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CONTINUED...
COME TOGATHER... SOCIAL UNREST... Vietnam and the Hippy 60s
Eventually a team of these Meta beings was formed out of U.S. heroes in 1963.
The World's first organized team of superheroes.
They called themselves the ARGONAUTS and would primarily operate out of the (fictional - sort of) California area called Halcyon City.
This was during a period of immense social upheaval against the ongoing Vietnam War, as well as the Civil Rights movement.
Ultimately, superheroes and The Argonauts were able to survive when they began to sympathize more with the public and less with the government, whom they discovered were more often than not, being less than honest. Though this would not necessarily place them in the Government's favor.
The super-villains, a maniacal, ever present sect of society, were learning from their constant defeats and the battles between the two sides became closer and closer, as well as more destructive, In some cases more lethal.
It seemed if the Argonauts were to combat them, they had little choice but to get more rough themselves.
L to R - ARGONAUT membership (first team) - Captain Solar, Master Zenn, Mister Wizard, Shadow Sleuth, Diamond Doris, Minotaur & Mister Steel I.
The Argonauts developed a base in Halcyon City that they called the Pantheon.
The Upper level was simply for show, housing Member Quarters, Meeting room, Kitchen and massive public speaking arena.
The lower levels are where the Argonauts truely did their magic. All of their ultra secure labs, development areas, Mission Control and their advanced computers and technology was located.
Above (Mock Cover) The Argonauts thwart yet another attack by the tenacious Robotmaster.
In some cases extremely so…
Above - ARGONAUT base of operations: The Pantheon.
As a team they roamed both the Country and the World battling menaces and threats to their welfare.
These spectacular confrontations and heroic saves made them the darlings of a new age of Heroes.
ABOVE - Argonauts issue 15 - introducing the short heroic career of Sunshine Boy, Almost Captain Solar's side kick, Less than two weeks after his first appearance He had left Earth for parts Unknown with the Alien creature called 'The Light'
Above (Mock Cover) The homicidal Slice, the super speeding maniac’s running days are about over by Atomizer.
Although the public realized they needed The Argonauts to protect them from these dangers, it became a widely believed rumor during the seventies, that such extreme criminals only existed because the superheroes did. To some, The theory seemingly had some truth behind it (Though this was never proven).
The Argonauts survived once again when by 1980 they were able to announce that they had put all the worlds known super threats behind bars. But in a world where new super-powered people were being created all the time, and even ordinary men had the capability to either save or terrorize entire cities, the public knew it was only a matter of time before things once again became out of hand.
BETRAYED!!
It started with New heroes who had joined the ranks of the Argonauts. For a while they were perfect members, Until it was revealed that one of them was an old shape shifting foe of the Argonauts, who successfully turned two of the young members against the team.
A battle ensued, The Argonauts won the day, Though, it hardly seemed a victory considering they had lost the ability to trust outsiders.
L to R: Betrayers of the Argonauts - Whisper, Leader Ms. Nova (actually villian, Chimera) and Hyperboy.
HALCYON CITY INCIDENT… A previously unheard of scientist, referring to himself only as Doctor Fauna, began a series of horrific genetic experiments. Believing man had grown weak by civilizing itself, Fauna sought to overpower intelligent life with his own animal creations. Repeatedly The Argonauts shut down his experiments until one day Fauna performed one last experiment on himself. He transformed himself into a house-sized monstrosity, amalgamating several animal traits into his new form before going on a rampage in Halcyon City.
As ‘Out of hand’ as the ‘Betrayal’ had been, The final stroke would happen in 1985 to the aging Argonauts.
ABOVE (Mock Cover) - The Argonauts, both past and present, along with other ally heroes battle the raging monster... Ending in tragedy. Physically, Fauna was now as powerful as any hero on Earth. The resulting battle between Fauna and The Argonauts was unlike anything the world had seen before. Several blocks were utterly demolished and heroes were brutalized by the raging monstrosity! Hundreds of Halcyon City residents and dispatched Military Personnel are caught in the battlefield crossfire with the monster, as well as between the multi-armed Doctor Fauna and the Heroic Argonauts. …when the dust settled, Captain Solar, One of America’s finest heroes, was dead. 
Above - Various foes of the Argonauts from their first two years!
FALL OF A HERO…
A little more than two short years after their formation, A new young hero joined their ranks. A lively hero whose youth and heroics would win the hearts of many. Including a fellow team mate.
It was not meant to last…
Two horrific foes from Greek Myth attacked and he was slain. A nation mourned with its heroes.
TOP: Mister Steel dies in the coils of Typhon, Shortly after Typhon is killed by Diamond Doris and the rest of the Argonauts. Echidna flees.
BOTTOM: (Mock Cover) Captian Solar consoles Diamond Doris over the death of Eddie Tompkins/Mister Steel I.
Seven years after their formation, Both the Argonauts and other superheroes had become oddly dated to the public.
They began to be viewed as nothing more than Government pawns, spreading propaganda and lies about the evils of communism, and discouraging criticism of the government.
Which was far from the truth (as many seemed to have forgotten their loss of a team mate protecting U.S. Citizens).
BELOW: Protestors outside the ARGONAUTS Pantheon Base in Halycon City.
