Sometimes all you need is a concept. "Classic monsters as an elite WW2 fighting squad" is definitely a winner as far as I'm concerned.
There have been a few attempts to modernize and update the team, but I prefer them killing Nazis.
#44: JACK-OF-HEARTS
Jack Hart's father was a scientist who created Zero Fluid. Jack was accidentally exposed to Zero Fluid and given uncontrollable super powers. To help control his powers, he built a containment suit, which resembled the Jack of Hearts playing card. (Because subtlety isn't a thing in comic books.)
Jack of Harts is one of the most tragic heroes in the Marvel lexicon. Never fully getting control of his powers, he was distanced from others, and at one point had to spend 14 hours a day in a specially designed containment room, otherwise his powers would cause him to self destruct. When he was finally unable to control it, he flew off into space to self destruct without harming anyone else.
His unique look and inherently tragic nature made him stand out amongst other Marvel heroes. His sacrifice still stands in the MU.
#43 NIGHTWATCH
There's a long tradition in comics of creators "borrowing" ideas from other, popular creations from rival companies. Usually, it's some independent company pilfering an idea created by "the big 2"....but in the case of Nightwatch, Marvel SHAMELESSLY poached the design from Todd McFarlane's then extremely popular Spawn.
It's so embarrassingly transparent I'm surprised that it didn't result in a lawsuit. The character had max exposure during the Maximum Carnage storyline, and a 4 issue self-titled series. Over the years, the character has managed to develop a fan base, most likely for the wrong reasons.
#42: THE BRAIN AND MONSIEUR MALLAH
Are The Brain and Monsiuer Mallah inherently silly? Of course. Are they also awesome? Absolutely. A super intelligent French gorilla with a machine gun in a romantic relationship with a brain in a tiny robot body? If you don't dig that then maybe comic books aren't really your thing.
#41: THE GLOBAL GUARDIANS
The concept for the Global Guardians actually originated in the animated Super Friends show (when they added the multi-diverse cast such as Black Vulcan, Samurai, Pharaoh and Apache Chief.)
It's a concept that had unlimited potential, and one I feel that DC has never properly explored. The cast has some truly interesting characters, and while a few hung around and were developed in the 90s Justice League books, they have been kept out of the modern DCU. In a world where we are more and more aware of the importance of representation and diversity in comics, the Global Guardians could be used to address those issues...as well as telling great, fun comics.
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