Issue Description

The President of the United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, toast Steel, the Indestructible Man. Roosevelt offers Steel, the Indestructible Man. a battlefield promotion to the rank of Commander. On hand to share in the celebration, are seven members of the All-Star Squadron. After various pleasantries are exchanged, the Atom asks to hear the rest of Commander Steel's story. Commander Steel, along with two commandoes, had parachuted into Poland, on a mission to abduct the Reichsfuhrer, Adolph Hitler. After waiting for a German convoy to pass, the three men looked over their map, to plan out their next action.

Hitler had planned a visit with Ein Schlachter (The Butcher), the commander of a Konzentration-Slager (Concentration Camp). Ein Schlacter, with a squadron of German soldiers, confronted Commander Steel, and the commandoes. A brief fire fight ensued. When the Nazi's unleashed attack dogs on the commandoes, Commander Steel went berserk. Despite his rage, Commander Steel was subdued. Commander Steel regained consciousness in the Konzentration-Slager, stripped of his uniform. A pair of Jewish prisoners revealed the Hellish life within the Konzentration-Slager. Upon hearing that the two commandoes were transferred to the "hospital", Commander Steel again went berserk.

Commander Steel managed to escape the Konzentration-Slager, briefly, before being subdued by a head-on collision with a Nazi jeep. Commander Steel regained consciousness in the "hospital", where Nazi doctors were examining him, in preparation for experimentation. Ein Schlachter demanded that the Nazi doctors determine how to reproduce Commander Steel's unique physiology. Upon hearing that Hitler would be arriving soon, Commander Steel, again, went berserk. Tearing loose from his restraints, Commander Steel grabbed a bottle of acid, before diving through the window. During his escape, a stray bullet grazed Commander Steel's temple, stunning him.

The same Jewish man Commander Steel spoke with earlier, picked up the bottle of acid, and threw it into Ein Schlacter's face. German soldier's shot the Jewish man to death. At that moment, with Ein Schlacter on the ground screaming, Hitler arrived. It was the last thing Commander Steel would see, before he lapsed into unconsciousness. Commander Steel has no further memories as to what occurred next. The clock tolls the midnight hour, heralding the arrival of the New Year, 1942. Unbeknownst to all present, Baron Blitzkrieg has been eavesdropping on their conversation. Baron Blitzkrieg fills in Commander Steel's missing narrative.

Commander Steel had lunged at Hitler, but was immediately subdued. Ein Schlacter underwent experimental surgery to repair his ruined face. Ein Schlacter gained astounding super-human powers, leading to him adopting a new identity, that of Baron Blitzkrieg. Commander Steel had been placed in a cell, until Baron Blitzkrieg had recovered enough to decide his fate. Baron Blitzkrieg had Commander Steel brainwashed, to serve as an assassin. Commander Steel's assigned targets were Churchill, and Roosevelt. Baron Blitzkrieg arranged for Commander Steel to be on hand, to prevent the Schwarzer Meuchelmorder's own assassination attempt on Churchill.

Unbeknownst to Baron Blitzkrieg, Kung, the assassin of a thousand claws, also planned to assassinate Churchill. Fortunately for Baron Blitzkrieg's plans, Commander Steel stopped Kung from succeeding. The Hawkgirl receives a pre-arranged phone call from the Hawkman. Their phone conversation is interrupted by the phone company, who ask to speak with Commander Steel. Suspicions raised, Liberty Belle orders Johnny Quick to rush Churchill, and Roosevelt, to safety. After swatting the Atom aside, Commander Steel pursues Johnny Quick, with the All-Star Squadron following hot on their heels. Johnny Quick turns to face Commander Steel, but is easily subdued.

The Firebrand surrounds Churchill, and Roosevelt, in a protective ring of fire. Commander Steel strikes the Firebrand. The Atom attacks Commander Steel, only to be forcibly thrown back into Liberty Belle. Robotman confronts Commander Steel. An epic battle ensues. Forming a psychic link with Commander Steel, Baron Blitzkrieg begins funneling power to Commander Steel, until he can defeat Robotman. The Firebrand hurls a ball of fire into Commander Steel's face. Baron Blitzkrieg relives the moment the acid was thrown in his face. Baron Blitzkrieg collapses, screaming, severing the psychic link to Commander Steel. Commander Steel regains his senses.

Though wary, the All-Star Squadron slowly begin to trust Commander Steel again. The Firebrand shares a New Year's kiss with the Shining Knight. Robotman offers to run a diagnostic on Commander Steel's systems. Baron Blitzkrieg suffers the loss of his eyesight. His aid, Zwerg, comforts Baron Blitzkrieg, while trying to convince him that his blindness is all in his mind. Zwerg assures Baron Blitzkrieg that one day soon, Baron Blitzkrieg will have his revenge on the All-Star Squadron.

Note: This issue contains material that was unpublished following the so-called DC Implosion which affected Steel the Indestructible Man .

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