Fictional team history
The characters that would form the Global Guardians first appeared in the Super Friends comic book series. [2] They were first introduced in a story (in Super Friends #7-9) in which an alien villain called Grax (an old Superman foe) planted bombs on Earth's seven continents to destroy it. Thanks to a warning from the Wonder Twins (in their first comic book appearance) the Justice League discovered the plan in time and recruited the heroes of the countries affected to find the bombs before they exploded.
These international heroes would later appear in other issues of Super Friends. However, it wasn't until DC Comics Presents #46 (June 1982) that they were introduced as a team, [3] in a story in which they helped Superman to stop an evil Atlantean sorcerer named Thaumar Dhai. This is also considered to be these characters' first canonical appearance in the DC Universe. [1]
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was revealed that the Global Guardians had been gathered together by Doctor Mist to serve as the enforcing arm of an international organization called "The Dome", which had been created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 to help organize the efforts of superheroes across the globe as an international police organization. [1]
Prior to that, in the early 1950s, several international heroes who had been the beneficiaries of the Justice Society of America's kindness during and after World War II, had banded together in an informal "Club of Heroes". They were integrated in the Global Guardians after its foundation. (Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth sends Christmas cards to the currently surviving members).
This original Global Guardians were based in a United Nations-financed headquarters building also called the Dome located in Paris. The original team was also funded by Doctor Mist and administrated by a woman called Belphegor who was gifted with psychic powers. Many of the Guardians individually assisted other international heroes during the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover and once teamed up with Infinity, Inc.
The Guardians involved in the Infinity Inc team up were Green Fury, Rising Sun, Ice Maiden, Olympian and Tasmanian Devil. At this point it's Sigrid Nansen playing the part of Ice Maiden (Identifiable due to her light blue skin) However when they next appear in Justice League International she has been replaced by Tora Olafsdotter and Green Fury has changed her name to Green Flame.
The Guardians eventually lost their UN funding to the Justice League, and the Dome was ordered to close, in part due to the political machinations of their enemy, Dr. Klaus Cornelius. The team disband and Green Flame and Ice Maiden (Tora) apply for League membership. Initially rejected they are then offered the membership slot created by Black Canary's departure. After a brief time they change their names to Fire and Ice). The others members of the Global Guardians went freelance. With Jack O Lantern and Owl Woman relocating to Bialya.
They are brainwashed by Queen Bee and directed to summon all of their old team mates, who met with a similar fate. While Owl Woman and Jack lurk in the shadows, Rising Sun, Wild Huntsman and Tuatara attack members of the newly formed Justice League Europe. At the end of this initial battle the Queen Bee makes an agreement with the League, and they form an uneasy truce. Green Flame and Ice maiden do not get directly involved and the other members remain in Bialya.
The Guardians reappear in Justice League Europe Annual 1 where they claim back their 3 missing members and get involved in a team up with the League. It is revealed that the original Jack O Lantern has been killed by the Queen Bee and replaced. An android is used to replace Dr Mist and the rest of the team remain under her mental control. During this period Seraph is not part of the team, he declined for personal reasons.
The next battle between the Guardians and the League occurs during 'Breakdowns'. A crossover series that sees the Queen Bee storyline come to a conclusion. During the confrontation in Bialya, Little Mermaid is accidentally killed by Jack O Lantern, while battling Captain Atom. Jack O Lantern is also killed and unmasked as an imposter and Dr Mist is revealed to be an android. The Queen Bee is killed and the Guardians regain their free will. The world mourns the loss of Little Mermaid and Jack O Lantern as Owl Woman is reported as missing.
In Justice League Quarterly 6, Owl Woman reappears. She has been on the run since 'Breakdowns' concluded and is being pursued by the new Bialyan government through the underground passages beneath the city. She discovers the original Jack O Lantern very much alive and imprisoned and sets him free. Dr Mist appears and advises that he will get them both medical attention before reforming the Guardians. They recruit Seraph and Tasmanian Devil before approaching Rising Sun who has just been on a successful date with the female Dr Light. They then travel to Bialya and resue the rest of the team. With a new Dome being built as their headquarters the Global Guardians are finally reunited.
The Guardians next appear as background characters in the Justice League's battle with Sonar in Moscow. Here the Little Mermaid is once again seen as a member and when she is confronted by the Flash she explains that it was her evil twin who was killed in Bialya. Thus suggesting that the Queen Bee had her replaced due to the difficulty she had in mind controlling her. Afterwards the Guardians disband.
Fain Y'onia, an ancient foe of Doctor Mist, killed Bushmaster and Thunderlord and depowered several other members. The surviving Guardians would continue to meet in the Dome's Headquarters, which was formerly located in Europe but is now in the Pacific. [1] This story in Justice League Quarterly 17 is a strange one as once again Jack O'Lantern and Little Mermaid are depicted as deceased members. This issue also introduces four new members to the team: Centrix of Canada, Cascade of Indonesia, Chrysalis of France and Tundra of Russia.
In a story in the JLA Classified series, some of the Guardians, Impala, Olympian and Jack O'Lantern were seen to have joined the Ultramarine Corps.
Owl Woman, Cascade, Tundra and Chrysalis appear in Wonder Woman (Vol 2) Issue 175, when a battle between Wonder Woman and Circe involves practically every female villain and hero in the DC universe.
In 2006, as part of the events of One Year Later , in Green Lantern (vol. 4) #10, the Global Guardians are shown regrouped, apparently led by former New Guardian Jet. [4] They attempt to recruit the newest Crimson Fox. When she declines, they say she has no choice. Crimson Fox is later seen publicly voicing the opinions of the Guardians, among them a hatred for Hal Jordan. It is eventually revealed that they are being telepathically controlled by the Faceless Hunter in his attempts to capture Green Lantern. They are defeated and freed from the alien's control.
In World War III , the Global Guardians assist the Marvel Family in an unsuccessful attack on Black Adam.
In Justice League: Cry for Justice , Prometheus targets or kills members of the Global Guardians, including Tasmanian Devil, Gloss, Sandstorm, and Freedom Beast.
In Doomsday Clock , Wonder Woman considers reestablishing the Global Guardians. [5]
In Absolute Power Task Force VII the team are shown to be back together and consisting of Little Mermaid, Wild Huntsman, Nightrunner, Tasmanian Devil, Jet, Freedom Beast, Jack O'Lantern, Fleur-De-Lis, Thunderlord, Owl Woman, Seraph, Chrysalis, Belphegor and Tuatara.
