Issue Description

Defeated by Blitzkrieg, the Freedom Fighters must fight the evil on Earth-X.

The Firebrand, Johnny Quick, and Neptune Perkins pursue a Japanese submarine, off the coast of Santa Barbara. Only Neptune Perkins, however, can actually search for the submarine, beneath the waves. Regardless of that fact, Johnny Quick dives down, speed swimming to the submarine. Johnny Quick is snared in a steel mesh net. When Neptune Perkins attempts to tear Johnny Quick free, both men are electrocuted into unconsciousness. Worried, the Firebrand dives below the waves, but is unable to locate her comrades. The Firebrand returns to Neptune Perkins' houseboat. Johnny Quick, and Neptune Perkins, regain consciousness aboard the submarine, bound to a chair.

The submarine captain, Kizo Noshino, reveals that a humiliating moment form his past fuels his desire to destroy the oil refinery, at Goweto. Johnny Quick laughs at Noshino, infuriating the submarine captian. Noshino orders the submarine to surface, so that he may begin shelling the oil refinery. In the inter-dimensional space between Earth-2, and Earth-X, the Spectre desperately tries to keep the two worlds from colliding. On Earth-X, Baron Blitzkrieg threatens to execute the Hourman, unless the Freedom Fighters surrender. The Hourman orders the Freedom Fighters not to surrender on his behalf.

While the Freedom Fighters debate on a course of action, the Ray leaps into a shaft of light, and attacks Baron Blitzkrieg. All Hell breaks loose on the Japanese aircraft carrier. The Phantom Lady blinds Baron Blitzkrieg, with her Black Light Beam, triggering his trauma from previously losing his sight. The Black Condor, the Doll Man, the Ray, and Unlce Sam attack Baron Blitzkrieg. The Human Bomb moves into position to strike. Unexpectedly, Baron Blitzkrieg, still blinded, leaps up and grabs the Human Bomb. The Human Bomb is thrown to the flight deck, where his explosive powers render the Freedom Fighters unconscious.

Baron Blitzkrieg personally strikes the Phantom Lady down. The Freedom Fighters are taken captive. The Japanese sailors report that the Red Bee was vaporized by the Human Bomb's detonation. Baron Blitzkrieg releases the Hourman from his chains. Suffering from terrible withdrawal pains, the Hourman is no match for Baron Blitzkrieg. The Hourman's defeat is lauded as another triumph for the Third Reich. Tsunami boards the Japanese submarine, and reports her failure to sway the loyalty of Japanese-Americans towards Imperial Japan. Noshino fires on Goweto. The Starman surrounds the oil refinery in a force field.

The Firebrand melts the Japanese submarine's weapons, and conning tower. The Japanese submarine submerges. Noshino orders the execution of Johnny Quick, and Neptune Perkins. The Firebrand, Liberty Belle, and the Starman, storm the Japanese submarine. All Hell breaks loose on the Japanese submarine. The Starman imprisons Tsunami behind a force field. A stray bullet sets off an explosion, destroying the submarine. Liberty Belle drags the unconscious body of Johnny Quick to the surface. Liberty Belle swims for a buoy. Her momentary respite ends quickly, as Tsunami attacks.

All-Star Squadron

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

"Come with us now to Earth-Two, and the awesome origin of the All-Star Squadron!"

Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway (credited here as Jeremiah Ordway!) along with editor Len Wein, letterer John Costanza and colorist Carl Gafford begin the wartime adventures of the Golden-Age heroes of the DC Universe. Writer Roy Thomas is no stranger to World War II, or wartime comic book super-heroes having come off Marvel's WWII super-team, The Invaders.

The world of Earth -2 was at war. In a dimension not unlike that of the Justice League on Earth - 1, the greatest heroes of the 1940s had banded together to form the Justice Society of America, but even that wasn't enough to battle the Axis powers plaguing their society. So, at the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a new, larger team was created to help unite the war torn country. The massive All-Star Squadron was formed, setting up their headquarters in the Perisphere at the heart of New York's World's Fair.

The creative team of writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler on "All-Star Squadron" offered readers a nostalgic glimpse back in time, albeit through the slightly distorted lens of Earth-2's history. In this popular series that ran for 67 issues, readers were treated not only to the adventures of the more familiar Justice Society, but also to every other mystery man of the time and dozens of minor heroes from DC's Golden Age, including the speedster Johnny Quick, the patriotic Liberty Belle, power houses Robotman and Commander Steel, and the 1940s versions of Batman and Robin.

With Thomas'comprehensive knowledge of the heroes and history of World War II era Americana, the All-Star Squadron was a certifiable hit, even if the Earth - 2 shattering events of DC's tumultuous "Crisis on Infinite Earths" maxi series of the mid-1980s took a toll on the book's continuity.

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