All-Star Squadron #126, homage to Spider-Woman issue #3

Latest "Continuation Project" commission (and the first one for 2021) - All-Star Squadron #126, art by Stephen Baskerville, based as always on the cover of a comic written, plotted or scripted by Roy Thomas, in this case Spider-Woman #3, original art by Steve Ellis and Fred Fredericks.

Title: "Like A Phantom, In The Darkness!"

Story: The latest of the regular "Altered Egos" spotlight issues, following on from issues #77, 84, 92, 101, 109 and 118, in which Jonathan (Tarantula) Law sits down with one of his fellow Squadron members to take notes for his post-war book. This time, Sandra (Phantom Lady) Knight briefly recounts her origin, but then fills Law in on a recent case.

Following the JSA's clash with Brain Wave (in All-Star Comics #15 and All-Star Squadron Annual #8), Sandra Knight had made plans to catch up with her cousin Ted, secretly Starman. As Ted was about to go on a confidential mission for the Government, he suggested that Sandra meet him in Manhattan after a meeting which he was due to attend a week later.

Arriving early, Sandra kills time, only to notice a suspicious-looking truck in a side alley --- and some bound and gagged figures being taken out of the building into the truck! After diving into the restroom of a nearby department store - and bemoaning the loss of yet another outfit as she changes into her costume - Phantom Lady tackles the hoods guarding the truck and frees the captives (scientists and Army brass), only to be surprised herself by the appearance from inside the building (carrying more prisoners) of the giant Japanese villain Sumo The Samurai, and his Nazi allies Night and Fog!

A running battle develops, with Phantom Lady using her black-light ray to temporarily blind the villains even though she's outmatched in sheer strength - and her goggles, which allow her to see in the darkness, mean that Night's power is useless against her. Eventually the brawl ends up in Central Park, where Phantom Lady is able to kick Fog into Sumo, whereupon the Nazi turns into his gaseous form and chokes his fellow villain for long enough to enable Phantom Lady to knock Sumo out. A roundhouse right then incapacitates Night.

Leaving the villains under the guard of some cops, Phantom Lady dashes back to the truck and releases the last of the captured scientists - but when she returns with a group of soldiers who had been stationed at the building, she discovers that the Axis villains have recovered, overpowered the police guard, and fled.

And to top it all off, on questioning the freed Army brass and scientists, it turns out that Ted Knight, although due at the meeting, had never turned up - so Sandra didn't even get her promised lunch!

As usual, Stephen did a terrific job, using a cover from a comic I only found out that Roy had written a few months ago - and I think it worked perfectly for a Phantom Lady spotlight. Hope you agree.

Enjoy!