The following is a list of fictional government agencies that have appeared in the mythical universes of various comic books.
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Agency, The | Vigilante #36 (December 1986) | DC Comics |
| Aladdin | Rune #1 (January 1994) | Malibu Comics (Ultraverse) |
| Aladdin Assault Squad | Break-Thru #1 (December 1993) | Malibu Comics (Ultraverse) |
| A.P.E.S. (All-Purpose Enforcement Squad) | Young Justice #1 (September 1998) | DC Comics |
| Argent | Secret Origins vol. 2 #14 (May 1987) | DC Comics |
| A.R.G.U.S | Justice League vol. 2 #7 | DC Comics |
| A.S.A. (American Security Agency) | Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1 (1984) | DC Comics |
| A.R.M.O.R. (Altered-Reality Monitoring and Operational Response) | Marvel Zombies 3 #1 (December 2008) | Marvel Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| B.A.A. (Bureau of Amplified Animals) | Green Lantern vol. 3 #30 (October 1992) | DC Comics |
| Black Air | Excalibur #86 (February 1995) | Marvel Comics |
| B.P.R.D. (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) | Hellboy: Seed of Destruction (1993) | Dark Horse Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| CBI (Central Bureau of Intelligence) | Teen Titans vol. 2 Annual #3 (1987) | DC Comics |
| C.E.M.A. (Cosmic Emergency Management Agency) | Green Lantern vol. 3 #166 (August 2003) | DC Comics |
| CISO (Canadian International Security Organization) | Captain Canuck #1 (July 1976) | Comely Comix |
| Checkmate | Checkmate #1 (April 1988) | DC Comics |
| Checkmate! (ШaХ И МаТ!) | Checkmate #32 (December 1990) | DC Comics |
| Civil Defense Administration | Stormwatch: Team Achilles (2003) | WildStorm Productions |
| Commission on Superhuman Activities | Captain America #331 (July 1987) | Marvel Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| D.E.O. (Department of Extranormal Operations) | Batman #550 (January 1998) | DC Comics |
| Department H | Uncanny X-Men #140 (December 1980) | Marvel Comics |
| Department K | Marvel Comics Presents #72 (March 1991) | Marvel Comics |
| Department PSI (Department for Paranormal Science Investigations) | Wildcore Preview #1 (October 1997) | WildStorm Productions |
| D.M.A. (Department of Metahuman Affairs) | Wonder Woman vol. 3 #2 (October 2006) | DC Comics |
| D.U.C.K. (Department of Unknown and Covert Knowledge) | Plasmer #1 (November 1993) | Marvel UK |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| E.A.G.L.E. (Extranormal Activities Garrison for Law Enforcement) | Kurt Busiek's Astro City #6 (February 1997) | WildStorm Productions |
| E.P.F. (Earth Protection Force) | 2017 | IDW |
| Euromind | Europa #0 (1996) | Marvel Italia |
| F.D.A.A. (Federal Disaster Assistance Administration) | The American Way #1 (April 2006) | WildStorm Productions |
| F.I.6 | Excalibur #49 (April 1992) | Marvel Comics |
| Finger, Eye, and Ear | V for Vendetta #1 (September 1988) | DC Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| G.O.O.D. (Global Organization of Organized Defense) | Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April/May 1975) | DC Comics |
| H.A.M.M.E.R. | Secret Invasion #8 (January 2009) | Marvel Comics |
| H.A.T.E. (Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort) | Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #1 (March 2006) | Marvel Comics |
| Hayoth | Suicide Squad #45 (September 1990) | DC Comics |
| I.O. (IO, I/O, International Operations) | Wildcats #1 (August 1992) | WildStorm Productions |
| Knightwatch | Superman/Batman #5 (February 2004) | DC Comics |
| Lodge, The | Firearm #0 (November 1993) | Malibu Comics (Ultraverse) |
| MI: 13 | New Excalibur #1 (January 2006) | Marvel Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| O*N*E* (Office of National Emergency) | House of M: The Day After (January 2006) | Marvel Comics |
| Project Atom | Captain Atom vol. 3 #1 (1983) | DC Comics |
| Project Cadmus | Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #135 (January 1971) | DC Comics |
| Project M | Young All-Stars #12 (May 1988) | DC Comics |
| Project Peacemaker | DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins #1 (February 1999) | DC Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Quorum, The | Guy Gardner #16 (January 1994) | DC Comics |
| R.C.X. (Resources Control Executive) | Captain Britain vol. 2 #1 (January 1985) | Panini Comics |
| Red Shadows | Suicide Squad #40 (April 1990) | DC Comics |
| RONOL (Research on the Nature of Light) | The Ray #1 (February 1992) | DC Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| S.H.A.D.E. (Super Human Advanced Defense Executive) | Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein! #3 (January 2006) | DC Comics |
| S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division or Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage and Logistics Directorate or Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division [MCU]) | Strange Tales #135 (August 1965) | Marvel Comics |
| S.T.A.R.S. (Superhuman Tactical Activities Response Squad) | Maximum Security #1 (November 2000) | Marvel Comics |
| S.T.O.R.M. | Planetary #11 (September 2000) | WildStorm Productions |
| Stormwatch | Stormwatch #1 (March 1993) | WildStorm Productions |
| S.T.R.I.K.E. (Special Tactical Response for International Key Emergencies) | Captain Britain Weekly #17 (February 1977) | Marvel UK |
| Suicide Squad (Task Force X) | The Brave and the Bold #25 (August 1959) | DC Comics |
| Superhuman Restraint Unit | Civil War #1 (May 2006) | Marvel Comics |
| S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) | Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #6 (December 2004) | Marvel Comics |
| Name | Publication of first appearance | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Task Force Delta | Chase #1 (February 1998) | DC Comics |
| T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves) | T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 (November 1965) | Tower Comics/DC Comics |
| U.N.D.E.R.S.E.A. (United Nations Department of Experiment and Research Systems Established at Atlantis) | U.N.D.E.R.S.E.A. Agent #1 (January 1966) | Tower Comics |
| Université Notre Dame des Ombres (Our Lady of the Shadows University) | Action Comics Weekly #636 (January 1989) | DC Comics |
| Weapon X Project | Marvel Comics Presents #72 (March 1991) | Marvel Comics |
| W.H.O. (Weird Happenings Organization) | Excalibur #9 (June 1989) | Marvel UK |
DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book series first published in 1937.
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the property of The Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman as Timely Comics, and by 1951 had generally become known as Atlas Comics. The Marvel era began in August 1961 with the launch of The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and many others. The Marvel brand, which had been used over the years and decades, was solidified as the company's primary brand.
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and many Marvel superheroes live in this universe, including characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Wolverine, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, and Captain Marvel, Blade, Black Widow, Hawkeye, among numerous others. It also contains well-known supervillains such as Doctor Doom, Magneto, Ultron, Thanos, Loki, The Green Goblin, Kang the Conqueror, Red Skull, The Kingpin, Doctor Octopus, Carnage, Apocalypse, Dormammu, Mysterio, Electro, and the Vulture. It also contains antiheroes such as Venom, Namor, Deadpool, Silver Sable, Ghost Rider, The Punisher, and Black Cat.
The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #28. The team was conceived by writer Gardner Fox as a revival of the Justice Society of America, a similar team from DC Comics from the 1940s which had been pulled out of print due to a decline in sales.
The DC Universe (DCU) is the shared universe in which most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. In context, the term "DC Universe" usually refers to the main DC continuity. It contains such well-known superheroes as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Shazam, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg; as well as teams such as the Justice League, the Justice Society of America, the Suicide Squad, Doom Patrol, and the Teen Titans. It also contains well-known supervillains, including the Joker, Lex Luthor, the Cheetah, the Reverse-Flash, Sinestro, Black Manta, Deathstroke, Black Adam, Brainiac, and Darkseid.
The Squadron Supreme is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, of which there are several notable alternate versions. The original team was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, derived from the previously created supervillain team Squadron Sinister.
Marvel may refer to:
This is a list of Marvel multiverse fictional characters which were created for and are owned by Marvel Comics. Licensed or creator-owned characters are not included.
Captain Marvel may refer to:
Hyperion is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, of which there are several notable versions. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema, the original Hyperion made his debut in The Avengers #69. The alternate versions are each from a different dimension of the Marvel Multiverse, and consist of both heroes and villains. Thomas says that the character was intended as a pastiche of DC's iconic hero Superman.
Mark Eugene Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics.
Ultimate Marvel, later known as Ultimate Comics, was an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe, later known as the Ultimate Universe. Those characters include Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Ultimates, the Fantastic Four, and others. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men in 2001, followed by The Ultimates and Ultimate Fantastic Four in 2002 and 2004 respectively providing new origin stories for the characters. The reality of Ultimate Marvel is designated as Earth-1610 as part of the Marvel Comics Multiverse.
Keith Pollard is an American comic book artist. Originally from the Detroit area, Pollard is best known for his simultaneous work on the Marvel Comics titles The Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, and Thor in the late 1970s–early 1980s.
In the DC Universe, a metahuman is a character with superpowers. The term is roughly synonymous with the terms mutant, inhuman and mutate in the Marvel Universe and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. In DC Comics, the term is used loosely in most instances to refer to any human or human-like being with extranormal powers and abilities, either cosmic, mutant, scientific, mystical, skill or technological in nature. A significant portion of these are normal human beings born with a genetic variant called the "metagene", which causes them to gain powers and abilities during freak accidents or times of intense psychological distress.
Amalgam Comics was a collaborative publishing imprint shared by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters into new ones. These characters first appeared in a series of 12 one-shots which were published in April 1996 between Marvel Comics versus DC #3 and DC versus Marvel Comics #4, the last two issues of the DC vs. Marvel crossover event. A second set of 12 one-shots followed one year later in June 1997, but without the crossover event as a background. All 24 of these one-shots took place between the aforementioned issues of DC vs. Marvel Comics.
Spy Smasher is the name of two fictional characters appearing in comics published by Fawcett and DC Comics. The first is a superhero that was formerly owned and published by Fawcett Comics. The second is a female anti-terrorism government agent and published by DC.
JLA/Avengers is a comic book limited series and crossover published in prestige format by DC Comics and Marvel Comics from September 2003 to March 2004. The series was written by Kurt Busiek, with art by George Pérez. The series features the two companies' teams of superheroes, DC Comics' Justice League of America and Marvel's Avengers.
DC vs. Marvel is a comic book miniseries intercompany crossover published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics from February to May 1996. Each company would publish two issues of the miniseries, thus the title difference between issues #1 and 4 as DC vs. Marvel Comics from DC and issues #2–3 from Marvel as Marvel Comics vs. DC. The miniseries was written by Ron Marz and Peter David, with art by Dan Jurgens and Claudio Castellini.
In the field of comic books, a limited series is a comics series with a predetermined number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is finite and determined before production, and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues. The term is often used interchangeably with miniseries (mini-series) and maxiseries (maxi-series), usually depending on the length and number of issues. In Dark Horse Comics' definition of a limited series, "this term primarily applies to a connected series of individual comic books. A limited series refers to a comic book series with a clear beginning, middle and end". Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics refer to limited series of two to eleven issues as miniseries and series of twelve issues or more as maxiseries, but other publishers alternate terms.
