DC Comics Presents #62

DC Comics Presents #62 (October 1983)
title: "Born On The Fourth of July!"
writers: Bob Rozakis & Dan Mishkin
penciller: Irv Novick
inker: Dave Hunt
letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo
editor: Julius Schwartz
letter column: Bob Rozakis
cover: Gil Kane 

Order of Appearance: Uncle Sam appears first, followed by a group scene on page 5 featuring: (L/R) Doll Man, The Ray, Black Condor, and The Human Bomb. 

Guest Stars:  Superman

Supporting Characters: the President of the United States

Opponents:
Neo-Nazis

Overall Summary: 
Neo-Nazis steal the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and it's up to the Freedom Fighters and Superman to get them back.  

Plot Summary:

"Kid" is on a field trip to the Museum of History to see the travelling Declaration of Independence, but he is more interested in a copy of DC Comics Presents #62. 

Uncle Sam jumps into the sky to get Superman's attention, telling him that someone has stolen the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Superman is on his way to stop the third national disaster of the day, so doesn't think he has time to stop to listen. Superman flies to southern salt caverns to stop them from collapsing, ruining the environment, and wasting the collected oil in and around them. He goes underground and cools molten ore to create a new, natural metal oil tank to store the oil. 

On Earth X, Uncle Sam tells the others that Superman didn't listen to him, so they agree to return to Earth-1 to rescue the stolen documents. Phantom Lady and Firebrand are not present, nor are they mentioned. Back on Earth-1, a group of Neo-Nazis plan to dominate and break the American Spirit, then take over the world. 

In Metropolis, Clark Kent is broadcasting when some type of freak static jams all radio and television broadcasts. Clark takes the opportunity to investigate the dying wheat crop in the Midwest. He takes a sample of the wheat to his Fortress but can find nothing abnormal with it. He gets a summons from the President and flies off to the White House. 

Elsewhere, the Freedom Fighters arrive back on Earth-1 right in the middle of a downtown riot. They are working to control the mob when Superman arrives; they sneak away, allowing him to take care of the mob. Superman, who has learned that a fleet of Russian ships appear to be on their way to Florida, stops just long enough to suck the area's air into his lungs so that the rioters all fall unconscious. 

Uncle Sam leads the way to the secret Nazi headquarters, where the Freedom Fighters break in and fight the goons, while Superman flies over the Russian fleet heading towards Florida. He keeps an eye on them, but is not sure what to do. He finds it difficult to concentrate. 

Uncle Sam finds the Declaration and the Constitution and with a timely assist from the Ray, defeats the Nazi leader. Near Florida, the space shuttle starts to hurtle down towards the Russian ships. Superman stops the space shuttle from colliding with one of the Russian ships, then realizes that the stolen documents are the root cause of all of the national disasters.  

He and Uncle Sam return the documents to the President, and the American Spirit begins to revive. Later, Clark Kent interviews Uncle Sam, who explains what happened and how everyone is now safe.  

Back on Earth-Prime, "Kid" finished reading the comic and realizes the Constitution and Declaration of Independence ARE magical, and he wants to see them for himself. Uncle Sam comes along and approves. 

Review: 

....and with that, the Freedom Fighters' solo Bronze Age appearances are complete. Sort of. Yes, the Freedom Fighters will appear in CRISIS, and yes, the Freedom Fighters will appear in All Star Squadron; however, as I will explain at some other time, those are not what I consider the real, true Freedom Fighters. We'll talk about that in the future, but with this issue the adventures of the Freedom Fighters who we have come to know and love are over.  

When I read that this book was coming out I was ecstatic! I saw the blurb for it below and couldn't wait to read it. 

The blurb for this issue makes it sound terribly exciting, but the actual story....well, it leaves a bit to be desired. It's not bad, per se, but it's not great, either. There is no mention of the Freedom Fighters' last appearances, or why or how The Ray rejoined them and they all went back to Earth-X. In fact, although it IS established that the Fighters ARE back on Earth-X, there's no explanation as to how they seem to be able to traverse between Earths so easily! And of course, there is no mention of either Phantom Lady or Firebrand, so I have no choice but to believe that they have somehow died since their last appearances. 

On the other hand, just seeing these great characters again was a treat. Although it was predominantly an Uncle Sam and Superman adventure, the other characters did get short moments to shine. To be honest I would have preferred less Superman and more Freedom Fighters, but the story DID still satisfy a longing several years old. 

THEN I read the letter column, and I read this fantastic write-up by former Freedom Fighters writer Bob Rozakis. Read it and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face! 

....so THAT is what happened after the Freedom Fighters and the Secret Society of Super-Villains lost their books! It all makes sense, and it made me happy to read. 

Now if this story had really been the end of the Freedom Fighters, I would have been perfectly happy. They were all together and back home on Earth-X. Yes, it was a shame about Firebrand, but, let's face it, he was only a member for about three issues total. And he died saving the rest of the team, so that sounds pretty heroic to me. 

However, we still have quite a few Freedom Fighters appearances to look forward to IN THE PAST.  Confused? Of course, I'm talking about All Star Squadron! When Roy Thomas returned to DC Comics in 1981 he was promised a book about Earth-2 and the Justice Society: he came up with All Star Squadron, and the second issue featured our very own Phantom Lady! She and the other Freedom Fighters were supporting characters for the first three years of the book, up until the beginning of CRISIS, and it is those stories that I will now turn my attention to! 

I will be taking the next two weeks off but join me on January 3 as we return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, just as the Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor and all the heroes in America band together under President Roosevelt's orders as The All Star Squadron... and the Freedom Fighters will never be the same! Join me, won't you? 

Black Condor Moment 

Black Condor flies into a fight to stop some violence, 

then realizes there is a mob at work!    

Doll Man Moment

Doll Man works to stop the brawl in his own unique way!  

Human Bomb Moment

The Human Bomb opens the door to the Neo-Nazi headquarters!  

The Ray Moment

The Ray stops a Neo-Nazi from burning the US Constitution and the Declaration of Indepence....  

Uncle Sam Moment

....then Uncle Sam takes care of the Neo-Nazi himself! 

Best Moment

The Freedom Fighters have a brief moment to remember their 

late, lamented series and the misadventures they had together! 

 Worst Moment

"Stand together as always...." but without Phantom Lady and Firebrand?!?  

Freedom of Information

• The Freedom Fighters are living back on Earth X in this story. 
• The Freedom Fighters appear to be able to cross-over from Earth-X to Earth-1 easily in this story. 
• Phantom Lady and Firebrand are not shown or mentioned in this story. 
• The Human Bomb's suit is shown to be bullet-proof in this story. 
• The Neo-Nazis are shown wearing gray instead of brown. 

The Freedom Fighters

assembled by Len Wein