8

Council of 8
First appearance:	"The Sign of 8"
Created by:	Lee Falk and Fred Fredericks

"The League of 8" or just 8 is a centuries-old criminal organization.

History

Organizational chart.

Researching with Professor Ludd, Narda stumbles upon a medival gang of thieves, known as "The League of 8" or just "8". 800 years ago they robbed knights of the crusaders and preyed on the mansons who builded the great European cathedrals. Slowley she found that they hijacked slave-traders in the 15th cantury, and recieved tribute from the 17th century pirates of Tripoli. Then she found that they were in Chicago, among the gang wars, in the twenties. And then, in World War II they surplus army supplies stolen on dock. The it turns out that 8 has survived until today and was a secret and powerful organization.

In modern times the eight councils of 8 (the Masters) was controlled by the "Octon", from a hidden place far away. The Octon was only heard an seen as a symbol, never in person.

The various members of 8 rarely meet face to face, that way it was more difficult to betreay eachother. The council controls their Ferret's, X's and Q's via microphones, speakers and television cameras. Failing a mission the council show no mercy to their members and was punishable by death.

8 was organized like an octopus, with the brain (The Octon) in the middle and 8 local arms who didn't know of each other.

Organization

It seems that the various arms of 8 had different organization. There is also uncertainty about the numbering of the various arms. Some of them have the same number and all arms seems located in the area in or near New York. Strange because 8 was a worldwide organization, and was to have eight arms located in different countries. It may be that some arms in NY were rebuilt ?

The council (s?) of 8 was also a mystery. Several times the hq (with the council (or the Masters) of 8) was blown up by the Octon, giving the impression that each arm was led by a council. Perhaps the impression is wrong. It might be there was only one council of 8, rebuild several times. It makes better sense that there was only one council of 8, and each member of the council was responsible for an arm.

The 1st arm of 8

The ganglord Dan Goon was the local chief of the league of 8. He was controlled by "Octo", the top unit of 8 and their giant computer from a hidden place far away is. "Octo" could send a Q or a X if any of Goon's men failed a mission. For the identification the local members of 8 wearing cuff links with the sign 8, while the X and Q wearing a ring with the sign 8 on their left ringfinger.

It is uncertain whether Goon's local arm was the 1st arm of 8, or if it could have been a minor part of another arm.

The 2nd arm of 8

This arm are more directly controlled by the Masters of 8 and their giant computer in a hidden place far away, the central Octon. The Masters controls their Ferret's, X's and Q's via microphones, speakers and television cameras. Failing a mission the Masters show no mercy and is punishable by death.

The Ferret's cuff links was made of solid gould set with diamonds, and with a tiny transmitter. When someone press it it sendt a signal to the hq, telling them to tune in on the hidden chest microphone the Ferret wearing.

It is uncertain whether this local arm was the 2nd arm of 8, or if it could have been a minor part of another arm.

The 3rd arm of 8

The Masters of the 3rd arm of 8 had their hq in a building at Pamet Street (NY?). In a room - Controlled by the voice of their secret leader, the Octon; the Masters of the 3rd arm, 8 people around an 8 shaped table, a giant computer and a big screen. Their members only identification was a small tattoo of a 8 sign on their left wrist.

The 4th arm of 8

No information.

The 5th arm of 8

The Masters of the 5th arm of 8 had their hq in a castle on a small island near Balston Beach. The main room for the cuncil of the 5th arm was identical with the one for the 3th arm. Their members only identification was a small tattoo of a 8 sign on their right earlobe.

Strangly Mandrake faced one more 5th arm of 8, similar as above but without any sign of the giant computer.

The 6th arm of 8

The Masters of the 6th arm of 8 had their hq in a building at Pamet Street and Collins (NY). The main room for the Masters of the 6th arm was identical with the one for the 3rd arm, but without any sign of the giant computer.. Their members did not have any sign of 8 for identification. The Octon have more direct controll with the Masters of the 6th arm, giving them direct orders. The Masters was named 38, 58, 68 and on.

Strangly Mandrake faced two more 6th arm of 8, similar as above. The last 6th arm organized slightly differently; the Masters were the killers of 8, they were called Finalizers, they were named X-23 and on, they also had their hq at Pamet Street (NY).

The 7th arm of 8

The Masters of the 7th arm of 8 had their hq in an 8-shaped castle on a small island. The main room for the Masters of the 7th arm was identical with the one for the 3rd arm. The Masters of the 7th arm had a mania over the sign 8. In the garden; 8 shaped hedge, a sundial with only 8 numbers, and in the a basement room; an aquarium with a giant ocopus.

Strangly Mandrake faced one more 7th arm of 8, similar as the 3rd arm, but without any sign of the giant computer.. They had their hq at Bradford and Pamet Street (NY), almost like two of the 6th arms.

The 8th arm of 8

The last hq of 8 was located at a barge in New York. The eight people of the council of 8 survived when Octon blow up the hq.

Questioning the council of 8 the police manage to find all their secrets and (paper !) files in a dozen lands; past crimes, planned future crimes, names, dates, places, money, gold, jewels..

Appearances

The stories where 8 has featured are:

Year	Title	Comments
1965	"The Sign of 8"	1st arm destroyed
1966	"The UFO"	eg. not an 8 story
1966	"The Trail of 8"	2nd arm destroyed
1968	"Dr Dell and 8"	7th arm destroyed
1969	"The Bribe"	5th arm destroyed
1972	"Trail of the Pusher"	3rd arm destroyed
1976	"The Mysterious Chief"	Hojo, the mysterious leader of 8 ?
1977	"8"	6th (or the fourth ?) arm destroyed
1980	"Hojo and 8"	6th arm destroyed
1986	"The Murder Contract"	5th (?) arm destroyed
1987	"The Executioner from 8"	6th arm destroyed
1989	"The Gift from 8"	7th arm destroyed
1990	"Return of the Clay Camel...and Others"	Last arm destroyed
1992	"The Book of Criminals"	And finaly; Octon, the secret leader of 8 is...
1999	"The Secret Mission"