DNAgents

Creation

In 1983 the independent comic book publisher Eclipse Comics would collaborate with writer Mark Evanier and artist Will Meugniot to create the series called DNAgents. The idea around the series centered around the creation of four clones who were genetically altered to grow to be teenage aged and to have innate superhuman powers. Intentionally created by the Matrix Corporation to act as they're own superhuman army.

Although the original series had a short run it received acclaim for its original content. Years later the series was reintroduced to readers by Antarctic Press, which briefly published it. In June 2006 a collection of reprinted issues were put together in DNAgents Volume #1.

History

The DNAgents were a group of super humans that originated as a top-secret lab experiment conducted by the research division of The Matrix Corporation. Known as The Biotype Project, the five individuals were grown in vats at an accelerated rate and bio-engineered with unique superpowers. The initial idea behind the experiment was to genetically tailor the perfect corporate controlled soldiers.

Things went slightly awry however when the daughter of Matrix's CEO Lucius Krell was kidnapped while vacationing in Acapulco. The kidnappers demanded that Krell return plans for a solar converter that he had stolen from a rival Japanese corporation, and rather than have his dirty laundry publicly aired, Krell forced the scientists to awaken the Biotype Project subjects prior to their full development.

The Project produced five unique individuals: Surge, born with electrical powers and an outgoing hot-headed nature, Tank, born with super strength and stature, the team's gentle giant, Amber, the team's heart and soul born with the power to create energy discs for a wide variety of effects, Sham, shy and quiet, was underdeveloped compared to his teammates but he eventually discovers he has shapeshifting powers, and Rainbow, the team leader, a telepath able to project realistic illusions.

Shortly after their first mission in Acapulco, Lucius Krell enrolled the team in Beechgrove University, ostensibly to have them act as bodyguards to his daughter. The DNAgents however, saw this as an opportunity to find out as much about humans and being human as possible.

While much of their time out in the world is taken up fighting a variety of villains that are hardly more villainous than Lucius Krell and the Matrix Corporation, they do begin to more solidly develop their own personalities. Rainbow even develops a relationship with another hero known as Crossfire and it's revealed that she's pregnant with his child before the end of the series.

The team eventually meets a rather ignominious end when Lucius Krell gets tired of their rebelliousness against their corporate directives and has them all put back into suspended animation, a move which echoed writer Mark Evanier's decision to abruptly end the series to concentrate on other projects.

Members

Rainbow: The team leader and mother/big sister type to the rest of her teammates. Confident and resourceful Rainbow is a telepath who can read minds, can create, project and manipulate illusions, and deliver powerful psychic bolts from her mind.

Surge: Egotistical, conceded, and impulsive rebel of the family finds himself at odds with the obedient nature of his teammates. Ever the thrill seeker who can generate and control large amounts of electrical energy.

Tank: Truly the teams gentle giant and big brother to lean on during times of trouble. Tank derives his name from the armored weapons suit which he is outfitted in. Tank also has superhuman strength, endurance, and resistance to some degree of injury. Tank is also the socially awkward member, he consistently seeks acceptance in friendships and love from other people.

Amber: The bubbly, extremely outgoing social butterfly of the team is always up for an outing. Amber has the ability to manipulate magnetic energies around herself to a large degree. She has created shields, energy blasts from her hands, and disks enabling her to fly.

Sham: The youngest member of the team and the most reserved emotionally. Suffering from self doubt and nearly crippling shyness to people, he keeps close to his teammates. Sham is a shapeshifter whos body mass can become a lump of bio-putty if his emotional state of being losses control. He is also the teams weapons master and agent of infiltration able to changes his shape with ease. Sham is also extremely sensitive to bright lights.