Five-Man Band/Web Comics
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 webcomics:
Anthros And Dungeons
The Hero | Hugues |
The Lancer | Mikael |
The Big Guy | Peklakot |
The Smart Guy(s) | Hugues and Karel |
The Chick | Jacynth |
The Sixth Ranger | Vincent |
The Light Warriors in 8-Bit Theater, athough they'd probably fit better in the other category
The Hero | Thief, a selfish, racist, amoral crime boss with no heroic traits whatever |
The Lancer | Red Mage, a self-declared "tactical genius" and Jack of All Stats, utterly ignorant of anything besides Animal Husbandry,also, it goes without saying a Small Name, Big Ego. |
The Big Guy | Fighter, actually fits quite well, doubles as the Token Good Teammate |
The Smart Guy | Black Mage, oscillates between a Genius Ditz in the fields of dark magic and wanton destruction and the Only Sane Man, has No Social Skills |
The Chick | White Mage, hates their guts and only associates with them becuase her entire belief system is based around the prophecy of the Light Warriors, which the group hijacked for fame and fortune, also a Token Good Teammate |
The Mentor | Sarda, albeit one actively trying to kill them |
Arthur, King of Time and Space
The Hero | Arthur |
The Lancer | Guenevere |
The Big Guy | Gawaine |
The Smart Guy | Lancelot |
The Chick | Nimue |
Sixth Ranger | Tristram |
Team Dad | Merlin |
Team Pet | Cabal |
The Hero | Shiro |
The Lancer | Kuro (in a way though he barely has any differences with Shiro at times.), sometimes Midori |
The Big Guy | Gold (It's also Ao's real role) |
The Smart Guy | Midori. Racer (despite the fact Shiro acts as though he's the mentor) Though he is a lot ditzier than usual |
The Chick | Pretty Bomber |
The Mentor | Racer (or so they say) |
The Sixth Ranger(s) | Aqua, Mach and Ao |
The Tagalong Kid | Aka |
Team Pet | Louie and Pommy |
The Hero | Ricky (more or less) |
The Lancer(s) | Trixie and Peter |
The Big Guy | Matt |
The Smart Guy(s) | Andy and Archie |
The Chick(s) | Rudy and Judy |
Tagalong Kid | Ralph |
The Hero | Lightbringer |
The Lancer | Dead Debbie |
The Big Guy | Dasien |
The Smart Guy | Mind Mistress |
The Chick | ANT |
The Sixth Ranger | The Green Avenger/Ultra |
Team Pet | Io |
The Mentor | Ringo |
The Crossoverkill
The Hero | Captain Perfect |
The Lancer | Majestic Knight |
The Smart Guy(s) | Mind Mistress and Hoodoo |
The Big Guy | Energize |
Tagalong Kid | Fusion, on the virtue of being the youngest member |
The Hero | Ethan |
The Lancer | Lucas |
The Big Guy | Zeke |
The Smart Guy | Scott |
The Chick | Lilah |
The Hero | Howlett |
The Lancer | Mr. Tharka |
The Big Guy | Jolene |
The Smart Guy | Dr. Chalko |
The Chick | Mrs. Teasdale |
Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures (Main original cast)
The Hero | Dan |
The Lancer | Wildy San |
The Big Guy | Lorenda |
The Smart Guy | Jyrras |
The Chick | Mab |
The Hero | Jim (Qui-Gon Jinn, later Padmé Amidala) |
The Lancer | Annie (Anakin Skywalker) |
The Big Guy | Ben (Obi-Wan Kenobi) |
The Smart Guy | Pete (R2-D2) |
The Chick | Sally (Jar Jar Binks, among others) |
The Sixth Ranger | Corey (Introduced in Episode IV playing Luke Skywalker) |
The Hero | Digger |
The Lancer | Shadowchild |
The Big Guy | Grim Eyes |
The Smart Guy | Ed |
The Chick | Murai |
The Hero | Alan Warren |
The Lancer/ The Sixth Ranger | Alexander Hamilton |
The Smart Guy / The Heart | Nathan Hale |
The Big Guy/ Da Chief | Thomas Knowlton |
Token Girl / The Chick | Beatrice Whaley |
Tagalong Kid | Freddy Knowlton |
Drowtales (in the Overworld arc)
The Hero | Ariel |
The Lancer | Chirinide |
The Big Guy | Vaelia (doubles as The Mentor), Rikshakar (until he pulls a Bodyguard Betrayal and tries to rape Ariel.) |
The Smart Guy | Shan'naal, Liriel (has her moments of sober insight) |
The Chick | Kyo'nne |
Sixth Ranger | Liriel |
Team Pet | Melodia |
The Hero | Elliot |
The Lancer | Susan |
The Big Guy | Grace and Nanase |
The Smart Guy | Tedd and Justin |
The Chick | Sarah |
The Sixth Ranger | Ellen |
The Mentor/TeamDad | Mr. Verres |
Elf Blood (Arranged as Renegades/Council)
The Hero | TKO / King |
The Lancer | Shanna / SKO |
The Big Guy | JN / Buma |
The Smart Guy | Ixnay / Gipsy |
The Chick | Fliss / Mint |
The Sixth Ranger | Mara / Mara |
The Hero | Eastwood |
The Lancer | Virus |
The Big Guy | Lothar |
The Smart Guy | Rogue |
The Chick | Jamilla (majorly subverted) |
Team Pet | Blasphemy |
Fans;
First Generation
The Hero | Rikk |
The Lancer | Alysin |
The Big Guy | Will |
The Smart Guy | Tim(also occasionally The Big Guy) |
The Chick | Rumy(sometimes doubles as The Lancer) |
Sixth Ranger | Shanna |
Second Generation
The Hero | Marc(Di thinks she's the hero, but is really The Lancer) |
The Big Guy | Will |
The Lancer | Di / Rumy |
The Smart Guy | Hilda / Dexter |
The Chick | Di(when her overconfidence gets away with her) / Zaha |
Token Evil Teammate | Jesse |
The "old guard" in Girl Genius
The Hero | Bill Heterodyne |
The Lancer | Klaus Wulfenbach |
The Big Guy | Barry Heterodyne |
The Chick | Lucrezia Mongfish
...and as a troupe of Mad Scientists they're all The Smart Guy. |
Goblins: Life through their eyes
The Hero | Complains of Names |
The Lancer | Thaco (also The Obi-Wan) |
The Big Guy | Big Ears |
The Smart Guy | Chief |
The Chick(s) | Fumbles, Se ñor Vorpal Kickass'o |
The Hero | Byron |
The Lancer | Gravedust |
The Smart Guy | Syr'nj |
The Big Guy | Frigg |
The Chick | Bandit |
The Hero | Antimony |
The Lancer / The Smart Guy | Kat |
The Big Guy | Reynardine |
The Chick | Shadow2 |
Tagalong Kid / Team Pet | Robot |
The Hero | Annette |
The Lancer | Bianca |
The Big Guy | Rolf/Jymre |
The Smart Guy | Lostclock |
The Chick | Maythorn |
Homestuck - the kids
The Hero / The Big Guy | John Egbert |
The Lancer | Dave Strider |
The Smart Guy | Rose Lalonde |
The Chick | Jade Harley |
Homestuck - the exiles
The Lancer | Wayward Vagabond (Was The Hero as Warweary Villein) |
The Hero | Peregrine Mendicant |
The Big Guy | Aimless Renegade |
The Smart Guy | Windswept Questant |
The Chick / Team Pet | Serenity The Firefly |
Sixth Ranger | Writ Keeper |
Homestuck - troll Red Team
The Hero | Karkat Vantas |
The Lancer | Gamzee Makara (much to Karkat's eternal shame) |
The Smart Guy | Terezi Pyrope |
Team Mom | Kanaya Maryam |
The Chick | Tavros Nitram |
Sixth Ranger and Token Evil Teammate | Vriska Serket |
Homestuck - troll Blue Team
The Hero | Sollux Captor, doubles as The Smart Guy |
The Lancer | Eridan Ampora |
The Big Guy | Equius Zahhak (arguably The Hero) |
The Smart Guy | Aradia Megido |
The Heart | Nepeta Leijon |
The Chick | Feferi Peixes |
Homestuck - troll combined team ("Team Adorabloodthirsty")
The Hero | Karkat Vantas |
The Lancer | Terezi Pyrope |
Team Mom | Kanaya Maryam |
The Smart Guy | Sollux Captor, Aradia Megido |
The Big Guy | Equius Zahhak |
The Heart | Nepeta Leijon |
Token Evil Teammate | Vriska Serket, Eridan Ampora |
The Load | Tavros Nitram |
The Chick | Feferi Peixes, Gamzee Makara |
The Sixth Ranger | Jack Noir |
Homestuck - The remaining trolls
The Hero | Karkat Vantas |
The Lancer | Terezi Pyrope |
The Big Guy | Gamzee Makara, with shades of Sixth Ranger |
The Smart Guy | Sollux Captor |
Team Mom | Kanaya Maryam |
The Sixth Ranger | God-Tier Aradia Megido |
Homestuck - Post-Scratch kids
The Hero | Jane Crocker |
The Lancer | Roxy Lalonde |
The Big Guy | Jake English |
The Smart Guy | Dirk Strider |
Housepets - The Good Ol' Dogs Club
The Hero | Bino |
The Lancer | Fido |
The Big Guy | Rex |
The Smart Guy | Fox |
The Chick | Sasha |
Team Pet | Spo |
Indefensible Positions
The Hero | Foil |
The Lancer | Dead Debbie |
The Big Guy | Wirebound |
The Smart Guy | Orbstar |
Token Evil Teammate | Skeeter |
Team Pet | Azile |
The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob
The Hero | Bob |
The Lancer | Jean |
The Smart Guy | Molly |
The Big Guy | Rocko |
The Mentor | Voluptua |
Token Evil Teammate | Golly |
Team Pet | Snookums |
The Hero | Sapphire |
The Lancer | Jade, Amethyst |
The Big Guy | Emerald |
The Smart Guy | Aquamarine |
The Chick | Topaz |
Sixth Ranger | Ruby |
The Mentor | Onyx |
The Hero | Flynn |
The Lancer | Ranger |
The Big Guy | McKaela |
The Smart Guy | Kira |
The Chick | Ross |
The Hero | Rayne |
The Lancer | Noel |
The Big Guy | Mitch |
The Smart Guy | John |
The Chick | Issa |
Less Than Three Comics's Brat Pack.
The Hero | Mr. Perfect |
The Lancer | Firestorm |
The Smart Guy | Mr. Universe |
The Chick | Belle |
Kid Appeal Character | Pixel |
The Hero | Cale |
The Lancer | Richard |
The Big Guy | Krunch (and also Pella, strangely enough, since she is neither big nor a guy) |
The Smart Guy | Benny (shares role with Krunch) |
The Chick(s) | Pella and Benny |
Team Pet | Sooba |
The Hero | Kevin |
The Lancer | Wolfram |
The Big Guy | Sam |
The Smart Guy | Alistair |
The Chick | Renata |
Tagalong Kid | Ferris |
The Mentor | Lorna |
Sixth Ranger(s) | Rochelle, Della |
The Order of the Stick
The Hero | Roy Greenhilt |
The Lancer | Haley Starshine |
The Big Guy | Durkon Thundershield |
The Smart Guy | Vaarsuvius |
The Chick | Elan (proven here) |
Token Evil Teammate | Belkar Bitterleaf |
Team Pet | Mr. Scruffy, Blackwing |
The Order of the Scribble
The Hero | Soon Kim |
The Lancer | Girard Draketooth |
The Big Guy | Kraagor |
The Smart Guy | Dorukan/Lirian |
The Chick | Serini Toormuck/Lirian |
(Also see the Order's Psycho Ranger counterparts, the Linear Guild, which qualifies as a Five Bad Bands.)
The Hero | Leo |
The Lancer | Kira |
The Big Guy | Mr. Reynder |
The Smart Guy | Fletcher |
The Chick | Taylor |
The Hero | The Hero |
The Lancer | Cherry |
The Big Guy | Dragobo (doubles as Team Pet) |
The Smart Guy | Eikre |
The Chick | Diane |
Sixth Ranger | Reka |
Tagalong Kid | Rabble-Rouser |
Team Pet | Dragobo (doubles as The Big Guy) |
The Medic | Howard |
The Hero | Elysia |
The Lancer | Nenshe (probably a Type 3) |
The Smart Guy | Obadai |
The Big Guy | Illyra, Class 4 |
The Chick | Occela |
The Hero | Sandusky |
The Lancer | Bunker |
The Big Guy | Champ |
The Smart Guy | Kashmir |
The Chick(s) | Sedona and Sierra |
The Hero | Torg |
The Lancer | Zoe |
The Big Guy | Bun-bun |
The Smart Guy | Riff |
The Chick | Gwynn |
Team Pet | Kiki |
Later, in the bRoken arc, we get possibly the oddestFive-Man Band in history. Quoth Sasha "are you sure we're the good guys?"
The Hero | Torg |
The Lancer | Bun-Bun |
The Big Guy | Sam the "Sampire" |
The Smart Guy | Sasha |
The Chick | Zombie-Head-On-A-Stick (a.k.a Jane) |
Sixth Ranger | Chaz (an evil sword powered by the blood of the innocent.) |
The Hero | Fiona |
The Lancer | Van |
The Big Guy | Jim |
The Smart Guy | Akela |
The Chick | May |
The Mentor | Cecilia |
Sixth Ranger | Hall |
The Hero | Sweet Bro |
The Lancer | Hella Jeff |
Team Pet | Peaches |
The Chick | Sweet Bro's Mom |
Sixth Ranger | Geromy |
The Hero | Avacado |
The Lancer | Hash |
The Big Guy | Saukraut |
The Smart Guy | Breadbun |
The Chick | Snacktray |
Team Pet | Fresca |
The Hero | Troy, sometimes Rigo |
The Lancer | Jorge |
The Big Guy | Nick |
The Smart Guy | Ray |
The Chick | Derrick |
Tagalong Kid | Halle |
The Hero | Trace |
The Lancer | Keith |
The Big Guy | Natani |
The Smart Guy | Eric |
The Chick | Flora |
The Hero | Monica |
The Lancer | Shelly |
The Big Guy | Bud |
The Smart Guy | Brandi |
The Chick | Jin |
Sixth Ranger | Tina |
The Hero | Anne |
The Lancer | Robin |
The Big Guy | Katie and Wolfie |
The Smart Guy | Jason |
The Chick | Mingmei |
The Mentor | Miranda |
The Hero | Alex |
The Lancer | Lita |
The Smart Guy | Jo |
The Chick | Sam |
The Hero | Zap |
The Lancer | Reona |
The Big Guy | Grontar |
The Smart Guy | Kasey |
The Chick | Robot |