Earth-1874 All-Star Comics #3

Desert Hawks

Spring, 1943

The sun was only beginning to rise above the still waters surrounding the Allied HQ at the Suez Canal, but the makeshift base was already bustling with activity.  Soldiers, arms and armor were mobilizing for a push deeper into Africa, as the Allies continued to push the Axis forces back.  A fighting force consisting of British, Australian, American, and Vichy troops had been able to take and hold the North African region.  Despite their recent successes, there were rumors of an impending Axis attack, and everyone was on high alert.

Inside a large brick building that served as Allied Command, a small force of All Star Squadron members had been assembled.  Crimson Avenger, Superman, Liberty Belle and Johnny Quick sat on a couple of makeshift benches, waiting quietly for their briefing to begin.  The exhaustion of war, and constant pressures of the battlefield had begun to take their toll on the group.  Superman in particular hadn’t been the same since Tunisia.  The smiling farmboy had become withdrawn, even dour.  Crimson Avenger had seen this type of reaction before, in the first Great War.  He would need to keep an eye on Superman during this mission, for all of their sakes.  The Allies couldn’t afford to lose their most powerful asset, and he wouldn’t let himself lose a good man to the horrors of war.

As Lee was considering this, Captain America entered the room, flanked by two other men.  Clearly, these men were not soldiers.  They both wore tweed suits, and looked like academics.  What they were doing in the middle of a battlefield, he couldn’t begin to guess.  He and the other soldiers stood at attention as the men walked past them and took their place at the podium at the front of the room.

“At ease, soldiers.  Have a seat.” Captain Rogers said, nodding to them.  They sat on the bench, and waited for their captain to continue.

“As you may know, German troops have been gathering ancient relics of power from around the world.  We have acquired intelligence that suggests that Germany’s Hydra Division has unearthed a previously undiscovered ruin about 100 clicks to the south.  High command believes that whatever is stored there can’t be allowed to fall into enemy hands.  That’s where you come in.”  

Lee noted that Clark’s fists clenched involuntarily at the mention of the name Hydra.  He had read the reports from the operation in Tunisia.  This had the potential to get ugly fast if they ended up engaging Hydra troops.  This also made reigning in Superman a more difficult task, if things were that personal.  

The Captain continued, “I would like to introduce you to our two guests, archaeologist Carter Hall, and physicist Al Pratt.  These two men have volunteered to help us in this operation.  I’ll let them explain the rest.”  Cap stepped aside, and gestured to the two men to take over.  The taller of the two men stepped forward to speak.

“Ah, yes, thank you, Captain.” He cleared his throat, and turned his attention to the others before continuing.  “As Captain Rogers said, the Germans have unearthed ruins which we believe to be a series of tombs.  The contents of these tombs are unknown, but keeping these ancient treasures out of the hands of the Germans has been placed at the highest of priorities by Allied Command.  Al and I will be accompanying you on this mission, and my role will be to identify objects of importance and assist in recovery.  As for my associate here, well, I’ll let him explain.”  He stepped aside, allowing his diminutive associate to take center stage.

“Thanks, Carter.  So, once we’ve found objects worth taking with us, it’ll be my job to make them transportable.  My particular area of expertise has been in technology that allows us to reduce the size and mass of objects.  Shrinking them, basically.”  

He paused to let the group take that in, but found virtually no reaction at all in his audience.  “Huh, that usually gets people’s attention.  Ah well, I guess nothing surprises you super-types.  Anyway, I will be using this baby here to shrink down whatever we find.” He produced a small metal device from inside his jacket.  “It should let us put a whole pyramid in our pocket, so to speak.”

“Thank you, doctors.”  Captain Rogers said, moving back to the podium.  “You will be leaving immediately with these fine gentlemen under the command of First Sergeant Walters.” He said, gesturing to the Crimson Avenger.  He then turned to face a map of the area posted behind him before continuing.  “We have arranged transportation down the Nile, which will drop you at this point here.  You will then make your way due East to this point, where intelligence tells us the ruins are located.  Your ride is waiting outside.  Good luck and godspeed.”

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

Their journey down the Nile was tense, but uneventful.  Both Carter and Al had hushed discussions on the nature of the various settlements and ruins they had passed by.  While much of the area was under Allied control, it was still a war zone.  Lee took the opportunity to discuss strategy with his men, as well as areas of responsibility for the protection of the civilians and recovery of any artifacts they might find.  

As their small craft approached the drop point, all talking ceased.  Lee hoped they wouldn’t run into any serious opposition.  Intelligence reports were sketchy at best, and after the battle in Tunisia, they had to be prepared for anything.  Germany’s Hydra Division had proven to be deadly on the battlefield since then as well, employing energy weapons and other incredibly advanced armaments.  Allied scientists were desperately working to reverse-engineer these new devices, but it would take time to reproduce them or create effective countermeasures.  Fortunately, many of his troops were immune to these new weapons, including Superman.

Lee took a moment to glance over his troops before they disembarked.  Liberty Belle looked focused and stood side-by-side with Johnny Quick.  They had grown quite close over the course of their time in the field.  Lee wouldn’t be surprised if it was romantic, which would normally be problematic, but All Star Squadron worked outside of traditional military doctrine.  Lee felt it might actually be a strength to have two teammates so close.  Libby and Johnny were both great people that he knew he could count on in a pinch, and they would be responsible for the safety of Carter and Al in this mission.

His attention then turned to Superman.  The boy had been uncomfortably quiet during their journey.  Lee knew that Superman still felt responsible for the injuries that his team had sustained in Tunisia.  Even though they had all made it out alive, it seemed that seeing his comrades in such pain had taken it’s toll on him.  Lee had spoken to Captain America about it and, like the captain, agreed that Superman had the potential to be a very capable leader.  He just hoped the kid could pull out of this and find himself again.  Hopefully getting him out into the field would clear away Superman’s lingering self-doubt.

They began their trek inland, moving east across the shifting desert sands.  They didn’t need to travel long before spotting the trails of dust in the distance that indicated troop movement.  He sent Superman ahead to scout the activity, while the rest of them took cover behind a nearby dune.  Superman took off in a blur, and returned moments later.  

“It’s bad, sir.  Two Hydra tanks, and an entire platoon.  Looks like they have a couple of transport trucks as well.  They’re closing in on the target area fast.”  Superman, said, not even winded.

“All right, listen up everyone.  Doctors, I need you two to stay put.  Libby, Johnny, you two flank right, I’ll flank left, Supes, you hit em right up the middle.  Go!”

They broke out in their assigned directions without another word.  Quick carried Belle, moving faster than Lee could follow.  Superman waited at the top of the dune for Lee to get into position.  It was going to take him a minute.  Wishing, not for the first time, that he had super speed.  Panting from running in the soft sand, he reached his position and gave the signal to his team.

Superman ran full speed into the nearest tank, and with an incredibly loud screech of twisting metal, it was knocked onto its side.  Chaos erupted from the Hydra troops, and they began firing in all directions.  Crimson Avenger, Liberty Belle and Johnny Quick all broke from cover and rushed the enemy position.  Lee fired a gas pellet into the clustered ranks of infantry, sending them coughing into the dirt.  Meanwhile, Libby grabbed the barrel of the remaining tank gun and bent it backwards with ease.  Last but not least, Johnny ran through the enemy ranks at incredible speeds, disarming as many of the troops as he could.

The tank that Superman had hit caught fire, and Lee shouted to him, “Get out of there!  It’s gonna blow!”  But the boy wasn’t listening to him, instead Superman tore the turret off the tank and retrieved the occupants.  Hoisting them on his shoulders, he ran from the ensuing explosion.  The shells in the tank exploded sending most of the team to the ground from the violent shockwave.  The blast caught the second tank and the truck as well, and the resulting eruption  could be seen and felt for miles around.  

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

Lee awoke in a coughing fit.  He attempted to open his eyes, but it was useless.  The dust and smoke in the air was impenetrable, and it was nearly impossible to breathe, much less see.  He felt around his surroundings, trying to find a way to his feet, when a sudden blast of air knocked him right back down again.  He groaned and raised his arm to shield his eyes from the piercing wind that seemed to have come out of nowhere.  The air that was hitting his face felt out of place.  It was cold, extremely cold, and almost instantly froze the sweat on his skin.  As this wind blew the smoke and debris in the air away from the area, he could finally see what was going on around him.

His jaw dropped as he gazed at the massive pit that had formed in the wake of the explosion.  Stranger still, it looked as though it hadn’t collapsed, so much as erupted outward.  This must have been where the blast of cold air had come from.  He quickly rose to his feet and searched the area for his team.  He found all of them nearby, blasted away from the site as he was.  All of them, except for Superman.  The two scientists ran to join the team as quickly as they could in the rolling dunes of soft sand.  

“Incredible!  Did you see that eruption?!  It was as though some kind of pressurized capsule were opened!  We simply must investigate!”  Carter said excitedly, almost childlike in his enthusiasm.  

“Wait, where’s Superman?  Is he OK?”  Al said, panting from his run across the sands.  

“I’m not sure, but it’s possible he’s down there.” Lee said, pointing to the gaping chasm.  “Either way, we need to check this thing out.  I doubt any of those goons survived the blast, so it should be relatively safe.”

Please, sergeant, let Al and I lead the way.  We need to preserve the site as much as possible.  We can’t afford to damage anything unnecessarily.  Well, nothing that explosion didn’t already damage, I suppose.”

And so the team moved to the chasm, looking down into it for the first time.  The midday desert sun illuminated the chamber extremely well, and they were awestruck by what they saw.  A beautiful tiled chamber lay some 30 feet below the surface.  The tiles glistened in the sun, and steps on the far side led up to what appeared to be some sort of throne.  Furniture and entire rooms full of artifacts were preserved in such a way that they had not aged at all in what might have been centuries.  In the middle of it all lay Superman, and on top of him were the soldiers he had rescued just before the explosion.

“You think he’s alive?” Al croaked, gulping as he looked down on the young man.

“I’ve been fighting alongside Superman for a long time now, and I haven’t seen anything that could keep him down.” Lee replied.

“Well then, we’d better go help him up.  Let’s get climbing!” Liberty Belle said as she began her descent.

The climb was not as hazardous as they expected, with ample footholds to be found in the ancient rock face of the chamber walls.  Carter reached the bottom first, and ran to Superman’s side.  

“It looks like he fell on something!” Carter yelled back to the rest of the team, who were still descending the steep rock walls.  He reached under superman and felt the haft of a weapon as well as a belt made from some type of metal.  As soon as he touched it, his entire body felt as though it were on fire.  His vision went white as he screamed in agony.  Flashes, images of another life, raced through his mind.  Another time, another body, but at the same time so familiar.  He saw a beautiful woman as well.  Shiera.  Yes, that was her name.  His beloved.  How could he have forgotten her?  The images began to fade, and with them the pain that wracked his body.  He found himself standing over Superman with a massive mace in his hand.  His body was now covered in some kind of armor, and his back, wings!  He was reborn, and it was all so clear to him now.  Carter Hall was but a vessel, and this metal had refilled that vessel and restored his power.  But, Shiera, where was she?  Could she be alive as well?  

“She is indeed, Hawkman, and you will be joining her soon enough!” A voice spoke and Carter, Hawkman, spun to face it.  From the shadows near the throne, a pair of figures stepped forth.  The one who spoke was slender, and garbed in ancient egyptian attire of a royal purple color.  The other was unlike anything Carter had ever seen.  Blue armor covered a massive frame, and the face was so inhuman, so alien.  

“No, not alien. Mutant would be the colloquial term, I believe.”  The voice said coldly as he sat himself down upon the throne.  “My servant's name is En Sabah Nur, and you may call me Immortus.  We have been slumbering here for many centuries, awaiting your arrival.  I am not disappointed. You have even done me the courtesy of wounding Superman with your mace.  How considerate.”  He gestured to the bodies of the soldiers that Superman had rescued before continuing.  “They, however, will not be necessary.”  He glanced to En Sabah Nur.  “You may remove them.”

“Like hell you will, monster!” Hawkman yelled, as he charged towards the blue-armored giant.  Its blue lips curled upwards in a sinister smile and his arm shot out towards Hawkman faster than he could see, sending him sprawling back towards Superman.  

“Immortus calls me by my true name, but you may call me Apocalypse!” A booming voice roared from the blue giant.  “You are all inferior creatures, unfit to survive!”  

As Hawkman shakily pulled himself to his feet, he saw Superman doing the same.  The rest of the team had nearly reached them now, but there was no time.  Time.  He felt everything slow down around him as though it were all under water.  Carter slowly turned to see Immortus gesturing towards them with some device.  Whatever it was, it was slowing them to a crawl!  Apocalypse, however was unaffected, charging towards Superman at full speed.  Hawkman couldn’t shout a warning to his friend in time, and Superman was sent flying against the rock wall.  Apocalypse then reached down and picked up the two Hydra soldiers that Superman had saved, smashing their heads together with sickening force before throwing them aside like dolls.

Liberty Belle was the first to reach the battle, yelling a battle cry as she attempted a double-fisted uppercut on the armored giant.  It was no use, however.  They all seemed to be moving like molasses, and Immortus simply laughed as Apocalypse swatted the brave heroine away like an insect.  Crimson Avenger fired a gas pellet into the fray, but it too had no effect on Apocalypse.  Johnny Quick ran in to grab Belle, but even his speed was no match for the towering mutant.  Hawkman struggled to stand as the world went black around him.  Where was Al?  He hoped his friend was okay.  As he collapsed onto the tile floor, he heard only the sound of Immortus’ laughter...    

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.”

Earth-1874: Prologue

Prologue

“It’s right this way, Mr. President.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt nodded as his aide pushed his wheelchair down one of the many hallways that wound through the White House. He was anxious. Not nervous, or worried, just anxious. He was about to meet with some of what might be the most powerful people on Earth. It was a momentous occasion, to say the least. 

It had been one month since he had put out the call, and charged his best men with the task of getting everything in order. One month since Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. The thought of that day still filled him with outrage, just as it did every other American. The American people expected him to step up, put things right, and so he would. He would use every resource at his disposal to see this through, and ensure that justice prevailed.

The aide stopped next to a nondescript oak door; one of many that littered the halls of the mansion. “Are you ready, sir?” The aide asked, a tinge of fear could be heard in his voice. He couldn’t fault the poor man for that. He had every right to be scared. There were any number of ways that this could end badly.

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

Lee Walter Travis stood on the rooftop, looking down at the alleyway below. Ensuring his grapple line was secure on the roof, he shifted his gaze to his young partner. Unlike his bright red coat, hat and mask, his partner wore a somber black and gray uniform as well as a bat-shaped cowl and cape. He was still a just a boy, but he had talent. The young man had lost his parents both of his parents in an alley like the one below them. He shook his head; he needed to focus on the task at hand.

As if on cue, a car turned down the narrow alley and slowed to a stop. The rain hadn’t let up for hours, but Lee didn’t mind. If anything, it made their work easier since it masked sound and obscured vision. He checked his grapple line one last time, and ensured his gas gun was loaded. Below him, another car pulled into the alley, stopping just behind the other vehicle. The doors on both cars opened, and men in trench coats and fedoras stepped out. Lee didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were; they were the members of the Maroni and Falcone crime families. And tonight, Falcone’s men were exchanging a briefcase full of cash for a trunk full of Maroni’s firearms. At least, that’s what they were planning to do. The Crimson Avenger and Batman had other ideas.

They dove from the rooftop, three stories above the men. Lee’s grapple line worked perfectly to slow his descent. Bruce, on the other hand, dropped like a stone. Just before hitting the pavement, he spread the cape that hung from his cowl and was jerked upright as the special hardened weave of fibers caught his fall and slowed him to a pace that would allow him to survive impact.

It would also allow the thug he landed on to survive the impact of Batman’s boots hitting his face as well. That was expected. They weren’t here to murder anyone. These scum needed to live to face justice for their crimes. The first one went down without a sound. The next managed a muffled cry as Batman grabbed him in a sleeper hold, dropping him in moments.

The rest of the mobsters were alerted now, but they stood no chance against the pair. The Crimson Avenger leveled his gas gun at the group and fired. A cloud of knockout gas surrounded the men and they dropped to the ground, coughing. The fight was over within thirty seconds. The duo stood in the rain-soaked alleyway, taking in the sight. Lee knew that word would get out, and the criminal element would start getting smarter, so he took a moment to appreciate how easy this was.

“That’s pretty nice work, Lee. How would you like to go pro again?” A gruff voice echoed from the dark end of the alleyway.

They spun towards the voice. They weren’t an easy pair to sneak up on. Whoever this was, he was no simple mob goon. The man stepped into the headlights of cars. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a fine suit and tie. Deep scars lining his face told of a recent wound. A war wound. Lee knew him as his commanding officer during the Spanish Civil War. They had fought together in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. What the man was doing here, or how he had found Lee, was a mystery though.

“Captain Hendricks! What a surprise to see you here! What brings you to New York?” He exclaimed, genuinely surprised to see the man.

Batman looked from one man to the other, “You two know each other?”

“It’s Major now, actually, and I’m here on orders.” He paused to look at both men in turn. “The President is looking to recruit you ‘mystery men’ to help fight in the war. I told him I knew just the guy.” The man walked closer to the pair, extending the umbrella he held to shield them from the rainfall.

“Major Hendricks...Carl, look, I can’t put on the uniform again. What you and I went through...I never want to see that again.” He looked down. He couldn’t help but be ashamed at his own words, even as he spoke them. “Besides, I’m responsible for this young man, and I’m not just going to abandon him.” He said, pointing a thumb at Batman.

“Well, as much as I think Bruce Wayne here can take care of himself,” Batman was taken aback, just how much did the government know about them? “I’m not looking to put a rifle in your hand, Lee. This is something else. Something bigger than the Army. Hitler’s got himself mystery men of his own, and we need guys like you to take em down. Bombs and tanks aren’t going to win this one, and Batman here is welcome to come with you. After all, he’s as old as we were when we joined up. So whaddaya say, Crimson Avenger? You in?”

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

He looked at the barn, squinting through the spring sun that hung over the Kansas farmland. He was going to make it this time, he knew it. He tousled his wavy black head of hair and smiled as he prepared himself, dropping into a runners starting position. This was the best summer ever as far as Clark Kent was concerned. He had graduated high school, gotten a job at a newspaper in the big city, and discovered that he had super powers.

He broke into a sprint, running directly at the large barn that loomed ever-closer. It had to be 40, maybe 50 feet high, but he would make it this time, he knew it. Just before hitting the barn, he leapt into the air as high as he could. He was going to make it. He soared upward, seemingly defying gravity itself. He cleared the roof, shouting for joy in midair. He had done it! He looked behind him to see the barn rise up again as he descended.

Descended. Uh-oh. He hadn’t thought about this. He hadn’t prepared for the landing. This was going to hurt. With the loud crash of twisting metal, Clark Kent landed. He shook his head, clearing out the dizziness of the impact. Oh no, he thought as he looked around him. He had landed right on top of a very nice car. Well, it probably was nice, before he had destroyed it. A man stood nearby in a fine suit and sunglasses. The man removed his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt as he spoke.

“Well, that was unexpected.” He offered his hand to Clark. “Here, let me help you up. You OK, son?” Clark nodded his head sheepishly.

“I’m awful sorry about the car, sir. I...umm, was playing on top of the barn, and must have slipped. “ He said sheepishly as he took the man’s hand and climbed to his feet.

The man raised an eyebrow, “You were playing on top of a fifty-foot tall barn, fell off, and destroyed my car without a scratch on you?” The man gave a deep, hearty laugh. “No, kid, I don’t think so. I saw the whole thing but don’t worry, that’s why I’m here.”

“Who are you?” Clark asked, dusting himself off. His new pants were torn, and his shirt was hanging off in rags. His Ma and Pa were going to kill him for this.

“Never mind that; who I am isn’t important. It’s you that’s important; to your President and to this country. President Roosevelt has asked for your help, son. We need you, and people like you, to help to defend this nation. Will you help us?”

Clark smiled with a wide boyish grin. Excitedly, he asked, “There’s people like me?”

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

The ocean waves washed lazily on the white sand that marked shores of Themiscyra. A beautiful young woman stood and watched them slowly erode the sands of her island home. Her mind began to drift as she remembered a day very much like this one. The day her world had changed.

Diana had watched with a certain curiosity as a small ship sailed ever-closer to their shores. “Who is that, mother?” she asked with suspicion. The island of Themiscyra was supposed to be impossible for outsiders to find. In fact, Diana had never met someone who was not born on the island.

“I do not know my child. But worry not, for they pose no threat to us.” Her mother was a woman as equally beautiful as Diana herself. Though instead of the raven braids that Diana wore, her mothers were golden and flowing. Both mother and daughter wore the ceremonial breastplate and battle skirts of the Amazon.

Diana stole a glance at the Amazon honor guard that flanked them. Her mother was right, there was no threat that they could not overcome. She and her sisters were immortal, and blessed by the gods with a strength not possessed by mortal men. At long last, the boat had reached shallow water, and a smaller boat was being rowed to shore. There was only one figure in this smaller craft. Very curious, Diana thought. As the boat neared, Diana gasped involuntarily. It was a man that rowed towards them! Diana had never seen a man, but clearly this must be one.

“Penny for your thoughts?” She was snapped from her reverie by the unfamiliar voice of a man. Well, the man. The only man Diana had ever seen. He had been here for nearly a week, and Diana was certain she would never grow accustomed to seeing him. He was a tall, well-built man with fair skin and hair as golden as her mother’s but cropped very short. He dressed very oddly, wearing a close-fitting olive green suit with strange insignias, and his only weapon was a small metal device that he wore at his side.

“Actually, I was thinking about you, Mr. Trevor. “ She said, not turning from the sea. She had to admin, she was curious about the man, but it still didn’t override the lifetime of Amazon teachings that taught her to distrust men.

“I’m flattered, but please, call me Steve.” The man walked across the beach to her, but knew enough about Amazon custom to stop well short of her. “It’s almost time to go.”

Diana nodded, her mind drifting away again. The man had come ashore and introduced himself as Lieutenant Steve Trevor of the United States Army Intelligence Division. Queen Hippolyta appeared to know what at least some of those titles meant, and allowed him to continue. He went on to describe many strange things that Diana did not understand. From what she could tell, though, the world of men was at war, and this one wanted the aid of the Amazons. Diana expected her mother to laugh and order his execution for trespassing on the sacred island, but instead she appeared thoughtful. Surely she couldn’t be considering his request?

Queen Hippolyta provided the man guest chambers, and went to council with her advisers. After a long deliberation, she emerged from the council chambers and declared that one Amazon would be sent to aid the world of men. To decide who would go, she held a contest. A series of games designed to choose the most worthy Amazon from their ranks. Many of Diana’s Amazon sisters had balked at this, and forfeited out of principle. Their home was on the island, and not in the world of men. Only Diana and a handful of others participated in the games, which tested their skill in archery, running, discus and wrestling. Diana won them all easily.

when the contests were over, she was bidden to approach her mother’s throne in the great hall. “Daughter, you make me proud.” Hippolyta had brought forth a chest that she now opened. “Go with my blessing, and the blessings of the gods.” She removed a sword and lasso from the chest. “May these weapons protect your allies.” Diana bowed her head and took them. Her mother reached in and produced a tiara and bracers, “and may these protect you, my daughter.”

Diana was brought back to the present again by Mr. Trevor. Steve.

“Ship sails at dawn, princess.”

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

As he stared at the green ring on his hand, Alan Scott could not help but chuckle. Who would have thought that such an insignificant-looking thing could have changed his life so dramatically? Only a short time ago, he had been a railroad engineer, taking whatever work he could get during the depression. He didn’t necessarily hate working for the railroad, but it was far from the glamorous career he had imagined for himself when he was younger. He had always dreamed of being something more; something great.

On a night like any other, he had been walking the line just before the 10 o’ clock came in from Keystone City. The ground shook beneath his feet just before he heard a thunderous crash sounded down the line. Even in the dim moonlight, he could see fire and smoke rising from the area he recognized as the bridge farther down the tracks. It must have collapsed! Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the wreckage of the passenger train, snatching a lantern from a nearby post to provide light as he ran.

When he finally reached the scene of the accident, he managed to save the driver and the few passengers that were riding that night. He was able to save them all, and it was the most fulfilling night of his life. As he sat on the side of the tracks, exhausted as he watched the sunrise, he heard a deep, echoing voice inside his mind.

“You have proven yourself a true hero, Alan Scott, and have been chosen.” He thought he was going crazy, but it continued. “Fashion from my metal a ring, and you shall be a Green Lantern; protector and guardian to all.” Was it the lantern he had grabbed as he ran? He glanced at it, and was shocked to find it glowing with a bright green light. It was too incredible to believe, but Alan was compelled to follow the instructions that the voice had given him. He did indeed fashion a ring from the metal of the lantern and found that, while wearing it, he was granted powers beyond his wildest dreams.

It felt like ages ago, but only a few months had passed since that fateful night. Since then, he had learned to control the powers that the ring granted him. He could use it to do almost anything he could imagine: fly, walk through solid objects, and even create objects of his own using only his thoughts. He had used these newfound gifts to fight crime in his neighborhood in New York City, and his exploits had caught the attention of some pretty important people. He really was a hero now, and the world desperately needed him. He never would have dreamed it, but if that man from Washington was telling the truth, he was going to meet the President!

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

“You need to focus, Steve. Try to slow your breathing. You’re not going to do any good for anyone if you have a heart attack.” The man outside the metal capsule said, though Steve Rogers could barely hear it through the heavy steel and lead that lined the small chamber he found himself strapped inside.

He did his best to comply with the request, but his mind still swirled with stray thoughts. They called this ‘Project Rebirth’, a program designed to create the perfect soldier. He had volunteered without a second thought. He knew the risks, and it was worth it. This was his only chance, his only hope, to serve his country.

Growing up in the Bronx, he had learned early that sometimes you had to take risks if you wanted to do the right thing. When the war broke out he tried to join the army, but was turned away for failing the physical; six times, in fact. He had tried one last time to get in, and was surprised to find a scientist waiting in the physician’s office. The man introduced himself as Dr. Erskine, a German scientist devoted to creating the perfect soldier. For some reason, he thought Steve could be that soldier.

Now, here he was, sitting in a metal capsule and about to be injected with who-knows-what and bombarded with “Vita-rays”, whatever those were. He wasn’t worried for his safety, he just wanted so badly for this to work. He wanted to serve his country, and do his part in the fight against tyranny and oppression. The Axis powers were everything that Steve had been raised to fight against. They were bullies, dictators, murderers and worse. Steve had seen the newsreel footage, and he knew what was at stake. This was a fight for the future of liberty not just for America, but for the world.

The countdown began. This was it; now or never, he thought. He closed his eyes and waited. Oddly enough, the closer the countdown came to its inevitable conclusion, the calmer he became. By the time it hit one, he was completely at peace. Time seemed to stop as he took in a deep breath. Suddenly, his world was filled with light and pain. Fire coursed through his veins, and his body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. He screamed, but it was impossible to hear over the high-pitched cacophony of the machines that were bombarding his body with a variety of rays and chemicals.

After what felt like an eternity, the machined whined to a stop. Despite the unimaginable pain, he had managed to remain conscious throughout the entire procedure. As the searing pain dulled to a roar, he tried to move within the capsule. He had been strapped into the machine very tightly, but he felt the straps strain and nearly break from his movements. A loud hissing sounded as the capsule slowly opened. He tried to look around, but his vision was still blurred from the combination of pain and the after-effects of the procedure.

“Are you still with us, Steve?” said the familiar German-accented voice of Dr. Erskine.

“I...I think so.” Steve rasped. The pain was beginning to subside, but he was still having trouble making out his surroundings.

“Let’s have a look at you.” Dr. Erskine and his assistants began undoing the straps that held Steve upright inside the capsule. “Mein gott!” the doctor cried.

“What is it, doctor? Did it work?” Steve took a tentative step forward, his footing shaky.

“It did more than work, my boy. See for yourself!” He gestured to a mirror against a nearby wall of the laboratory.

Steve Roger’s steps grew steadier each moment as he moved forward. By the time he reached the mirror, he was finally feeling like his old self. No, not like his old self. He looked in the mirror, and saw a tall, muscular man staring back at him. Nearly physically perfect in every way, he was briefly in awe of himself. He was finally the person he needed to be to defend the ideals of the United States of America. It was time to get to work.

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

President Roosevelt wheeled himself inside the conference room, and what awaited him was quite a sight. He had sent his best men out to find so-called ‘mystery men’ to join the war effort, and they had certainly done their job. There were about a dozen men and women in the room, and they all stood as he entered. Each of them was very different, some in garish costumes, others in uniforms of sorts, but they were all special.

“I would like to thank you all for coming” He said as he pulled his chair up behind the desk. He took a moment to settle in before continuing, “I know you are all aware of the reason I have called you here, but I wanted you to hear it directly from me. America is preparing for war, this much you know. What you may not know, is that the Axis powers, specifically Germany, have been gathering relics and artifacts of immense power. At this time, we also know that Hitler has been recruiting what he calls the “ubermensch”, or supermen. He has a technological advantage over us, this much is true, but I believe we have the better men and women.” He paused to look each of the individuals before him directly before continuing. “In fact, I know we do. Some amongst you have fantastic gifts, while others possess nothing more than an incredible strength of spirit. Each one of you has this much in common, you have volunteered to drive back the tide of evil that is rising from the east. You will be an inspiration for all who believe in freedom, and leaders in the fight against the darkness that threatens not only this great country, but the entire world. I thank you, and America thanks you. I leave you now in the capable hands of Colonel Hardy, who will be responsible for your training and act as your liaison to military command. God bless you all.”



The President gestured to a man who now stood in the doorway of the room. He looked like a military stereotype: a tall man with closely-cropped dark hair, a square jaw, and a uniform full of medals and ribbons. The man nodded, “Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to All-Star Squad. It’s time to begin your training. ”