My fantasy series WIP, The Myth-Keepers, is a teamwork-driven story, and as I’ve worked on it, I’ve reflected on some of the best teams in fiction. Now, I certainly could talk about nonfictional teams as well, such as the Minnesota Vikings, which would be a well-deserved shoutout, but I’ll stick to fictional ones. After all, it’s these fictional teams that inspired me most and helped me pick apart just what makes a great team tick.

I’ll start with everyone’s favorite superhero team: the Avengers. Apologies to comic book fans; my experience with the Avengers comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I generally hear other MCU fans cite The Avengers movies as some of the strongest of the Marvel movies, and I have to agree. Part of what makes those films so excellent is not just the scope and the heroism on display, but also the films’ focus on the Avengers as a team. Especially in the first Avengers movie, the conflict largely comes from the competing goals and clashing personalities of a group of individuals trying to come together as a team for the very first time. This tension between individuals and the messy mistakes they make continue to drive a lot of the plot in other Avengers movies, too. What makes the movies’ interpersonal conflict so rewarding is the resolution: the team finally comes together, overcoming their differences, and bond over a shared mission to protect. The Avengers films are so excellent because of how interesting it is to watch the problems and resolution of this team dynamic.

Then, of course, as a Tolkien fan, I can’t talk about teams without talking about the Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship highlights the nobility of companionship and coming together in the face of evil. It’s similar to the Avengers, but there is a little less bickering. (Other than when Boromir tries to take the Ring, that is.) Even when the Fellowship breaks, their unity and camaraderie persists. The Two Towers and The Return of the King both have moments in which the characters worry about one another, and the reunion of the Fellowship (sans Boromir, RIP) after the Ring is destroyed is one of the most satisfying and sweet moments of the concluding chapters. The Fellowship demonstrates how friendship prevails through darkness and adversity, serving as a reflection of spiritual community in our real world. That’s what makes the Fellowship so special.

Another team that especially inspired me as a young writer comes from my favorite childhood cartoon: Codename: Kids Next Door’s Sector V.The five characters of this team majorly influenced the earliest days of The Myth-Keepers. Sector V is a diverse group, with a character for every kid watching can relate to, and each of the characters has a different skill to contribute to their shared adventures. Over the course of the series, each episode offered a range of teamwork on display: from episodes focusing on different pairs of characters, which gave a deeper view of some one-on-one friendships, to epic moments with all five working together, the relationships between the characters always felt real and dynamic. It is this range of character friendships, interesting groupings, and engaging teamwork that I also hope to display over the course of The Myth-Keepers series.

A more recent inspiration comes from Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s main party. A JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) obviously needs a strong team, and this game delivers. As I’ve written about previously, I admire how the individual stories of each character intertwine with one another and with the overarching plot. I also like the characters show how they learn from each other over the course of different quests, particularly in the first couple of chapters as they learn to overcome their deep divides and appreciate each other’s skills and giftings. The dialogue between the members is also great; banter comes through in many ways, between cut scenes, side quest commentary, and post-battle dialogue. As a bonus, the main party also has great “shipping” potential, as a few of the pairs have great chemistry with each other, ha.  

As a last, but certainly not least, team shoutout: The Stormlight Archive’s Bridge Four also stands out as an excellent team. This is especially true of the first few books, though their bonds do continue in the later installments to add emotion and conflict. Bridge Four is a fantastic example of the found family theme at play, another major part of team dynamics. I also appreciate how Bridge Four’s involvement in the plot explores how relationships change in a touching and very real way, particularly when Kaladin has to step away a bit in Rhythm of War. Bridge Four shows camaraderie at its finest, and is one of my favorite part of The Stormlight Archive.

As for my own teams in my own books, I certainly draw inspiration from all five of these examples. Codename: Kids Next Door’s Sector V inspired me to create a diverse group of differently-skilled individuals of different races in The Myth-Keepers. The Avengers and Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s main partyencourage me to think of how personalities and competing goals can drive forward conflict, which was my aim in developing the main story of The Myth-Keepers. The Fellowship and the found family elements of Bridge Four remind me of the power of coming together to face darkness, what I hope gets captured in The Myth-Keepers’ main team, too. All in all, a great team can build a great story, and that’s my aim with the team dynamic of The Myth-Keepers.

What are your favorite fictional teams?