I was passing thoughts through my head to see who my next showcase would be when I saw all these variant covers coming soon that focused on the upcoming Hellfire Gala when I was doing research for Wednesday Night Dudes. That's when the light bulb went off and I knew my showcase would center around the organization known as the Hellfire Club.
The Hellfire Club is a secret society that often comes into confrontation with the mutant superhero team, the X-Men. Although the Club appears to merely be an international social club for wealthy elites, its clandestine Inner Circle seeks to influence world events, in accordance with their own mutant agenda.
Created by the Uncanny X-Men writer/artist duo of Chris Claremont and John Byrne. The name "Hellfire Club" in fact has a historical precedent, having been a popular name for gentlemen's clubs in the 18th century. Additionally, the hierarchy of the Inner Circle is modeled on the pieces of a chess set, with Black and White sets of Kings, Queens, Bishops and Rooks.
The Hellfire Club and its Inner Circle were introduced in "The Dark Phoenix Saga", attempting to subvert the X-Men's Jean Grey. This incarnation, composed most notably of Black King Sebastian Shaw and White Queen Emma Frost, would remain prominent for many years. After their initial confrontations, the Hellfire Club and the X-Men settled into an uneasy alliance. This eventually changed as endless power struggles perpetuated a series of upheavals within the Inner Circle.
The Hellfire Club counts among its members the most famous, wealthy, and influential members of society. Membership is passed on to descendants, and can also be earned through wealth or influence. While many accept the invitation simply for the pleasures that the Club offers, others seek wealth and influence. In fact, the purpose of the Hellfire Club is to obtain and exert power through politics and economic influence instead of outward conquest and domination. Since its foundation, the Hellfire Club has been involved in wars and assassinations to further the agendas of the Club's most powerful members.
The Club has branches in New York City, London, Hong Kong, and Paris; the various branches are all overseen by the Lord Imperial (a position long-held by Sir Gordon Phillips). Unbeknownst to most members is the Club's Inner Circle. Originally known as the Council of the Chosen, this secret group formed around Edward "Ned" Buckman, each member assuming the titles of the major chess pieces. As White King, Buckman financed Stephen Lang's revived Sentinel program with the assistance of probationary member Sebastian Shaw. Shaw, now Black Bishop, began securing allies within the Club, meeting Harry Leland, Emma Frost, and Donald Pierce, as well as his loyal assistant, Tessa. Buckman, no longer having a use for the dangerously-ambitious Shaw, ordered a Sentinel attack on Shaw and his allies, resulting in the death of Shaw's lover, Lourdes Chantel. That night, Shaw and Emma Frost purged the entire Council of the Chosen, remaking it as the Lords Cardinal and appointing themselves Black King and White Queen.
Shaw's Inner Circle soon turned their attentions to the X-Men, kidnapping several of their number. Mastermind, as Jason Wyngarde, was made a probationary member pending his subversion of the X-Men's Jean Grey. Jean Grey was in fact the Phoenix, a god-like cosmic entity who became unstable after Mastermind's psychic manipulations, turning into the Dark Phoenix. The Hellfire Club had failed, and the X-Men had taken their toll: Phoenix had driven Mastermind insane, Colossus had crippled Donald Pierce and Wolverine nearly killed Harry Leland and several guards.
The Hellfire Club has changed members through the years but their goal of World Domination has never changed. I, personally, am a fan of the The Lords Cardinal branch of the Club. Shaw renamed The Council of the Chosen as The Lords Cardinal following his takeover of the New York branch, and appointed a number of allies to key positions. Frost began running the Massachusetts Academy at this time. Jason Wyngarde, also known as Mastermind, later became a probationary member pending his subversion of the X-Men's Jean Grey into the Club's Black Queen.
The Lords Cardinal consisted of the following:
- Sebastian Shaw - Black King
- Emma Frost - White Queen
- Donald Pierce - White Bishop
- Harry Leland - Black Bishop
- Jason Wyngarde (Mastermind) - A probationary member
- Phoenix (posing as Jean Grey) - Black Queen
- Tessa - Shaw's personal aide.
- Warhawk - Associate of the Hellfire Club.
Following Mastermind's failed subversion of Jean Grey, the title of Black Queen was once again empty but later filled by the mutant known as Selene. Donald Pierce reached the rank of White King but was later expelled for conspiring against his mutant colleagues.
Publication Information
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #129 (January 1980)
Created By: Chris Claremont & John Byrne
Bases: New York City, London, Hong Kong, and Paris to name a few
Various Members:
Sebastian Shaw
Emma Frost
Harry Leland
Jason Wyngarde
Donald Pierce
Tessa
Selene
Magneto
Storm
Shinobi Shaw
Trevor Fitzroy
Madelyne Pryor
Sat-yr-9
Phoenix
Sunspot
Iron Monger
Azazel
Until next time, get your READ on!
