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Other DC Universe topics Obscure DCU Characters - Round VII |
| Author | Topic: Obscure DCU Characters - Round VII |
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outpost2
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posted January 12, 2003 04:51 PM
Welcome to Round VII of Obscure DCU Characters. This thread serves as a Q&A forum focusing on DC's many obscure heroes and villains. Rounds I through VI have been archived at http://www.infiniteearths.org/dcu/obscurecharacters_files/obscuredcu.htm and are available for download. If you're new to this topic, take a few moments to check out those previous threads. The Obscure DCU Characters list now stands at 537 characters. Those entries that have yet to be covered are marked with an asterisk. 1 Adam Strange II |
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outpost2
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posted January 12, 2003 04:53 PM
datalore may cover: dnewton may cover: Hellst0ne may cover: outpost2 is working on: The Vigilante may cover: |
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outpost2
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posted January 12, 2003 04:54 PM
THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY Base of Operations: New York City History: In the Spring of 1938, "Fly-Foot" Creamer, an acrobat and small-time crook, is convicted and sentenced to prison. He places his young daughter, Meredith (age ~5), in an orphanage, stipulating that his daughter never learn that her father was a criminal. [Refer to Star Spangled Comics #81 (June 1948).] [Note: Merry Creamer's age is estimated here.] On October 31st of 1938, Lee Travis (age 25), wealthy young publisher of the Globe-Leader, a New York newspaper, dons a business suit, mask, crimson cape, and slouch hat, and attends a costumed charity ball in New Jersey as a highway robber. The proceeds will be used to aid the residents of Hankow, China, homeland of Lee's driver, Wing How (age ~16). During the ball, Orson Welles' War of the Worlds radio play puts the attendees in a panic, until they realize the broadcast is not real. Suddenly, criminals dressed as Martians crash the party and steal the proceeds. The disguised Lee Travis and Wing chase after the crooks, eventually capturing them. Lee continues to fight crime wearing the outfit he wore to the charity ball, calling himself the Crimson Avenger. The plain-clothes Wing is his only confidant, and aides him in many of his adventures. [1st app. of the Crimson Avenger and Wing in Detective Comics #20 (Oct 1938), origin first revealed in Secret Origins [1st ongoing series] #5 (Aug 1986).] [Note: Lee Travis was born in 1913, as shown in Infinity Inc. #11 (Feb 1985). Secret Origins #5 establishes that Lee was twenty-five when he became the Crimson Avenger. According to the 1976 DC Calendar, Lee's birthday is March 11th and Wing's birthday is August 18th. Wing's age is approximated here, based on his having a driver's license. Crimson Avenger #1 (June 1988) establishes that Wing's last name is How.] In the Summer of 1940, the Crimson Avenger dons a new, skin-tight costume. [Refer to Detective Comics #44 (Oct 1940).] In the Winter of 1940, Tom Hallaway becomes the archer named the Spider. It is a nickname given him as a child, one which stuck. He is in reality a criminal who uses the guise of a hero to further his own agenda, eliminating his competition and expanding his criminal empire in the city of St. Louis. [1st app. of the Spider in Crack Comics #1 (May 1940) by Quality Comics, 1st app. at DC in All-Star Squadron #50 (Oct 1985).] [Note: The Spider having a criminal background is a retcon. Refer to The Shade #3 (June 1997) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] In 532 A.D., a new knight of the Round Table, Sir Justin, searches for the ogre Blunderbore, to avenge the death of Sir Fallon. On the way, he accidentally frees the wizard Merlin from a spell which had imprisoned him. Merlin transforms Justin into the Shining Knight, and casts a spell which gives the knight's horse, Victory, functional wings. In his new armor, atop his magical steed dubbed "Winged Victory", Justin quickly finds the ogre and slays him. But the battle causes an avalanche of ice which buries both the knight and his steed. In the Summer of 1941, the Shining Knight awakens from suspended animation fourteen centuries later when Dr. Moresby, a museum director, frees him from an iceberg with dynamite. As a cover, Justin takes the name Justin Arthur and attains a job in Moresby's New York City museum. Occasionally, Merlin uses his magic to summon the Shining Knight back to Camelot. The Knight is sometimes aided by Sir Butch. [1st app. of the Shining Knight in Adventure Comics #66 (Sep 1941), origin retold in All-Star Squadron #62 (Oct 1987), the new Camelot adventures and the origin of Sir Butch featured in Adventure Comics #132 (Sep 1948).] [Note: All-Star Squadron #62 clearly places Sir Justin's resuscitation in the Summer of 1941.] [Additional Note: In Swamp Thing [2nd series] #87 (June 1989), Sir Justin, the last surviving Knight of the Round Table, returns to King Arthur with the Holy Grail. During that time he meets the time-lost Swamp Thing. In Superman [2nd series] #55 (May 1991), during the Fall of Camelot, Merlin attempts to summon Sir Justin from the 20th century, but is blocked by the magicks of Morgaine Le Fey.] On July 4th 1941, Sylvester Pemberton, Jr. (age 14), son of a wealthy banker, and mechanic Pat Dugan (age ~20) are in attendance at the showing of a patriotic film, when suddenly Nazis agents start a riot in the theater. Shortly after, both Sylvester and Pat overhear a policeman say he wishes that the American flag could come to life to deal with the Nazi agents. Each is inspired to make that happen, and soon after the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy appear. At first operating independently, they finally combine forces to halt the Nazi plot against the United States. Pat later takes a job as the Pemberton chauffeur. [1st app. of the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy in a promo in Action Comics #40 (Sep 1941), 2nd app. in Star Spangled Comics #1 (Oct 1941), origin first revealed in Star Spangled Comics #18 (Mar 1943), origin retold in Secret Origins [2nd ongoing] #9 (Dec 1986).] [Note: Secret Origins [2nd ongoing] #9 establishes that Sylvester was thirteen or fourteen when he became the Star-Spangled Kid. According to The Amazing World Of DC Comics #16 (Dec 1977), Sylvester was born in 1926. According to the 1976 DC Calendar, Sylvester's birthday is December 13th and Pat's birthday is March 5th. In the post-Crisis reality, Sylvester's birthday is in October, as shown in Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000), making him fourteen on July 4th. Also, in Infinity Inc. #11 (Feb 1985), Sylvester states that Pat is only a few years older than him, while Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000) indicates that Pat was born in the 1920s, hence the estimate for Pat's age above.] In the Summer of 1941, Greg Sanders, who was born in Wyoming but had since moved to New York City to become a radio singer, is informed that his father has been killed. Greg's father was a county sheriff, shot by criminals who were after a gold shipment that he was guarding. Greg travels back West and, becoming the masked Vigilante, tracks down his father's killers. After he returns to New York, he is aided in his fight against crime by his friend Billy Gunn. [1st app. of the Vigilante in Action Comics #42 (Nov 1941), 1st app. of Billy Gunn in Action Comics #43 (Dec 1941).] [Note: According to the 1976 DC Calendar, Greg's birthday is February 10th. Also, according to World's Finest Comics #246 (Aug-Sep 1977), which describes the Earth-One Vigilante's origin, the name of Sheriff Sanders' killers was the Judas Priest Gang.] [Additional note: In the pre-Crisis reality, Oliver Queen and his ward Roy Harper became the Earth-Two Green Arrow and Speedy around this same time. Refer to More Fun Comics #73 (Nov 1941).] In the late Summer of 1941, Lee Travis' chauffeur, Wing, becomes the Crimson Avenger's costumed partner. [Refer to Detective Comics #59 (Jan 1942).] [Note: Wing's age is approximated here.] In the late Summer of 1941, the criminal mastermind known as the Hand learns that he is gravely ill and has less than a month to live. He pledges to make the world remember him long after he is gone by giving his greatest unused plans to other criminals to execute for him. He gathers five villains together, "the Hand's Five Fingers", then challenges certain heroes to stop them. Prof. Merlin battles the Spider, the Needle battles the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, Red Dragon battles the Shining Knight, Big Caesar battles the Crimson Avenger and Wing, and the Dummy battles the Vigilante and Billy Gunn. When the criminals are all defeated, the Hand decides to kill the heroes himself, and invites them to his home, which is filled with traps. The Hand then learns that a means of curing him has been found. He is more determined than ever to defeat the heroes so he can stay out of prison. At the conclusion of their confrontation, the villain aims his lightning-ray machine at the heroes, but the Vigilante shoots the machine down, apparently killing the Hand. The heroes decide that they work well together and resolve to officially form a team. The Crimson Avenger wants to limit Wing's exposure to danger because he has a very promising future, so he refuses to allow Wing to join. The heroes form the Seven Soldiers of Victory (a.k.a. the Law's Legionnaires), with Wing as an unofficial eighth Soldier. [1st app. of the Seven Soldiers of Victory in Leading Comics #1 (Winter 1941-42), retold in Justice League Of America #100 (Aug 1972).] [Note: It is assumed that the Spider replaced Green Arrow and Speedy in the post-Crisis reality starting with the Soldiers' first adventure. Billy Gunn is also assumed to be a Solider here based on a cameo in Infinity Inc. #51 (June 1988) and the letters page of Young All-Stars #15 (Aug 1988).] In the Fall of 1941, the Soldiers battle the Black Star and his partners in crime: Captain Bigg, the Rattler, Falseface, the Hopper, and the Brain. The Black Star instructs his cohorts to collect five seemingly worthless items which, when used together, form a "black light" which makes organic matter grow to amazing size. The Black Star uses the black light on himself to make himself huge. During their final battle, the Black Star is knocked into the black light beam. He grows to such an immense size that the floor and ground under him collapse, and the Black Star disappears into the Earth. [Refer to Leading Comics #2 (Spring 1942).] In the Fall of 1941, the Head, a secret agent for Imperial Japan, seeks to provoke a Tong War in New York City's Chinatown. He frames Lin Chou, the wise leader of the White Lotus Tong, for wrongdoing. Lin Chou has two grandsons, Daniel (age 14) and Victor (age 10) Leong. Danny, nicknamed "Stuff", helps the Vigilante battle the Hand and his men, and clears Lin Chou's name. Thereafter, Danny becomes the Vigilante's sidekick, known as Stuff the Chinatown Kid. [1st app. of Stuff in Action Comics #45 (Feb 1942).] [Note: Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #1 (Nov 1995) - #4 (Feb 1996) establishes that Stuff is half-Chinese, that his first name is Danny, and that his age would be seventeen in November 1944. El Diablo #12 (Aug 1990) and a Who's Who loose-leaf entry establish that Victor was ten years old when he met the Vigilante. Danny's last name is assumed to be the same as his brother's, which was revealed to be Leong in El Diablo #12. It is unclear if Victor and Daniel have the same mother. If not, Victor may be full-blooded Chinese.] In the Fall of 1941, caught in one of the Luftwaffe's bombing raids on London, Percy Sheldrake (age nearly 20 years) and his mother are rescued by the Shining Knight. Whenever the Shining Knight is in England, Percy becomes his secret sidekick, the Squire. [1st app. of the Squire in Young All-Stars #22 (Jan 1989).] [Note: According to Young All-Stars #23 (Mar 1989), by June of 1942, Percy Sheldrake had a wife and one year old son, Cyril. Batman #62 (Dec 1950-Jan 1951), Infinity Inc. #34 (Jan 1987), and New Teen Titans [2nd series] #44 (June 1988) show that Percy will become the Earl of Wordenshire and take up the costumed identity of the Knight by the Fall of 1950, while his son Cyril will become the new Squire.] In the Winter of 1942, a homeless boy, nicknamed "Breezy", saves Sylvester, Jr. from a kidnapping attempt. Syl's grateful father offers the boy a place in their home. The Star Spangled Kid and Stripesy learn that Breezy is being stalked by Doctor Weerd. They ultimately discover that Breezy's mother had inherited a fortune before she died and Weerd wanted Breezy to sign over all rights to the money. Afterward, Sylvester John Pemberton, Sr. and his wife, Gloria, adopt young Breezy. [Refer to Star Spangled Comics #6 (Mar 1942) and World's Finest Comics #6 (Summer 1942).] In January of 1942, the Soldiers battle a scientist named Dr. Wilfred Doome. Using his newly perfected time ray, Doome calls forth Nero, Attila the Hun, Napolean Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, and Alexander the Great. After defeating the villains, who are returned to their own eras, the Soldiers follow Doome to the Siege of Troy in the 12th century B.C.. Dr. Doome befriends Odysseus and Agamemnon, but they are soon convinced that it is Doome who is the enemy. Doome escapes to 1942, and the Soldiers follow him. Doome then uses his time machine to escape into the far future, after which it explodes. [Refer to Leading Comics #3 (Summer 1942), retold in flashback in All-Star Squadron #29 (Jan 1984).] [Note: Since All-Star Squadron #29 takes place in February 1942, and the Shining Knight has been in London for "the past few weeks", and the battle with Dr. Doome is told in flashback, then Leading Comics #3 most likely occurred in January.] In early April of 1942, the Soldiers battle the Sense-Master, in reality a man named Dr. Brett, who tries to gather together five jewels which, when put together, will yield the Lifestone. Brett alters five unwilling criminals who gather the gems: Mickey Gordon, "Fingers" O'Fallon, "Human Bloodhound", Leo Palate, and "Eagle-Eye" Nelson. The Lifestone would have been used to bring an army of stone to life, which Brett could have used to conquer the world, but when the Lifestone is removed from Brett, he turns to stone himself. [Refer to Leading Comics #4 (Autumn 1942), retold in All-Star Squadron #56 (Apr 1986).] [Note: Since All-Star Squadron #56 takes place in early April of 1942, Leading Comics #5 also occurred at that time.] In late June of 1942, an elderly man, whose wealth has failed to stave off the ravages of old age, snaps. Calling himself the Skull, he pays criminals to steal an unproven experimental device which has reversed aging in a few laboratory animals. Their actions attract the attention of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. The Vigilante's new partner, Stuff, replaces Billy Gunn on the team. Also, because the Spider is occupied with other matters and cannot attend, the Shining Knight's sidekick, the Squire, whose existence only recently became public, accompanies the team as an unofficial eighth Soldier of Victory. During their final onslaught on the Skull's remote mansion, the heroes find the villain dead. Two of the wires in the de-aging device were accidentally crossed, causing the Skull to age to death instead of returning him to his youth. After the adventure concludes, the Shining Knight brings the Squire back to England. [Refer to Leading Comics #5 (Winter 1942-43), retold in Young All-Stars #27 (July 1989).] [Note: Since Young All-Stars #27 takes place in late June of 1942, Leading Comics #5 also occurred at that time.] Some months after returning to Europe, Percy Sheldrake is captured by the Nazis. He remains a P.O.W. for the rest of the war. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #34 (Jan 1987).] In the Fall of 1942, the Soldiers battle Scrivener. [Refer to Leading Comics #6 (Spring 1943).] In the Winter of 1943, the Soldiers battle the Wizards of Stanovia. [Refer to Leading Comics #7 (Summer 1943).] In the Spring of 1943, the Soldiers battle the Dummy. The Dummy captures the heroes and, with a stolen time machine, sends them into the past. The Spider meets the Three Musketeers in 17th century France, the Crimson Avenger and Wing arrive in China circa 225 BC and help defend against a Japanese invasion, the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy are present when Eric the Red and his son Leif discover North America circa 1000 A.D., the Vigilante meets Julius Caesar in the 1st century B.C., and the Shining Knight meets Leonardo da Vinci in 15th century Italy. Da Vinci, who is descended from the Homo Magi, uses his arcane knowledge to build a time machine that Sir Justin uses to rescue his teammates. The heroes return to their own time period and defeat the Dummy. [Refer to Leading Comics #8 (Autumn 1943).] [Note: Vandal Savage has claimed to have been Julius Caesar, however it is unclear if Savage was the real Julius or merely impersonated him at one point. Leonardo da Vinci's Homo Magi lineage was revealed as part of the origin of Zatara the Magician, his descendant.] In the Summer of 1943, the Soldiers battle Mr. X. [Refer to Leading Comics #9 (Winter 1943-44).] In the Fall of 1943, the Soldiers battle Baby-Face Johnson. [Refer to Leading Comics #10 (Spring 1944).] In the Winter of 1944, the Soldiers battle Handsome Harry. [Refer to Leading Comics #11 (Summer 1944).] In the Spring of 1944, the Soldiers battle henchmen hired by Weldon Darrell's secretary. [Refer to Leading Comics #12 (Autumn 1944).] In the Summer of 1944, the Soldiers battle Barracuda. [Refer to Leading Comics #13 (Winter 1944-45).] In the Fall of 1944, the Soldiers battle villains from various fictional books. [Refer to Leading Comics #14 (Spring 1945).] In November 1944, in the city of Los Angeles, seventeen year old Stuff tells Greg Sanders that he is in love with a girl named Stacey, an actress. Two weeks later, Stuff asks Stacey to marry him and she says yes. When Stacey then goes missing for two days, Stuff frantically goes to Greg for help. Evidence suggests that the gangster Bugsy Siegel is involved. The Vigilante traces Stacey's tracks to Tijuana, Mexico, where he learns Stacey was enslaved, had escaped, and was shot and killed. From San Diego, the Vigilante calls for Stuff on the phone, but learns that, while he was gone, Stuff had confronted Siegel about Stacey, was tied up, and beaten to death by the mobster. [Refer to Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #1 (Nov 1995).] In the Winter of 1945, the Seven Soldiers of Victory are mysteriously called to a meeting. A strange elf-like boy appears, introducing himself as Willie Wisher. He claims that he has the power to make anything happen just by wishing for it. The heroes scoff, so Willie Wisher wishes for the Soldiers to be banished to the Land of Magic. The Soldiers eventually demonstrate how, even without meaning to, Willie could be causing harm to innocents by casually wishing for things. They make him feel so bad that Willie wishes he had never been born. Willie suddenly ceases to exist. [Refer to Adventure Comics #438 (Mar-Apr 1975) - #443 (Jan-Feb 1976).] [Note: Time period assumed based on the quarterly publication of Leading Comics.] For months, the Vigilante has been causing Bugsy Siegel all kinds of trouble. The Dummy, an old enemy of the Vigilante, offers his services to Siegel. In the Summer of 1945, the Vigilante is tricked onto a booby-trapped boat, where he learns that the Dummy is allied with Siegel. The Vigilante is believed killed in the explosion. [Refer to Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #2 (Dec 1995).] By June 12th 1946, the Vigilante has been out of action almost a year, in hiding, healing from his wounds. [Refer to Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #3 (Jan 1996).] On December 26th 1946, Bugsy Siegel, who had used mob money to build the first casino in Vegas, opens the Flamingo. When no one comes to the grand opening, the mob decides Siegel must die. The Vigilante resurfaces in Vegas just before dawn. [Refer to Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #3 (Jan 1996).] The mob hires the Dummy to kill Bugsy Siegel. When Siegel arrives in Hollywood, he and his men are attacked by the Dummy and his crew. The Vigilante shows up, distracts the Dummy, and tells Siegel to run. The Vigilante chases the Dummy up into the rafters of a building. The Dummy falls and is believed dead. Later, the Vigilante is contacted and told Siegel wants to see him. On June 20th 1947, the Vigilante meets with Siegel and learns that he doesn't even remember killing Stuff. Siegel tells the Vigilante that he is a failure and a marked man, and he wants the hero to kill him. The Vigilante refuses. Furious, Siegel taunts the Vigilante about how he does indeed remember killing Stuff and how thoroughly he enjoyed it. The Vigilante shoots Siegel dead. [Refer to Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice #4 (Feb 1996).] In Summer of 1947, the Vigilante discovers that the Dummy survived their last encounter. The Dummy taunts the Vigilante by informing him that it was he, and not Bugsy Siegel, that killed Stuff in 1944. The Dummy had wanted to make the Vigilante suffer by killing Stuff, but he didn't want the hero to hound him, so he made it appear as if it was Siegel that beat Stuff to death. The Dummy enjoyed watching the Vigilante grieve over the next few months, then hired out his services to Siegel, so that he could take pleasure in finally killing his old foe. The Dummy was foiled that time but, as he now evades capture, he swears he won't rest until the Vigilante is dead. Recalling that Siegel had told him he didn't remember killing Stuff, the Vigilante now has to live with the fact that he killed the wrong man in cold-blood. [Note: It is strongly inferred in Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000) that the Dummy killed Stuff, hence the changes suggested above. It is interesting to note that the Earth-One Stuff was killed by the Dummy in World's Finest Comics #246 (Aug-Sep 1977).] The Vigilante contacts Victor Leong (age ~15) to inform him that his brother's killer still lives. Victor becomes the new Stuff. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #1 (Aug 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: Stuff II's full name is first revealed in El Diablo #12 (Aug 1990).] In the Spring of 1948, a bullet creases the Star-Spangled Kid's head during a battle with a criminal gang. While the injury is not serious, he is forced to wear a bandage in his secret identity of Sylvester Pemberton, Jr.. When he is unable to explain to his parents what happened to him, they insist he see a psychiatrist. Noting that Sylvester has no close friends, his adopted brother Breezy being something of a black-sheep, the psychiatrist suggests a companion. Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton adopt Merry Creamer (age ~15) from the local orphanage. Learning of the adoption, two hoods named Klinker and Buggsy track down her father, "Fly-Foot" Creamer, who was recently freed from prison and has since gone straight, obtaining a job as a circus performer. Threatening to reveal him to the Pembertons and Merry, the crooks force Creamer to help them pull a job as the villain called the Human Fly. He double-crosses the thugs and they shoot him, just as the Star-Spangled Kid shows up. With his dying breath, Creamer explains to the Kid that he was blackmailed, that his daughter is now with a nice family, and that he wishes she never learn that her father was an ex-con. The Kid vows to keep his secret. The murderers are ultimately killed by the police in a shoot-out. Merry learns that the Star-Spangled Kid used a handkerchief that she had given Sylvester, and deduces that the hero must be her adoptive brother. [1st app. of Merry in Star Spangled Comics #81 (June 1948).] In the Spring of 1948, Merry Pemberton dons a costume and secretly aids her brother, the Star-Spangled Kid, in the capture of Presto the Magician. The villain's gimmicks inspire her, and she names herself the Gimmick Girl. [1st app. of Merry as the Gimmick Girl in Star Spangled Comics #82 (July 1948).] In the Spring of 1948, Stripesy breaks his leg battling a criminal called the Rope. When the Star-Spangled Kid is knocked out by the villain, the Gimmick Girl uses her new gadgets to capture him. She temporarily becomes the Star-Spangled Kid's new partner, until Stripesy's leg heals. [Refer to Star Spangled Comics #83 (Aug 1948).] In late October 1948, in the city of St. Louis, just after Sylvester Pemberton's 22nd birthday, the Seven Soldiers of Victory gather for what will be their final adventure. They have been contacted by the Spider about a coming menace. Stripesy takes one look at the plans that the Spider had sent over and whips up the nebula rod. The device is a lightning rod of sorts, gathering nebuloid-energy from space, which can then be channeled against any opposing nebula threat. They wonder how the Spider got the plans in the first place and mention that they think he is shifty. The Spider arrives, visibly weak. He tells his teammates that their old enemy, the Hand, is in the process of creating a living entity of cosmic energy, with the power of twenty atomic bombs. He plans to unleash it's power in St. Louis. The Spider explains that he contacted the Soldiers, over the All-Star Squadron or the Justice Society, because he had to get help from a group he could count on. After looking over the nebula rod, the Spider collapses, dropping a map of the Hand's hideout. The Crimson Avenger tells Wing, who is not an official team member, to stay behind and get medical help for the Spider, while the Soldiers check out the hideout. Shortly after they leave, Billy Gunn arrives. He had been doing intensive background checks on the Spider after hearing the Vigilante's growing suspicions. He tells Wing the whole thing is a set up. Billy Gunn is suddenly shot through the neck with an arrow. The killer, the Spider, holds a key piece to the nebula rod in his hand. Wing attacks and knocks the Spider out, taking the critical component from him. The Soldiers find the Nebula Man and engage him in battle. The Crimson Avenger grabs the nebula rod and runs towards the creature. Wing then arrives, telling his friends that Billy Gunn is dead, and that they have been betrayed by the Spider. The Crimson Avenger stabs the Nebula Man with the rod. The resulting explosion teleports them all to the other side of the world, to the Himalayas. Wing grabs the nebula rod, inserts the missing piece, and attacks the Nebula Man once again. The resulting blast destroys the enemy, but kills Wing, and sends the rest of the team into the timestream. Monks at a nearby monastery, who witnessed the battle, bury the young hero, unaware that the energy of the Nebula Man was absorbed into Wing's broken form. They mark the grave with a tombstone with the epitaph "Here In Honored Glory Lies An Unknown Soldier Of Victory Who Died That His World Might Live". [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #7 (Feb 2000), #8 (Mar 2000), and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: According to the 1976 DC Calendar, Wing died on June 28th. In the post-Crisis reality, he died in late October, as shown in Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000). Although Pat Dugan states in Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 that Sylvester had just turned 19 years old when they battled the Nebula Man, this is clearly a mistake on Pat's part, as that would have made Sylvester only eleven when he first became the Star-Spangled Kid.] |
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outpost2
Member |
posted January 12, 2003 04:55 PM
THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY (continued) In 1950, the golden age Flash retires. The Spider, who is descended from the Ludlow family, a family dedicated to the destruction of the immortal Shade, decides to move his criminal operation out of St. Louis because too many people are beginning to suspect the truth about his covert activities. He relocates to Keystone City, in order to destroy his family's enemy. He has a news conference to proclaim that Keystone City has a new protector, and after a month is endorsed by the Flash. Over the following months, the Spider plays the hero, battling criminals, including the Shade. The Shade is unaware that, after every battle with his new foe, the Spider's men collect the residue of his shadow force. Over the following months, the Shade secretly does research in St. Louis on the Spider's past. [Refer to The Shade #3 (June 1997).] In 1951, the Shade learns that the Spider is really a criminal and confronts him. The Spider reveals he is a Ludlow, and that he came to Keystone City to destroy the Shade. The Spider captures the Shade, then reveals that he has sent his men to the Garrick residence to kill the Flash and his wife. His men will plant the Shade's shadow residue, collected by his men over the past months, on the Garricks' bodies. Super-heroes will hound the Shade for the rest of his existence. The Shade easily kills the Spider and escapes. He reaches the Garrick residence just in time to stop the murders. The Shade tells the Flash that he left evidence about the Spider's criminal activities for the police to find, and asks the Flash not to notify them of his involvement. [Refer to The Shade #3 (June 1997) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] In the late 1950s, Sylvester John Pemberton, Sr. dies. By this time, Gloria Pemberton, his wife, and Breezy Pemberton, his adopted son, have also died. Merry, his adopted daughter, renounces any claim to the estate. Arthur Pemberton, Breezy's infant son, is declared the sole heir to the Pemberton fortune. [Refer to All-Star Comics # 71 (Mar-Apr 1978) and Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984).] [Note: For simplicity, it is assumed that it was Sylvester's younger adopted brother "Breezy", and not some older deceased brother as mentioned in Infinity Inc. #3, who was the father of Arthur Pemberton. Also, in Infinity Inc. #3, Sylvester states that Merry renounced the Pemberton fortune a few years after he disappeared. Setting the above events in the late 1950s allows Breezy Pemberton enough time to sire a son before dying, while still placing the events within a few years of Sylvester's disappearance.] In the 1960s, Merry Pemberton marries Henry King, the villain called Brain Wave. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984) and Infinity Inc. #9 (Dec 1984).] [Note: The actual events describing the courtship and marriage of Merry and Brain Wave have not yet been chronicled.] ~29 years ago, Merry King gives birth to Henry, Jr.. Later, her husband, Brain Wave, is arrested and is sentenced to many years in jail, leaving Merry to raise her son alone. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984) and #9 (Dec 1984), and Who's Who #15 (May 1986).] [Note: When Hank, Jr. first became Brainwave, Jr., he had been out of college only a few months. Assuming he followed a four-year undergraduate program, Hank would have graduated at about age twenty-one or twenty-two, placing his birth approximately twenty-nine years ago.] ~16 years ago, after years of despair over her husband's criminal activities, Merry Pemberton has a severe nervous breakdown. Henry, Jr., now in his early teens, believes his mother has died. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984), #9 (Dec 1984), and #23 (Feb 1986), Who's Who #15 (May 1986), and Young Justice #16 (Jan 2000).] [Note: There is a contradiction between Brainwave, Jr.'s statement that he watched his mother die, and her subsequent reappearance in Old Justice. The actual events surrounding her breakdown and faked death have not yet been chronicled.] 12 years ago, the Seven Soldiers of Victory mysteriously appear and are captured by the invading Appellaxians, along with many of Earth's other heroes. Back in the Spring of 1943, the Dummy had sent the team into different eras in the past. Using a time machine built by Leonardo da Vinci, the heroes attempted to return to their proper time period, but accidentally overshot their mark by more than four decades. With the crisis at hand, no one notices the presence of the Soldiers. After fighting alongside other heroes to free Earth from the threat of the alien invaders, the Soldiers, worried that someone might stumble across their time machine, quickly slip away to locate the temporal device. The Soldiers find the time machine intact, return back to 1943, and defeat the Dummy. [Refer to JLA: Year One #11 (Nov 1998) and #12 (Dec 1998), and Leading Comics #8 (Autumn 1943).] [Note: The events of JLA: Year One #11-12 have been inserted into the conclusion of Leading Comics #8, so as to explain the appearance of the Soldiers during the Appellaxian invasion. The events described above are just one theory, the true facts have not yet been revealed.] 10 years ago, Dr. Fate and the rest of the Justice Society summon the Justice League. A cosmic hand has appeared around the Earth, created by a madman who calls himself the Iron Hand. If the Earth does not hand over control of the planet to him within 48 hours, the Iron Hand will command the cosmic hand to crush the Earth. Fate's mystic crystal reveals an image of a tombstone in the Himalayas, referring to "An Unknown Soldier Of Victory". Dr. Fate, Zatanna, and Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt summon Oracle, a mystical being of great power. Oracle tells them of the Nebula Man, a creature that threatened the world in 1948. The Seven Soldiers of Victory had been beaten back by the entity, but they arose anew with a new weapon. One of their number sacrificed his life to use it to it's full effect. Oracle explains that the heroes were lost in time in the resulting explosion. Everyone present who even remembered the Soldiers assumed that they had simply retired in '48. Oracle agrees to direct the heroes down six time-corridors. [Refer to Justice League Of America #100 (Aug 1972), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality: The Justice League of America roster was Aquaman, the silver age Atom, Batman, the silver age Black Canary, the Elongated Man, the silver age Flash, Green Arrow, the silver age Green Lantern, the silver age Hawkman, and Superman, plus the powerless silver age Diana Prince, Metamorpho, and Zatanna. The Justice Society of America roster was Doctor Fate, Doctor Mid-Nite, the golden age Green Lantern, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, Mr. Terrific, the silver age Red Tornado, the golden age Robin, the Sandman, Starman, Wildcat, and the golden age Wonder Woman. In the post-Crisis reality: The silver age Green Lantern was apparently not present, his actions performed by the golden age Green Lantern. The silver age Hawkman was replaced by the golden age Hawkman. The silver age Diana Prince and the golden age Robin no longer exist. Doctor Fate took over some or all of the functions of Oracle. The golden age Wonder Woman was replaced by the Queen Hippolyte version. The "Hippolyte" Wonder Woman was only active from 1942 to 1950, and then again a decade from now, so her appearance here is likely related to the paradoxical temporal nature of her home, Themyscira. Also, post-Crisis, only six Soldiers, not seven, were teleported through time.] The Crimson Avenger arrives in Mexico at the height of the Aztec reign, approximately five centuries in the past. A glowing rock, a piece of the Nebula Man, steals his memory and imbues him with energy powers. He comes to believe he is the Sun God, Huitzilopochtli, and becomes King of the Aztecs. The silver age Atom, Elongated Man, and Dr. Fate arrive and try to save the Crimson Avenger, but he blasts them with his new power. After a short fight, the Atom knocks the Crimson Avenger unconscious. The heroes find a strange glowing rock and destroy it. The Crimson Avenger regains his memory and loses the energy powers. The heroes are then magically retrieved. [Refer to Justice League Of America #100 (Aug 1972) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: The era was deduced from the horrific period during which the Aztecs sacrificed 20,000 people to Huitzilopochtli.] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the golden age Green Lantern, the golden age Robin, and Mr. Terrific arrive and meet the silver age Diana. Diana tells them what has occurred and explains that the Unknown Soldier's grave is hidden deep in the Himalayas. Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972).] The Shining Knight arrives in China, in the 13th century A.D., at the camp of Genghis Khan. Khan's shaman uses his fiery gaze to mesmerize the Knight, making him a willing servant of the warlord. Superman, Metamorpho, and the Sandman arrive, where they meet monks who explain that the invader Temujn, known as Genghis Khan ("The Universal Ruler"), and his legions are being led by an armored god on a winged horse. Metamorpho searches for and locates the Shining Knight. He is surprised when the Knight attacks him. Metamorpho realizes he is somehow under Khan's control, and escapes to tell the others what has transpired. The next day, Khan's hordes attack. On instructions of the Sandman, Metamorpho creates a sleeping gas, incapacitating the invaders. Sandman devises an antidote and gives it to the Knight and his horse. The heroes are then magically retrieved. [Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: Vandal Savage has claimed to have been Genghis Khan, however it is unclear if Savage was the real Khan or merely impersonated him at one point.] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the golden age Green Lantern, the golden age Robin, and Mr. Terrific decide to head to the Himalayas and discover who erected the grave site. Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the golden age Green Arrow ends up in 12th century England, where he finds an injured Robin Hood under attack by the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men. Green Arrow successfully chases them off. While Robin heals from his wounds in the lodgings of a friendly friar, he asks Green Arrow to take his place. While on his way to tell Robin's Merry Men of Robin's plight, Green Arrow is captured by the Sheriff. The silver age Hawkman, the golden age Wonder Woman, and Dr. Mid-Nite arrive and are attacked by archers. The heroes defeat their attackers, and learn that they are the Merry Men, who believe they have just lost to the Sheriff's men. Little John says he doesn't know of anyone named Green Arrow, but could use their help rescuing their friend Robin Hood, who is to be hanged in the morning. The heroes make a dawn siege on Nottingham Castle. Dr. Mid-Nite locates the cell, but instead of Robin Hood it is Green Arrow that he finds. They escape and Green Arrow explains to the Merry Men that Robin is safe. The heroes are then magically retrieved. Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972).] Stripesy ends up in ancient Egypt and is enslaved. He works on building the pyramids for a week, until Batman, Starman, and Hourman arrive. The trio are captured, but are freed with the help of Prince Khufu. They rescue Stripesy and escape through Dr. Fate's temporal portal. [Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the heroes see Stripesy working in the shadow of Khufu's future tomb. This is the Pharaoh Khufu, a.k.a. Cheops, who lived in the 26th century B.C.. The heroes are captured and imprisoned in the Pharaoh's burial chamber. Batman breaks Hourman's hourglass and they cut their bonds with the broken glass. Starman summons his cosmic rod to lead them out. A number of retcons are made in the post-Crisis version. For instance, Hourman's hourglass is no longer broken as a means of escape. This is because, in the revised reality, the hourglass was a gift from the future Hourman, filled with tachyon particles, which would have significance at a future date. Young Khufu is added as their new means of escape. If this is intended to be the same Prince Khufu that is later reincarnated as the golden age Hawkman, this would place the post-Crisis era for this adventure in the 16th century B.C..] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the Iron Hand captures Diana. Refer to Justice League Of America #101 (Sep 1972).] The Vigilante winds up in the Old West, circa 1870. Thanks to Johnny Thunder's bumbling, the Vigilante spends about twenty years in the past, but he doesn't really mind. The hero had many adventures alongside such legends as Nighthawk, Madame .44, and Strong Bow. In the late 1880's, he is captured by Indians, who prepare to burn him at the stake. Green Arrow, the silver age Black Canary, and Johnny Thunder locate the Indian village and see the Vigilante's plight. The Vigilante is rescued, and the heroes are magically retrieved. [Refer to Justice League Of America #102 (Oct 1972), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the era is inferred to be around the 10th century, based on the Thunderbolt's comments that he had to search approximately 1,000 years for Johnny Thunder. The Vigilante is captured by Indians who have heard prophecies that the white man will some day take their land. They prepare to burn him at the stake. Green Arrow, the silver age Black Canary, and Johnny Thunder locate the Indian village and see Vigilante's plight. Johnny Thunder speaks his magic word, but the Thunderbolt fails to appear. The heroes are captured, but a few hours later they somehow manage to escape. The Thunderbolt arrives and the heroes escape. In the post- Crisis reality, the Vigilante's time of arrival is deduced based on the fact that the Vigilante spent nearly two decades in the past. His capture by Indians is assumed, but not necessary, due to the new Johnny Thunder "blunder" retcon. The Vigilante's two decade stint in the Old West hearken back to adventures he had in Action Comics #122 (July 1948) & #130 (Mar 1949), and Western Comics #3 (May-June 1948) & #4 (July-Aug 1948).] The Star-Spangled Kid spends a week in a cave in 14,000 B.C., trying to avoid giving the prehistoric people there the flu. He uses quartz and scrap material to construct something that projects a distorted image of himself to the natives. Aquaman, Wildcat, and the golden age Green Lantern arrive and see the frightened people cornering something in the cave. They see the projected image and realize it is the Star-Spangled Kid. The natives attack the heroes, but when Wildcat knocks out the largest of them, the rest retreat. The trio enter the cave and split up into the side-tunnels. Aquaman finds the Kid, but they are swept away by a flash flood. They escape harm, and all are magically retrieved. [Refer to Justice League Of America #102 (Oct 1972), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: In Justice League Of America #102 and Who's Who #21 (Nov 1986), the estimate for the time period described above was 50,000 years ago. Post-Crisis, this was retconned to be 14,000 B.C.. In the post-Crisis retelling, the silver age Green Lantern was retconned to be the golden age Green Lantern.] Stuff the Chinatown Kid ends up in ancient Greece, approximately 3,000 years in the past. The silver age Flash, Zatanna, and the Red Tornado arrive to rescue him. They find Stuff under the influence of the sorceress Circe. After freeing him from her enchantments, they are magically retrieved. [Refer to Justice League Of America #102 (Oct 1972), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the golden age Speedy lands on the Isle of Aenea. The sorceress Circe uses her magic wand to cast a spell on him, transforming him into a centaur, like she had done to many others before him. He is forced by her magic to obey her will. The silver age Flash, Zatanna, and the Red Tornado arrive on the small Mediterranean island. They spot Speedy and are shocked to see that he is now a centaur. They are even more surprised when he begins shooting arrows at them. Circe and a band of animal-men appear. Circe uses her wand to enchant Speedy's arrows. When he shoots them at the trio, they are all transformed into animal-men. Circe magically forces the heroes to fight one another, then leaves on Speedy's back. Zatanna reverses the spell, they stop Circe, cure the captured men, and destroy the wand. They are then magically retrieved. The post-Crisis events, which replaces Speedy with Stuff II, are unrevealed and can only be assumed to have occurred along similar lines. The time-period mentioned above is a rough estimate only.] The heroes all gather back at Justice Society headquarters, albeit more than 40 years after the Soldiers disappeared. Since all the missing Soldiers are accounted for, Johnny Thunder wonders who was buried at the grave site. The Crimson Avenger proudly explains that it was his partner Wing, who bravely and selflessly sacrificed himself to save the world. Mr. Terrific, who traveled to the Himalayas during the rescue missions, tells the Crimson Avenger that holy men from a nearby temple witnessed the battle and laid Wing to rest where he fell. The heroes then explain to the Soldiers that they must rebuild the nebula rod to stop the new nebula menace. The Iron Hand appears and grabs Wonder Woman, pointing his mechanical hand menacingly at her head. The mystery villain is none other than the Hand, the Soldiers' first opponent, who somehow survived death. The villain lost his right hand in that battle, which he later replaced with an artificial one. Using her lightning-fast reflexes, Wonder Woman grabs hold of his iron hand and destroys it. The defeated villain tells the heroes that the controls were in his artificial hand, and that the nebulous hand of the Nebula Man can't be deactivated. The heroes hurry to do the impossible -- build a new nebula rod before time runs out. The rod is rebuilt without any time to spare, but it must be delivered into the heart of the menace, something no human can survive. While the others try to decide who will attempt the suicide mission, the Red Tornado quietly takes the device and slips away. The heroic android stops the menace of the Nebula Man a second time, but not without apparently sacrificing his life. Soon after, the Red Tornado turns up alive and joins the Justice League. [Refer to Justice League Of America #102 (Oct 1972).] [Note: In the pre-Crisis reality, the golden age Green Lantern, the golden age Robin, and Mr. Terrific arrive with the answer to who was buried at the grave site, but the Crimson Avenger proudly offers an explanation. Also, Iron Hand threatens to hurt the powerless Diana, who uses her martial arts skills to get the drop on him. For simplicity, this has been changed to the villain threatening Hippolyte instead, although this retcon has not yet been depicted or suggested.] Before departing, the Soldiers learn that the Spider was killed by the Shade in 1951. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] When Starman breaks his leg in battle against the British Bat, he offers his cosmic rod and his spot in the Justice Society to the Star-Spangled Kid. [Refer to All-Star Comics #58 (Jan-Feb 1976), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #9 (Apr 2000).] Pat Dugan goes to Las Vegas, meets Maggie Shaw, and two days later the two marry. Ten months after that, Michael Justin Dugan is born. Eventually, Maggie leaves Pat. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #11 (Feb 1985) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] Greg Sanders and Victor Leong start a chain of hamburger joints called Greg Sanders' Round-Up, establishing the first in Houston, Texas. Victor is made President of Round-Up, Inc.. Greg starts a new hobby, the study of costumed lawmen. [Refer to El Diablo #12 (Aug 1990) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] Since his newspaper had prospered in his absence, Lee Travis retires from crimefighting and decides to travel the world. [Refer to DC Comics Presents #38 (Oct 1981).] The Soldiers lose contact with the Shining Knight. They believe he may have returned back to his own time-period. [Refer to All-Star Comics #64 (Jan-Feb 1977) - #65 (Mar-Apr 1977), Swamp Thing [2nd series] #87 (June 1989) and #109 (July 1991), Showcase '93 #9 (Sep 1993), and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: Since the Soldiers disappeared in October 1948, it is possible that the Knight's new adventures in Camelot, which didn't begin until Adventure Comics #132 (Sep 1948), took place during this "missing" block of time.] Shortly after joining the Justice Society, the Star-Spangled Kid converts the cosmic rod into a belt. [Refer to All-Star Comics #64 (Jan-Feb 1977) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999).] Some months after the Star-Spangled Kid's return from the past, he and the rest of the Justice Society battle the Strike Force in Gotham City. The Kid is captured and held for ransom. The leader of the Strike Force, unaware that the Star-Spangled Kid is actually Sylvester Pemberton, gloats that he plans to use the finances of Pemberton Industries that he inherited from his long-vanished uncle, Sylvester, to become the richest man in the world through criminal means. The Kid hence learns that the Strike Force leader is none other than Arthur Pemberton, his deceased brother's son. After he is rescued by the Justice Society, the Star-Spangled Kid deals with Arthur personally, then uses the courts to legally wrest control of Pemberton Industries and the Pemberton fortune from his corrupt nephew. [Refer to All-Star Comics #70 (Jan-Feb 1978) - #71 (Mar-Apr 1978) and Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984).] 9 years ago, while in Malaysia, Lee Travis learns he is dying from an unknown disease. Travis returns to the U.S. and is admitted to a Detroit hospital. From his hospital window, Travis sees a ship on the Detroit River sending out an SOS. Criminals have taken over the ship in order to steal the valuable experimental chemicals on board. Travis dons his Crimson Avenger costume, reaches the ship, and stops the crooks. Unfortunately, a fire has started on board which will set off the chemicals and destroy a better part of the city. Aware that he has only a week to live, the Avenger sends the entire crew to safety and takes the ship out to sea alone. The ship explodes, killing the Avenger, but saving Detroit. [Refer to DC Comics Presents #38 (Oct 1981) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: Infinity Inc. #11 (Feb 1985) places Lee Travis' death two years prior to the formation of Infinity, Inc.. Who's Who #5 (July 1985) places the hospital in New York City.] 8 years ago, in the city of Houston, Michael Carter, the nephew of Greg Sanders, becomes the Swashbuckler. [1st app. of the Swashbuckler in Detective Comics #493 (Aug 1980).] 7 years ago, two years his sacrifice, the surviving members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory verify that the Crimson Avenger has died. The Star-Spangled Kid sends Stripesy a telegram, but gets no response. They hold a memorial service at his gravesite, but Stripesy does not attend. The Kid, who hasn't heard from his ex-partner since shortly after their rescue from the past, decides to track him down. Sylvester finds Pat and his young son, Mike, in Pat's home outside of Vegas. Pat, needing money, has become indebted to a local mobster named "Boss" Weed. He has built an armored, high-speed vehicle for the mobster to clear his debt. However, when Weed comes for the vehicle, he takes Mike too. Sylvester learns that Pat ignored the telegram, and has ignored Syl because Pemberton Industries stole his patents. Sylvester explains that he was unaware that his cousin Arthur Pemberton stole the patents, and that he would make restitution. The duo then don their Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy costumes, put a stop to "Boss" Weed, and rescue Mike. Although still a member of the Justice Society, the Star-Spangled Kid begins to consider forming his own team. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #11 (Feb 1985) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: This issue refers to Mike Dugan as 6 years old, clearly an impossibility.] After the Justice Society members reject their children's application to the team, the Star-Spangled Kid quits the Justice Society and forms Infinity, Inc., with the rejects as charter members. Hank King, Jr., the son of the golden age villain Brain Wave, joins the team as Brainwave, Jr.. [1st app. of Brainwave, Jr. in All-Star Squadron #24 (Aug 1983), 1st app. of Infinity, Inc. in All-Star Squadron #25 (Sep 1983) - #26 (Oct 1983) and Annual #2 (1983), origin in Infinity Inc. #1 (Mar 1984) - #2 (May 1984).] The Star-Spangled Kid brings his cosmic belt, which sustained damage during a battle with the Ultra-Humanite, to Opal City for Ted Knight to repair. The Kid considers changing his code name to "Starman", but reconsiders when he realizes that Ted Knight is more proud of him than his own son Jack. Ted is disappointed when the Kid declines his offer to use the Starman name. The Kid leaves his gold-colored cosmic belt with Ted, who works all through the night to create a new, functional, red-colored belt. Ted has the golden age Flash make a special delivery of the new belt. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999).] Brainwave, Jr. and the Star-Spangled Kid realize that they are related. Merry, Brainwave's mother and the Kid's adopted sister, never told her son her maiden name. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #3 (June 1984).] The villain Brain Wave sacrifices his life to save his son, Brainwave, Jr., from the Ultra-Humanite. Before he dies, Brain Wave imparts to his son all of his mental power. Brainwave, Jr. re-christens himself Brainwave. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #10 (Jan 1985).] 6 years ago, the Star-Spangled Kid changes his name to Skyman. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #31 (Oct 1986) and Secret Origins [second ongoing] #9 (Dec 1986).] 5 years ago, under the influence of the Harlequin, Solomon Grundy and Mr. Bones cause the death of Skyman. The Dummy helps organize Injustice, Unlimited. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #51 (June 1988).] A few months after Skyman dies, Maggie Shaw gets custody of Mike Dugan. She enrolls him at Civic City Military Academy. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] The Shining Knight promises Abby Arcane that he will locate her time-lost husband, the Swamp Thing. He begins his quest, searching various time periods for the missing Earth Elemental. [Refer to Swamp Thing [2nd series] #87 (June 1989).] 4 years ago, in the late Spring, Greg Sanders and Victor Leong travel to Dos Rios, Texas, to satisfy Greg's interest in costumed lawmen. As the Vigilante, Greg meets El Diablo, a local hero. Although it is not cost-effective to build a Round-Up restaurant in Dos Rios, the town does establish the Greg Sanders Museum there. [Refer to El Diablo #12 (Aug 1990) and Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] 3 years ago, the Shining Knight returns to Abby Arcane with news of the Swamp Thing. Although less than two years has passed for Abby, twenty years has passed for Sir Justin. [Refer to Swamp Thing [2nd series] #109 (July 1991).] 2 years ago, Brainwave goes mad with guilt over the powers that his father left him. The bad things his father used those powers for took form in his mind, convincing him he must be evil to make his father proud. With other villains by his side, he attacks the Justice League. Maxima uses her mental abilities to get into Brainwave's mind, breaking the control that the guilt has over him. [Refer to Infinity Inc. #10 (Jan 1985) and Extreme Justice #14 (Mar 1996) - #18 (July 1996).] 1 year ago, Greg Sanders calls his old shooting buddy, Max Crandall, for help. Greg has bought Mesa City with the intent of turning it into a dude ranch, however strange accidents have been occurring. Max Crandall and Bart Allen, as Max Mercury and Impulse, help to defeat the culprit, Harvey McTeague. [Refer to Impulse Annual #2 (1997).] Less than a year ago, Pat Dugan marries Barbara Whitmore, a resident of Beverly Hills. Barbara's daughter, Courtney, is less than thrilled that she now has a new step-father. Barbara has yet to tell Courtney what has become of her natural father. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] Mere months ago, the Shining Knight contacts Pat Dugan in Beverly Hills about strange goings on in Blue Valley. Against his step-daughter's wishes, Pat moves his new family to Blue Valley. Before Pat arrives, the Shining Knight becomes engaged in battle with the Dragon King, his daughter Shiv, and their minions. His mind is all but destroyed during the ordeal. He later re-appears, dazed, in his cover as the high school janitor. When Pat arrives in Blue Valley, he is unable to locate his old friend. In his basement, Pat Dugan completes work on S.T.R.I.P.E., a new computerized body armor which he hopes will aid him against the Blue Valley menace. It was developed with the help of Dr. Robert Crane, formerly known as the golden age Robotman. Pat had asked Crane for his old body parts, and he was happy to oblige. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999), #1 (Aug 1999), #2 (Sep 1999), #7 (Feb 2000), and #8 (Mar 2000).] Courtney Whitmore, step-daughter of Pat Dugan, rummages through the boxes used in the move to Blue Valley. She comes across the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy's old costumes and some newspaper clippings. She recognizes Pat as Stripesy. Courtney makes herself a new Star-Spangled Kid costume to wear to that night's Blue Valley Soldiers football rally, which has a patriotic theme. She not only wants to get Pat's goat by wearing the costume, because he volunteered to chaperone the dance, but also hopes to get the attention of a boy she likes. At the rally, Pat spots Courtney and notices that she is wearing the cosmic belt. When the dance is attacked by the minions of the Dragon King, the cosmic belt activates and Courtney discovers she has acquired enhanced strength and speed. Pat rushes to his nearby home and returns in the S.T.R.I.P.E. armor. The two chase off the attackers. Pat is furious at Courtney, who refuses to give up her new costumed identity. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) and #1 (Aug 1999).] The new Star-Spangled Kid joins the Justice Society. [Refer to JSA #4 (Nov 1999).] An aged Gimmick Girl reappears with Old Justice, whose agenda is to shut down Young Justice before they get hurt. [Refer to Young Justice #16 (Jan 2000).] Pat Dugan is shocked when the Red Tornado informs him that Merry Pemberton, the Gimmick Girl, is still alive. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #6 (Jan 2000).] The Nebula Man rises from Wing's grave in the Himalayas. The monks who had buried Wing in 1948 were unaware that the body of the fallen hero had absorbed the radiation and energy of the creature. It reconstructed the body into a new form, reawakening the Nebula Man. The cosmic entity remembers it's mission ... destroy this world! The Nebula Man wipes out the monks and their peaceful monastery. Back in Blue Valley, Pat Dugan is in his basement lab with Dr. Robert Crane and Crane's robot dog, Robbie. Robbie digs out the old nebula rod from one of the boxes. Pat is surprised to see that it is glowing. Pat explains to Crane that this rod was one of the prototypes that he had built. It disperses cosmic energy, instead of absorbing it like the cosmic belt. The Nebula Man is drawn to the nebula rod and attacks. He declares that he has come to complete his mission of destruction, to destroy Earth, take the energy as his own, and end his pain. Pat attacks the Nebula Man with the nebula rod, but the creature breaks it. The Nebula Man states he had homed in on this one weapon, which emits the same frequency as he does. Once he absorbs the energy from all of Earth's cosmic devices, he'll have enough power to conquer anyone who stands in his way. Unfortunately for Courtney, she uses her cosmic belt in gym class at that very moment to give her an edge, attracting the Nebula Man. While on the school bus, the creature locates her and attacks. Pat contacts Ted Knight and tells him to call the Justice Society. Courtney, who changes into her Star-Spangled Kid garb, battles the Nebula Man over her cosmic belt. When she spots a picture of Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in an electrical storm, she gets an idea. Courtney ties her cosmic belt to a downed phone line, and throws the belt into the heart of the creature, grounding and dispersing it. S.T.R.I.P.E. arrives, followed by a crowd of super-heroes, only to discover that the new Star-Spangled Kid has already dealt with the problem. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #7 (Feb 2000) and #8 (Mar 2000).] Mike Dugan (age ~9) leaves the Civic City Military Academy and arrives in Blue Valley to pay a surprise visit to his father. Pat tells his son and step-daughter about the last mission of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. Mike then informs his father that he has left the Military Academy to move in with them. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #8 (Mar 2000) and #9 (Apr 2000).] [Note: Mike Dugan's age is deduced from Guide To The DCU 2000 #1 (Mar 2000).] In Detroit, a new Crimson Avenger appears. In St. Louis, someone takes the Spider's old archery bow. [Refer to Stars And S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (Apr 2000).] Weapons and Powers: The Crimson Avenger, Wing, the Star-Spangled Kid, Stripesy, the Vigilante, Stuff I, and Stuff II were all highly skilled hand-to-hand combatants. Wing, Stuff I, and Stuff II were all trained in the martial arts. The Vigilante and Billy Gunn were both excellent marksman. The Shining Knight wore enchanted armor which repelled bullets, wielded a magic sword, and rode on a winged horse. The Spider was a skilled archer. Comments: The history of the Seven Soldiers of Victory was greatly affected by the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Earth-Two Green Arrow and Speedy ceased to exist when the universes collapsed. They were retroactively replaced, at various times, by the Spider, Billy Gunn, and Stuff the Chinatown Kid I and II. |
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dnewton
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posted January 19, 2003 12:29 AM
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dudley soames
Member |
posted January 19, 2003 10:32 AM
Hello, 30 Arsenal Nicholas Galtry I should look before I open my mouth, but I think the Force of July was in the
short lived ANARKY series. Is Captain Fear the same Cap'n Fear from a BATMAN
book a few years ago?
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Hellst0ne
Member |
posted January 19, 2003 11:22 AM
Heaven, I'm in Heaven... I so totally and absolutely LOVE this thread. Just a correction about dibs and asterisks, outpost2. The Extremists are already covered (with the Assemblers and the Justifyers), but the Sponge Man is not. (Although I'm working on him right now...) Regards. /ola |
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outpost2
Member |
posted January 19, 2003 02:53 PM
And I tried to be soooo careful compiling that new list. Well, a few
mistakes isn't bad out of 537 entries, right? If anyone notices any other errors, please let us know. Thanks. Dudley, Arsenal (Nicholas Galtry) and Captain Marvel (the android) have already been covered. I'll snag Batman 2050, unless you want to take a stab at him. |
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Continental Op
Member |
posted January 19, 2003 04:49 PM
Here's one that's really obscure. I've been hoping someone would bring him up, because I was rereading some old books from the late 80s lately, and I noticed a subplot that never seemed to be resolved... DEKAN DRACHE Seems to be the creation of RJM (Randy and Jean-Marc) Lofficier, who were doing a lot of co-plotting on certain DC titles in the late 80s. I don't remember if the character even appeared on-camera at all. Drache was apparently one of those villainous industrialist types, and had ties to an ex-Nazi scientist type named Dr. Cornelius, who was head of the Cornelius-Krieg company that was an ongoing subplot in BLUE BEETLE. They had a super-villain enemy of the Beetle's named Catalyst working for them. I think this also crossed over into an issue or two of NEW TITANS. And there was some kind of interplay with the Global Guardians subplot going on in the Giffen JUSTICE LEAGUE books at the time as well. To further complicate things, the Zatanna issue of SECRET ORIGINS around this time mentioned Dekan Drache as an insane sorcerer in the early part of the 20th Century, who was destroyed and became a human host for the spirit of (get this) the Justice League's old enemy Felix Faust, who was suddenly supposed to be thousands of years old. No connection to the other Drache was specified. BLUE BEETLE was cancelled, and Roy Thomas brought the Lofficiers with him to Marvel when he left DC, so I don't think anyone ever explained what the hell the deal was with Drache or Cornelius-Krieg. I know that Felix Faust has appeared several times since then, and Catalyst turned up as one of the Captains of Industry, most recently working for Kobra in JSA. But I don't think the Lofficier subplots were ever addressed anywhere. How's THAT for obscure?? |
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outpost2
Member |
posted January 20, 2003 07:39 PM
Summarizing an entry from Michael L. Fleisher's Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes vol. 2... Tara Terruna First appearance: Wonder Woman [1st series] #59 (May-June 1953) Wonder Woman is hurled across a mysterious time warp into a parallel world by a freak electrical storm. This planet exists simultaneously alongside Earth, but in a different era. Everyone on this world appears to be a double of someone on Earth. Wonder Woman encounters her own double, a woman called Tara Terruna (which means "Wonder Woman" in the native language). Wonder Woman helps her counterpart battle and defeat the evil Duke Dazam. She then returns home through the same time warp that had brought her to this strange twin world. |
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FF TLSOK
Member |
posted January 20, 2003 07:47 PM
I can think of at least one obscure DC Comics character off the top of my head... Strange Visitor. |
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Positive Man
Member |
posted January 21, 2003 12:00 AM
How about Dr. Tyme (DOOM PATROL v1 #92)? |
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Mikel Midnight
Member |
posted January 21, 2003 07:35 AM
Originally posted by outpost2: Summarizing an entry from Michael L. Fleisher's Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes vol. 2... Tara Terruna First appearance: Wonder Woman [1st series] #59 (May-June 1953) Wonder Woman is hurled across a mysterious time warp into a parallel world by a freak electrical storm. This planet exists simultaneously alongside Earth, but in a different era. Everyone on this world appears to be a double of someone on Earth. Wonder Woman encounters her own double, a woman called Tara Terruna (which means "Wonder Woman" in the native language). Wonder Woman helps her counterpart battle and defeat the evil Duke Dazam. She then returns home through the same time warp that had brought her to this strange twin world. Holy crap! I must learn more details about this character! Anyone out there with this issue? |
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Koppy McFad
Member |
posted February 08, 2003 01:50 AM
Here is an obscure character in comics-- but not in American history: AARON BURR In the DC Universe, the third vice-president of the United States is not only alive but living in outer space. This was shown in the Green Lantern back features that used to appear in THE FLASH after Hal lost his own book. In FLASH # 230-231 (published sometime in the 1970s), Jordan sees a trainload of exhibits for the forthcoming Bicentennial being hijacked into space by robots disguised as American colonists. He tracks the robots to their mothership and finds Aaron Burr, still in 1700s garb, sitting inside, mastermind of the whole affair. Thinking Burr is a robot like all the others, he agrees to an old-fashioned "duel" and then tries to short circuit Burr, only to find out he is the real thing. Burr then recounts how he was taken into outer space the day before his historic duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804. The inhabitants of a strife-ridden world needed a statesman to lead them and of all the people in the universe, they chose Burr. A duplicating machine created a perfect copy of Burr which was sent back to Earth in his place, to take part in the duel with Hamilton. Since that time, Burr has been reforming the alien society while being kept young by their technology. Aaron says he borrowed the Bicentennial exhibit because he was homesick and just wanted to see some artifacts of his own era. A huge, hulking, artificial life-form/manservant of Burr's then tries to assassinate him under the command of some reactionary cabal on the alien planet. Hal naturally saves Burr. He then takes Burr back to Earth for a last look at his old home. A tearful Burr recalls how much he missed the Earth but he is needed at his new home so he returns to space. This story, by Denny O'Neil and Dick Dillin, was clearly intended to tap into the interest in the Bicentennial which was just about one or two years away. What makes it odd is the choice of Aaron Burr, of all American figures, as being the supposed great reformer who can singlehandedly save an alien culture. In history, Burr is highly controversial for secessionist plots and his great ambition. Not to mention, his killing of Hamilton in a duel. Jefferson and Washington both didn't like him. Some people even see Burr as a would-be tyrant, yet Denny O'Neil, the flaming liberal of comics in the 70s, makes Burr the hero of this story, depicting him as wise, selfless, and compassionate. I wonder why Denny didn't choose Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin or John Adams or any of the other founding fathers? Oh well. Liberals seem to like Burr. Gore Vidal seemed enarmoured of Aaron Burr too. |
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MrMGL
Member |
posted February 08, 2003 11:52 AM
After reading the entry for Aaron Burr, it got me thinking about other real world figures in the DC Universe. JACK THE RIPPER In DCU VILLAINS SECRET FILES & ORIGINS, an incarnation of the Resurrection Man battles Vandal Savage who had just murdered a woman in White-Chapel, London in 1884. This murder was very similar to the murders that would be committed by the mysterious Jack the Ripper several years later. Was Jack the Ripper actually Vandal Savage or did Savage inspire someone else to become Jack the Ripper several years later? In Grant Morrison's DOOM PATROL, a strange being named Redjack (I think) claimed to have some connection with Jack the Ripper. In Karl Kesel's SUPERBOY, there was a Jack the Ripper type character. I think he was a clone of the original Jack the Ripper. I don't remember the details. Were there any other Jack the Ripper appearances/ connections/ references in the DCU??? |
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IAmHungry
Member |
posted February 08, 2003 04:28 PM
Could Redjack be a Star Trek reference to that entity that killed women and then framed Scotty for the murders? |
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outpost2
Member |
posted February 08, 2003 08:00 PM
THE BATMAN OF 2045-2050 History: By 2045, Mr. Cohen had become a world-class gymnast, and a doctoral candidate in criminology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He idolized the original Batman, and was researching a thesis on the hero's spectacularly brilliant career. Although Batman's true identity had never been revealed to the world, Cohen had deduced it. Beneath abandoned Wayne Manor, in the once proud suburbs of Gotham City, he discovered the original Batcave. He was down in the Hall of Trophies, taking notes and holograms, when the first hail of ICBMs shattered the northeast. World War III had begun. If he hadn't been sheltered far below ground, he might easily have been among the 150 million who died. When Cohen finally emerged, it was to a scene of soul-numbing horror and devastation. Law and order were non-existent. Plunder gangs roved everywhere -- looting, raping, venting their mindless rage amid the ruins of a world that had gone insane. Miraculously, both his parents had survived the cataclysm. His mother, Miriam Cohen, was a rabbi who, among her other humanitarian concerns, had campaigned fruitlessly but tirelessly for handgun control. His father, Kenneth Cohen, had served as a top-level disarmament negotiator under three administrations. From them, he had inherited a compassion for victims of violence and a fervent desire for world peace. But compassion was in short supply after the holocaust, while the desire for scapegoats seemed to have no end. One organization of crazed fanatics, the National Reconstruction Alliance, focused their hatred on two groups: advocates of arms control ... and Jews. Unfortunately for them, Cohen's parents were both. They were murdered in cold-blood one night while walking the streets of the city. There was no way he could ever bring them back, but he could do something to help bring back the civilized values they'd believed in ... the values they'd taught him to believe in. It was then that he remembered the Batman. Cohen established a headquarters in the Statue of Liberty, and created his own bat-costume, equipping it with special features suitable to his place and time. And in memory of his parents, he made a solemn vow. As long as he lived, there would be no firearms allowed in New York ... and God help anyone who tried to stop him from keeping that vow. The new Batman was last seen in 2050, when the time-lost gunfighter named Jonah Hex was tricked by the criminal organization called the Combine into believing that Batman had kidnapped Hex's friend, Stiletta. Appearances: Hex #11 (Jul 1986) "Night Of The Bat" |
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outpost2
Member |
posted February 08, 2003 08:04 PM
Oops. I meant to mention that 90% of the above text is lifted directly from HEX #11, which was written by Michael Fleisher. |
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Koppy McFad
Member |
posted February 19, 2003 12:26 AM
Hey, now that Speed Saunders is a supporting character in the HAWKMAN book, how about someone doing some Speed? Bad pun, but seriously..... |
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IceMaster14
New Member |
posted February 19, 2003 02:01 AM
Hey, I know a bit about #101 (the Global Guardians portion). What do you need to know? |
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Rajah
Member |
posted February 19, 2003 02:58 AM
THE BLACK BAT As part of the special double-sized BATMAN #600 that kicked off the "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" saga, the DC editorial staff decided to include several backup features of "previously unprinted Batman stories". The first of these was "The Mystery of the Black Bat!", a time-travel tale that appeared to be from the lighthearted Batman comics of the 1950s, most likely illustrated by Dick Sprang or Sheldon Moldoff, though "these stories had no credits listed". Watching the excavation of an old mining town outside Gotham on television, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are astounded when the visiting scientist unveils his discovery-- a dime novel from the 1870s called "The Black Bat Rides". The cover of this book features a Batman-like character said to have been based off a historical figure of the time. Intrigued, Bruce and Dick decide to pay a visit to their friend Professor Carter Nichols, creator of a wondrous time machine that has sent them on adventures in many different eras. Nichols successfully transports them to the 1870s where they promptly change into their Batman and Robin personas. Soon after, they meet Samuel Braxton, a tall black man in a tattered Union uniform. The Dynamic Duo help Braxton fight a group of Confederate soldiers and Braxton is quite taken by the heroes' dramatic (and somewhat frightening) costumes. Batman and Robin continue helping Braxton as he continues his duties as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves. The Gotham heroes agree to guide a group of former slaves to freedom while Braxton attends to another mission. As a parting gift, they give him a batarang to remember them by. Batman and Robin's group is soon taken by surprise and attacked by a Confederate patrol. The soldiers tie the heroes up, mistaking them for Northern spies. Suddenly, a batarang whizzes by and cuts their bonds. The menacing figure of the Black Bat comes riding down the hill and the three costumed champions soundly defeat the soldiers. After the commotion, the Black Bat removes his mask to reveal Samuel Braxton. Influenced by Batman's costume and the awe and fear it inspires, Braxton had decided to spook the soldiers. Seeing the effectiveness of this tactic, he decides to continue helping people as the Black Bat. Batman and Robin soon feel themselves being drawn back to the present and quickly change back to their civilian clothes. Yet they are left with a conundrum-- was Samuel always the Black Bat or did he become the Black Bat because of their visit to his era? If they inspired him, where did the dime novel that prompted their trip in the first place originate? It's enough to make a crimefighter's head spin. Just as astounding to the readers of BATMAN #600 is that the tale of the Black Bat is actually not a "lost" Batman story at all. It and several other backup features were created specifically for the issue. "The Mystery of the Black Bat" was in fact scripted by Ed Brubaker and drawn by James Tucker as a homage to that era. In hindsight, this seems obvious. The story was sursprisingly progressive for the conservative 50s and very aware of the paradoxes of time travel. However, I must admit that for a while, I myself was suckered in by
this charming (and misleading) story. (HISTORICAL NOTE: The Black Bat is also the name of a pulp hero of the 1930s that bore a striking similarity to Batman. His origin may have had an influence on Two-Face's backstory as well. This guy's real though, folks. Honest.) |
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David Bedford
Member |
posted February 19, 2003 08:02 AM
Originally posted by MrMGL: Were there any other Jack the Ripper appearances/ connections/ references in the DCU??? In SUPERGIRL, Buzz was seen as the man who inspired the Ripper (or someone strikingly similar) to commit his crimes. |
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outpost2
Member |
posted February 19, 2003 11:48 AM
Originally posted by IceMaster14: Hey, I know a bit about #101 (the Global Guardians portion). What do you need to know? I gave an overview of The Global Guardians back in Round V, but feel there are a lot of details that could be added. Read the entry at http://www.infiniteearths.org/dcu/obscurecharacters_files/ObscureChars5.htm and decide if there is anything you can add. Welcome aboard! |
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outpost2
Member |
posted March 01, 2003 10:10 PM
Recently added: 0.9 Aaron Burr
0.9 Aaron Burr |
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outpost2
Member |
posted March 01, 2003 10:12 PM
Some people pointed out a few errors to me in the list on page one, so I went back and took a closer look. I don't know how it happened, probably a screw-up when I was editing in Excel, but somehow the asteriskes indicating "remaining entries" got totally jumbled. To save space, I'm just going to post the remaining "to do" list, so ignore what you saw on page one and go with this one. Hopefully, this time, I'll get it right. Remaining entries: * 6 All-Star (Justice League Adventures #13) |
