Secret Six

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The team's history spans decades, beginning with a Silver Age strike force of six operatives: August Durant, Lili de Neuve, Carlo di Rienzi, Mike Tempest, Crimson Dawn, and King Savage. Created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Frank Springer, their series ended without revealing Mockingbird's identity. In 1988, Martin Pasko and Dan Spiegle revived the team in Action Comics Weekly #601, revealing Durant as Mockingbird before he died; DiRienzi then took the mantle until his own death, with hints that his son Rafael might succeed him. The most famous version debuted in Villains United #1 (July 2005), featuring villains like Catman, Deadshot, Cheshire, Rag Doll, Scandal Savage, and a Parademon. Mockingbird was eventually revealed as Lex Luthor. This lineup faced internal betrayal, with the Fiddler killed by Deadshot on orders, the Parademon dying, and Cheshire turning traitor to the Secret Society of Super Villains.

In Their Own Story

In Gail Simone's ongoing series starting September 2008, the team reunited Catman, Deadshot, Scandal Savage, and Rag Doll, adding Bane and a new character named Jeannette. They were hired to retrieve Tarantula from Alcatraz Island and a "Get Out of Hell Free" card made by Neron, stolen from "Junior," a mysterious mob boss who is actually Rag Doll's sister with the stitched appearance of an old clown. After Deadshot seemingly betrayed them, Tarantula sacrificed herself to destroy Junior and the card, though Scandal later claimed possession of it. In issue #10's "Depths" storyline, they faced slave trader Mr. Smyth on Devil's Island, freeing slaves while Wonder Woman intervened. Bane eventually took leadership, removing Scandal for Black Alice. The team's final mission saw them attempt to kill Catwoman, Red Robin, Batgirl, and Azrael in Gotham City, only to be overwhelmed by an army of superheroes including the Justice League and Teen Titans.

Reader's Guide

To understand the Secret Six, note their volatile membership and shifting leadership under Mockingbird. The Silver Age team featured August Durant, Lili de Neuve, Carlo di Rienzi, Mike Tempest, Crimson Dawn, and King Savage. The 1988 revival included Mitch Hoberman, Ladonna Jameal, Tony Mantegna, Luke McKendrick, Vic Sommers, and Dr. Maria Verdugo, with Mockingbird revealed as Durant then DiRienzi. The modern anti-heroic team started with Catman, Deadshot, Cheshire, Rag Doll, Scandal Savage, and a Parademon in Villains United #1 (July 2005). Temporary members included the Fiddler (killed), Mad Hatter (rejected by Rag Doll), Harley Quinn (who later quit), Knockout, Bane, Jeannette, and Black Alice. Key turning points include the revelation of Lex Luthor as Mockingbird, the death of Knockout in Birds of Prey #109, and the team's final defeat in Gotham City.

Did You Know?

• The premiere issue of the original Secret Six began its story on the cover and continued on page one.
• E. Nelson Bridwell knew Mockingbird's identity but died before revealing it in the comics; he later told letterer Clem Robins who it was.
• In the 2008 series, the villain Junior is revealed to be Rag Doll's sister with eyes stitched wide open.
• The third Secret Six incarnation was ranked by IGN as the fourth Best Comic Run of the Decade in 2012.
• Harley Quinn joined the team after the Mad Hatter was literally kicked out by Rag Doll for being "one eccentric fop" too many.