Secret Six

Six members, one secret leader, and a history written in betrayal.

The Secret Six is the name of three different fictional teams appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, plus an alternate universe's fourth team. Each iteration consists of six members led by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird, whom the characters assume to be one of their own. The Silver Age debut occurred in May 1968 with strike operatives including August Durant and King Savage. Decades later, Gail Simone's anti-heroic incarnation was rated by IGN as the fourth Best Comic Run of the Decade in 2012, cementing the team's legacy as a unique blend of villainy and reluctant heroism.

Quick Facts

Publisher

DC Comics

Debut

Secret Six #1

Base

(1980s)
San Francisco (2000s)
House of Secrets

Schedule

(vol. 1)
Bi-monthly (vols. 2–5)
Monthly

Format

(vols. 1, 3, and 4)
Ongoing series (vols. 2, and 5)
Limited series

Genre

(vol. 1)
Action/Adventure
Mystery (vols. 2–5)
Superhero

Lore & Background

The original Secret Six debuted in May 1968 with seven issues running until May 1969. The premiere story began on the cover and continued on page one, featuring August Durant, Lili de Neuve, Carlo di Rienzi, Mike Tempest, Crimson Dawn, and King Savage. Created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Frank Springer, the series ended with Mockingbird's identity unrevealed, though writer Martin Pasko later revealed in Action Comics Weekly #601 (May 24, 1988) that Durant was the leader. This revived team included Mitch Hoberman and Dr. Maria Verdugo but died entirely by issue #612, with DiRienzi succeeding Durant before his own death in issues #619–630.

Reader's Guide

The team operates with rotating rosters across distinct eras, always maintaining six members under a hidden Mockingbird. The 2014 New 52 relaunch featured a new lineup with Gail Simone returning as writer, retaining only Catman from previous iterations. Key storylines include 'Depths,' where the Six freed Amazon slaves and Bane replaced Scandal with Black Alice, and 'Danse Macabre' (Suicide Squad #67), where they were trapped by Amanda Waller to fight a Black Lantern invasion. Other crossovers saw them hired by Lex Luthor to kill Vandal Savage in Action Comics #896, and clashing with the Doom Patrol over Oolong Island. Their final mission involved an ill-fated assault on Gotham City against Green Lantern, the Justice League, and Teen Titans.

Did You Know?

Writer E. Nelson Bridwell revealed Mockingbird's identity to letterer Clem Robins years after the book was cancelled.
Junior, a major villain in the 2008 series, is actually Rag Doll's sister and daughter of the first Rag Doll.
The New 52 relaunch in December 2014 kept only Catman from the previous Gail Simone lineup.