Night Shift (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Night Shift is a fictional
group of criminals in the Marvel Comics
universe
that first appeared
in Captain America
#330 (June 1987).
storyline getting involved in Marvel Zombies 4
, where the Midnight Sons
clash with the plans of Hood
. Fred Van Lente
explains that "the Hood doesn't just bring any group of villains with him on this jaunt. He brings a very horror-oriented group of villains with him. People know I love to dip as far back as I can into obscure Marvel-ania and a team I always enjoyed and never felt got their time was the Night Shift. So they're working for the Hood now."
, the group was gathered and initially controlled by Shroud
, who, assisted by Werewolf by Night
, manipulated them into serving the cause of justice by misleading them. The members of the Shift benefited by sharing in the wealth they stole from these criminals, that the latter themselves had accumulated through illegal means. One of the first such endeavors was against the criminal known as the Power Broker
. In taking him down, the Night Shift aided the hero Captain America
. When Shroud was absent, the Night Shift battled the West Coast Avengers in an attempt to obtain the release of their captured member, Digger
. Initially the Night Shift gained the upper hand in the battle due in large thanks to the element of surprise and having taken a member of the Avenger's house staff hostage. With only Hawkeye
Scarlet Witch
and Vision
available at the onset of the battle the Night Shift was able to claim early victory in the battle. However, upon Wonder Man
's entry the Avengers quickly trounced the Night Shift, who escaped only with the help of the Shroud, straining his relationship with the Avengers.
Shortly afterwards, in part because of the friction in the team over the way the Shroud handled the Avengers, the Night Shift mutinied against his leadership, forcing him out. Presumably, the Night Shift continued its criminal activities, this time under the leadership of Dansen Macabre
and devoted to more general crime, not merely against other criminals and criminal organizations.
The Night Shift, consisting of Dansen Macabre, Tatterdemalion, Digger, and Needle
, appear as part of the Hood
's gang. The four battle the Midnight Sons
, but are killed when the zombie virus mutates and becomes airborne. The virus cloud begins to rain blood, and reanimates the Night Shift as zombies. When the zombie plague cloud is stopped and entrenched into Zombie's body, the Night Shift members, albeit still in a zombiefied condition, cease their rampage. Hood teleports away with them.
A not so dead team, including Tick-Tock
, Dansen Macabre
, Tatterdemalion, and others, was hired by Snapdragon
to deal with Moon Knight
and Echo.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
group of criminals in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
that first appeared
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
in Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
#330 (June 1987).
Publication history
The team reappear as part of the Dark ReignDark Reign (comics)
"Dark Reign" is a 2008–2009 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics. It deals with the aftermath of the "Secret Invasion" storyline, which led to a shift of power in the Marvel Universe toward Norman Osborn. The title "Dark Reign" refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the...
storyline getting involved in Marvel Zombies 4
Marvel Zombies 4
Marvel Zombies 4 is a four-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics beginning in April 2009. It is part of the Marvel Zombies series...
, where the Midnight Sons
Midnight Sons
The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional...
clash with the plans of Hood
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
. Fred Van Lente
Fred Van Lente
Fred Van Lente is an American writer, primarily of comic books and graphic novels.-Career:Van Lente is the co-founder, along with artist Ryan Dunlavey, of Evil Twin Comics, which produces his and Dunlavey’s non-fiction comic books, the first and most famous of which is Action Philosophers.Recent...
explains that "the Hood doesn't just bring any group of villains with him on this jaunt. He brings a very horror-oriented group of villains with him. People know I love to dip as far back as I can into obscure Marvel-ania and a team I always enjoyed and never felt got their time was the Night Shift. So they're working for the Hood now."
Fictional team biography
Based in 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 group was gathered and initially controlled by Shroud
Shroud (comics)
Shroud is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Super-Villain Team-Up #5, , and was created by Steve Englehart and Herb Trimpe.-Conception:...
, who, assisted by Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night is a fictional character, an antiheroic werewolf in the Marvel Comics universe. The Werewolf by Night first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol...
, manipulated them into serving the cause of justice by misleading them. The members of the Shift benefited by sharing in the wealth they stole from these criminals, that the latter themselves had accumulated through illegal means. One of the first such endeavors was against the criminal known as the Power Broker
Power Broker
Power Broker is the name of two characters in Marvel Comics.Power Broker, Inc. is a fictional criminal corporation in the Marvel Universe which provides individuals with superhuman physical abilities for a price...
. In taking him down, the Night Shift aided the hero Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. When Shroud was absent, the Night Shift battled the West Coast Avengers in an attempt to obtain the release of their captured member, Digger
Digger (comics)
Digger is a fictional comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared as a story narrator/host in the horror anthology series Tower of Shadows #1 Digger (Roderick Krupp) is a fictional comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared as a story...
. Initially the Night Shift gained the upper hand in the battle due in large thanks to the element of surprise and having taken a member of the Avenger's house staff hostage. With only Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
and Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
available at the onset of the battle the Night Shift was able to claim early victory in the battle. However, upon Wonder Man
Wonder Man
Wonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Avengers #9 .-Publication history:Wonder Man debuted in the superhero-team title The Avengers #9 Wonder...
's entry the Avengers quickly trounced the Night Shift, who escaped only with the help of the Shroud, straining his relationship with the Avengers.
Shortly afterwards, in part because of the friction in the team over the way the Shroud handled the Avengers, the Night Shift mutinied against his leadership, forcing him out. Presumably, the Night Shift continued its criminal activities, this time under the leadership of Dansen Macabre
Dansen Macabre
Dansen Macabre is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess owned by Marvel Comics who exists in that company's Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Dansen Macabre first appeared in Marvel Team-Up Dansen Macabre is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess owned by Marvel Comics...
and devoted to more general crime, not merely against other criminals and criminal organizations.
The Night Shift, consisting of Dansen Macabre, Tatterdemalion, Digger, and Needle
Needle (comics)
The Needle is a comic book character. He is a mutant supervillain in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. Created by Mark Gruenwald, Carmine Infantino, and Al Gordon, the character first appeared in Spider-Woman #9 .-Publication history:...
, appear as part of the Hood
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
's gang. The four battle the Midnight Sons
Midnight Sons
The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional...
, but are killed when the zombie virus mutates and becomes airborne. The virus cloud begins to rain blood, and reanimates the Night Shift as zombies. When the zombie plague cloud is stopped and entrenched into Zombie's body, the Night Shift members, albeit still in a zombiefied condition, cease their rampage. Hood teleports away with them.
A not so dead team, including Tick-Tock
Tick-Tock
Tick-Tock is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Publication history:Tick-Tock's first appearance was in Spider-Woman #50 , and he was created by Ann Nocenti and Brian Postman....
, Dansen Macabre
Dansen Macabre
Dansen Macabre is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess owned by Marvel Comics who exists in that company's Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Dansen Macabre first appeared in Marvel Team-Up Dansen Macabre is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess owned by Marvel Comics...
, Tatterdemalion, and others, was hired by Snapdragon
SnapDragon
SnapDragon is a contemporary jazz band based in San Antonio, Texas. The group released their debut CD, "Stealing a Moment" on Humbug Records in 2008, and the 10-song CD soon broke the Top 100 in U.S radio airplay...
to deal with Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
and Echo.