Omega Flight is the name used by four teams of
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...
s with superpowers appearing in
American comic books published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. Omega Flight is one of the few
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
teams published by an American comic book company. Omega Flight first appeared in the pages of ''
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional team of Canadian superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters premiered in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #120 (April 1979), and were created to serve as part of the X-Men member W ...
'' as a
supervillain team. Some later incarnations have been composed of heroes.
Publication history
The Omega Flight team assembled by
Jerome Jaxon first appeared in ''Alpha Flight'' #11–13 (June–August 1984).
The team assembled by the
Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
first appeared in ''Alpha Flight'' #110–112 (July–September 1992).
The next team known as Omega Flight was a group of heroes. The team made their first appearance in the one-shot ''Civil War: The Initiative'' (April 2007) and moved on to their own series, ''Omega Flight'' #1–5.
The most recent team was a group of heroes assembled by
Department H
The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features.
Places
Certain places fe ...
, who have only appeared in ''Avengers'' vol. 5, #9–10 (June 2013).
Fictional team biography
Jerry Jaxon's team
The name of Omega Flight is originally used by a group of super-villains assembled with the specific purpose of killing the original
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional team of Canadian superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters premiered in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #120 (April 1979), and were created to serve as part of the X-Men member W ...
, particularly its founder, the original
Guardian.
Delphine Courtney, the robotic assistant to
Jerry Jaxon
Jerome "Jerry" Jaxon is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
Jerome Jaxon first appeared in '' Alpha Flight'' #2-3 (September–October 1983), and was created by John Byrne.
The ...
, recruited superhuman operatives to join Omega Flight as part of Jaxon's revenge scheme against James McDonald Hudson. Jaxon had been Hudson's boss and blamed Hudson for his dismissal. All of Courtney's recruits had been members of the then disbanded Beta and Gamma Flights.
It included:
*
Delphine Courtney (MX39147) - Courtney is a robot with superhuman strength and durability, along with enhanced sight and hearing. She is destroyed by
Madison Jeffries
Madison Jeffries is a fictional mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as having the ability to reshape plastic, metal, and glass to any shape desired. He also has the technopath ...
.
*
Diamond Lil
Diamond Tooth Lil was an American cultural figure popular in the early 20th century as an icon of wealth and libertine burlesque. Several individuals called themselves "Diamond Lil" or "Diamond Tooth", creating an amalgamated legacy clouded b ...
(Lillian Crawley) – Diamond Lil is a mutant with a bio-aura force field, giving her superhuman durability. She is killed in
Selene
In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (; grc-gre, Σελήνη , meaning "Moon"''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη) is the goddess and the personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene, she is traditionally the daughter of ...
's attack on
Utopia
A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book '' Utopia'', describing a fictional island societ ...
.
*
Flashback (Gardner Monroe) – Flashback is a mutant with the ability to bring future versions of himself into the present.
*
Jerry Jaxon
Jerome "Jerry" Jaxon is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
Jerome Jaxon first appeared in '' Alpha Flight'' #2-3 (September–October 1983), and was created by John Byrne.
The ...
– Jaxon is a human who controls the Box robot as a member of the team. He is killed by feedback when Vindicator overloads the robot.
[''Alpha Flight'' #12 (July 1984). Marvel Comics]
*
Smart Alec (Alexander Thorne) – Smart Alec is a super-genius. He is killed when he looks into
Shaman
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spir ...
's pouch, destroying his mind.
*
Wild Child (Kyle Gibney) – Wild Child is a mutant with superhuman speed, agility, reflexes and senses. He also has a healing factor, retractable claws and limited ability to communicate with animals. He is killed when
Omega Red
Omega Red is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. In 2009, Omega Red was ranked as IGN's 95th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Publication histor ...
throws him into molten steel.
Master of the World's team
The second incarnation is organized by the
Master of the World. Once again, the purpose of the team's creation is to destroy Alpha Flight. The membership includes:
* Bile (Tom Preston) – Bile has the ability to secrete viruses, giving him a deadly touch.
*
Brain Drain (Werner Schmidt) – Brain Drain is a human that uses alien technology to control the minds of others.
* Miss Mass (Gillian Pritikin) – Miss Mass possesses superhuman strength and density.
* Sinew (William Knox) – Sinew has an appearance that resembles an animal, including a tail. He has enhanced physical abilities.
* Strongarm (Steve Caidin) – Strongarm is a human with cybernetically-enhanced right arm, granting him superhuman strength.
* Tech-Noir (Gale Cameron) – Tech-Noir is a cyborg with the power of flight and rocket launchers in her wrists.
Initiative team
This team emerges from the aftermath of Marvel's ''
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
'' crossover storyline. The lineup includes elements of the original Canadian super-team Alpha Flight as well as other superheroes, mostly American superheroes on loan from
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in ''Strange Tales'' #135 (August 1965), it often dea ...
thanks to
Iron Man and the
Initiative
In political science, an initiative (also known as a popular initiative or citizens' initiative) is a means by which a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters can force a government to choose either to enact a law or hold a ...
. The team roster was meant to include
Arachne
Arachne (; from , cognate with Latin ) is the protagonist of a tale in Greek mythology known primarily from the version told by the Roman poet Ovid (43 BCE–17 CE), which is the earliest extant source for the story. In Book Six of his ...
,
Michael Pointer as the new
Guardian,
Sasquatch
Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forest of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including anecdotal claims of ...
,
U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent (John Walker) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually those starring Captain America and the Avengers (comics), Avengers. He first appeared in ''Captain America (comic book), Capta ...
,
Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in the Bronze Age of Comic Books, the character was initially intended to be a surprise; an apparent monster who unexpectedly turns ou ...
and
Talisman
A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...
, but changes to the story after Omega Flight was reduced to a limited series meant that the final two never actually joined the team.
Former Alpha Flight member Sasquatch acts as recruiter for the team. After his attempts at recruiting Talisman are initially rebuffed, Sasquatch is forced to battle the rampaging
Wrecking Crew alone, and he is defeated. Upon learning of her friend's capture, Talisman accepts the offer to join Omega Flight, even for a temporary basis. As the Wrecking Crew carve a path of destruction towards
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
, Talisman, driven by a series of mysterious visions, joins up with U.S. Agent and Arachne in
Ottawa, but not before lambasting Iron Man and blaming him for the supervillain crisis that has engulfed Canada. Somewhat concerned about the presence of Americans on a Canadian superhero team, Talisman reacts violently when she learns that Michael Pointer, the man who killed Alpha Flight as the Collective, has become the new Guardian.
Meanwhile, the Wrecking Crew (along with the captured Sasquatch) storm into the
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, drawn there by visions. Also present in the museum is Simon Walters, the human avatar of Beta Ray Bill, who has also been receiving the visions leading him to the ROM's exhibit on the
Great Beasts
Alpha Flight is a fictional team of Canadian superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters premiered in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #120 (April 1979), and were created to serve as part of the X-Men member Wolv ...
. Opening a portal to the Realm of the Great Beasts, the Wrecking Crew is further empowered by Tanaraq, who also summons a horde of
Surtur demons to aid the Crew in destroying the world. Spurred into action, Walters unveils himself as Beta Ray Bill and engages the villains, who ultimately prove too strong for the Korbinite warrior to handle. As the Wrecking Crew and the Surtur demons spill out onto the streets of Toronto, Talisman, Arachne and U.S. Agent arrive to confront them. While Omega Flight is capable of holding off the villains and their demonic allies with the assistance of Beta Ray Bill, the situation takes a turn for the worse when Tanaraq possesses and empowers Sasquatch. The team is saved by the eleventh-hour intervention of Pointer, who devastates the ranks of demons and even throws away the Wrecking Crew, but refuses to kill the possessed Sasquatch even as his life is threatened by him.
With no other viable options left, Talisman uses the power of Shaman's medicine bag to exorcise Tanaraq's hold over Sasquatch and the Wrecking Crew, draining them of their newfound powers. Seizing the bag, Beta Ray Bill lures the demons back into the Realm of the Great Beasts claiming he has been in worse situations before. Forcing Guardian to seal the portal behind him, he effectively sacrifices himself to save the planet. With Tanaraq's plot foiled and the Surtur demons locked away, Omega Flight is able to defeat the Wrecking Crew and finally bring them into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
After the battle, the team finally begins to establish itself as a functioning unit. Guardian is able to move past his guilt over his role in the Collective incident. U.S. Agent finally retrieves his genuine shield from the
Purple Man
The Purple Man (Zebediah Kilgrave) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Joe Orlando, he first appeared in ''Daredevil'' #4 (October 1964). His body produces pheromo ...
, defeating the villain in the process, Sasquatch helps out with the reconstruction efforts in Toronto but afterwards is still guilt-ridden over what he did while possessed and disappears. Talisman retires from active duty to serve as her tribe's shaman. Arachne decides to remain with the team. The series ends with Beta Ray Bill locked in eternal combat with the Surtur demons in the Realm of the Great Beasts, truly trapped in the nightmare plane, but uncaring for his seemingly hopeless situation. However, Bill escapes from his imprisonment and aids
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing, an ...
against the
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Skrulls first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They originated fro ...
invasion of
Asgard
In Nordic mythology, Asgard (Old Norse: ''Ásgarðr'' ; "enclosure of the Æsir") is a location associated with the gods. It appears in a multitude of Old Norse sagas and mythological texts. It is described as the fortified home of the Æsir ...
.
''
Marvel Comics Presents'' follows up on the limited series with a story regarding Pointer's powers, and his adjustment to the Guardian suit.
U.S. Agent officially leaves the team in order to join the new team of
Mighty Avengers
''The Mighty Avengers'' is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of '' New Avengers'', the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered ...
, while Pointer adopts the alias Weapon Omega and joins
Norman Osborn
Norman Osborn is a fictional character, fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #14 (July ...
and
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. The character first appeared in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #129 (Jan. 1980), and was ...
's
Dark X-Men
The Dark X-Men are a fictional team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They made their debut during the crossover between ''Dark Avengers'' and ''Uncanny X-Men'' written by Matt Fraction, as part of the broader Dark Re ...
team. Beta Ray Bill is currently in space. Arachne reappeared in Manhattan during the "
Grim Hunt
"The Gauntlet" and "Grim Hunt" are 2009–2010 storylines published by Marvel Comics. Despite being more issues, "The Gauntlet" was solicited as leading up to the "Grim Hunt" story, and the two storylines are interconnected. Written by ''The Amazi ...
" storyline. Thus, this incarnation of Omega Flight appears to have been disbanded.
Department H's team
As part of the ''
Marvel NOW!
Marvel Now! (stylized as Marvel NOW!) is a comic book branding for the relaunch of several ongoing comic books published by Marvel Comics, that debuted in October 2012 with new #1 issues. The relaunch also included some new titles, including '' U ...
'' event, a new incarnation of Omega Flight appears under the control of
Department H
The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features.
Places
Certain places fe ...
. It consists of Validator, Boxx, Kingdom and a
Wendigo
Wendigo () is a mythological creature or evil spirit originating from the folklore of Plains and Great Lakes Natives as well as some First Nations. It is based in and around the East Coast forests of Canada, the Great Plains region of the U ...
. Omega Flight is sent in by Department H to investigate one of the Origin Bomb sites left by
Ex Nihilo
(Latin for "creation out of nothing") is the doctrine that matter is not eternal but had to be created by some divine creative act. It is a theistic answer to the question of how the universe comes to exist. It is in contrast to ''Ex nihilo ...
in Regina, Canada. Validator is changed by the Origin Bomb site while the rest of the Omega Flight members are killed in action.
[''Avengers'' vol. 5 #10 (June 2013). Marvel Comics]
Collected editions
Their appearances have been collected into a number of
trade paperbacks
A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) book ...
:
*''Omega Flight Volume 1: Alpha to Omega'' (collects ''Omega Flight'' #1–5, 128 pages, November 2007, )
*''Weapon Omega Volume 1'' (collects material from ''
Marvel Comics Presents'' vol. 2, #1–12, 128 pages, November 2008, )
In other media
Omega Flight appears in ''
Marvel Future Revolution''. This version is an interdimensional organization that unites heroes from different realities to find a solution to the Convergence and protect
Primary Earth.
See also
*
Avengers: The Initiative
*
List of Flight members
References
External links
Omega Flightat Marvel.com
Omega Flight (Jerome Jaxon's Team)at Marvel Wiki
Omega Flight (Master of the World's Team)at Marvel Wiki
Omega Flight (Heroes)at Marvel Wiki
Omega Flight (Department H's Team)at Marvel Wiki
AlphaFlight.netMike Oeming Discusses His Omega Flight Plan Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews, and essays about the American comic book industry. It is owned by Future US. In June 2020, Newsarama was merged with the website GamesRadar+, also owned by FutureUS.
History
...
, April 9, 2006
Cleared for Take-Off: Michael Avon Oeming and Scott Kolins on Marvel Comics’ Omega Flight Comics Bulletin
Comics Bulletin was a daily website covering the American comic-book industry.
History Silver Bullet Comicbooks
The site was founded in January 2000 as Silver Bullet Comicbooks by its New Zealand-based publisher/editor Jason Brice.
During this ...
, September 2, 2006
Mid-Ohio-Con: Michael Avon Oeming Panel Comics Continuum, November 25, 2006
{{Initiative
Alpha Flight
X-Men supporting characters