All-Star Squadron seems to be very fondly remembered whenever I see the series brought up. I am surprised that we have never seen a revival of that comic in one form or another. DC does not seem shy about using legacy titles for its comics, after all. I guess it shouldn't be too much of a surprise when The Justice Society themselves go AWOL for years at a time.
DC is probably reluctant to do so because it serves to remind them what a stupid mistake it ultimately was to publish COIE.*
ReplyDelete*A mistake that keeps coming back to bite them in the All-Star Squadron's initials! ;-)
Ah, yes! The criminally underrated Agents of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Not as well known as SHIELD, perhaps. But, just as efficient...and definitely a lot less ruthless than Task Force X.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a sequel pitting Jonathan Law--the Golden Age Tarantula--against his four-armed, green-skinned namesake from S.P.I.D.E.R. Maybe even guest-starring Dynamo and the Iron Maiden?
Above anon, I just thought this afternoon that I'd like to see the Thing with Vixen. Not sure why I thought of that now, but I think it would be fun to read.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Earth-2 stuff just doesn't sell as well as we who love it would think it does. =/ In any case, yes, for a comic book company about whom one of its hallmarks is the novelty of the multiverse, different versions of the same characters, and such, their aversion to fully embracing Earth-2 over the years has been perplexing. Cary Comic, good call on the COIE angle too.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous #2: she might be able to use the Tantu Totem to assume Ben Grimm's stony likeness. Thereby making their liaison d'amour...a lot smoother, shall we say?
ReplyDeleteDC has always been schizoid about "legacy" vs. having their stars being "your grandparents' heroes", and the eternal war of the fan-boys, who have no problems with multiverses and multiple versions of a character, vs. the suits who are worried about "diluting the brand" and just want to have to make one costume for the movie and one action figure.
ReplyDeleteSo we get the back and forth between Roy Thomas's embracing of Earth-2 and WWII vs. Zero Hour, and Flashpoint/New 52 vs. Rebirth, and so on.
@Jay Johnson: FLASHPOINT, NEW 52, and REBIRTH being three reasons why FINAL CRISIS was such an oxymoronic title.* And, still increasingly is!
ReplyDelete*Emphasis on the "moronic."
I would love to see a JSA limited series that deals with the early days of the group starting with their formation. I think there is a lot there that could be explored. Hopefully it wouldn't be all WWII references since those heroes had plenty of adventures in the US that were unrelated to Nazis.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy another All-Star Squadron series. It was one of my favorites. Now they could add in Judomaster from Charlton Comics; Spy Smasher, Minute Man, Mr. Scarlet & Pinky, Ibis the Invincible from Fawcett Publications; and Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters from Quality Comics.
ReplyDeleteOrdinaryguy2
I'm not familiar with Mr. Scarlet & Pinky -- but that's just begging for a teamup with Pinky and the Brain!
ReplyDeleteMr. Scarlet and Pinky were Fawcett's answer to Batman and Robin. With one difference; they did such a good job, with their costumed crime-fighting, that they reportedly put their civilian identities out of a job!*
ReplyDelete*D.A. Brian Butler and his youthful ward (who I'm guessing was fully named Allen Pinkerton Butler).
I suspect the reason DC hasn't embraced the A.S.S. recently is that it really only works in a WWII setting. And I guess they want to keep things contemporary? In which case, you basically just have the Justice Society.
ReplyDeleteThey really should bring Roy Thomas out of retirement to write a limited series featuring the A.S.S. as it was meant to be -- pre-crisis WII. I'd buy that in a heartbeat!
I just discovered that Rich Buckler, who co-created the All-Star Squadron (and drew the first several issues), passed away last year.
ReplyDeleteIf they wanted to do a contemporary version of All Star Squadron they could just have it similar to Justice League Task Force where all superheroes belong to one large group for some purpose. The series could then focus on a small cast of more obscure heroes with regular guest appearances by the other more popular heroes.
ReplyDeletePer All-Star Squadron, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters WERE in the A-S Squadron before being spirited away to Earth-X.
ReplyDeleteAll-STAR SQUADRON is such a vast team including (yes formerly) The FREEDOM FIGHTERS, The SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY, The entire JSA and dozens of more heroes. I think a lot of writers would feel overwhelmed and wouldn't even know where to start. It could be a monumental, but fun undertaking if given a solid writer-artist team with the enthusiasm to do it.
ReplyDeleteCOIE?
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, two of my favorite teams in one comic (if only!).
@JH3: Stands for CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. A year-long mini-series (1985-86) whereby DC attempted to permanently streamline their supposedly "overly complicated" multiverse into one single universe for the benefit of confused new readers. But, all they accomplished for the next twenty years was confuse _all_ readers! New and old, alike.
ReplyDelete@Cary Comic - I'd add infuriate as well!
ReplyDelete@Isaac: Yes; good point!
ReplyDelete@Ross: I just love your super-group mashups! They remind me of a fairly new variant of the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game called "Umpteen Degrees of WOTI."
ReplyDeleteFor example: Justice Machine once met the Agents of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. who've also met Thunder Bunny who's met both the Mighty Crusaders and some of the Vault Heroes who occasionally meet Femforce whose leader Ms. Victory fought in the War Of The Independents alongside Liberty Girl who _could_ introduce them to the League of Champions!
Just as Megaton Man also fought in the WOTI alongside Madman who once met Superman who's twice met Spider-man who frequently meets Iron Man who once met X-O Manowar who _could_ get to meet his near-namesake in the Protectors via Craig Carter and his magic ring.
Yet Thunder Bunny could _never_ meet Usagi Yojimbo unless it was through the Golden Age Mr. Monster and his namesake grandson (who likewise fought in the WOTI...alongside Fishnet Angel, Shi, and the Badger).
"Here endeth the lesson."--Sean Connery in THE UNTOUCHABLES