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Off My Mind: Why Heroes For Hire is a Fundamentally Bad Idea

Heroes are needed to save the world but should they really be hired to do the job?

Heroes For Hire is a concept that Luke Cage started and soon he was joined by Iron Fist. They wanted to be there for those in their neighborhood that needed them. Superheroes often deal with the bigger issues and don't always see the little guys out there struggling until things escalate to dangerous levels. They might have charged a small fee but they could be there for those that needed them before it was too late.

The current Heroes For Hire is run by Misty Knight. With some questionable beginnings (being mind-controlled by Puppet Master), the business has been up and running for a little while now. Misty serves as Control and has a list of available heroes for each mission. She oversees it all and calls in the best suited heroes when they are needed.

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While this loose idea of a team allows for some flexibility, it's questionable how efficient it truly can be. If a hero is out on a mission, they have no idea who might be available for back up. If a situation gets out of control or too dangerous, it's up to Misty to immediately locate someone willing and able to assist. Is this idea of a team an efficient way to run things or does it put too much of a risk on the individual heroes and innocent civilians?

== TEASER ==
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The idea of not having a permanent roster is an appealing idea. Being able to call in the experts based on a mission could solve any problems right away. A team can't always predict what sort of enemies they might be facing. Even if they fight familiar enemies, there's always the chance that a new player could join them with powers the team is not familiar with or prepared for. Having other heroes to call in could be what's needed to push things in their favor.

The problem and danger with this is ensuring Control has full access to an enormous list of heroes at any moment. Misty always calls and asked if a hero is available for hire. It's possible her first choice might not be available. They might be in the middle of dinner, out on a date or simply going to the bathroom. If another hero is out on the field and needs immediate assistance, there might not be enough time to get someone to them before it's too late. All the heroes called in are experienced and used to working on their own but some of the missions Misty puts them on might be more than one person can handle.

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We may not have seen it but there has to be a lot of planning before springing the heroes onto their jobs. Misty has to make extreme tactical decisions and try to plan for different eventualities. She needs to know who her heroes will be going up against and the area surrounding where a show down might occur. She has to have a long list of possible available heroes in that area that could arrive within moments.

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Another concern would be how the heroes would interact. Heroes that usually operate on their own might not be used to a team dynamic. A good team knows how to work with each other. If two heroes are put together and don't know each other or what each other's powers are, it could mean a failure in the mission. It could also cost the heroes their lives. Some heroes might not get along and this is something Misty might not be aware of. Some heroes she has used are killers while others will do whatever it takes to save any and all lives. If heroes can't work together, lives could be put at risk.

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There's also something about heroes doing a job for money. That makes them mercenaries like Silver Sable or Paladin. Misty has to be sure they have morals even if they are solely driven by money. The last thing she would want is for her hero to be bought out by someone meant to be taken down.

For the most part, Misty mainly employs those that don't work for money.

Most heroes work in exchange for a favor, a tip off, information...or just for the sheer reward of helping.

Having a mix of paid and non-paid heroes could make awkward team ups and cause other problems. How reliable will the team be? For the heroes that normally put their lives at risk on their own, being put into a situation with another hero they're not entirely familiar with or who might not be completely involved with the situation could result in a hero being harmed or possibly killed.

If Misty used the same group of heroes, they will get to know each other better, if they don't already. What she really needs to do is get all her potential employees together to meet. They need to know who Misty might call on to assist them and what abilities they have. If the heroes aren't all on the same page and aren't completely comfortable working with each other, the outcome of the mission could be jeopardized and innocents could end up paying for this with their lives.

64 Comments

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A-Strondinaire

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Edited By A-Strondinaire

You make an interesting point but I think thats the beauty of it all they're mixing up a hero dynamic and seeing how things will shake up. I'm sure Misty Knight is just like Oracle used to be in that she can see everyone and thing through a satellite so she knows just how to contain a fight or how to gain her heroes upper hand. The new heroes for hires seems like a giant chess game to me; outsmarting the villians with pawns and heavy hitters
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SexualLobster

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Edited By SexualLobster

Think of it realistically.

In real life, not everyone would jump up and scream 'Yes, I would like to go potentially die with no real personal reward'.

Sometimes people need a little more incentive to risk their balls than 'doing the right thing'.

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Knightwraithe

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Edited By Knightwraithe

Ummm...isn't this Marvel's "Birds of Prey"?

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Ston3face

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Edited By Ston3face

Hero's have to eat too.

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Migz13

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Edited By Migz13

Because that basically doesn't make them heroes. That'd make them more like mercenaries. Their skills up for the highest bidder? Good or bad?:P

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vance_astro

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Edited By vance_astro  Moderator
@Ston3face said:

Hero's have to eat too.

True. They can't all be happy with making chump change for being the only person who can take pictures of Spider-Man LOL.
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KRYPTON

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Edited By KRYPTON

Bad idea indeed

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Xaviersx

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Edited By Xaviersx

Not a problem, not even the heroes not for hire and on existing teams can't fulfill the always available . . . fictional people have lives too. And not every team (large) have members that compliment each other power / tactics wise . . . somebody sits out or does a support duty not in the hard line of conflict. As for being for hire, it's already been discussed about if heroes should be paid . . . yes, if the hero wants and the people affected contracted them to do whatever . . . otherwise it would be more like pay or die, or Thugs for Mugging. It's all variety, the spice of life.

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master_wright

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Edited By master_wright

No this is a great idea, it demonstrates that a career hero needs work and isn't about running around waiting for the next tussle with Dr. Doom. It is a very good formula as it allows a character rotation, a feature that isn't in enough books. It puts to mind Marvel Comics Presents great short stories with random characters that remind you if you think a character isn't on the A list that they aren't worth reading about how utterly wrong you really are.

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logan48227

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Edited By logan48227

@JBBuc: Punisher usually just takes the money from the criminals he kills. Drug house raids alone will net him hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

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Black_Kn1ght

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Edited By Black_Kn1ght

heroes for hire? more like assassins

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Apis

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Edited By Apis

There is also the chance that a villian could call for "help" just for a little "target practice" its all pretty much potluck.

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Grand Marvelous

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Edited By Grand Marvelous

Heroes for Hire is everything.

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