Great Ten
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The Great Ten are a team of fictional superheroes sponsored by the government of the People's Republic of China. Appearing in comics published by DC Comics, they were created by Grant Morrison, and were introduced in 52 #6 (June 2006). Several of the characters have a basis in Chinese mythology.
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This team of super-functionaries is based in China's Great Wall complex. This massive complex houses the team's command and support technicians as well as facilities for the creation of more Chinese superhumans. Every action the Great Ten take during combat must be approved by the bureaucracy.
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 Khandaq, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, leading the Great Ten to join forces with Black Adam on the battlefield. Later, in week #32, the Accomplished Perfect Physician saves Ralph Dibny from his rampaging teammate Yeti, and gains his help into subduing and restoring him to his human self. The Accomplished Physician then shares with Dibny details about his life and powers, his role as a "super-functionary", and some cryptic advice about a coming crisis in the Middle East.
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 Fei 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.
According to DC Comis’ Director of Sales Bob Wayne “52’s” team of Chinese superheroes the Great Ten will also return in their own title. [1]
- Accomplished Perfect Physician - Real name Yao Fei. Apparently the diplomat of the team, the Physician appears to be a collected individual with well-developed people skills. Has the ability to use the sound of his own voice for a variety of superhuman effects, such as physical or mental paralysis, force fields, healing, destruction of matter, and earthquakes; he was able to disrupt Count Vertigo's powers with just his voice.[2] He and the Socialist Red Guardsman have a highly adversarial relationship.[3] Yao Fei was formerly a member of the Red Army who put his soldier's past behind him when he accepted the office and responsibilities of the Accomplished Perfect Physician. Yao Fei's origin is similar to that of Doctor Strange and the Doctor. Yao was an outlaw in China for many years until he agreed to join the Great Ten. He refers to himself and the rest of the Ten as a super-functionary rather than a super-hero.[4]
- August General in Iron - Gained a reputation when he prevented an attempt by the Shaolin Robots to overthrow the ruling Socialist Party and return China to Imperial rule. Reshaped by Durlan DNA technology, his own skin is biometal hide[2]. He commands the Great Ten, but must run all command decisions in the field by them, and by extension the Central Committee. The General carries a special energy staff that can apparently cut through metal.
- Celestial Archer - An archer with ties to Chinese mythology, and who can fire arrows charged with a mysterious energy. An irreverent character, disrespectful of August General's authority who attempted to become friends with Sasha Bordeaux.[2]
- Ghost Fox Killer - Female emissary from the hidden colony of "The Ghost Fox Women", tasked with killing evil men, and who apparently can control the ghosts of men she's killed.
- Immortal Man in Darkness - The most recent in a line of Chinese pilots bonded to a living Durlan fighter craft. Apparently his or her bond with the craft allows him to alter its shape, and even diffuse it into a smoke like substance. According to Sasha this type of bond eventually breaks down a human's molecular structure.[2]
- Mother of Champions - A woman who can birth a litter of 25 super-soldiers about every three days. Each member of her brood only lives to age 25. She uses a metallic chair with six insect-like legs to remain mobile during her pregnant state. One of her superstrong and tough children named Number Four appeared in The OMAC Project - Infinite Crisis Special. Number Four was sent into Saudi Arabia to retrieve the fallen OMAC satellite.
- Seven Deadly Brothers - Martial arts expert who can divide into seven separate bodies.
- Shaolin Robot - A shaolin robot.
- Socialist Red Guardsman - Gu Lao is one of the oldest Chinese heroes. He used his solar powers to carry out the Cultural Revolution. His body is highly radioactive, so he is forced to wear a special suit of containment armor.
- Thundermind - A Bodhisattva with the power to access metahuman analogues of the powers listed in the Buddhist siddhis. According to 52 #45 he has supersenses akin to telepathy, and fancies himself to be the team's conscience.
- The Yeti - Hu Wei is a scientist who unlocked an atavistic trigger gene that transforms men into monsters. This discovery enabled him to transform into a powerful white furred yeti-like monster plagued with an uncontrollable rage. While in his Yeti form, Hu Wei must wear a special electronic amulet around his neck that keeps him from going berserk.[4] His origin bears similarities to that of the Hulk, and Sasquatch from Alpha Flight.
- ^ http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10013
- ^ a b c d See As seen in Checkmate #4
- ^ As referenced at Newsarama
- ^ a b As seen in 52 #32