The Order (comics)

The Order
Cover art for The Order vol. 2, #1 (Sept. 2007) Art by Barry Kitson.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Ongoing
Format	Monthly
Main character(s)	Anthem Aralune Calamity Heavy Mulholland Supernaut Veda See Members section
Creative team
Created by	Matt Fraction Barry Kitson
Written by	Matt Fraction
Penciller(s)	Barry Kitson

The Order is the name of two fictional superhero teams appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first team was a brief offshoot of the team Defenders, and the second is part of an initiative to place a superhero team in each state of the United States.

The original incarnation of The Order starred in the six-issue limited series The Order (April-Sept. 2002) intending to conquer the world in order to protect it. The team consisted of the original Defenders: Doctor Strange, The Incredible Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Silver Surfer.

A second Marvel Comics superhero team called The Order debuted in The Order vol. 2, #1 (Sept. 2007), created by writer Matt Fraction and penciler Barry Kitson. Following the fallout of Marvel Comics' Civil War crossover event, The Order was dubbed the First Super Hero Team of Tomorrow being the official superhero team for California as part of the Fifty States Initiative. The group was originally intended to be named The Champions, before it was revealed that the trademark was owned by Heroic Publishing, and were first seen during the end of the Civil War with many of its members going unnamed during their first appearances. However, most would be a part of the new series though the designs of the characters were slightly altered.