Avalanche needs characterization

With the exception of X-Men Evolution you're right...I don't know if its because he seems "bland" or what...

Then again we could list off a whole list of villains from the X-mythos outside the usual suspects (Magneto, Apoccy, Sinister, Mystique, etc.) who could be really really fleshed out...instead they stay as canon-fodder. I think it might because as a team-centric universe they have to maintain a balance between giving deep characterization to the heroes and the villains. And so many times its easier to divulge into the more powerful villains, since they "pose a threat to the whole team" type of deal. I mean because if you compare it to solo-heroes like Spider-Man, who's villains have been fleshed out alot...we can see that team books have a definite different perspective...

I think what stopped that Bub, was that during their heyday Claremont really controlled all things X, so until they actually started having splinter books, really he kept the universe focused. Even though we can argue that a Freedom Force team could have been MU instead of just X-centric, but I doubt Claremont would have allowed it easily...I would have read it...

I mean he joins a long-list of B-list X-foes that could have been explored more...i mean him, Pyro, Crimson Commando, Blob, Acolytes (outside Fabian, Exodus or Ameila), and the various random C-listers who popped up in the 80s/70s...

I agree. I always liked the members of Freedom Force and wish we could get to know them more as people. It's a shame that when Marvel finally decided to print an entire eight-page vignette about Avalanche, Frank Tieri delivered a story about the X-Men breaking into his home and assaulting him for trying to become an upstanding, law-abiding citizen. That story spoke volumes more about the X-Men than it did about Avalanche. 

Originally posted by sixhoursoflucy I agree. I always liked the members of Freedom Force and wish we could get to know them more as people. It's a shame that when Marvel finally decided to print an entire eight-page vignette about Avalanche, Frank Tieri delivered a story about the X-Men breaking into his home and assaulting him for trying to become an upstanding, law-abiding citizen. That story spoke volumes more about the X-Men than it did about Avalanche.

Which was, actually, Tieri's point. : /

I'll chime in with the rest of the group: agreed. Avalanche has been around for 20 years now and he has little to no personality. Out of the Brotherhood, him and Toad are all I got these days with Blob skinny and Pyro dead!

I would REALLY like if he showed up in Legacy. Carey's shown great care in writing characters with long history and as a former Brotherhood member, it'd be cool to see him interact with Rogue.

It was funny that that issue was solicited as revealling Avalanche's secret. Was he coming out? Was he plotting to be the new big bad? No, he just makes very good Bloody Marys.

I want Crimson Commando back...

Avalanche does seem to be somewhat of a favorite as he's lasted a long time. He reminds me of Constrictor, a character thats had some cool moments and is untarnished by a bad story or five like so many others and therefore remains cool. I call it the "Havok Effect". He would have been great as a member of the Dark XMen.

I don't think I've ever read a story where he was in a snowy mountain range.

I don't know if I want to see him as a good guy. I wouldn't mind if they did a Freedom Force type thing where he was an antagonist wrapped in the cloth of virtue, but when (and you know it's "when" and not "if") all the mutants get their powers back, I imagine Good-Guy Avalanche gets pretty redundant once Rictor stops preening and trying to jump off buildings and stuff. We don't need a 6 issue mini collected in trade form about the guy. He doesn't have to be gay, sexually abused as a child, or involved in an MTV/Lobdell X-Men romance with Psylocke. I just want to see him be a little more memorable than that guy that looks like his armor is made out of toasters. Hell, you could even do a story about how bland and passive he is in the eyes of his friends/partners in crime, or do a running gag where Colossus beats the hell out of him every time they square off in an increasingly creative/humorous/violent manner. Just don't let Bendis put words in his mouth. Bendis dialogue is to the 21st century what cross-hatched inks were to the 90's; a little goes a looooong way, and everyone claimed to love it at the time.

I agree that Avalanche could be explored. I actually feel like his Wolverine and the X-Men version is the best version of him I have seen. Not that he had any depth to him there, but I'd like to see that version of the character expanded upon.

Originally posted by Blackcyclops I think what stopped that Bub, was that during their heyday Claremont really controlled all things X, so until they actually started having splinter books, really he kept the universe focused. Even though we can argue that a Freedom Force team could have been MU instead of just X-centric, but I doubt Claremont would have allowed it easily...I would have read it... I mean he joins a long-list of B-list X-foes that could have been explored more...i mean him, Pyro, Crimson Commando, Blob, Acolytes (outside Fabian, Exodus or Ameila), and the various random C-listers who popped up in the 80s/70s...

I don't know if you intended this as a pun or not, but it made me laugh! 

Nice plug there 

To me Avalanche is one of those characters that could easily be drafted into the Xmen or even better a Thunderbolts version of the XMen. He has kicked around being a henchman for years but he gets his ass handed to him each time. I found his current stance of leaving his bad-guy days behind him and assisting the xmen as a great step....it's a shame no writer has taken it further. It's also a surprise really since his powerset is awesome and relatively unique amongst the Xmen. 

Let's kill off a few more big names and then there should hopefully be room for him...