All-Star Squadron #5
Published and © by DC, January 1982
Title: “Never Step on a Feathered Serpent!”
Synopsis: The Justice Society disbands and new superheroine Firebrand joins the All-Star Squadron on a mission to Mexico.
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Rich Buckler
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Review: Roy Thomas spent much of his early-’80s tenure at DC trying to replicate the various formulas of his 70s Marvel successes. Here, the All-Star Squadron is the writer’s Invaders analogue: A retcon exploration of a publisher’s Golden Age past, remixing classic characters with new creations while grounding the series in real-world history. As with The Invaders, it’s clearly a labor of love for Thomas. But the All-Star Squadron lacks an A-lister like Captain America or a character as well-defined as Sub-Mariner. And Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway’s art, while solid, lacks the pizzaz Frank Robbins brought to The Invaders.
Grade: C+
Second opinion: “3 out of 4 stars.” – Brent Frankenhoff, Comics Buyer’s Guide #1647, November 2008
Cool factor: Roy Thomas loves playing with the Golden Age characters of youth …
Not-so-cool factor: … but his stories can get bogged down by fanboy details.
Notable: First appearance of the Bronze Age Firebrand. … The “All-Star Comments” letters page includes an LoC from Jerry Bails, one of the founding fathers of comics fandom.
Character quotable: “I hear by declare the Justice Society of America disbanded – for the duration!” – Hawkman, JSA chairman
Editor’s note: This review was written Jan. 6, 2024.
