Throughout the early 1940s, a small, 2” alien worm managed to cause a host of problems for Billy Batson’s Captain Marvel/Shazam. To be fair, this miniature villain known as Mister Mind also possessed high intelligence and telepathic powers. After arriving on Earth-2, Mister Mind organized a team of evildoers that would serve as a prelude to one of the greatest supervillain teams ever assembled. Do you know which team this was?
The Monster Society of Evil made its debut in Captain Marvel Adventures #22 in 1943, created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck. The resulting Monster Society of Evil story arc continued for two years, ending with Captain Marvel Adventures #46 in 1945. The first version of Mister Mind’s Monster Society of Evil, chronologically, appeared in All-Star Squadron #51-54. This team consisted of the living puppet Dummy, shapeshifting genius Mr. Who, magic-wielding Nyola, super-strong Oom, and plant-controlling Ramulus. Although the team succeeded in capturing Hawkgirl, shortly thereafter the other villains turned on Mister Mind and he was forced to retreat to Earth-S.
As a side effect of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Mister Mind arrived on Earth-S sometime around 1846. Mister Mind used his high, intellect, telepathic powers, and ruthlessness to conquer much of space and establish bases on many different worlds. It was around this time that he recruited supervillains for his new Monster Society of Evil. This second, massive, version included Archibald, Goatman, Benito Mussolini, Bonzo, Captain Nazi, the Crocodile-Men of Punkus, Dobbi, Dr. Smashi, Dr. Hashi, Dr. Peeyu, Doctor Sivana, Evil Eye, Herr Phoul, Hideki Tojo, Hydra, Ibac, Jeepers, Marmaduke, Monster Brigade, Monster School professors and students, Mr. Banjo, and Nippo.
Mister Mind also had an army of termites and worms, synthetic animals, and artificial bodies at his disposal as part of the Monster Society of Evil. Adolf Hitler and the resources of Nazi Germany also assisted the villainous organization. During this time, Mister Mind had many plans to conquer Earth and to destroy Captain Marvel. Unfortunately for him, the hero dismantled all of his resources and arrested, frightened, or accidentally killed all of his henchmen. In a moment of pure desperation, the world’s wickedest worm attacked Billy Batson and was quickly captured, tried and executed for killing 186,744 people. Rather than kill him, the shock from the electric chair placed him in a state of suspended animation.
Decades later, Mister Mind assembled his greatest group of villains with Doctor Sivana, Ibac, Mister Atom, King Kull, Oggar, and Black Adam. This team went on to battle the Marvel Family – Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., and the Lieutenant Marvels – on a number of occasions. In 2019’s Shazam!, Mister Mind made a small cameo, before proposing a future alliance with Doctor Sivana in the mid-credit scene. Whether this alliance will include the formation of the Monster Society of Evil remains to be seen. A sequel for Shazam! is set for release on April 1, 2022.
