Crime Syndicate of America

For the concept of crime syndicates in general, see Organized crime.

Crime Syndicate of America
The anti-matter Crime Syndicate of Amerika (and counterparts) feature on the cover of the JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel. Art by Frank Quitely. Upside down characters, left to right: Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. Right side up, left to right: Johnny Quick, Power Ring, Superwoman, Ultraman, Owlman.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Historical Syndicate: Justice League of America (vol. 1) #29, (Aug. 1964) Modern Syndicate: JLA: Earth 2, (1999) The Society: 52 Week 52, 2006
Created by	Gardner Fox (writer) Mike Sekowsky (artist)
In-story information
Base(s)	The Panopticon The Flying Fortress
Member(s)	Ultraman Owlman Superwoman Johnny Quick Power Ring

The Crime Syndicate are teams of fictional supervillains, from one of DC Comics' parallel universes, who are the evil counterparts of the Justice League of America.^[1] The original team was specifically known as Crime Syndicate of America and is sometimes abbreviated as CSA. This first superpowered Crime Syndicate team appeared in Justice League of America (vol. 1) #29 in August 1964. The primary successive incarnation, known as the Crime Syndicate of Amerika (with the variant spelling of America), first appeared in the 2000 JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel.

A related successive group on Earth-3 is known as the Crime Society of America and first appeared in 52 Week 52.

Publication History

Crime Syndicate of America

Further information: Earth-Three and Multiverse (DC Comics)

The Crime Syndicate of America originally lived on Earth-Three, a world where history was "reversed" from the world we knew (e.g., Christopher Columbus discovered Europe, British colonists declared their independence from America, and President John Wilkes Booth was assassinated by Abraham Lincoln). It initially had no superheroes, only the supervillains of the Crime Syndicate, though this changed with the advent of heroic Lex Luthor who used his vast intelligence for good.

In their first appearance, the Crime Syndicate, bored with the ease with which they were able to commit crimes on their Earth (and with no one to truly challenge them), discovered the existence of Earth-One and Earth-Two after Ultraman got Ultra-Vision from exposure to a large chunk of kryptonite, and found he could peer between Worlds, and set out to challenge the JLA and JSA to a lengthy fight, after which the Syndicate was ultimately defeated. However by saying Volthoom they sent themselves into Earth-3 with their opponents due to a vibratory force Power Ring had placed in their bodies. and defeated them. They were then able to capture the JSA by transporting them to Earth-3 and imprisoning them, so they would not help the JSA. However in the next fight on Earth-2 they were defeated, the JLA tricking the Syndicate members into unleashing more power than they could control. Following this defeat, they were imprisoned in an unbreakable bubble generated by Green Lantern's power ring, and placed in a "limbo" dimension between the Earths with multi-lingua signs warning nobody to release them.^{[volume & issue needed]} The JSA were freed, after Green Lantern channelled a force that would have destroyed both Earths if the JSA were released into space to Dead Worlds. Over the following years, the Syndicate or one of its members would occasionally escape and attempt to wreak havoc on Earth-One and/or Earth-Two.^{[volume & issue needed]} Ultraman once escaped but was returned by the Supermen from Earth-1 and 2. On one occasion they are released by the time travelling villain Per Degaton when he was caught up in a time storm and found their prison. They tried to get him, but he revealed he had made sure he was vibrating at a different rate to them so he could not be touched. He used them in an attempt to change history and take over Earth-2 by stealing nuclear missiles from the Cuban missile crisis of Earth-Prime, which caused war on that world. When they tried to overthrow him they were hurled into 1982 of Earth-1, as he made sure this would happen if they touched him. They materialised on the JLA's satellite headquarters and defeated him. The JLA went to the past and teamed up with the All-Star Squadron to stop this happening. The Crime Syndicate again helped Degaton, though were still planning to betray him. When he was defeated, these events were wiped from existence.

Earth-Three and the original Crime Syndicate were destroyed along with the rest of DC's parallel worlds in the 1985 twelve-issue maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths as the first major alternate Earth that is destroyed in the series. As shown in the first issues of the Crisis series, Earth-Three and all of its inhabitants were obliterated by an anti-matter wave. The Crime Syndicate trying to safeguard their source Earth so they could reconquer it later rather than being heroic, teamed up with Alexander Luthor Sr. their Earth's Luthor to prevent the antimatter wave from completely destroying their Earth. Their collective efforts failed, and they were killed by the wave. Alexander and his wife Lois Luthor managed to send their infant son Alexander Luthor, Jr. to the safety of Earth-One. This was the last appearance of the Crime Syndicate that decade until the post-Crisis Qward version was introduced several years later.

The original Earth-Three Syndicate made a few post-Crisis appearances as in the Animal Man series^{[volume & issue needed]} and most recently in Infinite Crisis when Earth-Three was temporarily recreated, and models of the Earth-Three Ultraman, Superwoman, and Alexander Luthor, Sr. were almost merged with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Superman of Earth-Two and Wonder Woman of Earth-Two to create so-called "perfect beings".^{[volume & issue needed]}

Crime Syndicate of Amerika

A post-Crisis version of the team, simply known as the "Crime Syndicate" (not 'of America'), was eventually introduced. This post-Crisis version (revealed in 1992's Justice League Quarterly #8) was composed of Qwardians (residents of the antimatter counterpart of Oa) as well as being "more powerful than their counterparts" and "long gone" and shown to be different from the Earth-Three incarnation by their enlarged eyes reflective of the Weaponers of Qward. They acted as Claire Montgomery's (Maxwell Lord's ex-wife) second Conglomerate team.

The first appearance of the post-Zero Hour incarnation of the Crime Syndicate was in the JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel in 1999 by Grant Morrison, which combined the pre-Crisis parallel Earth idea with the pre-Zero Hour anti-matter universe concept. The Crime Syndicate's post-Zero Hour anti-matter Earth possesses a "reversed" history similar to Earth-Three's, but with a much darker tone to both the team and its world. JLA Secret Files 2004 provided additional history of this team, showing that they did once partially resemble the Earth-Three Syndicate though still easily identifiable from their Pre-Crisis Earth-Three incarnation. Unlike the Crime Syndicate of Earth-Three, this Crime Syndicate of Amerika are able to rule their world (a change from their pre-Crisis counterparts, who were unsuccessful in conquering their world) though allow governments to continue operating and honest people are able to continue operating in pockets such as Gotham City Police Commissioner Thomas Wayne Sr. (father to Owlman and counterpart of the murdered father of Batman). The antimatter Crime Syndicate's motto is "Cui Bono?" ("Who profits?"). The only universally respected principle on their world is that of the "favor bank"—if someone does you a favor, you owe them a favor in return that must be repaid whenever the favor is called in.

Along with the heroic analogue Alexander Luthor, other opponents include the heroic "H.I.V.E." (Hierarchy for International Virtuous Empowerment), the Missile Men, and the "Justice Underground" (a reversed analog of the Secret Society of Super Villains) consisting of General Grodd, Lady Sonar, Quizmaster, Q-Ranger, Sir Solomon Grundy, and Star Sapphire.^{[citation needed]}

In an early 2000s issue of Superman, Ultraman, and Superwoman appear to have had a child together, but the child actually turns out to be a rogue Brainiac.^[2]

2003's JLA/Avengers crossover, written by Kurt Busiek, involved the Crime Syndicate attacking the planet Qward and the destruction of the Anti-Matter Universe, but this was later reversed when the special's villain, Krona, was defeated. The Crime Syndicate later reappeared in the Syndicate Rules arc where they learn of the 'reboot' of their universe which shows the blonde haired Power Ring being replaced by a John Stewart marine counterpart. In the story, the Crime Syndicate attempts to trade places with their Justice League counterparts and the revenge of Qward by using the ancient and powerful Void Hound to regain their reputation as being a fearsome race and targets Earth and the Anti-Matter Earth (the latter in response to the events of JLA/Avengers). Despite the combined forces of both Earths, the Void Hound proved too strong a force to defeat. Former League foe the Construct was able to help remove the weapon A.I. and both were imprisoned in John Stewart's power ring.

Other criminal organizations on the Crime Syndicate's Earth include the Crime Lodge (anti-matter analogues to the Justice Society) and Young Offenders (anti-matter analogues of the Teen Titans and Young Justice).^{[citation needed]} They are mentioned at the end of the Syndicate Rules arc as prepared to take advantage of the Crime Syndicate's weakness, but are not shown.

Superman/Batman Annual #1 (2006) details Superman and Batman's first encounter with Ultraman and Owlman. Set years ago, before Superman and Batman knew each other's identities, a vacationing Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Lois Lane meet Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman when their antimatter counterparts appear on a cruise ship. This story also features the first appearance of Deathstroke's unnamed antimatter doppelganger. The Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman presented in the story have the same costumes as the anti-matter universe version of the Syndicate. However, it should be noted that this tale is being told by Mister Mxyzptlk and as such, may not actually be canonical.

The antimatter Clark Kent appeared in Kandor, posing as Superman.^[3] Saturn Queen, last seen in the "Absolute Power" arc of Superman/Batman, explains how Ultraman and she arrive in the city. When Alexander Luthor, Jr. brought the multiverse back in Infinite Crisis, her alternate reality (the Earth featuring the original Legion of Super-Villains) was recreated briefly. When the Multiverse collapsed, she found herself stranded in the Phantom Zone, where she found Ultraman.^{[volume & issue needed]} She viewed Ultraman as a suitable replacement for the version of Superman who was her son in her reality and placed him under mind control so that he would believe her to be his mother.^{[volume & issue needed]} She was also able to put Supergirl under her control and initiated plans for the two to marry, but Supergirl was able to break free of her control and viciously beat Ultraman. Saturn Queen gave information regarding Argo City to Supergirl in exchange for Ultraman's life.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Ultraman and Saturn Queen remained in Kandor, until it was discovered that the bottled city was not the true Kandor. Though it is not known where Saturn Queen went upon the city's abandonment, Ultraman somehow returned to the Anti-matter Universe — which, not being part of the Multiverse but a reflection of it, was not destroyed in Infinite Crisis.

The full five base members of the anti-matter Crime Syndicate, including the aforementioned Kent next appeared in Trinity #9. It was revealed that their world was badly damaged by the attack from the Weaponers of Qward and the Void Hound. The antimatter Crime Syndicate have adopted open active control of their Earth and have been abducting people from throughout all of the individual fifty-two universes in the current positive matter Multiverse to use as slave labor in their source Earth's repair. After the Trinity defeat and imprison their anti-matter counterparts and free the slaves, the anti-matter Earth falls into even worse chaos than their first visit, without the controlling influence of Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman to watch over it.^{[citation needed]}

Multiversity

The CSA battling the new JLA in a promotional image for Justice League of America #50. Art by Ethan Van Sciver.

The Crime Syndicate will reappear in the 2010 Multiversity miniseries written by Grant Morrison. It is unknown which version of the team will appear.^[4]

In Justice League of America (vol. 2) #43, Doctor Impossible and his cohorts use extra-dimensional superhero Blue Jay to open up a gateway to the Multiverse. Owlman, Ultraman, and Superwoman are briefly seen standing atop a building, with shadows obscuring most of their identifying marks, thus making it unclear which versions they were. The members of the antimatter Crime Syndicate were featured in Justice League of America (vol. 2) #50, with the original Pre-Crisis iterations of Power Ring and Johnny Quick replacing their contemporary counterparts in order to mirror the events of Green Lantern: Rebirth and Flash: Rebirth. After arriving on New Earth following the destruction of their world at the hands of Alexander Luthor (who had built a weapon of mass destruction that detonated following his demise), the Syndicate attacks the Hall of Justice, where Luthor's corpse was interred after his murder at the hands of the Joker during the finale of Infinite Crisis. It is revealed that the Syndicate members were working with Doctor Impossible in order to create a machine that could resurrect the dead, hoping that they could revive Luthor and force him to undo the damage he had dealt to the Crime Syndicate's world. However, just as the machine is to be activated, Doctor Impossible double-crosses the Syndicate and attempts to resurrect Darkseid rather than Luthor, but the machine malfunctions and instead creates an immensely powerful villain called the Omega Man.^[5]

In the ensuing storyline, Power Ring is killed, and the members of the Justice League and the Crime Syndicate are forced to work together to stop Omega Man. Realizing that the situation is hopeless, Owlman betrays the League and turns them over to Omega Man, figuring that the Syndicate could take over the League's Earth after Omega Man kills off most of the heroes for them. At the last second, Batman reveals that he anticipated the Syndicate's betrayal, and had used the Tangent Universe's version of Green Lantern to resurrect Luthor behind the Syndicate's back. Though his resurrection is short-lived, Luthor builds a machine that ultimately sends the Syndicate back to their own ravaged world and seemingly destroys Omega Man.^[6]

Crime Society of America of Post Crisis Earth-3

Crime Society of America from 52 Week 52, art by Justiniano.

See also: 52 (comics) and Countdown (DC Comics)

In 52 Week 52, an alternate version of Earth-Three is shown as a part of the new Multiverse. In the depiction are characters that are altered versions of the original Justice League of America, plus the Martian Manhunter. The names of the characters and the team are not mentioned in the two panels in which they appear.^[7]

Based on comments by Grant Morrison, this alternate universe is not the pre-Crisis Earth-Three, making these new characters unrelated to previous versions. In Countdown #31, the name of this team is revealed to be the Crime Society of America. The Society are said to be evil dopplegangers of the heroes of Earth-2, and make their first solo appearance in Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer: Crime Society #1 written by Sean McKeever and illustrated by Jamal Igle,^{[8][9][10][11]} Appearing in Countdown, the Crime Society's greatest parallel to the Justice Society is their larger roster (which is not strictly limited to Justice Society counterparts), featuring evil versions of Green Arrow, Wildcat, Black Canary, Hawkwoman, Stargirl, and the Spectre alongside better-known CSA members Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick.^[12] Later issues introduce Annataz Arataz (the evil counterpart of Zatanna),^[13] and counterparts of Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), and Booster Gold. However, although villains are the majority of Earth-3, there are a few heroes that are active on this earth as well. Most of the heroes revealed-to-date are good versions of Batman's famous enemies such as the Joker (known as the Jokester), the Riddler, and Two-Face (Three-Face, a woman named Evelyn Dent).^[14]

Shortly after the Crime Society's introduction, they are offered a place among Monarch's army. Already recruited into Monarch's army, Johnny Quick wins a place in Monarch's elite squad when he defeats his Earth-9 and Earth-2 counterparts in the Countdown: Arena mini-series.^{[citation needed]}. All of the Crime Society members who are present in the Earth-51 dimension at the end battle of Superman-Prime and the Monarch are killed, as the entire dimension is completely destroyed with only Superman-Prime (depowered back to his Superboy-Prime levels and appearance) and a single plant survived the cataclysm as shown in Countdown issues #2 and 1. The members of the Post Crisis Earth-3 Crime Society who did not join the Monarch's Army are assumed to be still alive and active on Post Crisis Earth-3. The exact number and identity of these members have not been specified in panel as of November 2010.

Members

In both the Crime Syndicate and Crime Society, the five permanent members are:

• Ultraman: the counterpart of Superman. Pre-Crisis, the Earth-Three Ultraman came from a Krypton that hadn't exploded. This Ultraman also depended on Kryptonite to maintain his superpowers, rather than draining them (originally receiving a new power through each exposure to Kryptonite). Post-Crisis, the anti-matter Earth's Ultraman was a human astronaut (Lieutenant Clark Kent) given Anti-Kryptonite-based superpowers after an encounter with aliens.^{[citation needed]} If he is separated from Anti-Kryptonite long enough, his powers fade away; originally the anti-matter Kent combats this power loss by inserting Anti-Kryptonite capsules under his skin which are released gradually over time, as shown in the JLA: Earth 2 hardcover. Later books state that his increasing resistance levels has made this process impractical and wears the Anti-Kryptonite in the silver colored containers along his costume.^{[volume & issue needed]} The anti-matter Clark Kent has an unhealthy obsession with his universe's Lois Lane who is his Crime Syndicate teammate Superwoman, having forced her to marry him and bear him a son, who was later possessed by their version of Brainiac.
• Superwoman: the counterpart of Wonder Woman. Pre-Crisis, Superwoman gained her powers from her world's Amazons, and thus has similar powers to Wonder Woman. Post-Crisis, she is the anti-matter Earth's version of Wonder Woman as well and has either directly or indirectly killed all the Amazons native to her reality.^[15] Superwoman took the name of Lois Lane when she established herself in Patriarch's World. Her birth name has not been revealed at present. Superwoman's lasso does not compel others to tell the truth, but instead releases inhibitions and forces a victim to reveal secrets which they find especially humiliating.^{[citation needed]} The Post-Crisis Superwoman also has heat vision and continues an open affair with Owlman, much to the anger of her husband Ultraman.
• Owlman: the counterpart of Batman. Pre-Crisis, Owlman possessed a limited range of mind control powers. Post-Crisis, Owlman's origin was fleshed out with his powers enhanced by a range of technological and physical skills, much like Batman. Post-Crisis antimatter Owlman is Thomas Wayne, Jr., the older brother of his Earth's Bruce Wayne who was killed along with his mother. Wayne, Jr. blames his father, Police Commissioner Thomas Wayne, Sr., which since started a personal conflict between them to the point that Thomas, Sr. is determined to kill his own son. Wayne, Jr. also increased his IQ with a drug-enhancer for his cerebral cortex as stated in the JLA Earth 2 hardcover. Wayne, Jr. openly possesses plans to counter his teammates' powers. Wayne, Jr. uses these counterattacks whenever he chooses, as he causes Quick to have a minor heart attack at the beginning of the "Syndicate Rules" storyline. Wayne, Jr. has a number of illicit liaisons with Superwoman, though it is not clear whether this is a genuine attraction or just another way of showing her independence from the obsessively jealous and ever-watchful Ultraman.
• Johnny Quick: the counterpart of the Flash and Johnny Quick. Pre-Crisis, the criminal Earth-Three Quick was the counterpart of the Barry Allen Flash though was not as fast as Allen. He wore an enhancement helmet that augmented his above human speed but couldn't break the lightspeed or dimensional barriers on his own even with the helmet's augumentation.^[16] His specific birth name was never revealed in-panel. Both post-Crisis Johnny Quicks maintain their superpowers with the use of "Speed Juice", a powerful narcotic stimulant which made from the blood of his murdered predecessor.^{[citation needed]} The post-Crisis Quick's predecessor was later resurrected,^[17] and was revealed to be the anti-matter counterpart to the Golden Age Johnny Quick.^[18]
• Power Ring: the counterpart of Green Lantern. Pre-Crisis, Power Ring gained his magical ring of power from a Tibetan monk named Volthoom,^{[citation needed]} and has powers similar to the Silver Age Green Lantern. Post-Crisis, the original Power Ring (who still got the ring from a Tibetan monk named Volthoom) was an American named Harrolds,^{[citation needed]} but the JLA: Earth 2 hardcover established that the original Power Ring later gave the ring to a young blond man, the counterpart to Kyle Rayner.^{[citation needed]} His ring was inhabited by the spirit of Volthoom who often spoke on his own, making inane observations and taking up residence in the ring wielder's mind; all of which is considered a curse to the ring's wielder. The blond Power Ring's favorite tactic in battle was to use the ring to create living Boschian monstrosities capable of destroying whole city blocks. The "Syndicate Rules" storyline showed that after the anti-matter Universe was destroyed by Krona and recreated, certain elements of history had been changed, and now the second Power Ring was a counterpart to John Stewart.^{[volume & issue needed]} This Power Ring was a Slave Marine for many years and was tricked by Harrolds into taking the ring by telling him he was the chosen substitute to wield the ring when Harrolds couldn't.

The JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel featured several costumes in the CSA Watchtower, three of them labeled Doctor Noon (Doctor Mid-Nite's counterpart), White Cat (Black Canary's counterpart), and Spaceman (Starman's counterpart).^{[citation needed]}

The Crime Syndicate's universe also included counterparts of Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Hawkman, known as:

• White Martian: Martian Manhunter's antimatter counterpart. After arriving on Earth, he became Ultraman's chief rival. Ultraman eventually killed him.^[19]
• Barracuda: Aquaman's counterpart though has a non-human merman appearance (fish head and blue skin) as shown in Trinity #12. He is usually seen leading the armies of Atlantis against the surface world in Florida.^[20]
• Blood Eagle: Hawkman's counterpart. Killed by the Crime Syndicate.^[21]

The CSA's Post-Crisis world is primarily governed by the "favor bank"; unofficial but ironically the only rule that is not consistently broken. If any person should grant a favor for someone else, that person is entitled to compensation whenever they see fit, no matter what the cost or hardship to the latter. Failure to pay back a favor results in inordinately harsh consequences; as seen in the beginning of "Syndicate Rules". A mobster, Jackson "Rat-Eyes" Drake, who failed to follow up on a favor owed was put on "trial" by Owlman, who then had him incinerated by Ultraman as a favor.^{[citation needed]}

A team of Qwardians based on the then-current Justice League International roster appeared on the post-Crisis, pre-Zero Hour Earth, although they did not call themselves the Crime Syndicate.^[22] Its members were:

• Scarab (Blue Beetle counterpart)
• Slipstream (Flash counterpart)
• Fiero (Fire counterpart)
• Frostbite (Ice counterpart)
• Deadeye (Green Arrow counterpart)
• Elasti-Man (Elongated Man counterpart)
• Element Man (Metamorpho counterpart)

It is not clear if any of these characters exist in post-Zero Hour or post-Infinite Crisis continuity.

Other versions

• The Destiny's Hand arc of Justice League America introduced an alternate reality created by Doctor Destiny that features a Justice League that became ruthless in the pursuit of justice. The membership is Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Flash, Atom, Red Tornado, Black Canary, Firestorm, and Green Arrow (whom questioned the League's tactics). Batman was a member but resigned when he saw the direction the group was taking.
• In the Elseworlds JLA: Another Nail limited series, the Flash and Atom accidentally teleport to an alternate Earth. They are subsequently captured and questioned by the Crime Syndicate who believe them both to be the cause of the temporal disruptions affecting the Syndicate's Earth. This Earth is presumed to be a variation of Earth-Three since the villains wore their pre-Crisis costumes.
• In the JLA Classified arc I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League, the Super Buddies face a villainous version of themselves in the Power Posse based out of a strip club (as opposed to the Super Buddies' strip mall). Its members include:
  • Maxwell Lord
  • Sue
  • Oberon
  • Booster Gold
  • Metamorpho
  • G'nort (sans power ring, instead a giant monster)
  • Mistress Mary (Mary Marvel counterpart)
  • Billy (Captain Marvel counterpart)
  • Tiffany (Ice counterpart)

In other media

Television

• The World's Greatest Super Friends television series episode "Universe of Evil" features Superman encountering evil versions of the rest of the team from an alternate universe, called the "Super Enemies" (he temporarily swapped places with his own evil counterpart, who wrought havoc and almost defeated the rest of the Super Friends until they swapped back just in time) when trying to stop Mount Vesuvius from erupting (which the evil Superman was causing). This universe's version of the Hall of Justice is called the Hall of Evil, and a demonic-looking face is on the outside of the building. The Super Enemies themselves appear almost identical to the Super Friends, although their version of Aquaman has an eyepatch, Batman's costume is red rather than blue, Robin has a moustache, and Wonder Woman's face is lined and her costume slightly darker. The evil Superman is the most noticeably different, with black on his costume where the regular version has blue (i.e. the majority), and his eyes are red with black marks around them.

• In the Justice League animated series, a team called the Justice Lords (who combine elements of the Crime Syndicate and Wildstorm Comics' The Authority) appears as the League's counterparts from an alternate universe. They first appeared in the two-part Justice League episode "A Better World", which was originally to feature the Crime Syndicate.^[23] Unlike the Crime Syndicate though, the Justice Lords are not simply evil opposites of their good counterparts; rather, they rule their world with an iron fist in order to end war and crime. The death of their Flash set a chain of events in motion that ended with the death of the alternate Lex Luthor at the hands of the alternate Superman. It was the government's fears that the Justice League might one day become like the Justice Lords that sparked Project Cadmus. Robotic doubles of the Justice Lords are created as a diversion by the newly combined Lex Luthor/Brainiac in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Divided We Fall". Of special note the Justice Lords are said to have been also inspired at least in part by The Authority in the creative team's commentary on the DVD.

The Injustice Syndicate from The Brave and the Bold.

• The Crime Syndicate is featured in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Deep Cover for Batman," but referred to as the Injustice Syndicate,and save for Owlman, does not feature any other members of the original comic book Crime Syndicate. This is due to the show itself not featuring the original Justice League aside from scattered flashbacks, instead choosing to focus on lesser-known characters. However, when the Justice League International was introduced in the following season, it did feature Aquaman and Fire, both of whom have Syndicate counterparts featured in the episode.^[24] Owlman is focused on more than the others. They are alternate world counterparts of the main six heroes of the show and four minor heroes: Batman (Owlman), Green Arrow (Blue Bowman), Blue Beetle (Scarlet Scarab), Atom (Dyna-Mite), Red Tornado (Silver Cyclone), and unnamed alternate versions of Fire, Aquaman, and Plastic Man (alternate versions of B'wana Beast and Wildcat were only seen in flashbacks). With the help of Red Hood and heroic versions of the series' recurring bad guys (Grodd, Sinestro, etc.), the Injustice Syndicate was defeated and imprisoned. With Silver Cyclone destroyed, the bomb they planned to launch to Batman's Earth is sent to Earth-161, a reality of Earth where everyone is a zombie. While this team was not a direct adaptation of the comic book iteration of the Crime Syndicate, it was the first time a member of the Crime Syndicate (Owlman) appeared in any medium outside of the comics.

Film

Justice League: Worlds Collide

A Justice League DTV was planned, called Justice League: Worlds Collide, in which the Crime Syndicate would have been the main antagonists and which would have taken place during the gap between seasons 2 and 3.^[25]

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

The Crime Syndicate from Crisis on Two Earths.

The Crime Syndicate appeared in the 2010 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DC animated film, which was based on the abandoned Justice League: Worlds Collide project. Here the Crime Syndicate is based on actual crime syndicates, complete with different families and bosses.

This version of the Syndicate consists of Ultraman, Superwoman (based on Mary Marvel instead of Wonder Woman), Owlman, Power Ring, Johnny Quick, and J'edd "The Martian" J'arkus (a counterpart of the Martian Manhunter), collectively known as the "Bosses", with Ultraman as the "Boss of Bosses".

Below them are lower-tier villains called the "Made Men" who were granted powers by the "Bosses" in exchange for serving the Syndicate.

• Ultraman's henchmen include a superpowered version of Jimmy Olsen.

• Owlman's henchmen are based on the Outsiders and include Black Power (Black Lightning), Model Citizen (Looker), Sai (Katana) and Aurora (Halo), as well as Breakdance (Vibe), Extruded Man (Elongated Man), Vamp (Vixen) and Fortuneteller (Gypsy) from J'edd's faction.

• Superwoman's henchmen are based on the Marvel Family and include Captain Super (Captain Marvel), Captain Super Jr. (Captain Marvel Jr.), and Uncle Super (Uncle Marvel); the Justice Society of America, which include Manhawk (Hawkman), Mr. Horrific (Mr. Terrific), and unamed henchmen based on Wildcat, Sandman, Power Girl, and Doctor Fate; the "Satellite" incarnation of the Justice League, which include unamed henchmen based on Zatanna, Firestorm, and Red Tornado; miscellaneous henchmen including Mary Mayhem (Mary Marvel), Megamorpho (Metamorpho), She-Bat (a cross between Man-Bat and Catwoman);^[26] and henchmen based on Blue Beetle, Cyborg, and Swamp Thing.^[27]

• Johnny Quick's henchmen include Warwolf (Lobo), Archer (Green Arrow), and Scream Queen (Black Canary).

• Power Ring's henchmen include Olympia (Wonder Woman).

• J'edd J'arkus's henchmen were based on the Detroit incarnation of the Justice League and included Breakdance (Vibe), Extruded Man (Elongated Man), Vamp (Vixen), Fortuneteller (Gypsy), and Angelique (Hawkgirl). Jarkus's faction was dissolved upon his death and its membership and territory was divided among the remaining five members. Owlman used most of his crew in the raid of Luthor's Justice League HQ.

The President of the United States in this world is Slade Wilson (who is depicted as missing his left eye rather than his right), a famed war hero and government agent, who is reluctant to speak out against the Syndicate due to being afraid of what they would do to his daughter, Rose Wilson. Following the deaths of Owlman and Johnny Quick, the remaining Syndicate leaders are arrested by Marines led by President Wilson, who sees to it that his world's law enforcement hunts down and arrests the remaining members.

Miscellaneous

• In Teen Titans Go! #48, while trying to return Kilowatt to his home dimension, the Titans have to battle their evil counterparts, the Teen Tyrants. Teams shown include:
  • The evil Teen Tyrants consist of: Aqualad (resembling his later incarnation as Tempest), Speedy (resembling his later incarnation as Arsenal), Red Robin, Red Raven (resembling Jinx: pink hair, gray skin, and the same specific facial markings), and Blackfire. The good Brotherhood of Justice consists of: Dr. Light, Mammoth, Madame Rouge, and Psimon (sporting a cybernetic faceguard resembling that of Brainiac).
  • The original Teen Titans, consisting of Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), Kid Flash (Wally West), Robin (Dick Grayson), Aqualad (Garth), and Speedy (Roy Harper).
  • The Team Titans from Kilowatt's home dimension. They opppose the evil Lord Chaos. Members shown are Mirage (Raven's counterpart), "Nightwing" (Robin's counterpart based on Team Titans member Nightrider rather than Nightwing), and Battalion (Cyborg's counterpart).

See Also

Squadron Sinister

References

1. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Crime Syndicate", in Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 89, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017 
2. ^ Adventures of Superman #604 - 605 (July - August 2002)
3. ^ Supergirl v5, 7 ((Jun 2006)), DC Comics
4. ^ The Weekly Crisis - Comic Book Review Blog: The Multiversity - Grant Morrison, Watchmen 2, All-Star Captain Marvel & More!
5. ^ DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Your BRIGHTEST DAY solicitations for October
6. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #51-53
7. ^ 52 52: 11/3-4 ((May 2, 2007)), DC Comics
8. ^ Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer: Wildstorm #1
9. ^ Brady, Matt (2007-05-08). "The 52 Exit Interviews: Grant Morrison". Newsarama. http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=111900. Retrieved 2007-05-12.  the
10. ^ A QUICK CHECK-IN WITH JAMAL IGLE - NEWSARAMA
11. ^ CCI: DC New World Order - Comic Book Resources.
12. ^ Countdown #31
13. ^ Countdown #24
14. ^ Countdown #16
15. ^ Justice league of America (vol. 2) #50
16. ^ Secret Society of Super Villians (vol. 1) #13
17. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #50
18. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #51
19. ^ JLA: Earth 2 ((2000)), DC Comics
20. ^ JLA 114 ((Jul 2005)), DC Comics
21. ^ JLA 112 ((May 2005)), DC Comics
22. ^ Justice League Quarterly 8 ((Summer 1992)), DC Comics
23. ^ The Justice League Watchtower - "A Better World" (#37-38)
24. ^ The World's Finest: New "Batman: The Brave And The Bold" Scheduled For February 2009 On Cartoon Network
25. ^ The Justice League Watchtower - Unproduced DTV: "Justice League: World's Collide"
26. ^ EARTH 2 CRIME SYNDICATE by *Jerome-K-Moore: Jerome-K-Moore on deviantART
27. ^ [1]