(Superboy and) the Ravers

+ InterC.E.P.T. + The Red Shift

Created by Karl Kesel and Paul Pelletier

The Ravers came together as one of many cliques who frequent the intergalactive rave called the Event Horizon. It's operator, Kindred Marx chose super-powered teens to whom he bestowed a hand stamp. The stamp, when touched, would transport the individual from their home to the rave (which moved from place to place). Superboy first visited the Event Horizon with his friend, Sparx (D.C. Force). There he met many others, some of whom would become friends and foes. Among his new friends were:

• Kaliber, a young Qwardian who is considered an anarchist and rebel on his homeworld. Kaliber can shrink or grow himself and other objects. He is also keenly interested in the heroic history of Earth.
• Aura (Lindsey Wah), a Chinese-American girl with magnetic abilities. Originally, she hung with a clique nicknamed the Fashion Police.
• Hero Cruz, who possessed the Achilles Vest which produces a force field.
• Rex the Wonder Dog. Smarter than your average dog!
• And of course, Sparx, who weilds electric energy.

On Superboy's first day, Sparx made the mistake of angering another clique, the Red Shift (Klo, Drrt, Red Death and Whoon). They were a group of teen Khunds. Their extra-normal abilities made them reviled on Khundia. Hero brushed off repeated romantic advances from Sparx until ultimately revealing his homosexuality to her. (Ravers #14) Another clique was called the Corpse Corp; it was led the vampire girl, Pyra. All in all, it was an eventful day. The rave was interrupted by a police group called InterC.E.P.T. (Interdimensional Cooperative Enforcement Police Team; Ravers #1) By their own description, InterC.E.P.T.'s duty is to patrol the interdimensional borders, plug rifts and stop illegal transports. It's original members included:

• Their leader, Captain Beta Tos, a woman who can produce an energy shield.
• Ephyra, an alien "ultramarine" who can create hard water shapes.
• The Darkstar, Jack Nebula (later revealed to be Kindred Grim, Marx's brother)
• The Earth heroine, Nightshade. She joined the group to help protect her Nightshade Dimemsion while it "healed."
• Shaar Q, a female non-humanoid who can teleport between dimensions

They sought to confront Kindred Marx about his illegal activities involving the Event Horizon. The Ravers stepped into the fray, however, which allowed Marx time to transport the rave to a new location. When Sparx and Hero returned to Earth, the vengeful Red Shift followed them. In the southwest, they discovered a crashed space ship and it's sole survivor: the Earth boy, Byron Stark. Stark's family had been killed by the aliens and he'd been turned into a skeletal freak. With the intervention of Aura and Stark (dubbed Half-Life), the Red Shift met their match. (#2) Marx eventually caught up to them and revoked the Red Shift's membership in the rave. This returned them to Khundia where a grim fate awaited. Marx then offered Half-Life a hand stamp, and Aura left the Fashion Police to hang with Sparx, Hero and Half-Life. Next, the rave moved to Rann. It was bad luck, as they arrived in the middle of a takeover attempt by the galactic conqueror, Hyathis. She had kidnapped Adam Strange's daughter, Aleea and pitted the Rannians against a band of Darkstars. After helping to end this conflict, Superboy and his new friends officially formed their own group. (#3-4)

When they returned to Earth, Hero was accosted by the Scavenger. The villain stole Hero's Achilles Vest. When he pursued the Scavenger to his lair, Hero instead acquired the legendary H-Dial. (#5) On Ungara (Abin Sur's homeworld), Pyra made one of numerous attempts to recruit Half-Life for her clique. Also, Jack Nebula began trying to recruit ravers to spy on Kindred Marx. It was eventually revealed that Nebula was actually Marx's brother and rival, Kindred Grim. Grim killed one raver and another escaped to warn others. (#6) When the Event Horizon returned to Earth, Superboy's group decided to take a road trip across America. They encountered Flash and Impulse in California (#7), snuck into Warriors in New York City (#8) and met Superman himself in Metropolis (#9). The young hero known as Hardrock also helped the team a couple of times (#7-9,11). While in New York, Hero and Sparx shared an indiscreet moment. While in a hero's guise, Hero made romantic advances on Sparx. This could only lead to heartache, as Hero himself was gay.

InterC.E.P.T. next appeared while stopping a band of thieves who had stolen an shipment of Thanagarian shadow generators. Following this, they set out to reclaim Nebula's team belt (with new members, Strata and Twelfth Knight). Kindred Grimm's crusade against Kindred Marx had begun interfering with his duty to InterC.E.P.T. and his membership was revoked. Kindred Grim recruited the Red Shift and finally attacked Marx. (#11) It was then that Grim's disguise and history was revealed. Grim sought Kindred Sol (Marx's mate) in order to add Sol's power to his own. InterC.E.P.T. caught up with Marx but Grim fled. Marx was imprisoned on Starlag which effectively ended the rave. (#12) Most of the Ravers returned home. Rex the dog (who had no hand stamp) instead accompanied Kindred Sol, who appeared on Ogyptu after everyone had gone. On Earth, Hero was attacked by Vicki Grant, who wanted to reclaim the H-Dial. She also revealed that emotions can effect the dial's outcomes. While at Sparx's family home, Hero finally told her he was gay. (#13,15) Note: Grant first used the Dial in Adventure #479 and lost it in New Teen Titans #46.

During the cosmic crisis Genesis, the Ravers were abducted by Highfather. Kaliber was chosen to be a part of a team to venture into the Source. In the process he lost his sight. Marx had coerced Superboy to break him free of Starlag and was instrumental in teleporting Earth's heroes into Darkseid's compound. (#14, Genesis #2-4) Half-Life's "deader" parts were also affected by this battle. He experienced a vision of his family's death: appaprently Kaliber had shot down the ship which crushed his family. (#15) Marx restarted the Event Horizon with live music (featuring Scare Tactics!). For various reasons, all but Sparx agreed to rejoin. While on Earth, Faust unsuccessfully attempted to restore Half-Life to full strength. (#16)

Half-Life lived up to his name when the group ventured to Qward to rescue Kaliber and Kindred Sol. (#17-18) In battle with Kindred Grim, the Ravers spent their last, most crucial energies. Sparx depleted all her electromagnetic power; in the end, she still would not acknowledge respect for Hero and Leander's relationship. Kindred Marx also lost his teleportational powers. As a result, the Ravers' hand stamps disappeared. Marx's Mother Box, however, remained with Aura, who contemplated using it's power to start a new rave. Kaliber remained on Qward, presumably to help guide his people in the aftermath of the battle. (#19)

Recently, a new villain called Repulse confronted Aura and nearly killed her. Lindsay's final condition is unknown. (Action #827)

   All Teams: Superboy and the Ravers #1 (Sept. 1996)

 
Ravers: Genesis #2-4 • Superboy v.3 #41 • Young Justice #49-50
InterC.E.P.T.: Suberboy & the Ravers #1-2, 11-12, 18, 19
Red Shift: Suberboy & the Ravers #1-3, 11-12, 16-19

The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog, 46 issues (1952-59)
Superboy v.3, 100 issues (1994-2002)
Superboy and the Ravers, 19 issues (1996-98)

  Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe

The Red Shadows

The Red Shadows were a covert military group under the former Soviet Union. Their earliest recorded appearance, they supported the Soviet-backed government of Vlatava against rebels led by Count Vertigo. After the failure of this mission, the entire team was replaced just before the Dragon's Hoard affair. (Suicide Squad #40-43) Molotov and Bolshoi were also members of another Soviet group, the People's Heroes. Stalnoivolk went on to serve in the Suicide Squad itself. (SS #53-57) The current status of all these operatives is unknown. NOTE: Though Blue Trinity worked with the Red Shadows, they were said to have been co-opted into the group.

Schreck, the vampiric member of the Red Shadows, also joined another group of mercenaries who were assembled to kill Deadshot. He was decapitated by Deadshot, but may be "undead." (Deadshot v.2 #5)

 Suicide Squad v.1 #40

  Suicide Squad v.1 #41-43, 53-57

Red Trinity

a.k.a. Kapitalist Kourier Service, Inc.

adapted from Who's Who Update '88 #3

Dr. Pytor Orloff, a scientist at the Puleski Institute in Soviet Siberia, attempted to confer the power of super-speed on his laboratory subjects, using steroids and electrode implants in addition to genetic splicing. His first group of subjects became the abnormally strong, emotionally unstable and particularly dull-witted team known as Blue Trinity.

However, Orloff's second experimental group was more successful. Three Soviets known only as Anatole, Bebeck and Cassiopeia gained the power to exceed the speed of sound without enduring any debilitating side-effects. Taking the name Red Trinity, the three speedsters became super-powered agents of the soviet Army, coming into conflict with Blue Trinity when they aided Flash in taking Orloff from Russia to America, where his expertise was needed to save the life of Speed McGee.

Quickly becoming infatuated with American culture, Red Trinity elected to make the United States their new home. Currently, they make their living as super-powered messengers under the company title "Kapitalist Kourier Service, Inc."

Cassiopeia died recently in the battle against Savitar (Flash #108). For more info, follow the link below...

Bebeck	Anatole	Cassiopeia

   Flash v. 2 #6

  Flash #7-8, 12, 14-15, 17, 19, 35-36, 44, 51, 55, 108

Blue Trinity • Those Who Ride the Lightning: Red Trinity

Relative Heroes

Created by Devin Grayson & Yvel Guichet

Revised & expanded by Russell Hillman

When the Weinberg children's parents are killed in a car crash, they do what comes naturally: they become super- heroes! (A common occurrence among DCU orphans.) Their plan was to travel to Metropolis in search of Superman's aid. Superman, of course, would be able to bring them back to life. This close-knit group consists of Joel Aaron Weinberg (Houston), the team's leader and elder sibling; his younger sister, Aviva Joby Weinberg (Temper), who possesses powers of electricity; Aviva's baby-sitter, Damara Sinclaire (Allure) who was charmed by the god Eryx with powers of persuasion; adoptive brother Tyson Gilford (Blindside, who may be the grandson of the Invisible Hood) can become invisible; adoptive brother Cameron Begay (Omni) who can manifest the metahuman gifts of those around him; and Cameron's plant Chloe.

This group was immediately pursued by Team A (Girth, Napalm & Kittyhawk) — agents of the D.E.O. It seems that Cameron had been entrusted to the now-deceased Mr. Weinberg, but was at one time a part of Team A, under the code name Cypher. They were then attacked by Eryx, who had been contracted to spend eternal life together with Damara. They escaped him by pointing out that as Eryx was already technically dead. En route to Manchester, Alabama, to see Impulse, they encountered the wannabe super-villain Metalhead. They were saved by Impulse, who took them to he and Max Mercury's house. Max attempted to talk Houston around, and Blindside was mentioned on America's Most Wanted in connection with a murder.

A brief stopover in New Jersey brought them into contact with Catwoman, who helped them avoid the D.E.O. On the way to Blüdhaven, they cleared Blindside's name, and met up with their Grandfather. When they arrived in Blüdhaven, where they were captured by the D.E.O. and taken to Metropolis' S.T.A.R. Labs., just as Chloe mutated into a humanoid shape.

At S.T.A.R., they were told the truth about Cypher. Both he and Chloe were members of an alien race known as the "Es." The Weinberg's father, Oren, was allowed to look after Cypher by the D.E.O until the Es returned. The rest of the team, and their grandfather, were asked to leave the S.T.A.R. facility, as the Es were returning for Cameron and Chloe. Outside they meet a huge group of followers and fans (including a young man called Rive). They soon realized that they had wrongly abandoned Cypher to the S.T.A.R Labs, and returned inside (with Rive). There, after some assistance from Superman, they were beamed aboard the Es' spaceship and discovered that the aliens were shape-shifters. They convince the Es to allow them to return to Earth with Cypher and Chloe, and to leave the Earth alone. They returned home and attended their parent's funeral. At the funeral was a group of their fans and Rive, who appeared to have begun dating Houston. Gossip from among their fans maintains that the Weinbergs have given up on their super-hero lives. But time will tellÉ

Relative Heroes #1 (March 2000)

Batman Chronicles #20 • Young Justice #49-50

Relative Heroes, 6-issue mini-series (2000)

The Rocket Red Brigade

Parts adapted from Who's Who Update '87 #5

Concerned about the large number of super-heroes in the United States, the Russian government commissioned geneticist Doctor Kreshikov to create some for them. Although they had Red Star, the Red Trinity, Prozhar and the People's Heroes, they felt a need for more of a force. Under General Treznof, the Rocket Red lab was built in Siberia, and army volunteers underwent forced evolution experiments. However, all the subjects died, and the plan was unsuccessful, until the Green Lantern called Kilowog came to Russia, and volunteered his green power and genetics skill. The first superhuman Rocket Red was Josef Denisovich, whose enhanced physique was amplified by the rocket-propelled costume and weapons arsenal Kilowog helped design and build. With the process in place, other volunteers were processed, creating the Rocket Red Brigade.

Eventually, the rest of the GL Corps came to investigate Kilowog's activities. They were attacked by the Brigade and in the battle, Rocket Red #1 died. Not long after, the Justice League was involved in a dispute with aliens on Russian soil, and they too were attacked by the Brigade, until Soviet authorities ordered them to work together. Later, the Justice Leauge was granted United Nations sanctioning as an international peace-force, and one of the Brigade, Rocket #7 (Vladimir Mikoyan) was granted JLA membership. (J.L. International #7) He was soon unmasked as a Manhunter android (#9) and was immediately replaced by Dimitri Pushkin, the first Russian to join the Justice League (#11). Dimitri was handpicked by Mikhail Gorbachev for the position. His armor was destroyed on a mission in space with the League and he was given upgraded armor on Apokolips (#20). Dimitri moved to the European branch of the JLI to be closer to his family, and stayed with the team nearly until its dissolution. (Justice League Europe #36)

Sonar took over the Rocket Red Brigade (JLE #45-50) controlling Dimitri and causing him to attack the London Embassy. After being freed of Sonar's control, he decided to stay on with the Brigade.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Reds were decommissioned. Some of their armor fell into the hands of the Russian mob and was infected with a virus by the Construct (Chase #3). Former Rocket Red battle suits were also used by Vandal Savage as missiles to destroy Montevideo, Uruguay. (DC One Million #1)

In response to the perception of the threat of American metahuman terror, many of Earth's nations decided to invest in their own metahuman security. At some point, Russia reactivated the Rocket Red program and Dimitri Pushkin donned the armor once again. (OMAC Project #1) Sadly, Dmitri became one of the early casualties in the growing cosmic crisis wrought by Alexander Luthor. He died in Moscow battling one of the OMAC drones created by the A.I., Brother Eye. The OMACs had fought Dmitri's former JLA comrades to a stand-still, so he chose to sacrifice himself to stop three of the drones. (#4-5)

Russian officials use the Reds not only for defense, but in a proactive campaign to acquire advanced technology. When the Brother Eye satellite crashed to Earth, the Reds were sent in to attempt its retrieval (but were beat out by Checkmate). (OMAC Project: Infinite Crisis Special)

At first, this revived Brigade was friendly to foreign metahumans. When the Green Lanterns pursued Evil Star into Chinese, the Reds were sent to escort the Lanterns safely into Russian airspace. (52 #6) A mere year later, Russian had joined Black Adam's multinational coalition in supporting the Freedom of Power Treaty. This Treaty criminalized American metahumans' activities in the participating countries. (Green Lantern v.3 #10)

Green Lantern Corps #208

  DC One Million #2-4 • Green Lantern Corps #?? • Justice Leauge Europe #16

The Rogues' Gallery

In essence, this group was originally comprised of Barry Allen's (the Flash) nemeses. They were at different times less or more orgainized as a unit. After Allen's death, they continued to menace Allen's successor, Wally West. Five of them (Cold, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard and Boomerang) died together in service of Neron. (Underworld Unleashed #1) They were all returned to life by Neron. (Flash v.2 #127-129)

The new team was assembled by the Blacksmith, former wife of the Flash's foe, Goldface. (Flash: Iron Heights)

Capt. Cold	Capt. Boomerang	Mirror Master	Weather Wizard	Trickster II

  The Rogues are covered thoroughly at the ultimate Flash site: Those Who Ride the Lightning: Rogues Gallery & New Rogues

   Team 1: Flash, v.1 #155. Team 2: Flash: Iron Heights

  Flash, v.1 #155, 174, 242, 254, 256, 325, 338-339, 341, 350 • Flash, v.2 #19, 125-129, 183-185, Annual #5 • Flash Secret Files #3 • New Year's Evil: The Rogues #1 • Secret Origins v.2 #41 • Underworld Unleashed #1

The Rough Bunch

Click the header above to read about DC's Old West heroes.

Royal Flush Gang

+ The Arcana

The Clubs

The Royal Flush gang was originally assembled by Professor Amos Fortune. As if cosmically predestined, Fortune gathered his childhood friends together and each took the card that suited their names: Ace/Amos, King/Kerry, Queen/Queenie, Jack/Jack, Ten/Tom. Fortune's plan for success hinged on his discovery of "stellaration energy," a force which when harnessed allowed him to control probability. This energy was channeled through playing cards. Fortune's Gang was named for the suit of clubs, which symbolized bad fortune.

After two defeats at the JLA's hands (JLofA #43, 56), they clashed with the Joker as well. (Joker #5) The entire gang was eventually jailed, with Fortune receiving five-year longer sentence. The only member to continue his crime career was Jack, who went on to join the Secret Society of Super-Villains as Hi-Jack. (SSoSV #2)

The Spades

Years later, a completely new deck of Spades appeared, this time backed by the telepath, Hector Hammond. Hammond's Gang was defeated when Hammond himself was subdued by Martin Stein (Firestorm) on the astral plane. Hammond's Ace of Spades was an android developed by otherwise-good Derek Reston. (JLofA #203-205) Though the original android was destroyed, it would be rebuilt (and destroyed) several times. (Crisis #9) This Gang was also leaderless after their defeat, and they separated as well.

Not long after, however, both Gangs made simultaneous bids to destroy the Justice League.The original Ten of Clubs, Tom Dillon, had been paying an informant to keep tabs on the new JLA in Detroit. Dillon was also adept at the technology that Fortune used to create his stellaration devices. Tom convinced his old friends to reform the Clubs and attack the new Detroit Justice League, who were on a retreat in the Ontario wilderness. With stellaration power, each card in a deck could manifest its potential (as prescribed by the ancient Tarot). They moved quickly against the new League, but tipped their hand and Steel damaged their device. A resulting rock fall crushed Ten and Queen to death, but King and Jack escaped with the device. (JLA: Classified #22)

Jack and King soon ran into their old friend, Amos Fortune, who had also come to that forest and once again wore the suit of the Ace, but for Spades. He revealed that he was now leading the Spade Gang and had sabotaged the Clubs' plot against the JLA. Fortune let his old friends go, but the Jack and King of Clubs wanted revenge. Both Gangs then attacked the fledgling JLA and a forest fire was started amidst the fracas. The villains turned tail and the JLA were trapped. (#23)

The Royal Flush Gang used their good luck generators to escape handily. Once safe, Fortune killed the King the of Clubs, but Jack escaped once again. (#24) Luck was on the JLA's side at last when they made their way into the RFG's cave hideout. This time, Fortune used the stellaration energy in a totally new way, transforming the Gang into avatars of the Tarot. They were successful until King's collapsed from his failing health. As he went unconscious, the team's energy was dispersed and they were easily captured. (25)

Ten of Spades went on to found her own gang of thieves called "Ten's Little Indians." These Spades were regrouped by the second Gambler, who claimed to be the Joker. Jack of Spades reformed after the Gang's encounter with the JLA, and was hesitant to return to a career in crime. But the Gambler gored Jack in the eye and replaced it with an optical laser. Thus he was now a true one-eyed Jack of Spades. The trauma pushed Jack into criminal psychosis. This Gang was infiltrated by the Titan Danny Chase and all its members were arrested by the Titans. (New Titans #68-69) Later, they played a minor role in Sonar's quest for world domination (JLE #50) and plagued Superman during the "night of a thousand thieves." (Adv. of Superman #520) NOTE: The Gambler II is the cousin of Hazard (of Injustice, Unlimited), grandson of the original Gambler.

Apparently the Spades maintained ties and kept a base of operations. King also apparently survived his collapse and apparent lung disease. During the Dominators' alien invasion, King gained immortality when gene bomb activated his metahuman powers. (??) But when the Justice League was reformed with the world's most powerful heroes, King retired from a life of crime. The others joined a massive new grouping of the Secret Society of Supper-Villains, all of whom were lured into a trap by this new JLA. (JLA 80-Page #1)

Since then, the Royal Flush Gang has expanded nationwide, beyond one simple "flush." Their leaders began co-opting other major gangs under the RFG umbrella. Entire "decks" of gang members now exist in every major city. A particularly ballsy unit of Diamonds recently ran up against Superman in Metropolis. He managed to expose their safe-house and arrest many of the members, but the higher ranking "face cards" escaped. The group remains widespread and elusive to authorities. They have also perfected the means to mass produce the Ace androids. (Superman: Man of Steel #121)

When Alex Luthor of Earth-3 broke free of his crystal fortress outside of time, he began organizing a super-villain Society. He freed Deuce (a new Gang 's Jack), from Enclave M metahuman prison by blackmailing the warden. Soon Black Adam was leading a new Royal Flush Gang of Spades (King, Queen, Deuce as Jack and Ten) to stop the Secret Six. This team wore more casual, gang-like uniforms. (Villains United #4) The Queen and Jack from this Gang also went freelance and accepted a job to kill mobster Joseph Bull. They were stopped by the Birds of Prey. (Birds of Prey #91) NOTE: From his comments, it appears that Deuce is not either of the previous Jacks, though he did willingly have his eye cybernetically replaced like his predecessor.

Not long after this, the Joker left an entire Gang of Spades for dead because he was upset that he'd not been invited to join the Society — too much of a wild card. (Infinite Crisis #2) This Gang appeared to be the original Spades (and included an android Ace), not the more recent team assembled by the Society, so it is unclear who may have died.

Another known member of the Gang is the unnamed father of Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl. (JSA: All-Stars #4, died in JSA #81)

The Arcana

Another similar group is also known to exist, the Arcana. This is a much broader network of operatives encompassing more of the entire deck of cards. (JLA Spectacular) The Arcana began in Europe hundreds of years ago as a mystic branch of Christianity. They were crushed by the Catholic church, but went underground and developed a deck of cards as symbols for their beliefs. They survived to modern day and became power-brokers who also used card terminology. Each suit in the organization has a different domain: politics for the Clubs; mind and emotion for Hearts; battle for the Spades; and finance for the Diamonds.

One might speculate that the two groups are somehow connected because of their common associate, Maxwell Lord. Lord is known to have staged both the RFG attack with the purpose of admitting Booster Gold to the JLA, (JL #4) and the one to reform the League itself. (JLA. Spec.) He is also known to have officially joined the Arcana soon after this. (JLA Annual #9) He was still a junior member when he learned that he had brain cancer. (JLA #94) To cheat death, Max stole the power of the Kilg%re (who'd brought him back to life) and called himself Lord Havoc (II) (#98-99). Subsequently, a funeral was held for Max (#95). The Arcana's Queen of Spades was sent to try to stop him (JLA #108) but Max was too powerful and he assumed leadership of the Arcana (JLA #111). In the end, Max's agent, Judgment, killed the Aracana's ruling "four Aces." The Arcana hasn't been heard from since, but Lord went on to similarly murder his fellow "royalty" in his next organization, Checkmate. The Arcana was also behind the push for Blue Devil's JLA membership.

Official links from this group to the Royal Flush Gang, if any, have yet to be revealed.

 Justice League of America #43

 Adventures of Superman #520 • Infinite Crisis #2 • Joker #5 • Justice League of America #54, 203-205 • Justice League #4 • Justice Leauge Europe #50 • JLA 80-Page Giant #1 • JSA All-Stars #4 • New Titans #68-69 • Villains United #4. Arcana apps.: Justice League America #94-99, 101, 104-105, 108, 110, 111, 113 and Annual #9.

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