Superhuman Restraint Unit
Encyclopedia
TheSuperhuman Restraint Unit is a fictional special operations unit of S.H.I.E.L.D.
in the Marvel Comics
universe
designed by penciller
, Howard Chaykin
. These S.H.I.E.L.D. agents wear armor, and use hardware, designed by Tony Stark and Stark Enterprise employee, Kenny and are trained to take down superhuman combatants. During the events of the Civil War
, where these agents were sent to bring in rogue superheroes, its members (and the armored suits themselves) became known as Cape-Killers (sometimes written Capekiller).
The first appearance of an armored superhuman restraint unit in the Marvel Universe
was in the pages of Marvel UK
's The Mighty World Of Marvel
, during the events of the Jaspers' Warp
story arc
. In this tale, insane reality warper, Jim Jaspers
became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
and turned the UK
into a fascist state. As PM, he enforced "Super Hero Legislation"; using armored agents of S.T.R.I.K.E.
, the UK division of S.H.I.E.L.D., to hunt down and detain superhumans within the UK. These anti-superhuman agents were called "Beetle" squadrons, due to their beetle head shaped helmets, and were best known for gunning down Tom Lennox, Betsy Braddock's lover.
During the events of Marvel Comics' Civil War
crossover, the United States
government passed a Superhuman Registration Act and used a division of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, recently trained to deal specifically with superhuman threats, to enforce the law. These foot soldiers
of S.H.I.E.L.D., known as (Anti-)Superhuman Restraint Unit, and more commonly Cape-Killers, were spread out across Marvel comics, and came into conflict with various superpowered individuals throughout the event and into the subsequent Initiative
story arc. Following the Secret Invasion
storyline, Norman Osborn is placed in control of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s replacement, H.A.M.M.E.R., and discontinues Stark's line of Cape-Killer technology.
Not much has been revealed in the comics about the Stark Enterprise's armor which is used by the Cape-Killers. During appearances of this unit, two different styles of helmet
have been used; a Riotsquad style helmet
and, more commonly, a helmet with a Filter style gas mask
.
These suits are out-fitted with internal comm systems, and hover discs
that give the wearers the ability of flight which have been seen in various comics.
The Cape-Killer's various firearms in early comics shot tranquilizer darts though later they have been shown to use genetic
paralyzer
laser
weapons.
The armor suits have been shown to be susceptible to power surge
s in several issues, and Nick Fury
, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s former director who went into hiding after the events of the Secret War
limited series
, would later develop a device that transmitted an electromagnetic
overload pulse-broadcast straight into their comm systems, shutting down their suits and frying their electrical systems that was shown to take down several unit members at once.
It was later shown that former Stark Enterprise employee and a designer of the Cape-Killer armor, Kenny has an override code on his high tech palm pilot that can freeze the suits.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
in the 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...
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...
designed by penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
, Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
. These S.H.I.E.L.D. agents wear armor, and use hardware, designed by Tony Stark and Stark Enterprise employee, Kenny and are trained to take down superhuman combatants. During the events of the Civil War
Civil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
, where these agents were sent to bring in rogue superheroes, its members (and the armored suits themselves) became known as Cape-Killers (sometimes written Capekiller).
History
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...
was in the pages of 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...
's The Mighty World Of Marvel
The Mighty World Of Marvel
The Mighty World Of Marvel was Marvel UK's first-ever title, debuting in 1972, and is also the name of a similar current comic printed by Panini Comics, which bought the Marvel UK titles....
, during the events of the Jaspers' Warp
Jaspers' Warp
"Jaspers' Warp", also known as "Crooked World", was a Marvel UK storyline featuring primarily the character Captain Britain. It was originally published between 1982 and 1984 in Marvel Superheroes, #387-388, The Daredevils, #1-11 and The Mighty World Of Marvel, volume 2, #7-13.The story is a...
story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
. In this tale, insane reality warper, Jim Jaspers
Mad Jim Jaspers
Sir James Jaspers is a fictional character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for the Captain Britain stories in Marvel UK comics and later developed by Alan Moore....
became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
and turned the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
into a fascist state. As PM, he enforced "Super Hero Legislation"; using armored agents of S.T.R.I.K.E.
S.T.R.I.K.E.
S.T.R.I.K.E. is a fictional, comic book counter-terrorism and intelligence agency in the . The organization, that often deals with superhuman threats, was introduced in Captain Britain Weekly #17, as the United Kingdom's version of the United Nations' S.H.I.E.L.D.The acronym stands for Special...
, the UK division of S.H.I.E.L.D., to hunt down and detain superhumans within the UK. These anti-superhuman agents were called "Beetle" squadrons, due to their beetle head shaped helmets, and were best known for gunning down Tom Lennox, Betsy Braddock's lover.
During the events of Marvel Comics' Civil War
Civil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
crossover, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government passed a Superhuman Registration Act and used a division of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, recently trained to deal specifically with superhuman threats, to enforce the law. These foot soldiers
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
of S.H.I.E.L.D., known as (Anti-)Superhuman Restraint Unit, and more commonly Cape-Killers, were spread out across Marvel comics, and came into conflict with various superpowered individuals throughout the event and into the subsequent Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
story arc. Following the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
storyline, Norman Osborn is placed in control of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s replacement, H.A.M.M.E.R., and discontinues Stark's line of Cape-Killer technology.
Cape-Killer armor
- Armor
Not much has been revealed in the comics about the Stark Enterprise's armor which is used by the Cape-Killers. During appearances of this unit, two different styles of helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
have been used; a Riotsquad style helmet
Riotsquad helmet
A riot protection helmet is a type of helmet designed for law enforcement and military use to protect its wearer's head, face and eyes from handheld melee weapons, and thrown projectiles such as bricks, as may be met in riot control...
and, more commonly, a helmet with a Filter style gas mask
Gas mask
A gas mask is a mask put on over the face to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word...
.
These suits are out-fitted with internal comm systems, and hover discs
Levitation
Levitation is the process by which an object is suspended by a physical force against gravity, in a stable position without solid physical contact...
that give the wearers the ability of flight which have been seen in various comics.
- Weapons
The Cape-Killer's various firearms in early comics shot tranquilizer darts though later they have been shown to use genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
paralyzer
Paralyzer
Paralyzer , also known as the second Shocker, is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Publication history:...
laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
weapons.
- Weaknesses
The armor suits have been shown to be susceptible to power surge
Power surge
Power surge or Powersurge may refer to:* Voltage spike* Power Surge , a 2002 DC Comics event* Power Surge , an amusement ride* Powersurge , an American power metal band* Powersurge , a Bangladeshi thrash/groove metal band...
s in several issues, and Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s former director who went into hiding after the events of the Secret War
Secret War (comics)
Secret War is a five-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics. The series is written by Brian Michael Bendis and painted by Gabriele Dell'Otto...
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....
, would later develop a device that transmitted an electromagnetic
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
overload pulse-broadcast straight into their comm systems, shutting down their suits and frying their electrical systems that was shown to take down several unit members at once.
It was later shown that former Stark Enterprise employee and a designer of the Cape-Killer armor, Kenny has an override code on his high tech palm pilot that can freeze the suits.
Known Cape-Killer teams and members
- 9-6 - unlicensed hero recovery team.
- Agent Abrams - he led a Superhuman Restraint Unit to capture Robert "Nitro" HunterNitro (comics)Nitro is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Captain Marvel #34 and was created by Jim Starlin....
; they failed and died when they were caught in a Nitro generated explosion. - Agent Cleery
- Agent Doug ???, and another Cape-Killer - Security for the Santa MonicaSanta MônicaSanta Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
Farmers' MarketFarmers' marketA farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
. - Aerial Company C & Aerial Company E - Posted in the ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
area follow the events of World War HulkWorld War Hulk"World War Hulk" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self titled limited series and various other titles published by Marvel Comics in 2007, featuring the Hulk....
. - Dum Dum DuganDum Dum DuganTimothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan is a fictional character in the . He is an officer of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is one of the most experienced members of Nick Fury's team, known for his marksmanship with rifles and for his impressive physique...
- Force Unit 9 - Avengers/Stark TowerStark TowerThe Stark Tower Complex is a fictional high-rise building complex which appears in publications by Marvel Comics. Located in Manhattan, New York City, the complex is named after its owner Tony Stark who is the alter ego of the superhero Iron Man. The structure is composed of a 93-story Main Tower...
Guards. - Team Cobra - which included Commander Gabriel Jones, and Agent Whitman
- Team 1 & Team 2 - assigned to the Baxter BuildingBaxter BuildingThe Baxter Building is a fictitious 35-story office building in Manhattan whose five upper floors house the Fantastic Four's headquarters in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
. - Special Agent Marquez, and her partner Agent McAllister
Video games
They appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2; as enemies if the player chooses the Anti-Registration side of the story, if the player chooses the Pro-Registration side they appear as allies.See also
- Superhuman Tactical Activities Response Squad