Joshua, John :: All-Star Squadron 'continuation project' commissions

All-Star Squadron Annual, homage to Invaders issue #2

Artist: Ian Richardson (All)

2 Comments - 1,101 Views - 1 Like

All-Star Squadron Annual, homage to Invaders issue #2 Comic Art

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Invaders #2 - inspiration

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Artwork Details

Title:	All-Star Squadron Annual, homage to Invaders issue #2
Artist:	Ian Richardson (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,101
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	5/8/2019
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Latest arrival - All-Star Squadron Annual #5, homaging the Roy Thomas-written Invaders #2, with art by the always-fantastic Ian Richardson, who I think did an astonishing job here!

In story terms, this follows issue #88, in which several JSA members and other All-Stars were captured by the giant robot Samuroid in California. Back in New York, Batman, GL, Firebrand and Johnny Thunder are at the Perisphere when Miss America's distress signal arrives. With the All-Star's aircraft unavailable, Batman asks GL to take him to Gotham so he can collect the Bat-plane to ferry them all, but JT pipes up - "Say, you guys don't need to get a plane - my Thunderbolt can get us there in a second!" - and in a flash, the All-Stars arrive on the West Coast.

Batman starts to berate JT - they could have used the time to strategise - but when the heroes are pointed in the direction in which the Samuroid had taken their comrades, they give chase. Ultimately they catch up with the giant robot on Catalina Island (then a military training base) and engage it, but are hampered when JT is knocked senseless by the flat of the Samuroid's sword and unable to direct the Thunderbolt.

Recovering, Johnny sees Japanese troops carrying the unconscious bodies of the captured Hawkman, Starman, Hourman, Amazing Man and Miss America to boats, and tackles them, rousing his fellow heroes in the process. With the troops defeated, all the heroes battle the Samuroid and destroy the giant menace.

Offshore, in a giant Japanese submarine/aircraft carrier, the Dragon King watches his creation being defeated, but notes that this battle gives valuable information to inform the building of the next, even more powerful, Samuroid! (Yep - he'll be back.)

Returning to his sealed quarters, the Dragon King then removes his hood, and is revealed (only to the reader) as --- Vandal Savage!

(Check out the various close-ups of the Dragon King from All-Star Squadron issue #4, pages 17, 24 and 27, where - to my eyes, at least - he's shown to have a Caucasian skin-tone, hence my coming up with this theory. And yes I even have a solution to the later reveal of the Dragon King as a different character, partly transformed into a lizard, in an issue of "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E." --- but that will have to wait for the Dragon King's next appearance. in a few year's time.)

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About the Owner

	John Joshua
Joined:	May 2015
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	John's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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michael dunne
Member Since 2004

Posted on 5/8/2019

Anotehr great commission and as always, wonderful work by Ian!

Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

Posted on 5/8/2019

Great art and great story-telling behind the art

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