Issue Description

The Shining Knight investigates a mysterious structure, which has appeared where once stood Camelot. Inside, the Shining Knight encounters an armored, medieval knight, who attacks him. The Shining Knight strikes the knight down, revealing the knight to be King Arthur. The Shining Knight is overjoyed to see his liege-lord, and immediately swears fealty to Arthur. The Shining Knight is struck down by Arthur. The All-Star Squadron, en route to London, are caught in another German air raid on the city. Before the All-Star Squadron can take action, the Blackhawk Squadron engages the German Luftwaffe.

Doctor Fate, the Firebrand, and Robotman join the Blackhawk Squadron in repelling the Luftwaffe. Unable to fly, the Hourman is forced to stay behind, a fact that doesn't sit well with the Man Of The Hour. After defeating the Luftwaffe, the All-Star Squadron is officially introduced to the Blackhawk Squadron. The Prime MInister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, arrives, to brief the two groups. Churchill reveals that the Shining Knight was sent to investigate a communications blackout, in the Southern region of England.

Since then, not only has the Shining Knight disappeared, but the lost area of contact has grown. Blackhawk joins the All-Star Squadron in investigating the phenomena. Upon reaching their destination, the All-Star Squadron discover Camelot, in all it's glory, sprawled out before them. The wizard, Merlin, blasts the Blackhawk out of the sky. The Firebrand, and Robotman, are struck down next. Doctor Fate battles Merlin. After an epic mystic battle, Doctor Fate manages to get close enough to, literally, knock Merlin's head off. Merlin, revealed to be a robot, explodes.

King Arthur reveals himself to be Doctor Fate's nemesis, Wotan. Rather than exact his vengeance upon Doctor Fate personally, Wotan tasks the Shining Knight with slaying Doctor Fate.

Golden Age Gallery --Three pin-ups, one of Doctor Mid-Nite, one of Wonder Woman, and one of the Green Lantern, and his "sidekick", Doiby Dickles, illustrated by Mike Clark, and embellished by Jerry Acerno.

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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