Squadron Supreme #10

Squadron Supreme #10, released in 1986, serves as the penultimate chapter of Mark Gruenwald’s ambitious twelve-issue limited series. The project was conceived as a deconstruction of the superhero archetype, exploring the moral complexities of a super-powered team attempting to impose a utopian order on a post-apocalyptic society. Published during a decade that saw a shift toward darker, more cerebral narratives in the medium, the series was noted for its departure from traditional morality tales.

The interior art for the issue was provided by Paul Ryan, whose clean, grounded style helped emphasize the grim political and ethical dilemmas facing the characters. Gruenwald’s writing focused on the erosion of civil liberties and the internal dissent within the Squadron, a theme that resonated with contemporary critics. While the series was initially received as a niche experimentation with genre tropes, it has since been recognized as a foundational work for its early exploration of the 'superheroes as authoritarian' narrative trope.