Squadron Supreme
Encyclopedia
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero
team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics
. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers
#85 - 86 (Feb. - Mar. 1971) and were created by Roy Thomas
and John Buscema
.
As with the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister
, the core members of the Squadron Supreme — Hyperion, Nighthawk, Doctor Spectrum, and the Whizzer — were based on characters published by rival DC Comics
.
; the Scarlet Witch
and Goliath
- who have arrived in the Earth-712 universe by mistake. The Avengers are initially confused as several members of the Squadron Supreme have identical names and powers to the Squadron Sinister, a group of previously encountered villains.
Although this was a deliberate choice by writer Roy Thomas, it created confusion in Marvel's production department, as the covers of Avengers #85 and #141 (Nov. 1975) claimed the issues featured appearances by the Squadron Sinister, when in fact it was the Squadron Supreme that appeared in both issues. After a brief battle, the Avengers assist the Squadron Supreme against the global threat posed by the mutant Brain-Child
, before returning to their own universe. The Squadron Supreme have another series of skirmishes with the Avengers engineered by the group the Serpent Cartel, but eventually team together and prevent the use of the artifact
the Serpent Crown
.
The team features briefly in the title Thor
, when the evil version of Hyperion attacks the Earth-712 version and then the Earth-616 Thor. The Squadron appear in the title Defenders
as mind-controlled pawns of the entities the Over-Mind
and Null the Living Darkness
, but are freed and aid the Defenders in defeating the villains. Earth-712, however, is left in a post-apocalyptic
state.
The Squadron Supreme were next featured in a self-titled 12-issue miniseries
(Sept. 1985 - Aug. 1986) by writer Mark Gruenwald
. The series, which picks up from where Earth-712 was last seen in Defenders #114, reveals each character's origin and explains why the Squadrons Sinister and Supreme are similar: the Grandmaster creates the Squadron Sinister modelled on the already-existing Squadron Supreme of the Earth-712 universe. The Squadron, led by Hyperion, believe they have the knowledge and power to recreate the world and create a Utopia
. Nighthawk protests, believing that the Squadron should serve and not rule. The issue is put to a vote, with the so-called "Utopia Program" favored by the majority of the Squadron; Nighthawk, unable to agree with the decision in clear conscience, resigns from the team. The Squadron assume overall control of the government of the United States
and remake the nation into a virtual utopia. The team implement a series of sweeping changes, including revealing their secret identities; instituting a program of behavior modification
in prisons (inmates are forced to submit to a process that mentally inhibits their criminal instincts); enforcing a strict gun control policy; and developing medical technology to resurrect the dead.
Despite the economic and technological advances, there are setbacks. The Golden Archer
abuses the behavior modification technology by forcing fellow member Lady Lark
(who had just turned down his marriage proposal) to love him, resulting in his eventual removal from the team. Fellow member Amphibian becomes increasingly disgusted with the Squadron's methods, especially the behavior modification technology; his disillusionment eventually leads him to not only leave the Squadron, but abandon the surface world altogether. Nuke
inadvertently kills his own parents (via unnoticed and uncontrollable release of radiation); after a rampage, he dies battling Doctor Spectrum. Tom Thumb
, while developing many of the technologies used in the Squadron's Utopia Program, discovers he has cancer
but chooses not to inform his teammates; he eventually succumbs to the disease.
Predicting a nightmarish outcome, Nighthawk, with the aid of his world's Sorcerer Supreme
, Professor Imam, crosses the dimensional border into Earth-616
to solicit the aid of the Avengers. Although his request is denied, he is able to enlist the aid of three of his former enemies, who had fled to this Earth to escape the Squadron's actions. Returning to his home world, Nighthawk is eventually forced to confront his old teammates with a new team, which also includes ex-Squadroner Golden Archer (now known as Black Archer). A brutal battle ensues in which several members of both teams are killed, including Nighthawk himself. A horrified Hyperion realizes Nighthawk was in fact right; that the Squadron, despite only having good intentions, had inadvertently created a totalitarian state, with themselves as its dictators. The Squadron surrenders, disbands, and returns control of the United States to the government.
Gruenwald, Ryan, and inker
Al Williamson
created a graphic-novel sequel Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe, in which the remnants of the team reunite to battle the Nth Man
. Although successful, several members of the Squadron are killed, with the remainder (Hyperion; Doctor Spectrum; Whizzer; Power Princess; Lady Lark
[now known as Skylark]; Moonglow; Haywire
and Shape
) marooned
in the mainstream Marvel universe. The Squadron encounter the hero Quasar, and relocate to the government facility Project Pegasus
. After another encounter with the Overmind and a visit to the laboratory
world of the Stranger
; the Squadron attempt unsuccessfully to return to their universe and members Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer battle the entity Deathurge
.
The entire Squadron Supreme appear in an Avengers storyline with the Avengers that finally returns them to their home universe. The one-shot Squadron Supreme: New World Order reveals that Earth-712 is now dominated by corporations using the Squadron's own Utopia technologies, with the characters eventually reinstating democracy
. The Squadron also come into conflict with a new government when interdimensional
team the Exiles
, traveling from the Earth-616 universe, reveal that the government had rigged the election with a worldwide vote fraud
. The Squadron and the Exiles depose the new government, and attempt to allow society to progress without superhuman involvement.
The Squadron Supreme appears in the 2011 series Marvel Zombies Supreme which sees members of the team infected with a zombie virus developed by a deranged geneticist. It is revealed in the series that these are clones of the Squadron Supreme, and the story is set in Marvel's primary "616" universe.
This version of Squadron Supreme met the Ultimates during the Ultimate Power
miniseries. The conclusion of this series left Zarda, a member of Squadron Supreme in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, and Nicky Fury in the Squadron Supreme Universe. Nick Fury, however, eventually returned to the Ultimate Marvel Universe.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team that appears in comic books published by 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...
. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
#85 - 86 (Feb. - Mar. 1971) and were created by Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
.
As with the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister
Squadron Sinister
The Squadron Sinister is a fictional supervillain team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Sinister first appeared in the final panel of The Avengers #69 The Squadron Sinister is a fictional supervillain team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics....
, the core members of the Squadron Supreme — Hyperion, Nighthawk, Doctor Spectrum, and the Whizzer — were based on characters published by rival 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...
.
Publication history
The Squadron Supreme are first encountered by four members of the team the Avengers - the Vision; QuicksilverQuicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
; the 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 Goliath
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...
- who have arrived in the Earth-712 universe by mistake. The Avengers are initially confused as several members of the Squadron Supreme have identical names and powers to the Squadron Sinister, a group of previously encountered villains.
Although this was a deliberate choice by writer Roy Thomas, it created confusion in Marvel's production department, as the covers of Avengers #85 and #141 (Nov. 1975) claimed the issues featured appearances by the Squadron Sinister, when in fact it was the Squadron Supreme that appeared in both issues. After a brief battle, the Avengers assist the Squadron Supreme against the global threat posed by the mutant Brain-Child
Brain-Child
Brain-Child is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Brain-Child appeared in Avengers #86 , and was created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema.-Fictional character biography:...
, before returning to their own universe. The Squadron Supreme have another series of skirmishes with the Avengers engineered by the group the Serpent Cartel, but eventually team together and prevent the use of the artifact
Magic item
A magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the person or being whose hands they fall into. Magic items are commonly found in both folklore and modern fantasy...
the Serpent Crown
Serpent Crown
The Serpent Crown is a fictional mystical power object which has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It exists within Marvel's main shared universe...
.
The team features briefly in the title Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
, when the evil version of Hyperion attacks the Earth-712 version and then the Earth-616 Thor. The Squadron appear in the title Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
as mind-controlled pawns of the entities the Over-Mind
Overmind (comics)
-Fictional character biography:The Overmind is an alien belonging to the Eternals of Eyung, and was born uncounted millennia ago on the planet Eyung . Grom acted as one of their warlords, leading massacres of entire species. He was also the reigning champion in their gladiatorial arenas...
and Null the Living Darkness
Null, the Living Darkness
Null, called also Null the Living Darkness, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Null is a demon and enemy of the Defenders and Squadron Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...
, but are freed and aid the Defenders in defeating the villains. Earth-712, however, is left in a post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
state.
The Squadron Supreme were next featured in a self-titled 12-issue miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
(Sept. 1985 - Aug. 1986) by writer Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
. The series, which picks up from where Earth-712 was last seen in Defenders #114, reveals each character's origin and explains why the Squadrons Sinister and Supreme are similar: the Grandmaster creates the Squadron Sinister modelled on the already-existing Squadron Supreme of the Earth-712 universe. The Squadron, led by Hyperion, believe they have the knowledge and power to recreate the world and create a Utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
. Nighthawk protests, believing that the Squadron should serve and not rule. The issue is put to a vote, with the so-called "Utopia Program" favored by the majority of the Squadron; Nighthawk, unable to agree with the decision in clear conscience, resigns from the team. The Squadron assume overall control of the government of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and remake the nation into a virtual utopia. The team implement a series of sweeping changes, including revealing their secret identities; instituting a program of behavior modification
Behavior modification
Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of...
in prisons (inmates are forced to submit to a process that mentally inhibits their criminal instincts); enforcing a strict gun control policy; and developing medical technology to resurrect the dead.
Despite the economic and technological advances, there are setbacks. The Golden Archer
Golden Archer
Golden Archer is a fictional superhero that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. A member of the Squadron Supreme, the character exists in the universe of that team, an alternate universe to Marvel's main shared universe, the Marvel Universe.Although he was a...
abuses the behavior modification technology by forcing fellow member Lady Lark
Lady Lark
Lady Lark, later named Skylark, is a character in the Marvel Comics series Squadron Supreme and hails from Earth-712. She is based on Black Canary and later on Hawkgirl in DC Comics.-Publication history:...
(who had just turned down his marriage proposal) to love him, resulting in his eventual removal from the team. Fellow member Amphibian becomes increasingly disgusted with the Squadron's methods, especially the behavior modification technology; his disillusionment eventually leads him to not only leave the Squadron, but abandon the surface world altogether. Nuke
Nuke (Squadron Supreme)
Nuke is a superhero from Earth-712 in the fictional Marvel Universe, a member of the Squadron Supreme and later its rebooted equivalent, Supreme Power.-Fictional character biography:...
inadvertently kills his own parents (via unnoticed and uncontrollable release of radiation); after a rampage, he dies battling Doctor Spectrum. Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb (comics)
Tom Thumb is the name of two fictional characters who are owned by Marvel Comics and appear in the comic books published by that company...
, while developing many of the technologies used in the Squadron's Utopia Program, discovers he has cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
but chooses not to inform his teammates; he eventually succumbs to the disease.
Predicting a nightmarish outcome, Nighthawk, with the aid of his world's Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme or Sorceress Supreme is a title granted in the fictional Marvel Universe to the "practitioner of the mystic or magic arts who has greater skills than all others or commands a greater portion of the ambient magical energies than any other organism on a given world or dimension". By...
, Professor Imam, crosses the dimensional border into Earth-616
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...
to solicit the aid of the Avengers. Although his request is denied, he is able to enlist the aid of three of his former enemies, who had fled to this Earth to escape the Squadron's actions. Returning to his home world, Nighthawk is eventually forced to confront his old teammates with a new team, which also includes ex-Squadroner Golden Archer (now known as Black Archer). A brutal battle ensues in which several members of both teams are killed, including Nighthawk himself. A horrified Hyperion realizes Nighthawk was in fact right; that the Squadron, despite only having good intentions, had inadvertently created a totalitarian state, with themselves as its dictators. The Squadron surrenders, disbands, and returns control of the United States to the government.
Gruenwald, Ryan, and inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
Al Williamson
Al Williamson
Alfonso "Al" Williamson was an American cartoonist, comic book artist and illustrator specializing in adventure, Western and science-fiction/fantasy...
created a graphic-novel sequel Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe, in which the remnants of the team reunite to battle the Nth Man
Nth Man
Nth Man is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Thomas Lightner first appeared as Blacksun in Marvel Two-in-One #21-23 , and was created by Bill Mantlo and Ron Wilson....
. Although successful, several members of the Squadron are killed, with the remainder (Hyperion; Doctor Spectrum; Whizzer; Power Princess; Lady Lark
Lady Lark
Lady Lark, later named Skylark, is a character in the Marvel Comics series Squadron Supreme and hails from Earth-712. She is based on Black Canary and later on Hawkgirl in DC Comics.-Publication history:...
[now known as Skylark]; Moonglow; Haywire
Haywire (comics)
Haywire was a minor character from the original Squadron Supreme series from Marvel Comics. Unlike many of the characters from that continuity, he did not have a DC Comics counterpart, but was an original creation.-Fictional character biography:...
and Shape
Shape (comics)
-Squadron Supreme:-Fictional character biography:The Shape was born in Simak, Lowengard, in the U.S.A. of the alternate Earth of the Squadron Supreme, Earth-712...
) marooned
Marooning
Marooning is the intentional leaving of someone in a remote area, such as an uninhabited island. The word appears in writing in approximately 1709, and is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave, which could be a corruption of Spanish cimarrón, meaning a household animal who has...
in the mainstream Marvel universe. The Squadron encounter the hero Quasar, and relocate to the government facility Project Pegasus
Project Pegasus
Project Pegasus is a fictional scientific base in the Marvel Comics universe which has been the location of a variety of stories for superheroes and supervillains, most notably in the title Marvel Two-in-One...
. After another encounter with the Overmind and a visit to the laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
world of the Stranger
Stranger (comics)
The Stranger is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.The Stranger first appeared in X-Men #11 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
; the Squadron attempt unsuccessfully to return to their universe and members Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer battle the entity Deathurge
Deathurge
Deathurge is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a wraith-like superhuman entity who served as the herald and agent of Oblivion. He first appeared in Marvel Two-In-One #71.-Fictional character biography:...
.
The entire Squadron Supreme appear in an Avengers storyline with the Avengers that finally returns them to their home universe. The one-shot Squadron Supreme: New World Order reveals that Earth-712 is now dominated by corporations using the Squadron's own Utopia technologies, with the characters eventually reinstating democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. The Squadron also come into conflict with a new government when interdimensional
Interdimensional
Interdimensional may refer to:* Interdimensional hypothesis* Interdimensional doorway* Interdimensional travel* Interdimensional being...
team the Exiles
Exiles (Marvel Comics)
The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...
, traveling from the Earth-616 universe, reveal that the government had rigged the election with a worldwide vote fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
. The Squadron and the Exiles depose the new government, and attempt to allow society to progress without superhuman involvement.
The Squadron Supreme appears in the 2011 series Marvel Zombies Supreme which sees members of the team infected with a zombie virus developed by a deranged geneticist. It is revealed in the series that these are clones of the Squadron Supreme, and the story is set in Marvel's primary "616" universe.
Earth-31916 version
The mature-audience Marvel MAX imprint showcases the adventures of the Earth-31916 version of the Squadron Supreme. This team is a rebooted version from the original, where all characters are completely redesigned.This version of Squadron Supreme met the Ultimates during the Ultimate Power
Ultimate Power
Ultimate Power is a nine-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics.The series is a crossover that ties the Supreme Power universe into the Ultimate Marvel universe and is written by Brian Michael Bendis, J...
miniseries. The conclusion of this series left Zarda, a member of Squadron Supreme in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, and Nicky Fury in the Squadron Supreme Universe. Nick Fury, however, eventually returned to the Ultimate Marvel Universe.
Television
- The Squadron Supreme appeared in The Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
episode "Whom Continuity Would Destroy". The members present are Nighthawk, Power Princess, and Hyperion. Thanos and Grandmaster pit Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, and Hulk against Nighthawk, Power Princess, and Hyperion.
Collected editions
- Squadron Supreme (Trade paperback, 352 pages, 2005, ISBN 0-7851-0576-X) collects Squadron Supreme #1 - 12 (Sep. 1985 - Aug. 1986)
- Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (Graphic novel, hardcover, 1989, ISBN 0-87135-598-1)
- Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe (Trade paperback, 240 pages, 2006, ISBN 0-7851-2091-2)
- Squadron Supreme Omnibus (HC, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3772-6), collects Squadron Supreme #1-12, Captain America #314, Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe