The 10? Smartest in Marvel...

I was hoping to find a decent article or information on the scientists being featured in The Fall of the Hulks. These are the so called Ten Smartest or something. They include Amadeus Cho, Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, T'Challa and the Beast. I didn't know when these men were designated as a group specifically and if there is a list with the complete membership.

I bet she supplied Osborn with the technology to return Banner into Hulk-ables state behind the scenes. )))

The "list" sort of dates back to the debut of Amadeus Cho, who was dubbed "The 7th Smartest Man in the World" for his tag-line. When he met Hank Pym in Mighty Avengers #21-23, Pym ridiculously outclassed him, and Cho was heard mumbling "8th smartest...I can live with 8th smartest..."

Depends on who you ask. Sometimes its listed as genetic enhancement, sometimes not. However, he has been subjected to numerous powerloss devices over the years, and his intelligence has never been apparently affected. I'd go with no.

However, he has been subjected to numerous powerloss devices over the years, and his intelligence has never been apparently affected

What about Scott Lang?  While no Reed Richards, he was touted as having much scientific ability.

Perhaps.

What about Moira MacTaggert and Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch)? Where would they fall on the smart-scale?

Edited by Daytripper - 01-Apr-2010 at 9:57pm

I mentioned Dr. Rao in another thread, and it was also brought up in that thread that Valeria Richards at least has the potential to be smarter than Reed, although probably not currently. I also wonder where the rest of the Science Club falls, Nemesis and Box.

Let me just add, that I never really considered Beast, T'challa, or Iron Man quite up to the standards of Reed, Pym, and Banner. But again, it makes for a better story to include those guys I guess.

Finally, it still annoys me to some degree that only superheroes/villains are on the list. Surely there is a Marvel-Stephen Hawking or some equivalent out there in the 616. But yeah, whatever. Its a comic book universe, they can focus on the super-scientists if they want.

Forge should be on this list. Sage may should be as well...even if the intelligence is a by-product of their powers, it still should count, no?

I didn't know that about T'Challa, and if so, in the words of the great Stan Lee, 'nuff said. recently he's been portrayed as much more about action and military strategy, and he seems to let his staff handle the scientific stuff.

With Stark, I dunno, I just see a difference between an engineer and a theoretical scientist. Your car mechanic is pretty smart I'll give you that, but in the end no one is going to call him a genius. Tony is definitely not just a car mechanic, obviously more akin to an engineer at Boeing, but I still say he's a notch below someone who explores theoretical science.

As to Beast, he is pretty darn smart, but he has always, always been portrayed as a scientist on a team of scientists, be it Moira, Xavier, or now the Science Club. Maybe he's like House and just always has to have people to bounce ideas off of. But sometimes I get the feeling like he's still that smart, but somewhat goofy kid from the 60's/70's X-Men: Really smart, but not close to the Reed/Pym/Banner level.

Edited by Anna Raven - 02-Apr-2010 at 7:38pm

Yeah, stupid people suck as mechanics.  It takes someone with true genius to do Tony's brand of mechanical engineering.

She is horribly smart but I don't think she got to Reed's level yet. She does have the advantage of being underestimated though, so she can get people by surprise.

I'm good with that list of 8. But, refresh my memory: did Amadeus get captured also during FOTH? I don't remember either MODOK or the Leader showing any interest on him for his brains.