Showing posts with label Group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Group. Show all posts

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Green Lantern Corps


After the failures of the Psion and Manhunter projects, the Guardians of the Universe decided to use living agents as their intermediaries, to overcome the forces of evil and injustice.

- History of the DC Universe #1

Three billion years ago, a group was formed and supplied with the energy pistols and power batteries similar to the Manhunters. This group was the immediate predecessors of the Green Lantern Corps. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #90

The Guardians then developed a device in the shape of a ring that could channel will power. There were some limitations imposed on the power rings. They would need to be recharged every 24 hours, and there was a yellow impurity. This has been argued as a neccesity to fix the energy admixture (the Guardians' power to be adapted to individual ring bearers) and/or as a safety device to prevent any of the Green Lanterns from becoming omnipotent. It is believed by some Green Lanterns that this limitation actually strenghtens them by foring themselves to take nothing for granted.

Rori Dag of Rojira was selected by the Guardians to be the first Green Lantern. His success marked the beginning of the Green Lantern Corps. Each Guardian selected one species to have a Green Lantern as a representative. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #67, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #40

The known universe was divided into 3600 individual sectors, imaginary pyramids with their points converging on Oa, making the Guardians' world the best protected planet in the universe. - Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale

The Corps was shattered by Hal Jordan when he was controlled by Parallax. The last power ring, created by Ganthet, was given to Kyle Rayner. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50

Years later, when Jordan was freed of the control of Parallax, the Guardians of the Universe restored and expanded the Green Lantern Corps. To better combat the growing threats the future would hold, 7200 Lanterns would patrol the stars. GREEN LANTERN CORPS: RECHARGE

Recently, the Green Lantern Corps has battled the yellow ring wielding Sinestro Corps preceding the War of Light. Utilizing the energy of the emotional spectrum, other forces have arisen; the Red Lantern Corps, Larfleeze and his Orange Lanterns, the Blue Lantern Corps, the Indigo Tribe, and the violet energy Star Sapphires. This in turn led to the rise of Nekron and his Black Lantern Corps. The Green Lanterns and the other Corps found themselves at times in unlikely alliances until Nekron was ultimately defeated.

guardians of the galaxy


In the aftermath of Annihilation: Conquest, Star-Lord[11] decides to form a team of interstellar heroes that will be proactive in protecting the galaxy, rather than reacting to crises as they happen. To this end, he recruits Adam Warlock,[12] Drax the Destroyer,[13] Gamora,[13] Phyla-Vell (the new Quasar),[14] Rocket Raccoon,[15] and Groot,[15] with Mantis as support staff.

On the recommendation of ally Nova, the group establishes a base of operations at the space station Knowhere, which possesses a teleportation system with near-universal range.[16] An intelligent, super-powered dog called Cosmo acts as Knowhere's chief of security and works closely with the new team. After an initial clash with the revitalised Universal Church of Truth,[1] the team's investigation of a mass of "Limbo ice" reveals a semi-amnesiac man who identifies himself as Vance Astro - Major Victory of the Guardians of the Galaxy.[17] Astro's declaration inspires the as-yet-unnamed team to adopt the "Guardians of the Galaxy" name for their own.[18]

The team then battles the Universal Church of Truth once again, while Astro is attacked aboard Knowhere by an incarnation of his former teammate Starhawk.[19] Matters worsen when the alien shape-shifting Skrulls apparently infiltrate Knowhere,[20] and the revelation that Star-Lord directed Mantis to telepathically coerce the heroes into joining the team.[21]

After this, the team members each went their own way due to some misunderstandings. However Rocket Raccoon decided to continue and started a search for the missing members. He asked Bug to join the team, as well Groot's return to full size and the addition of Mantis and Major Victory as field members. Meanwhile Starlord went to the Kree Empire in an attempt to help them out of a situation, but Ronan The Accuser reveals to him that they are reconstructing the Phalanx's Babel Spire in order to preserve the Kree, before throwing him into the Negative Zone, where he meets King Blastaar. Blastaar's plan is to break into 42, the prison created by the Initiative to house anti-registration forces.

Blastaar hopes to use Starlord as a way to get into 42, so he may then invade Earth. Blastaar's Negative Zone forces then launch a full scale attack against 42, which is defended by the superhumans inside - as the guards fled and locked them in the negative zone - led by Jack Flag. Starlord then goes into 42, and begins talking to Jack Flag, hoping to use him and other superhumans in 42 as a way to contact the Guardians. Using a telepath, Starlord is able to contact Mantis and get the Guardians to teleport into the Negative Zone, preparing for a big battle.

Meanwhile, Adam Warlock and Gamora invade the Universal Church of Truth's headquarters, as Adam Warlock wishes to find out more about them, and asks to be taken to their leader.

Elsewhere, Drax and Quasar begin looking for Cammi, but on their search they talk to a seer who tells them about the oncoming war. When they say they don't care and are looking for a girl, the seer remarks that he knows of this girl, and that her name is Heather, much to Drax and Quasar's surprise. Phylla was able to wake Moondragon from the dead, but lost her Quantum Bands in the process. The consequence for Phyla is that she is now the new avatar of death. They went back to Knowhere and did not follow up on the search for Cammi.
[edit] War of Kings

Adam Warlock and Gamora return to the Guardians and inform the team of the War of Kings. Starlord and Rocket Raccoon decide to split into 3 teams to keep the war from growing out of control:

* The Kree Team with Starlord, Bug, Gamora, Jack Flag and Martyr (Phylla-Vell)
* The Shi'ar Team with Rocket Raccoon, Drax the Destroyer, Adam Warlock, Major Victory and Groot
* The Coordination Team with Moondragon, Mantis and Cosmo the Spacedog

The Kree Team ask Black Bolt to stop the war, a request he denies. The Shi'ar team becomes separated from Adam Warlock, who is transported onto a Shi'ar vessel and is attacked by Vulcan, emperor of the Shi'ar. The rest of the Shi'ar Team works with the Starjammers to free Lilandra from Emperor Vulcan.

Warlock fights with Vulcan and some Imperial Guardsmen. In the end Guardsman Magique is able to put a 'witchmark' on Adam without him knowing, enabling her to track him. Meanwhile, Martyr kidnaps Crystal to force the Inhumans to stop the war. Both squads transport back to Knowhere, but are followed by the Imperial Guard (via Magique's 'witchmark' on Adam) and the Inhumans (via Lockjaw). The three-way battles rages all over Knowhere, until the Inhumans are able to retrieve Crystal and return to Hala. Magique follows Adam Warlock, who magically transfers the 'witchmark' onto her, leading Shi'ar soldiers shoot her instead of Adam Warlock. The Guard are eventually forcibly teleported off of Knowhere.

Star-Lord, Mantis, Bug, Jack Flag, and Cosmo are taken to the 31st Century by that era's Guardians, who warn them of the creation of an all-destroying energy rift called The Fault at the war's conclusion. Trapped in the future, Star-Lord's team is able to get a message to Adam Warlock in the 21st Century. Warlock is unable to stop The Fault's creation, but is able to cast a spell that contains it. The strain, however, causes him to revert to his Magus personality. Star-Lord's team, rescued by Kang the Conqueror, arrives as this happens, and the ensuing fight against Magus results in the deaths of Mantis, Cosmo, Major Victory, Martyr, and Gamora. Star-Lord uses a Cosmic Cube, provided by Kang, to neutralize Magus's powers and shoot him in the head.

This denouement turns out to have been faked by the Magus, who keeps the "dead" Guardians as his prisoners until Martyr breaks free. While the other half of the Guardians comes to rescue, Phyla-Vell is misled by Maelstrom into freeing Thanos. Thanos and Magus are both defeated by the reunited Guardians, but Martyr is apparently killed. The Guardians return to Knowhere, unaware that the future of the universe - according to the future Guardians of the Galaxy - is depending on them.

New Warriors



The Warriors were founded by wealthy young adventurer Dwayne Taylor, who devoted his life to fighting crime after the murder of his parents. Mentored by his legal guardians-retired mercenary Andrew Chord and enigmatic housekeeper Tai. Dwayne fought crime as Night Thrasher, forging a vigilante partnership with the superhuman brother-and-sister duo Midnight's Fire and Silhouette, and romancing the latter; however, their alliance ended badly when Silhouette was shot by a gangster. Blaming Thrasher for the tragedy, Fire disappeared with his fallen sister, swearing vengeance.

Current Members:
Gauntlet, Justice (Vance Astrovik), Komodo (Melati) Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor), Rage, Scarlet Spider (Patrick), Slapstick, Tigra, Ultragirl

Former Members
Aegis (Trey Rollins), Blackwing (Barnell Bohusk), Bolt (Chris Bradley), Dagger, Darkhawk, Debrii, Decibel (Jono Starsmore), Firestar, Helix, Hindsight, Longstrike, Microbe, Namorita, Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor), Nova (Richard Rider), Phaser, Powerhouse/Powerpax, Renascence, Ripcord, Scarlet Spider, Scarlet Spider (Michael), Silhouette, Skybolt, Speedball (Robert Baldwin), Speedball (Darrion Grobe), Tempest (Angel Salvadore), Timeslip, Turbo (Michiko Musashi), Turbo (Mike Jeffries), Wondra

Other Members (Honorary, Reserve, etc.)
Andrew Chord

Secret Warriors


While in hiding after the Secret War, Nick Fury uncovers evidence of the Secret Invasion. Because the active heroes he knows may be compromised, he gathers a new team of "caterpillars", young, untested superhumans, whose existence is known to Fury alone. One of these young superhumans sought after was Layla Miller, but she refused politely, stating that they would only succeed without her. When the Skrulls invade New York, Nick Fury and his team of Secret Warriors arrive and rescue the defeated Young Avengers and Initiative members before withdrawing from the battle.[8] The Warriors help the other heroes defeat the Skrulls, before teleporting to an unknown location.[9]

After the invasion, Fury infiltrates a covert Chicago base and downloads information about the previous and current command structures of S.H.I.E.L.D. A few weeks later, he confronts the new U.S. president about the deactivation of S.H.I.E.L.D., and gives him the location of two of the organization's covert bases. Fury's team tries to shut down a covert base in Texas, but HYDRA appears and attacks the team. As the team attempts to evacuate, H.A.M.M.E.R. agents surround the area (accompanied by the Sentry), but the Warriors escape. Fury confronts the team on their failures, but reveals to Daisy that HYDRA was on a recovery mission at the Texas base, and that S.H.I.E.L.D. is a branch of HYDRA, while various agencies of the United States Government, including the NSA, Department of Treasury, and FBI Science and Technology Branch, as well as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate and Foreign Intelligence Service are all under HYDRA control.[10]

On a solo mission soon after, Fury teams with Norman Osborn to interrogate a lower-level HAMMER agent. The conversation (and materials obtained afterwards) reveal there may be an organization much like HYDRA, installed in the upper levels of world governments, called "Leviathan." This organization appears to have been founded by the Soviet government for reasons as yet unclear.

The Secret Warriors also assist the New Avengers when the Hood's gang was assaulting them

Roster

Nick Fury
Founder and leader of the Secret Warriors
Quake
Daisy Johnson, the daughter of Mister Hyde. She possesses the power to create earthquake-like vibrations.
Phobos
Son of Ares. He possesses the power to instill fear in others as well as limited pre-cognition. Being a member of the Olympian race, but born of a mortal woman also gives him the potential for far greater "god-like" powers not unlike his uncle Hercules, but require his "mortal" body die first.
The Druid
Sebastian Druid, the son of Doctor Druid who has inherited some of his father's skill with magic. However, he is soon seen as a liability and Fury cuts him loose.[12]
Slingshot
Yo-yo Rodriguez, the daughter of the Griffin. She can run at superhuman speed and bounces back to the point where she began running. She was recently injured severely, with both of her arms severed by the Gorgon, and was temporarily unable to remain active with the team. However, both arms have now been replaced with prosthetics and she has returned to active duty.
Hellfire
J.T. James, the grandson of the Phantom Rider, is able to charge items (notably a chain) with fire and unleash a devastating attack. During New Avengers, J.T. is shown as one of the possible replacements for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, showing great magical potential. In issue 16, Hellfire is discovered to be a double agent with Hydra, directly with Baron von Strucker.
Stonewall
Jerry Sledge, who has been bailed out of jail by Daisy Johnson, where he was being held for hitting a police officer. He possesses superhuman strength and an ability to increase his size, while his skin appears to take an appearance resembling stone. In issue 9, he demonstrated the ability to change the composition of his skin, by turning it into metal after getting Ares' axe swung into his chest. Very little has so far been revealed about the character, but Bendis has revealed that his father is a "major Marvel icon". In issue 12, it is revealed upon his visit to a prison that his father is Carl "Crusher" Creel, The Absorbing Man.[13] He tries to tell Reed Richards his real name at one point, but is cut off after saying "Henry".[14]
Eden Fesi
A reality warping young man previously under the care and training of the mutant Gateway.[15] Nick Fury initially attempted to recruit him to another unknown team, but Gateway refused.

Squadron Supreme


The following history applies only to the Squadron Supreme of the mainstream Marvel Universe. The team from the Supreme Power series exists in the Marvel "Ultimate" universe.
The Original Squadron Supreme

Years ago, Marvel shamelessly unveiled their very own JLofA rip-off group: the Squadron Sinister. These four villains were foes of the Avengers. Later, they took it one step further and created the Earth-S of the Marvel Universe, where lived the good Squadron Supreme. The group grew in number over the years, appearing in various issues of Avengers and Defenders before finally getting their own groundbreaking 12-issue mini-series in the 1980s (now available in trade paperback). Eleven new members joined during the mini-series. Unlike the core Squadron, these were original characters.

Recently, the JLA's popularity sparked a "reboot" of the Squadron Supreme. The book, called Supreme Power, starred Hyperion and was published under Marvel's "Max" imprint. These new stories definitely do not take place in the main Marvel Universe, nor do they have any connection to the former Squadron Supreme. Many of the original characters have been revamped and reintroduced. The book then spun into three mini-series, Doctor Spectrum, Hyperion and Nighthawk. In this universe, these characters are often at odds with each other. Nighthawk, Power Princess and Amphibian have "bad sides" to them, and others like Arcana and Nuke have been teamed against Hyperion. No team was actually formed until Hyperion #2.

During the SS limited series, they took on eleven new recruits. Six of them were forcibly reformed criminals brainwashed into working with the SS: Ape-X, Dr. Decibel, Foxfire, Lamprey, Quagmire and Shape (Ape-X was rendered brain-dead while Decibel and Quagmire seemingly died in action; Quagmire actually survived and is active as a villain on mainstream Marvel Earth). The brainwashing was undone and Lamprey betrayed the SS, dying in battle with Dr. Spectrum. Shape and Foxfire remained loyal to the SS, and Foxfire died in action alongside them. The SS's other new recruits were novice super-heroes: Haywire, Inertia, Moonglow, Redstone and Thermite. All five joined the SS as infiltrators on behalf of the subversive Redeemers, but when the Redeemers successfully coerced the SS into abandoning their positions as world rulers, the surviving rookies remained with the SS. One of the five, Thermite, was accidentally killed during the Redeemers' battle with the SS.

So, following Squadron Supreme #12, the roster stood as follows: Hyperion, Power Princess, Doctor Spectrum, Whizzer II, Arcanna, Shape, Haywire, Inertia, Moonglow and Redstone. Skrull had long since resigned. Amphibian and Nighthawk resigned in protest of the SS's becoming world rulers to steer the Earth back to stability after its temporary conquest by the Overmind, and Nighthawk led his Redeemers group in persuading the Squadron to abdicate. Nighthawk died in that battle, as did fellow ex-SS member Black Archer, who joined the Redeemers after the SS expelled him for abusing their mind-control technology by forcing Lady Lark to love him. Lady Lark resigned in protest of his expulsion, still brainwashed into blindly adoring him, but she didn't join the Redeemers (nor did Amphibian). Nuke went mad after realizing he had given his parents cancer, and died battling Dr. Spectrum. Tom Thumb died of cancer himself while trying to find a cure for it. Ape-X was incapacitated, Doctor Decibel died while suffocating when Quagmire's power engulfed the hospital. Quagmire was lost and presumed dead, and Blue Eagle, Lamprey, Foxfire and Thermite died during the SS/Redeemers battle.

Most of those killed in SS #12 were placed in Hybernaculum chambers. These chambers were invented by Tom Thumb, and basically served the same purpose as cryogenic preservation. There were 7 chambers: Tom Thumb, Pinball, Thermite, Foxfire, Blue Eagle and Golden Archer were shown. The other one may have contained Nighthawk, since Lamprey's body was mostly unrecoverable.

The Authority


The Authority is, at its fundamental core, a treatment of the Justice League of America taken to its logical conclusion. Seven of the most powerful superhumans in the Wildstorm Universe take it upon themselves to protect Earth from all threats, internal or external. These threats are usually gargantuan in nature and the eradication of these threats equally Herculean. This is widescreen, cinema-scope super-heroic fiction at its finest. Consisting of Jenny Sparks, Swift, the Engineer, the Doctor, Jack Hawksmoor, Apollo & the Midnighter (a gay version of the World's Finest duo i.e. Superman and Batman), The Authority was a spin-off from the late Stormwatch series, which took as its premise a UN-sanctioned super group. The creators responsible for these epic wonders were Warren Ellis (writer), Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary (artists) and together they delivered 12 pulsating issues that illuminated the jaded super-hero comic book industry.

The founding members of the Authority are

* Jenny Sparks, the Spirit of the Twentieth Century, the group's founder and original leader
* Apollo, "the Sun God"
* Midnighter, "Night's Bringer of War"
* Jeroen Thorndike, the Doctor (initially thought to be the second Doctor, he was subsequently shown to be the latest in a long line)
* Angela Spica, the second Engineer
* Jack Hawksmoor, "King of Cities", leader of the Authority 2000-2005, and
* Shen Li-Min, a.k.a. Swift.

Following the "Outer Dark" story arc (see below), Jenny Sparks is replaced with

* Jenny Quantum, the Spirit of the Twenty-First Century, Authority leader 2005 to present.

After "The Eternal Return" (again, see below), new members of the Authority are

* Rose Tattoo and
* Habib ben Hassan, Thorndike's successor as Doctor.

Beginning with #18 of volume five the team roster undergoes a major change. Jack Hawksmoor, Swift and Engineer remain on the team, where they are joined by new members:

* Christine Trelane, former co-leader of Stormwatch,
* Deathblow,
* Flint, previously of Stormwatch,
* Freefall, previously of Gen 13,
* Grifter, previously of the Wildcats,
* The High, the now depowered former Authority foe and
* Rainmaker, previously of Gen 13.

The Authority's base of operations is the Carrier, a gigantic interdimensional "shiftship" existing everywhere on Earth at the same time and capable of moving through every imaginable plane of existence. Usually referred to as a female, the Carrier is in fact sentient and could be considered an additional member of the team

Friday, March 19, 2010

Alpha Flight



Base of Operations
Department H, Ontario, Canada; formerly Tamarind Island, British Columbia, Canada; Mansion Alpha, Winnipeg, Canada

Former Members:
Aurora, Box (Roger Bochs), Centennial, Diamond Lil, Earthmover (Charles Moss), Flex, Guardian (James Hudson), Guardian (clone), Groundhog, Madison Jeffries, Major Mapleleaf (Lou Sadler, Jr.), Manbot, Mar, Marrina, Murmur (Arlette Truffaut), Nemesis (Jane St. Ives), Northstar, Puck (Eugene Judd), Puck (Zuzha Yu), Radius, Saint Elmo, Sasquatch (Walter Langkowski), Sasquatch (creature), Shaman (Michael Twoyoungmen), Smart Alec, Snowbird, Stitch, Talisman (Elizabeth Twoyoungmen), Vindicator (Heather Hudson), Wild Child, Windshear, Wolverine (James Howlett), Wyre, Yukon Jack

Other Members (Honorary, Reserve, etc.):
Formerly Beta Flight and Gamma Flight training squads



Alpha Flight is a team of superhuman Canadian operatives that originated in the private sector with an engineer named James MacDonald Hudson who had developed an exoskeleton to assist in geological exploration. When Hudson learned that the U.S. military had appropriated his invention, he destroyed the plans and made off with the helmet necessary to control the apparatus. Heather McNeil, then executive secretary to Hudson's immediate superior Jerome Jaxon, was shocked by the sudden turn of events and arranged a meeting between Hudson and the Canadian government. Hudson was able to plead his case and the government stepped in to resolve the situation. The Canadian prime minister subsequently invited Hudson to participate in the creation of Department H, a top-secret research and development agency within the country's Ministry of Defense. Hudson married Heather soon after.

Inspired by the debut of the superhuman adventurers the Fantastic Four, Hudson's first recruit for the team's first incarnation, code-named the Flight, was the feral mutant, Wolverine who had joined Department H some years earlier as an espionage agent. Wolverine participated in the initial phases of the team's creation, and after an initial mission against the forces of the criminal mastermind Egghead, it was decided that Wolverine would lead the team. However, for his own reasons, Wolverine left Department H and joined the X-Men, the mutant team formed by Professor Charles Xavier. In Wolverine's stead, Hudson donned a modified version of the exoskeleton he had created and first took the name Weapon Alpha, then Vindicator, then later settled on Guardian. Recruiting five more super-powered champions, the newly formed Alpha Flight initially clashed with the X-Men in an attempt to capture Wolverine, but the two teams later cooperated against the monstrous Wendigo. Alpha Flight subsequently lost government funding, but its members decided to remain operational as freelance adventurers.

Following Hudson's apparent death, leadership of Alpha Flight was assumed by his wife Heather when she donned his battlesuit and succeeded him as Vindicator. The Canadian government resumed sponsorship of Alpha Flight, and the team established a headquarters on Tamarind Island off the coast of British Columbia. However, relations between the team and the government grew strained over time. Alpha Flight's government liaison, a former intelligence agent named Gary Cody, sought to keep the team under control by resurrecting one of Hudson's earliest attempts to create a superhuman being. This creature, known as Bedlam, killed Cody before violently confronting the team. After a pitched battle, Vindicator managed to destroy Bedlam.
Enlarge
During one of the team's adventures in another dimension, Department H created a new team dubbed Gamma Flight to act as their official agents during Alpha Flight's absence. When Alpha Flight eventually returned to Earth, the two teams initially clashed but soon put aside their differences to oppose the threat of the extradimensional menace of Llan the Sorcerer. After Hudson returned alive and well, Alpha Flight and Gamma Flight were combined into the one team that were reinstated as Canada's official government operatives. The restructured team continued to face various threats, at one point teaming up with Wolverine against the forces of the Brass Bishop, but ultimately Department H was dissolved and the team disbanded.

Department H was eventually reinstated under the administration of General Jeremy Clarke, who was charged with creating a new Alpha Flight. The new team, which included a mixture of veterans and neophytes led by a seemingly youthful Hudson, found itself manipulated by subversive tactics and clandestine missions, including one against the X-Men. Department H's deception was not laid bare until an encounter with the remaining members of the original Alpha Flight team, including the true Hudson. The younger Guardian was revealed to be a synthetic being created to supplant the original, who had refused to rejoin the Department H and was subsequently targeted for assassination. The two teams joined forces and regained control of Department H.

Wolverine subsequently helped the reformed team against the weapon-making terrorists of Advanced Idea Mechanics, during which the team regained a former member in Snowbird but lost the younger Guardian who sacrificed his life to ensure the team's freedom. Alpha Flight returned the favor by helping Wolverine defeat the cannibalistic sorcerer Mauvais. Wolverine also briefly served as mentor to a new member, Earthmover, who was being groomed to replace Shaman on the team.

Secret Warriors


While in hiding after the Secret War, Nick Fury uncovers evidence of the Secret Invasion. Because the active heroes he knows may be compromised, he gathers a new team of "caterpillars", young, untested superhumans, whose existence is known to Fury alone. When the Skrulls invade New York, Nick Fury and his team of Secret Warriors arrive and rescue the defeated Young Avengers and Initiative members before withdrawing from the battle.[8] The Warriors help the other heroes defeat the Skrulls, before teleporting to an unknown location.[9]

After the invasion, Fury infiltrates a covert Chicago base and downloads information about the previous and current command structures of S.H.I.E.L.D. A few weeks later, he confronts the new U.S. president about the deactivation of S.H.I.E.L.D., and gives him the location of two of the organization's covert bases. Fury's team tries to shut down a covert base in Texas, but HYDRA appears and attacks the team. As the team attempts to evacuate, H.A.M.M.E.R. agents surround the area, but the Warriors escape. Fury confronts the team on their failures, but reveals to Daisy that HYDRA was on a recovery mission at the Texas base, and that S.H.I.E.L.D. is a branch of HYDRA, while various agencies of the United States Government, including the NSA, Department of Treasury, and FBI Science and Technology Branch, as well as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate and Foreign Intelligence Service are all under HYDRA control.[10]

On a solo mission soon after, Fury teams with Norman Osborn to interrogate a lower-level HAMMER agent. The conversation (and materials obtained afterwards) reveal there may be an organization much like HYDRA, installed in the upper levels of world governments, called "Leviathan." This organization appears to have been founded by the Soviet government for reasons as yet unclear.

The Secret Warriors also assist the New Avengers when the Hood's gang was assaulting them

Roster

Nick Fury
Founder, and leader, of the Secret Warriors

Quake
Daisy Johnson, the daughter of Mister Hyde. She possesses the power to create earthquake-like vibrations.

Phobos
Son of Ares. He possesses the power to instill fear in others as well as limited pre-cognition. Being a member of the Olympian race, but born of a mortal woman also gives him the potential for far greater "god-like" powers not unlike his uncle Hercules, but require his "mortal" body die first.

The Druid
Sebastian Druid, the son of Doctor Druid who has inherited some of his father's skill with magic. However, he is soon seen as a liability and Fury cuts him loose.

Slingshot
Yo-yo Rodriguez, the daughter of the Griffin. She can run at superhuman speed and bounces back to the point where she began running. She was recently injured severely, with both of her arms severed by the Gorgon, and was temporarily unable to remain active with the team. However, both arms have now been replaced with prosthetics and she has returned to active duty.

Hellfire
J.T. Slade, the grandson of the Phantom Rider, is able to charge items (notably a chain) with fire and unleash a devastating attack. During New Avengers, J.T. is shown as one of the possible replacements for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, showing great magical potential.

Stonewall
Jerry Sledge, who has been bailed out of jail by Daisy Johnson, where he was being held for hitting a police officer. He possesses superhuman strength and an ability to increase his size, while his skin appears to take an appearance resembling stone. In issue 9, he demonstrated the ability to change the composition of his skin, by turning it into metal after getting Ares' axe swung into his chest. Very little has so far been revealed about the character, but Bendis has revealed that his father is a "major Marvel icon". In issue 12, it is revealed upon his visit to a prison that his father is Carl "Crusher" Creel, The Absorbing Man. He tries to tell Reed Richards his real name at one point, but is cut off after saying "Henry".

Eden Fesi
A reality warping young man previously under the care and training of the mutant Gateway. Nick Fury initially attempted to recruit him to another unknown team, but Gateway refused.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Watchmen


The story takes place in an alternate timeline in which masked, costumed vigilantes fight crime in America, originally in response to a rise in masked and costumed gangs and criminals. In the 1930s and '40s, the vigilantes formed a group called the Minutemen to "finish what the law couldn't." Of the eight Minutemen, three died violently, one disappeared, and one was committed to an asylum. Decades later, a second generation of "superheroes" attempts to form a similar team called the Watchmen. Various historical events are shown to have been altered by the existence of superheroes, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War. The American victory in Vietnam, due to the intervention of the godlike being Doctor Manhattan, leads to Richard Nixon's third term as President following the repeal of term limits in the United States. By the 1980s, however, the Watchmen have been outlawed by Congress after an outpouring of anti-vigilante sentiment in the country, and tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union have escalated the Cold War with threats of nuclear attack.

By 1985, only three Watchmen remain active: the Comedian and Doctor Manhattan, both of whom act with government sanction, and the masked vigilante Rorschach, who refuses to retire and remains active illegally. Investigating the murder of government agent Edward Blake, Rorschach discovers that Blake was the Comedian, and concludes that someone may be trying to eliminate the Watchmen. He attempts to warn his retired comrades—his former partner Daniel Dreiberg (Nite Owl), the emotionally detached Dr. Jonathan Osterman (Doctor Manhattan), and Dr. Manhattan's lover Laurie Jupiter (the Silk Spectre). Dreiberg is skeptical, but nonetheless relates the hypothesis to billionaire Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias), who dismisses it.

After Blake's funeral, Dr. Manhattan is accused of causing the cancers afflicting his former girlfriend and others who spent time with him after the scientific accident that gave him superpowers. Dr. Manhattan exiles himself to Mars, giving the Soviet Union the confidence to invade Afghanistan in his absence. Later, Rorschach's conspiracy theory appears to be justified when Veidt, who had long since made his identity as Ozymandias public before retiring, narrowly avoids an assassination attempt, and Rorschach finds himself framed for murder.

Meanwhile Jupiter, after breaking up with Manhattan, goes to stay with Dreiberg, and the two former superheroes come out of retirement as they grow closer. After they break Rorschach out of prison, Silk Spectre is confronted by Dr. Manhattan. He takes her to Mars and, after she asks him to save the world, explains he is no longer interested in humanity. As he probes her memories, it is discovered that the Comedian was her father. His interest in humanity renewed by this improbable sequence of events, Manhattan returns to Earth with the Silk Spectre.

Investigating the conspiracy, Rorschach and Nite Owl discover that Veidt is behind everything. Rorschach records his suspicions in his journal, which he drops off at a newspaper office. Rorschach and Nite Owl confront Veidt, dressed once more in his Ozymandias costume, at his Antarctic retreat. Ozymandias confirms he is the mastermind behind the Comedian's murder, Manhattan's exile, and the framing of Rorschach; he also staged his own assassination attempt to place himself above suspicion. He explains that his plan is to unify the United States and the Soviet Union and to prevent nuclear war by destroying the world's main cities with exploding energy reactors he helped Doctor Manhattan create under the pretense of providing free energy for the world. Rorschach and Nite Owl attempt to stop him, but Ozymandias easily beats them. Ozymandias then reveals that his plan has already been set into motion: the reactors have been detonated, and the energy signatures are recognized as Manhattan's.

The Silk Spectre and Doctor Manhattan arrive at the ruins of New York City and determine that it must be Veidt's work. They teleport to the Antarctic retreat to confront him, but Ozymandias turns on a news report in which President Nixon states that the US and Soviets have allied against their "common enemy," Manhattan. The heroes are completely helpless to stop it and realize that revealing the conspiracy would only disrupt this peace. Only Rorschach is unwilling to remain silent and, at his own urging, is vaporized by a reluctant Manhattan. Manhattan shares a final kiss with Jupiter and departs for another galaxy.

With the end of the Cold War and the uniting of humanity, Jupiter and Dreiberg return to New York City as it's being rebuilt to begin a new life together. The film closes with a newspaper editor in New York complaining of having nothing worthwhile to print because of the worldwide peace. He tells a young employee that he may print whatever he likes from a collection of crank mailings, among which lies Rorschach's journal.

Super Capers


The story begins with a woman (Christine Lakin) in a red outfit being followed through a dark alleyway by a mysterious man who clearly has criminal intent. As she corners herself in a dead end, Ed Gruberman (Justin Whalin) arrives to save the day. The woman, calling herself simply "Red" reveals to both of the men that she has super powers, disabling the robber whom Ed strikes with a 2x4, sending him through the window of the law offices of Dewey, Cheatam and Howe. Red kisses Gruberman passionately before disappearing into the night, and he is left standing as the police come to arrest him.

In court, Gruberman is standing trial for viciously attacking an "innocent bystander" the mugger being defended by Roger Cheatem (Tom Sizemore) is flattened by the judge (Michael Rooker) who takes sympathy to Gruberman's story of how his parents were tragically killed after an accident at their circus wound up with them being killed by a short bus. In particular his fascination and respect for the television superhero the Dark Winged Vesper, with whom Ed shares his orphaning (and lack of powers unbeknownst to the court). Ed is fined $1 for the payment to the law firm's window and sentenced to a halfway house to super heroes whose powers still have not yet been developed. Ed is taken there by a cab driver (Adam West) who proclaims he was too a superhero once, named the Manbat. When he arrives, he meets Sarge (Tommy Lister) who is the Capers' human liason and other superheroes; Puffer Boy (Ray Griggs) who, when he gets frightened puffs up like a puffer fish, Herman Brainard (Sam Lloyd) who has the power to move objects with his over-sized mind, Will Powers (Ryan McPartlin) the vain and most super powered member of the group, and Felicia Freeze (Danielle Harris) an ice powered girl with whom Ed develops an immediate attraction to. Along with the unimaginative "Q" also known as Herbert who has a robot similar to a tiny version of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator whose primary invention was an RV fashioned after the DeLorean DMC-12 time machine from the Back to the Future films, complete with a flux capacitor, which they cannot tell actually work because the RV cannot get up to 88 miles per hour.

The group is called out on a mission to stop Captain Sludge (Jon Polito) a diminutive super villain with powers of super speed and his minotaur minion, and in a show of panic, Gruberman proclaims he has the power of "Prayer" and supposedly forces a lamppost to fall onto the minotaur, allowing the heroes to be victorious and earning Felicia's eye. However, Gruberman's world begins to fall apart, when he and Brainard attempt to follow the suspicious judge incognito, and Ed is set up for stealing millions in Gold Bullion and sending them to a Swiss Bank account, which the number was found conveniently in his pocket. He is sent to visit the Judge, who reveals himself to both be Gruberman's father AND the Dark Winged Vesper, and that the stunt that killed his parents was orchestrated by him, (but not intended to be fatal). Red, his accomplice makes an appearance and the pair attempt to lure Gruberman to the dark side (a'la Star Wars). Gruberman manages to escape, and in an ensuing chase, he drives the RV off the Mount Rushmore national monument, and when telling God that he will soon be with him, the vehicle inexplicably reaches 88 miles per hour, sending him back to the date of his first mission 1 week prior (as Will Powers had put the date into the time circuits to mark the event). He travels to the bridge, and learns that should he encounter his past self, one of them would spontaneously combust. He manages to meet the Super Capers, and in the process of revealing the Judge's plans encounters his younger self. After giving away the events to follow in the week ahead, the Judge is arrested and Sludge and his minotaur surrender while Red is defeated and Freeze admits her attraction to Gruberman. The confusion of two Grubermans is resolved, however when the past version combusts, leaving only the one from the future and the day appears to be saved.

Friday, November 27, 2009

The Heroic Trio


Someone is kidnapping all the male babies in the city and the police have no clues. It turns out that a Dark Master of the Underworld lives in the sewers and is taking them. He needs them because they were all born as potential Emperors, and he needs the future Emperor if he plans to take over China. The police eventually enlist the help of superheroes Wonder Woman (Anita Mui) and Thief Catcher (Maggie Cheung) to stop the evil fiend.
Against the two heroes is Invisible Girl (Michelle Yeoh), who's working for the Master and is assigned to watch over a young scientist (James Pax). The scientist is trying to create an invisible robe and Invisible Girl is supposed to kill him when he's finished. It turns out that the three women have a previous connection. Thief Catcher and Invisible Woman knew each other when Thief Catcher lived in the underworld but ran away ten years earlier. Wonder Woman and Invisible Girl knew each other as children but were separated when Invisible Girl left to live in the underworld. It turns out that Invisible Girl is not as bad as she seems. She's actually a good soul who's simply taken the wrong path. To redeem herself, she decides to help out the scientist and joins with her fellow superheroes to defeat the Dark Master.
The supernatural fight sequences choreographed by Ching Siu Tung (A Chinese Ghost Story) are dark, violent and bursting with creative energy. Of particular note is the train station scene, which features the most creative decapitation weapon ever to be wielded by a demon (played via grunts and growls by Anthony Wong). The production design is also worthy of note, as the city is not necessarily Hong Kong, but more of fictional Gotham City-type place. The score is catchy and boasts a theme song by Anita Mui. However, the largest reason this film works is because of the three female leads. Each is given a chance to shine both in the action scenes as well as the dramatic ones. It's clear why the three are considered three of Hong Kong's top female stars.
The artificial trappings tend to make the film feel set-bound and it's clear that there was a limited budget involved, but none of that takes away from the overall entertainment value of The Heroic Trio. There is also a sequel to the film titled The Executioners. (Magicvoice 2002)

Superhero Squad


The most powerful object in the universe, the INFINITY SWORD, has been shattered (oops!) in a battle between IRON MAN and DR. DOOM. But Doom doesn’t give up easily; he’ll leave no stone unturned until he recovers every last shard. “Not so fast, Dr. Doofus!” Iron Man snags the best heroes around to beat Doom at his own game: WOLVERINE, HULK, THOR, the SILVER SURFER and a hotshot flyer named THE FALCON. The fact that these big guns are also loose cannons that may not play well together is not the sort of thing that occurs to a gearhead… er…a shellhead like Iron Man. Nor does he see any problem in cramming a grouchy loner, a gamma-green tantrum machine, a bombastic thunder god, a naïve alien and a prank-pulling speedster in their flying HELICARRIER headquarters. But with friends like CAPTAIN AMERICA and MS. MARVEL, and with tons of other heroes helping out, Iron Man can lead the Super Hero Squad to victory!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Superhero anonymously

Superheroes Anonymous is a collective of Real Life Superheroes who aim to do good in the world and inspire others. Originally founded in 2007 by Ben Goldman and Chaim Lazaros as an annual conference for superheroes, Superheroes Anonymous has since become the legitimate face of the Real Life Superhero movement - bringing superheroes together in the real world to affect positive change.

The first meeting of Superheroes Anonymous was held in October 2007 in Times Square, New York where superheroes met for the first time and helped the homeless, cleaned up the streets and patrolled the area doing random acts of kindness. It was the first such meeting of its kind and attracted widespread media attention, most notably from The New York Times.

The second annual conference took place in New Orleans, LA in collaboration with The Black Ghost. For this event, the Superheroes Anonymous team drove 10 superheroes cross country in an RV, stopping in various destinations along the way to do good. Upon arriving in New Orleans, we rebuilt homes with Habitat for Humanity, cleaned up a school with All Congregations Together, helped the local homeless and marched against youth violence with Silence is Violence. We then gathered on the steps of City Hall as city officials declared it The Day of the Superheroes. The third annual conference is now being planned to take place in New Bedford, MA aka "The Secret City." The conference is being spearheaded by New Bedford-based superhero Civitron.

Superheroes Anonymous is also in the middle of planning several new programs, including a monthly meeting of Superheroes Anonymous that will bring established Real Life Superheroes together with aspiring superheroes in order to help bring out one's inner superhero. We will also be organizing large-scale patrols.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sailor Moon


Sailor Moon officially translated as Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon) is the title of a Japanese media franchise created by Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a sentai (team) of magical girls,[1][2] and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical girl genre itself.[3]

The story of the various metaseries revolves around the reincarnated defenders of a kingdom that once spanned the solar system, and around the evil forces that they battle. The major characters—called Sailor Senshi (literally "Sailor Soldiers"; frequently called "Sailor Scouts" in many Western versions)—are teenage girls who can transform into heroines named for the moon and planets (Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, etc). The use of "Sailor" comes from a style of girls' school uniform popular in Japan, the sērā fuku (sailor outfit), after which the Senshi's uniforms are modeled. The elements of fantasy in the series are heavily symbolic and often based on mythology.

Before the Sailor Moon manga appeared Takeuchi had written Codename: Sailor V, which centered around just one Sailor Senshi. She devised the idea when she wanted to create a cute series about girls in outer space, and her editor asked her to put them in sailor fuku.[4] When Sailor V was proposed for adaptation into an anime, the concept was modified so that Sailor V herself became only one member of a team. The resulting manga series merged elements of the popular magical girl and sentai genres of which Takeuchi was a fan,[5] making Sailor Moon one of the first series ever to combine the two.

The manga resulted in spinoffs into other types of media, including a highly popular anime, as well as musical theatre productions, video games, and a live-action (tokusatsu) series. Although most concepts in the many versions overlap, often notable differences occur, and thus continuity between the different formats is limited.

Characters
See also: List of minor Sailor Moon characters

Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon (月野 うさぎ, Tsukino Usagi?)
The main character of the series, called Serena in the English anime and Bunny in the English manga. Usagi, a carefree schoolgirl with an enormous capacity for love, transforms into the heroine called Sailor Moon. At the beginning of the series she is portrayed as an immature crybaby who hates having to fight evil and wants nothing more than to be a normal girl.[6][7] As she progresses, however, she embraces the chance to use her power to protect those she cares about.[8]

Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask (地場 衛, Chiba Mamoru?)
A student somewhat older than Usagi, called Darien in the English adaptations of the series. As a young child he experienced a terrible car accident that robbed him of his parents and of his knowledge of who he is.[9] During the series he has some precognitive ability,[10][11] including dreams that inspire him to take on the guise of Tuxedo Mask and fight alongside the Sailor Senshi. After an initially confrontational relationship,[7] he and Usagi remember their past lives together and fall in love again.

Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury (水野 亜美, Mizuno Ami?)
A quiet bookworm in Usagi's class, called Amy in the English adaptations of the series. Highly intelligent, with a rumored IQ of 300,[12] she can transform into Sailor Mercury, acquiring power over all phases of water. Ami's shy exterior masks a passion for knowledge and for taking care of the people around her.[13] She hopes to become a doctor one day, like her mother, and tends to be the practical one in the group. Secretly, she is also a fan of pop culture and romance novels, and becomes embarrassed whenever this is pointed out.

Rei Hino/Sailor Mars (火野 レイ, Hino Rei?)
An elegant miko (shrine maiden), called Raye in the English versions. Because of her work as a Shinto priestess, Rei can sense and dispel evil even in civilian form.[14] When she transforms into Sailor Mars she can also manipulate fire. She is very serious and focused, but although easily annoyed by Usagi's flightiness, cares about her very much. Rei is portrayed as boy-crazy in the early anime,[14] but is uninterested in romance in both the manga and live-action series.[15] She attends a private Catholic school, separate from the other girls.

Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter (木野 まこと, Kino Makoto?)
A tomboy who transfers into Usagi's school, called Lita in the English versions. Very tall and strong for a Japanese schoolgirl,[16] she can transform into Sailor Jupiter, attacking with lightning and with some control over plants. Both Makoto's parents died in a plane crash years ago, so she lives alone and takes care of herself. She cultivates her physical strength as well as more domestic interests, including housekeeping, cooking, and gardening. She wants to marry young and to own a flower-and-cake shop.[17]

Minako Aino/Sailor Venus (愛野 美奈子, Aino Minako?)
A perky dreamer who acted on her own as Sailor V for some time.[18][19] Called Mina in the English versions, she has a companion cat called Artemis who works alongside Luna in guiding the Sailor Senshi. Minako transforms into Sailor Venus, Soldier of Love, and leads Sailor Moon's four inner guardians. She also dreams of becoming a famous singer and idol and attends auditions whenever she can.[20] At the start of the live-action series, she is already these things, but has poor health and separates herself from the other Senshi.[21]

Chibi-usa/Sailor Chibi Moon (ちびうさ?)
The future daughter of Usagi and Mamoru, Chibi-usa travels from the 30th century to seek help to save her parents, then later to train with Sailor Moon to become a soldier.[22] She learns to transform into Sailor Chibi Moon. At times she has an adversarial relationship with her mother in the 20th century,[23] as she considers herself more mature than Usagi, but as the series progresses they develop a deep bond. Chibi-usa wants to grow up to become a lady like her mother.[24] In the English adaptations, she is called Rini, and her alter ego is called Sailor Mini Moon.

Setsuna Meioh/Sailor Pluto (冥王 せつな, Meiō Setsuna?)
A mysterious woman, called Trista in the English anime. She appears first as Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time, who has the task of protecting the Space-Time Door from unauthorized travelers. It is only later that she appears on Earth, living as a college student. She has a distant personality and can be very stern, but can also be quite friendly and helps the younger Sailor Senshi when she can.[25] After so long at the gate of time she carries a deep sense of loneliness, although she is close friends with Chibiusa.

Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune (海王 みちる, Kaiō Michiru?)
A talented violinist with some precognition, called Michelle in the English anime. A year older than most of the other Sailor Senshi, she can transform into Sailor Neptune, channeling the power of the ocean. She worked alone for some time before finding her partner, Sailor Uranus, with whom she fell in love.[26] Michiru is elegant and personable, already well-known for her music as well as her painting, but has given up her own dreams for the life of a Senshi. She is fully devoted to this duty and willing to make any sacrifice for it.

Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus (天王 はるか, Ten'ō Haruka?)
A good-natured, masculine-acting girl, called Amara in the English anime. Haruka, of an age with her partner, Michiru, transforms into Sailor Uranus, Soldier of the Sky. Before becoming a Sailor Senshi, she dreamt of being a racer, and is skilled at driving.[27] She tends to dress and, in the anime, speak like a man. She is so friendly and genial that nearly everyone she meets is attracted to her. When it comes to fighting the enemy, however, she distrusts outside help and prefers to work solely with Sailor Neptune and, later, Pluto and Saturn.

Hotaru Tomoe/Sailor Saturn (土萠 ほたる, Tomoe Hotaru?)
A sweet, lonely young girl whose name remains unchanged in English (though pronounced slightly differently). Daughter of a possessed mad scientist, a terrible lab accident in her youth significantly compromised her constitution. After overcoming the darkness that has surrounded her family, she is able to become the Soldier of Silence, Sailor Saturn.[22] She wields forces of destruction so powerful that she is rarely called upon to use them, and unlike the others, her Senshi and civilian personae seem somewhat disconnected. She is often pensive, and as a human has the inexplicable power to heal others.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Silver Hawk


Story

Bionic policeman Commander Stargazer recruited the SilverHawks, heroes who are "partly metal, partly real," to fight the evil Mon*Star, an escaped alien mob boss who transforms into an enormous armor-plated creature with the aid of Limbo’s Moonstar. Joining Mon*Star in his villainy is an intergalactic mob: the snakelike Yessman, the blade-armed Buzz-Saw, the "bull"-headed Mumbo-Jumbo, weather controller Windhammer, shapeshifter Mo-Lec-U-Lar, robotic card shark Pokerface, weapons-heavy Hardware, and "the musical madness of" Melodia (uses a "keytar" that fires musical notes)

Quicksilver (formerly Jonathan Quick) leads the SilverHawks, with his metal bird companion TallyHawk at his side. Twins Emily and Will Hart became Steelheart and Steelwill, the Silverhawks’ technician and strongman respectively. Country-singing Col. Bluegrass played a sonic guitar and piloted the team’s ship, the Miraj (pronounced "mirage" on the series, but given that spelling on the Kenner toy). Rounding out the group is a youngster “from the planet of the mimes,” named Copper Kidd (usually called "Kidd" for short), a mathematical genius who spoke in whistles and computerized tones. Their bionic bodies are covered by a full-body close-fitting silver (or copper for Copper Kidd) armor that only exposes the face and an arm, the armor is equipped with a retractile protective mask, recractile wings under-arm (except Blueglass) thruster on elbows, and laser-weapons over the body. At the end of every episode, Copper Kidd was quizzed (along with the home audience) on various space facts by Col. Bluegrass.

Launching from their satellite base, Hawk Haven, the SilverHawks flew into battle five days a week for one season. The fictitious Galaxy of Limbo in which the series takes place apparently has an overall atmosphere with bearthable air and acceptable living condition of temperature and pressure; characters speak in space and operate "open-air" vehicles, and Windhammer's powers work even when he is not on an actual planet. There is also gravity; characters not "flying" tend to fall downward relative to whatever vehicle, satellite, or other platform with which they lost footing. Apparently, because Silverhawks is a fantastical children's cartoon, it was not held to high standards of realism. Yet, it provided correct space facts at the end of each episode, apparently meant for the same audience.

The Silverhawks in the show's title sequence.
Original Silverhawks

* Comdr. Stargazer (voiced by Bob McFadden) - A tough and grizzled old cop with bionic capabilities. He captured Mon*Star several years ago, and had him imprisoned. Older than the other Silverhawks, he longs to return to Earth for either a vacation or for retirement. He chiefly serves as the Silverhawks "eyes and ears", keeping them apprised of their current situation. His first name is apparently Burt. Stargazer's weapon-bird is Sly-bird.

* Quicksilver (voiced by Peter Newman) - Lieutenant Jonathan Quick was the former head of the Interplanetary Force H, and is the field leader of the Silverhawks. He has a cyborg/bird companion called Tally Hawk. Known for his quick reflexes (and even quicker thinking), Quicksilver is an accomplished tactician and athlete. His armor have the lightest silver-shade.

* Bluegrass (voiced by Larry Kenney) - He is second-in-command (as a Colonel) of the Silverhawks, and the chief pilot of the group, as well as a cowboy at heart. He is the only Silverhawk who cannot fly (other than Comdr. Stargazer), but he is the one that flies the team transport vehicle, the Miraj. He likes to use his weapon/instrument (portrayed in the toyline as his weapon-bird with the name Sideman)and his lazo, has an interface with the Maraj's advanced dynamic piloting system, which he has affectionately dubbed "Hot Licks".His armor has a blue-silver shade

* Steelheart & Steelwill (voiced by Maggie Wheeler and Bob McFadden) - Sergeants Emily Hart and Will Hart are twin siblings. They are the "gearheads" of the team. They share an empathic bond in that when one sibling feels something, the other feels it as well. They are the only Silverhawks who have had real stainless steel hearts implanted during their transformation. Their weapon-birds are Rayzor (for Will) and Stronghold (for Emily). Their armors have the same dark silver-shade

* The Copper Kid is the youngest member of the Silverhawks, and the only one not a Terran (Earthling). A mathematical genius from the Planet of the Mimes, he "speaks" in mathematically calculated tones and whistles. His skin is azurine except the face that is white(similar to a mime). His armor is copper-colored but the wings are similar more silver-like. At the end of each episode, he was quizzed in several astronomy lessons by Bluegrass as training to become the reserve Miraj pilot (sure enough, he was called in to fill Bluegrass's shoes, albeit infrequently). A natural acrobat, the Copper Kid has two razor-edged discs (one mounted on each hip) which he throws like Frisbees. His weapon-bird is Mayday.

New Silverhawks

* Hotwing (Adolph Caesar) - A gold Silverhawk of African American heritage who was added in mid-season. He is a magician, and skilled illusionist. He receives his powers from a mystical energy force that 'chose' him to bear the powers to fight against injustice. He has to recharge these powers every 14 years, otherwise he will die. One notable time was when Zeek the Beak tricked the mystic force into giving him these powers, which would have resulted in Hotwing's death. Hotwing has a weapon-bird named Gyro.

* Flashback - A green time-traveling Silverhawk from the far future. When he meets the 'much older' Stargazer, who tells him of the fateful day the Silverhawks died, Flashback travels back in time to save them from an exploding sun. He also traveled back in time to stop Hardware from destroying the Silverhawks (when the mad inventor sabotaged the Miraj during the S-Hawks hyperspace-sleep to Hawk-Haven from Earth, which would have caused the autopilot to fly them straight into the sun). Flashback's weapon-bird is Backlash.

* Moonstryker - A turquoise Silverhawk. He can propel himself through space by a powerful cyclone generated from propellers that emerge from his waist. He is cocky but an expert marksman, as demonstrated when he shot a pen out of Stargazer's hand when they first met in the episode "Battle Cruiser". His fighting hawk is Tailspin.

* Condor - An old ally of Commander Stargazer, whom Condor calls "Gaze". Condor is a lone operative, believed to be either a bounty hunter or federal marshal. Instead of wings, he has cybernetic bodyparts similar to Stargazer's, and also a jetpack. Condor always talks like Humphrey Bogart.

NOTE: It must be noted that only TallyHawk appeared in almost all of the episodes in the series. All the other "weapon-birds" only appeared in a handful of episodes.
[edit] Other supporting characters

* Seymour (voiced by Peter Newman) - The television show's comic relief, is a space cabbie who frequently says "Y'know what I mean?". He might be inspired by Space Cabbie, a 1950s science fiction character.

* Zeek the Beak, - Seymour's pal. He is a green bird-like alien who often accompanies Seymour on cab rides. His catch phrases are "You wanna buy a fish?" and the interjection "Zeek!"

* Harry -He is a robot that works as a barman in Fence. He appears in many chapters usually serving Limbo drinks.

* Professor Power - He works in the Artificial Sun. He controls it. He is friendly with the Silverhawks and helps them many times, like in the amber amplifier episode. [2]

* Sanders - He is governor in Bedlama, a planet similar to the earth.

* Monotone - It is Automata's computer. It rules the whole planet. [3]

* Grod the informer - He appears in episode 32 when he informs the mob of a rock that is supposed to be worth a fortune, the Saviour Stone. [4]

* Lord Cash - He is in charge of Dolar planet, where there is plenty of Limbo money. He is friendly to Silverhawks.[5]

* Gotbucks -Dolar's new security chief.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Omega Men

Vega is a "nearby star," being only 25.3 light years from Earth. It is notable for the fact that Earth's astronomers have discovered the existence of planetoid masses around this star. (Earth's closest stellar neighbor, Alpha Centauri is 4.39 light-years away and is the former home of the planet Rann. Polaris, now home to Rann and Thanagar, is 431 light years away.) In the DC Universe, Vega does indeed teem with life, whiche began eons ago.

The First Vegans

The Guardians of the Universe created Vega's first sentient inhabitants, the Psions. These former lizards were left on the Guardians' homeword of Malthus after they departed for Oa. As the Psions evolved, they sought constantly to emulate their creators in scientific achievement. (Ashamed of their savage origins, a Psion's tail is removed at birth.) When finally the Psions found their creators on Oa, the Guardians were appalled by the Psions' experiments. The Guardians mandated that the Psions should be banished to the Vegan sector of space to attempt to achieve their own greatness. For as long as the Guardians remained in power (until the first great Crisis), the Psions would be limited to only this small corner of the universe. It was there, in the Vegan star system, that their experiments would define the evolution of life. (OM 30)

Though 25 planets circled Vega, only two contained sentient life. These worlds were polar opposites: Okaara, the utopian, technologically advanced society; and Branx Emana home to primal savages. It was X'Hal, the gracious Okaaran who first greeted the Branx warriors. She was their host but soon became their prisoner. (Legends that X'Hal's was a warrior are false, the product of generations of storytelling.) The Psions were curious to find out which trait would be dominant if they bred an Okaaran with a Branx. They met with continual failure until finally discovering an inhibiting force within the Branx. Inside each warrior, the Psions discovered an "angel," a spirit of reincarnation which rose out of the dead and returned to animate the newly-born. The Psions successfully cleaved one of these angels from its Branx host, sending the being screaming into the void. This creature would later be known as the diplomat and Omegan, Nimbus. Once freed of its symbiote, the Branx was successfully mated with X'Hal. It is unknown whether these angels are still a part of the Branx race.

X'Hal gave birth to twins, one humanoid like herself, the other a black skinned monster. Shortly thereafter, X'Hal and her "mate" killed each other in a prisoners' rage. The Psions panicked; the twins needed a mother for their experiment to continue. They bombarded X'Hal with regenerative energies in an attempt to revive her. Return she did, with vigor. The energies gave her near omnipotent powers. She annihilated her captors, their lab, and the moon surrounding it, and returned to Okaara with her sons. There she was hailed as a goddess and her human son, Lambien, assimilated easily into peaceful Okaaran society. (OM 7)


The Citadel

Lambien's brother, however, having inherited the Branx's violent disposition, was a source of constant strife. He introduced the arts of war to Okaaran society, spawning those who would one day become the revered Warlords of Okaara. Their entire society grew more warlike and in time they developed nuclear weapons which destroyed the planet's surface. Over one million years before life began on other Vegan planets, this former utopia became a dead world. Some Okaarans went underground, others migrated to other Vegan worlds. This migration, coupled with the Psions' continued experimentation, resulted in the evolution of a multitude of Vegan races. (ToNTT 4)

X'Hal's evil son was banished from Okaara. He returned to the Psions' former laboratory world and built a fortress by reassembling the fragments of its moon into a ringed citadel. This "First Citadeller" would in time clone himself into an imperfect but powerful army. Many years later, he began to anticipate his mortality. To attain godlike immortality like his brother, he would eventually implant his consciousness into the very heart of the Citadel's computer core: the Complex-Complex. (OM 7)

The ruling family of Tamaran was one of the Citadel's early targets. There, King Korithus led his people in a hopeless battle and perished along with his sons, Korthus and Scrithus. When their mother, Talathus, was taken into slavery, only their son Mythus (later Myand'r) was left to rule Tamaran. In departing, Talathus urged Mythus to make whatever sacrifices necessary to save Tamaran from total destruction. (NTT 15)

X'Hal was enraged that the Okaarans had exiled her son, and destroyed three of Vega's 25 planets. This shocking display prompted a mobilization of Okaaran forces. Only after the sacrifices of hundreds of warriors was X'Hal finally contained. For their own safety, her worshippers now also became her jailers. Before her incarceration, X'Hal imparted Lambien with some of her powers. (NTT 25)

The Rebellion & Great Wars

At the "Siege of Alaran," Citadel forces are responsible for the death of Tigorr's wife, Ghanna. (GL 143)

For the right girl, the world of Raggashoon can bring money and power. Young Harpis and Demonia of Aello seek just that. Though Demonia is concerned only with power, Harpis fast becomes a favorite among visiting soldiers. Among others, she beds Tigorr, a commander in the Great Wars. It is Delengis (one of Tigorr's men), however, who ultimately captures her heart. Their romance is cut brutally short when the evil Komand'r comes to call. Komand'r singles out Harpis and others for genetic alteration. Mama's girls will be custom-designed for Komand'r's lieutenants. Demonia is also selected but unlike her sister is elated at the results. For three years, Harpis travels alongside her new mate. Ultimately, fate brings them to Tamaran and a clash with Tigorr's band of rebels. When she spots her former love, Delengis, leaps into battle alongside the rebels. When they are defeated, she and Demonia are jailed as well. (OM 11)

One planet would remain almost untouched by the Citadel's scourge. On Euphorix, the young inventor Alonzo Dulak has devised a force field technology which he brings before X'Hal on Okaara. The goddess is impressed and imbues his invention with some of her own power, in hopes that one of Vega's worlds would survive the coming wars. (OM 15)


The Omega Men

The Prison Planet begins to swell with captives. There the charismatic Primus meets the powerful Tigorr. Their combined leadership initiates a revolt, and 200 Citadel prisoners are freed. Despite this small victory, five times that number remain imprisoned; during their escape, over 70 more of them die. (Harpis believes her lover, Delengis, has also perished.) Among the escapees, X'Hal's son Lambien later sacrifices himself to ensure the Omegans' safe passage to Earth. Regarded as a god, Lambien becomes a martyr to the Omega Men, who safeguard his essence in hopes of his revival. The surviving Omegans arrive on Earth in Newfoundland, where they establish a base from which to plan their revenge. (GL 142)

A slave for years, the young Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran finally seizes her opportunity to escape. Traveling aboard the Gordanian slave ship Q'st'r, she slays her captors and flees in a shuttle ship towards Earth. The journey from the Vegan world of Hnyxx will take three months. On Earth, the young empath called Raven assembles a team of young heroes whom she one day hopes will defeat her father, Trigon. Raven alerts the Titans to Koriand'r's arrival and they twice battle the Gordanians for her freedom. The Gordanians leave her behind, vowing that the Citadel will later send a warfleet. (NTT 1)

When the Earth man Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) is laid off from Ferris Aircraft, he and his girlfriend Carol Ferris take a vacation in Newfoundland. There, they are discovered by Harpis, who returns with a warning to the Omega Men's hidden city. There, Primus reveals the obscured shape of "him," an Omegan who they hope will heal in time to help them return home. After an unsuccessful disguised attempt to divert Hal and Carol, they reveal themselves to the Earth couple. Though Broot, Tigorr, Demonia and Harpis disagree with Primus' decision to let them live, Harpis defends Primus' leadership abilities. Nonetheless, Demonia threatens to disobey orders and kill Hal and Carol. (GL 141)

Primus forcibly stops Demonia from killing the Earthlings as Nimbus backs him up, claiming to have encountered a Green Lantern before (see Notes). In disgust, Tigorr makes known his own aspirations to lead the Omega Men. Just as the Omegans are finally found by the Gordanians, the remaining power of Lambien evolves in the powerful being Auron. Auron claims that he is not Lambien, but a reincarnation of his power. (GL 142)

From Vega, the Complex-Complex directs the Gordanians to reform into a robotic giant. But Auron (claiming to have been reincarnated by X'Hal herself to become her personal destroyer) and Green Lantern propel the Omegan's to victory over the Gordanians. At the conclusion, a Citadel commander expresses heightened anger towards the planet Earth for harboring not only the Omegans, but also the renegade Princess Koriand'r. After a long six months, Primus finally vows to get the Omegans home and face the Citadel. (GL 143)

Unable to find Green Lantern (who has been banished to space for a year), the Omega Men seek out Superman for help to return home. Instead they find that the Man of Steel has been abducted and vow once again to put the needs of others ahead of their own. In the battle, Kalista is struck by a gun, but comments that it's effects are "rather limited" on her Vegan physiology. (Action 535)

Despite the protests of others, Primus agrees to try to help Superman regain half of his stolen powers. Once accomplished, Superman takes the Omega Men aboard the Justice League satellite, where he furnishes them with fuel and a ship to return home. Just then, Superman notices the New Teen Titan called Raven appear in space outside the satellite; he draws her inside. (Action 536)

Previously — also on Earth — the Citadel has sent the evil Komand'r to Earth in search of her escaped sister Koriand'r. She sends the Gordanians to make her powers go awry, and she is thus captured. To pursue them, the Titans enlist Aqualad to retrieve the ship in which Kory came to Earth. However, Komand'r's forces quickly spit the Titans into space, left to their death. It is there that Raven envelops them in her soul self and Superman brings them aboard the JLA satellite. (NTT 23)

Primus is surprised to hear of Princess Koriand'r, whom the Omegans had believed dead. Again he pledges the Omega Men's support, agreeing to transport the Titans to Vega to rescue her. This meets with the increased protests from Tigorr and Demonia. Raven correctly deduces "Demonia would betray us." At the Citadel homeworld, Komand'r is received by revered Lord Damyn, the high chieftain who led the raid on Euphorix, exiled X'Hal and conquered all other Vegan worlds. With some Psions in his service, he hatches a plan to kidnap X'Hal. Meanwhile, the Omega Men decide to seek help from the Warlords of Okaara. They are accompanied by Auron, who once on Okaara, pleads with his mother to kill him. Held captive by the Warlords, the goddess refuses his plea and instead uses him as her vengeful tool and destroys the incoming Citadel force. Changeling takes the form of a Gordanian to try to find Starfire. (NTT 24)

The Omega Men recount the origins of X'Hal to the Titans: how she was imprisoned by the Warlords so that her worshippers are safe from her wrath. X'Hal ultimately gives herself over to the Citadel to save her homeworld of Okaara from destruction. And Demonia secretly allies herself with the Citadel just as Komand'r kills Lord Damyn, claims his position, and captures the Titans. (NTT 25)

In rage, Koriand'r temporarily breaks free, but the sisters are separated by the Citadel officials. They mandate that the two must duel to the death. If Komand'r wins, she will command the Citadel; if Koriand'r wins, Tamaran will be spared the Citadel's wrath. In the end, it is Komand'r appears to perish. But unbeknownst to the sisters, a Psion double agent has planted a trigger within each of them. Upon their deaths, 300 quake bombs will detonate throughout Vega. X'Hal quickly intervenes and destroys all the bombs then disappears, leaving her son, Auron, free from her influence. Demonia's betrayal is never discovered and she walks away alongside the Omega Men. For the first time in years, Koriand'r is reunited with her family on Tamaran, but decides to return to Earth with the Titans. (NTTANN 1)
Following her apparent death, Komand'r is rescued by a Tamaranean named Dor'ion. The near-death incident left her blind and shaken to the core, and without the will to live. Dor'ion gradually brings her back to herself. He trains her in combat not to rely on her gradually-returning sight and convinces her that Tamaran needs a leader who will fight for their freedom. When at last he reawakens her killer instincts, he makes the ultimate payment; in her blind haste, she kills him with a starbolt before realizing it was he. His death solidifies her resolve to lead Tamaran. (NTT 16)

Around this time, while battle rages on the world of Slagg, the Spittroid Shlagen first encounters Omega Men. They believe that he has come seeking their help, when in fact he had been running away. (OM 19)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

The Outsiders


Biography

Markovia and Baron Bedlam

The Outsiders form in the fictional Eastern European country of Markovia, which was at that time ravaged by war. Batman and Black Lightning have traveled there in order to free the captive Lucius Fox from Baron Bedlam, who has killed the country's king, King Viktor. Geo-Force himself is the prince of the country who gains powers from Markovia's top scientist, Dr. Helga Jace, in order to stop Bedlam. Metamorpho is searching for Dr. Jace in order for the doctor to help him with his powers. Katana arrives in Markovia in order to kill General Karnz, Bedlam's military commander, as vengeance for her family. During the adventure, Batman finds a young amnesiac girl exhibiting light-based powers in the woods, who he dubs Halo. The team bands together, defeats Baron Bedlam and decides to stay together afterwards. They fight such villains as Agent Orange, the Fearsome Five and the Cryonic Man.[2]

Masters of Disaster and the Force of July

Recurring foes are the Masters of Disaster (New Wave, Shakedown, Windfall, Heatstroke and Coldsnap), who at one point are almost able to kill Black Lightning. Windfall becomes disenchanted with her team and joins the Outsiders. Similar recurring opponents are the Force of July, a group of patriotic metahumans who also regularly came into contact with the Suicide Squad. During this time, Geo-Force's sister Terra dies as a traitor to the Teen Titans. Batman reveals his real identity as Bruce Wayne to the team, although they have already learned it. Eventually, the origin of Halo is revealed, and Emily Briggs (who during a later adventure becomes the superheroine Looker and joins the team) is introduced. Denise Howard, the love interest of Geo-Force also appears for the second time.

Without Batman

Baron Bedlam later returns to life. With the assistance of the Bad Samaritan, Masters of Disaster and Soviet forces, he again tries to retake control of Markovia. Batman withholds this information, angering the rest of the team. This eventually leads to Batman disbanding the team and returning to the Justice League. The team nonetheless travels to Markovia, discovering many Markovian military casualties. They are defeated by the Masters and learn that Bedlam has cloned Adolf Hitler. The younger clone commits suicide in horror of the actions his original self perpetrated. The Outsiders become unofficial agents of Markovia, so that they receive Markovian funding. The team moves to Los Angeles, as Geo-Force leaves behind his girlfriend Denise and Looker separates from her husband.

Outsiders (vol. 1, 1985-1988)

This series featured again the original group and lasted 28 issues, plus an Annual and a Special. This title originally ran alongside the Adventures of the Outsiders title, chronicling events a year after that series. In the end, the first couple of issues of the title were reprinted in Adventures of the Outsiders before that title was canceled.

Biography

The team have moved into a new headquarters in Los Angeles, and once again become involved in an adventure with the Force of July, ending in Moscow. Villains such as the Duke of Oil, and the Soviet superteam the People's Heroes are introduced during this time. The team's adventures take them all over the globe, most notably when the Outsiders' plane is shot down and the team is marooned on a deserted island for three weeks. Tensions rise as Geo-Force tries to resign his leadership and he and Looker give in to temptation. Eventually, they are found and are able to leave.

Even more troubles arise when a detective is hired to look into Looker's private life (now working as a model under the alias of Lia Briggs), who learns of her actual identity of Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him, and he leaves. However, he is shortly killed afterwards and Looker is arrested. The Outsiders however are able to clear her name.

Reuniting with Batman

The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight Eclipso. After the adventure Batman gives them access to a Batcave situated in Los Angeles, and the team is also infiltrated by the clone of Windfall. Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilt over their affair and eventually call it off, and Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his lover Sapphire Stagg. The clone of Windfall is ultimately killed and the Masters of Disaster are defeated as the real Windfall joins the team. The team also come in contact with the other Los Angeles based team, Infinity, Inc.

Millennium
Main article: Millennium (comics)

The team is next involved with the company wide crossover event Millennium, wherein it is revealed that Dr. Jace is an operative of the villainous Manhunters[3] and kidnaps the team.[4] The team, now also joined by the Atomic Knight, are able to free themselves, but Dr. Jace blows up both herself and Metamorpho.[5] Looker is called to return to Abyssia, the origin of her powers, where she must also face the Manhunters. During the course of the adventure, she is drained of much of her power and returns to her normal form.[6] Halo is hit in crossfire, saving Katana's life, and slips into a coma, as Katana vows to look after her.[7] The team is disbanded by Geo-Force as Looker returns to her husband, and Batman has since rejoined the Justice League

This series featured again the original group and lasted 28 issues, plus an Annual and a Special. This title originally ran alongside the Adventures of the Outsiders title, chronicling events a year after that series. In the end, the first couple of issues of the title were reprinted in Adventures of the Outsiders before that title was canceled.

Biography

The team have moved into a new headquarters in Los Angeles, and once again become involved in an adventure with the Force of July, ending in Moscow. Villains such as the Duke of Oil, and the Soviet superteam the People's Heroes are introduced during this time. The team's adventures take them all over the globe, most notably when the Outsiders' plane is shot down and the team is marooned on a deserted island for three weeks. Tensions rise as Geo-Force tries to resign his leadership and he and Looker give in to temptation. Eventually, they are found and are able to leave.

Even more troubles arise when a detective is hired to look into Looker's private life (now working as a model under the alias of Lia Briggs), who learns of her actual identity of Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him, and he leaves. However, he is shortly killed afterwards and Looker is arrested. The Outsiders however are able to clear her name.

Reuniting with Batman

The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight Eclipso. After the adventure Batman gives them access to a Batcave situated in Los Angeles, and the team is also infiltrated by the clone of Windfall. Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilt over their affair and eventually call it off, and Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his lover Sapphire Stagg. The clone of Windfall is ultimately killed and the Masters of Disaster are defeated as the real Windfall joins the team. The team also come in contact with the other Los Angeles based team, Infinity, Inc.

Split in two

After the defeat of the vampires, two teams, (one composed of Geo-Force, Katana and Techonocrat and another composed of the Eradicator, Looker, Wylde, Halo and Faust), claim the name the Outsiders, even though both teams are still considered fugitives for some time, thanks to some questionable tactics by their new members. During this time, the teams learn that Halo's original body has been brought back to life by the Kobra terrorist organization. In control of the body is Violet Harper, the evil woman whose body Halo originally inhabited. She now has abilities similar to Halo's and ends up calling herself Spectra, and joining Strike Force Kobra alongside Dervish and Windfall. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated.

The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust, father to the Outsider Faust. During the confrontation, the bear-like Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team is able to defeat Felix Faust and Wylde eventually becomes an actual bear, without the ability to speak, and locked up in a zoo.

The title ends with the clearing of the Outsiders' names and the wedding of Geo-Force and Denise Howard.

S.H.I.E.L.D


S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division) is an extra-government intelligence and security organization dedicated to protecting the nations and peoples of Earth from all threats, terrestrial or extraterrestrial. S.H.I.E.L.D. was organized in the early 1960s to meet the threat of the highly technological subversive organization called Hydra. The identities of the organization’s founders, its Executive Board, have never been revealed. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s first known Executive Director was Colonel Nicholas Fury, an ex-World War II commando and C.I.A. operative. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Supreme Headquarters is the huge mobile Helicarrier, but there are also regional offices in all the major cities of the free world and several secret bases in Communist countries. Although most of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s operations are covert, the organization’s existence is known to general public. S.H.I.E.L.D. even maintains public offices in several cities.

Only a few of the several thousand S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives active throughout the world are known.

In the wake of Colonel Nicholas Fury's "Secret War" the position of director was passed to Maria Hill.
Recently she has passed the role to Tony Stark (Iron Man) after the "Civil War".

Universe
Marvel Universe

Base of Operations
The Helicarrier; S.H.I.E.L.D. Central, New York

Current Members:
Anthony Stark (Iron Man, Director) Maria Hill (Executive Director), George Washington Bridge, Sharon Carter, Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), Contessa Valentina Allegra di Fontaine, Thaddeus "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Kenneth Hale (Gorilla Man), Daisy Johnson, Gabriel "Gabe" Jones, Ali Morales, Clay Quartermain, Natasha Romanova (Black Widow), Gail Runciter, Jasper Sitwell, the Suit, Alexei Vashin, Jimmy Woo, Howling Commandos

Former Members:
Val Adair, Agent L, Agent M, Agent 9, Agent 60, Agent 74, John Allen, Paul Allen, Dexter Bancroft, Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Blue Streak, Boothroyd, John Bronson, Laura Brown, Barth Bukowski, Stanley Carter (Sin-Eater), Jeff Cochren, Constrictor, Alec Dalton, Dean Haddad, Carl Delanden, Alex DePaul, Dimensional Man, Dragoom, Marvin Flumm (Mentallo), Nick Fury, John Garrett, Paul Garwood, Glob, Golem, Goom, Grogg, Groot, Jonathan Hart (Jack of Hearts), Joseph Hauser, Hellstorm, Jordan Holiday, James Howlett (Wolverine), Jerry Hunt, Roger Juniper, The Kid, Kraa, Lilith, Daughter Of Dracula, Living Mummy, M-80, Dr. Myron MacLain, Adam Manna, Manphibian, Rick Mason (the Agent), Chastity McBryde, Monster Ape, Danielle Moonstar, Barbara Morse-Barton (Mockingbird), Nails, Overrider, Arthur Perry, Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), David Purcell, Radek, Cliff Randall, Steve Rogers (Captain America), Jack Rollins, Chcuk Rose, Satana, Frank Schlicting (Constrictor), Silicon, Skul, Suicide Squadron, Texas Twister, Marvel Man, Rabble Rouser, Red, Scorpio, Kenjiro Tanaka, Kimberly Taylor, Nate Thurman, Jack Truman, Vamp (Animus/Vamp), Wendell Vaughn (Quasar), Vries, Kali, Kate Waynesboro, Warwolf, Wesley Williams, Sam Wilson (Falcon), Wolfen, Agent Castigan, Agent Goldman, Agent Kyle, Agent Kragg, Agent M, Agent Ratchvek, Agent Simon, Agent Taki,

Other Members (Honorary, Reserve, etc.):
A.U.T.O.F.A.C., Android X-4, Boothroyd, Chuck, Impact 739, Wild Bill

First Appearance
Strange Tales #135 (1965)

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