Great Ten

The Great Ten (Shi Hao Xia) or (十豪侠) are a team of Chinese comic book superheroes in the DC Comics Universe, who are sponsored by the government of the People's Republic of China. They were introduced in '' 52'' (June 2006), and created by Grant Morrison, J. G. Jones, and Joe Bennett. Several of the characters have a basis in Chinese mythology. Unlike conventional superhero monikers, their names are close to literal translations from the Chinese language.

Publication history

Grant Morrison explained the background to his creation of the team, in a pitch that also contained the outline for the Super Young Team:

The Great Ten returned in their own title, in a ten-issue monthly miniseries, beginning in early November 2009 and produced by writer Tony Bedard and artist Scott McDaniel, with covers by Stanley Lau.

Fictional team biography

First appearing in ''52'' #6, the Great Ten's actions are hampered by bureaucracy. Three of the team's members were forced to sit out a battle with Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart because they had not completed the required paperwork. Following the events in the ''Infinite Crisis'' story arc, as a signatory of the Freedom of Power Treaty China has entered into a coalition with Kahndaq, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, leading the Great Ten to join forces with Black Adam on the battlefield. Later, in week #32, Accomplished Perfect Physician saves Ralph Dibny from his rampaging teammate Yeti, and gains his help subduing and restoring him to his human self. The Accomplished Perfect Physician then shares with Dibny details about his life and powers, his role as a "super-functionary", and cryptic advice about a coming crisis in the Middle East. The Great Ten later battle Black Adam when he invades China as part of his vendetta after the death of Isis in ''World War III''. This also involves confrontations with several American superheroes, as the Chinese government was willing to go so far as to launch nuclear missiles if their territory was violated. This portion of the stand-off was ended when the Great Ten lost contact with Beijing, leaving August General in Iron with the authority to allow international help - against his own wishes.

On the final page of ''Checkmate'' #3, the Checkmate ground team, on an infiltration mission in China, is discovered and cornered by The Immortal Man in Darkness. In ''Checkmate'' #4 the August General in Iron, Celestial Archer and Yao Fei the Accomplished Perfect Physician show up to support the Immortal Man in Darkness, after a brief skirmish both sides declare a truce. Later, after Yao prevents Count Vertigo (acting under secret orders from Amanda Waller) from stealing Chinese state secrets, the August General decides that Checkmate has betrayed the truce and orders their deaths, only the timely intervention of Green Lantern Alan Scott and the Chinese ambassador saves the lives of Sasha's ground team.

In ''Checkmate'' #13-15 and '' Outsiders'' #47-49, the Checkmate team and the Outsiders are on an infiltration mission to Oolong Island. In ''Outsiders'' #48, they are attacked by Immortal Man in Darkness and Chang Tzu has re-appeared, ready to experiment on Sasha Bordeaux and Captain Boomerang.

The Great Ten also received a self-titled miniseries that revealed the respective histories of its members.

In '' Doomsday Clock'', the Great Ten expand into the Great Twenty, with additional members including Gloss, Dao, Guanxi, Night-Dragon, Ri, and Striker-Z.

Membership

Accomplished Perfect Physician

Accomplished Perfect Physician (Yao Fei) was born a peasant in the Anhui province. He enlists in the army due to lacking the means to become a doctor. During this time, Yao kills monk Tenzin Cering and is forced to assume his position as "Accomplished Perfect Physician". Yao is branded an outlaw and an enemy of the state before willingly joining the Great Ten.''The Great Ten'' #1 (January 2010)

With simple vocal sounds, the Accomplished Perfect Physician can produce a variety of magical effects, such as paralysis, force fields, energy manipulation, healing, destruction of matter, and earthquakes.

August General in Iron

August General in Iron (Fang Zhifu) is a former member of the "Xeno-Team", an elite Chinese spec ops unit trained for encounters with aliens. Following a Durlan attack, Fang's teammates are killed by a flesh-melting pathogen and he is subjected to special life-saving treatments that give him an armored, iron-like body.''The Great Ten'' #5 (May 2010)

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Fang joins Justice League International.

Celestial Archer

The Celestial Archer (Xu Tao) is a former gangster who encountered the Bow of Yi while running from his former gang members.''The Great Ten'' #2 (February 2010) When Xu picked it up, he was transformed into the Celestial Archer and granted godlike archery skills. The Chinese gods task Xu with serving as their agent and reminding China of the old gods, whose worship was suppressed by the government.

The Celestial Archer has unerring aim capable of shooting arrows charged with a mysterious energy, or that can turn day into night.

Ghost Fox Killer

The Ghost Fox Killer is a female emissary from the hidden colony of " Ghost Fox Women". She possesses a fatal touch and can control the spirits of those she kills. Ghost Fox Killer is typically accompanied by a jade guardian lion.''The Great Ten'' #6 (June 2010)

Immortal Man-in-Darkness

Immortal Man-in-Darkness is the name of several people who pilot the Dragonwing, an aircraft reverse-engineered from Durlan technology that possesses a parasitic bond with its pilot and slowly kills them.''Checkmate'' (vol. 2) #4 (September 2006) The current pilot is Chen Nuo.''The Great Ten'' #4 (April 2010)

Mother of Champions

The Mother of Champions (Wu Mei-Xing) is a former theoretical physicist who was exposed to the " god particle", giving her the ability to produce armies of short-lived super-soldiers.''The Great Ten'' #9 (September 2010)

Seven Deadly Brothers

Yang Kei-Ying, also known as the Seven Deadly Brothers, is a soldier who can split into seven identical clones, each a master of one of the seven schools of kung fu. Centuries prior, he helped destroy the Shaolin Temple and was given his abilities as punishment.''The Great Ten'' #7 (July 2010)

Shaolin Robot

The Shaolin Robot is an ancient automaton who was created to guard the tomb of the First Emperor of China. After the tomb is uncovered, the Shaolin Robot is reactivated and upgraded with Durlan technology.''The Great Ten'' #8 (August 2010)

Socialist Red Guardsman

Socialist Red Guardsman (Gu Lao) is an elderly superhero who participated in the Cultural Revolution and is disillusioned with China's current state. He is highly radioactive and wears special armor to contain his energy.

Thundermind

Thundermind (Zou Kang) is a history teacher at Beijing No. 8 High School who inadvertently gains the ability to become a Bodhisattva after reading from an ancient Buddhist artifact.''The Great Ten'' #3 (March 2010) He possesses various abilities, including telepathy, invisibility, and self-duplication.

Reserve members

Chang Tzu

Chang Tzu and his Science Squad are allies and financial supporters of the Great Ten.

Number Four

Number Four is one of the Mother of Champions' children.''The OMAC Project: Infinite Crisis Special'' #1 (May 2006) He is based on the myth of the Ten Brothers, with the fourth possessing invincibility and elasticity.

Shen Li Po

Shen Li Po was formerly the Black King's Bishop in Checkmate. Shen returned to the Great Wall Complex on a leave of absence and was replaced by August General In Iron.

The Yeti

The Yeti (Hu Wei) is a scientist who gave himself the ability to transform into a yeti-like monster via an atavistic gene. However, he is unable to retain his mind while transformed without the use of a special amulet.'' 52'' #32 (December 2006) He is killed by Black Adam in '' 52''.

Other versions

* The Most Unworthy Ten, a villainous counterpart of the Great Ten from the antimatter universe, appears in ''Trinity''.
* An alternate universe variant of August General in Iron who is a member of H.I.V.E. appears in '' Flashpoint''.

In other media

* Yao Fei, with elements of Celestial Archer, appears in ''Arrow'', portrayed by Byron Mann. This version is a martial artist, archer, and Oliver Queen's mentor. He is killed by Eddie Fyers in the episode "Darkness on the Edge of Town".
* The Great Ten appear as character summons in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''.
* The Great Ten appear in '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' #8, consisting of Accomplished Perfect Physician, Celestial Archer, August General In Iron, and Yeti.

References

External links

Cosmic Teams: The Great Ten



Newsarama

Straight (and Not) Out of the Comics
''New York Times'', May 28, 2006

{{Grant Morrison

Characters created by Grant Morrison
Chinese superheroes
Comics characters introduced in 2006
DC Comics superhero teams
Fictional dectets