Firebrand (DC Comics)
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| Firebrand | |
 Firebrand (Andre Twist) The Battle For Blüdhaven #2 (January 2006). Art by Dan Jurgens and Jimmy Palmiotti. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Quality Comics DC Comics |
| First appearance | Police Comics #1 (August 1941) |
| Created by | (Rod) S.M. Iger Reed Crandall (Danette) Roy Thomas Danette Thomas Jerry Ordway Rich Buckler (Sanchez) Brian Augustyn Sal Velluto (Twist) Justin Gray Jimmy Palmiotti Dan Jurgens |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Rod Reilly Danette Reilly Alejandro "Alex" Sanchez Andre Twist |
| Team affiliations | (Rod, Twist) Freedom Fighters (Danette) All-Star Squadron |
| Abilities | (Rod) Skilled hand-to-hand combatant (Danette) Ability to create fire and plasma blasts (Sanchez) Enhanced strength and endurance, due to surgical implants and advanced armor (Twist) Control over fire |
- For the Marvel Comics character, see Firebrand (Marvel Comics).
Firebrand is a name that has been used by four heroes by DC Comics.
Contents |
[edit] Rod Reilly
Cover to Police Comics #2 (September 1941)
Published by Quality Comics from August, 1941 to November, 1942, Rod Reilly was the bored and wealthy socialite son of a steel tycoon, who decided to fight crime with his servant and friend, "Slugger" Dunn. Originally drawn by Reed Crandall, Firebrand appeared in Police Comics, issues #1 through 13, at which time his series was canceled. Firebrand's costume consisted of a transparent shirt and red pants, with a bandana mask covering the top half of his face.
After DC purchased Quality Comics, Firebrand was largely left on the sidelines until 1981, when DC collected most of their '40s characters into the All-Star Squadron. At this time, Rod was injured and replaced by his sister, Danette Reilly. He later recovered and joined the Freedom Fighters, dying in a fight with the Silver Ghost.
In All-Star Squadron No. 5 (Vol. 2, 1981), Rod's sister Danette discovers that Rod is Firebrand while staying at his penthouse. Musing about Rod's relationship with his bodyguard, Slugger Dunn, she wonders "though what a confirmed bachelor playboy like my brother needed with a bodyguard, I never understood", and then finds a hidden closet that leads her to think that "from the look of these clothes, I didn't know my brother quite as well as I thought I did!"
Rod appears briefly in Crisis on Infinite Earths, issues #7 and 9.
[edit] Danette Reilly
From the cover to All-Star Squadron #5 (January 1982)
Vulcanologist Danette Reilly is the sister of Rod Reilly, the first Firebrand. First introduced in a special "All-Star Squadron" preview in Justice League of America #193 (August 1981), Danette was studying volcanos north of Hawaii in the 1940s when she was kidnapped by Per Degaton and Wotan. During her escape, she was struck by a bolt of lightning and fell into a pit of mystical lava. The combination of the lightning and magic lava not only allowed her to survive, but to develop the power to control heat and project plasma blasts (first seen in All-Star Squadron #5 (January 1982)). Her powers surfaced after she discovered her brother's Rod costume and put in on. As Rod had been injured during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Danette decided to become the new Firebrand.
Danette appears in Crisis on Infinite Earths, wherein she was briefly rejoined by her former lover, the reluctant supervillain Cyclotron. Cyclotron, although deceased, phased into her time to assist her. Danette assumed partial custody of his daughter Terri, along with fellow hero the Atom. This makes her technically the grandmother of Atom Smasher. Her later adventures during World War II have thus far been unchronicled.
After World War II ended, Danette assisted the Shining Knight (Sir Justin) on his quest to find the Holy Grail. They faced the Dragon King and Danette was apparently killed.
Her name is a homage to creator Roy Thomas' wife, Danette "Dann" Thomas.[1]
The Quality Comics heroine Wildfire was originally intended to play a major role in the All-Star Squadron but DC objected on the basis of her name, which she shared with the Legion of Super-Heroes member. Instead, Danette Reily was introduced into the series.[2]
[edit] Alex Sanchez
In February 1996, DC introduced a third Firebrand, former police detective Alejandro 'Alex' Sanchez. After nearly dying in an explosion that destroyed his apartment, Sanchez underwent experimental surgery to restore his mobility. The surgery was paid for by local philanthropist Noah Hightower, who later approached Sanchez with a special opportunity. Hightower offered Sanchez a suit of advanced armor which, when combined with the implants, would give Sanchez enhanced strength and speed for a period up to four hours. After Sanchez's partner was attacked during an investigation, he agreed to become the superhero Firebrand. In addition to enhanced strength, Sanchez's armor emits a greenish flame, giving him a demonic appearance.
Sanchez's tenure as Firebrand lasted only nine issues of his self-titled comic. He reappeared in JSA: Secret Files #2, where he is stabbed in the throat and apparently dies in Roulette's underground gaming arena, the House, at the hands of a drugged Checkmate knight.
[edit] Andre Twist
The latest Firebrand, Andre Twist, was introduced in The Battle for Blüdhaven. Gaining control over fire after his exposure to Chemo being dropped on the city, he is a left leaning activist who is diplomatic enough with unsympathetic people until he feels he must take a stand. He also appears in the limited series, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, as a member of the new Freedom Fighters. Andre carries a bo staff, and has some measure of athletic and martial arts ability. In The Battle for Blüdhaven #5, Andre hears a voice in his head, asking him to come to the Mississippi River and fight for liberty, claiming that Andre is pure of heart and will be his Firebrand. The voice is that of Uncle Sam.
After joining forces with Uncle Sam, Andre is captured and tortured by Father Time after attacking a senator/presidential candidate. He is freed from captivity by Phantom Lady, and joins the rest of the Freedom Fighters to recruit the new Black Condor.[3]
His story is still ongoing.
[edit] References
- ^ Thomas, Roy (January 2002). ""The All Star Squadron Chronicles Part III: Hail, Hail, Now the Gang's Really All Here!"". Alter Ego 3 (12). TwoMorrows Publishing.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #2
