The Crusaders originated in 1964 with four members. The members were the prominent superheros of the time. Mountain Man, Dark Knight, Fury, and their young sidekick ESP. The team lasted 3 years and in 1967 they were the victims of an alien enemy that attacked them. The alien killed them all except the young sidekick ESP. It is not known why ESP survived. It's possible he thought ESP dead since he did survive a terrible beating. Or there might be some other reason. The alien has not been seen since but speculation has arisen that it's origins might be supernatural instead from outer space.

By 1972 ESP was a young man and though never fully recovered from the alien's attack especially psychologically, formed a new team of Crusaders. This team consisted of Onyx, Dark Knight's younger brother, Mountain Man's little brother also became a member taking his brother's tag as Mountain Man II despite being much smaller than his brother. The other member was Inferno Savage a large man with the super strength and fire abilities. The team was minorly involved in Vietnam when Mentor thought they should have get interfere. This started a few controversial steps that followed the team. Secondly, they admitted the former villain Harpy. She joined the team about 1975. Their most disliked member was Nuclear Man. He was an enigma, his powers seemed dangerous, his appearance was inhuman, and he wasn't a nice guy. This team was extremely powerful. They added one more member Captain Photon in 1985. This was their undoing.

Captain Photon was a straight and clean kind of guy. He joined a team that bent the rules their way and weren't exactly too politically correct. This shocked Captain Photon. He didn't know Mentor was using his powers to manipulate world figures to his advantage. When Photon learned of this and other cover ups done by the team he decided to oppose them. Mentor saw that he would be a problem and wanted to use his powers to brainwash Photon. Only Onyx and Inferno Savage opposed this move and secretly freed Captain Photon before he was brainwashed. Mentor knew his long time friends Onyx and Savage betrayed him but did not seek conflict with them.

Captain Photon was freed but Mentor did get to him. He wiped his memories of why he was kicked of the team. But the US government already suspected the Crusaders corruption. They created their own super hero Ms. America to search for other heroes to help her overthrow the Crusaders. Ms. America first sought out Captain Photon who slowly was able to remember of what the Crusaders were doing. They recruited the young Pendragon, the Elemental, and King Jupiter. Both teams had a small war. Despite the powerful corrupt Crusaders the new heroes succeeded with the help of Onyx and Inferno Savage who decided that their own team and Mentor.

This new team of Crusaders formed in 1985. They were already popular due to beating the old team. Onyx and Inferno Savage did not join and were also held responsible for some things. But became Protectors and paid their dues.. The new team was Captain Photon, Ms. America, King Jupiter, Pendragon, and the Elemental. They have been extremely successful since then battling many menaces and saving the world.

Later members include RedEye who joined in 1983. Black Bug who joined in 1989. Super Nova joined 1992 and GreyWolf joined 1997.