List of criminal organizations in DC Comics
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of fiction
al government agencies, comic book
organizations that have been published by DC Comics
and their imprints. This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completion. This page will attempt to provide a somewhat complete list and history of the many criminal and terrorist organizations present in DC Comics; you can help by expanding it with sourced additions.
. The villainous illusionist known as Mirage is a graduate of the Academy. First appears in Detective Comics
#515 (June 1982).
that absorbed Darkseid
's Evil Factory and is responsible for creating Match
. The group appears to have ended with the death of their leader, Lex Luthor
's ex-wife Contessa Erica Alexandra del Portenza. Their first appearance was in Superboy
vol. 4 #36 (February 1997).
, all its known members carriers of the metagene
who manifest no powers. They saw themselves as natural leaders, and wanted the US government to find a way to turn on everyone's metagene. They first appear in Wonder Woman Annual # 3.
terrorist organization known as the American Supremacist Party first appeared in Checkmate
vol. 1 issue #1. The group was responsible for a series of fatal bombings and attempted to release a weaponized biological agent.
assassins led by the mysterious Breathtaker, the Bureau was hired by the 2000 Committee to kill Firestorm. Known operatives are Stratos (aerokinetic), Mindboggler (telepath), and Incognito (shapeshifter). First appears in Fury of Firestorm
#29 (November 1984).
joined Batman
in rescuing the hostages and locating the bomb. The members of the Battalion wore military browns with magenta hoods over their heads. First and only appearance, Brave and the Bold #150.
World War II
organization of the same name; this society wasn't nearly as sinister as its comic book counterparts. Three different comics companies used the Black Dragon Society as villains in the 1940s: National Comics (DC Comics), Fawcett Comics
, and Quality Comics
. Interestingly enough, DC Comics came to own the other two companies so all the different incarnations of the Black Dragon Society now belong to them. All-Star Comics #12 had "The Black Dragon Menace" in which a Japanese spy ring called the Black Dragon Society of Japan steals eight American inventions and kidnaps their inventors.
The modern versions of the Black Dragon Society show up in the pages of Power Company
#1. This version appears to be made up of fanatical, east Asian Eco-terrorists
.
and Washington, D.C.
Its leader was Hazard, otherwise known as philanthropist Manuel Cabral, head of Rainforest Technologies (and secretly affiliated with weapons manufacturer AmerTek
). His costumed operatives included his female second-in-command Shellshock, Flatline, Hardsell, Hotspot, Mainline, Quake, Shellgame, and Split. The techno-pirates had frequent clashes with Steel
, who ultimately prevented them from seizing control of the United States' nuclear arsenal. The team first appears in Steel #6.
and Shayera Hol, when the attempted to steal an artifact from the Midway City Museum. The paired artifacts they were attempting to steal were analyzed and led to the development of the Justice League of America's teleportation system which first appears in Justice League Of America #78. The organization is ruled by an international triad of masked crimebosses; C.A.W. agents wear matching red and black costumes with a golden, razor edged C.A.W. emblem on their chests that doubled as a weapon.
(Kendra Saunders) in JSA: All-Stars #2.
' Lucius Fox
while he was in the country of Hasaragua.
They demanded three million dollars in ransom, and a letter of apology from Wayne Enterprises for despoiling Hasaragua's environment and the exploitation of its people.
The kidnapping was eventually exposed as a collaboration between Hasaragua's finance minister and Cell Six. In Gotham City
, Cell Six also staged a kidnapping attempt against the wife of a Hasaraguan ambassador. Cell Six troops could be visually distinguished by the Roman numeral "VI" (for 6) tattooed on their foreheads.
/Waynetech
satellite, equipped it with a laser cannon, and threatened to destroy cities at will if their demands were not met. Batman and Supergirl defeated the group and discovered that they'd allied themselves with Doctor Light
. They first appear in Brave and the Bold #147.
. The organization was led by a mysterious council, each member of which wore a uniquely colored costume (Councilman Red, Councilman Blue). Colossus had the ability to mutate humans into monstrous agents known as "Elementals". Only one Elemental by the name of Thrudvang the Earth Master was ever actually depicted; he was a skid row bum who transformed into a hulking yellow monster with the "ability to disrupt the earth". Colossus' chief enforcer was Sabre, a red and blue costumed figure with a long thin blade replacing his right hand. They first appeared in Swamp Thing vol. 1 # 23.
, which was responsible for the cloning of Paul Kirk (Manhunter
) and was eventually brought down by him and his allies Asano Nitobe, Christine St. Clair, and Kolu Mbeya.
Under the leadership of Anatol Mykros they rebuilt themselves up again, to the point where their machinations brought them to the attention of various members of the Justice Society of America
. Nemesis (Soseh Mykros), the daughter of Council leader Anatol Mykros, rebelled against them, enlisting the help of the JSA. It was eventually destroyed when Black Adam
killed Anatol Mykros in order to have Nemesis join his pro-active super-team. The Council first appeared in Detective Comics
#437 (February 1974).
.
. Their field-agents wore gold armor that was equipped with weapons and flight-packs. The D.M.T. first appear in Superman #48.
, Green Arrow
intervened. Hyrax died in the battle and Green Arrow followed soon after. First appearance Green Arrow #97.
and Justice League Europe
. First appears in Elongated Man #1 (January 1992).
. First appear in Superman: The 10-Cent Adventure
#1 (March 2003). Was later revealed to have been a front for Brainiac.
and the Teen Titans. The H.I.V.E. Master is later killed and replaced by the H.I.V.E. Mistress and they enlist Deathstroke
to help them out.
The second Incarnation of the H.I.V.E. was established by Adeline Kane, Deathstroke's ex-wife. They were tracked down by Tartarus, an Anti-Titans led by Vandal Savage
and made up of Gorilla Grodd
, Lady Vic, Red Panzer, Siren, and Cheshire
.
, who was using Intergang to help track down the Anti-Life Equation
. Intergang first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
#133 (October 1970).
made up of operatives from various other criminal organizations some based in the DC Comics universe, like CYCLOPS and O.G.R.E., and other fictional organizations such as THRUSH
and SPECTRE
. They opposed G.E.O.R.G.E., a covert agency of the United States, and the Blackhawks
.
(an age of chaos). His real name is Jeffrey Franklin Burr, and he was born part of a set of twins, but was stolen at birth by the Cult of the Kobra god, since a prophecy claimed he would lead them to rule the world. Under their teaching, he became a dangerous warrior and a sadistic
criminal mastermind. Kobra led the cult into using advanced technology to menace the world.
Kobra the organization, first appears in Kobra #1, cover dated March 1976. Kobra created two separate teams of superpowered mercenaries called Strike Force Kobra.
, an enemy of Batman
. The League of Assassins was founded by Ra's al Ghul (exactly when is unknown) to be "the fang that protects the head" (Batgirl #67, 2005). Members of the League demonstrated willingness to die at a word from Ra's. They have included some of the most dangerous assassins
in the world including Lady Shiva
, David Cain, and master archer Merlyn
.
aliens to take over the world. Locus placed members of the Doom Patrol
, Justice Society of America
, and Justice League
into special interment camps and stole their limbs in order to create perfect bodies for themselves. First appear in JLA: Year One #1 (January 1998)
fought and blinded their Washington, D.C.
leader, Edwin Guerrehart. First appearance in Action Comics Weekly
#636. Les Mille Yeux later hired Colonel Computron to kidnap Starman
.
were triggered by the Monitor
shortly before the Crisis on Infinite Earths
. The six criminals drew on broadcast power beamed down from a special satellite owned by the rock video channel RTV. The Network members were Blue Matt (invisibility), Cathode (electrokinetic), Erase (acid touch), Fast Forward (enhances kinetic potential), UHF (manipulates audible and inaudible soundwaves), and Volume (can increase mass and density). The first Network was defeated by Superman and Batman. Network I first appeared in World's Finest Comics
#311 (January 1985).
. This Network has been run by a villainess named Blacksmith. Its services are frequently used by Kobra
. The Network's base is protected by the Rogues
, and Colonel Computron units.
. Businesswoman Celia Kazantkakis (Athena), used the Network to get her revenge against the Gotham Rossetti mob. After a clash with Batman
and his allies the Network was crippled, but Kazantkakis escaped. Known Network operatives are: Tracker, Technician, Doctor Excess, Bugg, Suicide King, Mister Fun, and Freeway.
and Green Lantern
took them down in Justice Society of America
vol. 2# 1.
. First appearance Showcase '94 #1.
universe
.
and Nick Cardy
, this group first appeared in Aquaman
#26 July (1976).
Within the context of the DC Universe, the Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement, O.G.R.E, is a small mercenary terrorist group, led by the black-hooded Supreme One. Operating for an unnamed foreign government, they have confronted Aquaman
in a number of occasions and worked through either hired agents, such as Black Manta
, or coerced ones, such as Typhoon and Huntress.
vol 4, #9 (August 1992) and within the context of the DC universe, the Ocean Going Resource Exchange, also referred to as the Exchange, is a corporate extension of Merrevale Oil created by Jordan Wylie. Publicly presenting itself as an environmental firm, its actual activities bring it into conflict with Aquaman
and the Sea Devils
. This results in Wylie being removed from public positions at Merrevale and the Exchange.
on an international search for answers. In the course of the case, Batman learned of the abduction of Hungarian physicist Lucas Nagy and eventually pieced together clues that indicated that a terrorist organization known as Omega had forced him to build a 20-megaton nuclear bomb. When the terrorists threatened Gotham City with a nuclear holocaust, Batman's own experiences seemed to back up their claims. Eventually, Batman discovered that Omega's leader had manipulated everyone. Unable to force Nagy to create such a bomb, the leader realized that no one would know whether Omega truly had a bomb and set out to convince everyone that it did exist, with Batman as "Omega's prime witness". Only appearance in Batman #283.
, the 100 kept a firm grip on the city's criminal underworld for years, indulging in crimes such as drug trafficking
and racketeering
. Their first appearance was in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane
#105. A recent retcon
in Superman #665 (September 2007) shows that during Superman's early years in Metropolis, the 100 was a smaller organization called the 10, with ties to Intergang
.
with Director Ballard as the presidential candidate. The 1000 first appear in Booster Gold
#2 March (1986).
. The team was created and guided by Qurac's President Marlo and had accepted, as its first commission, the assignment of killing the President of the United States
. Former Suicide Squad
member Jess Bright, now a Soviet operative named Koshchei helped bioengineer candidates for the team.
, were a group of soldier-monks that were formed during the Crusades
. The Order enriched itself, though, during the Crusades, then went into hiding. The Order's first champion was an Asian man named Stephen Forrest Lee the assassin known to Mark Shaw as Dumas. The failure of this champion splintered the order. The main branch retreated and the violent splinter elements created a new champion called Azrael, a hereditary title given to the splinter Order's near-superhuman enforcer and assassin. Members of the splinter Order enlarged the organization's power by killing their enemies, hoarding knowledge, and kidnapping some of the greatest thinkers in the world. The Order also invented "disinformation", to ensure that the theories of the kidnapped geniuses would look so silly that nobody would miss them or examine their research. With a large amount of help from the most recent Azrael
, Jean-Paul Valley, the splinter group was apparently scattered.
with a ten-week assault that included "bombing banks, federal office buildings, and courthouses. Their terror campaign paralyzed the city. They were led by Thanatos, clad in a skull mask, a green costume and red cape, gloves and boots, and secretly an Italian terrorist named Sophia Santos.
The PLA later resurfaced in Washington, D.C.
, agreeing to "accidentally" kill an anti-crime senator during one of their attacks in exchange for a delivery of weapons and explosives from syndicate queen Irene Scarfield. The leader of this PLA operation was Bloodclaw, a bald, bearded man with crimson steel fingernails. He disappeared into the Potomac River
following a fight with Batman and was presumed dead.
and the Challengers of the Unknown
.
team consisting of Diana Prince
and Steve Trevor
were assigned to go with Selkirk to the exchange, but they were waylaid by the terrorists and betrayed by Selkirk himself who helped Sorkhan escape. Their first and only appearances were in Wonder Woman
#244.
on two continents. They even had the resources and know how to create their own weaponized viruses. Shadowspire's first appearance was in Deathstroke
#53. The group was created by Tom Joyner and Mike Collins.
. The Syndicate's principals were all metahuman
s felt they had a free run of the city since no major superhero teams operate on the West Coast of the DC Comics universe. Known principals were Visionary, Gizmo
, the Kilg%re, Matchmaker, Calculator
, Collector, and the Joker
. The group came into conflict with the Birds of Prey, who clashed with street level operatives such as: Carface, Diamond, Gangly Man, Mind Bullet, Topaz, and Tuatara, before working their way up to the principals.
. Their criminal agenda often brought them into conflict with the terrorist organization known as Kobra
. They later expanded their criminal empire to the West Coast. Albert Michaels was one of the sleeper agents of rogue SKULL scientist Alysia Damalis. The SKULL was introduced in 1976's Superman
issue #301.
Skull was seemingly inactive until Simon Pons revitalized the group; Pons first appears in Outsiders
vol. 1 #6, but does not take an active role until Outsiders vol. 1 Annual #1 in a story entitled "The Skull..., The Serpent... and the Outsiders". In this story Simon Pons rebuilds SKULL and renews their long standing feud with Kobra.
The organization was led by a green costumed albino woman named Mortalla. S.P.I.D.E.R.'s stated intention was to ultimately destabilize all world governments and then use the chaos to make themselves rich. Most of Mortalla's operatives wore standard green, yellow, and red uniforms but her division chiefs, including the Spider and the Widow had distinctive costumes.
S.P.I.D.E.R.'s first and only appearances were in Catwoman
#48 and #49.
known as the Syndicate was a loose alliance of alien interests operating on Earth. Known members included drug dealer Byth Rok
and smuggler Kanjar Ro
. The Syndicate's operations were highlighted during the Crimelord/Syndicate War a storyline which ran through the titles Darkstars
#32 (March 1995), Deathstroke
#48-50 (June-August 1995), and New Titans #122 (June 1995). The Crimelord was eventually revealed to be Steve Dayton and the Syndicate was crushed by a collection of Earth's heroes including Extreme Justice
, the Outsiders
, and the Blood Pack.
(Ron Raymond), and he passed the task on to a villainess named Mindboggler. Firestorm defeated both Breathtaker and Mindboggler and handed them over to the authorities. Mindboggler later led Firestorm to the headquarters of the Committee. The Committee was founded by corrupt industrialist Henry Hewitt, AKA Tokamak, and first appeared in Fury of Firestorm #15. Other operatives of the Committee were the Enforcers (Leroy Merkyn and Mica) and Multiplex.
. Their secretive leader had a number of aliases: Mister Vulture, Mister V, and Faceless (a.k.a. Marco Xavier). VULTURE first appeared in House of Mystery #160 July (1966), created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.
) was created. A later program created the creature known as Baby Wildebeest. The Titans were later shocked to discover that the Wildebeest leader was former Titan Jericho
. Jericho had created the Society in order to grow bodies for the tainted souls of New Azarath which were currently in possession of his body. Jericho had used the Society as a front to kidnap the Titans and use their bodies for this end. Jericho's body was destroyed by his father, Deathstroke the Terminator but his consciousness survived, hidden in his father's mind.
Recently, a new Wildebeest Society has appeared, consisting of new 'beests grown by Goth and the Contessa, using schematics and technology created by the original Society. First appears in New Teen Titans vol. 2 #36 (October 1987).
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al government agencies, comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
organizations that have been published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and their imprints. This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completion. This page will attempt to provide a somewhat complete list and history of the many criminal and terrorist organizations present in DC Comics; you can help by expanding it with sourced additions.
Academy of Crime
A low rent "school for criminals" based in Hollywood, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The villainous illusionist known as Mirage is a graduate of the Academy. First appears in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#515 (June 1982).
The Agenda
An opposing organization in genetics to Project CadmusProject Cadmus
Project Cadmus is a fictional genetic engineering project in the DC Comics Universe. It was created by Jack Kirby as the DNA Project in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 , and was run by the former Newsboy Legion...
that absorbed Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
's Evil Factory and is responsible for creating Match
Match (DC Comics)
Match is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe. He is a clone of Superboy. Match appeared in the Superboy title, issues of Young Justice and the Sins of Youth and Joker's Last Laugh crossover events...
. The group appears to have ended with the death of their leader, Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
's ex-wife Contessa Erica Alexandra del Portenza. Their first appearance was in Superboy
Superboy (Kon-El)
Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
vol. 4 #36 (February 1997).
Altered Strain
Altered Strain was formed after the InvasionInvasion! (DC Comics)
Invasion! was a three issue comic book limited series and crossover event published in late 1988-early 1989 by DC Comics. It was plotted by Keith Giffen, and ties up a great many plotlines from various Giffen-created DC series, including Omega Men, Justice League International, and Legion of...
, all its known members carriers of the metagene
Metahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
who manifest no powers. They saw themselves as natural leaders, and wanted the US government to find a way to turn on everyone's metagene. They first appear in Wonder Woman Annual # 3.
ASP
The Neo-NaziNeo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
terrorist organization known as the American Supremacist Party first appeared in Checkmate
Checkmate (comics)
Checkmate, a division of Task Force X, is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Action Comics #598 and proceeded to have its own ongoing title in Checkmate!...
vol. 1 issue #1. The group was responsible for a series of fatal bombings and attempted to release a weaponized biological agent.
Assassination Bureau
An organization of metahumanMetahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
assassins led by the mysterious Breathtaker, the Bureau was hired by the 2000 Committee to kill Firestorm. Known operatives are Stratos (aerokinetic), Mindboggler (telepath), and Incognito (shapeshifter). First appears in Fury of Firestorm
Firestorm (comics)
Firestorm is the name of several comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the first Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein, by himself as Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear...
#29 (November 1984).
The Battalion of Doom
The Battalion of Doom kidnapped a variety of influential journalists and businessmen and demanded "the complete surrender of all political, financial, and police power in Gotham". If the demands were not met, the Battalion was prepared to detonate a nuclear device within the city. After infiltrating the terrorists as a West Coast enforcer, SupermanSuperman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
joined Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
in rescuing the hostages and locating the bomb. The members of the Battalion wore military browns with magenta hoods over their heads. First and only appearance, Brave and the Bold #150.
Black Dragon Society
The Black Dragon Society is based on a realBlack Dragon Society
The was a prominent paramilitary, ultranationalist right-wing group in Japan.-History:The Kokuryūkai was founded in 1901 by Uchida Ryohei, and was descended from the Genyōsha. Its name is derived from the Amur River, called Heilongjiang or "Black Dragon River" in Chinese , read as Kokuryū-kō in...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
organization of the same name; this society wasn't nearly as sinister as its comic book counterparts. Three different comics companies used the Black Dragon Society as villains in the 1940s: National Comics (DC Comics), Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
, and Quality Comics
Quality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
. Interestingly enough, DC Comics came to own the other two companies so all the different incarnations of the Black Dragon Society now belong to them. All-Star Comics #12 had "The Black Dragon Menace" in which a Japanese spy ring called the Black Dragon Society of Japan steals eight American inventions and kidnaps their inventors.
The modern versions of the Black Dragon Society show up in the pages of Power Company
Power Company
The Power Company was a team of professional superheroes-for-hire in the DC Comics universe. The team, created by Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett, first appeared in JLA 61,...
#1. This version appears to be made up of fanatical, east Asian Eco-terrorists
Eco-terrorism
Eco-terrorism usually refers to acts of violence or sabotage committed in support of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes against persons or their property....
.
Black Ops
Black Ops was a criminal organization devoted to accumulating power with sophisticated headquarters in both MetropolisMetropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Its leader was Hazard, otherwise known as philanthropist Manuel Cabral, head of Rainforest Technologies (and secretly affiliated with weapons manufacturer AmerTek
Amertek
AmerTek Industries is a fictional corporation in the . They first appeared in Steel #1 .-Fictional history:AmerTek Industries is a military industrial firm that employed engineer Dr. John Henry Irons. Irons is the engineer that developed the BG-60, a powerful man-portable energy cannon, which is...
). His costumed operatives included his female second-in-command Shellshock, Flatline, Hardsell, Hotspot, Mainline, Quake, Shellgame, and Split. The techno-pirates had frequent clashes with Steel
John Henry Irons
Steel , also known as the Man of Steel, is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. First appearing in The Adventures of Superman #500 , he is the third character known as Steel and was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove...
, who ultimately prevented them from seizing control of the United States' nuclear arsenal. The team first appears in Steel #6.
C.A.W.
C.A.W. the "Criminal Alliance of the World" specialized in archaeological forensics used for the retrieval of lost ancient technology. This brought them into conflict with Katar HolKatar Hol
Katar Hol is a DC Comics superhero, the Silver Age Hawkman. Created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold # 34 .-Silver Age version:...
and Shayera Hol, when the attempted to steal an artifact from the Midway City Museum. The paired artifacts they were attempting to steal were analyzed and led to the development of the Justice League of America's teleportation system which first appears in Justice League Of America #78. The organization is ruled by an international triad of masked crimebosses; C.A.W. agents wear matching red and black costumes with a golden, razor edged C.A.W. emblem on their chests that doubled as a weapon.
C.A.W.
A second organization calling itself C.A.W. (Crusading American Warriors) was encountered by HawkgirlHawkgirl
Hawkgirl is the name of several female fictional superhero characters, all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes...
(Kendra Saunders) in JSA: All-Stars #2.
Cell Six
Cell Six was "the most notorious terrorist organization in Latin America," one responsible for the abduction of Wayne EnterprisesWayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
' Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox is a fictional character appearing in Batman comic books by DC Comics. He was created by Len Wein and John Calnan, and first appeared in Batman #307 . As a supporting character, he acts as Bruce Wayne's business manager who supposedly unknowingly runs the business interests that supply...
while he was in the country of Hasaragua.
They demanded three million dollars in ransom, and a letter of apology from Wayne Enterprises for despoiling Hasaragua's environment and the exploitation of its people.
The kidnapping was eventually exposed as a collaboration between Hasaragua's finance minister and Cell Six. In Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, Cell Six also staged a kidnapping attempt against the wife of a Hasaraguan ambassador. Cell Six troops could be visually distinguished by the Roman numeral "VI" (for 6) tattooed on their foreheads.
Children of Light
The Children of Light was a Mid-Eastern costumed terrorist group originally led by Kahman Abhood. Following Abhood's arrest, the group seized control of a S.T.A.R. LabsS.T.A.R. Labs
S.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
/Waynetech
Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
satellite, equipped it with a laser cannon, and threatened to destroy cities at will if their demands were not met. Batman and Supergirl defeated the group and discovered that they'd allied themselves with Doctor Light
Doctor Light
Doctor Light is the name of various fictional scientists.* Doctor Light , the DC Comics supervillain* Doctor Light , the DC Comics superheroine* Doctor Light , the Mega Man character Thomas Light...
. They first appear in Brave and the Bold #147.
Colossus
Colossus was a mysterious organization that sought the secret of Alec Holland's bio-restorative formula to create an army of swamp men similar to the Swamp ThingSwamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
. The organization was led by a mysterious council, each member of which wore a uniquely colored costume (Councilman Red, Councilman Blue). Colossus had the ability to mutate humans into monstrous agents known as "Elementals". Only one Elemental by the name of Thrudvang the Earth Master was ever actually depicted; he was a skid row bum who transformed into a hulking yellow monster with the "ability to disrupt the earth". Colossus' chief enforcer was Sabre, a red and blue costumed figure with a long thin blade replacing his right hand. They first appeared in Swamp Thing vol. 1 # 23.
The Council
The first Council was an international secret societySecret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
, which was responsible for the cloning of Paul Kirk (Manhunter
Manhunter (comics)
-Golden Age:The first of DC's Manhunters was a non-costumed independent investigator, Paul Kirk, who helped police solve crimes during the early 1940s. Though the series was titled "Paul Kirk, Manhunter", Kirk didn't use the Manhunter name as an alias...
) and was eventually brought down by him and his allies Asano Nitobe, Christine St. Clair, and Kolu Mbeya.
Under the leadership of Anatol Mykros they rebuilt themselves up again, to the point where their machinations brought them to the attention of various members of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
. Nemesis (Soseh Mykros), the daughter of Council leader Anatol Mykros, rebelled against them, enlisting the help of the JSA. It was eventually destroyed when Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
killed Anatol Mykros in order to have Nemesis join his pro-active super-team. The Council first appeared in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#437 (February 1974).
CYCLOPS
The group of international jewel thieves known as CYCLOPS, first appeared in Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #64. Known operatives are Marcia Monroe the first Queen BeeQueen Bee (comics)
Queen Bee is the name of four different DC Comics supervillains.-Queen Bee :The leader of the hiveworld Korll, Zazzala lives only for the interstellar expansion of her species. Zazzala first appeared in Justice League of America #23...
.
D.M.T.
The D.M.T. were an international weapons coalition who came into possession of an extraterrestrial craft and its pilot following the events of InvasionInvasion! (DC Comics)
Invasion! was a three issue comic book limited series and crossover event published in late 1988-early 1989 by DC Comics. It was plotted by Keith Giffen, and ties up a great many plotlines from various Giffen-created DC series, including Omega Men, Justice League International, and Legion of...
. Their field-agents wore gold armor that was equipped with weapons and flight-packs. The D.M.T. first appear in Superman #48.
Eden Corps
Outwardly an above-board West Coast organization, the Eden Corps soon established itself as a radical terrorist cell dedicated to taking on "corporate America and its ravagers". Led by Hyrax (Veronica Dale), the Eden Corps committed terrorist styled crimes like bombing dams on its way to a bigger goal, unleashing a Russian-created weaponized germ that ate plastic. Before the Eden Corps could unleash the germ on MetropolisMetropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
intervened. Hyrax died in the battle and Green Arrow followed soon after. First appearance Green Arrow #97.
Empire of Death
The Empire of Death was a terrorist group formed by a former Nazi SS colonel named Von Gross. Its agents wore skull masks, possessed a fleet of aircraft, and operated from a giant solar-powered flying skull. With "trained agents in every corner of the globe," the Empire of Death engaged in espionage and contract assassination with an eye towards world domination. Von Gross was eventually slain by Blackhawk but the Empire of Death remained a going concern through its operatives. The commander of the Empire of Death's undersea forces was Killer Shark, who retooled the War Wheel into an amphibious weapon of destruction. First appearance, Blackhawk #249.Eurocrime
A European metahuman criminal organization that fought Elongated ManElongated Man
The Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was in The Flash vol. 1, #112...
and Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe
Justice League Europe was a DC Comics book run that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America ....
. First appears in Elongated Man #1 (January 1992).
Futuresmiths
The Futuresmiths are a mysterious group of criminal scientists and high tech arms dealers who have an underground operation in Metropolis. Known operatives are Amok, and Cir-ElCir-El
Cir-El is a fictional character. The alleged daughter of Superman, she first appeared in Superman: The 10 Cent Adventure. Created by Steven Seagle and Scott McDaniel, she was one of many characters known as Supergirl.-Superman: The 10 Cent Adventure:...
. First appear in Superman: The 10-Cent Adventure
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
#1 (March 2003). Was later revealed to have been a front for Brainiac.
H.I.V.E.
H.I.V.E. stands for The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination. During the first incarnation of the H.I.V.E., the H.I.V.E. Master gathered seven other unnamed criminal scientists to take over the world and eliminate their enemies in the form of SupermanSuperman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and the Teen Titans. The H.I.V.E. Master is later killed and replaced by the H.I.V.E. Mistress and they enlist Deathstroke
Deathstroke
Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
to help them out.
The second Incarnation of the H.I.V.E. was established by Adeline Kane, Deathstroke's ex-wife. They were tracked down by Tartarus, an Anti-Titans led by Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage
Vandal Savage is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 , and was created by Alfred Bester and Martin Nodell....
and made up of Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino....
, Lady Vic, Red Panzer, Siren, and Cheshire
Cheshire (comics)
Cheshire is a DC Comics villain that first appeared in New Teen Titans Annual #2 .-Fictional character biography:Born to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, Jade Nguyen had an unhappy childhood and was sold into slavery...
.
Intergang
A criminal cartel secretly organized by DarkseidDarkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
, who was using Intergang to help track down the Anti-Life Equation
Anti-Life Equation
The Anti-Life Equation is the equation for total control over the free will of sentient beings, for which the DC Comics villain Darkseid is searching in the Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting. It is for this reason that he sends his forces to Earth, as he believes part of the equation exists in the...
. Intergang first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (comic)
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues...
#133 (October 1970).
International Crime Combine
The International Crime Combine is a supraorganizationSupraorganization
A supraorganization is an organization whose members are organizations rather than individuals....
made up of operatives from various other criminal organizations some based in the DC Comics universe, like CYCLOPS and O.G.R.E., and other fictional organizations such as THRUSH
Thrush
-Birds:* Thrush , any of the many birds in the Turdidae family* Antthrush, any of a group of birds within the Formicariidae family* Dohrn's Thrush-babbler , a species of bird in the Timalidae family...
and SPECTRE
SPECTRE
SPECTRE is a fictional global terrorist organisation featured in the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, the films based on those novels, and James Bond video games...
. They opposed G.E.O.R.G.E., a covert agency of the United States, and the Blackhawks
Blackhawk (comics)
Blackhawk, a long-running comic book series, was also a film serial, a radio series and a novel. The comic book was published first by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics. The series was created by Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera, and Bob Powell, but the artist most associated with the feature is Reed...
.
Kobra Cult
Kobra is an international terrorist and mad scientist whose namesake organization has crossed paths with the majority of Earth's costumed heroes during his attempts to usher in the Kali YugaKali Yuga
Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...
(an age of chaos). His real name is Jeffrey Franklin Burr, and he was born part of a set of twins, but was stolen at birth by the Cult of the Kobra god, since a prophecy claimed he would lead them to rule the world. Under their teaching, he became a dangerous warrior and a sadistic
Sadism and masochism
Sadomasochism broadly refers to the receiving of pleasure—often sexual—from acts involving the infliction or reception of pain or humiliation. The name originates from two authors on the subject, Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch...
criminal mastermind. Kobra led the cult into using advanced technology to menace the world.
Kobra the organization, first appears in Kobra #1, cover dated March 1976. Kobra created two separate teams of superpowered mercenaries called Strike Force Kobra.
League of Assassins
The League of Assassins is a cultlike organization of trained killers formerly led by Ra's al GhulRa's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's...
, an enemy of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. The League of Assassins was founded by Ra's al Ghul (exactly when is unknown) to be "the fang that protects the head" (Batgirl #67, 2005). Members of the League demonstrated willingness to die at a word from Ra's. They have included some of the most dangerous assassins
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
in the world including Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva is a fictional comic book character co-created by Dennis O'Neil and Ric Estrada, and published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter as an antagonist of Richard Dragon...
, David Cain, and master archer Merlyn
Merlyn (DC Comics)
Merlyn is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He is an archer created by writer Mike Friedrich, artist Dick Dillin, and inker Neal Adams as an archvillain of the hero Green Arrow, and he first appeared in Justice League of America #94 ....
.
Locus
An international group of criminal scientists which conspired with the AppelaxianAppelaxian
The Appelaxians are a fictional alien race in DC Comics. They first appeared in Justice League of America #9, which told the origin of the League. Seven Apellexians used Earth as a battleground to decide who would rule their planet as Kalar. They were defeated by seven Earth heroes, who went on to...
aliens to take over the world. Locus placed members of the Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
The Doom Patrol is a superhero team appearing in publications from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80...
, Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, and Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
into special interment camps and stole their limbs in order to create perfect bodies for themselves. First appear in JLA: Year One #1 (January 1998)
Les Mille Yeux
Les Mille Yeux, "The Thousand Eyes", was a major international crime cartel involved in drugs, arms smuggling, and political blackmail. Phantom LadyPhantom Lady
Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first female superhero characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book companies, and a new version of the...
fought and blinded their Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
leader, Edwin Guerrehart. First appearance in Action Comics Weekly
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#636. Les Mille Yeux later hired Colonel Computron to kidnap Starman
Starman (comics)
Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61...
.
MAZE
MAZE was an international espionage agency, that stole information from around the world to sell to the highest bidder. They also undertook assignments to discredit political dissidents and assassinate world leaders. MAZE had access to a number of super-weapons and was constantly seeking new items for its arsenal. First appearance in Superman #268. MAZE operatives frequently fought Batgirl and Robin in the pages of Batman Family in the 1970s.Network I
The original Network members were band of small time villains whose metagenesMetahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
were triggered by the Monitor
Monitor (comics)
The Monitor is a fictional character created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez as one of the main characters of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series....
shortly before the Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
. The six criminals drew on broadcast power beamed down from a special satellite owned by the rock video channel RTV. The Network members were Blue Matt (invisibility), Cathode (electrokinetic), Erase (acid touch), Fast Forward (enhances kinetic potential), UHF (manipulates audible and inaudible soundwaves), and Volume (can increase mass and density). The first Network was defeated by Superman and Batman. Network I first appeared in World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
#311 (January 1985).
Network II
The second Network is a black market for supervillains based in Keystone CityKeystone City
Keystone City is a fictional city in the . Specifically, it is the home of both the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West...
. This Network has been run by a villainess named Blacksmith. Its services are frequently used by Kobra
Kobra (comics)
Kobra is the name used by two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The Jeffrey Burr Kobra first appeared in Kobra #1 , and was created by Martin Pasko, Steve Sherman, Jack Kirby, and Pablo Marcos...
. The Network's base is protected by the Rogues
Rogues (comics)
Some of the enemies of the comic book superhero the Flash, led by Captain Cold, constitute a loose criminal association who refer to themselves as the Rogues, disdaining the use of the term "supervillain" or "super-criminal"....
, and Colonel Computron units.
Network III
The third Network is a widespread organization of criminals who recently appeared in Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. Businesswoman Celia Kazantkakis (Athena), used the Network to get her revenge against the Gotham Rossetti mob. After a clash with Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and his allies the Network was crippled, but Kazantkakis escaped. Known Network operatives are: Tracker, Technician, Doctor Excess, Bugg, Suicide King, Mister Fun, and Freeway.
New Order
The New Order was a group of metahumans named Cain, Ammo, Corona, and Scud who commandeered a nuclear facility and demanded "one billion dollars and all mutant wild life freed". The FlashFlash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
and Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
took them down in Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
vol. 2# 1.
Oblivion Front
The Oblivion Front, whose forces were clad in blue, red, and gold armor, was "a terrorist splinter group" led by Dominion (Dominique Duchamp). Dominion herself wore a similar, less-armored costume and had a scar down the right side of her face. Dominion later led the Oblivion Front in an assault during which they intended to raid a weapons vault. Instead, the entire group was taken down by GunfireGunfire (comics)
Gunfire is a fictional DC Comics superhero and freelance anti-terrorist operative. He first appeared in Deathstroke Annual #3 October 1993, he was created by Len Wein and Steve Erwin.-Fictional character biography:...
. First appearance Showcase '94 #1.
O.G.R.E.
O.R.G.E is an acronym used by two different groups in the DCDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
.
Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement
Created by Bob HaneyBob Haney
Robert G. "Bob" Haney was a US comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.- Early life and career :...
and Nick Cardy
Nick Cardy
Nick Cardy , a.k.a. Nick Cardi, is an American comic book artist best known for his DC Comics work on Aquaman, the Teen Titans and other major characters....
, this group first appeared in Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
#26 July (1976).
Within the context of the DC Universe, the Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement, O.G.R.E, is a small mercenary terrorist group, led by the black-hooded Supreme One. Operating for an unnamed foreign government, they have confronted Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
in a number of occasions and worked through either hired agents, such as Black Manta
Black Manta
Black Manta is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as the archenemy of Aquaman. The character debuted in Aquaman #35 .-Fictional character biography:...
, or coerced ones, such as Typhoon and Huntress.
Ocean Going Resource Exchange
First appearing in AquamanAquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
vol 4, #9 (August 1992) and within the context of the DC universe, the Ocean Going Resource Exchange, also referred to as the Exchange, is a corporate extension of Merrevale Oil created by Jordan Wylie. Publicly presenting itself as an environmental firm, its actual activities bring it into conflict with Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
and the Sea Devils
Sea Devils (comics)
The Sea Devils are a team of characters in comics published by DC Comics. They are a team of conventional adventurers, in undersea adventures. They were created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath ....
. This results in Wylie being removed from public positions at Merrevale and the Exchange.
Omega
The murders of several foreign intelligence agents led BatmanBatman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
on an international search for answers. In the course of the case, Batman learned of the abduction of Hungarian physicist Lucas Nagy and eventually pieced together clues that indicated that a terrorist organization known as Omega had forced him to build a 20-megaton nuclear bomb. When the terrorists threatened Gotham City with a nuclear holocaust, Batman's own experiences seemed to back up their claims. Eventually, Batman discovered that Omega's leader had manipulated everyone. Unable to force Nagy to create such a bomb, the leader realized that no one would know whether Omega truly had a bomb and set out to convince everyone that it did exist, with Batman as "Omega's prime witness". Only appearance in Batman #283.
The 100
Originally based in MetropolisMetropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
, the 100 kept a firm grip on the city's criminal underworld for years, indulging in crimes such as drug trafficking
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
and racketeering
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
. Their first appearance was in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
#105. A recent retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
in Superman #665 (September 2007) shows that during Superman's early years in Metropolis, the 100 was a smaller organization called the 10, with ties to Intergang
Intergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
.
The 1000
The former Director of the 1000 was a US senator named Henry Ballard who shepherded the organization's new direction and goals. Under Director Ballard the 100 changed its name to the 1000, attempting to expand their reach to even the Oval OfficeOval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
with Director Ballard as the presidential candidate. The 1000 first appear in Booster Gold
Booster Gold
Booster Gold is a fictional DC Comics superhero. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes. The character is initially depicted as a glory-seeking showboat from the future, using knowledge of...
#2 March (1986).
Onslaught
The Onslaught is a team of superpowered international terrorists-for-hire operating out of the outlaw nation of QuracQurac
Qurac is a fictional country in the DC universe. It is a tiny Middle Eastern country on the Persian Gulf, wedged between Iraq and Kuwait. Qurac is often used when DC has need of a terrorist state in the Middle East.-History:...
. The team was created and guided by Qurac's President Marlo and had accepted, as its first commission, the assignment of killing the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Former Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
member Jess Bright, now a Soviet operative named Koshchei helped bioengineer candidates for the team.
Order of Saint Dumas
The Order, originally part of the Knights TemplarKnights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, were a group of soldier-monks that were formed during the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. The Order enriched itself, though, during the Crusades, then went into hiding. The Order's first champion was an Asian man named Stephen Forrest Lee the assassin known to Mark Shaw as Dumas. The failure of this champion splintered the order. The main branch retreated and the violent splinter elements created a new champion called Azrael, a hereditary title given to the splinter Order's near-superhuman enforcer and assassin. Members of the splinter Order enlarged the organization's power by killing their enemies, hoarding knowledge, and kidnapping some of the greatest thinkers in the world. The Order also invented "disinformation", to ensure that the theories of the kidnapped geniuses would look so silly that nobody would miss them or examine their research. With a large amount of help from the most recent Azrael
Azrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
, Jean-Paul Valley, the splinter group was apparently scattered.
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army (commonly known as the "Death’s Head") first made its impact on Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
with a ten-week assault that included "bombing banks, federal office buildings, and courthouses. Their terror campaign paralyzed the city. They were led by Thanatos, clad in a skull mask, a green costume and red cape, gloves and boots, and secretly an Italian terrorist named Sophia Santos.
The PLA later resurfaced in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, agreeing to "accidentally" kill an anti-crime senator during one of their attacks in exchange for a delivery of weapons and explosives from syndicate queen Irene Scarfield. The leader of this PLA operation was Bloodclaw, a bald, bearded man with crimson steel fingernails. He disappeared into the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
following a fight with Batman and was presumed dead.
Scorpio
A mercenary group of terrorists-for-hire. Scorpio is a well-equipped organization always on the look out for advanced technology that can easily be weaponized. They were first seen in public fighting off both the Sea DevilsSea Devils (comics)
The Sea Devils are a team of characters in comics published by DC Comics. They are a team of conventional adventurers, in undersea adventures. They were created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath ....
and the Challengers of the Unknown
Challengers of the Unknown
The Challengers of the Unknown is a group of fictional characters in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, or co-created with Dave Wood , this quartet of adventurers explored science fictional and apparent paranormal occurrences and faced fantastic menaces.Scripts for the first...
.
S.C.Y.T.H.E.
S.C.Y.T.H.E. was an anti-government terrorist organization from a European country called Lugwainia. They abducted brilliant aeronautics engineer Robert Selkirk, who'd spent years as a political prisoner in a pseudo Soviet nation before gaining asylum in the U.S., and they demanded an exchange with their imprisoned leader, Alexander Sorkhan. A United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
team consisting of Diana Prince
Diana Prince
Diana Prince is a fictional character created by Charles Moulton and Harry G. Peter. Appearing regularly in stories published by DC Comics, she debuted in Sensation Comics #1 and serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Wonder Woman.-Overview:Through the popularity of her Wonder...
and Steve Trevor
Steve Trevor
Steve Trevor is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, as the primary love interest of Wonder Woman. He first appeared in All Star Comics #8 .-Golden Age:...
were assigned to go with Selkirk to the exchange, but they were waylaid by the terrorists and betrayed by Selkirk himself who helped Sorkhan escape. Their first and only appearances were in Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
#244.
Shadowspire
Shadowspire supplied South American drug cartels with the necessary tools of their trade: weapons, transportation, high technology, and reliable intelligence. Shadowspire's tentacles penetrate every corrupt government and drug cartelIllegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
on two continents. They even had the resources and know how to create their own weaponized viruses. Shadowspire's first appearance was in Deathstroke
Deathstroke
Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
#53. The group was created by Tom Joyner and Mike Collins.
Silicon Syndicate
The Silicon Syndicate operates in the fictional city of Platinum Flats, which is most likely based on Silicon ValleySilicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
. The Syndicate's principals were all metahuman
Metahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
s felt they had a free run of the city since no major superhero teams operate on the West Coast of the DC Comics universe. Known principals were Visionary, Gizmo
Gizmo (comics)
Gizmo is a fictional character, a supervillain from DC Comics. He was created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman, and he first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 as a founding member of the Fearsome Five, a supervillain team that frequently fought the Teen Titans and the Outsiders.-Mikron...
, the Kilg%re, Matchmaker, Calculator
Calculator (comics)
The Calculator is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Detective Comics #463 , and he was created by Bob Rozakis and Mike Grell.-Publication history:...
, Collector, and the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
. The group came into conflict with the Birds of Prey, who clashed with street level operatives such as: Carface, Diamond, Gangly Man, Mind Bullet, Topaz, and Tuatara, before working their way up to the principals.
SKULL
The SKULL organization actively recruited discredited geniuses and outcast scientists at the behest of Albert Michaels, the first Atomic SkullAtomic Skull
Atomic Skull is the name of two different DC Comics supervillains.-Albert Michaels:Albert Michaels was a brilliant but distinctly unfriendly scientist-administrator at S.T.A.R. Labs with a rare nervous system disorder that short-circuited the electrical impulses in his brain, creating painful and...
. Their criminal agenda often brought them into conflict with the terrorist organization known as Kobra
Kobra (comics)
Kobra is the name used by two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The Jeffrey Burr Kobra first appeared in Kobra #1 , and was created by Martin Pasko, Steve Sherman, Jack Kirby, and Pablo Marcos...
. They later expanded their criminal empire to the West Coast. Albert Michaels was one of the sleeper agents of rogue SKULL scientist Alysia Damalis. The SKULL was introduced in 1976's Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
issue #301.
Skull was seemingly inactive until Simon Pons revitalized the group; Pons first appears in Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
vol. 1 #6, but does not take an active role until Outsiders vol. 1 Annual #1 in a story entitled "The Skull..., The Serpent... and the Outsiders". In this story Simon Pons rebuilds SKULL and renews their long standing feud with Kobra.
S.P.I.D.E.R.
The Society for Political Instability and Diverted Economic Resources also known as S.P.I.D.E.R. was an international crime organization based in a hidden grotto near the Riviera. The eight "legs" of the organization were devoted to Arson, Drugs, Extortion, Fraud, Gambling, Theft, Assassination, and Terrorism.The organization was led by a green costumed albino woman named Mortalla. S.P.I.D.E.R.'s stated intention was to ultimately destabilize all world governments and then use the chaos to make themselves rich. Most of Mortalla's operatives wore standard green, yellow, and red uniforms but her division chiefs, including the Spider and the Widow had distinctive costumes.
S.P.I.D.E.R.'s first and only appearances were in Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
#48 and #49.
The Syndicate
The extraterrestrial crime cartelCartel
A cartel is a formal agreement among competing firms. It is a formal organization of producers and manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing, and production. Cartels usually occur in an oligopolistic industry, where there is a small number of sellers and usually involve homogeneous products...
known as the Syndicate was a loose alliance of alien interests operating on Earth. Known members included drug dealer Byth Rok
Byth
Byth Rok is a DC Comics supervillain who is a recurring enemy of the Silver Age Hawkman. He was created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert, and first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #34 , titled "Creature of a Thousand Shapes"....
and smuggler Kanjar Ro
Kanjar Ro
Kanjar Ro is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Justice League of America #3 in a story entitled "The Slave Ship of Space". He was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky....
. The Syndicate's operations were highlighted during the Crimelord/Syndicate War a storyline which ran through the titles Darkstars
Darkstars
The first Darkstars were a group of fictional intergalactic policemen that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics. They were introduced in Darkstars #1 , and were created by Michael Jan Friedman and Mike Collins. The series lasted a total of 39 issues, ending with issue #38 , with an issue...
#32 (March 1995), Deathstroke
Deathstroke
Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
#48-50 (June-August 1995), and New Titans #122 (June 1995). The Crimelord was eventually revealed to be Steve Dayton and the Syndicate was crushed by a collection of Earth's heroes including Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice
Extreme Justice was a monthly Justice League spin off title in the DC Comics universe. It replaced the cancelled Justice League International and ran for nineteen issues from 1994 to 1996.-Overview:...
, the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
, and the Blood Pack.
2000 Committee
A vast criminal organization which planned to take over the world by the year 2000. The 2000 Committee gave a criminal named Breathtaker the task of killing FirestormFirestorm (comics)
Firestorm is the name of several comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the first Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein, by himself as Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear...
(Ron Raymond), and he passed the task on to a villainess named Mindboggler. Firestorm defeated both Breathtaker and Mindboggler and handed them over to the authorities. Mindboggler later led Firestorm to the headquarters of the Committee. The Committee was founded by corrupt industrialist Henry Hewitt, AKA Tokamak, and first appeared in Fury of Firestorm #15. Other operatives of the Committee were the Enforcers (Leroy Merkyn and Mica) and Multiplex.
Veil
An American based xenophobic anti-alien organization, the Veil is led by several influential industrialists and politicians, but was secretly founded by Pylon an agent of the alien H'San Natall. The Veil used mercenaries such as Dark Nemesis and Deathstroke the Terminator to attack the Teen Titans. The organization was later disbanded due to the efforts of the Teen Titans. First appears in Teen Titans vol. 2 #3 (December 1996).VULTURE
The organization known as VULTURE (not an acronym) was a vast international crime cartel that was infiltrated, thwarted, and eventually completely destroyed by J'onn J'onzz, the Martian ManhunterMartian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
. Their secretive leader had a number of aliases: Mister Vulture, Mister V, and Faceless (a.k.a. Marco Xavier). VULTURE first appeared in House of Mystery #160 July (1966), created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.
Wildebeest Society
The Wildebeest Society was an international organization led by a mysterious figure. The society repeatedly came into conflict with the Teen Titans. As a result of certain genetics programs within the Society X-24 (PanthaPantha
Pantha is a fictional character, a superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in New Titans #73 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and Tom Grummett.-Fictional character biography:...
) was created. A later program created the creature known as Baby Wildebeest. The Titans were later shocked to discover that the Wildebeest leader was former Titan Jericho
Jericho (comics)
Jericho is a fictional character, originally a superhero who was a member of the Teen Titans in the acclaimed 1980s period of The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, published by DC Comics...
. Jericho had created the Society in order to grow bodies for the tainted souls of New Azarath which were currently in possession of his body. Jericho had used the Society as a front to kidnap the Titans and use their bodies for this end. Jericho's body was destroyed by his father, Deathstroke the Terminator but his consciousness survived, hidden in his father's mind.
Recently, a new Wildebeest Society has appeared, consisting of new 'beests grown by Goth and the Contessa, using schematics and technology created by the original Society. First appears in New Teen Titans vol. 2 #36 (October 1987).
See also
- List of criminal organizations in comics
- List of government agencies in DC Comics
- List of teams and organizations in DC Comics