Created by writer Garth Ennis and artists John McCrea and Steve Dillon (for the character Dogwelder only), the team first appeared in Hitman #18 (September 1997).

The team is headquartered on an artificial island in a sewer, however they are shown to have relocated to Noonan’s Bar as of the events in Sixpack and Dogwelder; Hard Travellin' Heroez.

Friendly Fire, Shakes, and Jean de Baton-Baton had retired; the Defenestrator was in Arkham Asylum after throwing a cop through the same window fourteen times; Dogwelder and Flemgem were still stalking the streets of Gotham; Sixpack was a regular at Noonan's, believing his drunken dreams of superhero work were real.

[4] When Sixpack has a near-death experience, the Phantom Stranger reveals that the dead members of Section Eight were sent to Limbo, with the exception of Dogwelder, who was condemned to Hell.

The team saves the world with the help of John Constantine, travelling to Sirius, the Dog Star, in order to weld it with its dwarf to stop a world-ending collision.

Sixpack convinces Bueno Excellente to reenlist, brings in five new members, and attempts to fill the vacant eighth position with someone from the Justice League.