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Zodiac (comics)

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Zodiac
The twelve members of the original human Zodiac appear in a panel from Avengers #72 (Jan. 1970).
Art by Sal Buscema.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAvengers #72 (Jan. 1970)
Created byRoy Thomas
Sal Buscema
In-story information
Member(s)Taurus (founder and leader)
Aquarius
Aries
Cancer
Capricorn
Gemini
Leo
Libra
Pisces
Sagittarius
Scorpio
Virgo

Zodiac is the name of four groups of fictional characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The first version (human) appears in Avengers #72 (Jan. 1970) and was created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema. The second version (android) first appear in Defenders #49 (July 1977) and were created by David Kraft and Keith Giffen. The third version (human) first appear in the second volume of Alpha Flight and were created by Steven T. Seagle and Chris Carlson. The fourth version first appear in New Warriors vol. 4, #4 - 5 (Nov. - Dec. 2007) and were created by Kevin Grevioux and Joe Caramagna.

Publication history

First Zodiac (human)

The original Zodiac group debuts in the title the Avengers[1] and is established as a criminal organization founded and funded by member Cornelius van Lunt (who adopts the identity of Taurus). The group's identity is based on the zodiac from the discipline astrology, with each member adopting the persona of a sign of the zodiac, being twelve in all. The group members share leadership of the organization, with the position rotating just as the astrological zodiac changes. When not united as a group, the members of Zodiac are all based in different cities throughout the United States. Dedicated to economic and political domination of the world, the group uses any means to accomplish this, including subversion; extortion and mass murder.

Lone member Scorpio is the first member to debut in the Marvel Universe, first appearing in the title Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.[2] The character acquires a sentient extradimensional (from the Ankh dimension) artifact called the Zodiac Key, and attempts to assassinate S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury. The encounter ends with Scorpio apparently dying from a gunshot wound. The character reappears in the same title, and attempts to kill Fury once again, before being driven off by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.[3] It is eventually revealed that this was still the original villain, but resurrected in a life model decoy body by the Zodiac key.

Scorpio appears in the title Avengers, and after capturing the Avengers reveals to the heroes the entire Zodiac. At this time Aries is team leader, and takes control of the Zodiac Key and acknowledges that Scorpio has redeemed himself for failing to kill Nick Fury. The Avengers are freed by fellow members Yellowjacket and the Wasp, and Scorpio is revealed to be Nick Fury in disguise. The villains flee, and Fury reveals that after learning that the original Scorpio was his brother, Jake Fury, he adopted the identity to draw out the other Zodiac members.[1]

The Zodiac reappear in the Avengers, with member Taurus attempting to extort local farmers for their land. Several Avengers, aided by Native American hero Red Wolf, prevent this and defeat Taurus.[4] The title Daredevil features a plan by Zodiac (who are not revealed as the instigators until reappearing in Avengers) to cause civil unrest by inciting a street gang to violence in the suburb of Manhattan in New York City. The plan is stopped by Daredevil and Avenger the Black Panther,[5] with the two characters then featuring in title Avengers with the rest of the team to prevent a full scale attack by Zodiac on Manhattan. Aries is killed when Thunder God Thor destroys the character's escape craft.[6]

Zodiac, now splintered, operate independently. Aquarius; Capricorn and Sagittarius attempt to destroy Stark Industries by contracting assassin Spymaster to kill Tony Stark, the alter ego of Iron Man.[7] The attempt fails, and Spymaster is contracted to capture Daredevil in revenge for his past interference. Spymaster succeeds, and also captures mercenary Madame Masque.[8] The Zodiac members then use the Zodiac Key to capture Nick Fury and Iron Man, and take all four captives to the Ankh dimension, where they hope to recharge the artifact. This plan fails, and the heroes defeat and capture the Zodiac members, although Spymaster escapes.[9] Member Gemini features in the Savage in the City storyline in the title Astonshing Tales,[10] and allies with villain the Plunderer in an attempt to steal the super soldier serum (the same serum that empowers the character Captain America), but is defeated by jungle hero Ka-Zar.

In the title Avengers, van Lunt reunites the Zodiac (including recruiting a new Aries), and together they plan to attack New York City with a weapon called the Star Blazer. The group encounter the Avengers once again, and after a near defeat Aries attempts to stage a coup and take power from Taurus. Aided by Zodiac member Libra, the Avengers successfully capture the other eleven members of the Zodiac. The character Libra reveals he aided the heroes as Avenger Mantis is his daughter.[11] The Avengers use, with van Lunt's cooperation, the Star Blazer against an alien threat.[12]

Zodiac member Aquarius appears in the third volume of title Ghost Rider,[13] and after learning he has cancer attempts to make a bargain with a demon to save himself. Aquarius then attempts to take revenge on van Lunt, but the character's soul is claimed before he can do so. The second Aries makes a brief appearance in the title Captain America, and is used and killed by the alien invader Lucifer.[14] Scorpio reappears in the title Defenders, and retrieves the Zodiac Key. After creating an android version of the Zodiac, Scorpio kidnaps hero Nighthawk, hoping to ransom the character as his alter ego is Kyle Richmond, a wealthy entrepreneur. Nighthawk's team mates, the Defenders track Scorpio and encounter the android Zodiac. Discovering that three of his created Zodiac did not survive the process, a distraught Scorpio commits suicide.[15] Taurus reappears in the title Iron Man, and orders the second Aquarius and third Aries to kill Iron Man (James Rhodes), but both are defeated and incarcerated. S.H.I.E.L.D are advised and begin to track van Lunt.[16]

Second Zodiac (android)

An android version of the Zodiac first appeared in Defenders #49 (July 1977). This android Zodiac features in the first West Coast Avengers Annual, and are employed by former Avenger Quicksilver (under the control of the villain Maximus) to battle the Avengers.[17] The origin of this version of the Zodiac is revealed in the second volume of the title West Coast Avengers. Scorpio is resurrected in android form by the Zodiac Key once again, and summons the remainder of the human Zodiac to a meeting at which they are slaughtered by another android version of the entire group. Taurus escapes, and seeks the protection of the West Coast Avengers, who have a series of skirmishes with the androids until the false Zodiac are transported to the Ankh dimension, where they are deactivated. Taurus, who had vowed to surrender to authorities once the threat was over, attempted to escape and was killed in a plane crash during a struggle with Avenger Moon Knight.[18] The limited series Avengers Forever reveals that Libra also escaped the massacre.[19]

Third Zodiac (human)

A third, human version of the Zodiac briefly feature in the second volume of the title Alpha Flight. Hired by Department H, a division of the Canadian military, to test Alpha Flight in battle, the group are murdered by mutant task force Weapon X.[20]

Fourth Zodiac

Several members of a mysterious fourth version of the Zodiac are mentioned in the title Young Avengers[21] and appear in the fourth volume of the title New Warriors, and skirmish with heroes from the Initiative and New Warriors. Zodiac member Cancer murders New Warrior Longstrike.[22] The latest Zodiac claims to have murdered all the members of this group.[23]

Solo Zodiac

A solo character called Zodiac stars in a self-titled limited series as part of the Dark Reign storyline. The character is obsessed with dominating the criminal underworld and after committing mass murder eventually retrieves the Zodiac Key from S.H.I.E.L.D..[24] He later appears briefly in Age of Heroes #4.

In other media

Television

  • The Zodiac appear in The Avengers: United They Stand. They are depicted as aliens based on their usual constellations.
  • In Marvel Anime: Iron Man, Zodiac is a terrorist organization who are the main antagonists throughout the series. They have ties to A.I.M. due to their technology to produce mechs that resemble Zodiac animal symbols like Scorpio, Taurus, Sagittarius, Virgo, Aries, and Cancer mechs as well as the inclusion of the Pisces Virus. Led by Minister of Defense Kuroda, its membership includes Ho Yinsen and Dr. Chika Tanaka. Zodiac has also manipulated some people into helping them in their goals. In the episode "Endgame," Dr. Chika Tanaka's involvement with Zodiac is revealed when Kuroda in his Rasetsu armor states this, takes control of Chika upon activating her Zodiac warrior side, and has her attack Iron Man. Chika manages to break free from Kuroda's control as Iron Man goes to fight Kuroda. Chika sacrifices her life to power the Arc Reactor which gave Iron Man the power to obliterate Kuroda.
  • The original Zodiac will appear in Ultimate Spider-Man.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b Avengers #72 (Jan. 1970)
  2. ^ Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D #1 (June 1968)
  3. ^ Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D #5 (Oct. 1968)
  4. ^ Avengers #80 - 81 (Sep. - Oct. 1970)
  5. ^ Daredevil #69 (Oct. 1970)
  6. ^ Avengers #82 (Nov. 1970)
  7. ^ Iron Man #33 - 34 (Jan. - Feb. 1971)
  8. ^ Daredevil #73 (Feb. 1971)
  9. ^ Iron Man #35 - 36 (Mar. - Apr. 1971)
  10. ^ Astonishing Tales #17 - 20 (Apr. - Oct. 1973: bi-monthly)
  11. ^ Avengers #120 - 123 (Feb. - May 1974)
  12. ^ Avengers #124 (June 1974)
  13. ^ Ghost Rider vol. 3, #6 - 7 (June & Aug. 1974)
  14. ^ Captain America #177 - 178 (Sep. - Oct. 1974)
  15. ^ Defenders #46 (Apr. 1977); #48 - 50 (June - Aug. 1977)
  16. ^ Iron Man #183 - 185 (June - Aug. 1984)
  17. ^ West Coast Avengers Annual #1 (Jan. 1986)
  18. ^ Avengers West Coast #26 - 29 (Nov. 1987 - Feb. 1988)
  19. ^ Avengers Forever #1 - 9 (Dec. 1998 - Aug. 1999); #10 (Oct. 1999); #11 - 12 (Jan. - Feb. 2000)
  20. ^ Alpha Flight vol. 2, #1 (Aug. 1997) & #12 (July 1998)
  21. ^ Young Avengers #12 (Aug. 2006)
  22. ^ New Warriors vol. 4, #4 - 5 (Nov. - Dec. 2007)
  23. ^ Dark Reign: Zodiac #1 (Aug. 2009)
  24. ^ Dark Reign: Zodiac #1 - 3 (Aug - Oct. 2009)
  25. ^ http://www.newsarama.com/comics/bendis-bagley-avengers-assemble-120208.html
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