Femizons
Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary
- Core Identity: The Femizons are a radical feminist separatist organization, primarily composed of super-powered women, dedicated to establishing a global matriarchy and supplanting patriarchal systems of power, often through extreme and violent means.
- Key Takeaways:
- Role in the Universe: The Femizons serve as a recurring antagonistic force, embodying an extremist ideology that challenges heroes like Captain America. They represent a dark reflection of feminist ideals, twisted into a doctrine of supremacy and conquest. Superia.
- Primary Impact: Their most significant plot involved a sophisticated plan to sterilize the majority of the world's female population, rendering them the sole progenitors of a new generation, a scheme that nearly succeeded and highlighted the global scale of their ambition.
- Key Incarnations: In the comics, there are two primary versions: a society of warrior women from an alternate future (Earth-715) and a modern supervillain army founded by the brilliant strategist Superia. Critically, the Femizons as a named organization do not exist in the MCU, though their themes of female empowerment and warrior sisterhood are echoed in groups like the Dora Milaje and the Valkyries of New Asgard.
Part 2: Origin and Evolution
Publication History and Creation
The concept of the Femizons was introduced in two distinct phases, reflecting evolving social commentary within Marvel Comics. The original idea first appeared with the debut of the character Thundra in Savage Tales #1
(May 1971), created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. Thundra hailed from a future timeline, Earth-715, dominated by a warrior society of women called the “Femizons.” This creation emerged during the height of second-wave feminism in the United States, tapping into the cultural discourse around gender roles, power dynamics, and separatism. These early Femizons were portrayed as physically dominant, technologically advanced warriors from a world where men had been subjugated.
The more well-known and impactful version of the team, however, was introduced two decades later by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levins. This modern incarnation, led by the new character Superia, debuted in Captain America #387
(July 1991) as part of the “The Superia Stratagem” story arc. Gruenwald used this new Femizons army to explore more contemporary and extreme facets of feminist ideology through the lens of the supervillain community. This version assembled a vast coalition of existing female villains from across the Marvel Universe, giving them a unified, albeit sinister, purpose. This storyline provided a platform to showcase a huge roster of often-underutilized female antagonists and created a credible, large-scale threat that required the combined efforts of Captain America and his allies to overcome.
In-Universe Origin Story
The origin of the Femizons in Marvel lore is bifurcated, spanning an alternate future timeline and a present-day conspiracy on Earth-616. Understanding both is essential to grasping their full scope and ideology.
Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe)
The primary version of the Femizons encountered by the heroes of Earth-616 was founded by the enigmatic genius known as Superia. A brilliant scientist and strategist with a profound misandrist ideology, Superia believed that patriarchal society was inherently flawed and destined for self-destruction. Her ultimate goal was the creation of a global matriarchy, a “Femizonia,” where women would rule and men would be relegated to a subservient or non-existent role. To achieve this, Superia used her vast intellect and resources to orchestrate a massive recruitment drive. She sent a gilded invitation to nearly every known female supervillain on Earth, inviting them on an exclusive cruise aboard her vessel, the S.S. Superia. The invitation promised power, respect, and a world free from male oppression. Dozens of villains accepted, including prominent figures like Moonstone, Titania, Screaming Mimi, and members of the Serpent Society like Asp, Black Mamba, and Anaconda. Once aboard, Superia unveiled her grand plan. She had established a technologically advanced island nation, also named Femizonia, which would serve as the capital of her new world order. The cornerstone of her plan, “the Superia Stratagem,” was a biological weapon: a sterility bomb. Her intention was to launch a specialized device into the atmosphere that would render all women on Earth, outside of her shielded island, infertile. With her Femizons as the sole bearers of humanity's future, she would have the ultimate leverage to reshape global society in her image. The organization's origin is thus rooted in a specific, large-scale conspiracy orchestrated by a single visionary leader, uniting a disparate collection of villains under a single, radical banner. This plot was famously foiled by an infiltrating Captain America and Paladin, aided by the double-agent Diamondback.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
To be unequivocally clear, the Femizons as a named organization, ideology, or specific group do not currently exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There has been no mention of Superia, a Femizonia, or a villainous coalition of women bearing that name in any film or Disney+ series to date. However, the MCU has explored thematic elements that resonate with the core concepts of the Femizons, albeit through a heroic rather than villainous lens. This answers the common fan query, “Who are the female Avengers?” or “Is there an all-female team in the MCU?”
- The “A-Force” Moment: The most prominent example is the sequence during the final battle of
Avengers: Endgame
(2019), where nearly all of the active female heroes on the battlefield assemble to protect the Infinity Gauntlet for Captain Marvel. This unofficial team-up, retroactively dubbed the “A-Force” moment by fans (a reference to an all-female Avengers team from the comics), showcases a powerful sisterhood of warriors. Unlike the Femizons, this alliance is born of shared heroism and a common goal to save the universe, not a desire for supremacy. - The Dora Milaje: The elite royal bodyguards of Wakanda, the Dora Milaje, represent a highly disciplined and effective all-female warrior society. They are defined by loyalty, honor, and the protection of their nation and its king, T'Challa. They are a functioning matriarchal element within a larger society, but their purpose is protection and service, directly contrasting the Femizons' goal of conquest.
- The Valkyries of New Asgard: As seen in
Thor: Ragnarok
(2017) andThor: Love and Thunder
(2022), the legendary Valkyries of Asgard were an elite force of female warriors. King Valkyrie's efforts to rebuild this order in New Asgard reflect a commitment to restoring a legacy of female strength and martial prowess, again framed in a heroic context.
Should the MCU ever choose to adapt the Femizons, it would likely be as a direct antagonistic force, perhaps led by a re-imagined Superia, who could see the heroic sisterhoods of the Dora Milaje or Valkyries as rivals or as misguided women who still serve patriarchal systems (e.g., a king). This would create a powerful ideological conflict, pitting heroic female empowerment against a villainous, supremacist interpretation of the same ideal.
Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members
The structure and purpose of the Femizons differ significantly between their future and present-day incarnations, but both are centered around the principle of female supremacy.
Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe)
The Future Femizons (Earth-715) The original Femizons from the 23rd century timeline of Earth-715 were not an organization but an entire society.
- Mandate: Their mandate was the complete subjugation and control of the male population. Society was a rigid matriarchy where women held all positions of power, from political leadership to military command. Men (known as “Machans”) were relegated to subservient roles or lived in separate, warring tribes.
- Structure: Their society, based in the United Sisterhood of North America, was a technologically advanced meritocracy built on physical prowess. Genetic engineering and advanced cloning technology were used for reproduction, making men biologically obsolete for procreation. Leadership was often determined through combat.
- Key Members:
- Thundra: The most powerful warrior of her era and Empress of the United Sisterhood. Her journey to the 20th century was initially to challenge the strongest male of the era, The Thing, to prove female superiority. Over time, she evolved into a complex anti-hero and occasional ally to the heroes of Earth-616.
Superia's Femizons (Earth-616) Superia's modern group was a paramilitary terrorist organization with a clear corporate-like structure.
- Mandate: The explicit goal was global domination and the establishment of a world government ruled exclusively by women, achieved through the execution of the “Superia Stratagem.” Their ideology was pure misandrist separatism, viewing men as genetically violent, inferior, and an obstacle to progress.
- Structure:
- Supreme Commander: Superia was the undisputed founder and leader, acting as CEO, chief scientist, and military commander. Her authority was absolute.
- Lieutenants: She relied on a small cadre of more intelligent and powerful villains to act as her inner circle and enforcers. These included Moonstone, who was promised a high-ranking position, and the biologist Nightshade.
- General Membership: The bulk of the Femizons consisted of dozens of female supervillains, serving as soldiers and shock troops. They were organized based on their power sets and specialties. Despite the unifying ideology, the group was rife with internal rivalries and mistrust, as most members were opportunistic criminals rather than true believers.
- Key Members: The roster of Superia's Femizons is extensive. Below is a partial list of notable recruits.
^ Notable Femizon Members ^ Affiliation / Background ^ Role / Contribution ^
Superia | Founder | Mastermind, scientist, and strategist. The architect of the entire Femizon plot. |
M.O.D.A.M. (Mental Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers) | A.I.M. | Served as Superia's chief technician and communications expert, providing advanced technology. |
Moonstone (Dr. Karla Sofen) | Masters of Evil | A powerful and ambitious psychologist, she acted as a key lieutenant but was primarily motivated by self-interest. |
Nightshade (Dr. Tilda Johnson) | Independent / Captain America Foe | A brilliant biologist who assisted Superia with the development of the sterility bomb. |
Titania (Mary MacPherran) | Frightful Four, Masters of Evil | A powerhouse brickhouse who served as muscle and a field commander. |
Screaming Mimi (Melissa Gold) | Thunderbolts, Masters of Evil | Sonic-powered villain who served as a soldier. She would later reform and become the hero Songbird. |
Anaconda (Blanche Sitzninski) | Serpent Society | Mercenary with constricting cybernetic arms, served as a heavy-hitter. |
Asp (Cleo Nefertiti) | Serpent Society, Bad Girls, Inc. | A mutant with the ability to generate paralyzing energy blasts. |
Black Mamba (Tanya Sealy) | Serpent Society, Bad Girls, Inc. | Used the Darkforce to mesmerize and ensnare opponents. |
Diamondback (Rachel Leighton) | Serpent Society, Bad Girls, Inc. | Infiltrator. Posed as a member to feed information to Captain America. Her skills in espionage were crucial to their defeat. |
Ferocia | Acolyte of Magneto | A lupine mutant with enhanced senses and strength. |
*And dozens more, including: Arclight, Battleaxe, Black Lotus, Bloodlust, Bombshell, Chimera, Dansen Macabre, Dragonfly, Frenzy, Impala, Ion, Karisma, Knockout, Lascivious, Mindblast, Mysteria, Pink Pearl, Poundcakes, Quicksand, Snapdragon, Steel Wind, Super-Normal, Vapor, Vertigo, Whiteout, and Wrangler.*
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
As the Femizons do not exist in the MCU, there is no mandate or structure to analyze. However, we can analyze the structure of the thematically similar heroic groups:
- Dora Milaje: They have a clear military hierarchy led by a General (e.g., Okoye) who reports directly to the throne of Wakanda. Their mandate is explicitly the protection of the Royal Family and the nation. Their structure is one of duty, honor, and tradition, the antithesis of the Femizons' revolutionary chaos.
- Valkyries: Originally a royal guard for the Asgardian throne, their structure was military. In the present day, with King Valkyrie as their sole leader, the mandate is the defense of New Asgard. Any new structure would likely be a modern military unit based on merit and skill, dedicated to protecting their people.
Part 4: Key Relationships & Network
Core Allies
The Femizons, being a villainous supremacist group, have few true “allies” in the traditional sense. Their relationships are almost exclusively alliances of convenience.
- A.I.M.: Superia has deep ties to the scientific terrorist organization A.I.M. Her second-in-command, M.O.D.A.M., was a high-ranking A.I.M. agent, and much of the Femizons' advanced technology likely originated from A.I.M. resources. Following her initial defeat, Superia would later go on to lead a faction of A.I.M., cementing this connection.
- The Supervillain Community: Superia's greatest strength was her ability to unite disparate elements of the female supervillain world. She forged a temporary, massive alliance out of groups that were often rivals, such as members of the Serpent Society, the Grapplers, and former Masters of Evil. This network, while powerful, was also incredibly fragile and built on promises of power rather than genuine loyalty.
- H.A.M.M.E.R.: During the
Dark Reign
era, Norman Osborn recognized Superia's genius and recruited her into his dark version of the Avengers initiative, H.A.M.M.E.R. This placed her in a position of power within a government-sanctioned (though corrupt) organization, showing her willingness to work within a male-led structure if it served her own long-term goals.
Arch-Enemies
- Captain America: Steve Rogers is the primary nemesis of Superia and her Femizons. He represents everything their ideology opposes: a man who embodies the pinnacle of human potential, a symbol of a patriotic system they wish to dismantle, and a hero who believes in unity and equality rather than supremacy. His infiltration of Femizonia and his role in thwarting the Superia Stratagem made him their most hated enemy.
- Paladin: The suave mercenary was Captain America's reluctant partner in infiltrating the Femizons' cruise ship. His roguish, often chauvinistic demeanor made him a particular target of the Femizons' ire, and he played a key role in their defeat.
- Diamondback: While a former villain, Diamondback's role as a double agent was the ultimate betrayal in Superia's eyes. She subverted the sisterhood from within, proving that loyalty to a friend and a principle (Captain America and his ideals) was stronger than the promise of a gender-based utopia. She is a traitor to the Femizon cause.
- Patriarchy (as an Ideology): The true arch-enemy of the Femizons is not a person but the concept of a male-dominated society. Every action they take is aimed at dismantling the political, social, and economic structures they believe constitute a global patriarchy.
Affiliations
The Femizons' primary affiliation is with the criminal underworld. The group itself is a super-group affiliation, drawing members from dozens of other teams, including:
- Grapplers
- Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Superia herself has held leadership positions within both A.I.M. and Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R., and was a member of the Shadow Council's iteration of the Masters of Evil. This demonstrates that while her ultimate goal is a matriarchy, she is a pragmatist willing to affiliate with and even lead male-dominated organizations to acquire power and resources.
Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines
The Superia Stratagem (Captain America #387-392)
This is the quintessential Femizons storyline and their grand debut. The plot begins with Captain America and his pilot, John Jameson, witnessing an assembly of female supervillains boarding a luxury liner. Intrigued, Captain America asks the mercenary Paladin to help him investigate. The two men disguise themselves as cross-dressers to get aboard the S.S. Superia, where they discover the massive congregation of villains. Simultaneously, Diamondback, Captain America's on-again, off-again girlfriend and a former member of the Serpent Society, accepts Superia's invitation to act as Cap's inside agent. Onboard, Superia reveals her vision: a world ruled by women. She transports her recruits to her private island, Femizonia, a high-tech paradise. There, she unveils the centerpiece of her plan: a sterility bomb designed to make every woman on Earth except those on her island incapable of bearing children. Her Femizons would become the mothers of the new world. Captain America and Paladin are discovered and must fight their way through the entire army of supervillainesses. The climax sees a desperate battle to stop the missile launch, with Diamondback revealing her allegiance and fighting alongside Cap. Though Superia ultimately escapes in the ensuing chaos, her missile is destroyed and her grand plan is shattered, but the Femizons are established as a formidable and ideologically driven threat.
Fear Itself: The Fearless #5-6
Years later, during the “Fear Itself” crossover event, Superia re-emerged with a new, smaller team of Femizons. This incarnation included Princess Python, Titania, and Ferocia. Their goal was to acquire one of the mystical hammers of the Serpent that had fallen to Earth. They came into direct conflict with Valkyrie, Sin (the Red Skull's daughter, who was empowered as Skadi), and warrior women from Earth. This storyline re-established Superia and the Femizon concept as a persistent threat in the Marvel Universe, showing her continued ambition and ability to rally followers to her cause, even on a smaller scale.
Captain America: Sam Wilson - Standoff
During the “Avengers: Standoff!” event, Maria Hill, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., secretly created Pleasant Hill, a seemingly idyllic town that was actually a prison where supervillains' minds and bodies were altered by a Cosmic Cube fragment named Kobik. Superia was one of the scientists Hill brought in to help manage the project. This affiliation, while not under the Femizon banner, highlighted Superia's core character: a pragmatist willing to work with the “patriarchal” system of S.H.I.E.L.D. to gain access to world-altering power like Kobik. When the villains' true identities were restored, the prison erupted in chaos, with Superia once again positioned as a major player in the supervillain community.
Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions
Earth-715 (The Original Femizons)
This alternate 23rd-century timeline is where the Femizon concept originated. This reality diverged from Earth-616 sometime in the 20th century, leading to a devastating war between the sexes. The women, led by a figure named Thundra, emerged victorious. They established a society called the United Sisterhood, where women were the dominant warrior class and men were either enslaved or lived in barbaric tribes. Reproduction was handled via genetic labs, and physical strength was the most prized virtue. This society was the inspiration for Superia's name and ideals, though her methods were different. Thundra, the greatest warrior of this timeline, would travel back in time and become a permanent fixture in the Earth-616 universe, often fighting alongside heroes like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, her extremist views slowly tempered by her experiences.
Avengers: United They Stand (Animated Series, Earth-730834)
In this late 1990s animated series, the episode “Earth and Fire, Part 1 & 2” features a group with a remarkably similar ideology to the Femizons. The sorceress Morgan le Fay forms an all-female team called The Command, consisting of herself, Crimson Cowl, and Vapor. Their goal is to use an ancient artifact to de-power all technology on Earth, reverting it to a medieval state which Morgan le Fay would rule as queen. This plan to forcibly reshape the world into a matriarchal fantasy a a direct thematic parallel to Superia's goal of creating a female-led utopia through scientific force. They are ultimately defeated by the Avengers, including the female members Wasp and Tigra, who reject their extremist vision.
See Also
Notes and Trivia
Captain America
#387 (1991). The first mention of the future Femizons of Earth-715 was in Savage Tales
#1 (1971).