Issue Description

Miss Liberty attempts to thwart the theft of the Liberty Bell. Miss Liberty destroys the pulley raising the Liberty Bell. Miss Liberty is shot off of her horse, landing beneath the falling Liberty Bell. Miss Liberty is crushed, to death, beneath the Liberty Bell. Liberty Belle wakes up screaming. Johnny Quick tries to calm Liberty Belle. Liberty Belle reveals her nightmare, about Miss Liberty. Liberty Belle reveals that her ancestor, a Revolutionary War nurse, Bess Lynn, was likely also the masked Miss Liberty. Miss Liberty, alongside Tomahawk, and Dan Hunter, fought against the British, until she was crushed to death, recovering the LIberty Bell from Hessian soldiers.

Liberty Belle has invited Johnny Quick to Philadelphia, to see the Liberty Bell, and meet Tom Revere. When Liberty Belle's parents were killed, Revere became a father figure for her. The significance of Liberty Belle wanting to introduce Johnny Quick, to Revere, is not lost on Johnny Quick. Moments after Johnny Quick has met with Revere, Baron Blitzkrieg, Zwerg, and Zyklon storm the memorial. Revere confronts Baron Blitzkrieg, only to be struck, and sent hurtling across the room. Johnny Quick attempts to save Revere, but he is blocked by Zyklon. Revere strikes the wall, and crumples to the ground, dead.

The guards engage Baron Blitzkrieg. Liberty Belle beats down Zwerg, before turning her attention to Baron Blitzkrieg. In attempting to subdue Liberty Belle, Baron Blitzkrieg collapses the stairs on Zwerg. Baron Blitzkrieg hurls Liberty Belle across the room. Johnny Quick catches her, before she can hit the wall, then flees. Zyklon pursues Johnny Quick. Johnny Quick rises into the air, but Zyklon catches him in a super-speed generated whirlwind. Johnny Quick hurls Liberty Belle to safety, before he can be brought back down to the ground. Zyklon mercilessly beats Johnny Quick into unconsciousness.

Liberty Belle lands in a body of water. The Flash brings her back to the surface. The Flash, the Green Lantern, Liberty Belle, and Wonder Woman return to the Liberty Bell. They have arrived too late, however, as the Liberty Bell is gone. Wonder Woman uncovers Zwerg, who is taken into custody. Liberty Belle confirms that Revere has died. Johnny Quick returns, speculating that the arrival of the Flash, the Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman drove Zyklon off. Overwhelmed by guilt, and grief, Liberty Belle renounces her position as chairwoman of the All-Star Squadron, and declares that she is retiring her masked identity.

Liberty Belle vows to bring Baron Blitzkrieg, and Zyklon, to justice, in her civilian identity, Libby Lawrence. Johnny Quick, too, feels terrible guilt for not saving Revere. Johnny Quick races off, to conceal his grief from his teammates. Baron Blitzkrieg sets the Liberty Bell into a strange device. The next time the Liberty Bell rings, not only will it restore Baron Blitzkrieg's sight, but it will level the city of Philadelphia.

Golden Age Gallery --An alternate cover of All-Star Squadron #45, illustrated by Arvell Jones, and embellished by Tim Burgard.

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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Status: Not in Collection