The Royal Flush Gang is a crime syndicate, dressed as the cards of a Royal Flush: Ace of Clubs, King of Clubs, Queen of Clubs, Jack of Clubs and Ten of Clubs.
History
Originally, it was a gang set up by Amos Fortune. They committed petty thefts of valuables and technology or hired out their skills for others' gain. Amos Fortune came up with the idea of a playing card theme, and used stellaration technology to aid them. They were stopped by the Justice League of America on multiple occasions.
A second gang was set up by Hector Hammond, and came closer than the original gang to defeating the Justice League. After their original Ace, an Android, was destroyed, Fortune took over the gang and killed all members of the first gang except for the Jack of Clubs.
In recent years, the Gang has expanded. Though the lower pip values had been in use for some time, Amos Fortune introduced the suits of Hearts and Diamonds, and transformed the gang into a crime syndicate rivaling Intergang. The face cards would still be the most senior, with the role of Ace usually (but not always) as muscle, either android or human. The Ten controls the minor members, or pips. These henchmen could gain or lose "pips" dependent on their performance; rivalry amongst them was not uncommon.
Paraphernalia
Equipment:
- Ace Android
- Ace Exoskeleton: To complement his already big strength, Ernest Clay used an exoskeleton. Apart from enhanced strength, it also had a large gamma blaster at the chest.
- Insulated Suits: Wanda Wayland's suit was able to shield her from the vacuum of space; a special membrane over her face mask allowed her to breathe.
- Sceptre Royale: Mona Taylor bore a scepter that could alter her appearance into any other woman.
- Stellaration: An odds-changing mechanism developed by Amos Fortune. Only used when he was part of the gang.
Transportation:
- Card Scooter: Flying playing cards developed by the first Ace of Spades.
Weapons:
- Crossbows: Ten's Little Indians were armed with crossbows.
- Cybernetic eye: The third Jack of Spades was the first to give up one eye (albeit involuntarily). Several subsequent Jacks have had either one or two eyes replaced with a laser.
- Firearms: Members have used a variety of standard firearms.
- Lance: One of the new weapons of the first Ace of Spades, this lance could shoot acid-tipped spades.
- Lasers: Several members have had wrist-mounted laser guns.
- Playing cards: Either normal playing cards or modified ones, used as throwing weapons.
- Spades: The Gambler gave Mona Taylor a wrist-mounted launcher that could shoot spade-shaped blades.
- Staff: Several members have used a variety of laser and ray-shooting staffs and scepters.
- Swords: Several members have used swords, both ordinary and laser shooting.
Notes
- Pre-Crisis, the reason for dressing as playing cards was that they needed to do so to make the stellaration work.[1] Post-Crisis, Amos Fortune was a card shark, and he came up with the idea because his friends had names starting with the letters of the Royal Flush: Kerry (King), "Queenie" (Queen), Jack (Jack) and Tom (Ten).[2]
- The Royal Flush Gang was not the first team that styled themselves after playing cards; the Ace, King, Queen, and Jack of Crime of Earth-S predated them by 20 years.
See Also
- 78 Appearances of Royal Flush Gang (New Earth)
- 13 Images that include Royal Flush Gang (New Earth)
- Team Gallery: Royal Flush Gang (New Earth)
Links and References
Footnotes
| ♠ ♥ Royal Flush Gang ♣ ♦ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Face cards | King of Spades • Queen of Spades • Jack of Spades • Ace of Spades • Ten of Spades | |
| King of Clubs • Queen of Clubs • Jack of Clubs • Ace of Clubs • Ten of Clubs | ||
| King of Hearts • Queen of Hearts • Jack of Hearts • Ace of Hearts • Ten of Hearts | ||
| King of Diamonds • Queen of Diamonds • Jack of Diamonds • Ace of Diamonds • Ten of Diamonds | ||
| Miscellaneous | King • Queen • Ace • Atlantic City • Booster Gold • Derek Reston • Gambler • Hi-Jack • House of Cards • Joker • Las Vegas • Stellaration • Ten's Little Indians • Wild Card | |
| Pips | 9♠ • 8♠ • 7♠ • 6♠ • 5♠ • 4♠ • 3♠ • 2♠ | 9♥ • 8♥ • 7♥ • 6♥ • 5♥ • 4♥ • 3♥ • 2♥ |
| 9♣ • 8♣ • 7♣ • 6♣ • 5♣ • 4♣ • 3♣ • 2♣ | 9♦ • 8♦ • 7♦ • 6♦ • 5♦ • 4♦ • 3♦ • 2♦ | |
| Adaptations | Super Friends • DCAU • Doom • BTBATB • Arrowverse | |
  This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice League, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Justice League Villains." |