Groups And Organizations

"The Golden Age" (The '50s - '60s)

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• The Monaco Coalition - A group of scientists in Monaco funded by rich patrons interested in turning Monaco into a sovereign fortress should the Cold War go badly. Founded in the late '40s and boasting everyone from Nazi scientists to Manhattan Project contributors in its ranks, the Monaco Coalition was researching force field technology, advanced weapon systems, and new communication devices. After star member William Forge fled in 1955 due to the disaster with his Invisible Force Field Projector, the Monaco Coalition was left in disarray before finally winding down sometime in the '60s.
• The Hammer Heroes - The Hammer Heroes were movie stars and crime fighters created by Hammer Films to fill the pop culture vacuum created by Grace Kelly and Cary Grant's retirement - Although many of their movie adventures were fictitious, the Hammer Heroes were still a formidable crime fighting force until drama led to Mister Hammer being kicked out of the group in 1964 and replaced by Hammer Lad. Mister Hammer's showboating antics had lost The Hammer Heroes a lot of credibility and so Hammer Lad and Hammer Gal worked diligently to reestablish The Hammer Heroes as not just movie stars, but real crime fighters as well. After they left their superhero careers to pursue politics, The Hammer Heroes became a rotating roster of small-time heroes; still respected, but never at the level they once were.

After the Hammer-Monaco Device blueprints were stolen and new Monaco Devices were made, there was an explosion of new superpowered people - All mostly still operating in Los Angeles. A few known superpowered figures were documented in other areas during this time, but since almost all of the constructed Monaco Devices were in Los Angeles, most known concentrated super-activity was happening there.

• The Slick Riders - A group of teenagers from rich families around Los Angeles, the Slick Riders all received "Monaco Baths" after the explosion of Monaco Devices in the mid-'60s and used their newfound powers like joyriding kids in dad's sports car. Wearing masks and costumes, the Slick Riders ostensibly fought crime, but did just as much damage as good - Becoming a nuisance for police officers all around LA County and a frequent foe of more serious-minded superheroes of the period. When the Monaco Effect began to fade in the '70s, the Slick Riders disbanded, with only a few going on to have further super powered careers - Some as heroes, some as villains.
• Super Cops - In the face of criminals and civilians suddenly having superpowers, the Super Cops were a group of hand-selected Los Angeles Police Department officers chosen to be exposed to The Monaco Effect and given powers as LAPD-endorsed superheroes. Super Cops became targets of organized super-crime, engaging in frequent battles, until the Monaco Effect started to fade and the Super Cop division was required to disband due to lack of membership
• The Made Men - It's well known that the New York/New Jersey Mafia occasionally deigned it necessary to come interfere in Hollywood business - The Made Men were their superpowered muscle who came to town to make sure everything went according to plan. Brutish and mean, The Made Men were a highly feared group, and some of the only known superpowered people outside of Los Angeles during this time.

"The Tarnished Age" (The '70s - '80s)

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After the '50s and '60s, there was a boom of superhero and supervillain activity - Especially in other parts of the country. Though there were fewer organized superhero groups, criminal "super gangs" became an increasingly present threat.

• The Providence Possé - Founded by Mickey Fonzoni, an ex-Made Man who lost his Monaco Effect-given powers, the Providence Possé is one of the only documented super gangs to ever operate out of Rhode Island. Fonzoni took losing his powers and decided that the best way for him to stay relevant was to adopt a "gimmick" like bad guys in the comic books. In (sort of) keeping with his Italian roots, him and his gang all committed "Spaghetti Western"-themed crimes around the state.
• The G-Street Gentlemen - Nasty Detroit-based gang that blended traditional gang fare (drugs, extortion, prostitution) with superpowered enforcement. Had a rotating roster of leaders and thugs, most prominently their founder and on-again/off-again leader Nathan "G-Street" Gaines. Frequent enemy of superhero Electro Sista.
• Diablos Voladores - NYC-based Latino street gang whose genius member Antonio Salvatore developed rocket boot technology and used it to commit crimes and muscles other gangs off their turf.
• Scorpion Sunrise - NYC super gang highly inspired by the emerging punk rock music scene and led by their charismatic "lead singer" Jane Lightning. Even when Jane would flirt with being a hero for a while, Scorpion Sunrise would continue to operate as a criminal group.
• Daughters of the Clover - A trio of tough-as-nails sisters from South Boston, the Daughters of the Clover fought crime all through New England using the powers they inherited from their ex-Monaco Bath-taking father.
• The Good Ol' Boys - In Kentucky, a neighborhood "scientist" was trying to build his own Monaco Device when the whole thing blew up in his face and caused a massive fire. 5 men from the local town ran in to stop the fire and, in doing so, were exposed to the fumes and vapors from the remains of the lab. It gave them all powers, which they used to fight evil throughout the Southern states.
• The Blue Thunderbolt Gang - A San Francisco-based super gang, The Blue Thunderbolt Gang was mostly just regular thugs with a few superpowered members to round out the group and be the muscle. Always fairly small-time, they nonetheless managed to pull off quite a few notable heists before the group disbanded in the late 80s. There are rumors that they tried to get back together in the modern era, but the gang's whereabouts are unknown.

"The Blackout" (The '90s)

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After the passing of the SuperCrime Act, superhero activity alike to an extreme low, with mostly only registered superheroes still fighting crime. Many of the super gangs of the '80s were still operating, meaning lots of work for the few superheroes. Only a few groups were actively operating at the time in defiance of the law and are commonly referred to as the "punk superhero movement."

• The Federal Registered Superhuman Union: The organization dispatching and controlling almost all superhero activity in the '90s, the FRSU operated like a paramilitary group. Elite and only taking the best of the best, hundreds of super humans tried out every year. Those who were chosen were given a registered city and full government support, while those who didn't pass were then placed on a watch list for the rest of their lives - Their tryouts effectively 'outing' them as super humans. For some, getting into the FSRU was the pinnacle of what a superhero could aspire to, while others viewed it disdainfully and saw it as just a way for the government to weaponize young super humans.
• The Thrashers - An LA-based super gang, (and one of the few new super gangs to pop up in the '90s), The Thrashers were a typical gang of crooks whose leader, Thrashdown, built them technologically advanced skateboards that they used to commit heists, robberies, and other crimes. They occasionally branched out into surfboards and snowboards as well; environment permitting. The arch-enemies of The Hawk.
• LA Power - LA's "punk superhero" group, LA Power was founded by its three primary members (Acid Wash, Boot Cut, and The Hawk), but also included a rotating roster of other young superheroes in the Los Angeles area.
• The Evil Punchers - Not the most original name (and often needing to explain that they "punch evil, not punchers who are evil"), The Evil Punchers nonetheless helped hold back the tide of super gangs leftover from the '80s. Comprised of mostly second-generation super humans, the roster of Evil Punchers changed constantly with the only consistent member being its founder: Nicholas Zolinsky (aka. The Mighty Ooze!). Not officially endorsed or registered, they had a rocky relationship with NYC's actual registered superhero, Gangbuster.

"The Monaco Renaissance" (The '00s - Present)

After the repeal of the SuperCrime Act, there has been an explosion of super-activity once more. While superheroes and super villains had occasionally popped up outside of the United States the last few decades, its only been during this period that they've been appearing with more consistency - Making the super-community a truly global affair.

• New Day Collective - After the SuperCrime Act was repealed, young superhumans across the country realized that, with modern technology, they had an opportunity to create a new superhero group surpassing geography. The first 'internet-based' superhero group, New Day Collective became the "cool kid" group of young superheroes.
• The Hammer Empire - Founded by Hammer Lord II and with the goal of uniting super villains everywhere, its leader wants nothing short of world domination. As he likes to say; he "kicks it old school." With a dozen mad geniuses working for him, the new Hammer Lord funds his evil empire the modern way: Patent trolling and startup company flipping.
• The European Super Group - As super activity starts to emerge in Europe, its heroes decided that they needed to have an organization to keep things in order. The EuSG is still small and not nearly as active as any of its American brethren, but with the super scene becoming increasingly global it could have an important part to play.
• The People's Storm - Until recently, it was unknown if any sort of superpowered activity was taking place at all in Asia, particularly China. In recent years, however, rumors of China's "official" superhero group "The People's Storm" have begun to emerge; though they seem to be sticking to their own borders.
• We Stop Evil! Kick Its Head! - An enthusiastically-named and anime-inspired Japanese supergroup, We Stop (as their name is typically shortened) has emerged as being one of the most popular of the day - With an incredibly active fanbase and loads of merchandise. Despite their pop-commercialism, We Stop's members take superheroing seriously and genuinely do a lot of good in the world.