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John Joshua UNITED KINGDOM
Member Since May 2015
447 Artworks | Watched by 5

All-Star Squadron #152, homage to Avengers issue #63

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Initial pencils (digital)

Avengers 63 - source
Artwork Details
Location: All-Star Squadron 'continuation project' commissions
Title: All-Star Squadron #152, homage to Avengers issue #63*
Artist:  Stephen Baskerville (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Commission
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 663
Likes on CAF: 2
Comments: 1
Added to Site: 6/14/2023

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Description
Latest "Continuation Project" commission - All-Star Squadron #152, drawn by regular contributor Stephen Baskerville, and based as always on the cover of a comic written, plotted or scripted by Roy Thomas, in this case the Gene Colan / George Klein cover to Avengers #63.

Title: "A House Divided Cannot Stand!"

Story: In the aftermath of events in issue #150 (currently out with an artist, and I don't want to spoil anything), the members of the JSA meet at their brownstone mansion - but before Hawkman can start on the agenda, the Spectre makes an announcement. For months now (since Annual #4), following his battle with the chaos-beast to save reality, his powers have been depleted - but he can now feel them returning to their full strength! Once they have, he intends to fly to Berlin, and then on to Rome and Tokyo, kill the leaders of the Axis nations, and end the war for good!

The other JSA members are temporarily speechless, but Hawkman reminds the Spectre that all heroes who could be affected by the Spear of Destiny or the Grailstone (either because of their magical abilities, or because they have a particular vulnerability to magic) are expressly forbidden by Presidential order from traveling into areas where they might fall under the spell of those artifacts, and find themselves fighting on the side of the Axis. He therefore forbids the Spectre from making good on his vow.

The Spectre, however, refuses Hawkman's order - he is the embodiment of God's wrath, and while he fights alongside the JSA, no mere mortal can command him. The JSA must stand aside, or stop him by force!

Although they recognise that they are at a huge disadvantage given the power of the Spectre, the Justice Society stand with their chairman - and the Spectre strikes first, back-handing Johnny Thunder and sending him to crash into a wall, knocking him unconscious before he can summon his Thunderbolt!

The other JSA members enter the fight - Dr Mid-Nite's blackout bomb is dispersed with a wave of the Spectre's hand, Starman's gravity rod temporarily pins the Ghostly Guardian back until his power proves too great, and Wonder Woman attempts to bind the Spirit Of Vengeance with her magic lasso, only for it to have no effect on a spirit!

Without his magical powers since he relinquished the Helmet Of Nabu, Doctor Fate's attack achieves is as futile as Sandman's gas-gun or Hawkman's mace - but the Atom has rushed to Johnny Thunder's side, and throws a glass of water from the table in his team-mate's face, shocking him back into consciousness. As Johnny gets to his feet, the Atom is caught by the flying form of the Sandman - but before the Spectre can assault him again, he summons his magical aide:

"Say, you can't fight them Nazis - stop him, Thunderbolt!"

The Thunderbolt pops into existence, and immediately grapples with the Spectre, and the two team-mates trade mystical blows and spells --- until the Thunderbolt wraps himself around the Spectre, pinning him and then sinking *into* the undead flesh of the Ghostly Guardian, temporarily merging with him!

As the Spectre calms, the Thunderbolt de-merges from him, and the JSA stand together to see what their team-mate's next move will be - and the Spectre screams! The sudden rush of his power returning had overwhelmed him - he had no intention of attacking the JSA, and now realises that he cannot carry out his plans to travel into occupied Europe or Imperial Japan - but his actions have shamed him, and he must leave the JSA to consider his actions.

With that, the Spectre departs, passing through the walls of the brownstone and flying into the sky, leaving his team-mates stunned, and wondering what will happen next.

Find out - next issue!

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Member Since: May 2015
Last Login: July 2026
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
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Marcus Wai Member Since 2005
Posted On 6/14/2023

Works great thematically.  It's bascially a second logo at the bottom and the large Spectre image dominates to break out of being confined on all sides.