Title

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)

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[ Read the full profile in the Quality Companion ]

The New 52

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