List of government agencies in DC Comics
The following is a list of fictional government agencies, comic book organizations that have been published by DC Comics and their imprints.
A
Agency
The Agency is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.The Agency was formed by Amanda Waller to serve as a small, quasi-independent branch of Task Force X. It performed global operations which were vital to the security of American interests. Valentina Vostok brought former New [York City Police Department|NYPD] Lieutenant Harry Stein into the Agency as an operative. Adrian Chase and Peacemaker were contract operatives for the Agency.
Agency in other media
The Agency appears in Batman: The Enemy Within. Led by Amanda Waller, its known members include Iman Avesta, Vernon Blake, Mario Fernandez, Roger Harrison, and an assortment of other unnamed agents.A.P.E.S.
A.P.E.S. is a semi-independent U.S. governmental division within the D.E.O., possessing government IDs for multiple agencies ranging from the FBI to Scotland Yard and SMERSH; an agent has described the organisation as possessing more clearance than God. Donald Fite, father of Anita Fite / Empress, and Ishito Maad are their most well-known operatives. Their main headquarters is inside Mount Rushmore.Argent
Argent was the domestic branch of Task Force X. It was a sister organization to the Suicide Squad. Argent was led by Control and consisted mainly of former OSS agents. Argent was a powerful agency during most of the Cold War. After confronting and killing a government official responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy, Control ordered all records of Argent destroyed and pulled the organisation undercover. For years, the Argent continued their work in secret, but shrunk considerably in size. Eventually, Control died, but his granddaughter, Anne-Marie Vere, maintained the pretense that he was still alive to keep the group operating. In recent times, a confrontation with the Suicide Squad exposed the deception and Argent disbanded. Known agents of the Argent included Control, Falcon, Fleur, Iron Munro, Phantom Lady and Anne-Marie Vere.A.R.G.U.S.
Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans is a U.S. federal agency operating under the jurisdiction of Homeland Security. It is under the command of Colonel Steve Trevor and Director Amanda Waller.A.S.A.
The A.S.A. was a U.S. government organization that supervised the creation of the national team of super-agents called the Force of July. The chairman of the A.S.A. was B. Eric Blairman. Blairman was later replaced as head of the A.S.A. by the even more corrupt Abraham Lincoln Carlyle, who made an attempt to use Psycho-Pirate's Medusa Mask to get himself elected president. During an internecine war within the U.S. Government called the Janus Directive, Carlyle and most of the Force of July were killed in battle. The American Security Agency was made defunct shortly afterwards.A.S.A. in other media
A variation of the A.S.A. appears in Black Lightning, consisting of Peter Gambi, Gardner Grayle, Kara Fowdy, Martin Proctor, Percy Odell, Carson Williams, and Sara Grey.B
B.A.A.
The B.A.A. is a U.S. government agency that monitors and deploys enhanced animal super-operatives. Currently known operatives of the Bureau are Rex the Wonder Dog and Detective Chimp.Bureau of Normalcy
The Bureau of Normalcy, formerly the Bureau of Oddities, is an organization dedicated to the weaponization or eradication of entities they deem to be odd. It was introduced in Doom Patrol and based on Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. from the Doom Patrol comics.C
C.B.I.
The C.B.I. was formerly led by Sarge Steel and also included Danny Chase, King Faraday, Richard Dragon, and Ben Turner in its stable of agents. Steel was eventually depicted as a Federal Cabinet Secretary of Metahuman Affairs, until the election of Lex Luthor as president. Luthor then appointed Amanda Waller as his replacement until he was exposed as a criminal in the events of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.Civil Defense Administration
The Civil Defense Administration is a U.S. intelligence agency created as a replacement for International Operations. It is led by Ivana Baiul as seen in the pages of Stormwatch: Team Achilles.C.E.M.A.
C.E.M.A. is an interstellar organization tasked to help the survivors of cosmic disasters such as planet-eating monsters.Checkmate
Checkmate is a covert operations agency within the DC Comics Universe. Created from the ashes of its predecessor group, the Agency, it was originally set up by Amanda Waller to serve as a small, quasi-independent branch of Task Force X under the command of Colonel Valentina Vostok to perform operations worldwide considered vital to the security of American interests. In the wake of events depicted in the miniseries OMAC Project">OMAC (comics)">OMAC Project and Infinite Crisis, Checkmate has been re-chartered as a United Nations Security Council-affiliated agency.Checkmate's original hierarchy was modelled after the pieces of a chess game - one King, one Queen, and several Bishops. The Bishops oversaw the Rooks behind the scenes, while the Rooks planned missions and supervised the field agents, or Knights, and the Knights' support, Pawns.
Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1696, Checkmate was reorganized as the UN's chartered metahuman monitoring force. The organization was restructured, utilizing the "Rule of Two". Each super-powered or otherwise enhanced member in the "Royal Family" must have an un-powered counterpart in a corresponding position of power. In addition, there are an indeterminate number of "Pawns". In the original incarnation of Checkmate, they were low-level field agents that provided intelligence-gathering, logistical and operational support; it appears that the Pawns in the current incarnation serve similar roles.
Checkmate! (Russia)
The Russian version of Checkmate was introduced in the last issues of the original series run. They were admittedly underfunded but wore armor similar to their U.S. counterparts.D
D.E.O.
The D.E.O. is a branch of the U.S. government concerned with the magical, the alien, and the superhuman and having connections with such organizations as the Suicide Squad and Knightwatch. Other divisions include an agency for training 'gifted' youngsters whose powers manifest at a difficult age, and numerous surveillance and data-collection operations. The current Regional Director for the Eastern Seaboard is a former costumed villain named Mister Bones. One of its highest-profile agents is Cameron Chase.Département Gamma
Département Gamma is the main French covert ops organization in the DC Comics universe. Known operatives are Andre Chevard founder and leader, Fleur-de-Lis, Belphegor, Tin, the Captain, the Professor, and Halfwolf.Department PSI
Department PSI is a rival organization to the International Operations and employer of the superhero team Wildcore. Its director is Antonio Giovanni. When International Operations was dissolved, Department PSI absorbed most of its assets, equipment, and personnel.D.M.A.
The D.M.A. is a division within the D.E.O. Known operatives are Sarge Steel, Tom Tresser, and Diana Prince.D.S.I.
The D.S.I. is a government organization dedicated to the investigation of strange phenomena. Known operatives were Darwin Jones, the chief of staff, and Tommy Dane, one of the Young Scienceers.E
E.A.G.L.E.
E.A.G.L.E. is a government agency within the Astro City universe. They are described to normally function as a sort of "clean up crew" for the superheroes, but during the Confession storyline they are seen hunting down, and capturing, various superheroes. After the storyline, it is implied that they returned to their normal duties.F
FDAA
Introduced in issue #1 of The American Way, the FDAA handles a U.S. government superhero team called the Civil Defense Corps. The FDAA is responsible for using gene therapy to create many of America's heroes as well as "villains" who they have fight the heroes in publicly staged battles. The FDAA periodically unleashes Hellbent, a homicidal and sociopathic supervillain, to assassinate enemies of the United States.Finger, Eye, and Ear
The Finger, the Eye, and the Ear were the three branches of overt government surveillance depicted in the dystopian Britain of V for Vendetta.G
G.E.O.R.G.E.
G.E.O.R.G.E. debuted in Blackhawk #228, during that title's attempt to mainstream the Blackhawks as superheroes. G.E.O.R.G.E. opposed the International Crime Combine, a supraorganization made up of operatives from various other criminal organizations some based in the DC Comics Universe, like CYCLOPS and O.G.R.E., and other fictional organizations such as THRUSH and SPECTRE. Known G.E.O.R.G.E. operatives were their leader the Long L, Mister Delta, and the Champ, a trenchcoat-wearing robot.Global Peace Defense
Main article: Global Peace Agency
The Global Peace Agency is an organization that first appeared outside the DC Universe in the original OMAC series, but which became part of the DCU proper in Final Crisis #7.G.O.O.D.
G.O.O.D. is an international organization where the only known operatives are Barney Ling and field operatives Ben Turner and Richard Dragon.H
Hayoth
The Hayoth are a team of four super-powered covert operatives who act as a special division of the Mossad. Their first contact with the West came when Amanda Waller was contracted to capture Kobra. Waller was informed of the Hayoth's existence by an Egyptian operative named Nazair.Human Defense Corps
In the DC Comics Universe, the Human Defense Corps is a branch of the military established by then President of the United States Lex Luthor to reduce government dependency on superhumans when a major alien crisis breaks out, act as back-up to Earth's superheroes, and specifically counter any alien threat to Earth. Membership of the Corps is open to 'Decorated veterans of alien campaigns only'.I
International Operations
Internal Operations is a fictional U.S. intelligence agency in WildStorm comics. It was originally called International Operations. I.O. was founded in 1964 as a branch of the CIA with the mission to safeguard the United States' interests and safety abroad. It quickly became an independent agency under the leadership of Director Miles Craven. Following the Divine Right incident, the agency was severely weakened. It was shut down by the U.S. government within a year, but in 2004, it was reestablished under the leadership of John Lynch. IO first appeared in WildC.A.T.S. #1 and was created by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee.K
Knightwatch
Knightwatch is the military arm of the D.E.O. Knightwatch operatives wore armor that resembled the suits worn by Checkmate agents.Knightwatch in other media
Knightwatch appears in the seventh season of Arrow. In flash-forwards set in 2040, Connor Hawke is an agent of Knightwatch, who are described as a "good version of A.R.G.U.S." This version appears to be more grounded than its comic book counterpart, having no connection to the "extranormal" and instead focusing on everyday threats.L
LexCorp
LexCorp is a government position run by President Lex Luthor.LuthorCorp
LuthorCorp is a corporation run by Lex Luthor's father Lionel Luthor in Smallville. One of its bases is based in Smallville, LuthorCorp Fertilizer Plant No. 3 which has underground labs holding secret research into genetically modifying living organisms using meteor rocks with the company's slogan being "We make things grow". Years later, Lex bought the company after he killed Lionel and inherited all of his money.P
Project Atom
Project Atom is a U.S. government initiative masterminded by General Wade Eiling and lead scientist Heinrich Megala with the aim of creating a superhero answerable only to the military. The project used a combination of nuclear physics and a unique alloy called Dilustel with quantum properties that was cut from the skin of a captured alien known as the Silver Shield using X-Ionizer technology. The project had only two recorded successes, Captain Atom and Major Force. The origin of the woman calling herself the Bombshell is still unknown. Megala was also responsible for creating the X-Ionizer technology capable of cutting Captain Atom's skin and the skin of most metahumans.Project Cadmus
Project Cadmus is a high tech genetic research facility responsible for the successful cloning of Jim Harper, and Conner Kent, as well as a number of other heroes and villains.Project 7734
Project 7734 is a secret U.S. military black-ops facility commanded by General Sam Lane. Its existence was uncovered by investigative reporter James Olsen's investigations. Like the Human Defense Corps, and Squad K, this project was created to defend humanity against extraterrestrial threats, including Kryptonians.Project M
Project M was a secret government organization which operated during World War II and specialized in experimental biotechnology and necromancy. Known creations of the Project include the Creature Commandos, Miss America, and the G.I. Robot. The Project's main scientist is one Professor Mazursky. He was aided by Robotman. As told in Young All-Stars #12, they operated from a secret underground complex on mythical Ferris Island in New York.Project Peacemaker
Project Peacemaker is a U.S. government division that was tasked with handling Peacemaker's interaction with other government agencies. After the so-called "Janus Directive", the Project became part of Checkmate and placed under the supervision of the CBI and Sarge Steel.Q
Quorum
The Quorum is the clandestine and apparently corrupt department of an unnamed government agency in the DC Comics Universe. Former operatives are Major Force, Mace Gardner, Loria a New Blood, the metahuman known as Sledge, and an army of armored men known as Sweepers. The Quorum sponsored and funded the Blood Pack, a superhero team made up of "New Bloods", in a failed attempt to create a superhuman army based on their DNA.R
Red Shadow
Red Shadow is the Russian version of Task Force X. Just as they copied Checkmate, they also mirrored the Suicide Squad under the old Soviet government. The organization originally consisted of ex-members of the People's Heroes and the Blue Trinity. Later on, other original Russian characters were introduced such as Stainoivolk, Russia's World War II version of Superman. The Red Shadow operatives were all organized under Amanda Waller's opposite number, a man known only as Major Zastrow. Other Red Shadow operatives were: Pozhar, Bolshoi, Molotov, Mrs. Gradenko, Yerosha, Lamia, the Blue Trinity, and Schreck.RONOL
RONOL is a pre-World War II agency theorized that the light that originated millennia ago where Earth now orbits would eventually circumnavigate the universe and return as a dangerous, conscious entity. The project leader, Dr. Dayzl, tricked a reporter named Langford "Happy" Terrill into a ballooning accident where a "genetic light bomb" gave Terrill superpowers, abilities he would use to become the Ray. Eventually, Dayzl's unorthodox actions and beliefs came to light and the government terminated the RONOL program.S
S.H.A.D.E.
S.H.A.D.E. is a fictional U.S. military organization that investigates, assesses, and contains paranormal and superhuman activity. Father Time and his S.H.A.D.E. agency exercise martial law over the devastated city of Blüdhaven. Father Time used this posting to carry out S.H.A.D.E.'s other mandate, the harvesting and creation of new metahuman talent. S.H.A.D.E. uses its specially trained metahuman talent to carry out black ops assassinations of threats to the United States and its policies. Several S.H.A.D.E. operatives defect from the organization to form a new version of the Freedom Fighters under the guidance of Uncle Sam, resulting in Sam and his team being declared enemies of S.H.A.D.E., and Father Time and his ally Gonzo the Mechanical Bastard ordering their deaths at the hands of First Strike. After Father Time turned on the psychotic Gonzo, he and his troops vanished into the timestream; Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters were then made the leaders of S.H.A.D.E.Spyral
Spyral is a U.N sanctioned international agency, was founded by the German superspy Otto Netz, currently known under the pseudonym of "Doctor Dedalus". Thought Netz, Spyral specializes in mind erosion, brainwashing, and misdirection, with a heavy "spider's web" theme prevalent throughout and using Hypnos implant though Netz created this and Leviathan. His reasoning was that the two organizations to oppose each other in a never-ending cycle of vendetta, and grooming his children to manage the two agenciesIn response to the escalating war between Batman Incorporated and the Leviathan terrorist organization, the UN decided to reform Spyral, recruited Doctor Dedalus' long-thought-dead daughter, Kathy Webb-Kane, as its leader. Using her personal resources, she recruited enough of a force to convince Batman, Inc. to disband as soon as the conflict was done Throughout "The New 52", Dick Grayson later joined it with Helena Bertinelli.
Squad K
Squad K is a special response team tasked with apprehending Superman if he should ever turn rogue, and with the apprehension of other Kryptonian criminals. Perseus Hazard, the grandson of Ulysses Hazard, was the group's first commander; after his death, he was replaced by a Native American named Sergeant Cloud, possibly a descendant of Johnny Cloud from the Losers.S.T.O.R.M.
S.T.O.R.M. is the agency employing John Stone. It is a tribute to S.H.I.E.L.D. and a precursor to Stormwatch. It appears in the pages of Planetary.Stormwatch
Stormwatch is a United Nations crisis intervention team. It was founded by the United Nations during the late 1970s as part of an effort to police the growing population of post-humans created in the wake of the Comet Effect. The agency has generated significant controversy over the years. It was shut down in 1998 due to budgetary and political concerns. The agency was re-established sometime after the Authority's takeover of the United States under a severely limited budget.Suicide Squad
The original Task Force X consisted of two branches: the domestic and the international. The domestic branch was called Argent and the international branch called the Suicide Squad was originally put under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart. The first Suicide Squad was a minor backup series about a quartet of adventurers. That version of the Squad consisted of Rick Flag, his girlfriend Karin Grace, Dr. Hugh Evans, and Jess Bright.The second and better-known Suicide Squad was a "off the book" covert black ops government strike team. The team was partially made up of imprisoned supervillains and death row convicts with no hope of release. These criminals had either agreed to or were coerced into serving as expendable agents, assigned to perform extremely dangerous or impossible missions, in return for a full pardon for their actions. They were officially unsanctioned and publicly denied by the U.S. government. The prisoners' participation was used as rationale for plausible deniability in the event of failed missions, as the rationale claiming that the incidents are merely attacks by criminals.
In addition, there were other non-prisoner members |Nemesis], Nightshade who participated in the team as part of individual arrangements. [The Suicide Squad operated out of Belle Reve Penitentiary in Louisiana.