ALL-WINNERS SQUAD ISSUE NUMBER ONE
"A New Age Dawning"
By Barry Reese
September 15, 1945 - William Nausland looked at himself in the mirror,
tugging at his Captain America uniform and frowning slightly. He'd been
the replacement Cap for almost five months now, battling the Axis horde
in both Europe and the Pacific alongside his partner, Fred Davis, but
sometimes he still felt like a fraud. "Maybe now that the war's over,
it's time for me to bring back out the old Spirit of '76 costume,
Fred..."
Behind him, Fred Davis, dressed as the second Bucky, shook his head. "No
way, Will. It's just like President Truman said in his telegram a few
weeks ago - America needs heroes now more than ever. And the All-Winners
Squad needs us...we certainly held our own against those henchmen of
Isbisa last week didn't we?" {note : see All-Winners # 19, 1946 or
Fantasy Masterpeices # 10, 1967 for a reprint of this story}
Cap smiled at the youth's earnest expression in the mirror and he
nodded. "You're right, Fred. The President himself asked me to take over
Steve Rogers' role and I'm not about to turn my back on a Presidential
order!" He turned to face the smiling youth and accepted his steel
shield from the boy. It was an inferior copy of the real Cap's shield,
but like himself it got the job done regardless. He tousled Fred's hair.
"Come on, let's head to the meeting room and see what's on the agenda."
Bucky nodded at him, glad to see that his mentor's mood had improved.
Sometimes Will pressed too hard, tried too much to live up to Steve
Rogers' legacy. But as far as Fred was concerned, William Nausland had
earned the name Captain America.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ten minutes later, the All-Winners Squad sat assembled in their
Manhatten headquarters, the former abode of the Liberty Legion. Prince
Namor of Atlantis, known as the Sub-Mariner, stood regally next to the
meeting table, his briny scent filling the room as his imperious eyes
swept over his teammates. Bob Frank, the speedster known as the Whizzer,
was sitting down, talking playfully with Madeline Joyce, the powerful
Miss America. Namor could see the mutual attraction between the two and
had seen it develop slowly over the years. He wished them well, though
surface dwellers sometimes seemed far too reserved with their emotions
for his taste.
It had barely been two weeks since President Truman's telegram had
arrived at the headquarters of the wartime supergroup the Liberators,
asking that a small group of heroes remain banded together to fight
homefront criminals and sabateours. These seven had been all that been
capable of making the commitment, but they were seven of the very
best...
The android Human Torch, who had adopted the name Jim Hammond, sat
quietly, while his young apprentice, the mutant Toro, chatted away with
Bucky. Namor wondered what sorts of things ran through the android's
mind sometimes - but he had long since learned to grudgingly respect the
fiery hero as both a friend and a teammate.
It was finally Captain America who brought the meeting to order. "So,
why did you call this meeting, Madeline? Fred and I are due to be at a
charity benefit tomorrow afternoon and it's in Philadelphia..."
Miss America stood up, casting a glance at the Whizzer as she did so.
"Well, actually Bob first brought this case to my attention, so I really
think he should be the one to explain it. But I wanted to let you know
that President Truman was very impressed with our first post-war mission
last week. What's more, he's reiterated his hope that we'll remain
together, at least until the situation is stabilized worldwide."
The Torch looked up, raising an eyebrow. "That could be well into the
sixties the way the Russians are acting...if we don't watch out, Europe
could be just as much trouble as before."
The Whizzer cleared his throat. "Well, until the President asks us to
put the scare into Stalin, there's not much we can do about that. But I
do have something we can take care of...as most of you know, I do my
nightly patrols around the city almost every night. Last night, Madeline
happened to be with me..." Beside him, Madeline shifted, noticably
embarrassed, but her teammates pretended not to notice, except for Toro
and Bucky, both of whom made kissy faces at each other before the Torch
withered them with a stare. The Whizzer continued, "We noticed a
security alarm sounding downtown. I left Madeline behind and zoomed over
at top speed. What I found nearly blew my socks off..."
* * * * * * * * * *
The scene changes to the Whizzer investigating the alarm, and finding a
large, rubbery-looking man wearing a bucket for a helmet and a red
costume. He's exiting a building labeled "Pegasus Science Labs". A cold,
mindless smile is etched onto the man's face and he is shrugging off a
security guard's bullets and carrying a large mechanical device. The
Whizzer tries to speak with the being, but he is struck at great speed
by the costumed being's blow, sending him hurtling backwards. He
recognizes the being as Flexo the Rubber Man, a wartime member of the
Liberators and someone with whom he has worked on several occasions. He
is defeated by Flexo, who never speaks, and who flies away rapidly, just
as Madeline is arriving. The two lost track of the former hero and were
forced to return to their headquarters, where they contacted the other
members of the team.
* * * * * * * * * *
Toro shakes his head, wondering what made the hero turn to crime.
Whizzer says that's what he wants to find out too. He contacted a friend
in the police force who told him that someone matching Flexo's
description was seen landing in New Jersey. They have put out an APB on
him.
Cap places a hand on Buckyís shoulder and nods, ìIt's simple then -- we
should go after Flexo in New Jersey and talk to him directly.î
ìMaybe not, Cap -- less than hour ago, another Flexo - this one blue --
attacked a research station in Boston. What's more, Flexo's creators
were a pair of brothers -- Joshua and Joel Williams, both of whom all of
you shoulder remember from our days in the Liberators. Joshua is living
in New Jersey but Joel lives in upstate New York -- if Flexo's gone bad,
they might know why.î
Toro frowns, ìNone of us ever trusted Josh Williams anyway - the card
was a card shark and a gambler...he always seemed like someone who had
something to hide.î
The Torch looked at him and sighed. ìToroís right, Bob. Iím willing to
bet that Josh is the one with the answers. Toro and I will check him out
- maybe he needs a little hotfoot to make him spill the beans.î
ìBut what about the device that was stolen - what was it exactly?î
Captain Americaís strong voice resounded in the meeting room.
Whizzer continued, ì The device that Flexo stole is an experimental
laser device, based in part on the "death ray" theories of Nikolai
Tesla. I believe that Steve Rogers and the first Bucky had a run-in with
some nazis who were out to create their own version a few years back.
But this version was created right here in the good old U.S. of A.î
Madeline looked up. ìIf no one has any objections, weíll split up to
investigate the leads. Bob and I will head to upstate New York to meet
with Joel Williams. Cap, you and Bucky can head to Boston to track down
the blue Flexo. Namor might have better luck with the red Flexo than Bob
and I did - he was last seen entering New Jersey. The Torch has already
volunteered himself and Toro to go after Josh Williams. Good luck to all
of you - remember to report in if you find out anything...î
* * * * * * * * * *
The Whizzer and Miss America arrive at the suburban home of Joel
Williams as she tells Bob that she hopes this new group works out. The
Liberators were a swell bunch of guys and gals but this group feels more
intimate somehow. Bob laughs, "Yeah, intimate is how I'm feeling right
now..." and Madeline rolls her eyes at him as they slow to a halt, Miss
America in the Whizzer's arms.
After knocking on the door, a worried Joel Williams opens it and a look
of fear crosses his face when he sees who it is. "It's about Josh isn't
it..." he mutters.
Bob exchanged a glance with Madeline. "Well, maybe it is...can we come
in? There's something you should --"
A terrible whistling sound filled the air and all three people turned to
see not one but two Flexos -- one green and one black -- hurtling
through the air. They land with a thump, their rubbery bodies springing
them back up and at the heroes. Joel Williams backs into the house as
his wife enters the living room. He mutters, "Damnit, Josh, how could
you...?"
Madeline glances back at Joel, aware that he's not behind these renegade
Flexos. "Get inside -- do you still have one of those remotes that you
and your brother used to use to control Flexo?"
Joel shakes his head. "No, Josh has the last one..."
"Looks like we have to do this the hard way, Maddy..." The Whizzer zooms
forwards, rocketing into the green Flexo. The rubber-bodied robots are
almost impervious to harm however and Miss America is rocked by the
black Flexo's new elongation powers. Obviously, she thinks, someone's
made some improvements. After a hard-fought battle, both heroes lie
defeated and the Flexos make off with a downhearted Joel Williams.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Elsewhere, a shadowy figure stares at Josh Williams, the two of them in
a secret location in New Jersey, as dozens of Flexos move about the
cavernous headquarters. Josh Williams looks much older than he did back
when Flexo was a member of the Liberators and his eyes are bloodshot and
nervous. "You didn't have to do that...I could have gotten Joel to help
us without sending those Flexos after him..."
The shadowy villain laughed coldly, "Mein gott, all you Americans are so
spineless! You forget that we are not allies here -- you work for me. If
you cannot refine these automatons to do what I require then perhaps
your brother can!"
Joel swallowed hard. How had he come to this point, with his life
hanging by a thread, working for this monster, perverting his life's
work to pay off his gambling debts and his bookies...and now he'd
brought his brother into this. "I promise you, with the laser device
that Flexo Prime took from that research center and the components Flexo
Blue retrieved this morning, I'll have exactly what you want. No one
will be able to stop you..."
The villain paused, considering. Then he begins pacing, moving closer to
the light. "You had best hope so, herr williams. The Allies think me
dead, but I still have one chance to avenge the Third Reich, to strike
at America when it thinks itself most secure." He moves directly into
the light and we see the familiar red-masked visage as he shakes his
fist. "And if the All-Winners Squad dares stand in the way of Baron
Helmut Zemo, then they and all America shall fall!"
NEXT ISSUE : Zemo's plan continues to unfold while the All-Winners Squad
combats an ever-growing army of Flexos. Plus, guest-appearances by Jeff
(the Patriot) Mace and the Golden Age Vision! All this and more as the
Mighty Marvel Golden Age Renaissance kicks into high gear!
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALL-WINNING LETTERS
Welcome to the first issue of the All-Winners Squad. For those of you
who are new to this team, they first appeared in All-Winners # 19 in
1946. Two issues later they resurfaced for another adventure and then
fell into obscurity until the Whizzer and other Golden Age characters
were revived by Roy Thomas in the 1970s. For an excellent overview of
the group, see What If? vol. 1 # 4...
I'd appreciate any comments or questions you might have about the story
and the direction of the book. In coming issues, you'll see a lot of
attention paid to the private lives of these characters, especially
William Nausland, Bob Frank, and Madeline Joyce. For those of you who
already know their fates, I hope you'll enjoy the ride regardless, but
for those of you who are new...buckle your seatbelts! Besides Zemo in
this opening storyline, you'll see appearances by the U-Man and other
classic villains as well as all-new adversaries for our little grouping.
Please take the time to read our sister title, The Liberators, written
by Jess Nevins. It features the wartime exploits of all of
Timely/Marvel's heroes and features some of our very own Squadders in
action. Check it out.
See you next issue and send in your letters and comments!
Barry Reese
(
geocities.com/tapestrybranch)