The Minutemen

The Minutemen

Quote: "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible!"

The original super crusader team of Heroic Earth. The Minutemen were the scourge of gangsters during the thirties, heroes of World War 2, and enemies of communist agents in the fifties. The fact that the Minutemen were eventually destroyed not by outside attack but by the machinations of their own internal rivalries is a tragedy that still echoes by their example. They are all old men now but others are willing to follow in their footsteps.

History and Organization: The Minutemen were formed in the wake of the Rembrandt murders that imperiled a dozen major cities. The group was a tad overpowered for the ranks of the bank robbers and gangsters they usually fought but soon found themselves confronted with increasingly bizarre criminals. Though super beings were still rare, they started to gravitate to fighting the Minutemen. All of their many accomplishments before paled to what they would be called to do as the United States' superteam in World War 2.

The Minutemen battled both domestic and foreign threats and were instrumental in fighting off the Bio-Blitzkrieg threat. They ultimately were not the individuals that destroyed the threat but blunted its influence and stopped more than a dozen attempts to overthrow America's government. This heroism was honored above any other but soon came crashing down.

The Minutemen became objects of ridicule after the end of the conflict against the Axis Powers. Though many were grateful for their deeds, the great threats had passed and it was clear they were growing older. No new generational heroes seemed to be ready to take their place and the smear campaign conducted against them by opportunistic politicians was severe. Had they stuck together, it might have been possible for them to have united America against the hysteria of the time but they fell as they were divided. The Minutemen had no official ceremony to close their doors and their hall simply was vacated.

The Minutemen were primarily composed of Antaeus, Greywing, and Ink Spot whom remained with the team for its entire existence. Numerous other heroes joined during its tenure though. The Great Ghost, Kung Fu King, Eagle Eyed Horus, Hermes the Speedster, the ridiculous Mr. Aladdin and his Magic Lamp, Doctor Hourglass, the Spaceman, Athena the goddess of Law, Mr. Spectacular, and numerous others whom stayed for years or occasionally just a few months. Not all members left by choice and some made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Leadership of the society was never an issue as all deeds were done by democratic vote but the words of Greywing and Antaeus often decided all decisions during the Minutemen's history. It is possible that the heroism of the Minutemen might inspire a future generation of heroes to take up the mantle of the organization. Headquarters: The Minutemen operated from a mansion that previously belonged to Nakozo the Mad Magician. Donated by the city to serve their needs, Minutemen Hall was not particularly equipped beyond being a meeting place for the organization. The location did have a gymnasium set up for their needs and a library where they kept case files of each of their battles.

The greatest room in Minutemen Hall held a massive table that sported the seal of the organization. An American Eagle around a shield that sported the motto of the Minutement. This place was where all of the decisions for the future of the group were made.