In Peacemaker, A.R.G.U.S. (Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans) is revealed as the organization behind Project Butterfly. Headed by Amanda Waller, A.R.G.U.S. previously appeared in Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021). However, it's in the HBO Max series that it's been given much prominence.
So far, fans of live-action DC projects have gotten to learn a lot about A.R.G.U.S as it also appeared in Arrow. But what is the organization like in the comics? There are actually several unique details about the organization that can only be found on the pages at the moment. These details range from the leadership structure to missions.
It Was Created After Darkseid's Invasion
A.R.G.U.S. first appears in The New 52, having been created by Homeland Security after the invasion of Darkseid. Steve Trevor is then placed at the helm due to his military experience.
In the DC comics, it's not just the characters that get properly developed but the organizations too. Initially, A.R.G.U.S. is only created to clean up the mess that superheroes leave after major battles. However, as all kinds of superpowered individuals pop up, there emerges the need to at least control them or lias with them so that they don't grow too powerful. That's how A.R.G.U.S gets to become such a major force.
Trevor Was Asked To Resign
In Justice League (Vol. 2) #7, Steve Trevor is asked to resign after it emerges that he has begun a relationship with Wonder Woman. Waller is thus left as the only person in charge.
Steve ranks high among Wonder Woman's best lovers. In the DCEU, their romance receives support from all quarters because they are not only great romantic partners but great colleagues too. Things haven't always been that way in the comics because Steve had gotten blinded by love on a few occasions. It, therefore, becomes necessary for him to resign when it becomes evident that he is favoring Diana more than other Justice League members.
It Created Another Justice League
During the events of "Trinity War," Pandora unleashes the seven deadly sins on the world by offering the box. In order to prevent the Justice League from going out of control, A.R.G.U.S. creates a rival group known as the Justice League of America, in which Steve Trevor is also a member.
With members such as Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Hawkman, and Stargirl. the Justice League of America sure does look like a formidable team on paper but it turns out to be less fierce. Though the members frequently get in the way of the Justice League, they are easily defeated by the Crime Syndicate. As a result, the group is disbanded.
Sasha Bordeaux Served As Director Too
In most of her comic storylines, Bordeaux is Bruce Wayne's bodyguard. She late becomes an agent of Checkmate and in Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #5 she becomes the boss at A.R.G.U.S. too.
Amanda Waller is rarely incompetent but the one time she messes up is what leads to the rise of Sasha. The former Checkmate is appointed the new boss after Amanda gets reprimanded for failing to stop the takeover of Earth by the Crime Syndicate and an evil Justice League from another universe, which has become one of the biggest cliches in Justice League comics. At the moment, Sasha is still the director and she has been seen to do a good job so far.
The Organization Doesn't Deal With The Suicide Squad A Lot
A.R.G.U.S. is very hands-on with the Suicide Squad in the DCEU but that is not the case in the comics. In Amanda Waller's best comic issues, she mostly deals with the Suicide Squad but she does so using the Checkmate organization. A.R.G.U.S. mostly focuses on the Justice League.
The decision to use A.R.G.U.S instead of Checkmate the DCEU isn't exactly a bad one as it creates room for the Suicide Squad to interact with the Justice League in the new future. With plenty of ambitious live-action movies and TV projects lined up, there is the likelihood that this might happen in the near future.
Seven Members Quit
Throughout the history of the organization, a total of seven members have quit. These include Doctor Light, Doctor Mist, Doctor Polaris Fastrack, Primeape, Spore, and Sebastian Faust.
Bureaucracy ails most organizations, and A.R.G.U.S. is no exception. Most of the members that have quit have done so after disagreeing with either Amanda or Steve. Disagreements on strategies tend to happen a lot, something that is even highlighted in The Suicide Squad where audiences get to see a minor fallout between Amanda and the team.
There Was A Mole
In Justice League (Vol. 2) #23, Crime Syndicate member, Atom, infiltrates the organization and becomes a mole. Through him, the Crime Syndicate manages to get classified information about the special abilities of Justice League members.
So far, the Crime Syndicate has been the most difficult force for A.R.G.U.S to deal with and that has to do more with their treachery than anything else. Even though most of the Crime Syndicate members have similar powers as those of the Justice League members, they mostly rely on intelligence to win, which explains the decision to plant a mole rather than just attack.
There Is A DC Character With The Same Name
When government agent Nick Kovak is tasked with taking down an inter-galactic group in The Flash Annual #6, he ends up accidentally acquiring powers. He thus begins using the name Argus as his superhero name.
While A.R.G.U.S. is an acronym meaning Advanced Research Group Uniting Super-Humans, Kovak adopts the name for a different reason. Since he has better vision than most people, he names himself after "Argus Panoptes," a giant from Greek mythology that has 100 eyes. And since Kivak isn't a frequently used character, there hasn't been constant confusion as to who really deserves to use the name
It Isn't The First Major DC Organization
A.R.G.U.S. has always been the official DC version of Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. but it actually isn't the first-ever government organization meant to oversee superhero activities. Before its existence, Amanda Waller heads a similar organization simply known as The Agency.
Since "The Agency" is a term frequently to refer to the CIA, it made sense for DC to shift to the much more specific A.R.G.U.S. to avoid any confusion. After all, the CIA is rarely involved in superhero matters in the DC comics. On most occasions, it's the FBI that tends to interfere from time to time.
There Is A Clandestine Unit
To avoid government interference, Steve Trevor creates a secret unit within A.R.G.U.S. in Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor Special #1. The purpose of the unit is to investigate the most unique superhuman occurrences
Clandestine units are common in the military and having fought in a few wars, Trevor understands their importance. Not everything can be "on the books." This way, enemies never know what's coming. It's by using the clandestine unit that Trevor comes close to defeating the Crime Syndicate.