The Cadre were a group of supervillains whose powers were bestowed by the cosmic alien Overmaster to assist him in his efforts to test humanity's fitness to inhabit Earth. The Cadre opposed the Justice League on many different occasions and in various incarnations. Several members have died, only to be replaced by newly empowered recruits.
A second version of the Cadre was called the Cadre of the Immortal. This version was made up of international metahumans deluded by an agent of the Overmaster that claimed to be Prester John, the Immortal. Prester John announced his intention to destroy the Earth in one week, erasing Central City from the planet and stopping all deaths and births across the globe as proof of his power.
Overmaster's second version of the Cadre used mostly existing metahumans from the villainous groups the Extremists and the Aryan Brigade, rather than empowering new agents. He also mind controlled JLA member Ice into joining the team.
A fourth version of the Cadre was created by Dr. Polaris and used to attack the Power Company.
Overmaster's Cadre (I)
Overmaster
Overmaster is an alien entity, a self styled like a celestial force beyond good and evil, which acted as a heavenly judge. After judging a world unworthy, he collected specimens of the species on the planet, then destroyed all life on the planet.—-
- Alternate Company Equivalent: Overmaster is obviously inspired by Marvel's Galactus, a fellow celestial entity that frequently used the survivors of his rampages as servants.
- The Dreaded: Darkseid has stated that the Overmaster could destroy all life and was roughly his equal in power. Darkseid added that he kept himself ready for the day when the Overmaster would come and try to judge Apokolips.
- Hand Blast: Can project energy beams from his hands.
- Mind Manipulation
- Orcus on His Throne: Prefers to remain on his spaceship and send the Cadre to do his dirty work.
- Phlebotinum Killed the Dinosaurs: Overmaster claims to have been responsible for several mass extinctions in Earth's past: including the K-T mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
- Planet Destroyer: Destroys all life on planets he judges to be unworthy.
- Sizeshifter: Can alter his physical size.
- Super-Empowering: Grants superpowers to his servitors.
Black Mass
Geoffrey Thibodeux
Geoffrey Thibodeux was a small-framed physicist who was granted a bulky body and gravity powers by wristbands provided by the Overmaster, who drafted him into the original Cadre under the alias Black Mass.
- Black and Nerdy: Was a physics professor at MIT before gaining his powers.
- Clothes Make the Superman: Gains his powers from his wristbands.
- Gravity Master: Manipulates gravity to a wide range of effects.
- Sizeshifter: Increases in height and mass when he activates his powers.
- Super-Strength: Gains super strength when powered up.
- Super-Toughness: Has a survived a bullet to the head at point blank range.
- Teleportation: Can teleport by creating miniature wormholes.
Crowbar
Malcolm Tandy
He was a leader of a gang when the Overmaster imbued his weapon with super powers. He became the first member of the Cadre.
- Bald of Evil: In keeping with his gang banger heritage, he has a shaved dome.
- Crowbar Combatant: Even before he gained superpowers, his weapon was a crowbar. Now the crowbar is indestructible and can shoot energy blasts.
- Enhanced Archaic Weapon: His crowbar is indestructible and can fire energy blasts.
- They Call Him "Sword": His alias comes from his weapon of choice, and was his nickname even before he gained powers.
- Unbreakable Weapons: For all intents and purposes' Crowbar's crowbar is essentially indestructible.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Crowbar's original costume consisted of trunks, boots, a skullcap and straps.
Fastball
John Malone
John Malone was a former baseball player to whom the Overmaster gave equipment and drafted into the first Cadre. After they were defeated, Fastball went underground and was largely forgotten. He eventually returned to crime and joined the new Cadre under Doctor Polaris but was defeated by the Power Company. He was killed during the OMAC Project and later resurrected as Black Lantern.
- C-List Fodder: Fastball is "Terminated" by OMAC 972676 during The OMAC Project
- Killed Off for Real: During The OMAC Project.
- Power Armor: Wears powerful exoskeleton that has the ability to throw explosive spheres.
- Shout-Out: Shares his surname with Sam 'Mayday' Malone, the former relief pitcher turned bar owner in Cheers.
- Weaponized Ball: Hurls explosive spheres the same size and weight as a baseball.
Nightfall
Nightfall is reputedly a former college student, and was part of the original Cadre.
- Casting a Shadow: Nightfall's bracelets allow to create, control and manipulate darkness.
- Clothes Make the Superman: Her powers stem from the bracelets Overmaster provided her.
- Energy Absorption: Her darkness absorbs all light near it and all kinetic energy.
- Flight: Her bracelets allow her to fly.
Shatterfist
Korean martial artist whose fists could shatter anything. He was eventually slain by Ice.
- Shatterpoint Tap: His powers allowed him to shatter any object he hit.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Wears tights, a mask and gloves, but no shirt.
Shrike
Vanessa Kingsbury
Shrike was an escaped mental patient who became a member of the Cadre and, as such, an enemy of the Justice League of America. During her time with the team, she acted as the Overmaster's most trusted aide. Following her arrest, she was recruited into the Suicide Squad, but died on her first mission. She was later seen resurrected as a member of the Black Lantern Corps.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Has orange hued skin.
- Does Not Know Her Own Strength: Her frantic yells about being sorry and begging not to be shot after killing Rev. Yuma resulted in the death of 32 state troopers before she could be taken down.
- Killed Off for Real: Died on her first mission with the Suicide Squad.
- Faith–Heel Turn: Found religion and embarked on a insanely crafted "spiritual quest". Her joining the Suicide Squad was part of her attempt to find redemption.
- Flight
- The Paralyzer: According to some sources, her sonic scream could be used to paralyze.
- Prehensile Tail: Had a pointed tail growing from her lower spine capable of some degree of manipulation.
- Super-Scream: Could emit a powerful shriek which she used to inflict concussive damage. Other sources mention that her scream could also paralyze, but this was never actually demonstrated.
- Winged Humanoid: Shrike originally had wings, although later was seen without them while part of the Suicide Squad. It was never made clear if the wings she had were artificial or a genetic alteration by the Overmaster.
Cadre of the Immortal
Prester John
An agent of the Overmaster whose goal was to bring about the destruction of society by using champions powered by ancient cultures. He wanted to rid the world of modern technology. Killed by the Overmaster for failing to defeat the JLI.
- Evil Luddite: Wanted to rid the world of modern technology.
Lord Ewald Olafsson
Ewald Olafsson is Ice's brother who takes over Ice's homeland from her father, King Olaf with the help of a villain that turns out to be the Overmaster. This forces the Justice League America to come in and stop him. He is eventually killed in a battle between himself and his sister.
- Cain and Abel: Cain to Ice's Abel.
- Continuity Snarl: Although Ewald was Ice's brother for decades he seems to have been retconned out of existence in the new origin story in Justice League: Generation Lost. He is now a figment of Ice's false memory.
- The Evil Prince: Sought to overthrow his father and usurp the rule of their homeland.
- An Ice Person: Like his sister, Ewald has ice control powers. He can, at will, project in various forms quantities of ice and snow through her hands just enough to down an opponent. He can create platforms of ice upon which he can skate. He is able to generate larger amounts of ice and snow, and conjure massive icy figures.
- Patricide: Murdered his father King Olaf.
Grand Druid
The Grand Druid was an English enemy of the Justice League International working with Overmaster's Cadre.
- Beard of Barbarism: Has a flowing red beard.
- Evil Sorcerer
- Horns of Barbarism: Claims to represent ancient Celtic beliefs and wears a horned helmet.
- Horns of Villainy: Wears a helmet with a truly spectacular pair of horns on it.
Mahayogi
A Hindu wraith and servant of the god Shiva. Gave Maya her powers.
- Emotion Control
- Heel–Face Turn: Switches sides and aids JLE against the Overmaster when he learns that the Overmaster has been controlling Maya's mind.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Sacrifices himself in order to free Maya's mind.
- Telepathy
Maya
Chandi Gupta
A former member of Justice League Europe mind controlled by the Overmaster into joining the Cadre. For more details, see her main entry on the Justice League Europe page.
Mohammed Ibn Bornu
Mohammed Ibn Bornua is a North African hero, who was a member of the Cadre of the Immortal; a team of international meta-humans deluded by an agent of the Overmaster that claimed to be Prester John, the Immortal.
- Enhanced Archaic Weapon: Carries an electronic lance that fires bolts of lightning.
- Lightning Gun: Carries an electronic lance that fires bolts of lightning.
- Mechanical Horse: Rides a flying robot horse.
Musashi
A super powered Japanese warrior hero.
- Master Swordsman: As expected from someone named after the most famous samurai in Japanese history.
Osiris
Osiris was an Egyptian hero who believed himself to be a new incarnation of the god Osiris.
- A God Am I: Believes himself to an incarnation of the god Osiris.
- Heel–Face Turn: When the truth, that the Immortal was an agent of the Overmaster, was revealed, Osiris and his colleague Seneca defected and fought alongside the JLI.
- Power Armor: Wears a suit of powered armour, although its exact functions are unknown.
Phalanx
Roman-themed member of the Overmaster's Cadre.
- Awesome Anachronistic Apparel: Dresses as a Roman legionary.
- Enhanced Archaic Weapon: Carries a spear which fires energy blasts.
- Me's a Crowd: Phalanx can make many copies of himself.
Seneca
Seneca was a member of the Overmaster's Cadre imbued with the powers of his Native American ancestors.
- Braids, Beads and Buckskins: His costume includes a breech-clout, moccasins, a beaded belt and wristbands, feathers, Tribal Face Paint and a Mohawk haircut.
- Heel–Face Turn: When the truth, that the Immortal was an agent of the Overmaster, was revealed, Seneca and his colleague Osiris defected and fought alongside the JLI.
- Super-Strength
- Tribal Face Paint: His costume includes white tribal face paint.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Does not wear a shirt.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Seneca was last seen being offered Justice League membership by Wonder Woman.
Xiuhtecutli
Aztec styled Mexican warrior woman with solar powers.
- The Ageless: Claims to be un-aging.
- Playing with Fire: Has solar based flame powers.
- Super-Strength
Overmaster's Cadre (II)
Backlash
Thus far, very little has been revealed regarding the background of the man called Backlash. He is a Caucasian man that was apparently born somewhere within the American Midwest, and he is known to have strong sympathy with the Nazi viewpoint towards minorities and other non-Aryans. Originally a member Aryan Brigade, he was recruited into the second iteration of the Overmaster's Cadre.
- Combat Tentacles: Backlash has the metahuman ability to elongate his arms until they more closely resemble the tentacles of an octopus or squid, allowing him to enwrap and constrict a foe or to use the arms as punishing whips.
- Creepily Long Arms: backlash has the metahuman ability to elongate his arms until they more closely resemble the tentacles of an octopus or squid, allowing him to enwrap and constrict a foe or to use the arms as punishing whips.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Backlash a thug and a bully with a paranoid, egocentric edge. He’s particularly impatient, perhaps even hyper.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Is a Neo-Nazi.
- Rubber Man: Backlash has the metahuman ability to elongate his arms until they more closely resemble the tentacles of an octopus or squid.
Blind Faith
Blind Faith is, as her name says, blind. She is also a telepath and a seer. She is a fervent and unapologetic white supremacist who once served with the Aryan Nation's team of metahumans in the Aryan Brigade. She later joined the greater Cadre assembled by the Overmaster at Mount Everest.
- Blind Seer: Is blind and is also a telepath and seer.
- Blind Weaponmaster: Perhaps not a true 'master', but Blind Faith carries a staff she uses to fight invisible opponents, whom she can precisely perceive.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: An overconfident, bitter sadist and White supremacist with delusions of class and grandeur.
- Psi Blast: Has a psychic attack powerful enough to fell the Martian Manhunter, though for some reason it is rarely performed.
- Psychic Link: Can establish mind-links that allegedly transcend time and space, and can to an extent cross dimensions. This intimate, permanent bond is normally built with a lover.
- See the Invisible: Blind Faith can act like a psychic bloodhound or detect invisible opponents.
- Super-Hearing: Has an augmented sense of hearing, though this may be a side effect of blindness rather than a power.
- Telepathy: Can read minds, even on unwilling people.
Brute
Resembling a large hairless gorilla, but with a more feral facial structure, it is unclear what sort of being Brute might be. He was a member of the New Extremists and exhibited no signs of intelligence whatsoever. He later joined the Overmaster and his Cadre.
- The Brute: Lives down to his name.
- Dumb Muscle: Exhibits no signs of intelligence and mindlessly follows orders.
- I Am a Humanitarian: It is strongly implied that Brute eats other humans. (Assuming, of course, that he is actually a human.)
- Super-Strength: He could engage a weakened Wonder Woman in hand-to-hand combat.
- The Speechless: Never really speaks. He mostly grunts, although an occasional intelligible like "Eat" escapes his lips.
- Super-Toughness: He could engage a weakened Wonder Woman in hand-to-hand combat.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: Wears trunks and a harness, but no shirt.
Cloudburst
Cloudburst was a member of the New Extremists and later the Overmaster's Cadre.
- Flight: Can fly, presumably by manipulating the wind.
- Shock and Awe: Can shoot lightning from his hands.
- Weather Manipulation: Cloudburst can control the weather in a similar way to the Weather Wizard, though his powers are entirely internalized and are not on the same scale as the more famous villain's.
Death Angel
Death Angel might be some sort of demon or succubus, as Bloodwynd stated that her abilities are magical. She was a member of the New Extremists. Along with the rest of the New Extremists, she joined the Overmaster's Cadre.
- Emotion Eater: Drains the desires and spirit of her target until death ensues.
- Hypnotic Eyes: Her main attack is to transfix her target with a mesmerizing vision of a loved one.
- Man Bites Man: Manifests shadowy fangs with which she bites her victims in order to drain their desires and spirit.
- Mind over Matter: Has displayed telekinetic ability.
- Prophet Eyes: Has pupil-less white eyes.
- Wolverine Claws: Has long claws for fingernails.
Devastator
Jack Snyder
Jack Snyder was a death-row prisoner offered a way out by the Overmaster, who took him on as a new member of his Cadre, armed with a powerful poleaxe.
=* Enhanced Archaic Weapon: Carries an energized poleaxe.
- Power Armor
- Serial Killer: Snyder was serial killer on death row in Florida when he was recruited by the Overmaster.
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle clashed with the JLTF at the Aryan Nation compound. He then joined the greater Cadre assembled by the Overmaster at Mount Everest.
- Animal-Themed Superbeing: Eagles, complete with artificial wings for flight.
- Flight: His winged harnesses allows for fast, silent flight.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: A cruel, racist thug. He actually seems pretty decent and caring toward “the right people” (i.e., White folks approving of his political beliefs). But this also means an increased hostility toward “race traitors” (i.e., White folks working against his political beliefs).
- Razor Wings: His wings have slashing edges.
- Wolverine Claws: His clawed gauntlets have slashing edges.
Gunshot
Gunshot was a strong and generally silent member of the New Extremists, who later joined the Overmaster's Cadre.
- BFG: Carries a 75mm rifle.
- Enhanced Archaic Weapon: Carries an energized battle axe. This might be powered by a battery in his armour.
- In a Single Bound: His armour can make enhanced jumps, perhaps using jump jets.
- Power Armor
- Ray Gun: The chest piece of his armour includes an energy projector.
- Supervillain Packing Heat: As indicated by his codename, Gunshot's primary power is a BFG.
Heatmonger
Heatmonger clashed with the Justice League Task Force at the Aryan Nation compound. She joined the greater Cadre assembled by the Overmaster at Mount Everest.
- C-List Fodder: Seemingly killed during Salvation Run.
- Cyborg: Her power comes from her robotic arms that are able to shoot out blasts of thermal energy.
- Playing with Fire: Heatmonger can project beams of heat and flame from her palms. She can superheat large a volume of air to lethal temperatures.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: A sadistic, racist thug.
- Team Mom: Heatmonger is the closest thing the Aryan Brigade has to one. She appears to play the cheerleading and queen bee role within the group.
Ice
Tora Olafsdotter
Ice was a member of the Justice League International who fell also under the mental influence of Overmaster. For more information, see her main entry on the Justice League International page.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: During her tenure in the Cadre.
Iron Cross
Iron Cross might be European. Or he might be a German-American interested in the most disastrous historical segment of his ancestry. He clashed with the Justice League Task Force at the Aryan Nation compound.Iron Cross later joined the greater Cadre assembled by the Overmaster at Mount Everest.
- C-List Fodder: Fatally shot in the head by The Joker during Salvation Run.
- Dumb Muscle: A big, not impressively bright, racist thug.
- Gratuitous German: Iron Cross sometimes use German words and slang in his speech.
- Killed Off for Real: Fatally shot in the head by The Joker during Salvation Run.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: He is a superpowered Neo-Nazi thug.
- Super-Strength: Able to lift at least 60 tons.
- Super-Toughness: Went several rounds toe-to-toe with the Martian Manhunter.
Meanstreak
Meanstreak was a member of the New Extremists and the Overmaster's Cadre. Meanstreak certainly lived up to her name, reveling in chaos, suffering and destruction in any form.
- Ambiguously Human: Meanstreak's origins are unknown, but she was reluctant to fight Maxima and called her her sister. This is the main clue that they might share an Almerican background, making her a Human Alien.
- Combat Stilettos: Fights in stiletto heeled thigh boots.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has a wicked-looking crescent-shaped scar over her right eye.
- Hellbent For Leather: Her costume appears to made of studded black leather.
- Human Alien: Possibly. She refers to Maxima as her sister, implying they might share an Almerican background.
- Mind Manipulation: She seemed to mentally bolster the telepathic control used against Ice by Overmaster.
- Navel-Deep Neckline: Wears a leather bustier with a plunging neckline.
- Psycho for Hire: Meanstreak's main motivation for taking jobs seems to be to spread chaos.
- Spontaneous Weapon Creation: Meanstreak can generate a sort of solid energy from her hands. She uses it to form edged weapons – preferable swords and knives. The largest weapon she was seen to wield was a one-handed scimitar. The largest weapon she was seen throwing was a volley of four knives.
- Stripperific: Wore the skimpiest costume of any of the Extremists or the Cadre (except for possibly Crowbar).
- Super-Toughness: She was durable enough to take blows from Maxima.
- Villain Holds the Leash: Although dangerous in her own right, Meanstreak was also the one most often given orders to Brute.
Doctor Polaris' Cadre
Fastball
The Cadre apparently recruited a new Fastball, who seems to have the same skills as his predecessor.
- Busman's Vocabulary: Uses a lot of baseball references in his speech.
- Legacy Character: The second character to bear the Fastball name and powers.
- Sky Surfing: Rides the Skyplate which is basically a flying skateboard.
Shatterfist
The second Shatterfist is American but otherwise very similar to his predecessor.
- Hand Blast: Can fire fire chi energy from his hands.
- Legacy Character: The second character to bear the Shatterfist name and powers.
- Reduced to Dust: Can focus his chi energy into disintegrating punches.
Starshrike
The winged villainess calling herself Starshrike is the successor of Shrike, an original member of the Cadre. The Cadre recovered Shrike’s bracers after her death during a Suicide Squad mention then gave them to a new recruit, granting her the same powers and physical alterations.
- Flight: Via her wings.
- Super-Scream: Can emit a powerful sonic beam by screaming.
- Super-Senses: Has telescopic vision.
- Winged Humanoid: Has large feathered wings.
- Wolverine Claws: She has sharp claws on her hands and also her feet.
