Superhuman Restraint Unit

The (Anti-^[1])Superhuman Restraint Unit^[2] is a fictional special operations unit of S.H.I.E.L.D. appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, designed by penciller Howard Chaykin.^[1]

History

Beetles

 

A "Beetle" squad member guns down Tom Lennox in The Mighty World Of Marvel #9 (February 1984). Art by Alan Davis.

An armored superhuman restraint unit's first appearance in the Marvel Universe was in Marvel UK's The Mighty World Of Marvel, during the events of the Jaspers' Warp story arc involving Brian Braddock as Captain Britain. Insane reality warper Mad Jim Jaspers is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and turned the UK into a fascist state,^[3] and enforced "Super Hero Legislation" using armored agents of S.T.R.I.K.E. (the UK division of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to hunt down and detain superhumans within the UK. These anti-superhuman agents were called "Beetles" squadrons due to their beetle head shaped helmets and were best known for gunning down Tom Lennox, Betsy Braddock's lover.^[4]

Cape-Killers

The Cape-Killers^[5] (sometimes written Capekiller^[6]) are agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. equipped in armored suits during the events of Marvel Comics' Civil War crossover, where these agents were sent to bring in rogue superheroes.^[5] The United States government passed the Superhuman Registration Act,^[7] and used a division of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents trained to deal specifically with superhuman threats,^[1] to enforce the law. These foot soldiers^[8] of S.H.I.E.L.D., known as (Anti-)Superhuman Restraint Unit and more commonly Cape-Killers, were spread out across Marvel comics and came into conflict with various superpowered individuals throughout the event. The Cape-Killers wear armor and use hardware designed by Stark Industries.^[9] The Cape-Killers' armor has two different styles of helmet (a Riotsquad style helmet,^[10] and a helmet with a Filter style gas mask^[11]) as well as suits that are out-fitted with internal comm systems,^[11] and hover discs that give the wearers the ability of flight (which have been seen in various comics),^[12] and various firearms that shot tranquilizer darts,^[5] though later they have been shown to use genetic paralyzer laser weapons.^[12] Weaknesses of the Cape-Killers' armor suits have been shown to be susceptible to power surges in several issues,^[10] and S.H.I.E.L.D. former director Nick Fury would later develop a device that transmitted an electromagnetic overload pulse-broadcast straight into their comm systems which shut down their suits and frying their electrical systems that was shown to take down several unit members at once.^[11] It's also shown that there's an override code used by the Cape-Killers' disillusioned designer on his high tech palm pilot that can freeze their suits.^[13] The Cape-Killers are seen in the subsequent Initiative story arc as well as the Secret Invasion storyline, until being discontinued by H.A.M.M.E.R. commander Norman Osborn.^[14]

Known teams and members

Cape-Killers

• 9-6 - an unlicensed hero recovery team.^[15]
• Agent Abrams - the leader of a unit to capture Robert "Nitro" Hunter which failed and died when they were caught in an explosion generated by Nitro.^[2]
• Agent Cleery^[10]
• Agent Doug ??? and another Cape-Killer - Security for the Santa Monica Farmers' Market.^[16]
• Aerial Company C & Aerial Company E - Posted in the Manhattan area follow the events of World War Hulk.^[17]
• Dum Dum Dugan^[9][5]
• Force Unit 9^[13] - Avengers Tower Guards.^[6]
• Major Tom Aramaki - The leader of a mecha unit.^[18]
• Team Cobra^[12] - which included Commander Gabriel Jones and Agent Whitman
• Team 1 & Team 2 - assigned to the Baxter Building.^[19]
• Special Agent Marquez and her partner Agent McAllister^[20]

In other media

Television

A variation of the Superhuman Restraint Unit appears in the Avengers Assemble episodes "Civil War, Part 2: The Mighty Avengers" and "Civil War, Part 3: The Drums of War". This version, designed by Truman Marsh, consists of a mech-sized Iron Patriot battlesuit and unmanned green and yellow sentries.

Video games

The Superhuman Restraint Unit appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, as enemies if the player chooses the story's Anti-Registration side and as allies if the player chooses the story's Pro-Registration side.

See also

• Superhuman Tactical Activities Response Squad

References

1. Mark Millar (w), Steve McNiven (p), Dexter Vines (i). Civil War (Directors Cut), no. 1 (July 2006). Marvel Comics.
2. Marc Guggenheim (w), Humberto Ramos (p), Carlos Cuevas (i). "Revenge" Wolverine Vol. 3, no. 43 (August 2006). Marvel Comics.
3. Alan Moore (w), Alan Davis (p), Alan Davis (i). "The Twisted World (Reprise)" The Mighty World Of Marvel, no. 8 (January 1984). Marvel UK.
4. Alan Moore (w), Alan Davis (p), Alan Davis (i). "Among Those Dark Satanic Mills (or Madwar)" The Mighty World Of Marvel, no. 9 (February 1984). Marvel UK.
5. Ed Brubaker (w), Mike Perkins (p), Mike Perkins (i). "The Drums of War" Captain America Vol. 5, no. 22 (September 2006). Marvel Comics.
6. "New Avengers #25 Script (jinxworld.com)". Retrieved 2007-12-17. this palm pilot is very high tech.", "The cape killers freeze in place. The armor is frozen, but its hard to notice just now.", and "The man walks away from us and right towards the fallen Capekiller's and is sauntering right inside the Avengers tower lobby.
7. "Marvel Comics Civil War (summary)". Retrieved 2007-12-17. With that incident as the igniting spark, everything in the U.S. changed. Super hero regulation and Registration swept through the government and sides were quickly drawn.
8. Marc Guggenheim (w), Humberto Ramos (p), Carlos Cuevas (i). "Vengeance" Wolverine Vol. 3, no. 45 (October 2006). Marvel Comics.
9. Brian Michael Bendis (w), Howard Chaykin (p), Jose Pimentel (i). "New Avengers Disassembled" New Avengers, no. 21 (June 2006). Marvel Comics.
10. Ed Brubaker (w), Mike Perkins (p), Mike Perkins (i). "The Drums of War" Captain America Vol. 5, no. 23 (December 2006). Marvel Comics.
11. Ed Brubaker (w), Mike Perkins (p), Frank D'Armata (i). "The Drums of War" Captain America Vol. 5, no. 23 (January 2007). Marvel Comics.
12. Brian Michael Bendis (w), Leinil Yu (p), Dave McCaig (i). "New Avengers Disassembled" New Avengers, no. 22 (September 2006). Marvel Comics.
13. Brian Michael Bendis (w), Jim Cheung (p), Livesay (i). "New Avengers Disassembled" New Avengers, no. 25 (December 2006). Marvel Comics.
14. Dark Avengers #1
15. Brian Reed (w), Roberto De La Torre (p), Jon Sibal (i). "Battle Lines" Ms. Marvel, no. 6 (October 2006). Marvel Comics.
16. Zeb Wells (w), Stefano Caselli (p), Daniele Rudoni (i). Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, no. 1 (September 2006). Marvel Comics.
17. Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (w), Khoi Pham & Stephane Peru (p). "Birds of Stymphalis (Incredible Herc)" Incredible Hulk vol. 3, no. 112 (December 2007). Marvel Comics.
18. Iron Man: Hypervelocity #1-6
19. J. Michael Straczynski (w), Mike McKone (p), Andy Lanning & Cam Smith (i). "Some Words Can Never Be Taken Back" Fantastic Four, no. 540 (November 2006). Marvel Comics.
20. Dan Slott (w), Steve Uy (p). "Persons Of Interest" Avengers: The Initiative, no. 6 (November 2007). Marvel Comics.