The Secret Society of Super-Villains

Animated Secret Society

In the Justice League Unlimited animated series (Season 3), Grodd assembled his own Secret Society in a headquarters that resembled the old Hall of Doom from Challenge of the Super Friends. Grodd recruited an army of villains but his control was eventually usurped by Luthor. The Secret Society were featured in Season 3, episodes 3-1, 3-4 , 3-6, 3-8, 3-12, 3-13.

In the end, villains chose sides and while they were in space their ship exploded. When Darkseid destroyed the ship, Sinestro managed to save Lex and those loyal to him: Atomic Skull, Bizarro, Cheetah, Evil Star, Giganta, Heat Wave, Killer Frost, Star Sapphire, Toyman, Volcana.

One group of others, including Grodd had been taken captive and may have died in the explosion:

Blockbuster, Copperhead, Fastball, Goldface, Hellgrammite, The Key, Parasite, Rampage, Shade, Weather Wizard.

Other members were unaccounted for:

Angle Man, Black Mass, Bloodsport, Crowbar, Devil Ray (Deceased), Doctor Cyber, Doctor Destiny, Dr. Polaris, the Dummy, Electrocutioner, Gentleman Ghost, Gorilla Grodd, Javelin, KGBeast, Lady Lunar, Lex Luthor, Major Disaster, Merlyn, Mister 104, Monocle, Neutron , Queen Bee, Roulette, Shark, Silver Banshee, Sonar, Tala, Tattooed Man Black Domino Mask

Other non-members:

Shadow Thief, the Extremists, Metallo, the top, mister element, doctor alchemy, trickster, captain boomerang, mirror master, captain cold , shatterfist, hellhound

Notes

• The Joker won a super-villain popularity poll among readers, published in issue #14.
• Star Sapphire's origin, originally slated for SSoSV #17, was told in the letter column of JLofA #174:

  Star Sapphire was originally Remoni-Notra on the planet Pandina. She was chosen by the Zamarons to be to be their queen—an honor previously bequeathed upon Earth's Carol Ferris, but refused. Remoni-Notra was given one of the five star sapphire gems and was told of the existence of the other four. Using her powers, she came to Earth to locate and steal Carol Ferris' gem and hooked up with the SSoSV in hopes of finding a clue to the gem. Whether Remoni-Notra, who has masqueraded on Earth as French real estate agent Camille and also Captain Comet's sometimes girlfriend Debbie Darnell, will eventually succeed in her task is up in the air at present.

This revelation wasn't explored in comics until JLA #115, when the Wizard woke her from her coma. Since that time it's been revealed that Darnell was also an ex-girlfriend of Hal Jordan's, which is why the sapphire chose her. (Green Lantern v.4 #19) She was killed by the Spectre in Infinite Crisis #6 (May 1906).

Secret Society Membership

The Society

As the former multiverse came to its end, the Lex Luthor and Lois Lane of Earth-3 sent their infant son, Alexander Luthor, to Earth-1. He appeared aboard the abandoned JLA satellite and grew rapidly to adulthood. He was instrumental in defeating the great Crisis' instigator, the Anti-Monitor. (Crisis #1) After the infinte realities were merged into one, Alex, along with the Earth-2 Superman and Lois Lane Kent, and Earth-Prime's Superboy, realized that there would be no place for thim in this new universe. Alex used his cosmic powers to create an extra-dimensional "heaven" for the four of them, where they lived happily for years. (Crisis #12)

As the new universe developed, Alex and Superboy watched from the outside and noticed how — to their perspective — the heroes of this new Earth had squandered their new chances at life. Alex thought that the universe could do better; Superboy was jealous that another Superboy had made an abysmal reputation for himself, while he was stuck in "heaven."

Eventually, Lois fell ill, which drew more of Superman's attention. This allowed Alex and Superboy the opportunity to break out of their home and set a plan in motion. They intended to completely remake the universe as they saw fit. They began by retrieving the Anti-Monitor's corpse and recruiting the Psycho Pirate (the only other person to remember the multiverse). Over several months, Alex used a hologram to pose as Lex Luthor and gathered together a powerful cartel of super-villains called The Society. (Infinite Crisis #4) The group's core consisted of Dr. Psycho, Deathstroke, Talia, Black Adam and the Calculator.

Alex took advantage of some recent developments to secure Society members' alliance and compliance. Recently, it had been revealed that the Justice League had used their powers to wipe Dr. Light's mind. The Calculator served as their coordinator and "dispatcher," using his pre-existing network of super-villains-for-hire to broaden the Society's ranks. (Identity Crisis #1-4) NOTE: What's odd about the Calculator's involvement is that he never questioned the obvious discrepancies between the two Luthors. Immediately before joining the Society, he worked a few times with the real Luthor. (Teen Titans #20, Superman/Batman #19) His base is the former satellite headquarters of the Injustice Gang (apparently forgotten after JLA #15).

Every active villain became fearful of suffering Dr. Light's fate, and Alex promised that he'd devised a way to return the favor to Earth's heroes. He told his Society members that with the right combination of elements and people, they could produce a massive mindwipe on the heroes. For his device, "Lex" would need several key individuals, including the Ray, Lady Quark, Pariah, Martian Manhunter, Power Girl, and a member of the Marvel Family. His true plan, of course, was to use these "survivors" from parallel Earths to warp reality.

The core Society members quickly recruited scores of other members, but also encountered some staunch resistance. Those who refused the Society's invitation were branded as their enemies. Meanwhile, the real Lex Luthor watched his doppleganger move and took advantage of his failures. Taking the alias Mockingbird, Lex scooped up several rogue villains to oppose the Society. (Villains United #1) This group was the new Secret Six — Scandal, Cheshire, Deadshot, Parademon, Rag Doll III and Catman. Mockingbird and the Six aggressively attacked the Society.

The Six didn't realize that the Society had bugged their communications, and soon they were caught and tortured for Mockingbird's identity. (#2) Black Adam, who had recently been on the side of good as a member of the JSA, objected to the torture. He allied with the Society in order to protect his homeland, Kahndaq. (Luthor had told Adam that the Six had planted a super-bomb underneath his country.) Adam also objected when Dr. Psycho took a trip to Metropolis to terrorize Superman, which endangered innocents. (Action #830-831)

Catman was able to engineer the Six's escape and they proceeded to attack a Society base in Brazil. There the Queen Bee commanded H.I.V.E. agents to guard a captive power source: Firestorm and the mysterious Gehenna. Black Adam led a new Royal Flush Gang to stop the Six, but when they arrived they found Firestorm released; the Six escaped. (V.U. #4)

The two groups came to a final confrontation after this when it was revealed that Cheshire had betrayed the Six. But this wasn't the only double cross that day. Scandal revealed that her father was Vandal Savage. Savage cut his ties to the Society when he learned they were out to kill her. Further, Scandal's lover Knockout was acting covertly among the Society. When Cheshire left to join the Society, she was shot by Deathstroke. The Rag Doll was attacked by his father. The Parademon ultimately sacrficed himself by setting all his Mother Boxes on self-destruct, destroying the House of Secrets. Savage ultimately forced Luthor to back down. Afterwards, Catman warned Green Arrow that the Society were planning to mindwipe all heroes (at least this was Alex's lie). (#5-6)

The last time the Society saw Alex Luthor was when he entered a room to kill Pariah. Alex was successful in his plan to bring back the multiverse. But Earth's heroes destroyed his tower and prevented him from destroying Earth. As for Alex, ...?

In Alex's absence, the real Lex Luthor shrewdly stepped in to assume his place within the Society. They were none the wiser, but did notice changes in his demeanor. Luthor no longer treated the rest of the Society's inner circle as his equals. The others, especially Talia, knew that if he was capable of betraying Black Adam (as Alex had), how safe were they? Luthor added Dr. Light to the inner circle as a symbolic figure. He knew that villains everywhere would remember the Justice League's actions towards Light — a cause to rally.

Luthor led them to their greatest plan yet: a massive global prison breakout designed to stretch Earth’s heroes to their max. It was one year after the "crisis," and the greatest heroes had not been seen that whole time. In lieu of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, Oracle and the Martian Manhunter rallied as many heroes as they could. But the Society had one massive ace up its sleeve: the revived Doomsday. (Villains United Infinite Crisis Special)

Notes

The Society first appeared in shadow with Luthor in Adv. of Superman #636 (March); next in JSA #70 (April) when they recruit Adam; then in Wonder Woman #214 (May) with Psycho recruiting Zoom; and also shadowed in Teen Titans #23 (June), revealing Deathstroke. The name "Society" was used in JSA #70. They are not all fully revealed until Villains United #1 (July).

Post-Infinite Crisis

After Lex Luthor exited the scene, the Society continued, with the Calculator, Talia and Dr. Psycho playing prominent roles. Looking to bolster their ranks, Cheetah, Talia and Felix Faust tried to recruit the powerful new magician, Black Alice. This were narrowly prevented by Oracle's Birds of Prey—and Alice's defiance itself. (Birds of Prey #96-97)

The Society were twice drawn out into the public by Los Angeles District Attorney, Kate Spencer (Manhunter). When she was appointed defender of the Shadow Thief. The Soceity tried repeatedly to have the Thief killed, but because of the antics, a mistrial was declared. (Manhunter #1-10) Later, she was put in a similar situation, defending Dr. Psycho for the murder of the Hangmen (who had defied the Society's orders). Secretly, she was working with the DEO to draw out the Society. Talia visited Dr. Psycho in jail and ordered him to accept his verdict. If he was found guilty, they reasoned that it would work in the Society's favor because public opinion will think them weakened. Before Psycho's verdict could be read, however, the Society changed its mind and freed him. The attempted escape dismissed that trial and he was taken back into custody. Ironically, Manhunter learned that the jury's verdict was "not guilty." The Society beleived they were better off without Psycho—which was probably true, as they would later discover. Later, Director Bones of the DEO remarked that now every super-villain would want Spencer as his defender. (#21-24)

Dr. Psycho found a way to escape his bonds by switching bodies with Sarge Steel, head of the Dept. of Metahuman Affairs. Working with the Cheetah, they dealt a major blow to Wonder Woman. They worked with T.O.Morrow and Felix Faust to create and control a monster called Genocide. (Wonder Woman #26-27) After an epic battle (and the aid of Morrow himself), Wonder Woman destroyed the Society's headquarters completely. (#30)

Known members have included…

Abnegazar, Abra Cadabra, Amazo, Amos Fortune, Angle Man, Atomic Skull, Bane, Baron Blitzkrieg, Bizarro, Black Manta, Black Mask, Black Spider, Black Spider II, Black Spider III, Blackrock, Body Doubles, Bolt, Boss Moxon, Brain, Brother Blood II, Brutale, Bug-Eyed Bandit, Byte, Captain Boomerang II, Captain Cold, Captain Nazi, Chain Lightning, Chain Lightning, Charaxes, Charybdis, Cheetah, Chemo, Chronos, Cicada, Clayface, Computron, Count Vertigo, Crazy Quilt II, Crime Doctor, Cyborgirl, Deep Six, Deuce, Double Dare , Double Dare, Dr. Light, Dr. Moon, Dr. Poison, Dr. Polaris, Doomsday, Eel, Egghead, Fadeaway Man, Fatality, Felix Faust, Firefly II, Fisherman, Floronic Man, Folded Man, Gamesman, Gemini, General, Gentleman Ghost, Ghast, Giganta, Goth, Grodd, Hammer, Harley Quinn, Headhunter, Heat Wave, Hector Hammond, Hellhound II, Hindenberg, HIVE, Houngan, Hugo Strange, Humpty Dumpty, Hyena, IBAC, Icicle, Jinx, Jongleur, Key, Killer Croc, Killer Frost, King Shark, Knockout, Lagomorph, the League of Assassins, Lock-Up, Mad Hatter, Madmen, Mammoth, Man Bat, Merlyn, Mirror Master II, Mister Freeze, Mister Terrible, Monocle, Monsieur Mallah, Mr. Atom, Mr. Zsasz, Multiplex, Murmur, New Wave, The Nuclear Legion (Geiger, Reactron, Professor Radium, Mr. Nitro, Neutron, Nuclear), Ocean Master, Parasite II, Penguin, Per Degaton, Phobia, Planet Master II, Plasmus, Poison Ivy, Prometheus, Psimon, Psycho Pirate, Queen Bee, Rag Doll, Rath, Ravager (Rose Wilson), Red Panzer, Riddler, Royal Flush Gang, Sabbac, Scarecrow, Scarface, Scavenger, Shadow Theif, Shark, Shimmer, Shrapnel, Sickle, Silver Banshee, Sinestro, Siren, Sivana, Skorpio, Skorpio, Sledge, Solomon Grundy, Splitshot, Starro, Sting, Tattooed Man, Tigress, Torpedo, Toyman, Tremor, Trickster, Trigger Twins, Turtle, Tweedledee & Tweedledum, Typhoon, Ubermensch, Vandal Savage, Vault, The Ventriloquist, Virtuoso, Warp, Weather Wizard, Wizard, Zoom, Zebra-Man II