Earth-1874 - All-Star Comics #1

All-Star Comics #1

Spring, 1942

Deep in the New Mexico desert, Clark looked out at the last rays of sunlight from the window of the barracks. The last couple months had been a blur. He and the other volunteers for All-Star Squadron had been carted off to a military base in Los Alamos to train for an upcoming invasion into Axis territory. He was more tired than he had ever been, he was sure of that much. Sleep came in short supply here. He had been subjected to as much testing by the doctors at the base as he had training from Sergeant Walters and Captain Rogers, or as they preferred to be called: Crimson Avenger and Captain America.

He stood and walked into the common room of their barracks. There, quite a few of his fellow volunteers were gathered, swapping stories of where they came from and what they would do when they finally got shipped out to the front. He sat at a table with Batman and Johnny Quick to join them in a game of cards. He had gotten to know a few of his comrades quite well during their training. Most were just normal folks, like himself, who had taken to fighting crime in their towns and neighborhoods.

There were others, though, that were something else entirely. Princess Diana of Themyscira, Prince Namor of Atlantis, and others even more strange than that. Dr. Fate, for example; a man who wielded incredible magical power. The scientists here had also created a robot that seemed to do nothing more than produce flame. Folks around the base called it ‘The Human Torch’. How all these strange people, with all of their incredible origins, were supposed to function as a team was beyond Clark. He was glad that they were in the capable hands of Sergeant Walters and Captain Rogers. Both men were great at what they did and inspired all of the trainees, even if some of them wouldn't admit it.

After a time, he left the common room walked to the small quarters he had been assigned. He sat down on his generic green army cot and stared at his costume; or rather, his uniform. His parents had given it to him before he left. He thought it was a little much, but it seemed to fit in well with the costumes that many of his comrades wore. Red boots, shorts and cape, contrasted with a blue bodysuit. Emblazoned on the chest was a crest that his parents had said was on the blanket that he was wrapped in when they found him. It was diamond-shaped with what appeared to be an “S” emblazoned in it. Because of that, people around the base had started to joke that it stood for “Superman”.

**********************

Diana hated every minute of this. When she had agreed to leave her island home, she was under the impression that she was going to be fighting evil. Instead, she had been forced into this tiny shack in the middle of a barren wasteland. The only bright side was that she had been able to meet the heroes of the world of men. A few of her comrades even had powers comparable to her own. She had got along well enough with most of them. Except Namor. No one got along with Namor.

She breathed a sigh of frustration and kicked at the sand that was pervasive in this insufferable desert as she watched a group of nurses whisper and giggle as they walked past her. The women here were even worse than the men in some ways. Weak and submissive, they were looked down upon by their male oppressors. It was just like she had been taught on Themyscara. Well, let one of these men try to treat her like that, she mused. None of her fellow warriors had made that mistake, but the soldiers around the base were another story. For some reason, they insisted on staring at her whenever she wore her traditional Amazon battle garments. At times, it had took all of her willpower not to punch their lights out.

The only woman who she shared any common ground with at all was Sandra Knight, who called herself Phantom Lady. Sandra recognized the oppression that the females in her society were faced with, and used it to her advantage in battle. She and Diana had grown close, since they were the only two women in All Star Squadron. Diana had taught her much about combat, and in return, Sandra had taught her many of the customs and traditions that the people of this United States of America held.

This was a young nation, and Diana couldn't help but be fascinated by the incredible mix of cultures and ideals that it held. It seemed impossible that such a union would last, but it had, and it had grown into one of the most powerful nations on Earth. She paused, and nearly laughed as she considered this. For it was not unlike the team they now formed. Perhaps her companions would surprise her yet. Tomorrow was their final exercise and at last, battle would be upon her.

**********************

Lee stood at the chalkboard, and looked out at the kids that were gathered around with rapt attention. Kids. Yes, that’s what they were. He recalled once having the same energy and excitement that he saw on their faces. That was before Spain, before Jarama; before he saw what war really was. Still, nothing he could say would convey the horrors of the battlefield, and he couldn't blame them for wanting to defend their country. The whole world was at war now, and if he could teach these kids anything that might help them survive it, he had to try.

In recognition of his prior service, they had made him the First Sergeant of this squadron. And what a squadron it was. Some were vigilantes like he was, just people trying to do good and clean up their streets, but some were something beyond human. Lee didn't know the first thing about Atlantis or Amazons, but he knew that some of his trainees were more powerful than an entire platoon of soldiers. Trying to bring all of these clashing personalities together and train them to be a team had seemed like an insurmountable task. But he was appointed to this position by the president himself, and he wouldn't fail.

Captain Rogers and a few others respected his prior military service and current rank, but some of these trainees only recognized power. Fortunately, Colonel Hardy realized that this squadron couldn't operate under normal military protocol, and ordered that every member wear a costume of his or her own design. They had then been ordered to select a code name for use in the field. Many of the heroes that had been around for a while, like Lee, had already adopted a moniker. Many of those that didn't had been given nicknames by their comrades. Well, except Namor. No one dared to give Namor a nickname. Still, he felt strange addressing a group of people clad in all manner of costumes. He wore the red trench coat, mask and wide-brimmed hat of the Crimson Avenger.

Lee cleared his throat before continuing, “Tomorrow at oh-eight-hundred, we will commence our final training exercise.” Some of the younger trainees couldn't help show their excitement as he said that, but he continued, “You have been divided into two teams. The first team will be led by me, and will consist of Superman, Wonder Woman, Johnny Quick, Batman, Green Lantern, Thunderbolt, and Phantom Lady. The second team will be led by Captain America, and will consist of Uncle Sam, Dr. Fate, Namor, Human Torch, and Liberty Belle. You won’t be expected to pull any punches out there. You will, however, be expected to work with your teammates to devise a plan of attack and use teamwork to overcome the other team. You will all be graded based on your performance as a group, and you will be pulled from this squadron if Captain America or I see anything we don’t like. Questions?”

Superman raised his hand, and stood when Lee called on him, “Sir, what will determine who wins the battle?”
“Last man standing, son. We will have medical teams standing by, but you have all been trained in non-lethal combat. I expect you all to remember that training and conduct yourselves accordingly. Dismissed.”

*************************

Sweat dripped onto the floor as Steve Rogers continued to count his push-ups. One-hundred twenty-five so far. He didn't mind the lengthy exercise. It gave him time to focus on the mission ahead. Today he was going to lead a team into battle for the first time, and he was determined not to let them down. The sun hadn't yet come up; Steve found he was needing a lot less sleep these days. The trainees hated early mornings like this, but it was part of military training. Before they had injected him with the super-soldier serum, he had done basic training the hard way. The really hard way.

Of course, training was different when it was with a team like this. Sometimes he was in awe of their abilities, but he always made sure to remind them that there was more to winning a battle than raw power. Namor had scoffed at him for that, but Steve knew it was true. Strategy, tactics, courage and ingenuity were the real keys to not only winning, but surviving a battle. Today was his chance to show them firsthand that this was true.

“I still don’t know how you do it, Captain.” a voice said from behind him. One-hundred fifty-two. “Well Lee, maybe if you did it more often, your team would have a shot at winning today.” Steve said with a hearty chuckle. He and Lee had become fast friends in this squadron. Both had a prior military background, and Steve had learned a lot from the man. Lee had done much to temper Steve’s expectations of war, and give him a new perspective on what service meant.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right, Cap.” Lee said, laughing. “Guess we’ll see in a couple of hours, huh?” Steve could hear the anxiety in Lee’s voice. He couldn't blame the man. Not only was he about to lead a team of people with incredible powers, he was going to be back in a battlefield for the first time since Madrid. Even though it was a training exercise, combat was combat, and Lee was unsure of himself. Steve knew it wasn't cowardice or shame that Lee was feeling, but ghosts of his past. That was something that no amount of training could prepare you to fight. Two-hundred. It was time to wake his team and get them ready for combat.

**********************

The sun rose slowly over the New Mexico desert, but already waves of heat were radiating from the rocky soil. The two teams of heroes gathered, facing off roughly one hundred yards from each other. Both had worked on their strategy all morning, and were eager to prove themselves. Colonel Hardy watched the scene unfold from a nearby bunker, along with other high-ranking officers. Nearly the entire base gathered nearby to watch the contest, though they had been warned to keep their distance. There was no telling what kind of damage some of these super-powered beings could unleash. That was part of the reason for this test. Colonel Hardy wanted to see All Star Squadron in action before they were sent to the front.

From the base nearby, an air raid siren sounded. That was the signal for the battle to begin, and the two teams sprang into action.
“All-Stars assemble!” ordered Crimson Avenger, as he and Batman took a forward position behind a few large rocks that would act as cover.
Wonder Woman and Superman moved with incredible speed to the opposite flank. On the opposing side, Doctor Fate took a position behind some rocks while Uncle Sam and Liberty Belle charged out to meet Superman and Wonder Woman head-on. The Human Torch flew towards the Crimson Avenger, while Captain America took the high ground in the center of the battlefield. Namor flew headlong towards Batman with a wicked grin on his face.

“Come on, Wonder Woman, we can take ‘em!” Superman yelled as he charged towards Uncle Sam. Wonder Woman was quick to join him, relishing the chance to engage in battle. Behind them both, Johnny Quick took up a rear position, studying the battlefield carefully. As fast as he was, he knew he had to choose the right moment to engage. Many of his opponents would beat him quickly in a straight fight. He had to be smart about who he engaged, and how.

Green Lantern flew to meet Namor before he could reach Batman and Crimson Avenger. From his ring, he formed a giant baseball bat, which impacted with a thunderous crash, sending Namor into the dirt. Lantern hovered above Namor for a moment.
“Stay down, fish boy.” he knew better, though. Namor wouldn't stay down, not until someone knocked him out. That was fine with Alan. He hated Namor’s superior attitude, and any chance to knock the fish king down a peg suited him just fine.

Captain America saw this and shouted, “Ignore him, Namor! Focus on the mission!” He only hoped his words didn't fall on deaf ears. Namor was prideful, stubborn and arrogant, but it was time to see if he was more than that. He grabbed a signpost from the ground and ran towards Green Lantern. At the last moment, he leapt into the air and brought the post down upon his flying opponent. Fortunately for him, Green Lantern was too slow to avoid the blow, and was knocked down to the ground, right next to Namor. Namor looked to Captain America and nodded his thanks, taking to the air once more and moving in on Batman.

Meanwhile, Liberty Belle picked up a nearby boulder that must have weighed at least two hundred pounds, and tried to bring it down on Superman. “Catch, big boy!” Unfortunately for her, he was too fast, and easily moved out of the way of her clumsy attack. Though she was thrown off balance, she had retained enough of her footing to avoid a punch from Superman. She could feel the force of the blow though, and was very thankful that it missed.

Doctor Fate continued his flight around the battlefield, looking for the opportune moment to strike while Uncle Sam brought a hammer blow down upon Superman. The ground shook from the impact, and Superman found himself face down in a small crater. It seemed like fighting stopped for a brief moment as all the combatants regarded that mighty blow. Slowly, Superman picked himself up. Incredibly, he was still in one piece.

Wonder Woman was unfazed by the scene and took this opportunity to uppercut Uncle Sam with all the strength she could muster. The shock wave from the impact flattened nearby vegetation and sent dirt flying in all directions. Incredibly, Uncle Sam still stood, unshaken by the assault. That fact alone might have stayed the hand of most men, but Diana was no man. She would bring him down, no matter what magic possessed him. Superman also came to her aid and landed a blow of his own on Uncle Sam, but his attack was no more successful than Diana’s in felling the spirit.

Nearby, Green Lantern was recovering from Captain America’s attack, standing to face him. Captain America raised his shield, but it was too late. “With all due respect, sir, back off!” A blast of green energy radiated out from Green Lantern in all directions, knocking down friend and foe alike. It was enough to take Uncle Sam off his feet and send him flying into some nearby rocks. The symbol of liberty was the first to be knocked out of the battle. Captain America quickly recovered, “No can do, son.” and smashed his shield into Green Lantern’s face. He had to end the threat that Lantern presented, or there was no telling how much damage he might do.

Namor finally reached Batman, swinging at the caped figure with blows that could have shattered solid rock. “You are a coward, hiding behind a mask, hiding behind your teammates!” Batman deftly avoided strikes and insults alike, dodging and weaving through a flurry of blows. Though he attempted to move out of Namor’s reach, it was no use. The Atlantean was too fast and too powerful to be evaded. Namor kept coming, and Batman wondered how long he could continue to avoid his strikes. It was only a matter of time before one landed.

Though she had stayed out of the conflict to this point, Phantom Lady could not hide forever. She was out of her depth here, surrounded by beings that had more power than she could dream of. The Human Torch’s targeting system found her easily enough, and sent a blast of heat at her that sent her flying backward. She was still conscious, but only barely.

Doctor Fate saw an opportunity to aid his ally, and created several illusory duplicates of Liberty Belle. Wonder Woman waded into them, lashing out in all directions in the hopes of hitting the real Belle, but found no purchase. “To Hades with your trickery!” She spat.
Superman had better luck though, striking Liberty Belle and staggering her backward. She staggered back directly into the path of Johnny Quick, who landed a punch of his own.
“Sorry Belle, nothing personal!” he shouted over the sounds of battle.

While Superman was distracted by his assault on Liberty Belle, Doctor Fate sent a bolt of magical energy into him, knocking him to the ground. The young man did not move to get back up, and Doctor Fate looked to the Amazon now as his next target. Liberty Belle was trying to engage her, but Wonder Woman had decades, perhaps centuries of battle experience. It would take more than raw determination to take her down.

Batman and Namor’s battle continued on the far side of the battlefield. Batman waited patiently until an opportunity presented itself, then struck. As Namor lashed out once again, Batman grabbed his outstretched arm, and kicked Namor in his midsection. The Atlantean doubled over with an “Oof!” of air escaping his lungs. Batman knew better than to think he had won so easily, and kept his distance. Namor attempted a bull rush, but Batman easily dodged to one side. Namor was enraged and it was obvious he wasn’t thinking clearly. Batman took advantage of this and laughed at the Atlantean as he continued to dodge his attacks.

“You dare to mock the prince of Atlantis!? You will pay with your life!” Namor cried as he threw out blow after blow. Batman dodged the attacks with little effort, and waited until his opponent began to tire before chopping his hand into Namor’s windpipe. With a resounding thud, Namor went down in the dirt. Batman checked his pulse to ensure that he would live. Satisfied, he took a position with Crimson Avenger and planned his next move.

Phantom Lady tried to use her black light projector to blind Captain America, but he easily deflected the blast with his shield. “Now, Torch! Take her down!” From behind Phantom Lady, the Human Torch released a blast of heat that knocked her unconscious. Wonder Woman saw her friend and teammate go down and cried out, pressing her attack on Liberty Belle. There were no illusions to stop her this time, and she knocked Liberty Belle to the ground.

Johnny Quick used his incredible speed to cross the distance of the battlefield and hit Human Torch with a sonic boom that sent him flying into the dirt. The android was quick to recover however, and now it was up to Johnny to think of a way to extinguish his foe if he had any chance of winning.

Doctor Fate took advantage of Liberty’s sacrifice by blasting Wonder Woman with a bolt of arcane energy. Wonder Woman may be tough, but she stood no chance against his magic. “Good work, Fate! Now let’s finish the job!” Captain America attempted to support the attack with one of his own, but Wonder Woman easily deflected it with her bracers. It was clear that she would not be felled by mundane means.

Crimson Avenger took stock of the battle. He saw his opportunity to support Johnny and took it. He fired a pellet of carbon dioxide from his gas gun at Human Torch and saw it weaken his flames significantly. “Johnny, it still needs oxygen to make fire! Create a vacuum and take him out!” Johnny nodded that he understood, and began to run in circles around the android. He was nothing more than a blur as he gained speed. Soon, the Human Torch was surrounded by a great whirlwind. Within moments, his fire was extinguished, and Johnny was able to land the final blow on his inhuman opponent.

Wonder Woman had reached Doctor Fate, and his magical shields were barely containing the force of her onslaught. Finally, she broke through and her punch staggered Doctor Fate backwards. Fate made no cry of pain, nor sound of any kind. He simply regained his footing and raised a palm towards the Amazon. From it, tendrils lashed out and wrapped around her. They were translucent and glowed a bright yellow. “What devilry is this!?” was all she could manage to say before her energy was drained from her by the magical forces. She could not fight the power that Fate wielded, and was soon too weakened to stand. 

Captain America charged towards Crimson Avenger’s position, shield raised. Victory was in sight. The only opponents that remained were the Avenger, Batman, and Quick. It was up to Captain America and Doctor Fate to finish the fight. He reached Crimson Avenger’s position and leapt over the terrain he was hidden behind. Crimson Avenger raised his gun, but it was too late. One swipe of his shield, and Captain America put down the First Sergeant.

He turned his attention to Batman. This was Avenger’s protege for the past couple of years, but it was obvious that the boy had been training for far longer than that. He was fast; faster than Steve expected. A low kick made Steve’s knee explode with pain.
“Come on Cap, show me what you've got.” The boy said, smiling
Steve lunged with his shield, but Batman had expected the attack. he spun away from the shield and planted his leg in front of Steve’s. A quick chop to the back of the neck caused Steve to stumble forward.

Doctor Fate flew towards the melee, hoping to help his Captain, but with a blur of motion, Johnny was in front of him.
“Sorry doc, I can’t let you do that.”

The battle between Batman and Captain America continued as Steve rolled into a standing position and threw his shield at Batman. Bruce wasn't expecting this attack, and was unable to dodge in time. It caught him in the ribs and sent him flying backwards. He landed in the dirt with a thump. Doctor Fate attempted to send his magical tendrils out again, but Johnny was too fast. Before he knew it, Johnny was behind him, and he couldn't defend in time to stop the punch that knocked him forward. Steve had jumped onto batman, taking his shield back with one hand, while delivering the final blow with the other. Batman was down, and only Johnny was left.

“Aw, nuts” Johnny sighed at his teammate lying in the dirt. He used his incredible speed to charge Captain America, landing a single punch before the Captain’s shield knocked him unconscious.

**********************

That evening, All Star Squadron gathered in the common room of their barracks. Some sported bruises, while others bore only the bruises of their egos. All of them had learned more about their teammates in that single day than they had in months of training. After the battle, they had gone back to the barracks in search of Thunderbolt, and found him sleeping in his cot. He had slept through the entire exercise, and was sent packing on the spot.  There were no second chances in All Star Squadron

Phantom Lady was also let go, despite Diana’s protestations. Phantom Lady  was brave, to be sure, but not combat ready. As much as Colonel Hardy respected these men and women for volunteering, he couldn't afford to send unreliable or unready troops into combat. The rest of the squadron had performed admirably, and Captain Rogers demonstrated exactly why he was the right man to lead them into battle.

Colonel Hardy entered the common room, and the squadron stood. Standing before them, he spoke, “I would like to congratulate you all on an exemplary performance today. Watching you all in action was an incredible and magnificent sight. You have given your all to this squadron for the past few months, and as of now, you are all officially soldiers of the United States Army. What comes next won’t be easy, but if you give our enemies half the fight you gave out there today, I’m confident that we will succeed.”