Better than a Full House
The Royal Flush Gang aren't really a Batman exclusive team of villains. They were created in 1966 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky for The Justice League of America #43. So, technically, since Batman is a member of the Justice League, this counts. But also, I like this concept, and it's my blog... This is a gang of thieves, the theme is playing cards, obviously, and the five members of the team identify with a different face card. There are a few different iterations of this group.
The first group dressed all as Clubs, and then changed to Spades. Kerry, Queenie, Jack, Thomas Dillon (the Ten), and Amos Fortune used "stellaration" to change their luck and help commit burglaries. They fought the Justice League three times, and the Joker. They were all killed during their last battle with the Justice League.
The second group is the most recognizable. Created in 1982 by Gerry Conway and Don Heck. I'll come back to them...
There are a few other versions of the Royal Flush Gang. It is portrayed as a large organization where all members are identified with cards and suits. The lowest members are 2s and 3s of Clubs, the leadership are Kings and Queens, and all the Aces are super powered androids.
Another version doesn't even dress up like playing cards, but look like members of the Rat Pack from 1960s Hollywood. There is a version also with three Aces, and two Jacks...
These are interesting concepts, but the original premise is in the name of the gang... they are a Royal Flush, like the poker hand. The gang should be 5 characters all in the same suit. otherwise it makes no sense. This isn't the Deck of Cards Gang, or the Full House Gang.
The second group created in 1982 I think does this Royal Flush idea the best. This iteration is the one most adapted to other mediums in television and animation, most famously in the Batman Beyond series.
Put together by Hector Hammond, the super intelligent enemy of the Lantern Corp, this group features an android Ace of Spades as their muscle. The King, Joe Carny, has mind control powers. The Queen, Mona Taylor, is a failed Broadway star with the ability to cast illusions. This group's Jack also is only known as Jack, a former gigolo with a cybernetic laser eye. The Ten of Spades, Wanda Wayland, is a failed pilot and a victim of workplace harassment. The group flies around on hoverboards shaped like giant playing cards, and takes assignments given to them either by Hector Hammond, or the Gambler.
The Ten of Spades organizes a child orphan pick pocket ring, reminiscent of Oliver Twist. Called the Ten Little Indians or the House of Cards, these street kids dress up as the 2 through 9 of Spades and run amok through New York. The Teen Titans stop them.
Recently, a version of this gang has been resurrected by Punchline who gets them into the drug business in Gotham. This puts the Royal Flush Gang squarely into Batman's domain now. Combined with the pop culture recognition given by the Batman Beyond appearance, this gang, if done correctly, could be a new force in the Gotham gang scene. Perhaps Punchline will become the new Wildcard, filling the role left by Hector Hammond and the Gambler... maybe she becomes the new Queen? Perhaps they recruit a new House of Cards, training street children to sell their drugs? There are so many possibilities, but I do hope they keep their cool hoverboards.
