Honor Guard (comics)

Superherobox|

caption=The cover to "Astro City: Life in the Big City"
Art by Alex Ross
comic_color=background:#c0c0c0
character_name= Honor Guard
real_name=
publisher= Wildstorm (current)
debut="Astro City" #1 (1995)
creators= Kurt Busiek
Brent Anderson
Alex Ross
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=active
alliances=Honor Guard

|

Honor Guard is a hero team in the comic book series "Astro City", portrayed as the world's most elite or prestigious grouping of superheroes. Created by writer Kurt Busiek and artists Brent Anderson and Alex Ross.

Vital Statistics

Status: Active

Members: Black Rapier (chairman), Beautie, Cleopatra II, M.P.H., N-Forcer, Quarrel II, Samaritan.

Former Members include: Cleopatra I, El Hombre, Hummingbird, Kitkat, Leopardman, The Living Nightmare, Max O'Millions, Mermaid, Mirage, the Silver Agent, Starfighter and Starwoman.

Debuted: 1:1

First appearance: 1959

Base of Operations: A cloaked flying base that, presumably for reasons of security, relocates every month.

But the group usually will go anywhere in the world and even out of this world when there is trouble.

Allies: There have been quite a few heroes who haven't joined the group but have aided the team, including the Bouncing Beatnik, the Old Soldier, Winged Victory, the Gentleman, and folktale hero Joe Magarac.

Group history

Honor Guard was founded in 1959 by Max O'Millions to combat the Legions of Midnight. Its original roster also included the Silver Agent, Starwoman, Leopardman and Kitkat, the first N-Forcer, and the first Cleopatra. The Bouncing Beatnik and the Old Soldier assisted Honor Guard on its second case, but did not become members.

Throughout its history, Honor Guard appears to have maintained an active membership of seven members. Kitkat seems to have been replaced by the Mermaid early on, and Max by El Hombre by 1964. During the next few years Hummingbird and Mirage took the places of Leopardman and Starwoman. The Living Nightmare was also a member at some point before November 1972, though it is uncertain whether this was before or during the period of El Hombre's membership. By April 1973, at the time of El Hombre's downfall, the Black Rapier and Starfighter had taken the places of Cleopatra (I) and the Silver Agent. It has not been revealed what new member was brought in to fill the vacancy left by El Hombre's disgrace; possibly the Living Nightmare again, as he was apparently once more a member again sometime in the 1970s and is known to have served on two separate occasions.

The current roster (1995-1998; a partial roster is also known from 2000) consists of Beautie, the Black Rapier, Cleopatra (II), M.P.H., the N-Forcer, Quarrel (II), and Samaritan. The Black Rapier is the current leader. The modern team has been shown working with Winged Victory and the Gentleman, but these have not become members.

Membership timeline

New members and former members who rejoined are boldfaced.

1959

Appearances: 1:2, DA1:0
*Max O'Millions
*Cleopatra I
*Kitkat
*Leopardman
*N-Forcer (costume design 1)
*Silver Agent
*Starwoman

1963?/Early 1960's

Appearances: 2:16
*Silver Agent
*Cleopatra I
*El Hombre (replacing Max O'Millions)
*Leopardman
*Mermaid (replacing Kitkat)
*N-Forcer (costume design 2)
*Starwoman

1964

Appearances: 2:13, 2:16, LH:4
*Silver Agent
*Cleopatra I
*El Hombre
*Hummingbird (replacing Leopardman)
*Mermaid
*Mirage (replacing Starwoman)
*N-Forcer (costume design 2)

1970

Appearances:
*Cleopatra I
*Hummingbird
*Leopardman (returning)
*Mirage
*N-Forcer (costume design 3)
*Starfighter

1973

Appearances: 2:16
*Black Rapier
*El Hombre
*Hummingbird
*Mermaid
*Mirage
*N-Forcer (costume design 3)
*Starfighter

1976

Appearances: DA2:1
*Black Rapier
*Cleopatra I (returning)
*Hummingbird
*The Living Nightmare
*Mirage
*N-Forcer
*Starfighter

1991

Appearances: LH:1
*Black Rapier
*Beautie
*M.P.H.
*N-Forcer (current costume design 4)
*Quarrel II
*Samaritan

1995-Current Lineup

Appearances: 1:1, 1:6, 2:6, 2:7, 2:9, 2:19
*Black Rapier
*Beautie
*Cleopatra II
*M.P.H.
*N-Forcer (current costume design 4)
*Quarrel II
*Samaritan

2000

*Cleopatra II
*M.P.H.
*N-Forcer (costume design 4
*Quarrel II
*Samaritan