Who's Who in the DCU #2

Who's Who

The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #2 

(April 1985)

cover: George Perez

writer/editor: Len Wein

writer/consulting editor: Marv Wolfman

writers: Mike W. Barr, Gary Cohn

researchers: Peter Sanderson, E. Nelson Bridwell

production: Todd Klein

colorists: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Bob LeRose

proofreader: Brenda Pope

design director: Neal Pozner

Featuring: Black Condor and Baron Blitzkrieg

Starting this week I'll present the six main Freedom Fighters' Who's Who pages from 1985-1987 (plus three additional character profiles for three characters who were involved with the Fighters in a specific, meaningful way.) 

The format will be: the entire page or profile (in order to appreciate the art and overall look of the profile) followed by an enlarged version of the HISTORY and POWERS/WEAPONS sections. Then I will add any comments I may have regarding the entry.  

 

Black Condor 

Art by Jerry Ordway

Because Who's Who was appearing concurrently with the Crisis, the earliest entries do NOT represent what eventually occurred in CRISIS #11. Case in point: this entry still places Black Condor squarely on Earth-X. We'll be sure to make a note when that historical description ceases to appear. 

The other interesting thing about this profile's text piece is the way it skirts over his final fate. In case you find it difficult to read it says: (Black Condor) journeyed with his fellow heroes to Earth-One to gight crime, but through a misunderstanding, he found himself wanted by the law. With the problems resolved, he went back to rebuild the war-torn world that had become his home. 

In other words, somehow the situation in the Freedom Fighters book were resolved, and the Fighters returned to Earth-X. Interesting....

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Baron Blitzkrieg 

Art by Rick Hoberg & Romeo Tanghal

I decided to include the Baron in my reviews because 1. according to Roy Thomas, he played a significant role in the Freedom Fighters deciding to stay on Earth-X, and 2. he was already in the same issue of Who's Who as Black Condor, so it wasn't any additional work except for one more scan, LOL!

I have said it again and I will say it again, the Baron's color scheme is the worst uniform I have ever seen. Could we please re-introduce him in something gray, brown, black, and red? I mean, he IS a Nazi. 

The odd thing about this profile is that the Baron's ability to go back and forth between dimensions, and his subsequent battle with the Freedom Fighters, are not mentioned.

Freedom of Information

• Black Condor appears on the front cover. Baron Blitzkrieg appears on the back cover. 
• Jerry Ordway was a regular artist on All-Star Squadron, and the cover artist at the time Black Condor appeared in that series. 
• Rick Hoberg drew the issues of All-Star Squadron where the Freedom Fighters battled Baron Blitzkrieg (issues 31-35). 
• Baron Blitzkrieg was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck. 

The Freedom Fighters

assembled by Len Wein