The L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons) (September 1999 – February 2000)

Tags

Aquaman, Avatar, Batman, Big Barda, Bill Clinton, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Fate, Golden Age Blue Beetle, Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Judomaster, L.A.W. Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, Nightshade, Orion, Peacemaker, Plastic Man, Rama Kushna, Sarge Steel, Steel, Superman, The Flash, The Question, Wonder Woman, Yves Fortè

Writer: Bob Layton
Pencils: Dick Giordano
Inks: Bob Layton
Colors: Tom Ziuko
Letters: John Workman

The L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons) was a six-issue mini series published by DC Comics starting in September 1999 and running to February 2000. The series logo on each of the six covers spotlighted one specific member of The L.A.W., with the first issue featuring Blue Beetle. The following five issue covers featured old Charlton characters the Question, the Peacemaker, Nightshade, Judomaster and Captain Atom. The six covers, when lined up, formed one complete picture. And everybody got a new costume!

So what was the world like in September 1999? Bill Clinton was in the White House with Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street. Rescuers were still searching for survivors of the İzmit earthquake (there were just over 17,000 dead from the 7.6 magnitude quake in Turkey). Greece was hit by an earthquake and multiple aftershocks. If you had a time machine and a hankering to go to the movies, you might catch American Beauty, The Sixth Sense, or The Iron Giant. Of course, you might also see Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, or Wild Wild West, so it’s sort of a crapshoot.

The basic story of L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons): the team was formed in response to the disappearance of the JLA after they were attacked by the Avatar (who used to be Judomaster’s sidekick “Tiger”).

After causing the Justice Leauge  to disappear along with their Watchtower, Avatar then attacks a European Space Agency launch facility. During the attack, Captain Atom shows up to stop him, but he is quickly defeated and captured by the Avatar (way to fail, Cap). The Avatar keeps Captain Atom trapped within a large crystal that contains his powers, which he needs to carry out his plan.

Nate references his wife Plastique, which I love, even if it is something of a continuity headache.

Senior Advisor of Metahuman Affairs, Sarge Steel, is asked by President Clinton to go to the Swiss Alps (where the Peacemaker Project is located). The Peacemaker Project has a wide variety of information; specifically, information regarding the Avatar and the disappearance of the JLA. As Sarge Steel is arriving, the Avatar’s Ravanans are attacking the Peacemaker Project. With the help of the new Peacemaker, Mitchell Black, they are able to defeat Avatar’s henchmen before too much of the base is destroyed.

During the fight at the Peacemaker Project, the Blue Beetle and the Question are investigating a group of Avatar’s followers. They meet up with Judomaster who was going out on his own to correct a wrong that he had committed (although the particular “wrong” is not revealed, we do learn Judomaster was sent away from Nanda Parbat by Rama Kushna). The three heroes are attacked by Avatar’s group of followers and they flee in Blue Beetle’s Bug. While fleeing, they are contacted by Sergeant Steel to come and meet him in the Swiss Alps.

When they arrive at the Peacemaker Project’s base, they discover that Nightshade is also there, recovering from a procedure that Fate had performed to remove a succubus that was inhabiting her body. She has developed new powers as a result of the procedure. She can now easily travel through shadows and use them to form a shadow cyclone as a weapon against the Avatar’s Ravanans. She is able to prevent the Ravanans from capturing French Ambassador Yves Fortè.

During a battle with Avatar and his Ravanans, Peacemaker, Blue Beetle, The Question, and Judomaster are defeated and Judomaster is taken back to Avatar’s base. While they are detained, Judomaster reveals to the group that the Avatar is actually his former sidekick, Tiger.

Nightshade is able to locate the missing JLA and the Watchtower by utilizing her new powers. She is able to free them from the stasis that the Avatar had placed them in and the JLA help her repel the attacking Ravanans. The JLA return to Earth to battle the remaining Ravanans while Peacemaker, Blue Beetle, and The Question travel into outer space to destroy the targeting system that the Avatar has in place to destroy all of the military outlets in the world. Blue Beetle successfully shuts down the system and averts a major catastrophe. Judomaster then meets with the Avatar and, knowing that he is beaten, the Avatar gives up his mission.

The L.A.W. are able to free Captain Atom and all of the members go their separate ways. (When Cap emerges from the crystal, he is wearing his “Kingdome Come” costume.) The Blue Beetle decides that he is going to take some time off from being a super-hero for a while so that he can better understand who he truly is.

The reason for the wikipediaish entry for this series and lumping it all into one entry is simple: this is a Captain Atom blog, not a Charlton Comics blog. Don’t get me wrong, I love the old Charlton books. But Captain Atom hardly figured into this series at all. There is lots of Blue Beetle action though, including a dream sequence that features the Golden Age Dan Garrett Blue Beetle.

Dick Giordano and Bob Layton’s art is superb and Bob’s story is pretty good. If this had turned into an ongoing series, I certainly would have picked it up. I give The L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons an A.

Captain Atom next appears in JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant #1.

(All characters and images belong to DC Comics and I am not making any profit off this blog.)

 

 

 

Convergence: Blue Beetle #1 (June 2015)

Tags

Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Bronze Age Captain Atom, Captain Atom, Chip Kidd, David McCaig, Dick Giordano, Doctor Spectro, George Pérez, Nightshade, Saida Temofonte, Scott Lobdell, The Ghost, The Madmen, The Question, Yishan Li

“Convergence”

• Writer:  Scott Lobdell
• Pencils & Inks:  Yishan Li
• Colors: David McCaig
• Letters: Saida Temofonte
• Cover Artists:  George Perez, Dick Giordano, Chip Kidd

>>>SPOILERS<<< >>>SPOILERS<<< >>>SPOILERS<<< >>>SPOILERS<<< >>>SPOILERS<<< >>>SPOILERS<<<

(You’ve been warned.)

This is what I’ve been waiting for.  The Bronze Age (and “original”) Captain Atom returns in this Convergence tie-in.  Cameos aside, this version of Cap hasn’t seen this much action since Americomics Special: Sentinels of Justice #1 in 1983 (yes, Cap was a prominent character in Multiversity: Pax Americana #1, but he was not sporting the white hair, red tights, and silver arms designed by Steve Ditko in 1967).  And even this Captain Atom isn’t exactly the Bronze Age Cap (but close enough).  While I thoroughly enjoyed his return to the printed page, I’m wondering why this issue was a Blue Beetle and not called something else (Sentinels of Justice, perhaps).  Blue Beetle isn’t really the focus of the book.  There’s as much Captain Atom and the Question in this as there is Blue Beetle.  But that minor complaint does not make me enjoy this issue any less.  I was happy with it from start to finish and am extremely pleased to see Captain Atom in any form.

The issue opens with WHUB News reporter Vic Sage (aka the Question) reporting on a terrorist attack on the already-besieged Hub City.  One of the many cities domed and cut off by Telos, Hub City is at the mercy of the Madmen.  The Madmen – armed to the teeth – are facing off against the National Guard (led by Captain Nathaniel Adam).

Okay, so Irritating Minutia Point #1: This version of Captain Atom’s real name is Allen Atom, not Nathaniel Adam.  But they are essentially the same dude so I’ll let that one slide.

The Madmen open fire so Captain Adam’s men retaliate in kind.  However, they’ve brought some more heavy weapons than the Madmen.

Vic sends his crew to upload the story and approaches Captain Adam in the aftermath of the destruction.  The Madmen appear to have all been killed.  Donning his Question mask, Vic says he’s not pleased with Adam’s handling of the Madmen situation, but that isn’t what he wants to talk about.  He tells Adam that Ted Kord requires his help.  The two part ways, with Adam not very thrilled at the prospect of hanging out with Ted.

Later, in the rooftop lab of Ted Kord at the top of Kord Industries headquarters, Ted’s assistant Tracy questions Ted about his latest “nothing burger” invention and his need to put a door in the roof of the building.  Captain Adam enters (with his side-arm drawn!?!?!?) and Ted accosts him at once about the attack on the Madmen.

Ted reveals his new invention may free Hub City from the dome and wants Nate’s approval to try.  Thinking back on the pile of dead Madmen, Nate says he has no objection.  Ted pulls a lever and the machine fires a pink blast at the dome.  It appears to not even scratch the surface.  Ted collapses, sure he’s failed, but Tracy tells him to take a look at Nate.

Captain Atom has returned to full power.  As the two heroes bicker over whether or not Ted should be allowed to suit up as Blue Beetle, Cap notices a bunch of swirly colors in the sky.  Figuring he knows what this means, Captain Atom flies off to investigate.

Irritating Minutia Point #2:  There is clearly a door in the ceiling of the room they’re in.  Tracy questioned Ted about it earlier and Ted shot a pink ray at the dome through it.  Why did Cap burst through a wall to exit the room?  Is he just being an ass?  I do like that Yishan Li drew the little sparkles around Cap, though.  Haven’t seen those in a while.

Above the streets of Hub City, Cap finds Dr. Spectro blasting the dome with his colorful rays.  Cap automatically (and wrongly, of course) assumes Spectro is behind the dome and demands answers.  The two are interrupted by the bizarre appearance out of thin air of a costumed individual neither of them recognize.

It is Booster Gold, who does not exist in the Hub City Earth (Earth-4 for those of you keeping score).  Cap assumes Booster is in league with Spectro and gives him an atomic blast.  Blue Beetle, now in costume, hurries to the fight and arrives just as Booster fades away.  This scene has played out before.  We saw it from Booster’s perspective in Booster Gold: Futures End #1 in November 2014.

As soon as Booster vanishes, Cap loses his powers.  He drops from the sky and Blue Beetle scrambles to catch him.  Neither of them are concerned about Dr. Spectro, who also loses his powers and drops out of the sky.  The Question appears on the rooftop with them, but neither Blue Beetle or Captain Adam are interested in what he has to say.

Thinking Hub City is falling victim to an earthquake, the three heroes jump off the roof onto Beetle’s Bug (piloted by Tracy).  The building they were on transforms into Telo, who tells them they must fight the heroes of the other captive cities.  The dome drops, resulting in Captain Atom’s powers returning again.

The dome drops and the heroes brace themselves for what comes next (in Convergence: Blue Beetle #2).  To be continued.

We are treated with a brief history of the Charlton characters of Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, and the Question.

Yishan Li is a capable artist, perhaps not my favorite but by no means bad.  I give his art an A.  Scott Lobdell, I feel, did the best he could with what he had (basically this is just setting up the big fight with the Legionnaires next issue) so I give this issue an A for writing as well.

(All characters and images belong to DC Comics and I am not making any profit off these characters or images.)

Captain Atom, Nightshade, and the Question by George Kambadais

Tags

Captain Atom, George Kambadais, Modern Age Captain Atom, Nightshade, The Question

According to his tumblr page, George Kambadais is a freelance comic artist, illustrator, and co-creator of The Double Life Of Miranda Turner.  He has worked with DC comics (The Vampire Diaries), Image, IDW, Arcana Comics, and others.  He also writes fanfiction.  His tumblr is worth a look.

DC Universe: Legacies #5 (November 2010) and #10 (April 2011)

Tags

Allen Passalaqua, Blue Beetle, Brad Anderson, Bronze Age Captain Atom, Captain Atom, Firestorm, Gary Frank, George Pérez, Jesus Saiz, Jon Sibal, Judomaster, Karl Story, L.A.W. Captain Atom, Len Wein, Modern Age Captain Atom, Nightshade, Oracle, Peacemaker, Red Tornado, Rob Leigh, Scott Koblish, The Question, Thunderbolt, Tom Chu

DC Universe: Legacies was a ten-part history of the DC Universe that spanned five generations, starting with the dawn of the Mystery Men to the modern era.  With the rebooting of the DC Universe and the advent of the New 52, it has become moot.  The Bronze Age Captain Atom and his old pals from the Sentinels of Justice (along with Judomaster, Thunderbolt, and Peacemaker) make an appearance in issue 5.  This panel was penciled by George Pérez, inked by Scott Koblish, and colored by Allen Passalaqua with text lettered by Rob Leigh.

DCU: Legacies #5

In DC Universe: Legacies #10, the Modern Age Captain Atom is seen at Sue Dibny’s funeral (his pals Red Tornado, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm are there along with many others).  This page was penciled by Jesus Saiz with inks by Karl Story and colors by Tom Chu.

DCU: Legacies #10

Later in this issue is a back-up story entitled “Snapshot: Redemption!”  Written by Len Wein with pencils by Gary Frank, inks by Jon Sibal, colors by Brad Anderson, and letters by Rob Leigh, this story is labeled “From the super-secret blog of Ted Kord, a.k.a. the Blue Beetle.”  In the telling of the history of the Blue Beetle, the rarely-seen L.A.W. Captain Atom pops up, along with Oracle, Judomaster, and Peacemaker.

DCU: Legacies #10

Americomics Special #1: Sentinels of Justice (August 1983)

Tags

Bill Fugate, Blue Beetle, Bronze Age Captain Atom, Captain Atom, Captain Fisher, Dan St. John, Fiery Icer, Greg Guler, Iron Arms, Matt Feazell, Nightshade, Sentinels of Justice, The Banshee, The Madmen, The Manipulator, The Question, Vic Sage

“Sentinels of Justice”

• Writers:  Dan St. John and Greg Guler
• Pencils:  Greg Guler and Matt Feazell
• Inks:  Greg Guler and Matt Feazell
• Colors:  Bill Fugate
• Letters:  Greg Guler

After a year’s absence, Captain Atom returns and he brings Charlton’s heavy hitters with him.  AC Comics editor and head writer Bill Black had been making plans for a superhero team to be named the Sentinels of Justice when he was contacted by Charlton Comics with a request that AC provide material for the Charlton Bullseye comic book. The team concept was quickly revised, with a roster of Charlton characters. Charlton Bullseye was cancelled before the story could be published, but AC was granted a limited license to publish the material already prepared for Charlton.  That is how this special issue came to be.  Although not a Charlton book, it was authorized by Charlton and therefore was the last time they had anything to do with the publication of these characters.

This story opens with a news broadcast by Vic Sage (aka The Question).  He is reporting live from Ebcom International where the “latest in the recent series of related crimes has been committed.”  Millions of dollars worth of equipment has been stolen.  The thieves had been identified as Iron Arms, the Fiery Icer, and the Madmen.  Iron Arms and the Fiery Icer are, of course, super-villains that Captain Atom has faced (in Captain Atom #84 and Captain Atom #87, respectively).  The Madmen were a terrorist group the first plagued Blue Beetle in Blue Beetle #4 (Charlton Comics).

Captain Atom versus Iron Arms in Captain Atom #84

The Fiery Icer (and his henchmen) versus Captain Atom in Captain Atom #87

Blue Beetle versus the Madmen from Blue Beetle #4

(So they’re dusting off all the “greats” for this one. Ugh.)

Vic Sage asks, “When will the men running this city realize they are out of their league trying to stop these super-criminals?”  He calls on them to “stop hamstringing those who can help now!!”

From their secret lair, the Fiery Icer, Iron Arms, and the Madmen are also watching the broadcast.  They turn it off and bring up an image of a masked man on their viewscreen, addressing him as Manipulator.  He tells them that the next day will see their “greatest and most daring attack.”  He will lead them when they attack the Whittier Hall exhibit.  After he signs off, the Fiery Icer refers to the Manipulator as a nut case (glass houses, Fiery Icer).

At Cross Industries (another secret lair of the Manipulator), the masked villain is addressing what looks to be a board of directors in a conference room.  He tells them it is time for Jonathan Barrington Collingsworth, Jr. to “burn his mark upon the history of mankind.”  He plans to steal the Rockwell Solar Battery at Whittier Hall to gain “control.”  Control of what he doesn’t specify.  The world?  There is a shrouded figure in green standing behind him in the shadows as he speaks.  The Manipulator is obviously unhinged.  He screams at his people about complete raw power and strips off his mask.  One of his men refers to him as “J.B.,” so he must be Jonathan Barrington Collingsworth, Jr.  The man, Hartford, seems concerned about the potential loss of innocent lives.  J.B. tells Hartford he should be more concerned about his own hide.  The man in the shadows steps forward and puts a hand on Hartford’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, in the lab of Ted Kord, his blonde assistant (girlfriend? wife?) Tracy enters with the daily paper.  She informs him that Dr. Rockwell is exhibiting “that new solar cell you were interested in.”  As Ted reads the article, his special phone rings, meaning that Captain Fisher is calling him.  After a brief conversation, Ted instructs Tracy to activate the “Sentinel Beacon.”  He removes his lab coat to reveal his Blue Beetle costume underneath.  He boards the Bug and we are treated with that iconic image of it rising out of the river, sadly only witnessed by a drunk on the docks.

As he flies to the police station, he thinks to himself how well the Sentinels of Justice work together, “even with Captain Atom in charge.”  What the hell is that supposed to mean?  Does Blue Beetle have a problem with Captain Atom?  Old Ted Kord needs to lighten up.  He seems a bit full of himself (something Tracy remarked upon back at the lab).  He seems, ironically, a lot like Booster Gold.

Beetle arrives at Captain Fisher’s office to find Captain Atom and Fisher talking to the mayor.  The mayor doesn’t want Hub City to be turned into a super-hero battleground.  Nightshade enters the room (she’s dropped her old mini-skirt costume from the 60s in favor of a form-fitting catsuit deal).  She says to Fisher that the Sentinels are at his disposal, which prompts Fisher to remind the mayor that the Sentinels have authorization from the Governor.  With a mysterious mist surrounding him, the Question checks in and Fisher asks the sixth man in the room to tell them about his solar battery.

Dr. Rockwell addresses them from a mounted display of blueprints.  He has created false plans for a solar battery to be used as bait to draw out would-be thieves.

The next day, at Whittier Hall, Dr. Rockwell is unveiling his “important discovery.”  In the crowd (undercover) are Nightshade and Captain Atom.

Blue Beetle is watching the Whittier building from the rooftops while the Question lurks in an alley.  The Question spots the approaching hovercar first, and when it pulls up in front of the hall, “pandemonium roars forth” in the form of the Madmen, Iron Arms, and the Fiery Icer.

The group breaks into to building, followed closely by the Manipulator.  He orders the Fiery Icer to secure the solar battery and scare the hell out of the audience.

Captain Atom goes after Iron Arms, sending Nightshade to face the Fiery Icer.  This I have a problem with.  Iron Arms was defeated easily by Cap back in Captain Atom #84.  The Fiery Icer is the super-villain who gave Cap the most trouble.  So he sends his girlfriend after the hard one while he takes the easy one?  Bad form, Cap.

Captain Atom informs the Manipulator he is under arrest, then punches Iron Arms in the face, throwing the villain backward.  He leaps at Cap, who discovers Iron Arms has upgraded his equipment and is much stronger.  Just as the Manipulator is ordering Captain Atom’s death, Blue Beetle swings in through a window.  He takes on the Madmen, kicking their asses in his acrobatic style.

More Madmen show up (probably arriving via a second hovercar), as does the question.  He helps Beetle hand the Madmen their butts.  Meanwhile, Nightshade sneaks up on the Fiery Icer in her shadow form.  She demands he hands over the stolen plans for the solar battery.  When he refuses, Nightshade kicks the Fiery Icer in the chest.  He shoots her with ice, which she dodges.  She then flings an ebony bomb at the Fiery Icer, who finds himself “consumed in utter total blackness… and absolute terror!”

Captain Atom finds his hands full with Iron Arms after all, who is THOKing the heck out of Our Hero.  Just when Cap gets his second wind, the Manipulator shoots him from his floating chair.  He’s surprised the blast didn’t kill Cap.  Atom regains his composure and throws an atomic fireball at the Manipulator.  The Manipulator emerges from the wreckage of his chair, offering “ten million in gold” to whomever kills Captain Atom.  This peaks Iron Arms’ interest greatly.

The Question and Blue Beetle are just finishing off the last of the Madmen when the Manipulator calls forth his secret ally (the man in green from earlier).  He crashes in through a window, being referred to as “the Banshee” by the Manipulator (the Banshee was an old nemesis of the Question).  Beetle leaps into action but the Banshee blasts him with a stun bolt shot from his arm.  Blue Beetle is dropped to his knees and the Banshee scoops up the Manipulator and flies away with him.  Beetle calls to Cap, who is punched through the wall by Iron Arms while distracted.

Iron Arms stands over Captain Atom’s prone body.  He readies to deliver his killing blow when Nightshade smacks him in the back with the solar battery.  His power pack short circuits, causing his arms to freeze.  Unable to support the weight of his arms without the power pack, Iron Arms topples over headfirst onto the floor.  Nightshade checks on Cap (calling him “John”), who awakens and says he’s okay.  He flies after the Manipulator, leaving the others to deal with the Fiery Icer (again, delegating his most dangerous foe to others).

Blue Beetle and the Question approach the Fiery Icer, who is holding Dr. Rockwell up by his neck.  He tells them to get back or he’ll burn Rockwell to a crisp (he reveals in his inner monologue that he has no desire to kill anyone and is simply bluffing).  In a swift movement, the Fiery Icer throws Rockwell at Beetle and the Question and melts a hole in the wall through which he escapes.  Captain Fisher’s men show up to help control the room and arrest those that were subdued.

However, Captain Atom returns to the scene, having lost the Manipulator and the Banshee.  A Madman, on his way to jail, utters the phrase “gag me with a spoon,” just to remind us that it is 1983.

The team knows that when the Manipulator discovers that his solar battery plans are fakes, he’ll come back for them.  Cap vows that when that day comes, the Sentinels of Justice will be ready for them.

In the epilogue, yet another shrouded figure is watching a recorded tape of the Manipulator ranting.  The Manipulator says he knew the plans were fake all along because their is a traitor in the midst of the Sentinels of Justice.  He says he attacked them and sacrificed Iron Arms and the Madmen to test the Sentinels.  The shrouded figure erases the tape, calling the Manipulator a fool (saying to himself that he had been manipulating the Manipulator from the start).  He vows to destroy the Sentinels.

There is a note from the editor at the end of this story.

Basically, it says there will be no followup to this story as the characters were purchased by DC Comics.

This was a fun book.  I liked the team.  It is almost the Crimebusters from The Watchmen.  All that is missing is Thunderbolt and the Peacemaker.  This was a good first issue for a super team, and it is a bit sad that it was not possible for this to go anywhere.  Dan, Greg, and Matt did an awesome job.  There were also some great pinups in the back of the book.  This issue was definitely a B+.

This “universe” was absorbed into DC Comics’ Multiverse when the Charlton characters were purchased by DC.  This universe became Earth-4.