The characters that would form the Global Guardians first appeared in the Super Friends comic book series.[2] They were first introduced in a story (in Super Friends #7-9) in which an alien villain called Grax (an old Superman foe) planted bombs on Earth's seven continents to destroy it. Thanks to a warning from the Wonder Twins (in their first comic book appearance) the Justice League discovered the plan in time and recruited the heroes of the countries affected to find the bombs before they exploded.
These international heroes would later appear in other issues of Super Friends. However, it wasn't until DC Comics Presents #46 (June 1982) that they were introduced as a team,[3] in a story in which they helped Superman to stop an evil Atlantean sorcerer named Thaumar Dhai. This is also considered to be these characters' first canonical appearance in the DC Universe.[1]
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was revealed that the Global Guardians had been gathered together by Doctor Mist to serve as the enforcing arm of an international organization called "The Dome", which had been created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 to help organize the efforts of superheroes across the globe as an international police organization.[1]
Prior to that, in the early 1950s, several international heroes who had been the beneficiaries of the Justice Society of America's kindness during and after World War II, had banded together in an informal "Club of Heroes". They were integrated in the Global Guardians after its foundation. (Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth sends Christmas cards to the currently surviving members).
This original Global Guardians were based in a United Nations-financed headquarters building also called the Dome located in Paris. The original team was also funded by Doctor Mist and administrated by a woman called Belphegor who was gifted with psychic powers. Many of the Guardians individually assisted other international heroes during the Crisis on Infinite Earthscrossover and once teamed up with Infinity, Inc.
The Guardians eventually lost their UN funding to the Justice League, and the Dome was ordered to close, in part due to the political machinations of their enemy, Dr. Klaus Cornelius. Some of its members left the team to join the League, notably Green Fury and Glacier, formerly known as Icemaiden (who changed their names to Fire and Ice). The others went freelance.
Part of the team was brainwashed by Queen Bee and were directed to battle the Justice League.[1] Fain Y'onia, an ancient foe of Doctor Mist, killed Bushmaster and Thunderlord and depowered several other members. The surviving Guardians would continue to meet in the Dome's Headquarters, which was formerly located in Europe but is now in the Pacific.[1]
In 2006, as part of the events of One Year Later, in Green Lantern (vol. 4) #10, the Global Guardians are shown regrouped, apparently led by former New GuardianJet.[4] They attempt to recruit the newest Crimson Fox. When she declines, they say she has no choice. Crimson Fox is later seen publicly voicing the opinions of the Guardians, among them a hatred for Hal Jordan. It is eventually revealed that they are being telepathically controlled by the Faceless Hunter in his attempts to capture Green Lantern. They are defeated and freed from the alien's control.
In Doomsday Clock, Wonder Woman considers reestablishing the Global Guardians.[5]
Members
Founding members
Seraph (Chaim Lavon): An Israeli Jewish teacher who was granted biblical powers. He wears the ring of Solomon, which gives him wisdom and allows him to teleport, and the mantle of Elijah, which protects him from harm. His staff can change size, manipulate water, and transform into a snake.
Bushmaster (Bernal Rojas): A Venezuelan herpetologist who invented gadgets that mimic the abilities of reptiles. He is later killed by Fain Y'onia.[6]
Olympian (Aristides Demetrios): A hefty Greek punk who wears the Golden Fleece, which grants him the powers and abilities of the 50 men and women who sailed on the Argo to find the Golden Fleece.
Jack O'Lantern (Daniel Cormac): A poor Irish farmer who was granted a magic lantern by an Irish fairy. He later dies of natural causes. The Jack O'Lantern mantle is later assumed by Marvin Nirosa, an agent of Queen Bee, and Daniel Cormac's cousin Liam McHugh.
Impala (M'Bulaze): A South African Zulu warrior who possesses superhuman speed. He later loses his powers to Fain Y'onia and is killed by Roulette. His successor, Kid Impala, joined the Ultramarine Corps.
The Little Mermaid (Ulla Paske): A teenaged Atlantean-human hybrid who can transform into a mermaid-like form.
Doctor Mist (Nommo): An ancient African sorcerer who served as the leader of the Global Guardians. He is later killed by Mordru.
Tasmanian Devil (Hugh Dawkins): An Australian former engineer and drama coach who can transform into a humanoid tasmanian devil. He is openly gay and in a relationship with Starman (Mikaal Tomas).
Rising Sun (Izumi Yasunari): A Japanese solar physicist who can control solar energy.
Owlwoman (Wenonah Littlebird): A Cherokee member of the Global Guardians who possesses owl-like abilities.
Thunderlord (Liang Xih-k'ai): A Taiwanese Buddhist monk with a powerful sonic voice.[1][7]
Tuatara (Jeremy Wakefield): A hero themed after his namesake who can see the future via his third eye.
Godiva (Dorcas Leigh): An English socialite with powerful prehensile hair.
Wild Huntsman (Albrecht von Mannheim): A German warrior who wields various magical weapons and is assisted by a horse (Orkan) and a hound (Donnerschlag).
Green Fury (Beatriz da Costa): A Brazilian member of the Global Guardians who can generate mystical green fire. She later joins the Justice League under the name Fire.
Glacier (Sigrid Nansen): A Norwegian member of the Global Guardians who can generate ice. They were formerly known as Icemaiden.
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 120. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 197. ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9. The DCU's newest superhero team, the Global Guardians, was formed in this Superman tale by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and penciler Alex Saviuk.
