Freedom Fighters #12 (February 1978)
title: "Bust-Out in the Big House!"
writer: Bob Rozakis
penciller: Dick Ayers
inker: Christian Volt
letterer: Ben Oda
colorist: Bob LeRose
editor: Jack C. Harris
letter column: Jack C. Harris
cover: Rich Buckler & Jack Abel
Order of Appearance: The Ray, Doll Man, the Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, and Uncle Sam all appear on page one; Black Condor appears on page nine
Guest Stars: Firebrand, who makes his Bronze Age debut in this issue
Supporting Characters:
WGNY-TV reporter Martha Roberts, Acting District Attorney Michael Tulane
Opponents:
The murderer of DA David Pearson
Overall Summary:
The Freedom Fighters decide to break Doll Man free from prison before his scheduled execution.
Plot Summary:
At 4:15 pm at State Prison, Doll Man has been fitted with a harness that nullifies his powers so he cannot escape. Reviewing his case, Martha suddenly thinks of something and rushes off to investigate. By 9:30 pm she has found enough evidence to clear Doll Man and accuse someone else.
At the same time, back at the prison, Doll Man walks his "last mile." Reporters try to talk to him, but he stoically remains silent.
Moments later, Martha breaks in, frantic that she was too late to prevent the execution. When she learns that Doll Man is still alive, she eagerly explains that she did some investigative reporting and found that there was a member on Pearson's staff who was a known affiliate of the Silver Ghost, Raphael Van Zandt. 
Doll Man has been found guilty of the murder of DA Pearson, and his execution is scheduled for 11 pm tonight! All appeals have been denied; even a request for mercy from the Justice League has been ignored. It seems like there is no way to prevent the execution.
At 2 pm EST, the Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, and Uncle Sam are still in Texas trying to establish new secret identities for the Freedom Fighters to move there. However, Human Bomb insists they must return to New York in order to free their friend. Uncle Sam wonders if Doll Man might really be guilty, which angers Human Bomb enough to toss Sam out of his chair. The Human Bomb refuses to believe that Doll Man is guilty. He tells them that he is going back to New York either with them or without them. Uncle Sam reluctantly agrees, and the three head back to New York.
At 2:45 pm in upstate New York, the Ray confronts his mysterious benefactor, who admits to being Rod Reilly. He tells the Ray that he is also from Earth-X and was the super-hero Firebrand. Reilly became Firebrand as a bored playboy, then after the war broke-out he became a double agent. Firebrand, traitor, would give Nazis secret plans, only to double-cross them as Rod Reilly, resistance fighter.
He thought that the Freedom Fighters had followed him to this Earth in order to track him down for revenge. The Ray admits knowing of him, but thought that he had died. The Ray has recuperated from his injury, so has decided to go to break Doll Man free. Firebrand agrees to go with him and help him.
However, on the way back to the prison she is run off the road. It is 10:35 pm.
At 10:40 pm reporters doing a live broadcast at the prison talk to acting District Attorney Michael Tulane, who is presiding over the execution.
At 10:58 pm the Freedom Fighters meet up outside the prison walls. With the Human Bomb leading the way, they break into "the big house." The Ray stops the electricity from flowing into Doll Man, saving his life. Firebrand disarms Tulane, and they all escape with Doll Man.
Martha explains that this man was in the position to shoot Pearson and had the motive because Pearson had found out about his crooked dealings. Of course, she is talking about Assistant DA Tulane. She says that he had shot Pearson, then had gladly framed Doll Man for the murder. Live on television, Tulane confesses.
Later, at midnight, the Freedom Fighters meet up with Martha. She is driving them back to the city in her WGNY news van. After she updates them all on what happened at the prison after they had left, she tells them the reason she was run off the road: she was spooked by the Black Condor, who suddenly re-appears!
Review:
This is absolutely the best LOOKING Freedom Fighters issue in the entire run. Instead of Jack Abel's heavy inks we get Alfredo Alcala's beautiful fine lines, and BOY does it make a difference on Dick Ayer's pencils. I'm not sure why Alfredo Alcala filled in on this issue (Jack Abel was back in the next) but I remember the sheer joy I felt when reading this story as a kid. Even now, when I re-open it and remember that THIS is the issue that Alcala did, I think, "Great stuff!"
As for the story, it's pretty great, too. It's a very well plotted adventure. The only real complaint I have about it is that it should have happened a few months ago! For anyone who knows anything about murder mysteries, it seemed PAINFULLY obvious who the real culprit had to be, and the fact that nobody IN the story seemed to consider Tulane as a suspect just makes this frustrating in the extreme. Martha's fantastic investigative reporting should have happened during Darrel's trial, not on the night of his scheduled execution!
Besides the timing of Martha's save (gotta milk all the drama out of the series that you can, I guess) I really liked this issue. I especially loved the inclusion of the clocks on every page. It reminds me now of the MASH season 8 episode "Life Time" that features a ticking clock on screen during the entire episode. Of course, Bob Rozakis did it first, as this issue is from 1978 and that MASH episode first aired on November 26, 1979.
Two more minor complaints. The first one concerns the cover. When the group is breaking INTO the prison by destroying the outer wall, why in the world isn't the Human Bomb front and center? I suppose DC wanted to play up the inclusion of Firebrand, but really? The Human Bomb is the guy!
Also, you may remember just two issues ago this particular scene between the Human Bomb and Uncle Sam:
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This time, out, though, Uncle Sam is ready to reconsider the personality of Doll Man? I *think* Bob Rozakis was probably trying to convey Uncle Sam's overwhelming faith in Democracy, as well as Roy's unswerving faith in his friend, but the way it's presented it just doesn't work.
Lastly (literally) I LOVED the return of Black Condor! Tom, where the hell have you been? I guess we'll find out next issue!
Black Condor Moment
Black Condor makes his dramatic return on the last page!
Doll Man Moment
Doll Man heads solemnly to his scheduled execution
Firebrand Moment
Human Bomb Moment
The Human Bomb won't stand for any disparaging words against his buddy Darrel
Phantom Lady Moment
Phantom Lady helps the team escape from the prison guards
The Ray Moment
The Ray prevents the electric chair from killing Doll Man
Uncle Sam Moment
Uncle Sam comes around to Roy's way of thinking
Best Moment
The Human Bomb tells the press "No comment."
Worst Moment
Uncle Sam considers the possibility that Doll Man is guilty?!?
Moment They Could Have Been Cleared:
There is a throw-away line on the first page about a request for mercy from the Justice League. If DC *really* wanted to clear the Freedom Fighters' names, the JLA would have appeared after the trial and worked to prove Doll Man's innocence. At the same time, you know that detectives like Batman and the Elongated Man would have found the Silver Ghost and cleared this whole misunderstanding up. So a throw-away line meant to prove that the Fighters were part of the mainstream DC Earth-1 universe inadvertently makes it sound like the JLA is a bunch of jerks for letting Doll Man be killed.
Freedom of Information
- Inker Alfredo Alcala uses the pen-name "Christian Volt" for this story.
- Rod Reilly refers to their home as "Earth-X," with no real reason for doing so. Perhaps he saw/read/heard it referenced as such on the news.
- Executions in New York ended on August 15, 1963 with the death of convict Eddie Lee Mays.
- New York reinstated the Constitutionality of executions in 1976, but never actually executed any one.
- New York's maximum security state prison is Sing Sing Correctional Facility located in Ossining, New York, 30 miles north of New York City.
The Freedom Fighters
assembled by Len Wein
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