Five-Man Band/Literature
The Five-Man Band is a group of characters whose members fall into archetypes which all complement one another. They are a very specific team with skills that contribute to the group in a unique way. Here are some places where the trope occurs in literature:
| The Hero | John |
| The Lancer | Frank |
| The Big Guy | Mr. Liu |
| The Smart Guy | Mr. Graves |
| The Chick | Pierce |
| Tagalong Kid | Henry |
| Team Pet | Hope, Typhon |
| Sixth Ranger | Pierce, Alex, and Kayla |
A Song of Ice and Fire - Bran's gang:
| The Hero | Bran Stark |
| The Lancer=/=The Chick | Meera Reed |
| The Big Guy | Hodor |
| The Smart Guy | Jojen Reed |
| Team Pet | Summer |
| Sixth Ranger | Coldhands |
A Song of Ice and Fire - Jon Snow's gang.
| The Hero | Jon Snow |
| The Lancer | Samwell Tarly |
| The Big Guy | Grenn |
| The Smart Guy | Pypar, Samwell |
| The Chick | Dareon |
| Team Pet | Ghost |
A Song of Ice and Fire - The Stark children, although they get separated very quickly.
| The Hero | Robb Stark |
| The Lancer | Jon Snow |
| The Big Guy | Arya--a subversion, since she's actually quite small, but she's the brawler of the group. |
| The Smart Guy | Brandon Stark |
| The Chick | Sansa Stark |
| Tagalong Kid | Rickon Stark |
Against a Dark Background (by Iain M. Banks)
| The Hero | Sharrow |
| The Lancer | Cernuij |
| The Big Guy | Dloan |
| The Smart Guy | Miz |
| The Chick | Zefla |
The Age of Misrule (has two):
| The Hero | Jack Churchill |
| The Lancer | Laura DuSantiago |
| The Big Guy | Ryan Veitch |
| The Smart Guy | Shavi |
| The Chick | Ruth Gallagher
And in the second trilogy: |
| The Hero | Mallory |
| The Lancer | Caitlin Shepherd |
| The Big Guy | Hunter |
| The Smart Guy | Hal |
| The Chick | Sophie Tallent |
All-Of-A-Kind Family (is a subversion with it's five-girl band):
| The Hero | Ella |
| The Lancer | Henny suits this to a T |
| The Big Guy | Charlotte (specifically her imagination) |
| The Smart Guy | Sarah |
| The Chick | Gertie |
All the King's Men - Willie Talos' campaign team:
| The Hero | The Boss |
| The Lancer | Sadie Burke |
| The Big Guy | Tiny Duffy |
| The Smart Guy | Jack Burden and/or Sadie |
| The Chick | Lucy Talos |
Fred Vargas' Adamsberg series
| The Hero | Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg |
| The Lancer | Adrien Danglard (also The Smart Guy) |
| The Big Guy | Violette Retancourt (also a Team Mom of sorts) |
| The Smart Guy | Louis Veyrenc (he started as a Sixth Ranger and The Rival to Adamsberg in This Night's Foul Work but became this as of An Uncertain Place) |
| Team Pet | La Boule |
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
| The Hero / The Big Guy | Hamnpork (or Darktan, sometimes) |
| The Lancer | Darktan |
| The Smart Guy | Dangerous Beans |
| The Chick | Peaches |
| The Sixth Ranger / Token Evil Teammate | Maurice |
| Team Pet | 'The Stupid-Looking Kid' |
| The Hero | Jake |
| The Lancer(s) | Marco ("go-to" guy, Jake's best friend who cares about staying safe and sane), |
| The Big Guy | Rachel (a rare case where this role is occupied by a female and the team isn't an Amazon Brigade) |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Tobias ("behind the scenes scout"), |
| The Chick(s) | Cassie (moral center), |
| Sixth Ranger | Ax |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | David |
| The Hero | Kristy Thomas (founder and president of the BSC) |
| The Lancer | Claudia Kishi (vice-president of the BSC, her room is club headquarters) |
| The Big Guy | Dawn Schafer (due to her outgoing and passionate nature) |
| The Smart Guy | Stacey McGill (ultra-sophisticated math whiz) |
| The Chick | Mary Anne Spier (most emotional and sensitive member) |
Bad News Ballet
| The Hero | McGee |
| The Lancer | Gwen |
| The Big Guy | Rocky |
| The Smart Guy | Zan |
| The Chick | Mary Bubnik |
| The Hero | Shuya Nanahara |
| The Lancer | Shogo Kawada |
| The Big Guy | Hiroki Sugimura |
| The Smart Guy | Shinji Mimura |
| The Chick | Noriko Nakagawa |
| Sacrificial Lamb | Yoshitoki Kuninobu |
| Sixth Ranger | Yutaka Seto |
The Belgariad - the core crew
| The Hero | (Bel)Garion |
| The Lancer | Durnik |
| The Big Guy | See The Big Guy Band below |
| The Smart Guy | Silk |
| The Chick | Ce'Nedra |
| The Mentor(s) | Belgarath and Polgara |
The Belgariad - The Big Guy band
| The Hero | Barak |
| The Lancer | Hettar |
| The Big Guy | Mandorallen |
| The Smart Guy | Relg |
| The Chick | Lelldorin |
The Malloreon - the core crew
| The Hero | Belgarion |
| The Lancer | Durnik |
| The Big Guy | Toth |
| The Smart Guy | Silk/Liselle/Sadi |
| The Chick | Ce'Nedra and Eriond |
| The Mentor(s) | Belgarath and Polgara |
| The Sixth Ranger | 'Zakath |
Black Dogs (before Sinai and Jacyl take off):
| The Hero | Lyra |
| The Lancer | Sadrao |
| The Big Guy | Sinai |
| The Smart Guy | Trent |
| The Chick | Jacyl |
Black Dogs (When Lyra and Sadrao are joined by Spite and Gunnar):
| The Hero | Lyra |
| The Lancer | Sadrao |
| The Big Guy | Gunnar |
| The Smart Guy | Trent |
| The Chick | Spite |
* Note: Gunnar is probably as qualified, if not moreso to be The Chick as Spite, despite him being male and physically the largest member of the band. He the extremely placid voice of reason throughout the second half of the series, and although spite is tiny and female, she's the most violent and aggressive character in the entire book. She single-handedly takes out a creature large enough to swallow whole elephants. These two are a complete inversion of whole Five-Man Band whereas Sinai and Jacyl play it completely straight.
| The Hero | Diran |
| The Lancer | Ghaji (sometimes The Big Guy), Asenka (when she shows up) |
| The Big Guy | Solus (after he shows up) |
| The Smart Guy | Tresslar |
| The Chick | Yvka, Makala (when she shows up), Asenka (when she shows up) |
| Damsel in Distress | Makala (again) |
| Tagalong Kid | Whatever the halfling's name was |
| Big Good/The Big Guy | Aslan |
| The Hero | Peter Pevensie |
| The Lancer (and the Anti-Hero) | Edmund Pevensie |
| The Smart Guy | Susan Pevensie |
| The Chick | Lucy Pevensie |
or
| The Hero | Lucy Pevensie |
| The Lancer (and the Anti-Hero) | Edmund Pevensie |
| The Smart Guy | Susan Pevensie |
| The Big Guy | Peter Pevensie |
| The Heart | Aslan / Lucy Pevensie |
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Book One: Lord Foul's Bane
| The Hero | Atiaran, but later Prothall |
| The Lancer | Thomas Covenant (despite being the main character) |
| The Big Guy | Saltheart Foamfollower, with Bannor (coming in a close second) |
| The Smart Guy | Lord Mhoram |
| The Chick | Lena (at first), but later Llaura and then finally Lithe (who is also the Sixth Ranger) |
| Tagalong Kid | Pietten |
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Book Two: The Illearth War
| The Hero | Troy, and later Elena |
| The Lancer | Thomas Covenant, and later Mhoram |
| The Big Guy | Bannor, and briefly Trell |
| The Smart Guy | Mhoram, and later Amok |
| The Chick | Elena |
| The Hero | Tavi |
| The Lancer | Kitai (although in earlier appearances sways more towards The Big Guy) |
| The Big Guy | Maximus (with some elements of The Lancer -- generally switches out with Kitai, depending on who's in the scene) |
| The Smart Guy | Ehren or Magnus |
| The Chick | Crassus (what with being the Only Sane Man) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Valiar Marcus |
Cryptonomicon (The present storyline)
| The Hero | Randall Lawrence Waterhouse |
| The Lancer | America "Amy" Shaftoe (Randy's Action Girl Love Interest and foil) |
| The Big Guy | Douglas MacAurthur Shaftoe (Amy's Father, an ex-Navy seal that Randy hires to salvage an old submarine, and later to provide security for the Crypt) |
| The Smart Guy / The Chick | Avi (Technically the leader, but the focus is more on Randy. Acts both as mastermind to the data haven project, and as the group's moral center) |
| The Mentor | Enoch Root (Cool Old Guy whom Randy has compared to Gandalf at least once) |
| The Hero | Mordechai |
| The Lancer | Keira and Drake |
| The Smart Guy | Vex |
| The Big Guy | Vos |
| The Chick | Elyra |
| The Mentor | Carolus |
The ka-tet of The Dark Tower series
| The Hero / The Big Guy | Roland Deschain |
| The Lancer | Eddie Dean |
| The Smart Guy | Jake Chambers |
| The Chick | Susannah Dean |
| Sixth Ranger | Father Callahan |
| Team Pet | Oy |
The Dilbert Principle - In the chapter about meetings, the author identifies meetings as a performance art with these character types:
| The Hero | Master Of The Obvious |
| The Lancer | Well-intentioned Sadist |
| The Smart Guy | Rambling Man |
| The Big Guy | Whining Martyr |
| The Chick | Sleeper |
Discworld - Ankh-Morpork Watch:
| The Hero | Carrot |
| The Lancer | Vimes, Angua |
| The Big Guy | Detritus, Dorfl |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Cheri, Igor |
| The Chick(s) | Colon |
| Team Pet | Nobby |
* Varies A Lot: Despite the later novels being considerably more Vimes-centered than Carrot-centered, Vimes remains a classic Lancer in terms of character archetype.
Discworld - Unseen University:
| The Hero | Archchancellor Ridcully |
| The Lancer(s) | The Dean, in later books Ponder Stibbons |
| The Big Guy | The Librarian |
| The Smart Guy | Ponder Stibbons |
| The Chick | The Bursar |
| The Hero | Jonathan Harker |
| The Lancer | Arthur Holmwood/Lord Godalming |
| The Big Guy | Quincey Morris |
| The Smart Guy | John Seward |
| The Chick | Mina Murray/Harker |
| The Mentor | Abraham Van Helsing |
Dragaera - The Khaavren trilogy
| The Hero | Khaavren |
| The Lancer | Aerich |
| The Big Guy | Tazendra |
| The Smart Guy | Pel |
| The Chick | Micah (?) |
Dragonlance - The Chronicles trilogy
| The Hero | Tanis Half-Elven |
| The Lancer | Sturm Brightblade |
| The Big Guy | Caramon Majere |
| The Smart Guy | Raistlin Majere |
| The Chick | Goldmoon, later Laurana |
| Sixth Ranger | Riverwind |
| Team Dad | Flint Fireforge |
| Tagalong Kid | Tasslehoff Burrfoot |
Dragonlance - War of the Twins
| The Hero | Caramon Majere |
| The Lancer | Tasslehoff Burrfoot |
| The Smart Guy | Raistlin Majere |
| The Chick | Crysania of Tarinius |
| The Hero | Singe |
| The Lancer | Geth |
| The Big Guy | Ashi, Geth |
| The Smart Guy | Singe, Dandra |
| The Chick | Dandra |
| The Hero | Daine |
| The Lancer | Lei |
| The Big Guy | Pierce |
| The Smart Guy | The Halfling (before he dies) |
| The Chick | Xu'sasar |
| The Hero | Harry Dresden |
| The Lancer | Lieutenant Murphy |
| The Big Guy | Michael Carpenter (Originally), Sanya (in the more recent books) |
| The Smart Guy | Bob, Butters |
| The Chick | Molly Carpenter |
| Sixth Ranger | Thomas Raith |
| Team Pet | Mouse (though he can also sub for a Big Guy in a pinch), Mister |
| The Hero | Walker Boh |
| The Lancer | Morgan Leah (although he thinks he's the hero) |
| The Big Guy | Pe Ell (although he thinks he's the lancer) |
| The Smart Guy | Horner Dees |
| The Chick | Quickening |
Ender's Game - Ender's jeesh
| The Hero | Ender |
| The Lancer | Alai |
| The Big Guy | Dink (especially in ego) |
| The Smart Guy | Bean |
| The Chick | Petra |
| The Hero | David Levin |
| Plucky Comic Relief | Christopher Hitchcock |
| The Big Guy | Thorolf |
| The Smart Guy | Jalil Sherman |
| The Chick | April O'Brien |
| Sixth Ranger Traitor | Senna Wales |
Extraordinary* - Jen and her friends:
| The Hero | Jen |
| The Lancer / The Smart Guy | Mutual |
| The Big Guy | Jason |
| The Chick | Amber |
| Sixth Ranger | Cathy, by the end |
| The Hero | Julian (As the Eldest, he doubles up as Team Dad) |
| The Smart Guy | Dick (also The Heart) |
| The Lancer | George |
| The Chick | Anne (Team Mom, Silk Hiding Steel, and occasionally Beware the Nice Ones) |
| The Big Guy | Timmy the Dog |
The Farseer Trilogy (specifically the second half of Assassin's Quest)
| The Hero | Fitz Chivalry Farseer |
| The Lancer | The Fool or Kettricken |
| The Big Guy | Again, the Fool or Kettricken |
| The Smart Guy | Kettle |
| The Chick | Starling |
| Team Pet | Nighteyes |
The Forgotten Realms - The Companions of Mithral Hall
| The Hero | Drizzt Do'Urden |
| The Lancer | Bruenor Battlehammer |
| The Big Guy | Wulfgar |
| The Smart Guy | Regis |
| The Chick | Catti-Brie |
The Forgotten Realms - Azure Bonds
| The Hero | Alias (Alias has the personality of The Lancer, but plays the role of The Hero in the plot.) |
| The Lancer | Dragonbait (Dragonbait, by contrast, has the personality of The Hero, but plays the part of The Lancer.) |
| The Big Guy | Mistinarperadnacles Hai Draco (Very big, since she's a great wyrm red dragon.) |
| The Smart Guy | Akabar bel Akash |
| The Dark Chick | Olive Ruskettle (She does a Heel Face Turn by the end.) |
| The Hero | Garzooka |
| The Lancer | Arbnermal |
| The Big Guy | Odious |
| The Smart Guy | Compooky |
| Action Girl | Starlena |
Good Omens - The Them
| The Hero | Adam Young |
| The Lancer | Pepper (Not The Chick.) |
| The Big Guy | Brian |
| The Smart Guy | Wensleydale |
| Team Pet | Dog |
* Note: If anyone is to be shoehorned into being The Chick, it's either Anathema or possibly Pepper's younger sister. Both are enough of a stretch that it's probably best just to consider the role to be left vacant.
Guild Wars 2 Edge of Destiny - Destiny's Edge
| The Hero | Logan Thackeray/Eir Stegalkin |
| The Lancer | Rytlock Brimstone (to Logan)/Logan (to Eir) |
| The Big Guy | Eir/Rytlock |
| The Smart Guy | Both Zojja and Snaff |
| The Chick | Caithe |
| Team Pets | Garm, the Golems (Big Snaff, Big Zojja, Sandy) |
Harry Potter - The Marauders
| The Hero | James Potter |
| The Lancer | Sirius Black |
| The Big Guy | Peter Pettigrew (He's the chubby one) |
| The Smart Guy | Remus Lupin |
| The Chick | Lily Evans (later she befriends the Marauders, after she dates James Potter) |
Harry Potter (specifically on the rescue mission at the Ministry of Magic)
| The Hero | Harry Potter |
| The Lancer | Ron Weasley |
| The Smart Guy | Hermione Granger |
| The Big Guy | Neville Longbottom |
| The Chick | Ginny Weasley |
| Sixth Ranger | Luna Lovegood |
Haruhi Suzumiya - The SOS Brigade
| The Hero | Haruhi Suzumiya |
| The Lancer | Kyon |
| The Big Guy | Yuki Nagato (sometimes The Smart Guy) |
| The Smart Guy | Itsuki Koizumi |
| The Chick | Mikuru Asahina |
| Sixth Ranger | Tsuruya |
| Team Pet | Shamisen |
| The Hero | Sometimes Seren, sometimes Tristam |
| The Lancer | Zed Arthen |
| The Big Guy | Onyx |
| The Smart Guy | Dalan |
| The Chick | Erania |
| The Captain | That one gnome who runs the airship |
| Tagalong Kid | The psycho halfling whose name starts with a 'g' |
| Cool Ship | Mourning Dawn |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
| The Hero | Arthur |
| The Lancer | Ford |
| The Big Guy | Zaphod |
| The Smart Guy | Marvin |
| The Chick | Trillian |
Things were changed a bit in Life, the Universe, and Everything:
| The Hero | Slartibartfast |
| The Lancer | Ford |
| The Big Guy | Zaphod |
| The Smart Guy | Trillian |
| The Chick | Arthur |
| Team Pet | Marvin |
| The Hero | Konstam |
| The Lancer | Jamie (though he's the narrator |
| The Big Guy | Joris |
| The Smart Guy | Adam (who'#s also Genre Savvy) |
| The Chick | Vanessa
Plus Helen, who as Jamie notes, resists categorisation. |
How To Get Suspended and Influence People
| The Hero | Leon |
| The Lancer | Anna |
| The Big Guy | Dustin |
| The Smart Guy | Brian |
| The Chick | Edie |
| The Sixth Ranger | Jenny |
The Hunger Games (during the latter half of the second book)
| The Hero | Katniss |
| The Lancer | Finnick |
| The Big Guy | Johanna |
| The Smart Guy | Beetee |
| The Chick | Peeta |
| The Hero | The Consul |
| The Lancer | Brawne Lamia (The Detective) |
| The Big Guy | Fedmahn Kassad (The Soldier) |
| The Smart Guy | Sol Weintraub (The Scholar) |
| The Chick | Lenar Hoyt (The Priest) |
| Sixth Ranger(s) | Martin Silenus (The Poet), Het Masteen (The Templar) |
| Team Pet | Rachel Weintraub |
Illuminatus! -- The Legion of Dynamic Discord
| The Hero | Hagbard Celine |
| The Lancer(s) | Mavis, Stella |
| The Big Guy | Howard |
| The Smart Guy | FUCKUP |
| The Chick | Miss Portinari |
| Sixth Ranger | Joe Malik |
| Tagalong Kid | George Dorn |
Illuminatus! -- Joe Malik & Co.
| The Hero | Joseph Malik |
| The Lancer | Simon Moon |
| The Big Guy | John Dillanger |
| The Smart Guy | Hagbard Celine |
| The Chick | Miss Mao |
| Tagalong Kid | George Dorn |
| The Mentor | Malaclypse the Elder |
In Death -- Eve Dalla's True Companions.
| The Hero | Eve Dallas |
| The Lancer | Roarke |
| The Big Guy | David Baxter |
| The Smart Guy | Ian McNab, though Roarke and Feeney are no slouches themselves in that area |
| The Chick | Delia Peabody |
| Team Mom | Doctor Charlotte Mira |
| Team Dad | Ryan Feeney |
| The Mentor | Ryan Feeney |
| Tagalong Kid | Jamie Lingstrom |
| Team Pet | Galahad, Eve's cat |
IT -- The Losers Club.
| The Hero | Bill Denbrough |
| The Lancer | Richie Tozier |
| The Big Guy | Ben Hanscom |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Stan Uris AND Ben Hanscom |
| The Chick | Beverly Marsh |
| The Sixth Ranger | Mike Hanlon |
| Tagalong Kid | Eddie Kaspbrak |
John Dies at the End -- The Las Vegas Arc
| The Hero | Dave Wong |
| The Lancer | John "Cheese" |
| The Big Guy | Big Jim Sullivan |
| The Smart Guy | Fred Chan |
| The Chick | Jennifer Lopez |
| The Hero | Sun Wukong |
| The Lancer | Zhu Bajie |
| The Chick | Xuanzang |
| The Smart Guy | Yulong |
| The Big Guy | Sha Wujing |
* Note: It could be argued that Journey to the West effectively created this trope (literally; written in 1590, this is one of the earliest and best examples of a Five-Man Band), though this depends on the publication date of Le Morte Darthur (possibly 1485). However, none of the characters are any one archetype, either (except the horse, which subsequent authors have all but forgotten); in a strange twist of the trope, for example, the monk Xuangzang, while still being The Hero by default, also falls under the trope of The Chick, because he's, well, the downright perfect example of it - down to his propensity to be captured or put into danger more often than Lois Lane and Mary-Jane Watson combined (seriously; what self-respecting hero needs to be saved from certain death by The Lancer in over 60 chapters of a 100 chapter epic!?)
| The Hero | Alan Grant |
| The Lancer | Donald Gennaro (In the novel only; the film completely changes his characterization) |
| The Big Guy | Robert Muldoon |
| The Smart Guy | Ian Malcolm |
| The Chick | Ellie Sattler |
| Sixth Ranger | Gerry Harding |
| Tagalong Kids | Tim and Alexis Murphy |
| The Hero | Lanen Kaelar, sometimes Varien |
| The Lancer | Jamie |
| The Big Guy | Varien Kantriakhor |
| The Smart Guy | Rella |
| The Chick | Shared by Lanen and Varien |
Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro Series
| The Hero | Patrick Kenzie |
| The Lancer/The Chick | Angie Gennaro |
| The Big Guy | Bubba Rugowski |
| The Smart Guys | Cheswick Hartman, Richie Colgan |
| Those Two Guys | Officers Devin Amronklin and Oscar Lee |
The Arthurian legends (Le Morte Darthur) have two:
The main group:
| The Hero | Arthur |
| The Lancer | Lancelot |
| The Smart Guy | Merlin |
| The Big Guy | Gawain (and very occasionally Kay) |
| The Chick | Guinevere |
The Orkney brothers are a five-man band unto themselves, and their roles tend to switch:
| The Hero | Gawain |
| The Lancer | Mordred |
| The Smart Guy | Gaheris (in some versions) |
| The Big Guy | Agrivain |
| The Chick | Gareth (even when he's playing The Hero) |
| The Hero | Finn |
| The Lancer | Maybeck |
| The Smart Guy | Philiby |
| The Chick | Willia |
| The Big Guy | Charlene (said to be very athletic, so...) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Amanda |
The Last Days
| The Hero | Moz (Lead Singer Minerva) |
| The Lancer | Zahler (Lead guitar Moz) |
| The Big Guy | Alana Ray Jones (Also the Drummer) |
| The Smart Guy | Pearl (Also the Keyboarder) |
| The Chick | Minerva |
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
| The Hero | Peter Pevensie |
| The Lancer | Edmund Pevensie |
| The Smart Guy | Lucy Pevensie |
| The Big Guy | Aslan (when he's not busy playing Crystal Dragon Jesus) |
| The Chick | Susan Pevensie (in the films, she becomes an Action Girl as well) |
| The Hero | Althea |
| The Lancer | Brashen |
| The Smart Guy | Amber, Malta (post-Character Development) |
| The Big Guy | Jek |
| The Chick | Malta, Ophelia |
| The Sixth Ranger | Reyn |
| Cool Ship | Paragon, Vivacia, and the rest of the liveships |
| The Hero | Alaska Young |
| The Lancer | Miles "Pudge" Halter (subversion, since he's the main character) |
| The Big Guy | Chip "The Colonel" Martin |
| The Smart Guy | Takumi Hikohito |
| The Chick | Lara Buterskaya |
| The Hero | Challenger |
| The Lancer | Roxton |
| The Big Guy | Zambo |
| The Smart Guy | Summerlee |
| The Chick | Malone |
The Lost World (Jurassic Park)
| The Hero / The Smart Guy | Ian Malcolm |
| The Lancer | Richard Levine |
| The Big Guy | Doc Thorne (but doubles as smart.) |
| The Chick | Sarah Harding |
| Sixth Ranger | Eddie Carr |
| Tagalong Kids | Kelly and Arby |
Magic: The Gathering: Weatherlight story arc
| The Hero | Gerrard |
| The Lancer | Sisay |
| The Big Guy | Tahngarth |
| The Smart Guy | Hanna |
| The Chick | Orim |
| Sixth Ranger | Ertai |
Magic Kingdom of Landover, Ben's Court
| The Hero | Ben Holiday |
| The Lancer | Questor Thews |
| The Big Guy | Bunion |
| The Smart Guy | Abernathy |
| The Chick | Willow |
| The Hero | Max |
| The Lancer | Fang (also The Big Guy) |
| The Smart Guy(s) | Iggy, Gazzy |
| The Chick(s) | Nudge, Angel |
| Team Pet | Total |
| The Hero | Andrey ("Aeneas") Viter |
| The Lancer | Igor ("Tsume") Iskrennikov |
| The Big Guy | Konstantin ("Ken") Neverov |
| The Smart Guy | Anton ("Raccoon") Kuzmitchov |
| The Chick | May Day |
Midnighters
| The Hero | Rex Greene |
| The Lancer(s) | Melissa the Mindcaster, Johnathan Martinez (sometimes The Big Guy) |
| The Smart Guy | Desdemona ("Dess") the Polymoth |
| The Chick | Jessica Day the Flame Bringer |
| The Hero | Moomintroll |
| The Lancer | Sniff (usually), Snufkin (sometimes), Little My (in the cartoons) |
| The Smart Guy(s) | The Hemulens, Snork |
| The Big Guy | Moominpappa |
| The Chick(s) | Moominmamma, Snork Maiden |
| Tagalong Kid | Little My (in the books) |
| The Hero | Cyrus Smith |
| The Lancer | Pencroff |
| The Big Guy | Neb |
| The Smart Guy | Gideon Spilett |
| The Chick | Herbert Brown (really an embryonic Smart Guy) |
| Sixth Ranger | Ayrton |
| Team Pet | Top |
N.E.R.D.S - First Book
| The Hero / Token Evil Teammate | Jackson Jones / Braceface |
| The Lancer | Heathcliff Hodgins / Chompers Turns out to have masterminded the entire plot at the end |
| The Big Guy | Julio Escala / Flinch |
| The Smart Guy | Duncan Dewey / Gluestick |
| The Chick | Ruby Peet / Pufferfish |
| Sixth Ranger | Matilda Choi / Wheezer |
N.E.R.D.S - Second Book
| The Hero | Duncan Dewey / Gluestick |
| The Lancer | Julio Escala / Flinch |
| The Big Guy | Jackson Jones / Braceface |
| The Smart Guy | Ruby Peet / Pufferfish |
| The Chick | Matilda Choi / Wheezer |
N.E.R.D.S - Third Book
| The Hero | Matilda Choi / Wheezer |
| The Lancer | Jackson Jones / Braceface |
| The Big Guy | Julio Escala / Flinch |
| The Smart Guy | Duncan Dewey / Gluestick |
| The Chick | Ruby Peet / Pufferfish |
| The Hero | Door |
| The Lancer / The Smart Guy | The Marquise de Carabas |
| The Big Guy | Hunter |
| The Chick | Richard Mayhew (though he's the viewpoint character) |
The New Heroes (Quantum Prophecy to some)
| The Hero | Colin |
| The Lancer | Danny |
| The Smart Guy | Razor (pretends to be The Big Guy) |
| The Big Guy | Renata |
| The Chick(s) | Mina, Butler |
| The Hero | Darry |
| The Lancer(s) | Dallas and Soda (sometimes The Chick) |
| The Big Guy | Two-Bit |
| The Smart Guy | Steve |
| The Chick | Johnny |
| Tagalong Kid | Ponyboy |
| The Hero | Westley |
| The Lancer | Inigo |
| The Big Guy | Fezzik |
| The Chick | Buttercup |
* Note: Vizzini would have been The Smart Guy if he had made the Heel Face Turn along with Fezzik and Inigo. He lost any possibility of being The Smart Guy when he said, "I accept." Brains are not worth dying over.
The Railway Series (Thomas the Tank Engine)
Thomas's Branch Line (Unfortunatley, this line up was never used in the TV series.)
| The Hero | Thomas |
| The Lancer | Percy |
| The Smart Guy | Toby |
| The Big Guy | Mavis (Diesel Shunter can move heavier loads.) |
| The Chick | Daisy |
Percy Jackson and The Olympians – Book 2
| The Hero | Percy Jackson |
| The Big Guy | Tyson |
| The Smart Guy | Annabeth Chase |
| The Chick | Grover Underwood |
| The Sixth Ranger | Clarisse La Rue |
Percy Jackson and The Olympians – Book 3 (Very difficult to classify)
| The Hero | Percy Jackson |
| The Lancer | Thalia Grace |
| The Big Guy | Zoé Nightshade |
| The Smart Guy | Grover Underwood |
| The Chick(s) | Annabeth Chase, Bianca di Angelo |
| Team Pet | Bessie (a.k.a Ophiotaurus) |
Percy Jackson and The Olympians – Book 4
| The Hero | Percy Jackson |
| The Lancer | Annabeth Chase (also The Smart Guy) |
| The Big Guy | Tyson |
| The (other) Smart Guy | Rachel Elizabeth Dare |
| The Chick | Grover Underwood |
| The Sixth Ranger(s) | Nico di Angelo, Rachel Elizabeth Dare |
For the entire Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series, it goes like this
| The Hero | Percy Jackson |
| The Lancer | Thalia Grace |
| The Big Guy | Tyson |
| The Smart Guy | Annabeth Chase |
| The Chick | Grover Underwood |
| Sixth Ranger | Nico di Angelo |
| Tagalong Kid | Rachel Elizabeth Dare |
| The Mentor | Chiron |
| Team Pet | Mrs. O'Leary |
| The Hero | Perry Rhodan |
| The Lancer | Atlan (Mascaren "Arkonide" da Gonozal) |
| The Big Guy | Reginald Bull |
| The Smart Guy | Homer G. Adams |
| The Heart | Pucky (Cute Alien, also Superpower Lottery) |
| The Sixth Rangers | Dao-Lin H'ay, Icho Tolot (Aliens) |
| The Mentor | IT (Sufficiently Advanced Alien, Trickster Mentor) |
| Tagalong Kid | Julien Tifflor |
| The Hero | Ned Spinner/Remote Man |
| The Lancer | Rocky |
| The Big Guy | Kate Spokes/Kuza |
| The Smart Guy | Cleverton Lee/Ja |
| The Chick | Yvette Claverloux/Salamandre |
| The Hero | Robin Hood |
| The Lancer | Little John |
| The Big Guy | Friar Tuck |
| The Smart Guy | Alan a Dale |
| The Chick | Maid Marian |
Rod Allbright Alien Adventures - The crew of the Ferkel:
| The Hero | Grakker |
| The Lancer | Madame Pong or Snout, depending on the situation |
| The Big Guy | Tar Gibbons |
| The Smart Guy | Phil |
| The Chick | Usually Pong or Snout; occasionally Rod. |
| Sixth Ranger | Rod evolves into a rather effective one via Character Development |
| Tagalong Kid | Was Rod, became Elspeth |
| Team Pet | Seymour and Edgar (call Seymour that at your own risk) |
Safehold initially has the Charisian upper leadership. Starting from the second book, as characters learn the truth behind Safehold's history, an "inner circle" begins to form.
| The Hero | King Haarahld, later Cayleb |
| The Lancer | Earl Grey Harbor, later Sharleyan |
| The Smart Guy | Baron Wave Thunder, later Nahrmahn |
| The Big Guy | Earl Lock Island, later Merlin |
| The Chick | Maikel Staynair |
| The Sixth Ranger | Merlin Athrawes, later Ohlyvya Baytz |
| The Hero | Himei |
| The Lancer | Aki |
| The Smart Guy | Shin |
| The Big Guy | Seiki |
| Non-Action Guy instead of The Chick | Kotashi |
| Team Pet | Dusty |
The Seventh Tower (Tal and Milla's group when storming the Violet tower in the last book.)
| The Hero | Tal |
| The Lancer | Milla |
| The Big Guy | Jarek, later Crow |
| The Smart Guy | Ebbitt |
| The Chick | Malen |
Sisterhood series by Fern Michaels: The Big Five or The Five Musketeers (as called in the book Deja Vu)
| The Hero | Jack Emery |
| The Lancer | Harry Wong and Bert Navarro |
| The Big Guy | Harry Wong |
| The Smart Guy | Ted Robinson |
| The Chick | Joe Espinosa |
Someone Elses War: The core group of children trying to rescue their fellow Child Soldiers from the LRA.
| The Hero | Matteo |
| The Lancer | Asher |
| The Big Guy | Jeremiah |
| The Smart Guy | Ruth |
| The Chick | Otto |
| Sacrificial Lamb | Auley |
| Sixth Ranger | Eliza |
| The Hero | The father |
| The Lancer | Jack |
| The Big Guy | Fritz |
| The Smart Guy | Ernest |
| The Chick | Elizabeth |
| Tagalong Kid | Franz |
| Sixth Ranger | Jenny |
| Team Pet | Knips |
| The Hero | Richard |
| The Lancer | Kahlan |
| The Big Guy | Cara or Chase |
| Black Magician Girl | Nicci |
| The Mentor | Zedd |
| The Smart Guy | Nicci and Zedd (both step into this role whenever needed) |
Fred Vargas' Three Evangelist series
| The Hero | Marc Vandoosler |
| The Lancer | Armand Vandoosler |
| The Big Guy | Mathias Delamarre (he's by no means dumb, but he often does physical work and is kind of a Gentle Giant) |
| The Smart Guy | Lucien Devernois |
| Sixth Ranger | Louis Kehlweiler |
| Team Pet | Bufo |
The Three Musketeers (an early appearance of the team)
| The Hero | d'Artagnan (a.k.a D'Artagnan) |
| The Lancer | Athos (Oliver d'Athos de la Fére) |
| The Big Guy | Porthos (Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds) |
| The Smart Guy | Aramis de Vannes (born: René d'Herblay) |
| The Chick | Constance Bonacieux (especially in the film) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Lord de Winter |
The Truth About Forever-The Wish Catering Crew
| The Hero | Macy |
| The Lancer | Wes |
| The Big Guy | Monica |
| The Smart Guy | Bert |
| The Chick | Kristy |
| Team Mom | Delia |
Twilight: The Cullen Family
| The Hero | Edward |
| The Lancer | Alice (cheerful, friendly Genki Girl to Edward's Wangst and standoffish attitude) or Rosalie (dislikes Bella) |
| The Big Guy | Emmett |
| The Smart Guy | Jasper (strategy) or Carlisle (everything else) |
| The Chick | Esme |
| Team Pet | Bella Swan |
A different interpretation:
| The Hero | Edward |
| The Lancer | Rosalie (dislikes Bella) |
| The Big Guy | Emmett |
| The Smart Guy | Jasper (the most knowledgeable next to Carlisle) |
| The Chick | Alice |
| Sixth Ranger | Bella (becomes a vampire and officially joins the family midway through the final book) |
| The Mentor | Carlisle |
| Team Mom | Esme |
| The Hero | Tally |
| The Lancer | Shay |
| The Smart Guy | Zane |
| The Big Guy | David |
| The Chick / Fifth Ranger | Aya |
| The Hero | Meiko (Not the protagonist, but leads the group) |
| The Lancer | Kisei |
| The Smart Guy | Eiko |
| The Big Guy | Lorelei |
| Non-Action Guy instead of The Chick | Mallory (The protagonist) |
The Vorkosigan Saga: Dendarii Mercenaries
| The Hero | Miles Naismith |
| The Lancer | Elli Quinn, Bel Thorne |
| The Big Guy | Sereant Taura |
| The Smart Guy | Baz Jesek |
| The Chick | Elena? Pretty badass for a Chick, though. |
| The Mentor | Ky Tung |
The Legends of Laconia series: Waking Echoes
| The Hero / The Smart Guy | Ty |
| The Lancer | Joy |
| The Big Guy | Art |
| The Chick | Riq, despite being the only male, is definitely this. |
| The Hero | Theo |
| The Lancer | Applecore |
| The Smart Guy | Cumber |
| The Chick | Poppy |
Warhammer 40,000: Ciaphas Cain - 597th Valhallan Regiment
| The Hero | Ciaphas Cain |
| The Lancer | Regina Kasteen |
| The Big Guy | Anton Broklaw |
| The Smart Guy | Ferik Juergen (smart in terms of useful skills) |
| The Chick and The (alternate) Lancer | Amberly Vail |
Warhammer 40,000: Eisenhorn - Inquisitor Eisenhorn and company
| The Hero | Gregor Eisenhorn |
| The Lancer | Midas Betancore, later Lize Bequin (Also Mission Control) |
| The Big Guy | Godwyn Fischig |
| The Smart Guy | Autosavant Uber Aemos |
| The Chick | Warhammer 40000 (is really, really not big on Chicks, but Bequin might just qualify at her introduction. Medea Betancore in the later books.) |
Warhammer 40,000: Gaunts Ghosts - The Ghosts
| The Hero | Ibram Gaunt |
| The Lancer(s) | Rawne, Colm Corbec, Mkoll, later Gol Kolea |
| The Big Guy(s) | "Try Again" Bragg, Colm Corbec, Brostin, Gol Kolea (until promoted to Lancer) |
| The Lancer(s) | Agun Soric, Mkoll |
| The Chick | Possibly Docs Dorden and Curth (in general role, but both can and do hold their own in combat.) |
| The Sixth Ranger | Commissar Viktor Hark |
Warhammer 40,000Ravenor - Inquisitor Ravenor and company
| The Hero | Harlon Nayl |
| The Lancer | Patience Kys |
| The Big Guy | Zeph Mathuin ( until he dies, when the place is filled by Thonius) |
| The Smart Guy | Carl Thonius (The things he knows) ( until Mathuin's death, when Zael seems to be taking over) |
| The Chick | Kara Swole |
| The Mentor | Gideon Ravenor himself (though he can 'ware' any other member of the team.) |
| Tagalong Kid | Zael, and later Isobob |
| The Medic | Belknap |
| Kid Appeal Character | Sholto Unwerth (to some degree) |
| Sixth Ranger | Maud Plyton, Belknap (can also count), and later in the series, Angharad and Interrogator Ballack. The latter of which turns out to be the Token Evil Teammate. |
| The Stoic | Not having earned a particular role in the lineup, Wystan Frauka spends his time at the hideout chain-smoking, reading bad porn, and generally being a blank. |
Warrior Cats-Fireheart's True Companions in The Original Series
| The Hero | Fireheart |
| The Lancer | Graystripe |
| The Big Guy | Sandstorm |
| The Smart Guy/The Medic | Cinderpelt |
| The Chick | Cloudtail |
| The Sixth Ranger | Ravenpaw |
| Tagalong Kid | Bramblepaw |
Warrior Cats - The Chosen Ones from the beginning of The New Prophecy Series
| The Hero | Brambleclaw |
| The Lancer | Stormfur |
| The Big Guy | Crowpaw (Not the strongest but most willing to fight) |
| The Smart Guy | Tawnypelt |
| The Chick | Feathertail |
| Tagalong Kid | Squirrelpaw |
Warrior Cats - Omen of the Stars Heroes
| The Hero | Dovewing |
| The Lancer | Ivypool |
| The Big Guy | Lionblaze |
| The Smart Guy | Jayfeather |
| The Chick | Cinderheart |
| Team Dad | Firestar |
| The Sixth Ranger | Hollyleaf |
| The Hero | Hazel |
| The Lancer | Bigwig (also The Big Guy) |
| The Smart Guy | Blackberry |
| The Chick | Pipkin (or possibly Fiver) |
| The (other) Big Guy | Silver |
The Witcher saga (the posse from third book onwards)
| The Hero | Geralt |
| The Lancer | Cahir |
| The Smart Guy | Regis |
| The Chick | Dandilion
Ironically, this leaves us token female teammate as The Big Guy (unless we swap her with Cahir): |
| The Big Guy | Milva |
| Sixth Ranger | Zoltan Chivay (in the third book), Angouleme (in the fifth book)
However, sometimes The Chick can be an Action Girl. Milva can be both The Chick and The Big Guy, while Dandillion would be Kid Appeal Character. |
The Wheel of Time: Book I
| The Hero | Rand |
| The Lancer | Mat |
| The Big Guy | Perrin |
| The Smart Guy | Loial (appears later, but fits better) or Nynaeve |
| The Chick | Egwene al'Vere |
| The Sixth Ranger | Nynaeve or Loial (see above note) |
| The Mentor(s) | Moiraine, Lan, and Thom |
The Wheel of Time: Egwene's Conspiracy
| The Hero | Egwene |
| The Lancer | Siuan |
| The Big Guy | Nynaeve (in terms of raw Power) |
| The Smart Guy | Siuan, later Verin |
| The Chick | Leane, Elayne |
The Wheel of Time: Band of the Red Hand
| The Hero | Mat |
| The Lancer | Talmanes |
| The Big Guy | Nalesean |
| The Smart Guy | Vanin |
| Tagalong Kid | Olver |
World of Warcraft: Beyond the Dark Portal
| The Hero | Turalyon |
| The Lancer | Danath Trollbane |
| The Big Guy | Kurdran Wildhammer |
| The Smart Guy | Khadgar |
| The Chick | Alleria Windrunner |
Xanth - The Source of Magic
| The Hero | Bink |
| The Lancer | Crombie |
| The Big Guy | Chester Centaur |
| The Smart Guy | Humphery |
| The Chick | Grundy Golem |
Xanth - the Dor books
| The Hero | Dor |
| The Lancer | Irene |
| The Big Guy | Smash Ogre |
| The Smart Guy | Chet Centaur |
| The Chick | Grundy |
| The Hero | Jacen |
| The Lancer | Jaina |
| The Big Guy | Tenel Ka |
| The Smart Guy | Lowbacca |
| The Chick | M-TD |
| Sith Ranger | Zekk |
| The Mentor | Luke |
Spiran och staven (The Sceptre and the Quarterstaff)
| The Hero | Räven (Fox) |
| The Lancer | Eldfågel (Firebird) |
| The Big Guy | Leontas |
| The Smart Guy | Umbra |
| The Chick | Stormfödd (Storm-born) -- well, he is no more mister Nice-Guy when Umbra gets threatened.
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