The Specials 2000

The Specials sit at a curious crossroads in the world of superheroes: they’re the seventh-most popular team globally, yet they’ve never climbed to the top due to a lack of corporate backing and a stable merchandising deal. This positions them as working-level champions who tackle underrated villains, respond to small-scale disasters, and occasionally repelled alien invasions—all of which tends to keep them out of the high-gloss spotlight that larger, more marketable teams enjoy. The balance between authenticity and visibility threads through their daily life, shaping choices and priorities as they move through each mission.

The dynamic shifts with the arrival of Nightbird, the team’s newest recruit, a teenage heroine with distinctive bird-inspired powers. Meanwhile, The Strobe announces a new merchandising deal with Kosgrov Toys, a move that could lift the team’s profile but also threaten the anti-establishment image they’ve built. The Weevil, admired by fans for his charisma, quietly considers leaving for a more financially secure outfit, sensing that a better paycheck might come with a trade-off in independence.

A celebratory dinner follows, where Kosgrov unveils the planned line of action figures. The reality, however, falls far short of expectations: Kosgrov’s research into the Specials is shallow, the production is underfunded, and several figures come with glaring inaccuracies and cheap accessories. Some figures even reuse parts from other lines, which enrages the team and underscores Kosgrov’s indifference to their brand. Amid the tension, The Strobe discovers that his wife, Ms. Indestructible, has been unfaithful with The Weevil, a revelation that shatters trust and leads to a public disbanding of the group.

In the fallout, The Strobe contemplates life outside the cape, while Ms. Indestructible faces the consequences of her affair. Minute Man, The Strobe’s brother, begins a relationship with Deadly Girl, a union born from shared loyalty to the team. The Weevil proceeds with his transfer to another superhero squad, hoping for better financing, while the remaining members of the Specials drown their disappointment in a night of revelry.

Yet the story moves toward reconciliation. The Strobe and Ms. Indestructible repair their relationship, and The Strobe rediscovers his commitment to justice over image. They learn that The Weevil’s move has backfired: reporters spotlight his controversial status rather than his crime-fighting skills, and he finds himself diminished as the least popular member of his new team. This turn of events prompts The Strobe to reunite The Specials, renewing their vow to stay together not for fame but to champion society’s underdogs. With renewed purpose, they power up and head out to confront a surreal crisis—giant ants threatening the White House.