| Heroes for Hire | |
|---|---|
 The Oracle Inc. version of the team as seen on the cover ofHeroes for Hire #1 (Aug. 1997) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Power Man and Iron Fist #54 (December 1978) |
| Created by | Ed Hannigan (writer) Lee Elias (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) | Members |
Heroes for Hire are asuperhero team appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The team first appeared inPower Man and Iron Fist #54 (December 1978), and was created byEd Hannigan andLee Elias. The team continued to appear in comics regularly over the years, and has made guest appearances in television productions and game environments featuring other superheroes.
The Heroes for Hire concept originated with solo series titledLuke Cage, Hero for Hire. As a "hero for hire", Cage tried to merge the usuallypro bono world of superheroics with the bill-paying practicality of private investigation. Although the title changed toLuke Cage, Power Man in issue #17, Cage continued with his for-hire activities.
Initially, Heroes for Hire, Inc. was a small business licensed by the state of New York that offered a full line of professional investigation and protection services. Heroes for Hire was owned by Luke Cage andDaniel Rand (Iron Fist). It had offices on Park Avenue and two paid employees: Jenny Royce, the group's secretary, and Jeryn Hogarth, the group's lawyer and business representative. Heroes for Hire would not accept jobs that involved extra-legal activities.
His own series cancelled due to low sales, Iron Fist joined the cast ofLuke Cage, Power Man in a three-part storyline in #48–50. The comic's name changed toPower Man and Iron Fist from #50 upwards. The two formed a new Heroes for Hire, Inc., founded by attorneyJeryn Hogarth and staffed by administrative wunderkindJennifer Royce. Iron Fist supporting cast charactersColleen Wing andMisty Knight also often appeared, although never becoming official members. This partnership lasted until the series' final issue #125, with Cage blamed for the apparent death of Iron Fist.
In 1996, as a consequence of the "Onslaught" and "Heroes Reborn" storylines, theMarvel Universe suffered a power vacuum after theFantastic Four andAvengers were presumed killed. Following up on the status of the Oracle Corporation thatNamor had set up in the pages ofNamor, Jim Hammond (theGolden Age Human Torch) and Danny Rand decided to set up a new Heroes for Hire organization. Iron Fist recruited Luke Cage for this.Heroes for Hire debuted in 1997, with a core team consisting of Iron Fist, Cage, and an assortment of hangers-on:Black Knight (Dane Whitman), a newWhite Tiger,Hercules,She-Hulk,Ant-Man (Scott Lang), the original Human Torch, and evenDeadpool were included in the cast of the book, though much of the cast rotated in aDefenders-like manner, hired for missions as necessary.Heroes for Hire was written byJohn Ostrander and illustrated byPasqual Ferry. It lasted for 19 issues before it was cancelled.
A newHeroes for Hire series was developed as aspin-off of 2006'sCivil War storyline. The book was initially written byJimmy Palmiotti andJustin Gray (with art byBilly Tucci) who also wrote the Daughters of the Dragon mini-series starring Misty and Colleen. Many characters and plots followed from this series into Heroes for Hire. The series then changed hands and was written byZeb Wells, with art by Terry Pallot.The team roster for the book isColleen Wing,Misty Knight, the newTarantula,Shang-Chi,Humbug,Orka,Black Cat andPaladin, the latter two joining for money. They serve as enforcers for the Superhuman Registration Act. After the murder ofGoliath in battle against theCyborg Clone of Thor, they made plans to take onCaptain America.
After learning Captain America's location from aPixiu, the team (minus Orka and Tarantula) tracks him down. While Misty and the team just want to talk and find a peaceful solution, Paladin betrays them. Paladin disables the team with knockout gas and attempts to capture Captain America. Shang-Chi's martial arts training had allowed him to hold his breath long enough to avoid the effects of the gas. Shang-Chi defeats Paladin and switches his uniform with Captain America. WhenS.H.I.E.L.D. arrives, Paladin is unintentionally taken into custody.
Shortly thereafter, Captain America and the Heroes for Hire part ways, and the "anti-regs" abandon their now compromised base. Meanwhile, the Heroes for Hire discover a black-market operation that surgically implanted superhumans withSkrullorgans that would endow those who had theoperation with Skrull shapeshifting abilities. Several of these hybrid Skrull-villains bust Misty Knight's old foeRicadonna from prison. Ricadonna destroys the Heroes' headquarters by sending an explosive package, and puts hits out on the entire team. Most notable of these were Insecticide (the hit man sent to kill Humbug — Humbug neutralized him with help from his petkiller bees), Shadow Stalker (an old foe of Shang-Chi sent to kill him—Shang-Chi quickly humiliated him), and the gang of ninjas that attacked Tarantula when she was with her father. After they murder her father, Tarantula kills the entire gang herself. The team splits up in search of Ricadonna; while Misty Knight and Colleen Wing try to shake up Toddler for information, Humbug uses his flies to discover Ricadonna's base—and also that she has somehow gained superpowers.
The team also comes into conflict withGrindhouse,[1] theHeadmen, and encounterDevil Dinosaur andMoon-Boy in theSavage Land. Following these adventures, the Heroes for Hire became involved in "World War Hulk", being captured aboardHulk's stone ship. Humbug turns on the group, but in turn is betrayed by Earth's hive, which had been using him from the start. Colleen and Tarantula are heavily tortured, but are rescued by the rest of the team. Shang-Chi kills Humbug to avenge Tarantula's torture, and possibly out of mercy, as Humbug had mutated into a grotesque monster and was in great pain. Afterward the team splits up, with Paladin taking Moon-boy in for the reward offered for his capture. Black Cat tries to appeal to Paladin's good nature, but Paladin kicks her away and informs her she does not know him at all. Shang-Chi departs the group carrying the still injured Tarantula in his arms. Misty attempts to console a still heavily distraught Colleen, trying to encourage her that the team could still keep going, but Colleen will hear none of it. Colleen states that the moment the team sold their service as heroes they sold the best part of themselves. Colleen walks away leaving Misty alone, signaling the complete end of team.
In 2010, Marvel debuted a new Heroes for Hire series. The book spins off from the aftermath of theShadowland storyline.[2] This time, the team is run more like an organization, with revolving members, each hero in regards to the mission. Unlike previous incarnations, members work for benefits such as crime tips and backup when needed as opposed to money.[3] The organization is originally run by a mind controlledMisty Knight with a team that includesGhost Rider,Iron Fist,Moon Knight,Punisher,Black Widow,Paladin,Falcon,Silver Sable, andElektra. After Paladin and Iron Fist free Misty from mind control, the other members find out and lose faith in the organization. Paladin convinces Misty to restart the operation from the ground up with him and earn the respect of the superhero community.[4] The first to rejoin the operation isSpider-Man.[5]
During the "Spider-Island" storyline, Heroes for Hire is called in by MayorJ. Jonah Jameson into helping to quarantine Manhattan after an outbreak that caused anyone exposed to the bites of genetically-engineered bedbugs to develop spider-like powers. Heroes for Hire ended up fighting spider-powered versions ofChemistro, Cheshire Cat, Commanche,Cottonmouth, Dontrell "Cockroach" Hamilton,Mr. Fish,Nightshade, and Spear.[6]
During the events ofShadowland, Luke Cage and Iron Fist meetVictor Alvarez, who was given powers during the event.[7] Iron Fist becomes a mentor to the young hero, who takes on the name Power Man and joins Iron Fist as part of a new Heroes for Hire partnership.[8]
In a new series spinning out of events from the end ofHeroes for Hire, Misty Knight leads a new group of heroes consisting ofBlack Panther,Silver Sable, and Paladin. However, through yet known circumstances, she forms a sub-group of villains consisting ofBombshell,Crossfire,Nightshade, andTiger Shark.[9]
The Villains for Hire team was led byPurple Man andHeadhunter and the line-up consists ofAvalanche,Death-Stalker,Shocker, and Scourge. Purple Man's Villains for Hire went up against Misty Knight's crew.[10] The group is later joined byBushmaster and Monster during their fight with Misty Knight's crew. Tiger Shark and Bombshell leave Misty Knight's crew as she gainsSpeed Demon andLady Stilt-Man.[11] Purple Man later dispatched Villains for Hire to attack Misty Knight's headquarters with some of them getting taken down by the traps that Misty Knight has set. During the fight, Lady Stilt-Man defects to Purple Man's side as Bombshell,Man-Ape, and Tiger Shark joins as well. Misty Knight reveals that she gained the assistance ofPuppet Master who uses the criminals on Misty Knight's side as part of Puppet Master's payback on Purple Man, and that the Scourge working for the Purple Man was actually Paladin working undercover.[12]
During theInfinity, Luke Cage is shown leading a new Heroes for Hire roster consisting of himself,White Tiger and Power Man. The team dissolves after White Tiger quits when theSuperior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Peter Parker's body) considered the team mercenaries following a fight withPlunderer. The remnants of the group go on to form the newMighty Avengers duringThanos's invasion of Earth.[13]
Eight months after the events of theSecret Wars storyline as seen during theAll-New, All-Different Marvel event,Deadpool establishes a new team of Heroes for Hire. The roster consists ofSolo,Madcap,Slapstick,Foolkiller,Terror andStingray.Matt Murdock and Luke Cage are shown planning legal action against Deadpool.[14] After the lawsuit goes through, Deadpool renames his Heroes for Hire group into Deadpool's "Mercs for Money."[15]
In theAll-New, All-Different Marvel era, Luke Cage and Iron Fist are forced to intervene when their former secretaryJennifer "White Jennie" Royce becomes embroiled in a gang war withBlack Mariah againstTombstone. After that is dealt with, Power Man and Iron Fist once again take to the streets as the Heroes for Hire.[16]
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Cage, Iron Fist & the Heroes For Hire Vol. 1 | Spider-Man Unlimited #13,Marvel Fanfare #6,Heroes For Hire #1-9 | December 2016 | 978-1302902292 |
| Luke Cage, Iron Fist & the Heroes For Hire Vol. 2 | Heroes For Hire #10-19,Quicksilver #11-12,Heroes For Hire/Quicksilver Annual '98 | January 2017 | 978-1302904180 |
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil War: Heroes For Hire | Heroes For Hire (vol. 2) #1-5 | August 2009 | 978-0785141808 |
| Civil War: Heroes For Hire/Thunderbolts | Heroes For Hire (vol. 2) #1-5,Thunderbolts #101-105 | April 2016 | 978-0785195665 |
| Civil War: The Underside | Heroes For Hire (vol. 2) #1-3 andThunderbolts #103-105,Moon Knight (vol. 5) #7-12,Civil War: War Crimes,Punisher War Journal (vol. 2) #1-3,Ghost Rider (vol. 6) #8-11 | January 2011 | 978-0785148838 |
| Heroes For Hire: Ahead of the Curve | Heroes For Hire (vol. 2) #6-10 | September 2007 | 978-0785123637 |
| Heroes For Hire: World War Hulk | Heroes For Hire (vol. 2) #11-15 | January 2008 | 978-0785128007 |
| Title | Material collected | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heroes For Hire: Control | Heroes For Hire (vol. 3) #1-5 | July 2011 | 978-0785155812 |
| Heroes For Hire: Fear Itself | Heroes For Hire (vol. 3) #6-12 | February 2012 | 978-0785157953 |
| Spider-Man: Spider-Island Companion | Spider-Island: Heroes for Hire #1 andSpider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #1-3,Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #1-3,Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1-3,Herc #7-8,Spider-Island: Avengers #1,Spider-Island: Spider-Woman #1,Black Panther #524,Spider-Island Spotlight #1 | February 2012 | 978-0785162285 |
| Heroes for Hire by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection | Heroes For Hire (vol. 3) #1-12;Spider-Island: Heroes For Hire;Villains For Hire #0.1, 1-4 | August 2017 | 978-1302907099 |
| Title | Material collected | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villains For Hire: Knight Takes King | Villains For Hire #0.1, 1-4 | June 2012 | 978-0785160441 |
| Devil's Reign: Villains For Hire | Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire #1-3,Devil's Reign: Moon Knight #1 | August 2022 | 978-1302945909 |
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume One
Volume Two
The 2006 volume ofHeroes for Hire was at the center of a controversy concerning increased sexuality in mainstream comic books due to what some considered explicit and objectifying cover art toHeroes for Hire issue #13. The controversy centered on what critics viewed as an inappropriate level of sexuality,objectification andinfantilisation on the cover of a comic aimed at ages twelve and up.[17] Marvel's official response to the outcry was to apologize if the cover "struck a chord that it was completely unintended to strike".[18]
The Heroes for Hire appear in Iron Fist's ending forUltimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, consisting of himself, Luke Cage, Misty Knight, andColleen Wing as well asCapcom charactersRyu,Chun-Li, andBatsu Ichimonji.
The Heroes for Hire appear in the "Civil War" expansion forLegendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game, consisting of Colleen Wing,Humbug,Shang-Chi, andTarantula.
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