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Post by Prince Hal on Jan 23, 2020 10:17:54 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #5 No idea who the lady in Red is. Wish they would point these things out! In a subsequent issue, Roy(?) points out on the Letters page that there was a mistake on the cover and the arrow was supposed to say "Here comes Firebrand!" or something like that. Not like Roy to be such a stickler for detail.  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 23, 2020 14:21:40 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #5No idea who the lady in Red is. Wish they would point these things out! In a subsequent issue, Roy(?) points out on the Letters page that there was a mistake on the cover and the arrow was supposed to say "Here comes Firebrand!" or something like that. The All-Star Companion (Vol 2) features both the original and published art. The arrow said "Introducing Firebrand, the hottest new heroine of all!" They blacked out everything above and below "Firebrand." If you look closely at an original cover, you can see the hint of other lettering through the black. |
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Post by mikelmidnight on Jan 24, 2020 13:36:45 GMT -5
The female Firebrand looks less silly than the male, though she at least wears a bathing suit under the shirt. Um, ask Jeanie Epper about tumbling around in a strapless bathing suit and then think about your undergarments.
I suspect the original was designed by Lou Fine, who had a thing for billowy, semi-transparent shirts.
Roy wanted to revive the Quality Comics character Wildfire, and DC wouldn't let him because they feared (the rationality behind this escapes me) that she would confuse fans of the 30th century male Legionnaire named Wildfire.
Roy could have simply renamed her Vulcana or something, or heck even Firewild, but instead he replaced an independent female hero with one who was a spinoff of a male hero.
That always bugged me and as a result I never managed to appreciate this version of Wildfire particularly.
I know that Roy meant well but a lot of times I'm not enthused with his attempts at creating female or African-American characters (although I did like Amazing Man well enough).
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 25, 2020 21:55:11 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #6 Decidedly rapey cover, though in the grand tradition of pulp damsels-in-distress. However, Shiera hasn't suited up yet, as of the point the cover depicts. I like how Robotman just casually swats aside a Nazi goon. It should be pretty effortless for him. Creative Team: Roy Thomas-writer, Adrian Gonzales-pencils, Jerry Ordway-inks, Ben Oda-letters, Carl Gafford-colors, Len Wein-editor Adrian Gonzales' first issue. Gonzales was part of the Filipino comics community and had doen sporadic work before this. He worked on All-Star Squadron through issue 18, then switched to Arak. He also did some work for the Archie Red Circle line and then switched to working as a storyboard artist, in animation. He died of an aneurysm, in 1998. Synopsis: The All_satrs have been captured and Kukulkan is going to sacrifice Shiera Saunders to unleash mystical powers in the Temple of Kukulkan. Hawkman tells Kukla that if he harms his main squeeze, he will kick his feathered but from here to Canada and back. Kukla then proceeds to rip off Spielberg and Lucas...  (Give me the idol, I give you the whip!) He found his funky threads and put them on and then was able to talk to any tribe, in their own dialect. He orders them around and they obey. He plans to Make Mexico Great Again. The Nazi commandant tells him to get on with it and an argument ensues, while Sir Justin works on slicing his bonds on his chain mail. Kukla runs off some more at the mouth and Shiera gives him a boot to the face, as Hawkman and Sir Justin enter the fray. Hwkman kicks native booty while Sir Justin kicks some Heiney. The Kraut general gets knocked on the sacrificial altar and Kukla says one sacrifice is as good as another. Trouble follows, but Hawks gets some help, as Shiera returns in sexier Hawk gear. Kukla flies away (he is a feathered snake) and the Hawks and Sir Justin (on Winged Victory) pursue. Meanwhile, in Mexico City, an Aztec pyramid pops up in the middle if the ville and anyone of native descent goes all zombie and starts targeting Castillans. The Nazis are also skulking about.  The All-Stars are there, kicking butt and minimizing the slaughter. Kukla and his boys move on the National Palace, while the Nazis decide to turn tail. Inside the palace, President Manuel Avila Camacho tells Kukla to stick his demands up his serpent backside. T natives open fire and get a surprise...  Camacho's cohorts are a disguised Robotman and Liberty Belle. Belle rings the Mexican Liberty Bell, which has the same affect on her and she starts bootin' some major tusch. She goes after Kukla and gets tossed into a wall, but judo throws him out a window, to the cobble stone street below, revealing his strength is just a fancy exo-skeleton. Only problem is, the real Kukla flies by, so we are still in a fight. He meets up with the Nazis and discuss foreign policy (as we see a split between the Nazis idea of pure bloodlines and Kukla's), then the Hawks and Sir Justin turn up.  Kukla flies out and snatches up Firebrand, who burns his wings and he plummets. She is caught by Sir Justin (who seems to have a thing for her, if you ask me). The spell wears off the natives. The burnt Kukla has his helmet torn off and turns out to be a blond Kraut, which doesn't sit well with the hombres. He pulls out a last boobytrap, which Robotman hurls away. Presidente Camacho makes a speech...  and all is right with the world (apart from the killing that was going on). Meanwhile, the rest of the Germans head to a U-Boat and we see who the real boss of the Nazis Local 604 was...  Thoughts: Pretty wild ending to things and Shiera conveniently packed her Ninth metal and wings, which happened to be near the altar where she was tied up. Interesting mix of the Nazi ideology and the control of the native population, who then target the mestizos and castillans. Then, at the end, we get our first Nazi supervillain, with Baron Blitzkrieg. I have to say, bright yellow and orange doesn't exactly epitomize the Nazi fashion sensibility. Her Baron will return, as we get to meet a new core member, with a patriotic fashion sense of his own (if not an original conception). Adrian Gonzales melds right in, thanks to Ordway making it all hold together. really, Ordway has been the art center from the beginning, with the preview. It will take some time before he gets the whole show. The Liberty Belle sequence is pretty sweet, with Libby getting to kick some serious butt. Firebrand and Hawkgirl all get their moments, which is nice. Historical Notes: Manuel Avila Camacho was President of Mexico from 1940-1946. He was part of the Mexican Revolution and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. he won election in 1940, over the right-wing candidate and instituted many reforms, including an end to government conflict with clerics, rent freezes, improved education, and laws which made it harder for the fringe parties to participate in elections, balancing things more to the middle (at the cost of some electoral democracy). He presided over Mexico's entry into the war and a warming of relations with the US. These improved relations brought him US capital, which helped improve the railway system and the Pan-American Highway. It also helped Mexico reduce its foreign debt. So, of course, that kind of cooperation wouldn't last beyond Camacho and the New Deal. Roy homages John Lloyd Stephens, an American explorer, diplomat and writer. Stephens was responsible for rediscovering much of the Mayan culture and ruins and was involved in the planning of the Panama Railroad. He also homages one Professor "Indiana" Jones (we didn't know his name was Henry, yet). Mention in dialogue are Quisling and Petain.Vidkun Quisling was a Far-Right politician in Norway, who helped found their fascist Nasjonal Samling part, which failed to win seats in election. He attempted to seize power during the German invasion of Norway, in 1940, but the Germans refused to support his government. he became the puppet prime Minister of Norway, serving the Nazi regime's wishes, including participation in the Holocaust and the development of Heavy Water, used in Nazi nuclear research. This production was the target of multiple sabotage attempts, including bombing raids, commando attacks; and, ultimately, a resistance sinking of a ferry with a consignment of heavy water on board. Quisling was tried for treason at the end of the war and executed by firing squad. Marshal Henri Philippe Petain was a French general, known as the Lion of Verdun, who was made a Marshal of France at the end of WW1. He served in several government capacities and, with the French losing the war, ended up as Prime Minister, when the armistice was signed and France and Italy occupied 3/5 of France. Petain relocated the government to Clermont-Ferrand, then to Vichy. His right-wing government collaborated with the Nazis; but, soon became little more than a puppet regime of the Nazis. The french paramilitary police, the Milice, collaborated with Nazi authorities in rounding up Jews and political dissidents, who were then shipped off to concentration camps. French authority was completely neutered after the Operation Torch landings, when the Germans occupied all of France. Petain remained as figuredhead, until the liberation of Paris led to the Vichy government being relocated to germany. petain refused to collaborate further and eventually was released on the Swiss border and allowed to return to France. he stood trial for collaboration and treason; but, his popularity, advanced age and record in WW1 led to commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment. He died in 1951.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 25, 2020 23:12:28 GMT -5
I'm a little behind on the reading assignments. Just Finished #5 and enjoyed the globe hopping feel of the issue. Yeah Danette just trying on the Firebrand costume had my eyes rolling as much as when she fought the nazi's later on and discovered that her flaming powers extend to keeping the cloth in the costume from burning . Yeah right.  Roy had to explain everything , didn't he ? |
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 25, 2020 23:53:50 GMT -5
I know I bought at least up to #6 at the time, it may just have been an accident that I dropped the title as it was really excellent every issue at this point (to me as a kid). Anything with the golden age Hawks featured would get my quarters, but Shining Knight and Robotman I failed to develop an interest in, they seemed not so golden as tarnished silver (weren't they more from the '50s?). If the focus stayed on the golden age and Fir-Brand who fit in as connected to the golden age, I can't see why I would have left. Anything with Dr. Fate also got my interest, The Spectre usually too... see I would've had The Huntress in here for sure, but she was in the back of Wonder Woman while Fate was in the back The Flash at this time I suspect and neither really as available as an All-Star Squadron writer might've wanted.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 26, 2020 0:33:08 GMT -5
Just read # 6, it's a solid issue and thanks for the info on Adrian Gonzalez. It seemed like the art was overpowered by the Ordway inks. I never really knew any of his work and it's quite unspectacular, but it does the job. It was a disappointment that the main villain was just a Nazi plant instead of an actual Mexican villain.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 26, 2020 9:57:49 GMT -5
I know I bought at least up to #6 at the time, it may just have been an accident that I dropped the title as it was really excellent every issue at this point (to me as a kid). Anything with the golden age Hawks featured would get my quarters, but Shining Knight and Robotman I failed to develop an interest in, they seemed not so golden as tarnished silver (weren't they more from the '50s?). If the focus stayed on the golden age and Fir-Brand who fit in as connected to the golden age, I can't see why I would have left. Anything with Dr. Fate also got my interest, The Spectre usually too... see I would've had The Huntress in here for sure, but she was in the back of Wonder Woman while Fate was in the back The Flash at this time I suspect and neither really as available as an All-Star Squadron writer might've wanted. Shining Knight was a Golden Age hero, member of the Law's Legionnaires aka The Seven Soldiers of Victory. In the 50s Brave & the Bold there was The Silent Knight, which was a different character. Sir Justin was a time displaced knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Silent Knight was a period piece, with the hero appearing in a red full helmet, covering his entire face. Robotman was also a GA hero, a back-up feature in Star Spangled Comics. The name was reused for Cliff Steele, in the Doom Patrol. |
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 26, 2020 13:26:42 GMT -5
Reading more closely I also (re-)found out they used the perisphere from the 1939-40 World's Fair as a headquarters for awhile, but now I'm imagining some of them playing with all the toy cars and houses that were in there between adventures!  Inside the perisphere...  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 29, 2020 12:22:53 GMT -5
Reading more closely I also (re-)found out they used the perisphere from the 1939-40 World's Fair as a headquarters for awhile, but now I'm imagining some of them playing with all the toy cars and houses that were in there between adventures! Inside the perisphere... I picture the Atom walking through the model city, to feel like a big man. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 29, 2020 18:41:00 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #7 Creative Team: Roy Thomas-writer, Adrian Gonzales-pencils, Jerry Ordway-inks, John Costanza-letters, Carl Gafford-colors, Len Wein-editor Credits appear on the newspaper being hawked by someone other than Scrapper, on the splash page. Synopsis: Some kid is hawking papers and is about to get his butt kicked for being on theturf of the Newsboy Legion. Well, it would have happened, if Karl Kesel was writing this!  The JSA are in the Army now! (They have to eat the chow. They'll never get rich, you sonuva b......you get the point...) Two trenchcoated mystery figures walk up a street and Prvt Al Pratt runs into them, apologizes, gets grief and tells the civilians to kiss his C Rations. He moves on, recalling the non-American accent; but dismisses it as paranoia. He moves on, lest anyone see he is out of uniform, as his cap device is wrong, for an enlisted private! The mystery "Mutt & Jeff" head down an alley and stop in front of a wall, with a poster for the movie Nazi Agent, with Conrad Veidt. He gives a Nazi Party salute and a Heil Hitler and the wall rises up, the men step inside and drop the coats, revealing Baron Blitzkrieg and Zwerg. they meet with some German-American bundists and watch a film...  The film is a fake, using robots, to be shown in occupied countries to destroy morale. however,the Baron plans to make it real. Meanwhile, Pvt Al Pratt has changed clothes and sneaks into the White House to talk to FDR (and Fala). They reminisce, as Atom reveals he is a Republican. They recap the events of the Untold Origin of the JSA, as told (thereby making it the Told Origin of the JSA), in DC Special #29, as Atom saved FDR from a valkyrie (but not the Hillman Valkyrie or the Marvel one). Atom catches us up with the JSA and their time in boot camp or other training...  FDR surprises Atom with a reunion with the All-Stars, who wish him well. mention is made on Libby Lawrence's column on anti-Nisei hysteria. That would make her a rather lone journalist for the period. FDR cuts through the banter and briefs the team on their mission: protect Churchill from a azi plot, when his destroyer arrives. So, off they go. The All-Stars patrol the land, sea and skies around the Norfolk Naval Station, watching for Ratzis. Hawkgirl, Sir Justin and Liberty Belle spot the HMS Duke of York (with 10,000 men, who he marched up a hill, then he marched them down again) and provide air cover as it heads into port. As it nears the pier (without tugs) a torpedo hits it and explodes. Atom and Robotman leap from the pier to aid and are attacked by Jack tarrs, who are a bit trigger happy. A lieutenant (pronounced the incorrect way as leftenant; those wacky Brits!) calms the men and the All-Stars hunt for the Nazi goons. Robotman spots a U-boat and tosses cable to Sir Justin. He and Liberty Belle give chases as theU-boat surfaces, then submerges. Liberty Belle plunges into the frigid waters, defying hypothermia (it is Dec 22, off the coast of Virginia, in the Atlantic waters, where it gets pretty damn cold, I can tell you) and wraps the sub in cable, which Robotman then hauls in to land the sub. Meanwhile, on the Duke of York, Winston Churchill meets Baron Blitzkrieg and Winston Churchill! Kriegsmarine sailors pop out of the U-boat, with MP-40s and run into mystery men fists. Fake robot Churchill gets in a car and heads for a meeting with Roosevelt, while Herr Baron and Zwerg have the real one bound and gagged. Churchill flies into Washington Airport, where FDR waits for him. Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle greet Churchill, who doesn't notice them and Libby smells a rat(zi). Winston and Franklin shake hands and Winston explodes, revealing that Franklin is Plastic Man! Robotman catches up to Herr Baron and Zwerg and lifts the back end of their car, but gets slugged by the Baron. Atom and Firebrand enter the fight and BB takes to the air with Winnie. He is chased by Hawkgirl and Sir Justin and dumps the Prime Minister, who is caught by Hawkgirl. he uses energy vision on Sir Justin and forces him to land and the Baron makes his escape.  Churchill arrives safely in Washington DC and the White House Christmas tree is lit. Churchill delivers a speech and we fade out...  Thoughts: Exciting issue as we get our first genuine Nazi villain, in Baron Blitzkrieg, with his henchman Zwerg (German for "dwarf. The Baron is a superman, strong, able to fly, with energy powers. He first appeared in the Worlds Finest Comics #246, created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck, where he battled Wonder Woman, then reappeared in All New Collector's Edition C-54, Superman vs Wonder Woman (with gorgeous JLGL, PBHN, art). He was scheduled to appear in Steel, the Indestructible Man #6; but, there was no issue #6, as we will see. More later. Roy created several Nazi supervillains for the Invaders, but, so far, has mostly used Golden Age supervillains for this. Baron Blitzkrieg was a Bronze Age creation; but, he fills the same kind of role as Master Man and Warrior woman and their fellow Nazis. He sure beats Red Panzer! Dragon King was Roy's first new Axis villain, though he disappeared after his one story. the Baron will be around a bit more. My only quiblle is the yellow orange and magenta costume. A little too flamboyant for a Nazi. Black leather or at least traditional green and red would seem more suitable. It's a nice design, though, although JLGL tweaked it, after his debut in World's Finest, under Don Heck. In the Invaders, Roy created Nazi supervillains, based on the JLA. Too bad he didn't give us a group of Nazi agents, based on the Avengers, in All-Star Squadron. Gerry Conway did, in Freedom Fighters, with the Crusaders, in an unofficial crossover (the Invaders meet a different Crusaders in their book, based on the Freedom Fighters) The plot is a bit convoluted, but there are some nice twists, which are foreshadowed, if you pay attention. Atom asks FDR about Plastic Man and is told he is on special assignment and we later see what the assignment was, doubling the president. Everyone involved appears to be oblivious as to how cold Norfolk and Washington DC are in the winter. The Atlantic will freeze your......ahem,,,,,it's cold! In Charleston, we rarely needed our bridge coats; but, they were standard in Norfolk. Roy covers Hawkgirl with some rigermarole about the Ninth metal heating her and Sir Justin os protected by Magic, I guess, but Liberty Belle should have been freezing her athletic hinder off. One plunge in the Atlantic and we should be talking hypothermia. Comics! Nice issue, setting up what was to come. Historical Notes: On Dec 22, 1941, Winston Churchill arrived in the United States, aboard the HMS Duke of York. It moored at Norfolk Naval Station and he was flown to Washington, where he was met by FDR. They were united for a strategy conference and he did make that speech at the White House, on Christmas Eve. Roy used the same event in GS Invaders #1, at Marvel, with Churchill being saved by Cap, Bucky, Namor, Torch and Toro. When they meet, FDR uses the term, "Former Naval Person," which was his code name for Churchill, in correspondence. Churchill calls FDR "POTUS," which has been used ever since to refer to the President. Roy opens with a quote from Churchill about sleeping soundly after news of Pearl Harbor. Britain had been making propaganda efforts to sway US opinion into aiding the Allies against the Germans. This effort was led by William Stephenson, code name: Intrepid. They courted columnists like Walter Winchell and Drew Pearson, helping spread anit-Nazi opinion. When the US joined the war, he helped train propagandists for the US Office of War Information. He was also instrumental in the selection of William J Donovan being picked as the head of the Office of Strategic Services, the US' covert intelligence command, which later evolved into the CIA. Mention in the story is made of Roosevelt's disability and how it was hidden from the public. Roosevelt wore leg braces; but, mostly got around in a wheel chair. He would use a cane and an aid to appear in public. The Washington Press Corps and most of the national press knew about it; but, there was an unspoken agreement not to depict it. It was a two-edged sword. On the one hand, his disability was never a factor in public debate and he ran for office based on his abilities, his goals and his record. On the other hand, America was deceived and robbed of a symbol for those with disabilities and a shining example how such things could be overcome and people make great contributions to society. Fala was a Scotts Terrier, who was as popular as FDR, as he made frequent reference to the beloved dog. The dog was given to him by a cousin and was named Murray the Outlaw of Falahill, an ancestor of Roosevelt's. it was then shortened to Fala. Fala was well trained and his playful antics were favorites of reporters and he was featured in an MGM film about a typical day at the White House. Fala was there during Roosevelt's wartime presidency (the dog was born in 1940) and once was found to have intestinal issues. it turned out that the dog was being overfed by the White house kitchen staff and the President decreed that only he would feed the dog, from then on. Fala became the most famous dog in the nation, more than Lassie, Rin-Tin-Tin, Sandy or Asta (the Thin Man series). He survived the president and remained with Eleanor, until the dog's death in 1952. He was buried near his beloved human. Fala is depicted with FDR, at the Roosevelt memorial, the only Presidential pet so honored...  The film Nazi Agent, starred Conrad Veidt as twins, one a Nazi, the other a kindly stamp dealer. The twin aspect hints at the plot to replace Churchill with a robot "twin" to kill Roosevelt, who is also replaced by Plastc man, doubling the President. The film was released in Jan 1942, so promotional posters would have been possible, though location is odd. more of an in-joke, from Roy. The issue mentions Wesley Dodds as serving in an anti-aircraft battery. Dodds was leter retconned to be a veteran of WWI, when Morpheus, the Sandman was imprisoned, leading to prophetic dreams of criminals and taking up the identity of the Sandman. This was in keeping with his ties to classic pulp heroes, like the Shadow and the Spider, who were veterans of WW1. At this point, though, Wesley Dodds was still a younger man, who was not in France, during the first war.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 30, 2020 14:18:31 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #7 I agree that this was another hit for this young series. Solid story, and action and I have to admit that the Gonzalez art is very underrated. I don't know why I don't want to give him credit for being a good penciler. I guess I would have to see his art without the brilliant Ordway inks. There are very nice panels, such as the likenesses of Churchil and FDR are excellent. The Whitehouse in the last few pages appear to be traced from a photo reference , as it looks too perfect. I will pick a nit and say that Baron Blitzkreig Helmut distracts me a bit as it looks too much like Iron Man's. I don't know enough about the Baron's power set but it was kind of cool to see him run from a fight at the end. Why take a foolish chance? Interesting that he was barely 10 years old when he was used for the A.S.S. comic. I find it kind of silly for the JSA team to join the armed forces when they could do more good in costume. And a blind doctor, I daresay, wouldn't be allowed to serve. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 14:52:02 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #7 I agree that this was another hit for this young series. Solid story, and action and I have to admit that the Gonzalez art is very underrated. I don't know why I don't want to give him credit for being a good penciler. I guess I would have to see his art without the brilliant Ordway inks. There are very nice panels, such as the likenesses of Churchil and FDR are excellent. The Whitehouse in the last few pages appear to be traced from a photo reference , as it looks too perfect. I will pick a nit and say that Baron Blitzkreig Helmut distracts me a bit as it looks too much like Iron Man's. I don't know enough about the Baron's power set but it was kind of cool to see him run from a fight at the end. Why take a foolish chance? Interesting that he was barely 10 years old when he was used for the A.S.S. comic. I find it kind of silly for the JSA team to join the armed forces when they could do more good in costume. And a blind doctor, I daresay, wouldn't be allowed to serve. Having experienced military medicine, a blind doctor couldn't be any worse. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 3, 2020 0:33:19 GMT -5
All-Star Squadron #8 It appears that Winston Churchill has run afoul of 23rd Century crime lords...  Creative Team: Roy Thomas-writer, Adrian Gonzales-pencils, Jerry Ordway-inks, John Costanza-letters, Carl Gafford-colors, Len Wein-editor Portion of the story taken from the un-published (except in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade) Steel, the Indestructible Man #6, Gerry Conway-writer, Don Heck-artist. Synopsis: Winnie the not-so-Pooh (aka Churchill) is addressing the Canadian Parliament, in Ottawa, when he is interrupted by someone other than Bob & Doug McKenzie's father.  The assassin is Der Schwarzer Meuchelmorder; but, since that is a mouthful, we call him the Black Assassin. The All-Stars are on the case and Shining Knight and Liberty Belle jump into combat, while a couple of Canadian soldiers (let's see; Americans are "Yanks" or "GIs" and the British are "Tommies," so what are Canadian soldiers? Gordies?) also get the drop on him; but, his "light rifle (an advanced laser weapon, before such a thing existed) is too much for them. Sir Justin's chain mail is bulletproof, but not sure about coherent light beams and Belle gets a flag dumped on her, tripping her up. Just when it looks like Churchill is about to get plugged, the cavalry arrives, in the form of a red, white and blue super soldier...  Our walking flag decks the guy and crushes his laser weapon for good measure and the Fritz seems to recognize him, though no one else does. Black Assassin goes for a bomb and the flag man smothers it with his body and survives. Winston knows who he is, identifying him as Steel, a man he met 2 years before. Belle recognizes the name and remarks he had a short career as a spy buster. Sir Justin notices his patriotic costume is metal mesh and wonders if he is equally as strong as the material. Steel comes to and passes a book to Belle and Churchill, then passes out. Sir Justin carries him off for medical attention, while Churchill pays his respects to the dead Canadian soldiers. he then finishes his address to the assembly. Belle phones the White House and relays info to Atom, who says FDR is checking with Hoover, right now. Canadian PM MacKenzie King orders a special train, with heavily armed Canadian guard, to speed Churchill, Steel, and the All-Stars back tot he States. The doctor remarks on the amazing enhancements in Steel's body. Churchill has read Steel's diary and passes it on to Liberty Belle, who reads passages for the doctor and Sir Justin. hank Heywood was a medical student who joined the Marines, after the Nazis invaded Poland. On his way back to camp he spotted saboteurs trying to low up an ammo dump and tried to stop them and was caught in an explosion that badly injured him. With the help of his mentor, Dr Gilbert Giles (father of his fiancee), his body was rebuilt with steel tubing and micro-motors, a "bio-retardant" protective fles, and artificial lung and device to keep his heart working. His costume was made out of a similar mesh. He becomes Steel, the Indestructible Man and ends up in London, where he stops the Black Assassin from killing Churchill, when he was the First Lord of the Admiralty.  He impresses Churchill, who makes him an American observer on the Admiralty staff. Steel recounts a flashback to saving Dr Giles, who knew he was Hank and an ultimatum that it is either the costume or the daughter and Hank walked away from his fiancee. In the then-present, Churchill worries about Germany's attack on Norway. He sends Steel on a special mission to kidnap Hitler, to try to halt the Nazi advances and prevent a potential combined German and Russian assault on Scandinavia. Their Lancaster bomber (in one panel, it looks more like a B-24) is shot down and Steel and a pair of commandos bail out. Before hitting the silk, Steel defies the laws of physics and pulls off some freefall maneuvers that include rising upward and catches onto one of the BF-109's and tears it apart...  he tosses out the pilot and steers the plane into the wingman, then pulls his ripcord. At that point the journal is empty. Meanwhile, Baron Blitzkrieg and Zwerg are tracking the train on a special receiver, that is picking up a signal from somewhere on the train. It is all part of his back-up plan to kill Churchill and FDR. The train crosses the border and the Gordies are replaced by Yanks, as they head for Washington DC. We see an eagle land on it and transform into Kung, a Nisei who fights against the Americans (previously seen in Wonder Woman #238, per learned Len Wein). he then transforms into a tiger and tears through the roof of a rail car. Hawkgirl spots him and attacks, as the other All-Stars are flying air cover for the train. Kung transforms into and eagle and attacks, tearing through the Ninth Metal harness, sending HG spiralling. Firebrand pilots a biplane and drops off Johnny Quick and Robotman. Johnny rescues HG and RM blocks Kung, who turns into a rhino, then a praying mantis, when Robotman leaps at him, causing him to fall off the speeding train. Everyone inside is under some kind of convenient magic spell.  While the All-Stars race to get back to the train, Kung lands inside and goes to kill Churchill and is nabbed by Steel, with one hand. He transforms into an eagle and escapes. Churchill is saved and everyone assumes BB was behind the attack. It turns out that Kung was acting independently and the real assassin is still with them. Thoughts: Lot of action in this, though the main story is interrupted by the background material on Steel and his last mission. It interrupts the flow a bit, bot not too badly. The art change is noticeably; but, Ordway helps smooth the transition. The Steel sequence is pretty much taken, minus some excised panels, from Steel #6, which was never published. Joe Giella was the original inker. Here's the original cover...  The parts here are from the first half of the tale. The rest will appear next issue. Steel was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck, intended to be DC's Captain America. the problem with that idea was that he would never be anything other than a rip-off and he never really rose above it. His origin is a mix of Cap and the Six Million Dollar Man and Heck's art on those issues was rather muddy, which didn't help things (part of it was the reproduction; but, Heck's best work was behind him). Aside from the steel mesh costume, Steel carried a flare pistol, worn pistol butt out, on his right hip (which isn't a great offensive weapon) and a rifle, which was never drawn like a recognizable model of the era. The comic was an easy victim of the DC Implosion. This further's the battle against Baron Blitzkrieg and next issues continuation of Steel #6 includes the origin of Baron Blitzkrieg; so, we have that to look forward to. Historical Notes: Winston Churchill arrived in the uS on Dec 22, 1941, for the ARCADIA Conference, which mapped out the Europe First strategy of the war. He gave an address at the White House on Christmas Eve and then at a joint session of Congress, on Dec 26. On Dec 30th he addressed the Canadian Parliament, where he made his famous "Chicken Speech," which Roy references. marshall Petain, leader of the Vichy government remarked that, "In three weeks, England will have its neck wrung, like a chicken." Churchill retorted, "Some chicken; some neck." Churchill returned to the ARCADIA Conference, where the Declaration by United Nations was made, which brought together some 47 nations, allied against the Axis Powers. This would lay the foundation for the future United Nations. The conference concluded on January 14 and Churchill returned to Great Britain on Jan 16, via airplane, the first head of state to do so. Roy name drops MacKenzie King (William Lyon Mackenzie King) who was Prime Minister of Canada, from Oct 1935 to November 1948. King was originally in favor of Canadian neutrality, but Nazi aggression, soon split the country between isolationists and those who supported the UK. Canada ended up mobilizing before the invasion of Poland and joined Britain against the Nazis. King was largely ignored by Churchill and Canada was often treated as a lesser ally in strategic planning, despite supplying troops and supplies. As in the US, the war helped bring an end to the Canadian economic depression and build industry and agriculture. Kung is a Nisei, whose parents immigrated to the US in the Depression, but died. he went to Japan to train to be a samurai and some mystc process provided his transformation powers. the internment of Japanese Americans fuels his rage, though that event has not occurred, yet. He was later retconned as having died at Hiroshima. Executive Order 9066 was issued on February 19, 1942, allowing military commanders to create exclusion zones. The order did not specifically target the Nisei and the language allowed the exclusion of all personnel. The order was then used specifically on the Nisei in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, leading to the internment of the Nisei. There were interments of German and Italian Americans, but in vastly fewer numbers. It was later revealed that the US Census Bureau assisted in spying and providing lists of Japanese-Americans for interment. The Supreme Court upheld the Constitutionality of the order in 1944, but President Carter convened a commission to examine the circumstances and use of the order, in 1980, which found that the order had little factual basis for espionage or disloyalty and had been fueled by racism and hysteria. In 1988, President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which established reparations to the survivors of the camps. However, that Executive Order has been cited as a precedent for actions that followed the 9/11 attacks, including the use of the naval base at Guantanamo, Cuba, as a detention facility. The US was not alone interment, as Canada also issued restrictions and interred Japanese-Canadians, with the result that some 27, 000 were detained and held without charge, despite reports from the RCMP that Japanese-Canadians showed no disloyalty and posed no viable threat. Again, their race made them an easy target.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 3, 2020 0:44:02 GMT -5
ps Steel isn't totally a rip-off, nor is Steve Austin that original a hero. In 1911, French author Jean de la Hire created Leo St Clair, the Nyctalope, a pulp hero who was a cyborg, with artificial organs and limb enhancements that gave him heightened strength and senses. The character appeared in some 18 novels, between 1911 and 1940.  |
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Roy had to explain everything , didn't he ?
