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Onslaught (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
The Onslaught are a fictional team of state sponsored super powered Qurac
i terrorists published by DC Comics
.They first appeared in Suicide Squad
series 1 #1, (May 1987), and were created by John Ostrander
and Luke McDonnell.
. The team was created and guided by Qurac's President Marlos and had accepted, as its first commission, the assignment of killing the President of the United States
. Former Suicide Squad member Jeff Bright, now a Soviet operative named Koshchei helped bioengineer candidates for the team. At its inception, the Jihad was infiltrated by Nemesis
and Nightshade
, members of the advance team of the Suicide Squad, and was the target of a preemptive attack by the Squad. (As seen in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1 and 2)
After their first clash with the Suicide Squad, Raza Kattuah now calling himself Rustam formed a second team based in an old World War II
fortress called Jotunheim in southern Qurac. The name translates as "Land of the Giants," because the Germans believed only a race of giants could have built those mountains. Rustam used this team to terrorize civilians in New York City
. Ravan, Ifrit and Agni were captured. Manticore and Jaculi were killed, but Rustam and Badb were able to escape. Ravan was eventually recruited by the Suicide Squad. Rick Flag
carried out an unauthorized solo mission to Qurac which resulted in the destruction of Jotunheim, killing Rustam and countless Jihad members. The man known as Kobra
would later kill Ravan while engaged in single combat.
Agni's assembled a small three person team to free Quraci President Marlo from United States custody. He brought along Badb, and the Atlantean renegade known as Piscator, a self styled Janissary
. The Suicide Squad pre-emptively substituted Nemesis for President Marlo. At the same time, Israel's heroes, the Mossad
superteam known as the Hayoth
were involved in a covert mission on U.S. soil, a failed attempt to abduct Marlo.
As revealed in Suicide Squad #50, Jeff Bright survived the Yeti
attack in Tibet
, that killed most of the original Suicide Squad. Jeff was rescued by the Red Chinese and given a new name Yen Wang (King of the Devils) and made the head a secret Chinese project to develop metahuman
s alongside a Chinese scientist named Deng Zho-Zhi. Unfortunately due to frostbite his nose, lips, toes and fingers had to be amputated. Deng Zho-Zhi's laboratory was raided by Chinese government officials, and he revealed to Bright that he was actually a dissident and probably would be taken away for re-education. Jeff is recruited from prison by Major Zastrow of the Red Shadows. The Russians gave him cybernetic hands, and cybernetic feet that allowed him to walk again. Zastrow changes Bright's codename to Koschei the Deathless and put him to work on maintaining and improving the Rocket Red
s. The Russians then sent him to Qurac where he was put in charge of the program to develop Qurac's metahuman program, Jaculi, Manticore and the Djinn were all his creations. Unfortunately he was killed when Rick Flag destroyed Jotunheim with an Atomic Bomb. But the Quraci's were able to revive him as a cybernetic zombie
using technology he himself had created, his body was dead and his mind was a digital recording. As part of an elaborate revenge against Rick Flag, Koschei kidnaps his son by Karin Grace, Rick Flag Jr. Unbeknownst to Koschei Flag had apparently died in the nuclear detonation that destroyed Jotunheim. Nemesis eventually convinced him to set the boy free, and he appeared to have been destroyed by an explosion he set off.
Agni assembled yet another Onslaught team with the help of Njara Kattuah son of Rustam, this team's mission of vengeance against America was short-lived. Checkmate
Knights were able to track the Onslaught as far as Markovia homeland of Geo-Force
. they were discovered on an airplane bound for Gotham City
by the Outsiders and a fight broke out onboard the plane. Manticore II and Dahak died in the ensuing battle. After a crash landing in Gotham, all the surviving members except for Dervish escaped. Dervish later joined the Outsiders in order to find Manticore II, who she thought was alive. She remained with the Outsiders until she discovered that Wylde had killed Manticore. In anger she joined the second Strike Force Kobra. After a clash with the Outsiders, she was captured and imprisoned in the Slab, she later escaped when the Joker
engineered a jailbreak. (As seen in Joker: Last Laugh #3)
Njara later returned with a new team including Antiphon, Tolteca, Hyve and Digital Djinn. (Suicide Squad vol. 2 #10) They succeeded in kidnapping Amanda Waller
as part of an elaborate revenge, and in killing Squad members Havana (slain by Rustam) and Modem (slain by Digital Djinn). They were no match for the Squad when members of the Justice Society of America
were drafted to help. The second Rustam was killed by Deadshot
and the other members escaped custody.
Qurac
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:...
i terrorists 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...
.They first appeared in 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...
series 1 #1, (May 1987), and were created by John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
and Luke McDonnell.
Publication history
The Onslaught is a team of super-powered 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 Marlos 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 member Jeff Bright, now a Soviet operative named Koshchei helped bioengineer candidates for the team. At its inception, the Jihad was infiltrated by Nemesis
Nemesis (DC Comics)
Nemesis is the name of two fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. Thomas Andrew Tresser first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #166, , and was created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle. Soseh Myrkos first appeared in JSA Annual #1, , and was created by David S...
and Nightshade
Nightshade (comics)
Nightshade is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. Created by Joe Gill and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in Captain Atom v2 #82 originally published by Charlton Comics.-Charlton Comics:...
, members of the advance team of the Suicide Squad, and was the target of a preemptive attack by the Squad. (As seen in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1 and 2)
After their first clash with the Suicide Squad, Raza Kattuah now calling himself Rustam formed a second team based in an old 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...
fortress called Jotunheim in southern Qurac. The name translates as "Land of the Giants," because the Germans believed only a race of giants could have built those mountains. Rustam used this team to terrorize civilians in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Ravan, Ifrit and Agni were captured. Manticore and Jaculi were killed, but Rustam and Badb were able to escape. Ravan was eventually recruited by the Suicide Squad. Rick Flag
Rick Flag
Rick Flag is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are father, son, and grandson.The father, Richard Flag was in the original Suicide Squad, a World War II unit. After the war he was a member of Task Force X. The son, Rick Flag Jr...
carried out an unauthorized solo mission to Qurac which resulted in the destruction of Jotunheim, killing Rustam and countless Jihad members. The man 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...
would later kill Ravan while engaged in single combat.
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
. The Suicide Squad pre-emptively substituted Nemesis for President Marlo. At the same time, Israel's heroes, the Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
superteam known as the Hayoth
Hayoth
The Hayoth are a fictional team of super powered Israeli supercommandos published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #45, , and were created by John Ostrander, Kim Yale and Geof Isherwood...
were involved in a covert mission on U.S. soil, a failed attempt to abduct Marlo.
As revealed in Suicide Squad #50, Jeff Bright survived the Yeti
Yeti
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology...
attack in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, that killed most of the original Suicide Squad. Jeff was rescued by the Red Chinese and given a new name Yen Wang (King of the Devils) and made the head a secret Chinese project to develop 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 alongside a Chinese scientist named Deng Zho-Zhi. Unfortunately due to frostbite his nose, lips, toes and fingers had to be amputated. Deng Zho-Zhi's laboratory was raided by Chinese government officials, and he revealed to Bright that he was actually a dissident and probably would be taken away for re-education. Jeff is recruited from prison by Major Zastrow of the Red Shadows. The Russians gave him cybernetic hands, and cybernetic feet that allowed him to walk again. Zastrow changes Bright's codename to Koschei the Deathless and put him to work on maintaining and improving the Rocket Red
Rocket Red
The Rocket Red Brigade is a DC Comics superhero team. They first appeared in Green Lantern Corps #208 , and were created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton.-History:...
s. The Russians then sent him to Qurac where he was put in charge of the program to develop Qurac's metahuman program, Jaculi, Manticore and the Djinn were all his creations. Unfortunately he was killed when Rick Flag destroyed Jotunheim with an Atomic Bomb. But the Quraci's were able to revive him as a cybernetic zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
using technology he himself had created, his body was dead and his mind was a digital recording. As part of an elaborate revenge against Rick Flag, Koschei kidnaps his son by Karin Grace, Rick Flag Jr. Unbeknownst to Koschei Flag had apparently died in the nuclear detonation that destroyed Jotunheim. Nemesis eventually convinced him to set the boy free, and he appeared to have been destroyed by an explosion he set off.
Agni assembled yet another Onslaught team with the help of Njara Kattuah son of Rustam, this team's mission of vengeance against America was short-lived. 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!...
Knights were able to track the Onslaught as far as Markovia homeland of Geo-Force
Geo-Force
Geo-Force is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the...
. they were discovered on an airplane bound for 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...
by the Outsiders and a fight broke out onboard the plane. Manticore II and Dahak died in the ensuing battle. After a crash landing in Gotham, all the surviving members except for Dervish escaped. Dervish later joined the Outsiders in order to find Manticore II, who she thought was alive. She remained with the Outsiders until she discovered that Wylde had killed Manticore. In anger she joined the second Strike Force Kobra. After a clash with the Outsiders, she was captured and imprisoned in the Slab, she later escaped when 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...
engineered a jailbreak. (As seen in Joker: Last Laugh #3)
Njara later returned with a new team including Antiphon, Tolteca, Hyve and Digital Djinn. (Suicide Squad vol. 2 #10) They succeeded in kidnapping Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller
Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
as part of an elaborate revenge, and in killing Squad members Havana (slain by Rustam) and Modem (slain by Digital Djinn). They were no match for the Squad when 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 ....
were drafted to help. The second Rustam was killed by Deadshot
Deadshot
Deadshot is a fictional character, a supervillain/assassin in the DC Universe and an enemy of Batman. He first appears in Batman #59 and was created by Bob Kane, David Vern Reed and Lew Schwartz....
and the other members escaped custody.
Team one (Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1-2)
- Chimera - She was actually Suicide Squad member Nightshade.
- Djinn - His body was reduced to a binary code and stored in microchips within a magnetic bottle.
- Jaculi - A young BedouinBedouinThe Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
with the ability of moving at super-speed in three second spurts. He carried an assortment of explosive javelinJavelinA Javelin is a light spear intended for throwing. It is commonly known from the modern athletic discipline, the Javelin throw.Javelin may also refer to:-Aviation:* ATG Javelin, an American-Israeli civil jet aircraft, under development...
s. Slain by Captain BoomerangCaptain BoomerangCaptain Boomerang is a fictional character in the . A supervillain traditionally portrayed as an enemy of the Flash... - ManticoreManticore (DC Comics)Manticore is the name of a number of DC Comics characters, three of whom were members of The Jihad.-Anastasio Corvo:Corvo was the first Manticore and a member of the first Jihad team. They appeared in Suicide Squad #1...
- A super strong cyborg from GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, slain by DeadshotDeadshotDeadshot is a fictional character, a supervillain/assassin in the DC Universe and an enemy of Batman. He first appears in Batman #59 and was created by Bob Kane, David Vern Reed and Lew Schwartz....
. Named after the mythical ManticoreManticoreThe manticore is a legendary creature similar to the Egyptian sphinx. It has the body of a red lion, a human head with three rows of sharp teeth , and a trumpet-like voice. Other aspects of the creature vary from story to story. It may be horned, winged, or both...
. During the events of Blackest Night, Manticore's corpse is reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern CorpsBlack Lantern CorpsThe Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
alongside several fallen Suicide Squad members. - Colonel Mushtaq - Was actually NemesisNemesis (DC Comics)Nemesis is the name of two fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. Thomas Andrew Tresser first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #166, , and was created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle. Soseh Myrkos first appeared in JSA Annual #1, , and was created by David S...
in an undercover role. - RavanRavan (comics)Ravan is a fictional DC Comics villain. His first appearance was in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1 , he was created by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Publication history:...
- Last surviving thugee. His back was broken in single combat with the Bronze TigerBronze TigerBronze Tiger is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. He is a martial artist who first appeared in Dragon's Fists, a novel by Dennis O'Neil and Jim Berry, starring Richard Dragon. His first DC Comics appearance was in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter.-Early years:Ben Turner comes...
. - Rustam - Raza Kattuah was the first team leader, named after RostamRostamRostam is the national hero of Greater Iran from Zabulistan in Persian mythology and son of Zal and Rudaba. In some ways, the position of Rostam in the historical tradition is parallel to that of Surena, the hero of the Carrhae. His figure was endowed with many features of the historical...
, a mythic hero in Persian folklore. Rustam wields a scimitar artifact from SkartarisSkartarisSkartaris is a fictional Hollow Earth fantasy setting created by Mike Grell for the sword and sorcery comic book Warlord, published by DC Comics. Skartaris debuted in 1st Issue Special #8 , where the character Travis Morgan, a US Air Force pilot, discovers a passage into this world through the...
which could generate fiery plasma that could seemingly cut through anything, and open dimensional portals. The Scimitar uses its wielder's life force as a power source. According to Raza he was a US covert operative in Qurac who was apparently betrayed by the United States, a situation which led to the deaths of his entire family.
Team two (Suicide Squad vol. 1 #17-19)
- Agni - Agni is an Asian Indian pyrokinetic who could create progressively larger fireballs by snapping his fingers. Named after AgniAgniAgni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods...
, the Hindu god of fire. - Badb - A teenaged Irish telepath who could mentally instill panic and hatred. Named after BadbBadbIn Irish mythology, the Badb or Badhbh —meaning "crow" or "vulture"—was a war goddess who took the form of a crow, and was thus sometimes known as Badb Catha . She often caused fear and confusion among soldiers in order to move the tide of battle to her favoured side...
, the CelticCeltic polytheismCeltic polytheism, commonly known as Celtic paganism, refers to the religious beliefs and practices adhered to by the Iron Age peoples of Western Europe now known as the Celts, roughly between 500 BCE and 500 CE, spanning the La Tène period and the Roman era, and in the case of the Insular Celts...
goddess of war. - Ifrit - She was a new artificial intelligence, similar to Djinn, based on the brain patterns of Mindboggler, whose mental engrams were salvaged by Quraci scientists, and twisted to induce extreme aggression and hate; she was healed of this by sentient Israeli computer DybbukDybbuk (comics)Dybbuk is a fictional character from DC Comics. He was created by John Ostrander, Kim Yale and Geof Isherwood, and first appeared in Suicide Squad #45, in September 1990.-Fictional character biography:...
and fell in love with him. Named after the Persian spirits known as IfritIfritIfrit—also spelled, efreet, ifreet, afreet, and afrit —are supernatural creatures in Arabic and Islamic cultures...
s. - Jaculi - The second Jaculi was a woman of unknown nationality with the speed and weapons of the original. Slain by DeadshotDeadshotDeadshot is a fictional character, a supervillain/assassin in the DC Universe and an enemy of Batman. He first appears in Batman #59 and was created by Bob Kane, David Vern Reed and Lew Schwartz....
. - Koshchei The Deathless - Jeff Bright, former member of the original Suicide Squad. He could animate the dead using specialized electronic implants, controlling them via telepresenceTelepresenceTelepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, to give the appearance of being present, or to have an effect, via telerobotics, at a place other than their true location....
; this control was accidentally broken by Shade the Changing Man. In Russian folklore Koshchei the Deathless is a powerful necromancer. - Manticore - The second Manticore, also of unknown nationality, was tougher than his predecessor; he was slain by Duchess (LashinaLashinaLashina is a fictional character, and extraterrestrial warrior woman published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Mister Miracle vol. 1 #6 .-Fictional character biography:...
). - Ravan - Master assassin now wearing a cybernetic harness because of his broken back. After being captured by the Bronze Tiger he joins the Suicide SquadSuicide SquadThe 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...
. - Rustam - Team leader; the same operative.
Team three (Suicide Squad vol. 1 #59-62)
- Agni - Team leader for this mission.
- Badb - The same operative.
- Piscator - An Atlantean (see AtlantisAtlantis (DC Comics)Atlantis is a fictional location in the DC Comics Universe. The very first DC Universe version of Atlantis debuted in Action Comics #18 , and was created by...
) renegade and self styled JanissaryJanissaryThe Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
.
Team four (Outsiders vol. 2 #5-6)
- Agni - Second in command for this mission.
- Dahak - A demon who used the body of an old Quraci woman as its host. In Persian mythology Aži DahākaZahhakZahhāk or Zohhāk is an evil figure in Iranian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he also appears in the texts of the Avesta...
is the god of evil. - Dervish - Nema, a female martial artist, romantically tied to Manticore III. Named after the traditional dervishDervishA Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
es. Later joined Strike Force Kobra. - Djinn - The original Djinn restored by the group's technicians.
- Manticore - The third Manticore was Saied, who was romantically tied to Dervish. Accidentally killed during a fight with Charlie Wylde of the OutsidersOutsiders (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....
. - Rustam - Njara Kattuah, team leader. Son of the original Rustam. Njara has demonstrated pyrokinetic abilities, it is unknown if they were internal, or if he had access to his father's scimitar.
Team five (Suicide Squad vol. 2 #10-12)
- Antiphon - A super speedster from Greece. Name based on the term AntiphonAntiphonAn antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
(opposing voice). - Digital Djinn - New more powerful creation based on the original Djinn.
- Hyve - A hulking creature able to separate into smaller and smaller copies of itself.
- Rustam - Njara Kattuah, team leader. Slain by Deadshot.
- Tolteca - A powerful warrior woman and cannibal. Name is derived from the Toltecs of MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.