

I am awestruck by your brilliance, sir.

(Crow and Betty would be my picks.)
Andrew Weiss | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:09 am | #

Dyna-Girl & Linus!
Dave Carter | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:34 am | #

I notice Herbie isn't even a choice. I agree, he's automatically included. I'd like to pick Hembeck, but if two is the limit, I dunno. No, you know what, he's in. And Popeye. Gotta have Popeye.
Phill | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:36 am | #

I've gotta go with Calvin and Hembeck, although Herbie needs to be a back-up choice.
Stephen | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:38 am | #

That's not Godzuki. That's Minya. Godzuki was the ... thing... from the H-B cartoon series. Minya is Goji's son from Son Of Godzilla, and later appeared in Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla's Revenge (AKA All Monsters Attack), and then just recently in Godzilla: Final Wars.

In any event I have to take Crow and Popeye.
Luke | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:41 am | #

Now I know I'm a comics nerd. For two reasons.

1) I recognized that cover.

2) My first thought was: "Hey, that's Godzilla, jr! He was only called Godzuki in the American cartoon and wasn't really the same character. And he wasn't Godzilla, Jr., either."

And then I went to Wikipedia to prove it, and found a reference specifically saying he is sometimes confused with Godzooky (who knew?).

So, like I said: Total Nerd. I'm sure my wife and kids would agree. =)
WizarDru | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 4:43 am | #

Needs more MODOK.
Lucas Emery | 05.21.08 - 4:47 am | #

Herbie would pretty much be a no-brainer...he'd bop Ultron and Kang with this here lollipop, and it would be over.
Randy Jackson | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 5:10 am | #

Got to go with Hembeck and Scrappy Doo.
Derek B. Haas | 05.21.08 - 5:17 am | #

Popeye and Herbie, of course. Two powerhouses capable of matching anyone in a fight.
CW | 05.21.08 - 5:23 am | #

I've never understood what was so great about Hembeck.
Cranius and Dyna-girl.
Scott | Email | 05.21.08 - 6:06 am | #

I just want to see Crow sitting around the Avengers meeting table and mocking Captain America trying to run a meeting. That would be enough to get me reading Avengers.

2nd choice is hard. Dagwood makes a hell of a sandwich, which could come in handy on those long flights in the Avengers jet.
Mike Nielsen | Email | 05.21.08 - 6:31 am | #

Jarvis should stock up on lollipops and spinach. Popeye and The Fat Fury could defeat Galactus, The Dire Wraithes and the Borg using only a pointed stick.
The Mutt | Email | 05.21.08 - 6:32 am | #

I'd choose Godzuki...except for one problem: That's not Godzuki in the photo...it's Minya.

Godzilla has been shown to have two sons (Minya, in the '60s-'70s films, and Junior, in the '90s-era films) and a nephew (Godzuki). Not bad for a creature never shown to have a wife or a sibling!

So I'll make my choices Minya and Dagwood...just because that team-up is so darn bizarre.
Rich Handley | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 6:55 am | #

Only two! What a brutal choice. I go Hembeck and Betty. Captain Stupendus and Linus are very strong runners up for me though.
Brett | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:06 am | #

I was just about to claim my no prize for the Godzuki/Minilla mix-up, but you nerds beat me to it.
Steven | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:08 am | #

Crow and Calvin of course. Is there any OTHER choice?
sallyp | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:11 am | #

Ah... classic 80s Avengers cover. I remember it very well.

As for me, Cranius and Crow.

I don't think Scrappy would last more than 5 minutes on the same team as Wolverine. One outburst of "Puppy Power!" and he'd be skewered.
g23 | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:19 am | #

Jeez, this is a tough 'un. I'm going for the H&H duo: Herbie and Hembeck, but I'd like to see Sparky Watts. get a try-out, too.
sterg | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:25 am | #

Sigh. Okay, "Godzuki" is out, Sluggo is in. You may need to change your votes.
Mikester | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:27 am | #

Here's to forgotten childhood crushes. Please let it be Dyna Girl!

Wait, pick two? Okay, add Hembeck. Because ... Hembeck.
philip | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:28 am | #

Linus linus linus!

Sluggo, too.
Novice | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:38 am | #

Crow and Betty.
Bill S. | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:46 am | #

You guys know that THIS cover is being "skrullized" in an upcoming NEW AVENGERS?

*sigh* Nothing is sacred.

These choices are too tough.

The "underwear pervert" in me wants to say: BETTY & DYNA GIRL.
Uh... only because comics need more strong female role models.
Right. That's it.

The fun-loving bizarre corner of my brain screams: CROW & HEMBECK.
Those Avengers round-table meetings will be hi-LAR-ious!

The "they WOULD make cool additions to the team" thought process goes to:
POPEYE & HERBIE.
Actual effective powerhouses.

But the whole "WHAT IF?" aspect of the imaginary tale forces me to choose:

CAPTAIN STUPENDOUS (aka Calvin)
&
LINUS (w/his magic, prehensile blanket)

As for the rest...
hopefully, GROG will EAT SCRAPPY, MINUS & SPUNKY and crap out something that CRANIUS can use to make a mutate or something worthwhile.

SLUGGO & DAGWOOD become the new Butler & Cook, respectively.

So, yeah...
CALVIN & LINUS for the win.

~P~
P-TOR
SanctumSanctorumComix | 05.21.08 - 7:58 am | #

First is kind of a sympathy vote, but I'll go with Grog. He deserves a little support. This is also kind of a protest vote because Animal should have been in here and Grog is the closest available.

Second is very tough, but I'll go with Crow over Calvin. Maybe he can get Vision to watch movies with him.
Devin McCullen | Email | 05.21.08 - 8:02 am | #

Herbie and Crow. And Dagwood. And Betty. But THAT'S ALL.
Scott | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 8:20 am | #

Anyone but Scrappy. He needs to be taken out "ol' Yeller" style.
Cully | Email | 05.21.08 - 8:36 am | #

Betty and Calvin. 'Nuff said.
steve canadian | 05.21.08 - 8:38 am | #

I vote for Mike and Employee Aaron.
Bully | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 9:00 am | #

Herbie and Hembeck! Sure to be the "Wonder Man and Beast" of a new generation!
Max | Email | 05.21.08 - 9:00 am | #

Betty and Crow T. Robot!
Rob S. | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 9:10 am | #

Linus and Minus - the sheer drama wrung out of Minus' anxiety about leaving behind Patsy and Fatsy, and Linus going up agains Jack O'Lantern overwhelm all other considerations. The possibility of Linus' blanket being missing during a crucial fight also provides all sorts of story opportunities.

Plus, they rhyme.
Scott Rowland | Email | 05.21.08 - 9:18 am | #

Crow T. Robot and Popeye.
Boyd | Email | 05.21.08 - 10:14 am | #

Aren't Captain Stupendous and The Fat Fury, aka Calvin and Herbie, effectively omnipotent, since their respective comics take place within their imaginations? You've got to go with that team.

By the way, that picture of Betty really ought to be from that brief (mid-60s?) period where the Archie characters were all superheroes. I believe Betty was known as "Superteen". Or, failing that, from the "Explorers of the Unknown" spinoff comic of the late 80s. Or Cave Betty, just because.

What's worse than being a superhero nerd? Being an Archie nerd!
Prankster | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 10:52 am | #

I remember Marvel UK hacking this cover up to use on a Marvel Superheroes Annual one Christmas. It contained a Byrne Hulk story, an Alan Davis X-Men story... and a Cap story where he was fighting a villain whose power was leaping, but wasn't Batroc.

I pick Herbie and Sluggo.
Brack | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 11:07 am | #

Calvin and Linus.
Rocco | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 11:13 am | #

Crow T. Robot and Herbie! Woe unto superhero lunkheads and dumbasses. Hawkeye will be dead again quite soon.
julius brown | Email | 05.21.08 - 12:29 pm | #

Calvin and Herbie. The Fat Fury and Stupendous Man, on the same team at last! But...will it be a union built to last? Or a match made in hell?
Crowded House | Email | 05.21.08 - 12:30 pm | #

Calvin and Crow, but only because Herbie would ruin all dramatic tension with his amazing abilities.

Heck, Herbie isn't even ON that cover. There's only THE FAT FURY!

It's the same reason Squirel Girl isn't in the main team.
Bret | 05.21.08 - 12:47 pm | #

My son bookdave tells me I HAVE to choose Scrappy Doo and Linus! (If it were me, I think I'd choose Popeye and Fred H!)
booksteve | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 2:00 pm | #

As much as I'd love to see Crow and Betty on the team, I have to cast my vote for Herbie and Popeye.

They're all excellent choices EXCEPT FOR SCRAPPY DO WHO SHOULD ROT IN THE NETHERMOST REGIONS OF SHEOL (ptui!)!
buzz | Email | 05.21.08 - 3:08 pm | #

Prankster - I must step in to say that Herbie's adventures didn't take place in his imagination. They're all absolutely 100% real, baby!
Mikester | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 3:49 pm | #

Definitely Popeye and Dyna-Girl!
Shaun | Email | 05.21.08 - 4:36 pm | #

Oh, and to the guy who had that British comic, I bet it was the Tumbler that Cap was fighting.
Shaun | Email | 05.21.08 - 4:41 pm | #

My write in votes: Animal and Matter-Eater Lad.

But only because Spider-woman and She-hulk are already Betties.
super-rob | Email | 05.21.08 - 5:15 pm | #

I pick Popeye and Linus. Wisdom, honesty, strength of will. I would feel very safe with them protecting the world. Plus the thought of them interacting in any way totally trips me out.

If the question was "Who Will You Rent a Beach House With and Get Drunk With Every Night All Summer Long?" then my answer would have to be Crow and Betty.
Nick Sedillos | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 6:03 pm | #

Hi and Lois.
so-called "Austin Mayor" | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 7:03 pm | #

Stupendous Man and Betty. Just because.
LaRue | Email | 05.21.08 - 9:48 pm | #

I'll go with... Crow and Herbie.
Evan Waters | Email | Homepage | 05.21.08 - 10:03 pm | #

Crow and Calvin or Herbie and Calvin... I... I... can't choose, please don't make me choose!

Fine, Crow and Stupendous Man!
David Cutler | Email | 05.21.08 - 11:49 pm | #

Nuts, I only saw Herbie in the upc-box and didn't see that he was a legit choice. Must revise my vote to Popeye & Herbie. (Sorry, Cartoon Fred.)
Phill | Email | Homepage | 05.22.08 - 2:18 am | #

STUPENDOUS MAN! [not Captain Stupendous](oh I am the nerd)

AND

LINUS (Have you seen him in action with that super blanket of his?

I remember the end of this actual issue when She-Hulk and Hawkeye were chosen.
It was bizarre because She-Hulk was shown smoking (was it a purplish cigarette or cigar?).

Alan
jettblackberryx
alan | Email | 05.22.08 - 3:47 am | #

But if they're all going to be Skrulls, or Martians, or Cylons, then what's the point?

Oh, right. It's an election year...
Anonymous | 05.22.08 - 6:36 am | #

Crow and Popeye.

Although... if this was picking for the lineup of an all-new, all-different Fantastic Four, I'd have to go with Crow T. Robot, Popeye, Cranius and Betty.

That is a book I'd read.
Mchael | Email | Homepage | 05.22.08 - 11:38 am | #

Well...

Popeye is the powerhouse strong guy of the team (Thor/Superman/Thing/Colossus), Calvin is the young kid sidekick (more Jubilation Lee than Snapper Carr or Rick Jones), Dyna-Girl is the former sidekick graduated to the main team (like Wally West's Flash), Sluggo would be the Wolverine type tough guy, and Herbie would kind of be the Sentry from the New Avengers (the mystery man). I'd have to add Betty to the team, too, just for the simple sex appeal. Of course, she'd be a surprising pick at first, being seemingly just a street-level character (like Hellcat, Black Widow, Green Arrow, etc.), but she'd twist her ponytail in the nick of time and turn into SUPER-TEEN and save the day!
Bryan Irrera | Email | Homepage | 05.23.08 - 7:08 am | #

Well you KNOW I have to pick Hembeck. Oh, Popeye, my first hero.
Roger Green | Email | Homepage | 05.23.08 - 8:37 am | #

If the polls are still open - Dyna-Girl and Herbie.
Pere Ubu | Email | Homepage | 05.26.08 - 5:31 am | #