The Freedom Fighters

Created by Len Wein and Dick Dillin

FIRST APPEARANCE:
Justice League of America #107 (September-Oct. 1973)

The Freedom Fighters is DC Comics team composed of characters originally published by Quality Comics. Decades after DC’s acquisition, these heroes were given a home in the DC Universe on a parallel universe called “Earth-X.” In their first appearance, they met the Justice League (Justice League of America #107). Later, Roy Thomas crafted a proper “Golden Age” backstory for them in All-Star Squadron #31-35 (1984).

In Quality Comics, no such team existed. Most of the Freedom Fighters’ early adventures relied heavily on events related to Earth-X, where the Nazis had won World War II. These stories were based on the legacy of their Nazi battle, and their travels between parallel Earths. When DC published Crisis on Infinite Earths, all parallel Earths were eliminated, and Earth-X was gone. This threw the Freedom Fighters’ original appearance, their 1976 series, and some All-Star Squadron appearances completely out of continuity. Roy Thomas was able to rectify the situation while All-Star Squadron was still being published. In the new, streamlined DC Universe, he chose to simply meld the Quality heroes’ histories with that of DC’s own Golden Age heroes.

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[ Read the full profile in the Quality Companion ]

            

The Modern Freedom Fighters

When the American Talisman was reassembled, Uncle Sam was reincarnated as Patriot. (Spectre vol. 3 #50) Patriot and other Freedom Fighter torchbearers united under the Justice Society as reservists during the Imperiex War. (JSA: Our Worlds at War) The next time the American Talisman appeared, it had again assumed the guise of Uncle Sam. (Superman vol. 2 #178) He formed a third team of Freedom Fighters that assisted the JSA against the sorcerer Mordru. It included his friend, the Human Bomb, as well as new successors, Phantom Lady II, Black Condor II, and the Ray II. Other members were Iron Munro, a veteran All-Star, and Damage, son of the Golden Age Atom. (JSA #49) This new team was again government funded and made their headquarters in the Pentagon. (#73)

The team was short-lived and its members were among the most tragic of losses during the second Crisis (Infinity Crisis). It was caused by Alexander Luthor and Superboy Prime, whose group, the Society, attacked and killed Phantom Lady, Human Bomb and Black Condor in Metropolis. Uncle Sam was temporarily destroyed, Damage was left for dead, and the Ray was taken prisoner. (Infinite Crisis #1) A memorial for these heroes was constructed for this team at Arlington national cemetery. (Freedom Fighters vol. 2 #1)

Uncle Sam’s next mission was to prevent a horrible American destiny at the hands of an alien conqueror. His first recruit was Andre Twist, the Firebrand IV. Uncle Sam encouraged Twist to join him by the southern Mississippi River. In a vision, Firebrand saw ominous banners heralding a man named “Knight,” and his agents lording over America. (Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven #5) Twist hitchhiked to Mississippi, following Uncle Sam’s voice.

Meanwhile, Father Time (leader of the spy organization S.H.A.D.E.) made parallel plans to secure America’s future. Time assembled a new task force consisting of Andy Franklin, a former Blüdhaven scientist who was transformed when Chemo destroyed that city. He was recruited by S.H.A.D.E. to become the new Human Bomb II; an all-new Phantom Lady III (Stormy Knight), the scientist/socialite daughter of Senator Henry Knight; the new Doll Man III, Lester Colt, a powerhouse who was trapped at six inches tall; and the Ray III (Stan Silver), a 26 year-old foreign correspondent for the Washington Sun. This troupe saved the White House from a terrorist threat called the Black Legion. Their success won Father Time the congressional support he needed to continue his operations. (DCU: Brave New World)

Secretly, Father Time’s actions were meant to spur Uncle Sam into reforming the Freedom Fighters and protect America from an alien threat. This threat came in the form of a shape-changing entity called Gonzo. Time allowed Gonzo to assume the power of the U.S. Presidency by killing and assuming the identity of Senator Henry Knight (father of Phantom Lady). Gonzo/Knight’s platform was built around the “metahuman threat,” and he ultimately convinced the nation to concede him dictatorial powers. Father Time’s operatives were unaware that they were being maneuvered into Uncle Sam’s care. As planned, Gonzo’s actions drew the attention of Uncle Sam, who sent Firebrand to interrupt a press conference. Firebrand was captured by Father Time and the team was sent to Tennessee to bring down Uncle Sam. (Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #1)

Sam’s prowess surprised the young team and he was able to gather their attention long enough to convince them to side with him instead. Sam called attention to their own faults and challenged them to do real good instead of serving as mere killing machines. The fourth team of Freedom Fighters then pretended to bring Sam back to S.H.A.D.E. but instead broke Firebrand out. In the battle, the Human Bomb killed another S.H.A.D.E. operative, Bigfoot. The subsequent remorse convinced him even more that Sam’s way was the only way to save his soul. The team stole a plane, then headed to Arizona to collect their next member, John Trujillo, Black Condor III. (#2-3)

Labeled “traitors,” the Freedom Fighters were confronted by newly engineered S.H.A.D.E. agents, the First Strike—Chief Justice, Spin Doctor (speed), Propaganda (telepathy) and Embargo (telekinesis). (#3) Despite his convictions, the Human Bomb accidentally killed again (this time Propaganda) and First Strike retreated. After this, the team created their own headquarters, retreating via Phantom Lady’s powers to a place called the Heartland. They also gathered up their ally, Dr. Emma Glenn, and her laboratory. (#4)

Gonzo eventually convinced Congress to amend the Constitution and require all citizens to be implanted with technology that would allow total mind control. His next weapon took the Freedom Fighters totally off guard: a new Miss America! This Miss America knew everything about the F.F. and their predecessors. Her threat spurred the mobilization of three more of Uncle Sam’s sleeper agents: new Invisible Hood (Kent Thurston, grandson of the original), Red Bee (Jenna Raleigh, niece of the original) and the original Miss America herself, Joan Dale. (#5)

The real Miss America made quick work of her phony counterpart, which turned out to be an android. Joan revealed that she had used her considerable powers to effect the process of aging for her husband’s sake. Since he had recently died, she shed the disguise and threw herself back into America’s service at Uncle Sam’s side. The added muscle forced Gonzo to play his last cards. All along, he had been keeping the Ray as a sleeper agent in the Freedom Fighters. Once reactivated, the Ray killed the Invisible Hood and revealed the location of the Heartland to Gonzo’s massive celestial warriors. (#6) These warriors were made from the corpses of ancient giants found during the first U.S. mission to the moon. Stormy unleashed the full extent of her powers and sucked them away into a black hole. After the Ray’s betrayal, Sam called in another sleeper agent, Ray Terrill. Father Time exited the scene after providing the Freedom Fighters with evidence of Gonzo’s crimes which they used to expose him to the public. (#7)

Without Father Time, the President proposed that the Freedom Fighters assume control of S.H.A.D.E. Everyone agreed to join in this new venture except Doll Man, who opted for some time off. Miss America then became the liaison between S.H.A.D.E. and the White House. (#8)

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[ Read the full profile in the Quality Companion ]

The New 52

When the DC universe was rebooted entirely, several Freedom Fighters characters were reinvented. They were never fully realized, nor integrated with the rest of the new reality. It was uncertain whether these characters were of the mainstream Earth or an alternate one.

After the New 52 was abandoned, the post-Crisis versions of the characters were 'reinstated' into continuity.

The characters included Phantom Lady, Kid Eternity, Human Bomb, the Ray and Doll Man.

» SERIES:

• Blackhawks, 8 issues (2011–12)
• Human Bomb #1–4 (2013)
• National Comics: Eternity #1 (Sept. 2012)
• Phantom Lady #1–4 (2012)
• The Ray vol. 3 #1–4 (2012)

Other Media

The Freedom Fighters made their television debut on Batman: The Brave and the Bold (episode 221, Nov. 12, 2010). The episode begins with a team-up between Batman and Plastic Man. When they discover Qwardians on Earth, Uncle Sam steps in to help. Another Qwardian warns them of further attacks, and Sam introduces the Freedom Fighters: Doll Man, Black Condor, the Ray, Human Bomb and Phantom Lady. He invites Plastic Man to join them (which the others discourage). They travel to Qward where they... fight for the freedom of its oppressed people. Nearly defeated, Uncle Sam fades away, which inspires Plastic Man to rally the locals to his side. Their growing spirit of freedom brings Uncle Sam back. He is even able to lend super-power and armor to Batman. Back on Earth, the President (ostensibly Obama) acknowledges Plastic Man’s bravery.

Watch on YouTube: Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3

List of Members

Note: The following data applies only to continuity before the "New 52" reboot of 2011.

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:

• All-Star Squadron #31–35, 50
• Black Lightning vol. 1 #11
• Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #1–2
• DC Comics Presents #62
• JSA #49
• Justice League of America #107–108
• Justice League Unlimited #17
• Secret Origins vol. 2 #19, 26
• Young All–Stars #27

» SERIES:

• Freedom Fighters, 15 issues (1976)
• Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters, 8–issues (2006–07)
• Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters vol. 2, 8–issue limited series (2007–08)
• Freedom Fighters vol. 2, 9 issues (2010–11)

» SEE ALSO:

• Quality Comics Heroes 
• All-Star Squadron
• The Crusaders

On the Web:

• Bob Rozakis: Canceled Comics Cavalcade
• CBR: Gray and Palmiotti Re-Team on "Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters"
• CBR: Palmiotti and Gray Fight for Freedom (4 July 2010)
• Dark Mark: Freedom Fighters

Newsarama:

• Headed Toward a Star-Spangled Finale
• Old is New Again
• DC's Freedom Fighters Go to Battle Again This Week
• Who's Whose in Quality Comics?
• Golden Age Comics Downloads > Quality
• Toonpedia: The Freedom Fighters