O.G.R.E.

Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement

The first O.G.R.E. was a small "mercenary terrorist group". They were led by a guy in a black hood called Supreme One, who led a group of foot soldiers with red helmets and brown uniforms. They were hired to steal some nukes. Aquaman and Mera interfered with this plan and convinced two agents Huntress and Typhoon (who were working for the group, because O.G.R.E. threaten to kill them) to turn on O.G.R.E., who they defeated. Months later, a guy named Krako re-organized the group. He threatened the UN, but was defeated by Aquaman. He tried (and failed) to bomb Atlantis, while Black Manta distracted Aquaman. However, the government located and destroyed their HQ.
Ocean Going Research Exchange
A second O.G.R.E. was formed, but it doesn't seem to have ties to the original one. It's also simply called the Exchange. Founded by Jordan Wylie (the CEO of Merrevale Oil), it tried to discredit the Sea Devils' environmental actives and had hostile encounters with Aquaman. Aquaman accused Jordan of ruining the environment, resulting in Jordan losing his job. O.G.R.E. decided to make Jordan "less visible".

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.R.G.E._(comics)

Master Order and Lord Choas

History

Master Order and Lord Chaos are two "brother" entities that embodies their namesake and balance the other. They seem to be all-powerful and nearly all-knowing. The duo are rarely seen, but have several notable appearances. They manipulated Spider-Man into getting Warlock to battle the villain Thanos. They watched Odin and Dormammu play a "cosmic game of chess". The duo helped battle against the god-like Beyonder. Then, they imprisoned the In-Betweener (their servant turned evil). Later, they are seen at Eon's (another cosmic entity) funeral. In their most recent appearance, they (and other "abstract" cosmic entities) deemed Thanos unworthy of the Infinity Gauntlet and attacked him, but soon turn their attention on Nebula, when she got the gauntlet. They were seen witnessing Warlock's "cosmic trial" to see if he is worthy of the gaunlet.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_ORder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chaos_(MArvel_COmics)

Nextwave

Above: Captain, Tabitha, Monica, Aaron and Elsa
This is my 200th post!

Overview

This series focuses on a group of B-list heroes: Monica Rambeau (former Captain Marvel), Tabitha Smith (former X-Force member), Aaron Stack (Machine Man), Elsa Bloodstone (a monster hunter) and the Captain (a new character, who used to be "Captain [censored]", the word is so vuglar Captain America once put soap in his mouth and threw him in a dumpster). The group joined the Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort (or H.A.T.E.) to stop the Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction (U.W.M.D.s). However, they discovered a terrorist group called the Beyond Corporation was actually funding H.A.T.E. So, they stole a vehicle called the Shockwave Rider (which is bigger on the inside than the outside akin to the TARDIS from Doctor Who) and battled U.W.M.D.s and H.A.T.E., while being hunted by the leader of H.A.T.E., Dirk Anger (an over-the-top parody of Nick Fury).

The series tends to have story arcs lasting a mere two issues. The comic has extreme comedy and violence and shows flashbacks of various heroes acting out of character for comedic effect. It also parodies the superhero genre in general. Warren Ellis (the guy who wrote the series) stated "I took The Authority and I stripped out all the plots, logic, characters and sanity".

Cannon or Not

A confusing issue is whether the Nextwave takes place in the Marvel Universe or not. Ellis state concern wasn't due to the "harm" it would due to the continuity. However, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and Civil War: Battle Damage Report claimed otherwise. The Battle Damage Report claimed that the Nextwave's members might have had their memories and personalities altered by H.A.T.E.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nextwave

Powers

Overview

Powers is a police procedural comic with a science fiction twist. In a world, where superpowers are common, but not completely everyday, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim are police officers that deal with homicides that involving "powers" (a slang term for superhumans).

Walker used to be a "power" himself and was a superhero called "Diamond". However, he lost his abilities and became a police officer. Despite the latter, he still has contacts in the superhero community.

Deena Pilgrim, his partner, has a dark secret: she managed to get superpowers to battle a super villain called Bug, but this led her to accidentally kill her abusive boyfriend in self-defense and she hid the evidence. However, she manged to redeem herself later in the series.

Similar Series

Gotham Central focused on the cops in titular city and their interactions to superhumans.

Alan Moore's Top 10 was also about superpowered cops solving cases involving superhumans, which worried the creators of Powers. However, Moore said the series were different as Top 10 is about "superpowered cops" where as Powers is about cops that deal with superhumans.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_(comics)

The Maxx

Overview

The titular character, Maxx, is a being who exist both in the "real" world and an alternate reality called the Outback. In the Outback, he is the the protector the Jungle Queen, but in the real world, he is a homeless man, who wears a purple superhero costume (see above). The Jungle Queen also has a "real world" counterpart named Julie Winters, who is a social worker that often bail Maxx out of prison. While Maxx is aware of both realities, Julie isn't.

Plot
In the first story arch, a serial killer Mr. Gone (who has a telepathic link to Julie) is constantly calling Julie, but she ignored him. The Maxx was protecting Julie, so Mr. Gone had to get help from the Isz, the main predators of the Outback. Mr. Gone reveal that he was once a friend of Julie's father; the Outback was actually controlled by her subconscious and other people have them; and Julie accidentally created a rip between the real world and the Outback causing the creation of Maxx. Julie started heal herself and her Outback. We meet a depressed teenager, Sarah, who doesn't want to be like her father, Mr. Gone.
In the second story arch, Julie and the former Maxx (whose name is revealed to be Dave) have disappeared, so this story arch focuses on Sarah. A giant yellow, slug monster called the Iago (who is from the Outback) came into the real world and has a list of people to kill... including Juile and Sarah. Sara (as she spells it now) was hounded by a homeless man named Norbert, who she realized is her "Maxx". Julie and Dave resurfaced to battled the Iago. Norbert, Sara, Dave, Mr. Gone and Mark (Julie's son) try to stop the Iago, who kidnapped Juile and went into Sara's Outback and save her. Mr. Gone reveal time is running out for the group. Then, they are reborn into a new reality. In this new reality, Mr. Gone is a professor and Dave is a janitor at the same school. It's implied despite living completely different lives, they still have connections to the Outback and each other.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maxx

Trashman

Overview

In a near-future, America became a tyrannical, fascist state. Harry Barnes' wife was murdered and he was on the run from the police. He met Citizen X (the leader of an underground anarchist group), who trained him to be a master of the "para-sciences" giving him super powers. Using these powers and a variety of weapons, he became the defender of middle class people, oppressed by the fascist police forces and the greedy rich people.

Powers and Abilities

He has super strength, speed, stamina, reflexes, agility, durability and equilibrium. While not completely invulnerable, most weapons cannot harm him. He can alter his shape and molecular structure and turn back at will.

Notes

• Trashman was one of the few superheroes in the Underground Comix movement. The comix had profanity, sex and gory violence, which till then where alien to superheroes.

• Many times the characters break the fourth wall.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trashman_(comics)

Tharg the Mighty

Overview

Thrag the Mighty or Mighty Thang is the fictional editor of the real British science fiction comic 2000 AD. However, he usually appears in his own strip and rarely appears in the actual stories. Thrag is an egoistic tyrant from the also fictional planet Quaxxann that orbits the real-life star Betelgeuse, but works in Britain. Unlike most stereotypical aliens, he refers to humans as "Earthlets" as oppose to "Earthlings". He abuses his droids (robot caricatures of the real-life staff) that work on the comic and destroys them when they displease him. His favorite "food" is polystyrene cups. Although he speaks perfect English, he peppers his speech with "Betelgusian" phrases. He often battles the parasitical "Thrill Suckers" (who try to steal the comic's thrill powers) and the Dictators of Zrag (who try to take over the comic to liven up their dull planet and are constantly used as scapegoats by Tharg).

Catchphrases

• "Borag Thungg, Earthlet" (which means something to the effect of "Greetings, human".


• "Zarjaz" (Excellent)


• "Grexnix" (Someone rude or ignorant)


• "Nonscrot" (Someone who doesn't read 2000 AD)


• "Quaequam Blag!" (expression of outrage or suprise)


• "Rigellian Hotshot" (a form of toture)


• "Scrotning" (exciting or good)


• "Squaxx dek Thargo" (Thrag's friends, usually used to refer to loyal readers)


• "Splundig Vur Thrigg" (Farewell, so long)

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tharg_the_Mighty