Publisher Wildstorm (current) First appearance Astro City #1 (1995) | Team affiliations Honor Guard | |
Created by Kurt Busiek
Brent Anderson
Alex Ross Creators Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson Similar Winged Victory, Beautie, Confessor, Jack‑in‑the‑Box, Graymalkin | ||
Honor Guard is a hero team in the comic book series Astro City, portrayed as the world's most elite or prestigious grouping of superheroes. Created by writer Kurt Busiek and artists Brent Anderson and Alex Ross.
Contents
Vital Statistics
Status: Active
Members: Black Rapier (chairman), Beautie, Cleopatra II, M.P.H., N-Forcer, Quarrel II, Samaritan.
Former Members include: Cleopatra I, El Hombre, Hummingbird, Kitkat, Leopardman, The Living Nightmare, Max O'Millions, Mermaid, Mirage, the Silver Agent, Starfighter and Starwoman.
Debuted: 1:1
First appearance: 1959
Base of Operations: A cloaked flying base that, presumably for reasons of security, relocates every month.
But the group usually will go anywhere in the world and even out of this world when there is trouble.
Allies: There have been quite a few heroes who haven't joined the group but have aided the team, including the Bouncing Beatnik, the Old Soldier, Winged Victory, the Gentleman, and folktale hero Joe Magarac.
Group history
Honor Guard was founded in 1959 by Max O'Millions to combat the Legions of Midnight. Its original roster also included the Silver Agent, Starwoman, Leopardman and Kitkat, the first N-Forcer, and the first Cleopatra. The Bouncing Beatnik and the Old Soldier assisted Honor Guard on its second case, but did not become members.
Throughout its history, Honor Guard appears to have maintained an active membership of seven members. Kitkat seems to have been replaced by the Mermaid early on, and Max by El Hombre by 1964. During the next few years Hummingbird and Mirage took the places of Leopardman and Starwoman. The Living Nightmare was also a member at some point before November 1972, though it is uncertain whether this was before or during the period of El Hombre's membership. By April 1973, at the time of El Hombre's downfall, the Black Rapier and Starfighter had taken the places of Cleopatra (I) and the Silver Agent. It has not been revealed what new member was brought in to fill the vacancy left by El Hombre's disgrace; possibly the Living Nightmare again, as he was apparently once more a member again sometime in the 1970s and is known to have served on two separate occasions.
The current roster (1995–1998; partial rosters consisting of subsets of the same members are also known from 1991 and 2000) consists of Beautie, the Black Rapier, Cleopatra (II), M.P.H., the N-Forcer, Quarrel (II), and Samaritan. The Black Rapier is the current leader. The modern team has been shown working with Winged Victory and the Gentleman, but these have not become members.
Membership timeline
New members and former members who rejoined are boldfaced.
1959
Appearances: 1:2, DA1:0
1963?/Early 1960s
Appearances: 2:16
1964
Appearances: 2:13, 2:16, LH:4
1970
Appearances:
1973
Appearances: 2:16
1976
Appearances: DA2:1
1991
Appearances: LH:1
1995
Appearances: 1:1, 1:6, 2:6, 2:7, 2:9, 2:19