Polite Dissent

In the Villains United Special, Toyman mixes the drugs Velocity-9 and Venom into the food at Blackgate prison and soon the prisoners — and even some of the guards — are rioting.

Velocity-9 is a drug designed by the villain Vandal Savage. It grants its users super speed, much like the Flash. However, as the drug wears off, it causes the user’s metabolism to dramatically increase, leading to dehydration and rapid aging. The only way to stop these effects is by taking another dose of the medication. Velocity-9 is also immediately addictive. Vandal Savage used this fact to his advantage by forcibly addicting rivals to the drug and making them work for him.

Velocity-9 exists in both injectable and oral forms. It first appeared in Flash #12 and has been featured in several Flash storylines. A modified version, Velocity-10, later appeared in The Titans #7 and #8.

Venom is the super steroid that gives Bane his powers. It grants enhanced strength and endurance. Over time, the drug increases aggression in the user. It also becomes addictive with repeated use.

To my knowledge, Venom has always been shown in the past as an injectable drug*; this is the first time it has been used as an oral medication.

The prisoners at Blackgate have super speed, super strength, and enhanced endurance. They may be showing some increased aggression from the Venom, or they could just be hot tempered by nature. They should all addicted be to Velocity-9 now as well, and maybe even Venom.

*In the Batman Beyond TV series (and maybe the comic as well), Venom was used in the transdermal “Slapper” patches, but that can’t really be considered in continuity.

In Checkmate #1, the team is hunting for the source of a recent Cyclosarin attack. Cyclosarin (also known as GF) is a real world nerve agent — or “weapon of mass destruction” if you prefer. As the name suggests, it is based on the nerve agent Sarin. It was discovered by German scientists either during World War II or shortly thereafter (sources vary).

The affects of Cyclosarin are identical to those of Sarin, including runny nose, chest tightness, pinpoint pupils, nausea, drooling, and difficulty breathing. This is followed by uncontrollable muscle twitching, paralysis, loss of consciouness, and ultimately death by respiratory arrest.

Cyclosarin is more stable than Sarin, but it has some drawbacks. Cyclosarin occurs only as a liquid and does not vaporize easily so it cannot be used as a gas. It is less potent than Sarin and much more expensive to produce. Iraq is the only nation known to have used Cyclosarin, and that was back during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.