A.R.G.U.S.

A.R.G.U.S. agents in Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #1.

The A.R.G.U.D. is an organization that features in DC Comics.

History

The Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans (A.R.G.U.S.) was an organization created by the United States in coordinating a response for the rise in Metahumans in the wake of Darkseid's attempted invasion of Earth and the formation of the Justice League. A.R.G.U.S. was formed during a time of escalating superhuman activity and global crises that demanded a new level of governmental oversight. Created as an offshoot of the United States Department of Homeland Security, it was intended to both monitor and manage the activities of metahumans within America and abroad. Its first documented activities occurred in connection with the Justice League, where it functioned as a liaison between the world’s governments and the League itself, ensuring that political authorities were not completely overshadowed by the growing influence of superheroes. Its leadership was initially tied to Amanda Waller, whose pragmatic vision ensured that the organization operated in secrecy and with a level of latitude that was rarely afforded to other governmental bodies. (Justice League v2 #7) Steve Trevor was called by the President of the United States of America who told him that an agency was to be made to combat threats in the future. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #1)

Following their introduction, A.R.G.U.S. played a decisive role in coordinating human responses to the threats that the Justice League faced. The organization was seen asserting itself as a strategic authority during a period when the League’s unchecked actions were beginning to cause unease among the world’s nations. A.R.G.U.S. agents not only managed intelligence-gathering and coordination with local governments but also began developing protocols to monitor the individual members of the Justice League themselves. This demonstrated that, although they were an ally of the team, they were equally invested in maintaining safeguards should the League become a danger to national or global security. (Justice League v2 #8) A.R.G.U.S. had become involved in direct operations against superhuman threats, demonstrating their growth from an intelligence service into an active paramilitary force. They became engaged in controlling the fallout from extraordinary events that could destabilize national security, including the development of facilities capable of holding metahuman prisoners and the acquisition of exotic technology. The organization increasingly moved into the shadows of the superhero community, not only providing support but also running their own covert missions without the knowledge or consent of the Justice League. This reflected the direction of Amanda Waller’s leadership, in which containment, control, and contingency planning always took precedence over transparency. (Justice League v2 #9)

Pandora broke into the Black Room where she took Pandora's Box and was able to escape security forces that attempted to stop her. (The New 52: FCBD Special Edition v1 #1)

After the David Graves incident, Steve Trevor was removed from his position as Justice League liaison and replaced with Amanda Waller. (Justice League v1 #13) Agent James Gunn was tasked with recruiting the newly empowered DC to serve as a Metahuman agent to help police interdimensional incursions to the planet. (Justice League of America's Vibe v1 #1) The U.S. government though grew frustrated at the Justice League operating independently and looked to have their own government sponsored superhero team. As a result, they began recruiting superpowered beings with this being overseen by Steve Trevor. This Justice League of America came to nclude Hawkman, Katana, Vibe, Stargirl, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern Simon Baz, Green Arrow and Catwoman. (Justice League of America v3 #1)

Dr. Arthur Light is called in by A.R.G.U.S. to examine the Secret Society's communication coin. While doing so, it is manipulated from the other side causing Light to be enveloped in a white light, giving him powers. (Justice League of America v3 #4) After seemingly losing control of his powers, Superman surrenders himself to A.R.G.U.S. at A.R.G.U.S. headquarters, the Question enters Superman's cell and releases him. (Justice League of America v3 #6)

During the events of Forever Evil, the identities of every undercover A.R.G.U.S. agent was exposed to the world leading to many being killed whilst the agency was completely exposed. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #1)

When Barbatos invaded Earth-0, an executive order was given that allowed A.R.G.U.S. to gather S.H.A.D.E., the D.E.O, Task Force X and the American military into combating the threat posed by the Dark Knights with this uneasy alliance of agencies working under Crisis Protocols. During their discussion, a villainous Dark Knight from the Dark Multiverse named the Merciless arrived who attacked the gathering. (Batman: The Merciless v1 #1) It became one of a number of secret intelligence organizations that was targeted and seemingly destroyed by Leviathan. (Event Leviathan v1 #1)

Overview

In appearance, A.R.G.U.S. was a military organisation established by the United States of America, operating as a clandestine arm of the federal government under the authority of Homeland Security. In their first appearance, they were presented as a uniformed agency whose agents wore tactical attire befitting both military and intelligence operatives, reflecting their dual role as both soldiers and covert operatives. They maintained advanced command-and-control facilities outfitted with cutting-edge communications technology, surveillance systems, and access to restricted information on superhuman activities. Structurally, they functioned as a hybrid of a military intelligence unit and a black-ops organization, one that reported to high-level officials while still preserving a measure of operational independence under the direction of Amanda Waller. (Justice League v2 #7) It was a military agency created to combat superhuman threats whilst supporting the world's greatest superheroes. (The New 52: FCBD Special Edition v1 #1) The United States had tasked A.R.G.U.S. to support, investigate and if necessary combat superhuman activity that posed a threat to national security. (Justice League of America v3 #1)

The mission of A.R.G.U.S. was explicitly to defend the United States and, by extension, the world from threats posed by metahumans, alien incursions, and supervillains that conventional forces could not combat. They were tasked with liaising with the Justice League while simultaneously ensuring that contingency measures existed in case those same heroes became a danger. This dual mission of cooperation and oversight meant they often occupied a gray area where their allegiance was as much to control as it was to collaboration. Their authority, however, was limited in that they remained under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government, and their power extended only as far as the state permitted them, though their secrecy and Waller’s influence allowed them to act with far broader autonomy than most agencies. (Justice League v2 #8)

Facilities operated by the organization that included:

• A.R.G.U.S.-1 : the Washington headquarters of A.R.G.U.S. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #2)
• Black Room : a vault overseen by A.R.G.U.S. that contained the world's most dangerous supernatural artifacts. (The New 52: FCBD Special Edition v1 #1)
• Red Room : it was the world's largest covert research facility for housing extraterrestrial, unidentified and classified technology recovered from around the globe. (The New 52: FCBD Special Edition v1 #1)
• Circus : a prison facility used to hold interdimensional invaders. (Justice League of America's Vibe v1 #1)
• Green Room : stated to be a magical panic room made through the use of Tesseract technology with the occupants being outside time and space. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #2)
• Wonder Room : a special room containing various mystical artifacts. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #2)

An elite team operated by the organization was a Black Room Field Regiment that were referred to as the Oddfellows. Their function was to covertly investigate strange occurrences and determine if the target needed to be captured and catalogued or destroyed. (Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor Special v1 #1) Anti-magic squads were armed with the latest magic busting hardware and protective enchantments. (Justice League Dark v1 #11)

One item of importance for the agency was the A.R.G.U.S. Key that allowed an agent access to every facility operated by A.R.G.U.S. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #2)

Every agent was equipped with a sub-dermal chops that were embedded in their bodies allowing them to be tracked around the world. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #1)

A.R.G.U.S. was headquartered in Washington, D.C., where it maintained its central command facility, though its influence extended across multiple hidden installations scattered throughout the United States. Among their facilities were containment units designed for holding dangerous metahuman criminals, laboratories for analyzing alien technology, and secure command centers capable of coordinating military responses to extraterrestrial or superhuman crises. Their control over such assets made them one of the most formidable agencies within the American security structure, and they were often the unseen hand behind the management of superhuman affairs. From this central base, Amanda Waller and her operatives maintained direct control over missions that spanned the globe, often operating outside the public eye while ensuring that their existence remained known only to those at the highest levels of authority. (Justice League v2 #9)

A.R.G.U.S. maintained a special branch in Detroit due to the city being a nexus for interdimensional incursions. (Justice League of America's Vibe v1 #1)

They maintained a secret prison facility that resembled a cruise ship that constantly moved from one location to the next with it being invisible to technology. (Wonder Woman v5 #52) A.R.G.U.S. constructed The Odyssey that was based in Coast City and meant to be a place where superhumans could gather and connect with each other though this was only a cover story hiding its true function. (Event Leviathan v1 #1)

Members

• Steve Trevor : the founder and director of A.R.G.U.S. (Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1 #1)
• Amanda Waller :
• Sasha Bordeaux :
• Etta Candy :
• Dale Gunn : a black male who was formerly a CIA agent before joining A.R.G.U.S. (Justice League of America's Vibe v1 #6)
• Stuart Paillard :
• John Peril : a dark haired male, Dr. Peril was a special government liaison and expert in paranormal investigation and occult terror prevention. (Justice League Dark v1 #11)
• Casey Klebba :
• Meadows Mahalo :
• Victoria October :
• Samuel Street :

Notes

• A.R.G.U.S. was created by Geoff Johns and Gene Ha where they made their first appearance in Justice League v2 #7 (May, 2012).
• The name of A.R.G.U.S. come from the greek-roman mythologic character Argos, a thousand-eyed monster whose mission is to keep the nymph Io, the A.R.G.U.S. has this name because of its mission to watchover the entire world as if it has billions of eyes.

In other media

Television

• In the Arrowverse, A.R.G.U.S. made a number of appearances in the shared setting:
  • In Arrow, A.R.G.U.S. made a number of appearances in the live-action television series. The Advanced Research Group United Support was a government agency that was headed by Amanda Waller. Under the leadership of the immoral Amanda Waller, the organization became very corrupt if not excessive in its methods, as they became no better than the very threats they are supposed to protect the U.S. from, committing unspeakable acts with no regard for human life, this includes the extortion of whoever is convenient to their benefits, usually threatening their family members if they don't comply, they also used felons for Task Force X to carry out life-threatening operations in exchange for working off their sentencing, they were even willing to order a drone to destroy Star City in order to stop Slade Wilson's army from leaving. When meta-humans started emerging, A.R.G.U.S. even began to study them in order to weaponize their powers. Following the death of Amanda, Lyla Michaels becomes the new director of A.R.G.U.S., reforming the organization, as everything they do is now based on morals, principles and the value of human life, as they are no longer using criminals or unwilling individuals for their benefit, it also seeks to rehabilitate criminals instead of weaponizing them. However, at the same time, Lyla's new position of authority also has forced her into various difficult situations, sometimes making decisions that would more closely follow Amanda's protocol, such as holding dangerous terrorists in prison without trials or stealing secrets and even technology from allies. In season seven, John Diggle has joined up with A.R.G.U.S. at the time when Oliver Queen was incarcerated in Slabside Maximum Security Prison.
  • In The Flash, A.R.G.U.S. made a number of appearances in the 2014 live-action television series. Lyla Michaels came to settle in her new position as the head of A.R.G.U.S. when the Flash had to deal with the threat of King Shark.
  • In Legends of Tomorrow, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the shared continuity setting where they first appeared in the episode "Zari". In 2042, they were described as being a covert paramilitary organization that patrolled the Earth under the Anti-Metahuman Act 2021 where they arrested any rogue Metahumans with them utilising drones for surveillance under a police state. Zari Tomaz, a Muslim woman in possession of a totem that gives her air-based powers, is pursued by the futuristic A.R.G.U.S. before joining the Legends. This future is averted when Neron is defeated.
  • In Superman &* Lois, A.R.G.U.S. made a cameo appearance in the setting of the live-action television series.
• In Doom Patrol, A.R.G.U.S. was referenced in the setting of the live-action DC Universe television series starting from the episode "Donkey Patrol". Cyborg hacked into their security feeds for information of the incident at Cloverton in Ohio when the town seemingly vanished along with its inhabitants.
• In Titans, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the live-action DC Universe television series. Margarita Vee was the identity of an operative who was embedded into the GCPD where she served as an assistant to Commissioner Barbara Gordon. Her assignment in Gotham was to assess the capabilities of the Titans and to uncover the location of a hidden Lazarus Pit placed in the city by Ra's al Ghul.
• In Peacemaker, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the live-action television series set in the DC Extended Universe. Though Amanda Waller was mentioned several times and appears briefly in two episodes, the primary focus was on the team of agents John Economos, Emilia Harcourt, Waller's recently recruited daughter Leota Adebayo, Peacemaker and Vigilante as they track down alien 'butterflies' on the orders of Clemson Murn, an intermediary agent for Waller. Clemson Murn was later revealed to be the identity of the man inhabited by the rogue butterfly Ik Nobe Lok, allied with humans to exterminate the rest of his hostile species. After the butterflies are defeated, Leota exposes Project Butterfly much to the dismay of Waller.
• In Suicide Squad Isekai, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the anime television series.

Films

• In Batman: Assault on Arkham, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the animated film. They attempted to apprehend Riddler after the latter stole vital information relating to the Suicide Squad from Amanda Waller, as well as entering a confrontation with Batman, who intended to interrogate the Riddler himself relating to a dirty bomb that Joker stole and placed somewhere in Gotham.
• In Suicide Squad, A.R.G.U.S was referenced in the DC Extended Universe in the live-action film. The motto for ARGUS was "Noster quaerere incipere", which was Latin for "Our search begins". Rick Flag was shown to had been part of the organization till he was assigned to Task Force X that was being folded into the A.R.G.U.S. program. Its headquarters was in the John F. Ostrander Federal Building located in Midway City. During their mission to stop Enchantress, Joker, his enforcer Jonny Frost, and his minions attack the Van Criss Laboratories branch of Wayne Enterprises to get A.R.G.U.S. ally Van Criss to help him free Harley Quinn from the A.R.G.U.S. nano-bombs in her head. Bruce Wayne receives A.R.G.U.S. intelligence from Waller at the end of the film and threatens that the Justice League will get involved if she doesn't shut down her team.
• In The Suicide Squad, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the live-action film sequel. Waller commands desk agents Flo Crawley, John Economos, and Emilia Harcourt in directing the ground teams in Corto Maltese. Crawley knocks out Waller before she can kill the Suicide Squad for disobeying her orders to leave Starro unabated, allowing everyone to help save Corto Maltese. A furious Waller wakes up and has Crawley publicly arrested before sending Economos and Harcourt to monitor Peacemaker's recovery teasing the events of Peacemaker.
• In Batman and Harley Quinn, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the animated film where their Gotham City branch was under the command of Sarge Steel. Batman consulted with them in order to access classified files on a missing scientist that had been kidnapped by Jason Woodrue and Poison Ivy.
• In Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the animated film.

Video games

• In DC Universe Online, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the MMORPG video game.
• In DC: Unchained, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the mobile video game. Steve Trevor was shown as a high ranking agent of the government law enforcement agency that became subverted by the forces of Apokolips. As a result, many A.R.G.U.S. agents had mind control helmets placed on their heads where they were sent in a plot against the Justice League.
• In Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, A.R.G.U.S. appeared in the setting of the video game. The Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans (A.R.G.U.S.) was a U.S. government organization that dealt with metahuman threats and oversaw Task Force X.

Appearances

• Justice League v2: (2012)
• The New 52: FCBD Special Edition v1:
• Justice League Dark v1:
• Justice League of America:
• Justice League of America's Vibe v1:
• Action Comics Annual v2:
• Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. v1:
• Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor Special v1:
• Action Comics v1:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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