Gene Dogs
Encyclopedia
The Gene Dogs are fictional character
s who appear in the comic books published by the Marvel UK
imprint of Marvel Comics
. Originally members of an elite counter-terrorism
squad known as Team Omega, five dying soldiers become the Gene Dogs after an experimental medical process saves their lives by modifying their DNA
, a process which also grants them superhuman abilities. After their transformation, the squad continue to work as a team, now employed by a secret new European defense organization, S.T.O.R.M.
The characters first appeared in Gene Dogs #1 (Oct. 1993), the first part of a four issue limited series
that was promoted as part of Marvel UK's "Gene Pool" event. The Gene Dogs were created by John Freeman
and Dave Taylor
.
, Gene Dogs was one of three limited series launched together under the 'Gene Pool' banner and "linked by a common thread - genetic mutation". As part of this promotion, the first issue of each series was shipped polybagged with collectable "Gene Cards" profiling the characters.
Like the other Marvel UK titles of the time, the Gene Dogs series was set in the shared Marvel Universe
and used Marvel UK's villainous Mys-Tech
corporation as an important part of its plot. Gene Dogs also briefly crossed over with Genetix, with the Genetix team guest-starring in Gene Dogs #2 (Nov. 1993) and the Gene Dogs later appearing in Genetix.
Writer John Freeman has since commented that Gene Dogs was "intended to be a British X-Men"
to enhance their abilities.
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...
s who appear in the comic books published by the Marvel UK
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
imprint of 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...
. Originally members of an elite counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
squad known as Team Omega, five dying soldiers become the Gene Dogs after an experimental medical process saves their lives by modifying their DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
, a process which also grants them superhuman abilities. After their transformation, the squad continue to work as a team, now employed by a secret new European defense organization, S.T.O.R.M.
The characters first appeared in Gene Dogs #1 (Oct. 1993), the first part of a four issue limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
that was promoted as part of Marvel UK's "Gene Pool" event. The Gene Dogs were created by John Freeman
John Freeman (editor)
John Freeman is a British writer/editor/designer known for his work with Marvel UK, and on Doctor Who Magazine and The Really Heavy Greatcoat.-Biography:...
and Dave Taylor
Dave Taylor (comics)
Dave Taylor is a British comic book creator. He is best known for his work on Force Works, as well as Batman and Judge Dredd stories.-Biography:Taylor was born in Liverpool in 1964 and attended the Liverpool Arts School....
.
Publication history
Along with Gun Runner and GenetixGenetix (comics)
The Genetix are fictional characters, a team of superheroes appearing in comic books published by the Marvel UK imprint of Marvel Comics. The team was created by Andy Lanning, Graham Marks and Phil Gascoine.-Publication history:...
, Gene Dogs was one of three limited series launched together under the 'Gene Pool' banner and "linked by a common thread - genetic mutation". As part of this promotion, the first issue of each series was shipped polybagged with collectable "Gene Cards" profiling the characters.
Like the other Marvel UK titles of the time, the Gene Dogs series was set in the shared Marvel 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...
and used Marvel UK's villainous Mys-Tech
Mys-Tech
Mys-Tech were a shadowy Faustian organisation who acted as the main villains in a range of, initially successful but short-lived comics, launched in the US by Marvel UK in the 1990s...
corporation as an important part of its plot. Gene Dogs also briefly crossed over with Genetix, with the Genetix team guest-starring in Gene Dogs #2 (Nov. 1993) and the Gene Dogs later appearing in Genetix.
Writer John Freeman has since commented that Gene Dogs was "intended to be a British X-Men"
Fictional history
The soldiers who would come to be called the Gene Dogs were originally part of an elite counter-terrorist squad called Team Omega. During a mission in the Congo, they were attacked by an unknown creature and infected with a deadly virus. In order to save their lives, they were spliced with animal DNA, as well as receiving bio-wetware chips in the cerebral cortexCerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
to enhance their abilities.
Members
The Gene Dogs consist of:- Tyr (Marc Devlin) - Spliced with dinosaurDinosaurDinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
DNA, he has superhuman strength and durability. Tyr is bad-tempered and violent. He was Panther's lover and resented Cat for taking her place.
- Pacer (Carlos De Silva) - He has the genes of an unknown predatory animal. In addition to heightened physical abilities and fighting skills, he also has superior tracking skills.
- Howitzer (Shaka) - Spliced with a large sea mammal, he is immensely strong but requires a special cooling suit to maintain his body temperature. He specializes in heavy weapons and is the most calm and level-headed of the group.
- Kestrel (Annie Jones) - Able to create crystalline wings which allow flight and have razor-sharp edges. She is also a computer expert.
- Cat (Emma Malone) - Expert fighter. She also has telepathic abilities. Cat was sent to learn who the traitor in the group was.
- Panther (Corinne Walton) - A traitor working for Mys-TechMys-TechMys-Tech were a shadowy Faustian organisation who acted as the main villains in a range of, initially successful but short-lived comics, launched in the US by Marvel UK in the 1990s...
. She was Tyr's lover and had enhanced senses and athletic abilities.