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

All-Star Squadron #150, homage to Secret Origins Annual #1

Artist: Craig Cermak (All)

2 Comments - 569 Views - 1 Like

All-Star Squadron #150, homage to Secret Origins Annual #1 Comic Art

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Secret Origins Annual #1 - source cover

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Artwork Details

Title:	All-Star Squadron #150, homage to Secret Origins Annual #1
Artist:	Craig Cermak (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	569
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	8/31/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Latest "Continuation Project" commission - All-Star Squadron #150, Craig Cermak, and based as always on the cover of a comic written, plotted or scripted by Roy Thomas, in this case the John Byrne cover to Secret Origins Annual #1 (Roy wrote the back-up origin of Captain Comet).

Title: "If I Only Had A Brain!"

Story: In issue #144, Johnny Quick, Robotman, Liberty Belle and Firebrand were suspended from the All-Star Squadron, only for the Perisphere to be attacked by a group of super-villains, leading to it being destroyed! In the aftermath of the attack, a dropped note revealed the sites for more attacks, and Hawkman coordinated other Squadron members to prevent them. In issues #145-149, the Squadron defeated the five fillains, only to learn that President Roosevelt, and Vice-President Henry Wallace, have been kidnapped!

This time - At the site of the wrecked Perisphere, Johnny Thunder is guarding Liberty Belle, Robotman, Johnny Quick and Firebrand when a police car arrives, looking for the heroes of the All-Star Squadron to help find the missing President and VP. Johnny T wonders how they can help, and Liberty Belle points out the obvious - all Johnny has to do is ask his Thunderbolt to take them to the President! A quick "say, you know what - that just might work" from Johnny, and a hasty explanation later, and the five heroes vanish - to reappear in a hidden lair, finding both Roosevelt and Wallace under armed guard, and face-to-face with ... the Ultra-Humanite!

Ultra, in Dolores Winters' body, orders his guards to keep the heroes at bay by threatening the lives of his political captives, and explains that he had recruited the five villains to act as decoys, splitting the Squadron members up to allow his flunkies to capture Roosevelt and Wallace as they travelled to a meeting. He'd promised each of the villains that they would be reinforced by their fellows at a critical moment, allowing them to defeat the All-Star Squadron members they were battling, but that was nothing more than a ruse - he cared nothing for the villains' fate.

Ultra explains his plan, which is simple but fiendish - his brain will be transplanted from Winters' body into that of Henry Wallace and, after a period to ensure that the operation has been successful, Roosevelt will be killed, Ultra-as-Wallace will "escape" and lead the authorites to the hideout to find the President's body, and in short order the Ultra-Humanite will be sworn in as the new President of the United States!

As the Ultra-Humanite orders his men to take Wallace to the operating theatre, Roosevelt's distinctive red-and-yellow blanket takes on a life of it's own, springing up from the President's chair and being revealed as Plastic Man! The surprise of his appearance allows the other heroes to launch an attack on the guards, but as they start to overcome them, Ultra lunges for a nearby control panel, pulls a lever, and...

... in five locations, members of the Squadron are shocked as the villains they'd recently defeated vanish from their grasp! The Mineral Master, Rag Doll, Professor Radium, Blue Lama, and Metalo reappear at Ultra's side, and are ordered to attack the heroes. Acting quickly, however, Plastic Man's pliable body wraps up the Rag Doll, squeezing him into unconsciousness; Johnny Quick races around the Mineral Master at super-speed, sending him into a spin until he's senseless and then knocking him out with a flurry of blows; at Johnny Thunder's command, the Thunderbolt magically immobilises the Blue Lama; a flame-burst from Firebrand melts the joints in Metalo's armoured suit, rendering him helpless; and Robotman, his metal body immune to Professor Radium's radiation, lays the villain out with a single punch!

Liberty Belle, meanwhile, advances on the Ultra-Humanite, but Ultra rushes to the side of President Roosevelt - only for the President to land a punch which staggers the villain, allowing Liberty Belle to capture Ultra. The Thunderbolt magically binds all the villains, and transports them, the heroes, the President and VP, and all the other Squadron members back to the Perisphere.

FDR announces that, having been saved by Belle, Johnny, Robotman and Firebrand, he will drop the suspension against them - but he warns the entire team that in future, they must not disobey his orders, and no member of the Squadron may travel into Axis-occupied territory without his permission. On this day - 7 December 1942, the first anniversary of the founding of the Squadron - he will also authorise the rebuilding of the Perisphere as their headquarters.

As the President starts to leave, however, Hawkman asks him to pause - and following a quick vote, the members of the team welcome their newest fighting member - President Roosevelt!

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	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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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 8/31/2023

Great choice to work in FDR as the Commander in Chief!

John Joshua
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 8/31/2023

Marcus Wai wrote:

Great choice to work in FDR as the Commander in Chief!

Thanks.

Actually it's FDR's fourth appearance (unless I've forgotten one) on these covers - he also appears on issue #69, in silhouette, as well as issues #110 and Annual #8.

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