Crusaders (DC Comics)
| Crusaders | |
|---|---|
The DC Comics version of the Crusaders, art by Dick Ayers. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Freedom Fighters #7 (March 1977) |
| Created by | Bob Rozakis (writer) Dick Ayers (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) | Americommando Barracuda Fireball Rusty Sparky |
The Crusaders is a team of DC Comics superheroes. The team was created by Bob Rozakis and Dick Ayers in the pages of Freedom Fighters #7 (March 1977).
They were based on the Invaders and part of an unofficial crossover.[1]
Fictional team history
The Crusaders originate in Earth-One during World War II. In the 1970s, they offer their services to New York City District Attorney David Pearson to help capture the Freedom Fighters, who were at that time fugitives because they were believed to have been working with the villain Silver Ghost. Pearson gives the Crusaders the authority to pursue Uncle Sam and his group after a report that they had caused a blackout in upstate New York.[2]
After a lengthy fight, at the end of which the Crusaders are defeated, the Freedom Fighters ask the Crusaders how they became the comic book heroes of World War II. The group revealed that Americommando had approached a group of young comic book collectors at a convention (Marvin, Lennie, Arch, and Roy) and offered to recreate them as his former teammates, using a special device to transform them into their superpowered identities.[2]
The others catch up to Americommando and Martha Roberts, rescuing Martha. Ray burns off the Americommando's mask, revealing him to be Silver Ghost. The fight attracts the attention of some state trooper helicopters, who arrive to arrest them both. Ray accidentally hits one of the helicopters with an energy blast, prompting the troopers to open fire. The Ray was wounded and fell to Earth. The Silver Ghost gloated and left him to die.[2] The Ray was later rescued by Rod Reilly, the Golden Age Firebrand, who had emigrated to Earth-One some time prior to the Freedom Fighters.
Americommando and Barracuda appear in the miniseries Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters (2006–2007) as members of First Strike.
In Lord Havok and the Extremists, Barracuda and the Americommando are also members of Earth-8's Meta-Militia, an updated version of the Champions of Angor.[3]
In the 2007–2008 Uncle Sam series, a new team of Crusaders, gathered and controlled by the government, were introduced, including Captain Triumph, Citizen X, the Libertine, and Magno. After they are freed from their mind-controlled state, they team up with Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters. Citizen X and the Libertine are killed by aliens in battle.
Members
The Crusaders only appeared in Freedom Fighters #7–9. The names of the team are taken from obscure Golden Age superheroes:
- The Americommando – in actuality the Silver Ghost.
- Barracuda
- Fireball
- Rusty
- Sparky
See also
- Justice Society of America
- All-Star Squadron
- Young All-Stars
- Freedom Fighters
- Seven Soldiers of Victory
- Liberty Legion
References
- ^ Cronin, Brian (September 22, 2006). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #69". CBR.
- ^ a b c "Obscure Characters: The Crusaders". DCU Guide. Archived from the original on May 20, 2006.
- ^ Jimenez, Phil (2008). "Extremists, The". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.