The Verdict

Membership: Psi-Mage (leader), Kuttar, Hot-Wire, Quintessance

Purpose: To battle the Hermetic Order and the Determinists

Affiliations: Knight Watchman

Enemies: Hermetic Order, the Determinists

Base of Operations: Midway City, Earth A

First Appearance: Big Bang #30

History: While working on a routine case, The Knight Watchman encountered three new female heroes, who were part of a clandestine super team calling themselves "The Verdict". Teaming up with the Watchman to rescue their captured fourth member, Quintessance, the women recounted their origin . . . .

Two evil secret organisations were each trying to take over the world. Led by an elderly, wheelchair-bound woman called Dr Smight, the Hermetic Order used magic, while their arch rivals the Determinists used scientific methods. They were led by Prof Rajeev, Kuttar's father.

As part of their schemes, each group created a pair of living "weapons" - human agents who rebelled and oppose their creators as "The Verdict". The Hermetic Order and the Determinists formed an alliance to defeat the heroes, capturing Quintessance as bait for the others . . . .

Comments: All of this take place in the pages of Big Bang # 30, the teams only appearance to date. The setting is presumably Earth A in the early 1980's and the team is based on the DC team "The Outsiders" as follows:

There is also a hint of DC's early '70's "Manhunter" strip in the rebel hero plot and Kuttar's main weapon.

Thanks to Chris Adams for all information and images on this page.

Psi-Mage

Real Name: Psi-Mage

Identity/Class: Magically created humanoid

Occupation: Adventurer

Affiliations: The Verdict, Knight Watchman

Enemies: Hermetic Order, the Determinists

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Simone Majors

Base of Operations: Midway City, Earth A

First Appearance: Big Bang #30

Powers/Abilities: Psionic and mental powers

History: The Hermetic Order created a perfect female body, "bred to possess psionic and mental powers" based on the concept of "mana" - magic created by the appreciation of beauty. The intention was for the evil Dr Smight to transfer her mind into this body, but to prevent that an unknown person gave up their own life and identity to become the blindfolded Psi-Mage instead. This person was presumably female and a member of the Hermetic Order.

Comments: The costume illustrated was in fact worn in a different story from the origin.

Kuttar

Real Name: Greer Rajeev

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Adventurer

Affiliations: The Verdict, Knight Watchman

Enemies: Hermetic Order, the Determinists

Known Relatives: Professor Rajeev (father), unnamed mother (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Midway City, Earth A

First Appearance: Big Bang #30

Powers/Abilities: Skilled martial artist.

History: An expert martial artist, Kuttar takes her name from her main weapon, a large dagger. She blames her father for the death of her mother.

Comments: None.

Hot-Wire

Real Name: Sarah

Identity/Class: Unknown - electrical being which uses possessed human as host.

Occupation: Adventurer

Affiliations: The Verdict, Knight Watchman

Enemies: Hermetic Order, the Determinists

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Midway City, Earth A

First Appearance: Big Bang #30

Powers/Abilities: Electrical powers

History: A being of living electrical energy, Hot-Wire spends her off time occupying the body of an unknown middle aged woman. This woman is apparantly homicidal and is wanted for murder. Before leaving this womans body to go on a mission, Hot-wire takes a couple of sleeping pills.

Comments: None.

Quintessance

Real Name: Unknown

Identity/Class: Human altered by magic

Occupation: Adventurer

Affiliations: The Verdict, Knight Watchman

Enemies: Hermetic Order, the Determinists

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Midway City, Earth A

First Appearance: Big Bang #30

Powers/Abilities: Elemental powers.

History: A handsome young man, Quintessance has the powers of the four ancient elements, air, earth, fire and water, as well as the "fifth element" - a blast of pure creative energy that can destroy anything within a radius of 50 yards. Use of this power makes him very hungry.

Comments: Illustration shows him in "earth" form.

CLARIFICATIONS: None.

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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