Created by Len Kaminski & Anthony Williams
Scare Tactics is the name of a band of misfits. These young adults left their homes for the world of rock 'n' roll. Sometimes, on the road, supernatural trouble finds them and answer to the call of heroism. They are:
Fang (Jake Ketchum, guitar), a werewolf. Jake is a runaway from his clan of werewolves in the Appalachian mountains. He fled just before the day he was to wed a ghoul-girl from the rival clan.
Gross-Out (Philbert Hoskins, drums), a big pile of sludge. Phil was mutated when he encountered a fallen meteorite. His mutation was later completed when he transformed into an Adonis-like figure. He flew off, heeding some call from the stars. (Scare Tactics #12)
Screamqueen (Nina Skorzeny, vocals), a vampire. Nina is a true-life vampire from Markovia (see Outsiders). When her coven was decimated by humans, she fled to America.
Slither (James Tilton, deceased, bass), a snake-like creature. His upbringing in a freak show has made him bitter towards authority figures. He tends towards violence. Slither was killed by Grossout. (Scare Tactics #11)
Arnold Burnsteel (manager). Burnsteel was originally approached when Jared Stevens assumed the mantle of Fate. Stevens sought Burnsteel's help in managing the arcane power.
A unnamed, four-armed bassist joined the band in their last appearance. (Scare Tactics #12)
Showcase '96 #1
Catwoman Plus #1 • Impulse Plus #1
• Robin Plus #2 • Superboy Plus #1.
Burnsteel: Book
of Fate #1 • Fate #1-22.
Dr.
Fate Home Page: Scare Tactics
Adapted from Who's Who #20 (October 1986)
While most of America had its face turned to the skies and exploration of the stars in the 1960s, the band of adventurers known as the Sea Devils turned their sights to the depths of the world's seas.
Dane Dorrance was the unofficial leader of the group. The son of a highly decorated World War II Navy frogman, young Dane wanted only to prove himself worthy of his father's respect, and to win the senior Dorrance's prize swimming flippers. To win them, he had to recover a legendary sunken treasure. In this endeavor, he rescued fellow diver and actress, Judy Walton. She and her brother Nicky were also on the trial of the treasure. One other joined the quest: Biff Bailey sought to impress a girl by finding gold.
The four of them joined forces to find and raise the treasure, surviving a bizarre trial by fire full of sea monsters and creatures thought long extinct. After it was all over, they decided to remain together to explore the waters of the world. Judy suggested they utilize the name of the film she would now never appear in, and se forth as the Sea Devils. The team stayed together for many years, traveling the Earth's seas and waterways. Their exploits became global news.
They went into semi-retirement and pursued separate careers. Dorrance worked for a time with the Forgotten Heroes and has since returned to adventuring. During the alien Invasion!, the Sea Devils aided the Doom Patrol (Doom Patrol #17, 1988). Should the necessity arise, each has agreed to leave whatever he or she is doing and heed the call of the seas.
Showcase #25
Aquaman v.5 #28, 31 • Doom Patrol v.2 #17 • Limited
Collectors Edition #39, 45 • Showcase #27-29
Sea Devils, 35 issues (1961-67)
Some parts adapted from Who's Who #20 & Who's Who Update '88 #3
In 1968, Dr. August Durant was infected with a virus which was cured by "The Agency." His dependence on their cure forced him to serve their agenda. To this end, they ordered the assembly of the Secret Six. As the mysterious "Mockingbird," Durant recruited a team of people he had supposedly helped in the past; each was an expert in some field. Durant joined the team as well (the team was aware that Mockingbird was one of their number, but unsure who it was). Their job was to battle various forms of evil that defied ordinary legal procedures. Often the enemies were Communism or organized crime. If any of the them refused, Mockingbird seemingly had a hold that could enforce obedience. Other members included: stage magician Carlo di Rienzi; heavyweight contender Mike Tempest; model/actress Kim "Crimson" Dawn; ace fighter pilot King Savage; and French film star Lili de Neuve.
Two decades after their retirement, Durant told Carlo di Rienzi the truth and they became partners in a new endeavor. Even at their advanced age, they were ordered by the Agency to begin recruiting a new Secret Six as Mockingbird. (Action #601) Like their predecessors, the new recruits were all indebted to Mockingbird. Each was somehow physically handicapped and aided by Mockingbird to become fully-abled. They included former track star-turned-cyborg Luke McKendrick; scarred actress La Donna Jameal; blinded Marine Vic Sommers; arthritic special-effects artist Mitch Hoberman; mathematician and epileptic Maria Verdugo; and deaf journalist Anthony Mantegna. Mockingbird, having restored their abilities, coerced them into running missions. Like the original team, if any member stepped out of line, Mockingbird could deactivate his or her cybernetic device.
Sickened by the Agency's tyranny, Durant and di Rienzi secretly began developing plans to extricate themselves from the its control, and called a reunion of the original team. They originals were meant to train the new recruits. But when their Agency contact, Fenady, got wind of the betrayal, their reunion flight was bombed. Di Rienzi was the only one to escape the plane's explosion by parachuting to safety. Before long, the new team met di Rienzi (and his son, Rafael), and the truth was revealed. Soon thereafter, di Rienzi was also soon killed by Fenady. The new team arrived on the scene of this murder and thereafter decided to disband. Rafael di Rienzi (who was privy to all his father's knowledge) disappeared. Once the team had gone, a new Mockingbird appeared on the monitor screen... (Action #629-630) NOTE: Tony revealed that he was gay in Action Comics Weekly #624.
This group lay dormant for many years until a new (?) Mockingbird assembled a group of super-villains to challenge Lex Luthor's massive new super-villain alliance. Those who refused to join Lex were branded as enemies to this society. Mockingbird contacted six rebel villains to stand against them: Scandal, Deadshot, Cheshire, Rag Doll III, Parademon and the Fiddler. At the end of this group's first mission (against the H.I.V.E., which is now overseen by Talia), individuals on the team were "judged" by Mockingbird; the Fiddler was judged incompetent and was immediately executed by Deadshot. The team then recruited Catman as their new sixth member. This group was clever, but Mockingbird was moreso. When Cheshire attempted to leave the Secret Six, Mockingbird threatened the life of her daughter, Lian. (Villains United #1)
At their headquarters, the House of Secrets, Catman soon began to wonder about Mockingbird's identity. He noticed that their leader never responded directly to questions. They carried on despite their doubts, and their next mission was to seize Thanagarian weapons from a Russian ship in Gotham City. But Luthor's organization had bugs on their communication, and his society intercepted the Six. The Six were dismantled and Catman was taken captive and tortured for the identity of Mockingbird. (#2)
The Society brutally tortured the Six. The Society discover that Mockingbird has planted deadly toxic bombs around the globe, including in Kahndaq. The Rag Doll claims that he is the son of the original, and that his brother was also triple jointed. This Rag Doll had surgeries to allow his joints to move the same way. He needs a special drug to maintain his skin, which Mockingbird provides. Somehow, Catman shorts out his collar and frees himself, then the others. They trounce the Society's guards and kill the Hyena as an example. (#3)
Secret
Six #1 (May 1968) • 2nd team: Action Comics Weekly
#601 • 3rd team: Villains United #1
Secret Six, 7 issues (1968-69)
Action Comics Weekly, #601-630 (1988)
Villains United, 6-issue limited series (2005)
In light of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, there are a few problems with the Secret Society's history. Much of their membership and history is closely tied to the relationship between Earth-1 and Earth-2 (and 3). None of the group's original adventures have been explained in a post-Crisis story. However, the Wizard's second incarnation of the team has been verified several times, which suggests the validity of the earlier team as well (their histories are intertwined). Also, several villains were remade by the Crisis, including Luthor, Bizarro, Angle Man and Cheetah. And the Batman villains' histories have been slightly rewritten.
Lex Luthor |
|
Poison Ivy |
Capt. Cold |
Capt. Boomerang |
The original Society was secretly organized by Darkseid, who provided them with a hideout called the Sinister Citadel, in San Francisco. Throughout it's early days, the Society suffered from a constant struggle for leadership. On one side, Lex Luthor, the Wizard and Funky Flashman sought to command of team of high-level lackeys. And on the other side, the likes of Manhunter and Captain Comet hoped to turn the team around and do some good. After some initial confusion about the group's purpose, Comet became their primary nemesis. When the Society learned of Darkseid's involvement, they rebelled. (SSoSV #3) The lord of Apokolips sent both Mantis and Kalibak to try an squash their uprising. Ultimately, Manhunter perished in a conflagaration, taking Darkseid with him. (#5) After this, the team splintered and Luthor and the Flashman assembed their own squads to clash with various heroes. (#7-10) The Wizard was triumphant, however. He disposed of Flashman and re-formed the definitive Society with Sapphire, Professor Zoom, Blockbuster and the Floronic Man. This team's successive history is suspect in post-Crisis continuity:
Following their formation, they sought to travel to Earth-2, where the heroes would supposedly be ill-equipped to defeat them. Instead, they (and Captain Comet) wound up on Earth-3, freeing the imprisoned Crime Syndicate along the way. (#13-14) They made it to Earth-2 where they were defeated by Comet and the JSA. Meanwhile on Earth-1, the Silver Ghost assembled yet another own Society to battle the Freedom Fighters. (#15, Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2; the Freedom Fighters' post-Crisis history is also much different.) The Wizard's team lived on and escaped back to Earth-1 to menace the Justice League. (JLofA #166-168)
The resolution of this case sowed the seeds of great discord for the JLA. Because the villains had gained knowledge of the Leaguers' secret identities, Zatanna agreed to use her magic to wipe their memories of this information. (This was actually not the first time they used this procedure [Identity Crisis #3]) After this, Star Sapphire III went into a coma. (JLA #115)
The Joker
won a super-villain popularity poll among readers, published in issue #14.
Star Sapphire's origin, originally slated for SSoSV #17, was told
in the letter column of JLofA #174:
Star Sapphire was originally Remoni-Notra on the planet Pandina. She was chosen by the Zamarons to be to be their queen—an honor previously bequeathed upon Earth's Carol Ferris, but refused. Remoni-Notra was given one of the five star sapphire gems and was told of the existence of the other four. Using her powers, she came to Earth to locate and steal Carol Ferris' gem and hooked up with the SSoSV in hopes of finding a clue to the gem. Whether Remoni-Notra, who has masqueraded on Earth as French real estate agent Camille and also Captain Comet's sometimes girlfriend Debbie Darnell, will eventually succeed in her task is up in the air at present.
Wizard
Professor Zoom
Floronic Man
Star Sapphire
Blockbuster
The next incarnation of the Secret Society was organized by the Ultra-Humanite, who debuted his newest body: a mutated ape. Ultra organized foes of both the Justice League and Justice Society. He was undone when he betrayed the younger villains, and all of them were banished to Limbo to await trial. (JLofA #193-195; in pre-Crisis times, Limbo was the region between parallel Earths. It's concept has not been explored post-Crisis). There they encountered Vulcan, Son of Fire, who instead of perishing had also been thrust into Limbo. (All-Star Comics #61) With the Golden Age villains and Vulcan, Ultra made contact with his younger self in 1942. Their combined power along with Brain Wave's released them from Limbo. The ape-Ultra reappeared in modern day times to menace Infinity, Inc., and the others materialized in 1942. (All-Star Squadron #26) Ultra escaped and has continued his career in crime. At some point after their defeat, the villains in 1942 were returned to the future. The Brain Wave died soon after his return from 1942. Ironically, he died opposing Ultra in order to save his son (Infinity, Inc. #10). Rag Doll was killed and resurrected by Neron. (Starman v.2 #9) The Mist eventually died, too. (Starman v.2 #72)The Psycho Pirate became a pawn of the Anti-Monitor and played a significant role during the Crisis; he's since gone mad.
Over time, the Society grew to include dozens of villains and numerous cells. When the seven "big guns" reformed the JLA, they formulated a plan to infiltrate this now-underground Secret Soeicty. J'onn disguised himself as the Brain Wave (who is deceased) and lured the villains to one place, where they were handily mopped up. (Villains featured included the Riddler, Amos Fortune, Per Degaton, Star Sapphire, the Royal Flush Gang, Solomon Grundy, Deadshot, Hector Hammond, Cheshire, Blockbuster, Dr. Divana, Scarecrow, Grodd, the Wizard and many more. (JLA 80-Page #1) NOTE: This last tale was told by the Rainbow Raider to another villain, and may have been embellished.
Ultra-Humanite |
Signalman |
Killer Frost |
Mist |
Psycho Pirate |
Brain Wave |
Rag Doll |
Cheetah |
Years passed before the Society saw any more formal organization. Their regrouping was prompted by rumors that the JLA had altered Dr. Light's mind. Hearing these rumors began to unlock the memories of many of the former Society members, and the Wizard summoned them back together for revenge. They awakened Star Sapphire III from her coma in Belle Reve Prison and quickly struck at the Red Tornado and Elongated Man. In not time, the battle was brought straight to the entire League of old—plus J'onn and Batman. (JLA #115)
Secret
Society of Super-Villains #1
Secret Society of Super-Villains, 15 issues (1977-78)
All-Star
Squadron #25-26, Annual #2 • Cancelled Comic Cavalcade
#2 • DC Special #27 • DC Special Series #6 (Secret
Society of Super-Villains Special #1) • Justice League of
America
#166-168 • 195-197 • JLA 80-Page Giant #1-2 • JLA #115-119
Dark
Mark > Secret Society • Comic Archives: SSoSV
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Created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea
Losers, misfits and psychotics made up this team which was led by a drunk. Sixpack put the team back together to help Tommy Monoghan, the Hitman, fight demons from Hell. They died valiantly, fighting to stop an invasion of demons. Tommy paid for a statue of Six Pack in a nearby park in Gotham City.
Members included: Captain Six Pack, Defenestrator, Jean de Baton-Baton, Flemgem, Friendly Fire, Shakes, Dog Welder and Bueno Excellente.
Six
Pack: Hitman #9. Team: Hitman #18
Additional info posted by John Censullo to the DC Message Boards
The Seven Shadows were a World War II-era hero group that operated out of Chicago. Their most well-known member was the Scarab (Louis Sendak). This team only ever appeared in one panel: their death! In 1944, they became the unwitting victims of the JSA's foe, Johnny Sorrow. During a battle in Opal City, Sandy's harpoon damaged Sorrow's teleportation device. The villain was ripped apart and taken to the "Subtle Realms." Later that year, in Chicago, the dark god called the King of Tears recreated Johnny Sorrow and returned him to Earth. He promptly slew six of the Seven Shadows: Dr. Nowhere, Jake Justice, the Shard (a.k.a. the Luminary), Man-At-Arms, Lodestar, and the Veil (all except for the Scarab). Ultimately, the Spectre consumed the King of Tears. Recently, Sorrow made a reappearance and finished the job. He used the Scarab to effect the King of Tears' return, which killed the hero. (JSA #18, 1.01)
NOTE: After the Seven Shadows' appearance, fans began postulating their true origin/inspiration. Per Geoff Johns, however: "The Seven Shadows are completely NEW or RETCON or whatever." (posted November 24, 2000).
JSA #18 (Jan. 2001)
Scarab: Scarab #1-8 • JSA #3, 16-18
Written by Commander Richard Adam Benson, United States Navy
Shining Knight |
Vigilante |
Stuff |
|
Crimson Avenger |
Wing |
Star-Spangled Kid |
Stripesy |
Pre-Crisis: The "SSoV" stands for "the Seven Soldiers of Victory," otherwise known as "Law;'s Legionnaires." And who were they?
With the success of the Justice Society of America over in All-Star Comics, DC tried to capture lightning in a bottle twice by scrounging up other mystery-men who had not made the first team. So, who was left?
The Green Arrow and Speedy, the Vigilante, the Shining Knight, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, and the Crimson Avenger. The Crimson's partner, Wing, almost always appeared as well, as the unofficial "Eighth" Soldier.
Leading Comics (beginning in Winter, 1941-2) was created as the home of the Law's Legionnaires, and it held on for about four years and fourteen issues, before becoming a funny-animal book. The 7SoV stories in Leading adhered to the same format as those of its JSA sire in All-Star, in that the heroes met at the beginning of the adventure, split up to confront a separate portion of that issue's menace, then re-grouped at the end for one final confrontation. Also, as in All-Star, the regular artist for each hero/team drew the individual chapter for his charge in Leading; for the first three issues, multiple writers were used, as well.
One thing which distinguished the 7SoV from the JSA was that none of the Law's Legionnaires possessed a super-power. The Shining Knight wielded a sword which could cut through almost anything, and the Green Arrow and Speedy had their trick arrows; but that and their costumes was as super as they ever got.
There was no concluding story in Leading Comics #14 (Spring, 1945); the Law's Legionnaires simply vanished into comics limbo. Then, in December, 1969, Justice League of America #76 (a Giant) contained a text piece on the 7Sov, along with a one-page pin-up drawn by Murphy Anderson. Denny O'Neil revived the Vigilante for a two-issue JLA adventure shortly thereafter, and Shining Knight reprints appeared in Adventure Comics. The increased fan interest set the stage for JLofA #100-102 (8-10.72). These landmark issues were, in fact, the annual JLA/JSA cross-over, wherein the two groups search for the Seven Soldiers of Victory.
As the story developed, we learned that the 7SoV had, sometime in Earth-2's past, the Legionnaires had again come up against their first foe from Leading #1, the Hand. (Perhaps it was decided that the 7SoV operated on Earth-2 because of the Green Arrow/Speedy conflict.) The Hand had created a cosmic-powered Nebula Man; at the cost of one of their members (Wing), the 7SoV defeated the Nebula Man, but the resulting cosmic explosion flung the heroes into separate time eras and locations. JLA/JSA teams travelled through time and recovered the Legionnaires, bringing them to then-present-day in order to defeat their old foe — now calling himself the Iron Hand — who was again threatening Earth-2 with a renewed Nebula Man.
The Law Legionnaires were used in the 1970's DCU, but little was seen of them. The 7SoV versions of G.A. and Speedy were not used, probably due to the conflict with the modern-day versions, and the Vigilante would also have conflicted with his Denny O'Neil-revived counterpart. The Star-Spangled Kid and the Shining Knight, however, were refolded into the JSA lore, appearing in the revived All-Star Comics; and a well-received back-up "Whatever Happened to...?" story in DC Comics Presents told of the Crimson Avenger's modern-day fate. Nobody cared much about Stripesy, it seemed.
In 1985's watershed Crisis on Infinite Earths series, the original Green Arrow was killed off, and the original Speedy's fate was left unseen. Roy Thomas occasionally included the 7SoV in his All-Star Squadron series, once even re-drawing and abrdiging their adventure in Leading #4. Later, the Star-Spangled Kid moved on to Infinity, Inc., and Stripesy made an appearance in #11.
Post-Crisis: The merging of all parallel Earths into one removed Green Arrow and Speedy from continuity. To preserve "Seven" Soldiers, DC announced in Young All-Stars #27 that Wing was an official member as well as the Vigilante's partner Billy Gunn, who was later replaced later by Stuff, the Chinatown Kid (Danny Leong). Danny was murdered in November of 1944 by "Bugsy" Siegel (Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #1). He was succeeded by his brother, Victor (STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. #9). Also, Shining Knight's sidekick the Squire was said to have been an unofficial member.
Post-Zero Hour: In The Shade #3, a former Quality Comics hero, the Spider, was retconned as a rogue super-hero — a criminal whose crimefighting career diverted all suspicion. He gained the trust of the the SSoV, and in Stars and STRIPE #9, the SSoV are unmistakeably portrayed: Stripsey, Star-Spangled Kid, Shining Knight, Vigilante, Crimson Avenger, the Spider and Stuff. Wing and Billy Gunn are both clearly portrayed as an unofficial members. No mention is made of the Squire. In this version of their history, the Spider kills Billy Gunn and is partially responsible for throwing his teammates across time. In 1951, when the Golden Age Flash retires, the Spider became Keystone City's resident super-hero. Buy when the Shade discovered his ruse, he killed the Spider.
The Vigilante and Stuff are now retired and own a business called Round-Up, Inc. (El Diablo #12).
Silver Age: There was one other formation of heroes called the Seven Soldiers (though they never actually used the name). They were brought together one time by Deadman. They also included Adam Strange, Batgirl, Metamorpho, Blackhawk, Mento and Shining Knight II (Gardner Grayle, who eventually becomes the Atomic Knight).
Golden
Age: Leading Comics #1 (Win '40/'41). Post-Zero
Hour line-up revealed: Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. #9. Silver
Age: Silver Age: Showcase #1
Leading Comics, 14 issues (1941-45)
Crimson Avenger, 4-issue mini-series (1988)
Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E., 14 issues (1999-2000)
Seven Soldiers of Victory, 2 issues + seven 4-issue limited series (2005-06)
JSA > All-Stars •
Seven
Soldiers of Victory
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