Aliases: The Fatal Five Hundred
First Appearance: ADVENTURE COMICS #352, 1967
The Legion of Super-Heroes has faced many deadly enemies over the years, but perhaps their deadliest are the quintet of criminals known as the Fatal Five. And unlike the other villains they have battled, the Legion itself is actually responsible for the formation of this terrifying team. When the powerful Sun-Eater threatened the galaxy, the Legion knew that it was something too big for them to face off against alone. While watching a Science Police documentary on “The Fatal Five,” five of the universe's most vile criminals, the Legion decided to bring them on to help defeat the Sun-Eater. Although they helped the Legion win the day, the five villains decided to stay together as a team and have been a thorn in the Legion's side ever since.
The primary members of the team are the Emerald Empress, Mano, the Persuader, Tharok and Validus; although other members have filled in for one of the five founders on different occasions. Despite operating primarily in the Legion's 31st century time frame, the Fatal Five have also wreaked havoc in other historical time periods, facing off against the likes of the All-Star Squadron, the Justice League, the Outsiders, and many others. But the Legion of Super-Heroes has remained their primary adversaries, and the Fatal Five will never rest until they've brought the Legion, and the entire United Planets, to its knees.