the secret society of super villains comic book

The secret society of super villains comic book series#

The secret society of super villains comic book series#

The Eddie Brock Venom had his own series too and I think that only went to 12 issues, but that was him being an Anti-hero not a villain.

It’s just funny to look back at that with today’s eyes and say “The Joker had his own series and it lasted less than 10 issues, TRUE STORY!”. I think the Joker series came out in the early 70s (not long after Denny O’Neil had breathed new life into the character in “Batman”), and the reason given for the cancelation was that in every story the Joker had to be foiled because of the Comics Code. Thanks I’ll look into the library you’re absolutely right. Alongside a few choice residents of both Earth-1 and Earth-2, Ultra-Humanite reformed the Secret Society of Super-Villains in a bid to wipe out all super-heroes. However, a regular looking man or woman in a lab coat was sort of boring to look at, so when he showed up to battle both the JLA and the JSA in a 1981 tale, his brain was now in the body of a giant albino ape with a freakishly large cranium. In his original appearances, he hopped around from person to person. He was originally a mad scientist who had the knowledge to put his brain in another person’s body. Older than even Lex Luthor, the Ultra-Humanite was the first reoccurring villain in super-hero comics. The Ultra-Humanite was a Golden Age opponent of Superman. No one, that is, until the Ultra-Humanite. The Wizard was out as the leader and no one seemed willing to take up the name. With their defeat here, the Secret Society broke apart again.

This was true of the Secret Society’s Earth-2 story, which was wrapped up awkwardly in recap form when the Wizard and his crew battled the Justice League of America in 1979.įrom Justice League of America (Vol. Endings to various story threads in these cancelled titles were reworked into the pages of series that remained. Poor sales were rampant across many titles and twenty series were gone in quick succession. While DC had gone about publishing dozens of new series in the years prior to 1978, they suddenly found themselves in a tailspin. Secret Society of Super-Villains‘ sudden cancellation was a result of the DC Implosion. Now forget it because the Secret Society of Super-Villains series was cancelled at issue #15 right as these parallel plot-lines were being set up. One group was comprised of mostly villains from Earth-1 who were currently on Earth-2 in an attempt to destroy the JSA, while the other was on Earth-1 attempting to kill the Freedom Fighters. This meant that two groups were now using the Secret Society name. Luckily, the Wizard was able to produce a useless chart that explained how they’d jump from Earth-3 to Earth-2.įrom Secret Society of Super-Villains #15 (1978) Unfortunately, a bit of a mix-up resulted in the group ending up on Earth-3. Alongside Professor Zoom, Star Sapphire, the Floronic Man, and Blockbuster, the Wizard attempted to jump the group straight to Earth-2. There, they’re rule that alternate world. It seems that villains like the idea of working together, but no one liked the idea of being told what to do.Įventually, it was the Wizard who took a small subset of the Secret Society under his control and gave them an actual mission: Return with him to Earth-2 and defeat the semi-retired Justice Society of America. Every leader of the Secret Society succumbed to rebellions from within the organization. No one liked the idea of Lex in charge and when he left the Society’s secret HQ, a small army of police officers took him into custody. Lex Luthor was out of the group by the issue’s end. However, as the group members wanted Earth for themselves, they quickly set about working against the ruler of Apokolips.įrom Secret Society of Super-Villains #7 (1977) Darkseid, in one of his many plans to destabilize Earth and get it ready for his eventually takeover, had hired Manhunter to create the group. Shortly after the Secret Society formed, they learned of who had put them together.

The passable but uninspired art didn’t help matters any. Keeping track of who was who required readers to keep handwritten notes and a flow chart. The Creeper joined but only because no one realized he was a hero. Hi-Jack, a member of the Royal Flush Gang, came on board for an issue or two. An amnesiac hero named Captain Comet joined the group and eventually became their sworn enemy. Shadow Thief and Copperhead left after the first issue. As the group began its first adventure, a clone of Paul Kirk, an old hero named Manhunter, arrived and told them that he was working for the person who was funding their operation.įrom the beginning, the Secret Society’s roster was fluid. The question of just who brought this group together hung over everything. From Secret Society of Super-Villains #1 (1976)