So we have been over who and how the All-Star Squadron formed and what their focus is in WWII on Earth-Two. With all that covered we are going to briefly go over the main five All-Stars.

Libby Lawrence is a journalist and a patriot. Naturally athletic and of course not suitable for battling the forces overseas, Libby takes it upon herself to be inspired by the Liberty Bell and quite possibly the bomber The Liberty Belle and becomes a bombastic woman of mystery.

Whenever the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia was struck her belt buckle which was made out of the missing piece of the Liberty Bell would give her an increase in strength, speed, and stamina. Eventually, Libby would gain some sonic powers thanks to a Nazi villain and the actual Liberty Belle. Libby is the first female super-hero to hold the chairmanship of an organization historically, but since her position was awarded in the 1980s, its hard to say that this decision was not in part influenced by the Women’s Liberation movement.

(Those pants are called Jodhpurs, handy for trivia nights at your local bar.)

Johnny Quick is Johnny Chambers who works as a newsreel photographer. You must be saying, “Well, I sure hope he met Libby at some point.” Of course he did, eventually Libby and Johnny would marry each other. Johnny uses a mathematical formula to tap into his superspeed powers. Once he says his formula: “3X2(9YZ)4A” Johnny’s speed rivals that of the Flash and like the Flash is quite capable of running across bodies of water before he can sink.

Johnny Be Good!

Commander Steel is Henry Haywood who was a U.S. Marine prior to the start of WWII. When the base Henry was stationed to was attacked, Henry was caught in the attack and was in need of major medical rehab. The doctors decided to reinforce his skeleton and joints with.. (wait for it) steel. Cue the Million Dollar Man theme. I say this because Steel was created in the late 70s, birth of the Bionic Man 1974. Now, I would say this was just an influence, not an out an out rip as the word “bionics” were never used and it is not as if comics didn’t already have androids, half robots/half men characters wandering around all over the place.

And you thought G.I. Joe was the Greatest American Hero?

Danette Reilly, Vulcanologist. That would be a scientist specializing in the study of volcanoes. Again, this type of thing, wins you free beer on trivia nights, so don’t knock it. While in Hawaii shortly before Pearl Harbor, Danette ran afoul of the JSA villain Per Degaton. Leaving her for dead, Per Degaton left, however what he had accomplished was to give Danette the ability to create heat and fire from her hands. She can encase herself in an fiery aura in order to fly.

Now, Firebrand, had an older brother named Rod, who was the very first Firebrand. A guy named Rod, wearing pink and red poofy sleeves. Yeah, he was straight. Heh. In the meantime, Firebrand tragically meets her end shortly after WWII.

No, no boys. Don’t touch. This one will burn ya.

Robert Crane was a scientist. It helps to be a scientist, occultist, or an all-around American athlete in order to survive these origin stories. If you aren’t one, well odds are, you are going to wind up being a villain or dead. Anyways Robert was shot, bang! His science friends decide to put his brain into a robot body. So again we have the human faced with being inhuman. See: Red Tornado, Cyborg, etc.., This is a common theme in comics and continues to this day. Since Robert is a robot he has superhuman strength, stamina, he’s pretty quick and that science brain means he’s not just a meat head.

Next Time: We get into the meet and potatoes of that cross over I told you about last week!