| Looking for a different version of this character? |
|---|
| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
The Royal Flush Gang is a rotating group of criminals that base their codenames after playing cards. They have found themselves enemies of both the Justice League and the Rogues.
History
First Team
The Royal Flush Gang were established enemies of the Justice League early in their career.[1] They were defeated by the Red Tornado in a battle that caused significant collateral damage and left the Gang in need of emergency medical attention,[2] and fought a newly-formed incarnation of the Justice League, with the hero Booster Gold's performance against them earning him a place in the League.[3] A team composed of an Ace, King, Queen, and Jack of Spades was anonymously recruited by the Key to draw the Justice League away from their headquarters, the Hall of Justice, but were quickly defeated and revealed that they had been hired to distract the League.[1]
In Coast City another four members of this gang, with Ten instead of Jack and a new Queen, were defeated in less than three minutes by Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, who compared them to his colleague Guy Gardner in that they, like Gardner, could be knocked out with one punch.[4] This group was among the many villains summoned via Zeta-Beam to the alien planet Pulor by Deathstroke to prevent an invasion of the Earth, until the beam wore off, returning them minutes after they'd left with no memory of the events,[5] and they were defeated in Metropolis by automated currents constructed in the city by LexCorp.[6]
There's something missing here. This section of the article is incomplete, and contains information, but requires more before it can be considered complete. You can help DC Database by editing this page, providing additional information to bring this article to a higher standard of quality.
Second Team
A new team of criminals, calling themselves the Royal Flush Gang took the mantle when the Crime Syndicate came to Earth and claimed to have killed the Justice League. Some members attended the Crime Syndicate's announcement in Happy Harbor.[7]
Members of the second wave of the gang included Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, a new King of Spades, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Hearts, Jack of Clubs, and an army of numbered soldiers, one being an Eight of Hearts. The Royal Flush Gang was under the leadership of a new Ace of Spades.
Royal Flush Gang II
Setting up in the "Man of Steal" casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Royal Flush Gang caught wind of a bounty set on the Rogues' heads set by the Crime Syndicate themselves. Hoping to acquire more territory and power in exchange for the Rogues, the Ace of Spades sent the Diamonds division to track down and apprehend the Rogues in Gotham City.[8]
Though the Rogues escaped and killed the Diamonds, the Royal Flush Gang still had Golden Glider held captive as leverage. The Rogues then invaded the gang's territory, stole Glider back, and began fighting the army the Royal Flush Gang had at its disposal. The fight was interrupted by Johnny Quick and Atomica arriving, wanting to kill the Rogues themselves.
However, the Ace of Spades wouldn't give up the fight and shot Weather Wizard in the head with his shotgun anyway, seemingly killing him, and causing Johnny Quick to go into a fury, being robbed of his rightfully deserved kill. In a fit of revenge, Johnny Quick went around killing members of the gang until he was beamed back to the Watchtower to deal with an important issue. The second group of the Royal Flush Gang was rendered defunct.[9]
Third Team
Royal Flush Gang III
A third wave of criminals who became the Royal Flush Gang were active when Superman's identity was revealed publicly to be Clark Kent. The group was composed of Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. This group didn't have a set card suit for each member, instead they wore a general collection of clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds and referred to each other by their codenames.
The new Royal Flush Gang sought to bring grief to Kent by attacking his apartment building but happened to see him walking the streets on their way. Picking a fight, Ten only threw one punch before Ace surrendered and started beating up King.[10]
This group would resurface some time later after the death and replacement of Superman. The group was stopped by the new Superman in Metropolis while they were robbing a bank.[11]
Fourth Team
Royal Flush Gang IV
The fourth team to call themselves the Royal Flush Gang was active when Batman and Two-Face were on the hunt for a cure for the latter's split identity, all while having a bounty on their heads. This Royal Flush Gang attempted to get in on the action but missed their opportunity after the two men escaped the Beast. Looking to pick up where the assassin had left off, the Royal Flush Gang asked the Beast for directions. However, all they received was a bomb on their hover board that seemingly killed them all.[12]
However, the team survived and served as bodyguards to the similarly gambling-themed villain Roulette, a criminal kingpin in the outlaw nation of Zandia. When the superhero the Flash infiltrated Roulette's operation, she sent the Gang to defeat him while preventing collateral damage to her casino, but they were handily defeated.[13] This incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang was also defeated in Metropolis by Soar, a supposed superhero who contracted criminals to stage fights against him.[6]
Fifth Team
This section of the article does not provide a complete profile of the subject. You can help out by providing additional information, expanding on the subject matter in order to bring this article to a higher standard of quality.
Paraphernalia
Equipment:
- Ace Android: Though only used in some iterations, the group will sometimes make used of a hulking, white android as their "ace in the hole".[1]
Transportation:
- Card Scooter: A giant playing card.[13]
Notes
- The Royal Flush Gang was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, first appearing in Justice League of America #43. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, The Royal Flush Gang first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Craftsman Bolt-On System Saves the Justice League #1 by Joshua Williamson and Christian Duce.
Trivia
- The fourth incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang in this continuity uses the designs seen in Batman Beyond.
See Also
- 36 Appearances of Royal Flush Gang (Prime Earth)
- 13 Images that include Royal Flush Gang (Prime Earth)
- Team Gallery: Royal Flush Gang (Prime Earth)
Links and References
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Craftsman Bolt-On System Saves the Justice League #1
- ↑ One-Star Squadron #1
- ↑ Blue & Gold #4
- ↑ Supergirl (Volume 7) #21
- ↑ Deathstroke (Volume 4) #39
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Superman: Man of Tomorrow #7
- ↑ Forever Evil #1
- ↑ Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #4
- ↑ Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #5
- ↑ Superman (Volume 3) #44
- ↑ Nightwing (Volume 4) #21
- ↑ All-Star Batman #3
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Flash (Volume 5) #62
| ♠ ♥ 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." |