@Super-Buster said:

Why does Marvel have to conform to DC's trinity? I think as far as Marvel's "pillars" go, they answered that question when they created the ultimate universe. They chose the four most iconic titles: Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Avengers (Ultimates). These are the four entities that hold up the Marvel Universe.

A bit late. It doesn't have to conform necessarily. The idea of the thread is if there WAS a known Big three, who do you think it would be. Hypothetical.

My trinity: Captain America, the big blue boy scout who represents the American Dream (i.e. Superman).

Wolverine, the true badass of Marvel, unkillable thanks to both powers and popularity, arguably the most important character for Marvel in terms of their film output, as X-Men started it all.

Spiderman, my favourite hero. Despite his genuine superpowers, there is no more relatable character in comics than Peter Parker (Superior Spiderman can eff right off). Clark Kent may be 'the most human of [the Justice League]' according to Batman, but he's an all-powerful alien god. Batman is a normal human, but is incredibly wealthy. Pretty much everyone has been Peter Parker, a geeky, dirt-poor college kid. No other hero from DC or Marvel comes close to him.

(I know I haven't done the teams provided, but I think it's acceptable to replace a Fantastic Four member with Spidey).

Bp would have to b in the trinity

Well I think there's two ways to make this trinity, symbolism and power.

Symbolism is the virtual "face" of the teams and the aren't always the strongest of the teams. This trinity would probably consist of Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, and Wolverine.

The other option is to go by powers and abilities, in this sense I think it would be best to pick members that compare to the DC trinity in powers and or personality. This trinity would consist of Thor, Invisible Woman, and Wolverine, Thor would represent Superman, Invisible Woman would represent Wonder Woman, and Wolverine would represent Batman.

Finally if we go by moral standards, popularity, and powers I'd say the trinities would be Thor/Superman, Ms. Marvel/Wonder Woman, Spider-Man/Batman.

So in short the best 3 Marvel Trinities would be.

1. Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, Wolverine.

2. Thor, Invisible Woman, Wolverine

3. Thor, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man

I personally think number 2 is the best of the three.

It's cap, thor, and iron man.

Agreed! With Thor, Cap and Iron Man on level of Flash and GL.

I like the Tony Stark quote, a lot. But have a different spin on it, FF represents Family, Avengers represents Justice/Team, and X-men represent a Cause (fight against racism.) X-men kind of blend the team concept with family, cause of their commonality. 3 representatives are Sue Storm, Cap Amer & Prof X (before they trashed him).

for Marvels trinity I always figured it to be Captain America, Spiderman, and Thor, but you do make a very solid point that Marvel's trinity would be their 3 main teams. So under these rules and some thinking this is my trinity:

Avengers: Captain America - He was part of the Avengers since the begining he represents hope and freedom and has lead his team through he impossible and it was solidified during Infinity.

FF: Reed Richards - The smartest mind on the planet. The man is an innovator and works hard to protect his family and the world, including stopping Galactus.

X-Men: Wolverine - bear with me here, I know Cyclops is the leader of half the team and until recently the leader of them all but Wolverine is the face if the X-men he is the person who get it done no matter how dirty the job is and right now he is tying to accomplish Xavier's dream of teaching young mutants to use their power to help build a peaceful future between mutants and humans.

Actually Captain America was not part of the avengers since the beginning, he didn't join till the second issue. The founders were Hulk, Thor, Iron-Man, Ant-Man, and Wasp. With that said if anyone should represent the Avengers it should be Iron-Man (not likely because of civil war) or Thor (makes sense since the avengers were formed to combat Loki in the first place). Thor has been on the team just as much as the other main members, plus he can equal superman in power (not counting superman prime).

As for the Fantastic Four, Reed is the leader and could represent it I suppose, but the Invisible Woman is the heart of the fantastic four, friends with Ben, sister of Johnny, and wife of Reed. Without Sue the Fantastic Four would probably fall apart, so I could see her representing the team. She parallels Wonder Woman better than the others being one of the more powerful female superheroes.

Lastly for the X-Men I have to agree with Wolverine, he is the face of the X-Men and he's the only one that has a good ongoing solo series. He's also the only member to have a solo movie, which is awesome. He matches Batman in attitude, both being dark and edgy, although unlike batman he'll kill when he has to.

@wiseman108: Cap didn't join until the 4th issue of The Avengers.

I see, my point is still valid though, he wasn't a founding member. :P

Weirdly, Marvel have adapted much more then DC so don't really have any sort of trinity, traditionally, it was captain America, Namor the sub mariner, the human torch... Now, I guess Captain America has to stay, Black Widow as the longest running and best selling female should be in there, as should the Hulk for having such a successfull run for both comics and TV in America and in England...

So

Captain America (from 1941 vs Batman 1939)

Black Widow (from 1964 vs Wonder Woman 1941)

The Hulk (From 1962 Vs Superman 1938)

I exclude teams, it does not make sense to include them as every team has their own avenger, defender and explorers. It's the Marvel formula from right back with the three Xs, always a team with a detective (original Batman and Wonder Woman) an inventor (Original Batman) and a strong man (original superman and Wonderwoman) or some combination of the three, be it xmen, avengers or fantastic four.

I am gonna need time to gather some data before i decide.

Was just thinking, even the warriors three fit the mold,

Hogun - Strength (Superman)

Volstagg - Mind (Batman)

Fandral - Skill (Wonder Woman)

I guess it's just the old trope a mWarrior', a 'Mage' and a 'Thief'...

Interesting

This is exactly the lineup I was thinking of when I read the OP. They don't have the same intergalactic power scale of the DC trinity (exception to the Hulk and Batman, but you get the drift) but they are similar in how iconic they are for the universe they represent. Marvel doesn't really have proper analogues to them in any other way that would seem to count (power, position, team-affiliations...).

My $0.02.

spiderman

wolverine

hulk

(i hate captain america)

but to win over dc trinity it would have to be

silver surfer

Phoenix

spiderman

Anyone said Hyperion = Superman, Nighthawk = Batman, Power Princess = Wonder Woman? From the Squadron Supreme hehe

Marvel has two sets of "Trinities"

The three biggest heroes IN the Marvel universe is Captain America, Iron Man and Thor.

The three most popular in OUR universe is Wolverine, Hulk and Spider-Man

Marvel's trinity would have to be (imho)

Spider-man

Wolverine

Hulk

Captain America, Iron Man and Thor would make a decent alternate for any of them.

If a Woman must be in the Trinity to balance Wonder Woman... it can only be either Invisible Woman or Storm. Black Widow isn't important enough to either the public or the comics, and Ms. Marvel isn't important at all in either (as much as marvel tries to make her). She should replace Hulk or Wolverine.

Spider-Man is the only one guaranteed a position in Marvel's Trinity.

I do like the concept of the Trinity reflecting the Big Three Teams of the Marvelverse. Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four. Its a good mix of causes, ideals, family, drama, love, hate, and of course power.

@voorhees100 said:

Marvel has two sets of "Trinities"

The three biggest heroes IN the Marvel universe is Captain America, Iron Man and Thor.

The three most popular in OUR universe is Wolverine, Hulk and Spider-Man

Exactly.

Marvel doesn't have a trinity. This thread only proves that.

But I do feel they have certain insecurities in this department as it's amusing how at times you can feel they push so desperately Thor, CA and IM into that spot, especially with the most recent events haha

Just no.

Ironman, Captain America & Thor it's more clear than ever now.