ESPIONAGE ELITE
Membership: Number 1,
Number 2, Number
3, Number 4, Number
5;
formerly Glitch
(Charles “Chazz” Amundson), Number 1 (Marya Penskiyov), Number 2 (Samson
Washington), Number 3 (Farley London), Number 4 (Godfried Herter),
Number 5 (Roger Philips)
Purpose: To commit crimes with a focus on espionage and corporate takeover
Aliases: None
Affiliations: Justin Hammer, "Foggy"
Nelson, Spymaster (Nathan Lemon), Spymaster (unidentified)
Enemies: Black Widow,
Captain Alcott, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), "Happy" Hogan, Iron Man
(Tony Stark),
Joe, Michael O'Brien, "Pepper" Potts, James
Rhodes, Jasper Sitwell,
Yoshio
Base of Operations: None known
First Appearance: Iron Man I#33 (January, 1971)
History: (Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) –
Planning revenge on Tony Stark, Spymaster
gathered five powerful agents from around the world to form the
Espionage Elite. Marya Penskiyov was Number 1, a former top agent for
the Kremlin. Number 2 was Samson Washington, an African American
ex-circus strongman and Rhodes scholar. Number 3 was Farley London, a
magician, gambler and master of disguises. Number 4 was Godfried
Herter, an electronics genius. Number 5 was Roger Philips, an expert
gymnast.
(Iron Man I#33) – Spymaster kept his identity secret from the
Espionage
Elite as they planned to infiltrate Stark Industries. Marya memorized
the layout and Godfried cut the power to the security system. The next
morning, policeman Joe called for help when a phone line went down and
Godfried and Washington showed up, planting a device. As the Elite
sparred with each other in combat training, Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.
warned Stark of their pending attack. London snuck into Stark
Industries in
disguise on a tour, feigning a heart attack, and Marya posed as his
niece, dropping her purse so Godfried's prepared device could be
planted. London and Marya took an ambulance away and London returned
in a different disguise, using the name Somerset, saying he was there
for a job interview and secretly planting more explosives. The
explosions hit the
plant and the Elite rushed the place, defeating Joe, Micheal O'Brien
and others. Meanwhile, Stark himself was off-site to meet with Fury,
who turned
out to be London in disguise, and Stark was defeated.
(Iron Man I#34) – London
stayed in disguise and kept Stark captive for the night, knocking him
out when Stark tried fighting back. The next morning, Stark was taken
to Stark Industries by London, disguised as Nick Fury, and the
Espionage Elite tried forcing Stark to open his safe to expose his
secrets. Stark briefly summoned his Iron Man armor, scaring the Elite.
O'Brien freed himself from restraints and came across Stark standing
next to London, who was disguised like Stark. O'Brien attacked, letting
Stark escape before London defeated him. After Spymaster helped
Washington escape an elevator, Washington was defeated by Iron Man.
Marya battled Jasper Sitwell until Philips held Sitwell at gunpoint.
Herter hit Iron Man with a D-Ray and Spymaster further damaged the
armor. As the Elite tried to escape with their hostage, Sitwell threw
himself in front of a gun blast to stop them and the tables turned.
Spymaster abandoned his team, leaving the Elite to be arrested.
(Iron Man I#35) – The
Espionage Elite were held by the police as Jasper Sitwell lay wounded.
Iron Man threatened them but the district attorney "Foggy" Nelson and
his assistant Matt Murdock warned Iron Man to back off.
(Marvel Super-Heroes
II#12/3) – Spymaster recruited talented hacker, Glitch ("Chazz"
Amundson) to join the team and Glitch had Numbers 1-5 steal equipment
for him (though they did so reluctantly) to complete the hacking of
Iron Man's armor. Glitch then adopted a costume for himself and in
time,
Glitch learned he could place his consciousness in electronics.
Spymaster had grand plans but when Iron Man attacked, Glitch chose to
betray the Espionage Elite and side with hero. Iron Man defeated the
Iron Howitzer
that Number 4 attacked him with then he tied up 1-5. Spymaster
escaped though Glitch soon helped Iron Man track him down.
(Iron Man III#8 (fb)) – The
new, unidentified Spymaster formed a new Espionage Elite including
Number 1 (white
man with grey hair and mustache), Number 2 (long-haired blond woman,
seemed good at martial arts), Number 3 (short-haired blond woman,
seemingly a body builder), Number 4 (white man with brown hair, seemed
good at martial arts), and Number 5 (white man with brown hair,
seemingly a body builder).
(Iron Man III#3) – Number 2
posed as Doreen and flirted with "Happy" Hogan (annoying "Pepper"
Potts) while delivering supplies to Stark's company, all part of
Spymaster's plans.
(Iron Man III#8) – The
Espionage Elite lured Tony Stark into an alley, where he was separated
from his
briefcase that contained his Iron Man armor, then beat him into a
coma savagely until Black Widow arrived to scatter them.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood#1) –
Sneaking close to the yacht on which Tony Stark was vacationing using
mechanized buoys and attack crafts, the Espionage Elite surrounded the
boat with a force-field, trapping Stark on board with civilians
including Captain Alcott, Yoshio and others. Planning on kidnapping
Stark, the Elite were overwhelmed when Iron Man attacked using
superior technology against them and threatening to cut off the arm of
Number 4 when he threatened civilians. Numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 were all
arrested but Number 3 was lost at sea when his ship crashed. Later,
Number 3 pulled himself ashore and took time to plan revenge on Stark,
ambushing him in the woods in his car with James Rhodes and causing
them to crash. Planning to kill Stark, Number 3 chased him through the
woods. In a remote cabin, Stark triggered an explosion, badly wounding
3, then Stark beat 3 badly until James Rhodes pulled him off.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood#4 – BTS) – Iron Man exposed Justin Hammer as the
one behind the recent
Espionage Elite attacks. Hammer was killed in space.
Comments: Created by Allyn Brodsky, Don Heck
and Joe Guadioso.
The Espionage Elite received a profile in Iron Manual Mark 3#1.
Only Numbers
One, Four, and Five were seen on panel in Iron Man I#35. Similarly, only
Numbers 3 and 4 were identified on panel in Iron Man: Bad Blood#1.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Espionage Elite has no known connections to:
- The Elite, Secret
Empire leaders @ Captain America I#193
- The Elite,
Punisher enemy @ Punisher V#5
- Elite Mutant Force of
Earth-295 @ X-Men: Alpha#1
- Elite Pursuer-9 Assault Tank,
Coldblood enemy @ Marvel Comics Presents I#26/3
- or any other "Espionage" or "Elite" groups
Captain Alcott
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – Captain Alcott headed the crew of a
yacht that Tony Stark commissioned for a vacation. When she noticed
irregular buoys in the water, she called to have them investigated but
ignored the potential threat until the Espionage Elite attacked. Stark
ordered the civilians into cover but Alcott got a gun to fight back
until he convinced her to protect the civilians. Iron Man soon handled
the threat.
--Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1
Joe
(Iron Man I#33) – Joe and another officer responded when there
was damage at Stark Industries. They called the phone repair man and
the Espionage Elite's Numbers Two and Four arrived instead, posing as
repairmen. Later, when explosions rocked the factory, Joe was defeated
by the Espionage Elite.
--Iron Man I#33
Number 1 (Marya
Penskiyov)
(Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) – Marya Penskiyov was a former top
agent in the Kremlin trained in espionage. She was recruited by
Spymaster to join the Espionage Elite as Number 1.
(Iron Man I#33-35) – The Espionage Elite helped Spymaster with his
detailed plot to infiltrate Stark Industries and steal secrets. They
faced Tony Stark, his bodyguard Iron Man (secretly Stark himself),
Michael O’Brien and security guards including Joe, and badly wounded
Jasper Sitwell before they were defeated by Iron Man and arrested.
Spymaster abandoned them when they faced failure. During the planning,
Marya was tasked with memorizing the layout of the headquarters, and
she briefly sparred with Jasper Sitwell. "Foggy" Nelson and Matt
Murdock
arrived to arrest them.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/3) – The Espionage Elite joined Spymaster in
fighting Iron Man again but their new member Glitch ultimately
betrayed the team and they were defeated again. Spymaster again
abandoned the team again but was later arrested.
--Iron Man I#33 (#33 (fb) – BTS, 33-35, Marvel Super-Heroes I#12/3,
Number 1
(Iron Man III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Justin Hammer worked through
Spymaster to
recruit a new Espionage Elite including Number 1, a white man with a
mustache.
(Iron Man III#8) – The Elite badly beat Tony Stark into a coma then
fled from the Black Widow.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – The Elite attacked a ship Tony Stark was
on and they were swiftly repelled by Iron Man and arrested.
--Iron Man III#8 (8 (fb) – BTS, 8, Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,
Number 2 (Samson
Washington)
(Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) – Rhodes scholar Samson Washington
was a former circus strongman who was recruited by Spymaster to join
the Espionage Elite as Number 2.
(Iron Man I#33-35) – The Espionage Elite helped Spymaster with his
detailed plot to infiltrate Stark Industries and steal secrets. They
faced Tony Stark, his bodyguard Iron Man (secretly Stark himself),
Michael O’Brien and security guards including Joe, and badly wounded
Jasper Sitwell before they were defeated by Iron Man and arrested.
Spymaster abandoned them when they faced failure. During the battle,
Washington briefly squared off against Iron Man solo but was defeated.
"Foggy" Nelson and Matt Murdock arrived to arrest them.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/3) – The Espionage Elite joined Spymaster in
fighting Iron Man again but their new member Glitch ultimately
betrayed the team and they were defeated again. Spymaster again
abandoned the team, but was later arrested.
--Iron Man I#33 (#33 (fb) – BTS, 33-35, Marvel Super-Heroes I#12/3,
Number 2
(Iron Man III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Justin Hammer worked through
Spymaster to recruit a new Espionage Elite including Number 2, a blond
woman seemingly good at martial arts.
(Iron Man III#3) – Posing as Doreen, Number 2 delivered supplies to
Tony Stark's company, flirting with "Happy" Hogan and annoying "Pepper"
Potts.
(Iron Man III#8) – The Elite badly beat Tony Stark into a coma then
fled from the Black Widow.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – The Elite attacked a ship Tony Stark was
on and they were swiftly repelled by Iron Man and arrested.
--Iron Man III#8 (8 (fb) – BTS, 3, 8, Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,
Number 3 (Farley
London)
(Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) – Farley London was trained magician,
gambler and master of disguises who was recruited by Spymaster to join
the Espionage Elite as Number 3.
(Iron Man I#33-35) – The Espionage Elite helped Spymaster with his
detailed plot to infiltrate Stark Industries and steal secrets. They
faced Tony Stark, his bodyguard Iron Man (secretly Stark himself),
Michael O’Brien and security guards including Joe, and badly wounded
Jasper Sitwell before they were defeated by Iron Man and arrested.
Spymaster abandoned them when they faced failure. During the battle,
London used several disguises, including that of an ill old man, a job
applicant named Somerset, Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Tony Stark
himself. "Foggy" Nelson and Matt Murdock arrived to arrest them.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/3) – The Espionage Elite joined Spymaster in
fighting Iron Man again but their new member Glitch ultimately
betrayed the team and they were defeated again. Spymaster again
abandoned the team but was later arrested.
--Iron Man I#33 (#33 (fb) – BTS, 33-35, Marvel Super-Heroes I#12/3,
Number 3
(Iron Man III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Justin Hammer worked through
Spymaster to recruit a new Espionage Elite including Number 3, a blond
woman, seemingly a body builder.
(Iron Man III#8) – The Elite badly beat Tony Stark into a coma then
fled from the Black Widow.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – The Elite attacked a ship Tony Stark was on
and they were swiftly repelled by Iron Man and arrested.
--Iron Man III#8 (8 (fb) – BTS, 8, Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,
Number 4
(Godfried
Herter)
(Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) – Godfried Herter was an electronics
expert who was recruited by Spymaster to join the Espionage Elite as
Number 4.
(Iron Man I#33-35) – The Espionage Elite helped Spymaster with his
detailed plot to infiltrate Stark Industries and steal secrets. They
faced Tony Stark, his bodyguard Iron Man (secretly Stark himself),
Michael O’Brien and security guards including Joe, and badly wounded
Jasper Sitwell before they were defeated by Iron Man and arrested.
Spymaster abandoned them when they faced failure. During the battle,
Herter set off a series of electronic attacks through specially
prepared devices and he fired a D-Ray at Iron Man, briefly breeching
his armor. "Foggy" Nelson and Matt Murdock arrived to arrest them.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/3) – The Espionage Elite joined Spymaster in
fighting Iron Man again but their new member Glitch ultimately
betrayed the team and they were defeated again. During the battle,
Herter fired an Iron Howitzer. Spymaster again abandoned the team but
was later arrested.
--Iron Man I#33 (#33 (fb) – BTS, 33-35, Marvel Super-Heroes I#12/3,
Number 4
(Iron Man III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Justin Hammer worked through
Spymaster to recruit a new Espionage Elite including Number 4, a white
man, seemingly good at martial arts.
(Iron Man III#8) – The Elite badly beat Tony Stark into a coma then
fled from the Black Widow.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – The Elite attacked a ship Tony Stark was on
and they were swiftly repelled by Iron Man and arrested. Number 4 was
briefly believed dead when his aircraft crashed into the ocean but he
got himself to shore and later fired a gun at a car containing James
Rhodes and Tony Stark. Rhodes was badly wounded. 4 pursued Stark
through the woods, where Stark set off an explosion and then he
savagely beat 4, breaking bones.
--Iron Man III#8 (8 (fb) – BTS, 8, Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,
Number 5 (Roger
Phillips)
(Iron Man I#33 (fb) – BTS) – Roger Phillips was an expert
gymnast was who recruited by Spymaster to join the Espionage Elite as
Number 5.
(Iron Man I#33-35) – The Espionage Elite helped Spymaster with his
detailed plot to infiltrate Stark Industries and steal secrets. They
faced Tony Stark, his bodyguard Iron Man (secretly Stark himself),
Michael O’Brien and security guards including Joe, and badly wounded
Jasper Sitwell before they were defeated by Iron Man and arrested.
Spymaster abandoned them when they faced failure. "Foggy" Nelson and
Matt
Murdock arrived to arrest them.
(Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/3) – The Espionage Elite joined Spymaster in
fighting Iron Man again but their new member Glitch ultimately
betrayed the team and they were defeated again. Spymaster again
abandoned the team but was later arrested.
--Iron Man I#33 (#33 (fb) – BTS, 33-35, Marvel Super-Heroes I#12/3,
Number 5
(Iron Man III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Justin Hammer worked through
Spymaster to recruit a new Espionage Elite including Number 5, a white
man, seemingly a bodybuilder.
(Iron Man III#8) – The Elite badly beat Tony Stark into a coma then
fled from the Black Widow.
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – The Elite attacked a ship Tony Stark was on
and they were swiftly repelled by Iron Man and arrested.
--Iron Man III#8 (8 (fb) – BTS, 8, Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,
Yoshio
(Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1) – Yoshio was a private chef for Tony Stark on
a yacht but he rushed to safety when the Espionage Elite attacked.
--Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1
images: (without ads)
Iron Man I#33, p1, pan1 (main)
Marvel Super-Heroes II#12, p69, pan1 (with Glitch)
Iron Man III#8, p18, pan2 (new team)
Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1, p4, pan4 (Captain Alcott)
Iron Man I#33, p8, pan3 (Joe)
Iron Man I#33, p2, pan1 (Number 1/Marya Penskiyov)
Iron Man III#8, p18, pan2 (Number 1)
Iron Man I#33, p2, pan2 (Number 2/Samson Washington)
Iron Man III#8, p18, pan2 (Number 2)
Iron Man I#33, p2, pan3 (Number 3/Farley London)
Iron Man: Bad Blood I#3, p17, pan1 (Number 3)
Iron Man I#33, p2, pan5 (Number 4/Godfried Herter)
Iron Man III#8, p18, pan2 (Number 4)
Iron Man I#33, p2, pan6 (Number 5/Roger Phillips)
Iron Man III#8, p18, pan2 (Number 5)
Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1, p3, pan1 (Yoshio)
Appearances:
Iron Man I#33-34 (January-February, 1971) - Allyn Brodsky (writer),
Don Heck (penciler), Joe Guadioso (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Iron Man I#35 (March, 1971) – Gerry Conway (writer), Don Heck
(penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Marvel Super-Heroes II#12/2 (January, 1993) - Cordwainer Fury, Kurt
Busiek (writers), Dave Simons (penciler), Ralph Cabrera (inker), Rob
Tokar (editor)
Iron Man III#3 (April, 1998) – Kurt Busiek (writer), Sean Chen
(penciler), Eric Cannon, Troy Hubbs, Sean Parsons (inkers), Bobbie
Chase (editor)
Iron Man III#8 (September, 1998) – Kurt Busiek (writer), Sean Chen
(penciler), Eric Cannon, Sean Parsons (inkers), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Iron Man: Bad Blood I#1,4 (September, December, 2000) – David
Michelinie (writer), Bob Layton (artist), Bobbie Chase (editor)
First Posted: 05/30/2018
Last updated: 05/30/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let
me know.
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