While a good majority of the threats faced by the heroes of the DC Universe tend to be intergalactic dictators and madmen who dress as clowns, there are several instances of heroes having to face off against secret organizations. These shady organizations either help the heroes face untold dangers or push the heroes to their breaking point.
Over the course of their superhero careers, DC's superheroes faced all kinds of secretive factions that range from terrorist organizations bent on world domination to government agencies who work in the shadows to control and use metahumans for their own purposes. With that in mind, here are the 10 most powerful secret organizations in DC Comics.
10 Order Of St. Dumas
Otherwise known as the Sacred Order of St. Dumas, this organization is well known to anyone who follows the world of Batman and his allies in DC Comics. Originally appearing in Batman: Sword of Azrael #1, the group is an off-shoot of the Templar Knights, a religious order of warrior monks who gained power during the Crusades before disbanding.
The group that split from the Templar Order was led by a man named Dumas, who had many interactions with Batman villain Ra’s Al Ghul. They created a champion named Azrael and steal power, information and spread disinformation all around.
9 SPYRAL
One newer organization that has been featured prominently in the pages of Nightwing and Grayson, two series centered around vigilante hero Dick Grayson aka Nightwing, is none other than SPYRAL. The group is a spy organization that includes former Batwoman Kathy Kane, as well as Helena Bertinelli, aka The Huntress.
Batman sends Dick into the organization to go undercover, as it has been revealed the organization is searching for Paragon organs that contain the metahuman DNA signatures of the Justice League to be used to develop metahuman bioweapons. He goes deep undercover to confront Mister Minos, the head of SPYRAL.
8 Brotherhood Of Evil
This next secret organization is interesting as it is one of the more unusual supervillain groups that operate from the shadows, and that is the Brotherhood of Evil. Formed by The Brain, a former scientist with a vendetta against Niles Caulder for ending his human life, the group was formed alongside the Brain’s creation, a hyper-intelligent gorilla named Monsieur Mallah and the shapeshifter Madame Rogue.
Often facing the Doom Patrol or the Teen Titans, this group has included villains like Gemini, Plasmus, Warp and Elephant Man. It also included a henchman named Eric Morden, who later became Mr. Nobody.
7 The Secret Society Of Super-Villains
One secret organization that has had many different incarnations and leaders over the years and operates in secret has to be the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Originally orchestrated in secret by Darkseid, the group consisted of Lex Luthor, Wizard, Gorilla Grodd, Funky Flashman, Manhunter and Captain Comet, who sought to steer the group away from villainy and towards more positive actions.
When the Society found out that Darkseid was orchestrating their actions, they rebelled and splintered the group, with each believing they could run the team themselves. Members have included Deathstroke, Doctor Light, Black Adam, Doctor Psycho and Atomic Skull.
6 The Outsiders
This next group is interesting as it shares the name of their organization with a group of superheroes in the DC Comics world, known only as The Outsiders. The group is a secret organization comprised of several clans that once fought corruption and evil around the world, but eventually succumbed to it themselves and splintered into seven clans overall.
Each clan represents a totem weapon and came to light when Komodo began his war against Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow. Oliver learned his father passed away searching for the Arrow totem, and the group has included Shado, Emiko Queen and Katana.
5 Project Cadmus
One of the next groups to look at here has to be Project Cadmus. This group is unique in that the name is actually that of a secret project that was developed to test the limits and potential for superhuman powers among the human population. This led to experimentation involving cloning, often creating humans with slightly modified alien looks and powers.
The group was subverted as an offshoot for Darkseid’s Intergang to create living monsters to help him solve the Anti-Life Equation. The group is responsible for the creation of Superboy, and later created Terry McGinnis, aka Batman Beyond.
4 A.R.G.U.S.
One of the organizations introduced during the New 52 reboot era of DC Comics has to be A.R.G.U.S.. The group is led by Col Steve Trevor and Director Amanda Waller, and includes agents like Etta Candy and Lyla Michaels, who many will recognize from the CW’s Arrowverse.
The group stands for Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans. It is a secret government organization for the United States that works under the Homeland Security banner. They have worked alongside and helped the Justice League, as well as formed the Justice League Of America and Task Force X.
3 League Of Assassins
One of the most powerful secret organizations in the world, and one of the oldest, has to be The League of Assassins. Led mainly by the villainous and nearly immortal being Ra’s Al Ghul, the League is filled with some of the most powerful and deadly assassins in the DC Universe, including Lady Shiva and Talia Al Ghul.
It was Talia who began a love affair with Bruce Wayne, whom Ra’s wanted to take over the League. Bruce refused, and their love could never be. However she gave birth to Bruce’s son Damian, who now works as the new Robin.
2 Court of Owls
The second most powerful organization in DC Comics is none other than the Court of Owls. Another group created during the New 52 era, this group is one of Gotham City’s most ancient and powerful societies. For centuries, Gotham’s oldest and wealthiest families used assassinations and crime to gain political influence and power in the city, which proved to be one of Batman’s greatest challenges.
They have created powerful assassins known as Talons to carry out their work. The high ranking members of the group wear Owl masks and are the wealthy ones, while lower members are Owl/Human hybrids.
1 Leviathan
As of this writing, the most powerful organization in DC Comics is Leviathan. Sharing the name of another organization in Marvel Comics, this group was created in secret by Talia Al Ghul, who had left the League of Assassins after a split with her father.
Originally thought to be led by the Nazi villain Doctor Dedalus, it was revealed that Talia played Bruce all along, with the goal of destroying him and his allies before destroying civilization itself. The war between Leviathan and Bruce’s Batman Inc. was fought hard. The group included villains Professor Pyg, a clone of Damian Wayne named The Heretic, and others.