| The Liberator | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Nedor Comics America's Best Comics (DC) |
| First appearance | Exciting Comics #15 (December 1941) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Dr. Nelson Drew |
| Team affiliations | SMASH |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength and speed |
The Liberator is a superhero from the Golden Age of Comics. His first appearance was in Exciting Comics #15 (December 1941), published by Nedor Comics. [1] The character was later revived by writer Alan Moore for America's Best Comics.
The Liberator is the secret identity of Dr. Nelson Drew, a chemistry teacher at fictional Claflin University (as in, not to be confused with the historically black college affiliated with South Carolina State University). He discovers an ancient Egyptian formula called Lamesis that gives him superhuman strength and speed. [2] Drew uses his powers as the Liberator to fight Nazi saboteurs during World War II. [3] The formula sometimes wears off, turning the Liberator back into Dr. Drew at inopportune moments. [4]
The Liberator debuted in Exciting Comics #15, and appeared regularly in that title and America's Best Comics (not to be confused with the later DC Comics imprint). His last Golden Age appearance was in Exciting Comics #35 (October 1944). [1]
Alan Moore revived the Liberator, along with many other Nedor Comics characters, for his Tom Strong series. In Tom Strong #12 (June 2001), the Liberator was revealed to have been one of the members of SMASH that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the Moon in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, the Liberator joined his former comrades in the fight against the alien. SMASH disbanded shortly thereafter, but reformed three years later. The Liberator is a member of the reformed group.
Currently, The Liberator is one of dozens of Golden Age superhero characters appearing in Dynamite Entertainment's Project Superpowers line of comics. [5] The basic premise is that The Fighting Yank spent years imprisoning all of his fellow heroes in the mystical Urn of Pandora, mistakenly thinking that it would bring about the end of all evil; The Liberator was one of those heroes. Decades later, the Urn was broken and the heroes freed. As seen in the Black Terror miniseries, [6] The Liberator is now one of several patriotic-themed heroes who protect the U.S. president and America's interests, even if this pits them against their fellow heroes.
Terra Obscura is a 2003 comic book miniseries spin-off from Alan Moore's Tom Strong series. The stories are written by Peter Hogan, and drawn by Yanick Paquette and Karl Story with additional flashback sequences drawn by Eric Theriault. Each story is co-plotted by Alan Moore and Peter Hogan. It was published under Moore's America's Best Comics imprint through Wildstorm Comics, which is owned by DC Comics.
The American Crusader is a superhero who originally appeared in Thrilling Comics #19. He appeared in almost every issue until #41.
The Black Terror is a fictional comic book superhero who originally appeared in Exciting Comics #9, published by Nedor Comics in January 1941. The character was popular, and on the strength of the Black Terror's sales, Nedor made Exciting Comics a monthly magazine starting with issue #11.
Doc Strange is a Golden Age comic book superhero who originally appeared in Thrilling Comics #1 in February 1940. The character continued in Thrilling Comics until issue #64. He also appeared in America's Best Comics #1-23 and 27.
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The Society of Modern American Science Heroes, or SMASH, is a team of superheroes whose adventures are published by America's Best Comics and take place on the parallel world of Terra Obscura.
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Project Superpowers is a comic book limited series published by Dynamite Entertainment beginning January 2008. It was co-plotted by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, with scripts by Jim Krueger, covers by Alex Ross, and interior art by Doug Klauba and Stephen Sadowski for issue #0, and Carlos Paul for the remainder of the series. Ross is also art director, which includes sketched pages, color guides, and redesigns of most of the characters. There was a new series in 2018 with Rob Williams as the writers and Sergio Davila as the artist. A new series called Project Superpowers: Fractured States will debut in April with writers Ron Marz, Andy Lanning and artist Emilio Utrera. Another series called Scarlett Sisters with Women in Red, Lady Satan and Miss Masque is scheduled for September 2022.
The Owl is a fictional superhero that first appeared in Dell Comics' Crackajack Funnies #25, continuing until #43.
Captain Future is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Startling Comics #1 from Nedor Comics.
