| A.R.G.U.S. | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Justice League vol. 2 #7 (May 2012) |
| Created by | Geoff Johns Gene Ha |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) | Amanda Waller Steve Trevor Etta Candy Sasha Bordeaux |
A.R.G.U.S. (Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans) is a fictional government organization appearing inDC Comics. A.R.G.U.S. first appeared inJustice League vol. 2 #7 and was created byGeoff Johns andGene Ha.
Headed byAmanda Waller, A.R.G.U.S. is typically depicted as a parent organization for the previously establishedCheckmate andSuicide Squad organizations. Since its debut, A.R.G.U.S has been adapted into numerous television projects within theArrowverse, theDC Extended Universe, andDC Universe (both film and television), as well as numerous animated projects.
A.R.G.U.S. is a United States federal agency operating under the jurisdiction ofHomeland Security. It is under the command of Col.Steve Trevor and DirectorAmanda Waller. It is introduced inThe New 52 (a reboot of DC Comics continuity) followingDarkseid's invasion. A.R.G.U.S. acts as support and liaison to theJustice League, supplying them with resources and cleaning up afterwards. Trevor was asked to stand down as head liaison after their battle with Graves, having gotten too close toWonder Woman.[1]
During the "Trinity War" storyline, A.R.G.U.S. later directly establishes the counterpart group to the Justice League in the form of the Justice League of America, of which Trevor is himself a member.[2] Dr. Arthur Light is called in by A.R.G.U.S. to examine the Secret Society's communication coin. While doing so, it is manipulated from the other side causing Light to be enveloped in a white light, giving him powers.[3] After seemingly losing control of his powers,Superman surrenders himself to A.R.G.U.S. at A.R.G.U.S. headquarters, theQuestion enters Superman's cell and releases him.[4]
During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Steve Trevor awakens at the remains of the A.R.G.U.S. headquarters in Washington, D.C., and learns fromEtta Candy that the headquarters' destruction was caused by a massive spike in energy around Doctor Light's body and that A.R.G.U.S. and its agents have been completely exposed. After seeing theCrime Syndicate of America's broadcast, Trevor learns that thePresident of the United States is in danger as the President has a backup key that would assist in A.R.G.U.S. gaining their assets back.[5] After rescuing the President fromDeathstroke,Copperhead, andShadow Thief, Trevor uses the President's key to open A.R.G.U.S.' Green Room to keep the President and Candy safe. Then he heads to the Wonder Room which he has filled with mementos of his past relationship with Wonder Woman to use the Delphi Mirror to strike a deal with theMoirai.[6] While in the Green Room, Candy begins investigating about the founding of A.R.G.U.S.[7]Martin Stein takes Trevor andKiller Frost to his secret off the grid basement where he uses his teleportation devices to transport them to A.R.G.U.S.' Detroit station known as "The Circus". Inside, they encounter fellow A.R.G.U.S. agents, who allow Trevor to talk to one of their prisoners namedPsi in hopes of seeing if she could psychologically disrupt the Firestorm matrix to free the Justice League. In the Green Room, the President and "Mr. Green" discuss a promotion with Candy.[8]
"Mr. Green" reveals the history of A.R.G.U.S. to Candy. He claims that the group was created by theFounding Fathers of the United States to safeguard American interests and shifted its focus multiple times throughout its history. In the 18th century, A.R.G.U.S. was theArmed Revolutionaries Governing Under Secrecy, which spied on the British to prepare for theAmerican Revolution. In the 19th century, they became theAnonymous Ranger Group of the United States, helping the United States win every major battle in theAmerican Civil War and pursuing dangerous criminals in the American frontier. In the late 19th century, A.R.G.U.S. engaged in a secret war with the Crimson, an apocalyptic cult that ensnared powerful politicians and businessmen with promises of heaven. The war with the Crimson Men, the Crimson's forces, ended with them being routed in the dawn of the 21st century, after which A.R.G.U.S. shifted its focus to superhumans, which Green claimed was an existential threat to humanity. However, Green later reveals himself to be a member of the Crimson Men who are looking to reshape A.R.G.U.S. through Trevor and Candy.[9]
A.R.G.U.S. appears in media set in theDC Extended Universe (DCEU) andDC Universe (DCU).
A.R.G.U.S. appears inDC Universe Online.
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