Originally assembled by Coat of Arms as an examination of superheroism art project during the Dark Reign storyline, the group was largely motivated by Melter's desire to be real heroes, but hindered significantly by unclear and conflicting ideals including Executioner's Punisher-style ruthlessness, Big Zero's racism and violent tendencies, Egghead's psychopathy and hedonism, and Coat of Arm's distorted view of ethics.
[11] The Young Masters return with Executioner and Egghead, joined by new recruits Mako, Radioactive Kid, and a female Black Knight in a plot to target older villains for assassination.
No explanation is given for the absence of the other founding members of the group, but at the conclusion of the storyline, Zodiac reveals that he only needed one of them to join him, and he selects Egghead.
They battle the students of the Avengers Academy in order to allow Briggs to complete his goal of depowering all of Earth's superhumans and giving their powers to people who are worthy of receiving them.
[13] In Avengers Undercover, Black Knight, Coat of Arms, Egghead, Executioner, Mako, and Melter appear as members of the Shadow Council's incarnation of the Masters of Evil.