Issue Description

Johnny Quick rushes Liberty Belle, through the streets of New York, to catch a train, bound for Philadelphia. Carter Hall, Jim Harper, Paul Dennis, Shiera Saunders, and Ted Knight, attend a boxing exhibition. Scrapper, of the Newsboy Legion, wins his bout. After the match, the Newsboy Legion escort Harper, and his friends, around Brooklyn. The Hourman, arriving for his date with the Firebrand, is surprised when the Phantom Lady answers the door. More surprising, the Phantom Lady is wearing the Firebrand's costume. The Firebrand reveals that she is wearing the Phantom Lady's costume.

The Hourman learns that his date with the Firebrand, has become a double date, as they're joined by the Phantom Lady, and the Tarantula. As they are going to a masquerade ball, the Firebrand, and the Phantom Lady decided to switch costumes. The Hourman is expected to switch costumes with the Tarantula. The Hourman is less than thrilled with the way his date, with the Firebrand, is beginning. The masquerade ball is being thrown by the Firebrand's father, "Emerald" Ed Reilly, a steel magnate. The Firebrand introduces her friends to her father.

Reilly's Irish hatred for the British is voiced in his disdain for the United States of America entering the war. The Tarantula senses that Reilly is nervous about something. Frank Sinatra leads the Tommy Dorsey orchestra. The Phantom Lady dances with the Tarantula. The Hourman maneuvers the Firebrand out on the balcony, for some privacy. En route, they are rudely brushed aside by Night, and Fog. Reilly is confronted by Night, and Fog. Reilly was slow to manufacture supplies on behalf of the war effort, when the Untied States of America was still neutral.

Once the Untied States Of America entered the war, Reilly sped up production. Night, and Fog, have come to garner Reilly's assurance that he will resume hampering the war effort. The Hourman moves a bit too fast for the Firebrand, and his advances are rebuffed. The Phantom Lady, and the Tarantula, voice their concerns regarding Night, Fog, and Reilly. Night reveals how she, and Fog, were given their powers by Nazi scientists. When Reilly refuses to acquiesce to their demands, Fog throws Reilly out of a window. The Firebrand dives out the window, desperate to catch her father.

Fog subdues the Hourman. Night subdues the Phantom Lady. The Tarantula manages to land a lucky punch on Fog, before he, too, is subdued by Night. The Firebrand is just barely able to keep her father from hitting the ground. The effort, though, has left her exhausted. Seeing Fog lift the Phantom Lady, the Hourman swallows a Miraclo pill. Fog throws the Phantom Lady out of the window. The Hourman just manages to grab the Phantom Lady's ankle. Night, and Fog, close on the Hourman. Suddenly, the Miraclo kicks in, endowing the Hourman with super-human strength.

The Hourman hauls the Phantom Lady back inside, then beats Fog into unconsciousness. Night subdues the Hourman. Reilly, barely alive, confesses his sins to the Firebrand. Reilly dies. Fog starts to suffocate the Hourman. Enraged at her father's murder, the Firebrand attacks, setting the entire room ablaze. The Phantom Lady, and the Tarantula, calm the Firebrand, before she sets fire to the entire building. In the confusion, Night, and Fog, withdraw, and escape. The Firebrand reabsorbs the fire. The Hourman collapses from Miraclo withdrawal. The All-Star Squadron are questioned, by the police, regarding Reilly's murder. Despite the rain, the Firebrand's tears do not go unnoticed.

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.

Please first Sign In before leaving a review.

Status: Not in Collection