Superhuman Restraint Unit

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Superhuman Restraint Unit
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCivil War #1 (May 2006)
Created bySteve McNiven
Mark Millar
In-story information
Member(s)Various

The Superhuman Restraint Unit, also known as the Cape-Killers, is a fictional special operations unit appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, designed by penciller Howard Chaykin.[1]

History

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S.H.I.E.L.D. version

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The Superhuman Restraint Unit are foot soldiers of S.H.I.E.L.D. equipped in armored suits during the "Civil War" crossover, where they were sent to bring in rogue superheroes.[2] The United States government passed the Superhuman Registration Act, and used the Superhuman Restraint Unit, more commonly Cape-Killers, to deal specifically with various superpowered individuals in order to enforce the law.[3] The Superhuman Restraint Unit wear armor and use hardware designed by Stark Industries,[4] has two different styles of helmet (a Riotsquad style helmet and a helmet with a gas mask)[5] as well as suits that are out-fitted with internal comm systems,[5] hover discs,[6] firearms equipped with tranquilizing darts,[2] and paralyzing lasers.[6] Weaknesses of the armor suits have been shown to be susceptible to power surges,[5] and Nick Fury would later develop a device that transmitted an electromagnetic overload pulse-broadcast straight into their comm systems.[5] It's also shown that there is an override code used by the disillusioned designer on a high tech palm pilot that can freeze their suits.[7]

The Superhuman Restraint Unit are seen in the subsequent Initiative story arc as well as impersonated by the Skrulls during the "Secret Invasion" storyline,[8] but are discontinued by Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R. at the start of the "Dark Reign" storyline.[9]

Cape-Killers

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The Cape-Killers would later be revived by Agent Julia Gao of the NYPD during the "Devil's Reign" storyline. Enforcing the Anti-Vigilante Act previously enacted by former New York City Mayor Wilson Fisk, Gao recruits several supervillains like Electro, the Scorpion, Taskmaster and Hightail into the Cape Killers in exchange for clemency and first deploys them during the "Carnage Reigns" event to stop Cletus Kasady.[10] Gao and the Cape Killers frequently clash with Spider-Man, but are often forced to work together.[10]

During the "Gang War" event, Gao sends the Cape Killers members Scorpion, Taskmaster, Hightail, and new recruit Gust to deal with the destruction wrought by the warring gangs and orders them to arrest both superheroes and supervillains alike as seen after Spider-Man, Misty Knight and Colleen Wing have defeated Bumbler and Frost Pharaoh.[11] She-Hulk intervenes and argues with Gao through a video call that Spider-Man and his allies have been deputized by Mayor Luke Cage to help stop the gang violence. Gao begrudgingly allows Spider-Man to go free, but still orders Hightail to bring Knight and Wing to her. Spider-Man accompanies the Scorpion and Gust to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where they battle the Prowler and the Enforcers. The Scorpion and Gust manage to defeat the Enforcers while Spider-Man fights his uncle until Starling arrives with Ms. Marvel and Shift.[12] The Prowler reveals that was he secretly working undercover to thwart the Hobgoblin's attempt to control Brooklyn and joins forces with Spider-Man and the Cape Killers to stop the Hobgoblin and Rabble.[13] At the Hobgoblin's hideout, the Scorpion convinces several supervillains under the Hobgoblin's employ to turn against their employer; the Cape Killers and Spider-Man and his allies are able to save Brooklyn from the Hobgoblin although Rabble escapes during the battle and the Hobgoblin is presumed killed after blowing up his base. Gao ends her truce with Spider-Man and attempts to arrest him, but he leaves to help end the battle at Central Park.[14]

After the Gang War ends and Fisk's Anti-Vigilante Act is repealed, Cage orders the Cape Killers to disband, with its members either having their sentences commuted or returned to imprisonment. Although Cage lets her keep title and has her transferred to a different department, Gao seeks out Rabble to form her own alliance in thwarting New York's superhuman activities.[15] Hoping to arrest Spider-Man before the Anti-Vigilante Act is officially repealed and the Cape Killers are disbanded, Gao equips herself and the Cape Killers with upgraded suits provided by Rabble and ambush him, but Spider-Man fights them off after empowering himself with his Bio-Electricity and when the Rhino, Prowler, Ms. Marvel, Shift and Starling arrive to back him up. However, Rabble intervenes by using her technopathy to take control of the Cape Killers' suits, letting them fight at their full capacity but would also eventually kill them, goading Spider-Man into confronting her alone.[16] Spider-Man narrowly defeats Rabble after a brutal fight, which frees the Cape-Killers from her control. Gao slips away from the authorities while the Cape-Killers are treated for their injuries as Cage arrives and disbands the Cape-Killers.[17]

Known teams and members

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S.H.I.E.L.D. version

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Cape-Killers

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  • Julia Gao - An NYPD agent who is the Cape Killers' founder and commander.[10]
  • Electro[10]
  • Gust - A teenage girl with aerokinetic abilities who was arrested for violating the Powers Act despite using her powers to rescue hostages from a bank robbery and is forced to work with the Cape Killers in exchange for freedom.[25][11]
  • Hightail - A mutant speedster and former criminal who is forced to work with the Cape Killers.[26][10][27]
  • Scorpion[10]
  • Taskmaster[10]

In other media

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  • The Superhuman Restraint Unit appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. This depiction are enemies if the player chooses the story's Anti-Registration side, and allies if the player chooses the story's Pro-Registration side.
  • A variation of the Superhuman Restraint Unit appears in the Avengers Assemble multi-part episode "Civil War". This version's established by Ultron, and consists of a mech-sized battlesuit and unmanned green and yellow sentries.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wolverine (vol. 3) #43 (August 2006)
  2. ^ a b c Captain America (vol. 5) #22 (September 2006)
  3. ^ Wolverine (vol. 3) #45 (October 2006)
  4. ^ a b New Avengers #23 (June 2006)
  5. ^ a b c d e Captain America (vol. 5) #23 (January 2007)
  6. ^ a b c New Avengers #22 (September 2006)
  7. ^ a b New Avengers #25 (December 2006)
  8. ^ a b Avengers: The Initiative #1-19 (June 2007 - January 2009)
  9. ^ Dark Avengers #1 (March 2009)
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6 (July 2023)
  11. ^ a b Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #13 (February 2024)
  12. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #14 (February 2024)
  13. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #15 (March 2024)
  14. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #16 (April 2024)
  15. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #17 (April 2024)
  16. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #18 (May 2024)
  17. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #19 (June 2024)
  18. ^ Ms. Marvel #6 (October 2006)
  19. ^ Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways #1 (September 2006)
  20. ^ Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #112 (December 2007)
  21. ^ Civil War #1 (July 2006)
  22. ^ Iron Man: Hypervelocity #1-6 (March - August 2007)
  23. ^ Fantastic Four #540 (November 2006)
  24. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #6 (November 2007)
  25. ^ Carnage Reigns Alpha one-shot (July 2023)
  26. ^ Red Goblin #5 (August 2023)
  27. ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #10 (November 2023)