ROYAL FLUSH GANG | BIOGRAPHY |
Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky |
TEAM DATA
Status: Active
Current Members: Ace (Amos Fortune), Ace of Spades II, Ace of Spades, Ace of Spades IV, King of Spades II, Ten of Spades II, Nine of Diamonds,
Base of Operation: Mobile (Hector Hammond's group had a "House of Cards" located in the Mojave Desert)
First Appearance: Justice League of America #43 (March 1966): "The Card Crimes of the Justice League"
Creators: Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky
MEMBERSHIP
HISTORY
The Royal Flush Gang is a criminal organization that has been through several incarnations.
The first Gang was originally four childhood friends of Amos Fortune. As an adult, the super-villain brought them together again, dressed them up as a Royal Flush of Clubs with himself as the Ace, and empowered them with "Stellaration" for luck. This team was defeated by the original Justice League of America. -Justice League of America #43
Later, a new Ace became the leader of the Gang, changing their symbols from from Clubs to Spades. Unfortunately, they crossed paths with the Joker, after which they disbanded. The only original member that has been seen since is Jack of Clubs (later of Spades), who embarked as a solo career as Hi-Jack until the Wizard (I) sent him to another dimension from which he has still not returned. -Justice League of America # , Joker #5
An entirely new Gang was formed by Hector Hammond (a.k.a. "Wild Card"). This team kept the Spades card suit and included two women (Ten and Queen), and a robot as Ace. Over the years, they have battled the JLA, the JLI, the Titans, Elongated Man, and Starman (VII) among others. For a while, they were also in the service of the second Gambler. This has been the most enduring version of the Gang with an almost intact membership (except for the Ace Robot sometimes being replaced by a human member). Recently, though, Jack and Queen were killed during the Joker’s "Last Laugh" riots.
Replacements were to be found, though. The Gang began a recruitment drive aimed at street gangs in several American cities. Although the Royal Flush of Spades is still in command, the entire organization now includes a whole deck of 52 cards. The expanded Gang was defeated by Superman in Metropolis, but for every member sent to prison, there are now ten more candidates eager to replace them.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Royal Flush Gang in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #19 (September 1986)
Who's Who: Update '87 #5 (December 1987)
Who's Who in the DC Universe #6 (January 1991)
JLA-Z #3 (January 2004)