I.G.N.I.T.E.
The Inter-Governmental Network for Investigating Terrorism and Extraordinary Crime, or I.G.N.I.T.E., is an international coalition founded to facilitate and coordinate multi-national anti-terrorism efforts and to investigate large scale cross-board crime. While it bears some similarities to Interpol and often cooperates with that organization, I.G.N.I.T.E. is considered far more covert. Its existence is not common public knowledge, and the vast majority of its agents come from covert intelligence agencies from across the globe. Originally created by a secret NATO resolution, it has since come to include representatives from several non-NATO nations including Russia and China. While the version of I.G.N.I.T.E. encountered in the strip exists in the same alternate universe as D.C. Smythe, it is currently unknown if a comparable version exists in the "prime" GPF universe.
I.G.N.I.T.E. is usually engaged only when local law enforcement or Interpol is incapable of finding resolution to a specific crime. There could be legal and political barriers preventing capture and extradition of the suspect, or perhaps Interpol has exhausted all possible leads or options at its disposal. As such, the level of cross-border crime handled by I.G.N.I.T.E. quickly escalates into "super-villain" territory, with the perpetrators often seen as untouchable by conventional law enforcement.
The organization by its very nature often results in situations where nations that are normally adversaries must frequently work together to achieve a common goal. British SIS and American CIA agents often work side by side with Russian SVR and Chinese MSS agents. As such, like Interpol, politically-motivated investigations are kept to a minimum, and the organization focuses mostly on transnational crimes against humanity, cybercrime, drug and weapons trafficking, genocide, organized crime, terrorism, war crimes, and other similar crimes.
Known Agents
- D.C. Smythe, SIS (MI6)
- Valerie Smith, CIA
- "Agent Tuttle", SIS
Known Criminals Pursued by I.G.N.I.T.E.
- Doctor Shadow, criminal mastermind implicated in numerous international schemes
- Joe T., one of Shadow's henchmen, as well a known mercenary, terrorist, and possible serial killer
- Al E. Gator, one of Shadow's henchmen