A YJA Moment - The Empires of Known Space (Part IV)

The insectoid race known as the Vine was a scourge of Known Space millennia ago.  Highly advanced in cyber-organic technology, they sent out genetically simulacrums known as Seedlings into other systems in order to facilitate the infiltration and takeover of their worlds.  After intervention and prolonged conflict with the Guardians of Oa and the Manhunters, they retreated to their homeworld of Okaara and signed a treaty of non-interference. In the intervening years, the Vine has grown increasingly xenophobic and isolationist, forming a quasi-religion around The Shanhara, a mythical technological artifact from the dawn of their history.

After the peace treaty, some of the Vine rebelled against the constraints placed upon them by the Guardians.  They left Okaara and formed their own separate society called The Reach. Unable to directly infiltrate, they created the Scarabs which they would use to empower individuals from other worlds and slowly corrupt them to the Reach's cause.  The Scarab heroes would then create a favorable climate for the eventual arrival of the Reach, allowing them to form trade agreements that would eventually lead to outright assimilation.  After a disastrous attempt to annex Earth, the Green Lantern Corps has declared the treaty violated and have resumed their actions against the Reach.

After the emergence of the Celestials, but before the rest of the Universe species became self-aware, the First Ones walked the stars.  With technology and perceptions far beyond the younger races, these beings have trouble interacting with the rest of Known Space.  Most are content to exist on the homeworlds far from the rest of intergalactic civilizations.  The only exceptions are the Vorlons, which have in the past openly interfered in planetary affairs; and the arachnid-looking Shadows, who covertly foment aggression,  conflict, and outright warfare in a universe-wide eugenics project.

A YJA Moment - Another Fine Holiday You've Gotten Us Into...

 It was a somber Christmas, just weeks after the devastating attack on Earth by the forces of Apokalips.  S.H.I.E.L.D, newly entrusted with sweeping powers by the remaining governments and their Xandarian protectors, was busy stabilizing the various regions wracked by the invasion.  Despite the hardships, the population was attempting to bring some normality to their existence. Nick Fury himself had invoked emergency powers to empty warehouses of their toys so that children around the world would get at least one present this holiday season.

In the shadows, however, trouble brewed.  Though the League of Villains had been defeated, other minions of The Producer still lived.  Among the remains of the Occult Imagineers and the acolytes of the Order of the Unbond Mind, there were creatures that existed that were not seen as worthy of joining the elites of the League.

Most dismissed the Uneven Hand of Confusion, an uplifted anthropomorphic canine, as being a bumbling idiot.  The truth was that his goofy demeanor hid a devious mind hungry for power.  He gathered other creatures of the Imaginarium that had been spurned by the League - The avian Thunderous Hand of Greed, who forever was attempting to usurp control of the League; the monstrous bloodhound Monosyllabic Hand of Exuberance, who once was the League's faithful mascot; and the Confident Hand of Pride, a human hunter who was destined to always fail against the mighty beasts of the world.

Using knock--off dream-dust reversed engineered from the Endless Dream, they put King Thor of Asgard into a false Odinsleep, allowing them to capture the Spirit of Christmas.  Using the power of the holidays, they hoped to resurrect The Producer and imbue him with the power of Winter itself.

Thankfully the Mythic Avengers were there to oppose the League of Substitute Villains, raiding the cryogenic lab that was hidden underneath a pirate-themed ride in Dreamland.  The Producer to life but was beheaded by Kentauride before he could wreak havoc on assembled heroes.  The Producer's head was then given to Dr. Strange, who stored it deep in his secret vaults so that no one could ever repeat the ritual again.

The fallout of this adventure was numerous.  Discovering that Loki helped The Uneven Hand enter Asgard, Thor reclaimed Mjolnir and left the throne of Asgard to his brother.  Thor refused to release the Odinforce within him, however, proclaiming that Loki will have to deal with cosmic-level thr*** with his own "guile and trickery".  The Spirit of Christmas was given to the Wizard Shazam, who in his new role as "Shazam Claus" gives the gift of magic to all the good girls and boys.

A YJA Moment - Apokalips Now

 From the Collector, Kentauride had traded the reconstituted First Ring of the Green Lanterns for the ultra-rare element Radion.  This substance was poisonous to New Gods and was practically the only way to kill them.  Kentauride constructed a weapon with the Radion, knowing that because of Thanos' Eternal heritage, the element would just render him, largely mortal.  This left him helpless to deal with Kentauride's next attack which beheaded him.

The death of Thanos once again earned the attention of the Lord of Apokolips Darkseid.  Opening a Boom Tube, he walked down to confront the instruments of his son's fall. The Mythic Avengers.  He gazed upon his dead offspring with contempt and congratulated Kentauride on her victory.  He then but proclaimed there will be a price to be paid.  With a wave of his hand, Boom Tubes opened across all of Known Space and the armies of Apokalips swamped out for war.  Though Oa and  Xandar were among the worlds invaded, it was clear that those incursions were designed to keep them occupied.  The greatest focus of the forces of Apokalips was the Mythic Avengers homeworld of Earth.

Steppenwolf and his armies focused their attention on North America, where the highest concentration of metahumans existed.  A Hell-Seed into the American Mid-West, creating a Fire-Pit that nearly obliterated the State of Nebraska and caused cataclysmic damage to Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and  Wyoming.  The toxic fumes flooded the skies, blocking out the sun and causing ground-poisoning acid rain.

The combined force of Earth, including the various Avengers and Justice League teams, battled the Hunger Dogs, Parademons, and members of the Darkseid Elite.  Though the battle was seemingly insurmountable, the united heroes were eventually able to force a retreat. With the sacrifice of many individuals, both human and metahuman, the day was won. 

As the Parademons were fleeing, the horrible cost of the Battle for Terra was revealed.  The ecosystem of the Earth was destroyed, with the terrible storms of acid rain continuing the poison the ground.  Over a billion people died in the initial invasion, with almost two billion in danger of dying because of homeless, starvation, and/or the environment.  Many heroes had perished, to the point that Earth might not be able to survive another assault.

As the Mythic Avengers contemplated their next move, they were joined by forces from the Green Lantern and Nova Corp, who worked to help stabilize the situation.  S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United Nations, along with reluctant support from the United States of America negotiated a deal with the Xandaran Senate to have Earth temporarily declared a protectorate of the Nova Empire until the world can be reconstructed.

A YJA Moment - The Space Stone

The Space Stone was formed out of the essence of the New God known as Lightray.  The high-spirited denizen of the Fourth World was fast enough to travel to anywhere in the Known Universe in the blink of an eye.  Likewise, the Space Stone could open portals to any region within its home dimension.

Like many of the Infinity Stones, the Space Stone fell to Earth and was passed from tribe to tribe.  While some were able to tap its power and travel the cosmos, most of it simply worshiped it as a gift from the spirits or their gods.

It fell briefly into the hands of the great painter and architect Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni who became enraptured by Stone's beauty.  Exposure to the power of the Space Stone changed Michaelangelo, allowing him to exist and perceive all points in the universe, becoming the Forever Man. Understanding what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands, he hid it away.

It would not appear again until the 20th Century, when Johann Schmidt, the infamous Red Skull, discovered the Space Stone and attempted to use it to open a gateway to Niffelheim and bring forth an army of the dead to defeat the Allies in World War 2.  He was defeated by The Invaders and the Stone would be confiscated by the Strategic Science Reserve.

Weapons Plus would inherit the Stone after the War conducted a host of experiments on the artifact, developing radical new theories about space and time in the process.  Advanced technologies were created, including teleportation systems and prototypical hyperdrives.  When a disasterous accident with the Stone turned Nathaniel Adam into Captain Atom and nearly destroyed the North American continent, no further human trials were permitted.

The Space Stone would be stolen from a secure Weapons Plus storage facility by an alien known as Leo.  He was the commander of anthropomorphic animals called ThunderCats, an elite force from the planet Triterra.  They had been tasked by their master the Enshrouded One to seek out the Infinity Stones so that he might rule the universe.

While Leo did acquire the Space Stone, he had no plans for giving it to undead Mumm-Ra.  Instead, he gathered a powerful group of individuals that he named the Infinity Watch, who returned to Triterra with the Stones, defeated the Enshrouded One, and entombed him in his own Black Pyramid fortress.

Each member of the Infinity Watch was given a Stone to protect, with Leo himself taking possession of the Space Stone.  While most of the others hid their Stones away, the ThunderCat instead grafted his artifact into the hilt of his blade for safekeeping, calling the weapon the Sword of Omens.  Over the many years, the stone altered the property of the sword, granting it the ability to change its blade length, cut through most objects, project powerful energy blasts, and grant the ability to see anywhere through the Sight Beyond Sight.

A YJA Moment - The Amazons

Some text derived from the DC Comics Wikia 

The Amazons of Themyscira are a race of immortal warrior women that live on the mystically hidden island of Themyscira. They were created by a coterie of Olympian goddesses over three thousand years ago to serve as their messengers to the world in the name of peace and justice. The souls of the original Amazons came from the spirits of all women who had unjustly died at the hands of a man. 

Queen of the Amazons was given to Hippolyta, who was the first of her people to be created.  She was followed closely Antiope, who became the commander of their armed forces. In addition to notable warriors such as Artemisa, Nubia, and Venelia they also attracted outsiders to the island such as the Kheran sisters Zannah and Kenesha who would become the heroes Zealot and Savant.

The Amazons constructed for themselves a magnificent city at the mouth of the river Thermodon on the Black Sea. They called this city Themyscira, but it was also commonly known as the city of Amazonia.  This fortified enclave withstood many assaults, including an extended campaign of Greek soldiers led by the famous hero Achilles.

The city would fall at the hands of the demi-god Hercules.  Seeking to atone himself of the murder of his family, King Eurystheus had bid him take the Girdle of Hippolyta.  He gathered an army and invaded the hitherto impenetrable Themyscira, leading to the defeat and slavery of the Amazons.  Hippolyta was able to free her sisters and defeat Hercules' forces but refused to exact further vengeance. This caused a split within the Amazons as Antiope wished to kill all the men.

Many of the Amazons that survived left Amazonia and found a new home on an island hidden from the rest of the world, which they called Paradise Island. There built a new city, which was named Themyscira after their original home.  Antiope refused to join her sister and took a portion of their people into the World of Men eventually become a society of warriors and assassins known as the Coda Sisterhood.

In the years since there have been many famous Amazons.  The product of a secret relationship with the Greek god Zeus, Hippolyta gave birth to a daughter Diana who is known in the World of Men as Wonder Woman.  During various times in her career, Diana has taken a leave of absence, from the role of Wonder Woman, leading to Artemis and Nubia both filling in for the demi-god, using magic items to grant equivalent powers. 

Additionally, there have been other people who have laid claim to Amazonian heritage. Circe used magic to create a teenage duplicate of Diana called Donna Troy, who would end up redeeming herself as the original Wonder Girl.  Demeter was the daughter of an Amazon who was seduced by a Demon Lord into betraying her people, becoming the hero called Glory. Grace Choi, Mercy Graves, and Hope Taya would also discover that their ancestor's game from the Coda Sisterhood.  Cassie Sandsmark was not an Amazon but was a grand-daughter of Zeus, earning the respect of Diana and Donna to become the modern-day Wonder Girl.

A YJA Moment - Heaven and Hell

With the exploits of Wonder Woman, Thor, and most recently Dream, the world is very aware of the four generations of gods.  Many people struggle to reconcile these deities with their own faith, but it turns out they don't have to.

Within reality is a single figure which is believed to be the creator and ultimate force in the universe.  Although he is not directly worshipped by all sentient life, most people are cosmically aware that there is something vastly powerful existing just beyond reach.  He is known by many names but most use the terms The Presence or The One-Above-All.

The most well-known servants of the One-Above-All are Angels, powerful beings that exist in Heaven, an extradimensional realm imbued with light and fire.  There they carry out the orders of their maker, directives only they can hear and understand.  Led by the beautiful and fearful Archangels - Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel - they have no equal in all creation.

Many eons ago, an Archangel attempted to rebel against the One-Above-All and was defeated.  Cast down, this Fallen Angel known as The First Fallen, was exiled with his loyal followers into a dimensional prison which would eventually be known as Hell. There he would plot the day when his followers would rise and corrupt all reality.

The original Hell dimension would attract various realms filled with other evil creatures.  Some of these were physical beings, still others purely spiritual.  All were corrupted by the First Fallen and his Archdukes, becoming the various species of Demons.

In recent years, the First Fallen gave up his infernal crown and left the Abyssal realms for the mortal world.  For a time, the Archangels in Heaven sent powerful Angels to keep the Infernal Hosts in line, but they eventually gave up and left the fields to their own schemes.  The resulting Bloodwar has raged on and off ever since, each time threatening to tear the dimension asunder.

Although some unique individuals, such as the half-demon Lady Bhlaze and the spirit of vengeance Ghost Rider, have managed to briefly unite the Infernal lands for a time, they are swiftly deposed by the great Archdukes such as Asmodel, Malborgia, Mephisto, Neron, and Trigon, 

A YJA Moment - Lanterns and the Law

The biggest and longest-serving group of interplanetary law enforcement officers is the Green Lantern Corps.  Founded many millennia ago by the Guardians of Oa, the Corp replaced the Guardian's original police force, after the Manhunters went rogue and obliterated a trillion souls in the Lost Sector. Using the Power Rings forged by Krona, the Green Lanterns have been the greatest source for peace and order in the universe.

While the Guardians of Oa gave the Corps a mandate to dispense justice, their reach and authority are not absolute.  No political entity is required to allow a Green Lantern to operate in its jurisdiction, so Corp members must remember to adhere to the wishes of the authorities when conducting investigations.

In the days of the Old Republic, the Galactic Senate had granted the Green Lanterns unprecedented access to its member worlds and often worked in conjunction with the Jedi Order and the Grand Army of the Republic. This precedent and their succeeding good reputation have allowed the Lanterns to operate in the majority of sectors within Known Space.

Yet there are still areas that the Corps are not allowed access, whether by treaty or threat of violence. The Guardians of Oa signed agreements with the Vine and the Reach, agreeing never to enter their spheres of influence.  Autocratic species such as the Klingons, the Kree, and the Romulans are openly antagonistic to the Lanterns' presence, so most Corps members give them wide berths.

Within the Nova Empire, law enforcement is conducted by the Nova Corps. When the Green Lantern Corp was decimated by Parallax, galactic order was maintained in the Nova Empire through the Darkstars, the armored agents utilized by the Controllers.  After the Darkstars returned to Maltus after the return of the Lanterns, Xandar created a corp using technology reversed-engineered from the Darkstars technology and created the Nova Corps.  Though the two Corps sometimes work together, the Green Lanterns are officially excluded from Empire space.

Likewise, the Imperial Guard of the Shi'ar was also was born in the era of the Darkstars.  Not trusting the Controllers, the Magestrix instead uttered a decree that all metahumans from every world within the Protectorate would be required to serve in what is known today as the Imperial Guard.  An ever-changing force, their exploits have made them cultural icons within Shi'ar space and even in adjacent worlds.  They are led by Kallark the Gladiator, a Strontian warrior whose power rivals that of Superman.

A YJA Moment - The Hidden Masters of the Emotional Spectrum (Part II)

 On the planet Nok there is a very secret and unusual prison that has no walls or guards.  There the members of the Indigo Tribe, some of which were formerly known as the most terrible individuals in Known Space.  The Green Lantern Abin Sur found the world a decade ago, drawn to the strange energies emanating from the planet.  There he found peaceful people who possessed staves that harnessed purple energy, not unlike the Green Lanterns own Power Rings. Tracing the source of this power deep in the earth he discovered a cavern with a rock formation that coalesced the Emotional Spectrum of Compassion.  With the help of a rogue Qwardian Weaponeer called Nastromo, they altered Power Rings to tap into the Indigo Spectrum.  Before his death, Abin Sur then took the most irredeemable criminals he could find and inducted them into the Indigo Tribe.  The Power Rings have the ability to bring out the best in people, helping them legitimately redeem themselves.  Instead of channeling its own energy for effects, the Indigo Rings can emulate the power of the other Power Rings, granting themselves unique abilities without the limitations normally associated with them.

The recent appearance of the Black Lantern Corps during the troubles on Oa has caused worry not only throughout the Green Lantern Corps but across all of Known Space.  For all their differences, the various Lanterns Corps share some similarities, but that is not so for the Black Lanterns.  Instead of living participants, the Black Power Rings animate the corpses of the dead, giving them a zombie-like existence and a craving for the emotions of the living.   Though they possess flight and occasionally provide spectral constructs in mockery of the other Colors, the Rings are about consuming the Emotional Spectrum in much as death consumes life.  Members of the Corp seek out the living and drain their life-force, drawing from it the emotional energy within.  This leaves a dormant husk devoid of life.  The Central Power Battery of the Black Lantern Corps is in the Underworld, atop the staff of the death lord known as Necron.  Within it lies the Soul Stone, one of the fabled Infinity Gems and the undisputed master of life and death.

The corrupting power of Anti-life infects reality and makes a simulacrum in mockery of existence.  Such has occurred with the Emotional Spectrum, with the creation of the Ultraviolet Power Ring.  Drawing from the primal emotions of bloodlust, self-hatred, and shame, users of the Invisible Emotional Spectrum can replicate all the powers of an Oan Power Ring.  In addition, the Ultraviolet power can infect another person, forcibly and irrevocably turning them into a fellow member of the Corp.  Thaal Sinestro originally discovered the existence of the Invisible Spectrum and attempted to use The First Ring to tap into it.  He ultimately failed and was arrested, seemingly ending his quest forever.  

A YJA Moment - The Hidden Masters of the Emotional Spectrum (Part I)

The Zamarons left Maltus millennia ago due to a schism with their counterparts, the future-Guardians of Oa.  Embracing the power of emotions in the face of the cold stoicism of the Guardians, the followers of Zamar founded their own world and civilizations. On their new planet, they found a crystalline formation, from which the remains of two lovers were intertwined.  The eternal love of these individuals tapped into the Violet Spectrum of Love, which the Zamarons believed was the strongest of the Emotional Spectrum.  Utilizing this crystal as a substitute for a Central Power Battery, the Zamerons forged gems to tap the spectrum, creating the all-female Corps known as the Star Sapphires.  The Sapphires have all the abilities common to a Power Ring such as the abilities of space flight the generation of energy constructs.  The crystal gem also has parasitic properties with the ability to infect another being and seemingly consume them - males always perish but the females are reborn as brand-new Star Sapphires.

Though denied by the Guardians of Oa and virtually unknown by the Green Lantern Corps, the Orange Spectrum of Greed lies within the Vega star system. Vega and its capital world Okaara were notable as one of the homeworlds of the spider-like Vine, who had attempted to infiltrate the governments of Known Space with its Seedlings.  The Guardians and their Manhunters had stepped in, eventually resulting in a peace treaty that turned back the invasion but also banned the Guardians forces out of the Vega system.  The treaty also inadvertently concealed the existence of another alien, the immortal creature known as Larfleeze, the sole wielder of the orange spectrum.  The origins of his Power Ring and the source of its power are not known as he selfishly guards anything regarding his history.  In addition to having powers of other Power Rings, the Ring of Avarice can create an army of energy "avatars" made up of any individual that it has killed.  These energy constructs compromise the entirety of Larfleeze's "Corps".

The Blue energies of Hope started with the Guardian known as Ganthet, who began a project to rebuild the Corp after the destruction of the Oan Central Power Battery by Parallax.  He located a powerful wave of emotional energy emanating from the world of Odym, which revealed itself to be the spiritual entity known as Adara, which the populace worshiped as a god.  After conversing with the bird-like spirit, who had harnessed the power of the blue portion of the emotional spectrum, she forged a link to by altering seemly normal rings forged by her followers.  These Rings were given to the foremost members of her clergy, Saint Walker among them, granting them the power of Hope.  Though the Adaran Ring has many of the common powers to Power Rings its is the weakest in comparison to the rest of the spectrum.  Its main advantage lies within its ability to boost other emotions, primarily the green energy of Willpower, to unseen levels.  This grants Green Lanterns in Saint Walker's vicinity an incredible boost in power.

A YJA Moment - The Underworld

Before the Godwave formed the various funerary gods and goddesses, people still died and their souls traveled to the afterlife.  Psychopomps from Heaven and Hell came and claimed the souls of the devoted. The remaining majority of souls ended up in what was known as The Underworld or Limbo, a formless and chaotic realm that was unpleasant to dwell in but was not exactly infernal punishment.

Then came The Endless and Death journeyed to Limbo and took pity on the souls therein.  She used her power to stabilize the realm, effectively creating the first Lands of the Dead.  Death herself was proclaimed regent of the realm but cared not to rule her dead subjects, preferring to dwell amongst them and help them adjust to their new status.

When the Second and Third Worlds were born, portions of the Underworld were carved into separate Kingdoms of the Dead, each beholden to a particular deity.  Some spirits continued to go to Heaven, Hell, or Limbo but the rest were sent to whatever afterlife they believed in.  In the modern-day, Limbo has once again swelled, leading to the various gods of the dead attempting to poach the souls therein.

Due to the Crisis, the Black Racer was slain before he could establish his own domain for the Fourth World.  This has led to the New Gods believing that nothing lies for them after death except oblivion.  Few if any know about Soulworld, the protoform afterlife which exists within the Soul Stone.

A YJA Moment - Dr. Sivana

The life of a superhero was very tough and no one knew that more than C.C. Batson, the original Captain Marvel.  Sometimes it seemed an impossible task being the hero Fawcett City needed and the father his family required.  In those dark times, he was lucky to have good friends: Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

Sivana himself had a hard life. His father was a genius who had made a fortune with his inventions, using the patents to make millions with the Starks and Luthors of the world.  He believed that Thaddeus should continue the family tradition of using their genius for monetary gain.  Thaddeus, on the other hand, became enamored with the strange sciences that heroes revealed, such as the Starman's Cosmic Rod, or the Green Fire of the Green Lantern's ring.

Blending conventional theories with fringe science and even paranormal philosophy, Sivana created a weird science that was as advanced as it was garish.  With few individuals interested in such devices, he was disowned by his father and was forced to work out of a dingy laboratory.

Sivana's knowledge had helped Captain Marvel defeat Dr. Charles Langley and his radioactive robot Mr. Atom and the two became fast friends.  Both knew they were over their heads in their respective fields, but their friendship convinced them to continue on.

That friendship ended the day C.C. Batson held the Time Stone for the first time on the distant world of Triterra.  With the revelation of his dark fate, Captain Marvel decided that this only route was to erase himself from history.

C.C. said his goodbyes to his good friend, but the Doctor was incensed.  He refused to believe that anyone's future was predictable.  Even if it was, science could and would give him a solution.  Sivana came up with dozens of plans in order to thwart Batson's fate, but C.C. would not be swayed.  The Silver Surfer used the Mind Stone and wiped the memories of Captain Marvel from the world, Thaddeus included.

Despite his fascination for fringe science, Sivana was a remarkable man.  Even with the knowledge of the Batson's erased from his memory, his emotions remained.  He hated the sacrifices that good men and women had to make for the "Greater Good" and soon that feelings manifested into a hatred of heroes and in particular those that called themselves Captain Marvel.

For many years Dr. Sivana was a thorn in the side of the Marvel family.  Driven by this insatiable need to prove the Marvel and their Wizard to be a sham, he devised every sort of scheme and technological horror his brilliant mind to come up with.  In the end, however, he was defeated and sentenced to long incarceration in Arkham Asylum.

With the looming threat of Kang on the horizon, Captain Marvel has taken the extraordinary step of having Sivana released in her custody.  Mary hopes that his weird science and unpredictable nature can counter the far-future technology and foreknowledge of The Conquerer.  

In the process of aiding Tony Stark and the other science-based heroes from creating a Time Machine, Sivana came across C.C. Batson.  His memories flooded back, revealing the lost history and friendship the two shared.  

Although indignant about remaining true to his evil vision, it's clear that seeing the original Marvel has affected him.  Yet, everything about the mad doctor defies predictions.

A YJA Moment - Birth, Death, and Rebirth of a Dream (Park)

The man who would be known as The Producer was a Chicago-born animator with great aspirations, but little success. After nearly going bankrupt and being swindled out of his intellectual property, he came upon a self-styled soothsayer who offered The Producer an incantation in order to improve his fortunes.

Unconvinced by a man he assumed was a charlatan, The Producer humored him and did the ritual.  That night in his sleep he fully encountered the realm that he would later name the Imaginarium, what other occultists would name the Dreamlands.  It was the Universal Dreamstate of Humanity, home to every creative endeavor mankind had ever conceived. Awakening from his sleep with a head full of ideas, the Producer went on to create animated hit after animated hit.

But the Producer wasn't content to profit from the dreams and desires of others.  He wanted real power over the hearts and minds of the world.  This brought him into the sway of the Order of the Mind Unbound, a group of occultists whose use of magic was only rivaled by their indulgence in brain-altering chemicals.  Though most of the initiates were only interested in the hedonistic pleasures the Order provided, the Producer was only interested in their magical secrets.

Through one ritual conducted in a haze of opiates, the Producer created a direct, conscious link to the Imaginarium, a conduit from which the knowledge of the Dreamlands could be freely accessed by a thought. Through this and successive rituals, the Producer was able to create content that appealed to the masses like never before, amassing a massive fortune in but a few short years.

The Producer still wasn't satisfied.  The money was nice, but he wanted more but lacked the magical energy to truly affect the Imaginarium.  So he created his boldest plan ever - with a combination of mundane and occult contractors, he had constructed a giant theme park in California based on his creations.  Using carefully constructed spells within the gates, a small portion of a visitor's life-force was siphoned into artificial ley lines built into the foundations of the park.  Only a tiny amount of mana was taken so that the weariness associated could be easily excused for a busy day in the parks.

As magic is inherently the power to change reality, the Imagineer did not need a Reality Stone to enact his vision.  The energies provided by the theme park was potent enough to make even the most minor spells unusually effective.  No one knows the full scope of the changes wrought by the Imagineer but drawing forth of the League of Villains from the Dreamlands and their insertion into the extraordinary history of the world was clearly a testament to its power.

With further successes, the Producer enacted plans to construct further parks in the United States and across the world.  However, despite his great mystical potency, he had little ability to deal with his own mortality.  A combination of lifelong heavy cigarette use and the use of powerful life-draining magic had greatly shortened his lifespan.  Despite an unsuccessful attempt to barter his soul for immortality, he died in late 1966.

While a mortal board of directors publicly controlled his company, the true power lay within the dream demon known as The Charming Prince.  He continued the Producers' plans surrounded by his lieutenants, the Quivering Hand of Deception, the Clawed Hand of Devastation, the Icy Hand of Incarceration, and the Gloved Hand of Domination.  Further Theme Parks were constructed in America, Europe, and Asia, each bearing the same sorcerous properties as the flagship park in California.

Yet, the activities of the Producer and the Prince did not go unnoticed by those with purview over dreams.   After gaining word that the League of Villains was attempting to use the power of the Imaginarium to rebirth the Producer, the Endless known as Dream took the rare step of intervening.  Unable to directly act, he brought in the Mythic Avengers, who defeated the lieutenants and The Charming Prince once and for all.

Few people are aware that there has been any change at all.  Except for the new board member Murphy Oneiros, Dream in a mortal guise, very little has changed.  Well, something has changed because, in the wake of all the societal changes of the Reach Invasion, the rise of Metahumans in the public consciousness, and the general global unrest, the company went through a world-wide restructuring and re-branding, becoming Dream Entertainment.

A YJA Moment - The Empires of Known Space (Part III)

The  Bolians have long been an integral part of galactic affairs and can be found in most political and economic organizations.  Known for their blue skin and a small ridge running from the back of their heads to their noses, their biology is somewhat corrosive leading to health issues if exposed to other human-like races.  Until recently they were a democratic government, but when the alien creatures known as the Starro took control of the leadership, stripping away freedoms and creating the Bolian Hegemony.

Long before the Old Republic, thousands of years in the past, the insect-like Brood were a pestilence on Known Space.  Unable to procreate without using another species as a host, they spread out across the galaxies infecting untold systems.  In the end, a mysterious species known as The Engineers would use the Brood's own genetics. against them, creating what would later be known as Xenomorphs to counter them. Their homeworld destroyed by the Galactic Empire many years ago, they survive in the void between stars, living parasitically in great fleets of enslaved Acanti, whale-like animals who can travel in space.

The Kherans started out originally a former colony of Kree far in the frontier who had declared independence in the years before the Supreme Intelligence. They were contacted by the ancient Krypton, who eventually absorbed the populace into its own growing Empire.  When the Kryptonians pulled back to their homeworld after the great solar accident, those who stayed behind founded a ruling a Monarchy.  Today Khera is a small but formative Empire in its own right, having annexed a half-dozen systems.  Interbreeding with the Kryptonian and near-human species has granted them extremely long life-spans, enhanced physical capabilities, and an active metagene.

Once a prominent member of the Republic, the human-dominated planet Rann was known for his progressive policies and its technical acumen.  Suffering hard under the Imperial yoke, they became insular after the Rebellion and relied solely on their own technology.  Many years later, the stagnant Rannian culture has started to intermingle with the rest of the galaxy in no small part to the actions of Adam Strange of Earth, who accidentally was teleported from his planet in their Zeta-Beam enhanced transporter system.

Despite not leaving their home system, Rann has had numerous skirmishes with the Thanagarians, who desire access to the mineral-planets on their outer planets.  Worshipping a pantheon of hawk-like deities, their nobility is divided between nobility which possesses wings and a populace that largely doesn't.  Their military employ special wingsuits which grant them flight using the natural gravity-manipulating properties of Nth Metal.

Thanagar has a long history, spreading back almost four millennia.  Three thousand years ago, a Thanagarian ship crash-landed on Earth in what would be known as Ancient Egypt.  The pilot would end up being adopted by Pharaoh Ramesses II as Prince Khufu.  When he and his betrothed priestess Chayara were murdered with a cursed Nth metal dagger by the high priest Hath-Set, it set them on a path of reincarnation that resulted in the modern-day heroes Hawkman and Hawkwoman.

A YJA Moment - The Mind Stone

It's been stated that most of the Infinity Stones have a certain level of intelligence and will, the remnant of the New Gods from which they were formed.  Few have the sentience and ability to manipulate that of the Mind Stone, an ability derived from the Genesian known as K'zandar.

In the previous timeline, K'zandar was an elderly-appearing New God who served as Highfather's Oracle.  Most of the denizens of New Genesis knew her for her abilities of precognition but her abilities went well beyond simple divination.  She was one of the most powerful psychics in Known Space, rivaling the power of Phoenix-enhanced Jean Grey.

With the Mind Stone possessing its own self-direction and the ability to alter memories, much of its history remains untold.  Those that had studied the Infinity Stones could pinpoint possible locations where the Mind Stone hid, but any investigation proved fruitless as no one could remember the artifact being present.

It is therefore quite possible to theorize that the only reason Leo and his ThunderCats were able to secure the Mind Stone was that it wanted to be found;  that it saw a chance to be reunited with the other Stones for reasons that can only be guessed at.  When Leo then gathered the Infinity Watch, the Silver Surfer was given the Stone.

After the Enshrouded One was defeated the Surfer continued to keep the Stone with him, defending it from those seeking its power.  Though the Power Cosmic granted Noran Radd a great many powers, it did not shield him from the influences of the Mind Stone.  While it allowed the Surfer to shake off the mental conditioning inflicted by his master Galactus, it also began influencing him in other negative ways.

His cosmically-aware mind began to sense the influence of the Mind Stone had on his thoughts.  In order to keep from being further manipulated, he cast the Mind Stone onto the remote planet Starro, a world devoid of sentient life.  There, without anyone to psychic influence, it could remain without threat.

Starro was home to a dominant life-form, a species of creature which greatly resembled echinoderms.  They had a unique structure, where a central Queen communicated with her Drones via a complex neurological signal.  The Queen had biological control over her children and could alter their genome during gestation, usually doing so to adapt to some environmental threat or correct a genetic flaw.

The Mind Stone enslaved the Starro Queen and used her biokinetic knowledge to rewrite a new generation of Starro Drones with enhanced intelligence and psychic ability, all linked to the Queen (and the Mind Stone) via a complex hivemind.  Now the Stone had an entire species of servants, willing and able to do its bidding.

When a Bolian explorer vessel made an emergency landing on the planet, the Starro Drones captured and took control of the crew without incident.  With a starship cargo hold full of Drones linked to a Queen empowered by the most powerful psychic artifact in existence, the Starro have made a move to pacify Known Space.

A YJA Moment - The Charming Prince and the Four Lieutenants

 Before it became Dream Entertainment, the Producers Company was already a worldwide juggernaut worth Billions.  After his death, various dream entities took control of the company, using their influence to sway the board of directions.  Though its theme parks were powerful centers of power, the headquarters were located in the Burbank headquarters, which were turned into a veritable supernatural fortress. 

The notable dream creatures follow:

Starting its existence as a true Dragon, the creature who would become The Clawed Hand of Devastation was slain somewhere in China during the Shang Dynasty.  Bound by the national legends of the mythic beasts, it was trapped in the Dreamlands until it was rescued by the Charming Prince, who offered it freedom in exchange for servitude.  When it manifests, the Clawed Hand chooses a small, almost-mascot like form, only revealing its massive true form when the simple conversation will not suffice.  The Dragon has been given control of the Asian operations.

The Icy Hand of Incarceration is an elemental spirit from that the Charmed Prince granted self-awareness with a powerful infusion of dream-magic. Though its manifestation varies depending on the location and raw material, it has developed a fondness of revealing itself as a snowman, a form that distracts individuals from the sociopathic spirit within.  The least influential of the lieutenants, the Icy Hand is in control of the European corporate region, where it must often deal with the troublesome Les Heroes de Paris.

What the Quivering hand of Deception looks like is not fully known, for it chooses to stay hidden within the Imaginarium.  When it does manifest itself, it does so through vessels, usually uplifted and horrifically- altered animals, which it mentally possesses.  The Quivering Hand first manifested itself in a neighborhood in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where it and its monster allies "educated" the local children to be allies in adulthood.  As a trusted servant of the Charming Prince, it was in charge of theme parks in the United States as well as general American operations.

Overseeing the rest of the lieutenants is the Prince's most trusted servant the Gloved Hand of Domination.  Appearing as anthropomorphic animals, the various forms of the Hand have become the face of the Producer's company and are beloved by millions.  This entity is incredibly powerful and almost indestructible, but his most insidious power is the supernatural ability to make people accept anything it says as absolute truth.  Though the hand uses the Calfornia theme park as its headquarters, it the only lieutenant that has global scope.

The Charming Prince, the Dream Demon of Corruption, has existed for millennia.  It saw in The Producer an excellent mortal to manipulate.  So in the form of a charlatan, he initiated him into the world of Dreams, introduced him to the Order of the Mind Unbound, and then made sure that the spells the Producer would ultimately lead to his death.  The ultimate goals of the Prince were unknown, but if not for the actions of the Mythic Avengers and the Endless known as Dream, there would have been nothing to stop him.  

A YJA Moment - The Fist of Khonshu

 The first known Warrior of the Moon-god was a nameless priest in the early 27th century B.C.E. during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser.  He was a shadowy force in the night, dealing with the corruption in the kingdom at that time.  He was to be in the army of Imhotep during the great battle with the Brood in 2620 B.C.E.

With the arrival of Kang the Conqueror, the history of the 3rd Dynasty was threatened.  Though the time-traveling Mythic Avengers were able to stop "Rama-Tut" from conquering the ancient world, there were casualties.  One of them being the original Warrior of the Moon.

The blessing of Khonshu then passed to the great hero Imhotep, who used it to combat the alien Brood and bring the existential threat to an end.  Much like the previous history, Imhotep founded a secret society devoted to protecting the world - the Brotherhood of the Eye.

The power of the moon god became part of the secrets protected by the Brotherhood.  Every generation or so, Khonshu would choose an avatar on Earth, who would become his Moon Knight.  This agent was an important part of the Brotherhood for many centuries.

With the collapse of the Brotherhood, the means to contact Khonshu was lost.  It would take the arrival of Marc Spector, to rediscover the ancient temple to the Moon-god.  Gravely wounded after being betrayed by his teammate, Marc was left to die in the desert.  Coming upon this ancient temple-structure, he collapsed at the foot of the altar and was healed by the moon god.  

Becoming the new Fist of Khonshu, Marc returned to the United States to use his powers to clean up New York City.  Using the money he earned as a mercenary, as well as selling valuable trinkets given to him by Khonshu for this purpose, he designed a new white costume that both included the motifs of his godly patron, but also those resembling Batman, who served as Specter's inspiration.

After a few years of fighting crime in the Big Apple, he gained the attention of the Dark Knight, who offered him a position within his Batman Incorporated.

A YJA Moment - Kang the Conqueror

Nathaniel Richards was a brilliant scientist, working for the Strategic Science Reserve in the later years of the World War Two.  Devoted to the strange new fields of science, he would be an inspiration for his son, the founder of the Future Foundation Reed Richards.  Few knew that he was also a covert operative to a centuries-old conspiracy devoted to saving the planet from itself.

Recruited into the Brotherhood of the Eye by his good friend Howard Stark, Nathaniel became a trusted agent-scientist within the Order.  His first mission was to deal with the rogue scientist Nikola Tesla, whose discoveries threatened the balance of power.  During their raid, Richards was caught in an explosion that destroyed Tesla's lab, seemingly vaporizing both individuals.

Though Tesla would later return as the vengeful cyborg Night Machine, Nathaniel was instead wrenched from the timestream and sent hurtling centuries into the future.  Emerging in the 30th Century, he found himself within the ruins of a great metropolis of unbelievable technology.  The only people were mindless humans enslaved into acquiescence by the Anti-Life Equation,

Himself seemingly immune to the Anti-life, Nathaniel Richards used the advanced knowledge of the future to become the unquestioned ruler of Earth.  Donning a suit of armor and enhancing his body with biological and cybernetic implants, Nathaniel rechristened himself as Kang the Conquerer, an attempt to prevent other time travelers from deducing his true identity.

With the changes in history undertaken by Rip Hunter, the Man of Storms, and the Mythic Avengers, Kang finds his future in doubt.  Normally when changes occur, a new separate timeline is created, but with his time so thoroughly corrupted by Anti-Life, it would not survive being a branching timeline and would collapse.

His solution is to remove his greatest threat, the Brotherhood of the Eye from existence, by journeying to the distant past and stopping Imhotep from founding the order in the first place. As the new ruler of the ancient world under the guise of "Rama-Tut", he will scour the timeline free of all those who would stop his domination of the world.

A YJA Moment - Jack the Pumpkin King

The holidays have power.  Real power.

The more a holiday is observed and revered, the more power it possesses.  Though cultures around the world often worship the seasons differently, the most powerful of their representatives were the Ostara, Freyr, Autumnus, and Marzanna.

The fall of the Roman Empire ended the reign of Autumnus as the embodiment of the fall.  Without worshipers and festivals to empower him, he was defenseless against the might of the embodiment of the Celtic holiday Samhain.  Drawing forth the power of the season, the spirit took physical form, becoming known as Lord Pumpkin or simply Samhain.

For many centuries Lord Pumpkin was the harbinger of All Hallows Eve.  When the night came on that fateful day, his minions would embark on a grandiose scheme to conquer the world.  Each night someone from the living world would be there to stop him, whether it be a Spirit of Vengence, a gathering of occult superheroes, or a young chosen one.  Defeated he should slink back to the shadows awaiting the next night.

Then in 1986 something unexpected happened.  Instead of a group of wizards or magically-empowered defenders, Samhain was opposed by a group of capitalistic paranormal investigators, who brought their technological gadgets to bear on the Lord of Halloween.  Caught in the beams of their unlicensed nuclear accelerators, he was contained in their spectral prison within a disused firehouse in Tribeca, New York City.

With the loss of a host, the Spirit of Autumn went on the hunt for a new host.  The usual suitors - a collection of powerful ghosts, entities, and fallen gods - attempted to gain possession of the Spirit, but it rejected them all.  In the end, it was a Reaper that would gain the right to become the new Lord of Halloween.

Who Jack was before his exaltation is not known.  He was a psychopomp who was in charge of ferrying the souls to the various Kingdoms of the Dead.  After the end of the Third World, it was up to the various remaining death spirits to ensure that the right domains after the past and Jack was one of the most powerful.

Able to temporarily shrug off the bonds of fate the forced him into this role, Jack traveled the world and marveled at how the living feared death almost every day of the year, only to nearly worship it on Halloween.  It was this fascination that drew the Spirit of Autumn to him and granted him the title of the Pumpkin King.

Originally revealing himself as the Grim Reaper, Jack has elevated the holiday to new heights.  Although he commands with an iron, boney fist, he has lacked the stubbornness that his predecessor Samhain was known for.  Willing to update with the times, he allowed his subjects to adopt whatever cultural icons they wished, as long as the result instilled fear.

Jack himself has shed his Reaper persona of late, adopting an internet meme as his visual appearance.  He now appears as a tall, skeletal-thin man in a dark suit with a nearly featureless face.  Even when one glimpses his visage, they see that his eyes and mouth are stitched shut in a bemused grin.

Last Halloween, Jack nearly met final death at the hands of the lion Scar.  Having been inadvertently rescued by the Mythic Avengers has made him more cautious.  However, can anyone be cautious enough to deal with the reality of being displaced by the new Lord of Time, Kang the Conqueror?

A YJA Moment - The Time Stone

Charles Clarence "C.C." Batson was chosen by the Wizard Shazam to become the hero, Captain Marvel.  Though he possessed the heart of a champion, he struggled in his role as a hero.  It was hard to juggle the needs of Marvel and that of his family.  His wife Marilyn and his twins needed him to help deal with the and the bills that were piling up. He didn't feel worthy of the power and responsibility that was given to him.

After years of getting by, he found himself recruited by an honest-to-goodness alien, who needed his help fighting a war on another world.  He reluctantly agreed and helped the other members of the Infinity Watch defeat Mumm-Ra and unite the Infinity Stones.  After the battle, Leo the ThunderCat asked each member to take an Infinity Stone for safe-keeping.  C.C. was given the Time Stone.

Touching the Time Stone filled his mind with knowledge of the future and the past.  He discovered that his struggles with being Captain Marvel were because he was never meant to be Captain Marvel.  Someone had fundamentally changed the past, which resulted in a myriad of anomalies to occur throughout history.  He also saw that because of this, his future would be devastating - Black Adam would kill him in front of his wife and children, who would forever be scarred by the event.

In his visions, he also saw another terrible fate, one that would be bestowed on the universe if this purple alien named Thanos ever possessed the stone. Knowing he could never hide the Stone where it couldn't be found, he asked the Time Stone to take himself and his wife to random points in time, to make sure no one would be able to find them.  

Before he left, however, he knew he had to correct history.  He was never meant to be Captain Marvel but his children were.  That could only happen if Billy and Mary were orphans.  Using the Silver Surfer's Mind Stone, they erased the existence of Captain Marvel from the minds of everyone on Earth, even the Wizard Shazam himself.

The Batson's were conflicted. Marilyn was heart-broken that their children would grow up without their parents - Billy's life, in particular, would be very hard.  C.C. consoled her with the fact that both of them would persevere and become great heroes in the future, and though this time-line was not ideal, it was far better than the alternate future he had been shown.

In the period since their exile, the Batson's have had many adventures.  The same Crisis that had made him Captain Marvel also had created a host of temporal anomalies that needed to be repaired.  This included rescuing Kentauride's "sister" from the destruction of an alternate Themyscira from the rampage of the god Ares.  Unexpectantly the came across Thanos and nearly lost the Time Stone to the Mad Titan, but managed to escape when he became overcome from the visions it bestowed on him.

However, they didn't realize that there was a means to track their movements, through an arcane mathematical equation known as the Five-Fold Understanding.  In their last time jump was in 1955, they were confronted by the mad scientist Sir Isaac Newton who was intent on getting the stone.  He was aided by Leonardo Da Vinci himself, who helped the Batson's defeat Newton and remain in possession of the Time Stone.

Thankful, they allowed the stone to send them to times unknown again.  This time they have arrived in 2021, a time further forward than they have ever gone.  Marilyn has shown to be quite curious about the future, but C.C. remains uneasy.  There is something about this time period that Captain Marvel knows will change their lives.

A YJA Moment - The Brotherhood of the Eye

One is aware of the many organizations that keep the world safe from the myriad of threats in the galaxy.  S.H.I.E.L.D. is the largest and most powerful of these, but there are many groups who safeguard their cities and countries.  Likewise, there have been those in the past who formed secret societies that strived to keep the established order from falling into ruin.  The greatest of these was The Brotherhood of the Eye.

The Order began in 2620 B.C.E. when the Egyptian chancellor Imhotep was visited by the Man of Storms, a strange cloaked man who bestowed on the hero foreknowledge of a great alien invasion by the insectoid species known as The Brood. Gathering the great heroes of their time, including The Black Panther of ancient Wakanda, En Sabah Nur the future Apocalypse, the Fist of Khonshu, the Sorcerer-Supreme Nabu, and Teth-Adam of Khandaq.

Victorious, all the great heroes disbursed except Imhotep himself, who gathered to his side exceptional humans to form a secret society.  Working from the shadows, they would be the eye of the storm, creating a pocket of calmness and serenity in a chaotic and dangerous universe.  They would be the Brotherhood of the Eye.

Throughout history, the Brotherhood gathered the most learned and exceptional people to its ranks.  Most of these were unsung pioneers, but a few like Galileo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Sir Isaac Newton had public fame and recognition.  Besides defending humanity, the Brotherhood sought a means of contacting the Man of Storms, who had appeared in numerous locations since ancient Egypt.

When Sir Issac Newton joined the order, he obsessively pursued the legend of the Man of Storms.  In his research, he discovered the existence of the Five-Fold Understanding, the arcane mathematical model that would allow someone to track the movements of the Man of Storms.  Ruthlessly he traveled the world to gain access to knowledge he was seeking.

He ransacked the records of the Brotherhood to discover the Greater Science; Burned down the Deviant city of Ashomia to gain the Hidden Arts;  Tortured the seer Nostradamus to gain access to the Secret Alchemy, which allowed him to create the live-extending Elixir of Life.  The calmness gained through the Elixir allowed him to discover the Quiet Math and through that, the Silent Truth was revealed.

The Silent Truth was meant to determine an exact timetable for the Man of Storms.  Each location and date laid before Newton, but he would have to deal with a long-standing thorn in his side first - Leonardo Da Vinci.  The great inventor and adventurer still lived and opposed Newton's crusade.  Their ages-long conflict had ended the Brotherhood of the Eye and ultimately led to the defeat of Newton himself.

Defeated, Leonardo took the Quiet Truth and safeguarded it for many years, until the modern-day.  Newton, on the other hand, continued to scheme in order to get the Understanding Returned, turning to then Secretary-General Lex Luthor.  Luthor aided Newton in capturing Da Vinci, but then betrayed them both, imprisoning both of them within his Project: Genesis facility.

A YJA Moment - Weapons of Known Space (Part I)

There are a myriad of weapons in use by the various species in Known Space.  In fact, it would nearly be impossible to catalog every category of weapon as each planet's development and resources tie indirectly into the type of devices they arm their soldiers with.  However, there are some technologies that have come into common use by various empires and galactic sectors.

The most common weapons technology in use are Blasters, which fires bursts of particle energy at their target.  In use for many centuries, they rose to prominence during the Old Republic era when they became the standard weapon of the Grand Army of the Republic.  In that era, BlasTech was the primary manufacturer of Blasters, gaining an almost monopoly over the technology.

Even though BlasTech dominance was shattered after the Clone Wars and the end of the Galactic Empire, blaster technology still remains in common use throughout Known Space.  This is in no small part to the surplus of Republic and Imperial weapons on the open market, as well as new weapons shipped from the Corporate Sector.

Developed from Blasters by the Vulcans, Disruptors fire a concentration of particle beam energy.  At lower settings, these do damage similar to other energy weapons, but on high settings, the beam can disrupt the nuclear bonds between atoms, literally disintegrating their target. This has caused them to be known as Disintegrators by the Bounty Hunters Guild.

Though starting with the Vulcans, the technology was stolen and reversed-engineered by Romulan agents that had infiltrated the High Command.  The Romulan Star Empire then sold the technology to the Andorians in order to help them with their conflict with the Vulcans.  In retaliation, the High Command supplied weapons to the Klingon Empire to aid them against the Star Empire.

Though energy weapons are in great supply, many governments such as the Nova Empire still rely on advanced, but older projectile-based weapons.  Although these weapons employ explosive-tipped, caseless rounds, the technology is fundamentally indistinguishable from those employed in backwater planets such as Earth.  There is a tactical advantage to suing "Guns" in conflict as they are cheaper to purchase and maintain, and often defensive measures are focused more on energy weapons than those utilizing projectiles. 

A YJA Moment - The Hellfire Club

A good portion of the world believes that Metahumans are a more recent occurrence.  Though the larger presence of catalysts like radiation and chemicals has increased the number of exhibiting mutations, Gifted individuals have existed since humanity began and so have metahuman-centric societies.  Most of these have been created to keep Metahumans safe and away from those who would harm them. 

There have been, however, groups that were not interested in hiding their talents.  Their purpose was to enable metahumans to reach their full potential in personal power, influence, and wealth.  While most of these have long passed away, the most successful of these continues to the present day.  They are known as the Secret Society for Witchblood Supremacy, otherwise called The Hellfire Club.

The first incarnation of the Society is not known, but it is believed to have predated its first public appearance in the 19th century.  Fashioned after the infamous clubs for high-society rakes, this "Hellfire Club" positioned itself as only allowing the most exceptional individuals to join.  Using various means, the leadership of the Club would ascertain if this person was "Witchblooded", their term for a Metahuman, with those passing the test being offered a position in its ranks.

After being initiated, the Witchblood was given access to some of the richest and most powerful Gifted families in the world.  Opportunities were abundant but only the most ruthless and talented socialite can rise past a comfortable living and into the ranks of the powerful elite families such as the Frosts and Shaws.  There is one ironclad rule: the exploit the "Weakbloods" as you wish, but avoid messing with a fellow Gifted and NEVER act openly against a fellow Club member.

Leadership in the Hellfire Club is carried out by the Inner Circle, who are made up of the most prominent members of the most powerful families within the society.  Their titles are derived from Chess, such as Black King or White Queen. The Circle's positions are hereditary, passing to the eldest of each of the council's elite families.  The only way for someone to be elevated to the council is by deposing one of the other families.

The Hellfire Club thrived until a few years ago, during what was known as the Phoenix Incident.  Marvel Girl Jean Grey was exposed to Negative Zone radiation during an X-Men mission in orbit and as a result, found her telepathy and telekinesis amplified to god-like levels.  Sebastian Shaw, the Black King at the time, saw an opportunity to use Grey for the Inner Council's benefit.

The attempt backfired, gaining the attention of the rest of the X-Men.  Although the powerful illusionist Jason Wyngarde, known as Mastermind managed to deceive Jean, they underestimated her relationship with Scott Summers, who pulled her out of the deception.  Cyclops, Professor X, and the rest of the members of the Xavier Academy rescued Marvel Girl and directly engaged the Hellfire Club.

In an effort to gain revenge for previous actions of the Inner Circle against her family, the White Queen Emma Frost betrayed the Hellfire Club, allowing the X-Men to utterly defeat them and eliminate several council members.  The remaining members fled their headquarters, their influence network greatly diminished.

Though Shaw continues to rule over the Club, it is a shadow of its former self.  The old families are gone and with them, the influence and prestige they brought with them.  Some of the new members do show promise - the new Black Queen Selene is an immortal metahuman with years of experience and a wide variety of unique contacts.  In the near future, the Hellfire Club could rise again. 

A YJA Moment - The First Infinity Guantlet

 Long before Thanos forged his begun his crusade for the Infinity Stones, there was another powerful force that attempted to unite the stones and elevate themselves to godhood.  A force that came from an outer rim world known only as Triterra.

Many great civilizations rose and fell upon Triterra - some possessing great technology, others skilled in the arcane arts.  They uplifted animals into humanoid forms and attracted near-by aliens to immigrate.  By the time the Enshrouded One had come to power, the empire is in decline, which much of the population living in small settlements.

The Enshrouded One, the undead warlord known only to a few as Mumm-Ra, had been resurrected by the mysterious Ancient Spirits of Evil in order to complete the profane task of seeking out the Infinity Stones.  Forging the Gauntlet of Plun-darr, Mumm-Ra sent his elite force, the ThunderCats into the cosmos to collect them.

Leo, the leader of the ThunderCats realized that with the Stones and the Gauntlet the Enshrouded One would become a virtual god and no one would be able to stop him.  He set in motion a plan to collect a group of heroes to fight Mumm-Ra in secret, while the ThunderCats publicly sought out the stone.

In his travels, Leo recruited C.C. Batson, the original Captain Marvel; Emiya Shirou, the Crimson Archer;  Interstellar lawman Thad Bak, The Space Ghost; Noran Radd, the Silver Surfer; and GCPD officer Jim Corrigan, host to The Spectre.  

Leo and his secret allies managed to locate the Stones, taking them back to Triterra and using them to defeat the Enshrouded One and sealing him within his Black Pyramid fortress.  

Victorious, the team decided to protect the stones from anyone who tried to collect them.  Each taking a Stone, the heroes parted and spread out throughout Known Space.  Leo took possession of the Space Stone, mounting into the hilt of his weapon, turning it into what would be later known as the Sword of Omens.

A YJA Moment - O.M.A.C.

Developed by Lex Luthor and Checkmate, the Omnifunctional Metahuman Assault & Containment (or O.M.A.C.), were the next generation of the Sentinel systems.  The goal of the O.M.A.C. was to create an anti-metahuman system that could be transformed agents in the field, as opposed to separate constructs which would have to be separately

The original O.M.A.C. utilized pair of cybernetic and synthetic devices - a set of normal-appearing implants which would normally be used by the agent, and a combat array which were held in orbit on a satellite called Brother I.  During an emergency, the two sets of implants were switched via teleporter, upgrading the agent into an armored combat chassis with an adaptable array of weaponry.

The first test subject was a Blank, a simple-minded clone with rudimentary education created by Cadmus.  Scientists named this subject Buddy Blank and his experiences greatly influenced its development.  As the project advanced, new subjects were acquired, including civilians Michael Costner and Kevin Kho.

Though the research of Department K in Canada, Lex Luthor had obtained vital information regarding the alien Symbiotes such as those utilized by Venom and Carnage.  By integrating nano-technology with synthetic symbiotic technology, the new generation of O.M.A.C. no longer needed the Brother I - the systems would be stored within the agent's body, oozing out and transforming him into a full-fledged O.M.A.C.

O.M.A.C. of every generation had some common capabilities.  They were heavily armored and possess anti-gravity systems which allowed them to fly.  Their onboard sensors could scan all known light spectrums and they possessed the ability to detect meta-humans.  The ocular weapons system could fire a variety of energy blasts, adapting its frequency and properties based on the weaknesses of the opponent.

Because the O.M.A.C.s could only adapt to defeat powers they had experienced, Luthor set up Project: Genesis.  A multi-level secret prison, Luthor placed a variety of metahumans in detention, so they could repeatedly battle and be defeated by the O.M.A.C.s.  Luthor also sought to incarcerate those which he considered a threat, such as the immortal scientist Leonardo Da Vinci.

A YJA Moment - Deviants

The Eternals were members of sentient races which were uplifted by the fabled Celestials into powerful and immortal beings.  However, the process used by the Celestials did not always result in an Eternal, but caused a massive mutation in their cellular structure, creating individuals with a varied and sometimes hideous appearance.  The Eternals referred to these people as Deviants, but they themselves have called themselves the Changing People.

Though their mutations often gave them superhuman abilities, they lacked the cosmic-fuelled powers of the Eternals.  They often made up for this by using their hyper-intelligent members to create incredibly advanced technology.  Regardless, it was common for conflict to arise between Eternals and Deviants. Unfortunately in many cases, such as on Krypton and Titanos, this resulted in the Eternals wiping out all the Deviants.  I

On the Skrull homeworld, it was the Eternals who mysteriously perished, leaving the Deviants as the dominant lifeform on Skrullos.  The mutations would later stabilize, resulting in a separate species of shape-shifting aliens.  This species, now called the Skrulls, would eventually rise up against their normal counterparts and destroy them.

On Earth, a cold war existed between the two peoples.  Knowing they were unable to directly face the Eternals, the Deviant hid and indirectly attacked them through schemes and third parties.  From their base on Ashomia in Japan, they developed knowledge and technology that was centuries ahead of the rest of humanity.  Yet they refrained from acting against the populace, lest the Eternals intervene.

The end of the Deviants on Earth came in 1625 with the arrival of Sir Isaac Newton, scientist, and leader of a secret cabal of exceptional humans.  Seeking out a portion of what he called the Five-Fold Understanding, he stole the Book of the Hidden Arts from the Deviants and used advanced explosives to cover his theft.

Unexpectantly the blast disrupted the city's power grid, creating explosions and fire throughout the city.  Without the automated defenses to combat the blaze, the entire city to Ashomia burned to the ground.  The remains of the Deviant people were forced to flee into enclaves throughout the world, never to gather in such numbers again.

A YJA Moment - The Super Family

The most familiar face of the Super Family is Kal-El, who is known as Clark Kent on Earth.  He was sent to our planet as a child by his parents to escape the destruction of Krypton.  Growing up on a Kansas farm, he learned all the values that would serve him well as the Man of Steel -  first as Superboy and later as Superman. Soon he would be joined by another Kryptonian, Kara Zor-L, who claimed to be his cousin.  it was revealed that she was actually from an alternate reality that had been wiped out in a transdimensional cataclysm.  Regardless, Clark welcomed her as family and she took on the identity of Karen Starr, aka Supergirl.

Tragedy struck when the mysterious villain known as Doomsday rampaged across the United States. Few knew that Lex Luthor had created a genetic hybrid containing both DNA from the Hulk and General Zod.  Almost unstoppable, it was only defeated by the sacrifice of Superman.  Thought to have perished, several new heroes arose to succeed him - the young Teen Superman, the violent Last Son of Krypton, the armored Man of Steel, and the cyborg Man of Tomorrow.

Eventually, Kal-El returned to life after spending time in a regenerative coma, taking back the mantle of Superman.  Teen Superman then became the modern Superboy, the Last Son of Krypton is revealed to be the Kryptonian android Eradicator, and the Man of Tomorrow is revealed to be the villainous Hank Henshaw, the Cyborg Superman.

Not long after Superman resumed being a hero, another Kryptonian starship crash-landed in the waters between Metropolis and Gotham.  There Kal-El was greeted by his real cousin Kara Zor-El.  Kara was technically older than Kal when she left Krypton, but due to an anomaly in the Phantom Zone drive, she ended up on Earth decades late.  After some reconnecting with Clark and her alternate universe counterpart, Kara Danvers took on the mantle of Supergirl.  Karen Starr then became the hero known as Power Girl.

Centuries ago, after the attempted coup against the Science Guild, the Military Guild found itself relegated to the status of a minor guild, denied the funding required to maintain its previously massive army.  Withering under the mandates of the Lawmakers Guild, a faction of soldiers formed a group dedicated to returning Krypton to its former glory - the Sword of Rao.  Led by General Zod, his confederates attempted to overthrow the ruling council but were stopped by loyal soldiers from the Military Guild.  Convicted of sedition, they were sentenced to life in the Phantom Zone.  Years later an interdimensional accident freed Zod, his wife Faora, and his trusted lieutenants on Earth.  Since then, they have been a thorn in the side of Kal-El who must continually think of new ways to defeat and imprison his foes.

A few others also managed to escape the destruction of homeworld but like Zod, are inextricably linked to the House of El:  The genetically-altered soldier known as Reign who had been created by the Military Guild as a secret weapon; the chimeric survivor known as H'El, who set out on a crusade to create a New Krypton; and Zor-El the father of Supergirl who was rescued by Brainiac and turned into his Herald, becoming what would later be known as the second Cyborg Superman.

A YJA Moment - The Bat Family

Bruce Wayne was the first known wearer of the cowl, though rumors persist of his father donning a dark costume and fighting crime decades prior.  After the death of his parents, Bruce traveled the world, learning the skills that it would take to become the vigilante protector of Gotham known as The Batman.

Soon after becoming the Caped Crusader, Bruce would take in a young boy whose circus performing parents were murdered by the Gotham mob.  Dick Greyson would then train under Batman, becoming the first Robin.  After years as a side-kick, he would form the Young Justice team and eventually become his own hero Nightwing, acting as a protector of Bludhaven when he wasn't working for the Office of National Emergency as Agent 37.

The mantle of Robin would be taken by several individuals - Jason Todd would be killed by the Joker; resurrected by the League of Shadows to become the second Red Hood; Tim Drake would serve as Robin until he was framed along with Batman by Lex Luthor, forcing him to adopt the Red Robin mantle. Currently, Bruce's biological child Damien Wayne serves as Robin.

Barbara Gordon, daughter of the GCPD Commissioner Jim Gordon, would independently become the young hero Batgirl.  Though Batman was initially against her joining the Bat-family, she proved herself capable and joined Young Justice.  Barbara was gravely injured by the Joker and was confined to a wheelchair, becoming the expert hacker known as Oracle.

Much like Batgirl, Kate Kane was inspired by both her cousin Bruce (Batman) and her Aunt Kathy Webb (briefly the original Batwoman), to become the latest incarnation of Batwoman.  She had no intention of joining with Batman but developed mutual respect which made her an unofficial member of the family.

Stephanie Brown was the daughter of the minor villain Cluemaster and became the hero Spoiler in order to thwart his plans.  Eventually, she would become friends with Tim Drake and gained the confidence of Batman.  When Barabara was forced to retire, Stephanie was asked to pick up the mantle of Batgirl.

Helena Bertinelli lost her family to Mob violence.  Growing up with relatives, she trained hard in order to find and kill her parents, murderers.  Running up with the Bat-Family on numerous occasions, they eventually curbed her lethal intentions and honed her into the identity of the Huntress.

Luke Fox was the son of Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises CEO.  Idolizing Batman, Luke trained hard for the opportunity to be mentored by the Dark Knight.  During an emergency at one of Wayne's manufacturing facilities, he came across a prototype for the original Batwing armor utilized by David Zavimbe and used it to defeat the Penguin and his minions.  For this, Batman offered him a position within the Bat-Family as the American incarnation of Batwing.

In addition to his core group of "Gotham Knights" Batman effectively franchised out the Dark Knight methodology, forming Batman Incorporated.  The following are the known members operating around the world: Azrael in Montreal, The Bat-Man in Beijing, the original Batwing in Kinshasa, Daredevil in New York, The Dark Ranger in Sydney, El Gaucho in Buenos Aires, The Hood in London, The Knight in Edinburgh, The Midnighter in Chicago, Mister Unknown in Tokyo, Moon Knight in Detroit, a new Nighthawk in New Orleans, Nightrunner in Paris, Orphan in Hong Kong, The Signal in Los Angeles.

 

A YJA Moment - Kryptonians

Like many of the worlds in Known Space, they had been seeded by the Celestials, who returned after they evolved to sentience in order to grant them even more power, creating what would be known as Eternals. Due to unique evolutionary properties, Kryptonian Eternals drew sustenance and power from the Rao system's then-yellow sun.

Unlike other seed-worlds, Krypton was geometrically unstable and because the Kryptonian Eternals were better suited to survive such conditions and eventually outlived all of their unenhanced and meta-brethren.

Millennia before the other races developed interstellar travel, Kryptonians discovered the Negative Zone, which they called the Phantom Zone.  Besides using it as a prison, they constructed stardrives that all allowed them to explore their galaxy.  Among those that were colonized was Daxam and the Daxamites continue to be members of the galactic community.

Experiments on Krypton's sun, Rao caused it to change and become a Red Dwarf.  The cataclysmic effect on the homeworld required the full attention of the Kryptonians.  Red-spectrum radiation no longer empowered their cells and they soon found themselves powerless.  A deep winter fell on the planet, killing millions.

In response, the Scientist Guild leaders were disposed of and a new militant regime was installed by the Military Guild.  They recalled their forces back to Krypton to spearhead the construction of domed habitations for the surviving populace. Even though a form of democratic rule was established years later through the Lawmakers Guild, xenophobia had set into the public consciousness.  The people of Krypton would only look inward from that point onward.

The end came for Krypton at the hand of Galactus, who had been drawn to the unstable core of the planet.  Determined to make a stand, the forces of the Military Guild set its fleet on a suicide mission to stop the Devourer of Worlds.  It was not enough and the planet was consumed by Galactus' unquenchable hunger.

Only a few individuals survived the destruction of Krypton.  A few ships managed to escape the planet, saving those who would become Superman, Supergirl, General Zod, and the Sword of Rao, the High, and H'el are a few of those which would make their way to Earth.  In addition, their genetic legacy continues within the Daxamites, the Strontians, the Viltrumites, and the Royal House of Khera. 

Years prior, Brainiac had visited Krypton, shrunk the city of Kandor, and stored in it his spaceship's vaults.  After being defeated by the Justice League, Superman took the city and to the Fortress of Solitude and remains the only remaining society of pureblood Kryptonians.

A YJA Moment - Nekron

The Lord of the Greek Underworld, Hades, had long sought to increase his influence in the lands of the dead.  Held in check by the Higher Power and the Hosts in the 10th Realm, Hades found himself with limited options.

Hades discovered the underworld kingdom of Mictlān, home to the mesoamerican gods of death.  There he spied Mictecacihuatl, the Queen of the domain.  Her husband, Mictlāntēcutli was away much of the time, engaging in rituals of bloodletting and warfare.  So while the King was away, Hades arranged for his allies to arrange for a tragic accident to occur.  When Mictlantecutli did not return for many weeks, his Kingdom feared the worst.

Coming to Mictlan to pay his respects, Hades set about plans of wooing Mictecacihuatl. Soon she was with child and the Greek god made plans to unite the two kingdoms under his rule. Then the unspeakable occurred - King Mictlantecutli returned, greatly injured but otherwise alive.  Seeing his wife in the arms of another man, the King declared eternal enmity against the Greek Underworld and vowed to have them sacrificed on the altars of his realm.

In order to protect his realm, Hades utilized the waters of Lethe to make all those involved forget the incident and resume their normal lives.  No one would ever find out about Hades' dalliance with the Aztec goddess...except there was a problem:  The Boy.  As soon as he was born, they would all relearn the truth of Hades actions. As evidence of his discretion, he would have to be dealt with.

Using allies, he had the baby mystically removed from his mother's womb, replacing it with a stillborn child. He then cast the unnamed babe into the Netherealm, the then vast unclaimed section of Lands of the Dead.  The Boy would have perished, but the fates intervened.

Discovered by slavers he grew up in the pits of the Dragon King.  He suffered terrible indignities in the Netherealm which scarred both his body and his mind.  A gaunt figure, the Boy persisted first in life and then in a form of unlife, persisting due to his divine heritage and his desire for revenge.

Scouring the various Lands of the Dead for tools to use against his father, he came upon a concealed tomb in a forgotten valley.  There the Soul Stone, which had been hidden by the Spectre to make sure no one would ever misuse its power.  The Boy took the Stone and used it to invigorate this skeletal body, remaking him and granting him a new name:  Nekron.

Trapped in the Lands of the Dead and only able to spend fleeting moments in the living world, he was currently unable to satisfy the Soul Stone's desire for the spirits of the dead.  However, he had encountered many dead members of the Green Lantern Corp who recounted the ability of their rings to draw upon the emotional spectrum.  Not physical energy, but spiritual.

Gaining access to a Personal Lantern Power Battery, he merged the Soul Stone with, corrupting it and turning it black.  Drawing upon the power of the Stone, he created hundreds of Back Lantern Power Rings, sending them into the living world to raise the dead.  His new army could then seek out the strongest souls in the Universe and collect them, sending them into the Soul-World inside the Stone.

With each Soul in the Stone augmenting his powers, soon he wouldn't need to be heir to his father's kingdom.  He could walk through the Lands of the Dead with his new-forged power, casting aside the old regime and rebuild a new empire in its place.

An Empire in his own twisted image.

A YJA Moment - The Soul Stone

In an alternate timeline, in a discarded future, the New God known as the Black Racer would have been the Fourth World's Lord of Death.  So powerful was the Black Racer that a shadow continues as the Black Flash, the grim reaper of speedsters.  The demise of the Black Racer had a profound effect on the cosmos, for he was unable to fashion an afterlife for anyone in the Fourth World.  The gods of the Fourth World seeming had no future after death; apparently only oblivion.

The essence of the Black Racer was forged into what was known as the Soul Stone.  As the most powerful of the Stones, it was least understood.  The rest of the Infinity Stones instilled an instinctive knowledge of how to operate them, the result of the vestige of the New Gods' personality.  The Soul Stone conferred little in the way of understanding, requiring that the user was gifted with unusual insight, or decades worth of patience.

The first time the Soul Stone appeared in history was when it found its way to the hands of Jim Corrigan, the man that served as host to the Spirit of Vengeance known as the Spectre. Understanding its great power, the Spectre utilized the Stone for many years granting him almost omnipotent power to punish the guilty and right wrongs.  While Jim was content with this newfound strength, the Spectre was less so.

Delving deep within the Stone revealed a horrible truth - because the Fourth World had not progressed far enough to develop its own afterlife, the Soul Stone itself contained the souls of the departed.  Every life that a wielder of the Stone took was destined to be drawn into this Soul-World within the Stone, never to emerge.  This fate included the slain New Gods as well.

Unable to deal with the thanatological ramifications of Soul-World, the Spectre abandoned the Soul Stone.  Concerned that another might use it for ill, it was buried in the unclaimed Lands of the Dead in a Tomb of an underworld warlord whose domain had perished along with his worshipers.

Neither Corrigan nor the Spectre could have envisioned someone entering the forgotten deathlands.  Yet the man would become known as Nekron was no ordinary soul. Seeking out lost artifacts and knowledge to use against his father Hades, Nekron had chosen to scour the portions of the Lands of the Dead far from the brimming lands of the Greeks and Egyptians.

Finding the Soul Stone, Nekron set to using it to forge himself and a weapon against his enemies.  Corrupting a Green Lantern Power Battery, he has created a host of Black Lantern rings, capable of resurrecting the dead and turning them into emotional draining zombies.

A YJA Moment - Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters

There are heroes that have had a profound effect on the world, but whose actual exploits are not well known.  One such hero is Uncle Sam, whose image has appeared throughout history as a symbol of American patriotism.  Few know that Uncle Sam is an actual person, and a metahuman who has been given a broad and ill-defined range of powers fuelled by the Spirit of America.

At his side is a group of heroes that he calls his Freedom Fighters.  The original team was gathered during World War II, when a group of Nazi metahumans called Axis America traveled back in time from an Axis-dominated alternate future to ensure that their history comes to fruition.  Unable to face them by himself and mistrusted by the Justice Society of America, he sought out heroes that were not attached to existing teams.

What resulted was an unusual group of heroes:  The psychic Black Condor who was telekinetically capable of flight;  Doll Man who made a serum that made him permanently six inches tall; The Human Bomb whose exposure to exotic chemicals allowed him to generate explosive blasts; The vigilante known as Phantom Lady; and The Ray, a metahuman capable of generating and manipulating light.

Sam often told his team-mates that they were destined to be part of the Freedom Fighters.  While the concept seemed ludicrous to his teammates, few could contest the strange coincidences the team experienced.  Members of the team would often adopt the legacies and gain power-sets similar to their predecessors.

The current version of the team directly spiraled from the events of the Checkmate take over of the Office of National Security.  Confiscating most of the technology from the Triskelion and the Avengers, the scientists of Weapons Plus set to work reverse-engineering the designs for their own operatives.  Many of those who were part of the experiments were not there or their free will.

Uncle Sam broke one such Weapons Plus installation and liberated their staff.  From that came a new group of Freedom Fighters: Black Condor, wearer of a prototype wing-suit derived from those of the Falcon; Doll Man who utilized Pym Particles stolen from Hank Pym in order to change size; Human Bomb, who had his DNA spliced with the explosive metahuman Nitro; Phantom Lady, who gained invisibility, intangibility, and energy expulsion powers from a mysterious alien artifact; and The Ray, photokinetic son of the original hero.

With the shifts in global power, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters once again protect the country, even if the Avengers and the Justice League get all the good press.

A YJA Moment - Alpha Flight

Inspired by the Covert Action Teams of the United States, Department H, had developed its own program for metahumans agents of the Canadian government.  Code-named the Flight program, much of the program was composed of training teams, known within the program as Beta, Gamma, and Omega Flights.  There was only one field team, known appropriately as Alpha Flight.

It was a very well kept secret that much of the development of Flight assets were developed by the shadowy Department K, which had been established to research paranatural phenomena and develop countermeasures.  Even more secretive was that the entirety of Department K was actually part of Weapons Plus, who had assimilated it in order to gain access to Adamantium-expert Omo Kurokaze and his supply of the unbreakable metal.

Alpha Flight itself, like the Sword, was a covert unit, operating under the notice of the general populace.  This was because publicly Canada had put its full confidence in the Justice League to protect it from metahuman threats, as well as discourage the proliferation of national super-teams.

In the wake of the Reach Invasion, confidence in the League in Canada fell to an all-time low. Critics questioned the government's unwavering support for the U.N. Charter and the Justice League as a whole.  As it was an electron year, the Prime Minister felt compelled to answer the complaints, especially in light of his falling approval rating.

Thus the decision was made to retool Alpha Flight into a national and public super-team.  To that end, team-leader James Hudson retooled his Vindicator suit into a more patriotic Guardian identity.

He was joined by the twins Aurora and Northstar, metahumans which possessed photokinesis, flight, and superspeed; Puck, who possessed enhanced strength, reflexes, and durability; Sasquatch, who once gained his Hulk-like powers from Gamma Radiation but now housed a mythical spirit; and shapeshifting Inuit demi-goddess Snowbird.

Though they were overshadowed by the dominant presence of The Shield (aka The Avengers), they were popular in Canada and instilled a renewed sense of national pride.  This was only enhanced after the Watchtower Incident when Alpha Flight had to step up and protect not only Canada, but much of the Arctic as well.