The Cadre is a DC Comics supervillain group, except for members of the Cadre of the Immortal, most of whom were redeemed and became heroes by story's end.
The Cadre first appear in Justice League of America #235 February (1985) and were created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton.
A cosmic alien villain known as the Overmaster began to test humanity's fitness to inhabit Earth. He had summoned a bunch of villains to him and gave them superpowers, and the villains became the Cadre. The Cadre has fought the Justice League on different occasions and has been through many incarnations of their group. Several members have died and new ones were recruited.
There was also another version of the Cadre called the Cadre of the Immortal; this version was made up of international metahumans deluded by an agent of the Overmaster that claimed to be Prester John, the Immortal. The Mahayogi was killed while freeing JLI member Maya from mind control. After the truth was revealed Seneca and Osiris joined the JLI in their battle against the Overmaster, but have not been seen in the DCU since.
Another version of the Cadre was formed with various members of minor DC villain groups such as The Extremists.
Yet another version of the Cadre, led by Doctor Polaris, was later formed and fought the Power Company.
There were different incarnations of the Cadre. They are:
Overmaster - A vaguely Galactus-like 580 million year-old alien, accidentally slain by Amazing Man.
Black Mass - Former M.I.T. physicist with gravity control powers.
Shatterfist - Korean martial artist whose fists could shatter anything. Slain by Ice.
Crowbar - Former Detroit gang leader with a metaphysical crowbar.
Fastball - Used a robotic suit that allowed him to throw baseball-sized explosives with great force. Killed by an OMAC.
Nightfall - Wristbands create a null-field, absorbs light and kinetic energy.
Shrike - Mental patient with a sonic scream and wings. Died on a mission with the Suicide Squad.
Prester John - Aka the Immortal. Wanted to rid the world of modern technology. Killed by the Overmaster for failing to defeat the JLI.
Ewald Olaffson - Ice's brother; servant of the Overmaster.
Maya - Former JLA member from India.
Mahayogi - A Hindu wraith and servant of the god Shiva. Gave Maya her powers.
Druid - An English villain. Died at end of story.
Phalanx - Italian hero wearing Roman armor who could create duplicates of himself.
Mohammed Ibn Bornu - North African hero with an electronic spear that fired bolts of lightning, he rode a flying robot horse.
Musashi - A super powered Japanese warrior hero.
Seneca - Superstrong Native American hero.
Xiuhtecutli - Aztec styled Mexican warrior woman with solar powers.
Osiris - Egyptian hero wearing golden armor, believed he was Osiris re-incarnate.
Ice - Deluded by the Overmaster and eventually killed.
Devastator - Armor and a powerful trident, critically injured Booster Gold.
The New Extremists
Aryan Brigade
Doctor Polaris - Magnetic powers, healed Black Mass and reformed the team.
Starshrike - Resembles the original version with similar powers and wings.
Shatterfist - American martial artist whose fists could shatter anything.
Black Mass - Former M.I.T. physicist with gravity control powers.
Crowbar - Former Detroit gang leader with a metaphysical crowbar.
Fastball - Could throw a baseball (or a bomb) really, really fast.
Nightfall - Wristbands create a null-field, absorbs light and kinetic energy.
Shatterfist, Black Mass, Fastball, and Crowbar of the Cadre appeared in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Clash". They were defeated by Superman and Batman quickly. Black Mass and Fastball later appear as members of the Secret Society. Shatterfist also later appeared fighting Hellhound in Roulette's metabrawl.
