The Five Swell Guys are a fictional 'science heroes' team from the New York City in Alan Moore

Alan Moore

Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...

's America's Best Comics series Promethea

Promethea

Promethea is a comic book series created by Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III and Mick Gray, published by America's Best Comics/WildStorm....

. The team meet Sophie Bangs in the first issue as she is being tracked by the Smee and later Promethea in the third issue.

The team bear a resemblance to the Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...

in their use of the '5' logo on their clothing and their floating platform, similar to the Fantastic Four's Fantasticar

Fantasticar

The Fantasticar is the primary mode of transportation for the fictional Marvel comics superhero team, the Fantastic Four. Several versions have been created by Mister Fantastic, leader of the team.-Fantasticar Mk. I:...

.

Bob

Leader of the Team, Bob fell victim to the 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center

World Trade Center

The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...

, and for this reason does not appear at the end of the Promethea series.

Roger

Roger possesses super strength and is hence the team's muscle. Although Roger appears female, she is transgender

Transgender

Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....

 due to an incident during an adventure in 'Suffragette City

Suffragette City

“Suffragette City” is a song by David Bowie. Originally from the 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album, it was later issued as a single in 1976 to promote the Changesonebowie compilation in the UK, with the US single edit of “Stay” on the B-side...

'. This causes complications for Roger, especially when Bob admits an attraction towards her new, female form. Roger's original form is seen within the comics in a portrait of the 5 swell guys in their headquarters in space. The general public seems unaware of the transformation, referring to the female Roger as "the new Roger."

Kenneth

A psychic who first notices Sophie/Promethea. His abilities are criticised, especially when team mate Marv is injured. In all cases however, his psychic abilities are correct, only that the truth about the particular incident is not known at the time.

Marv

Described as the genius of the team, Marv is constantly specifically targeted by the Painted Doll.

Stan

Holding mechanical aptitude Stan built the Five Swell Guys' orbital base 'The High Five' (which is in its turn a homage to the Justice League of America's satellite

Justice League Satellite

The Justice League Satellite is the name of two fictional locations, both of which were used as bases of operations for the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League of America.-First satellite:...

) as well as all of the teams technical gadgets and tools. Although Marv claims the title of team genius, this is the source of the hidden jealousy and animosity between Stan and Marv. This jealousy leads Stan to create the Painted Doll hoping it may kill Marv.

Painted Doll

The Painted Doll is a sentient android, originally programmed by Stan to kill Marv and act as the Five Swell Guy's arch villain. Despite an apparent death or defeat it would always re-appear and attack again, although it is revealed later that there were many identical Painted Dolls hidden with a lake (who all kill each other, leaving only one alive). After it learns the truth of its creation the remaining Painted Doll kills Stan and joins the Five Swell Guys.