.gif)
Spirit of '76 (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Spirit of '76 is the name of two fictional comic book
characters, one each from Harvey Comics
and Marvel Comics
.
The first comics character by this name is a patriotic superhero
created by writer Gary Blakey and artist Bob Powell
in Harvey's Pocket Comics #1 (August 1941). The personification of American folklore's Spirit of '76
, the character would become a long-running feature in Harvey's Green Hornet Comics.
#14 (March 1977), and was created by writer
Roy Thomas
and artist
Frank Robbins
as part of a World War II
-era superhero
team, the Crusaders
, patterned on the DC Comics
group the Freedom Fighters
. The Spirit of '76 was the equivalent of Freedom Fighters member Uncle Sam
, originally a Quality Comics
character.
portion of a story in issue #4 (August 1977) of the alternate-universe
series What If?, Naslund succeeds Steve Rogers as Captain America
, the first of three official replacements until Rogers resumed the role years later. This retcon
became necessary after Marvel's conflicting accounts of Captain America in 1950s and 1960s comics had created a discrepancy.
. An athletic young man, hoping to help the Allies' World War II efforts in a unique way, he develops exceptional fighting skills and learns to copy some of the moves Captain America employed with the discus-like shield that the superhero carried. He is recruited by a mysterious man called "Alfie" to become a costumed hero in the new team of adventurers called the Crusaders
, alongside Dyna-Mite
, Ghost Girl
, Thunderfist, Captain Wings
, and Tommy Lightning. The team eventually learns that Alfie is a German agent, but not before he has manipulated them into fighting the Allied super-team the Invaders
. Upon learning how they had been duped, all the Crusaders but Naslund left costumed adventuring.
When the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and his sidekick, Bucky Barnes
, went missing in action
in 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman
recruited Naslund and a young man named Fred Davis to become the new Captain America and Bucky. Alongside Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Red Guardian, the new Captain America stopped a Nazi plot to destroy the Potsdam Conference. They briefly fought alongside the post-war All-Winners Squad
, battling Isbisa
, and with the Blonde Phantom
, fought to prevent a criminal attempt to steal the atomic bomb, encountering a time-traveling She-Hulk
during this mission. Naslund was killed in 1946 in the line of duty when he was crushed to death by a robot serving the android named Adam II
while warning the rest of the All-Winners Squad of Adam II's attempt to kidnap or kill then-Congressional candidate John F. Kennedy
in Boston. Naslund was succeeded as Captain America by Jeffrey Mace, formerly the superhero the Patriot
. Naslund was later brought through time by the Contemplator
to battle an Adam II of an alternate world alongside the original Captain America, Jeffrey Mace, and the fourth Captain America
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
characters, one each from Harvey Comics
Harvey Comics
Harvey Comics was an American comic book publisher, founded in New York City by Alfred Harvey in 1941, after buying out the small publisher Brookwood Publications. His brothers Robert B...
and Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Harvey Comics
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
created by writer Gary Blakey and artist Bob Powell
Bob Powell (comics)
Bob Powell né Stanislav Robert Pawlowski was an American comic book artist known for his work during the 1930-40s Golden Age of comic books, including on the features "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" and "Mr. Mystic". He received a belated credit in 1999 for co-writing the debut of the popular...
in Harvey's Pocket Comics #1 (August 1941). The personification of American folklore's Spirit of '76
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
, the character would become a long-running feature in Harvey's Green Hornet Comics.
Marvel Comics
The Marvel Comics superhero Spirit of '76 (William Naslund) first appeared in The InvadersInvaders (comics)
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the . The original team was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema in The Avengers #71 . A present-day incarnation was introduced by writer Chuck Austen and artist Scott Kolins in The Avengers vol...
#14 (March 1977), and was created by writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
Frank Robbins
Frank Robbins
Franklin "Frank" Robbins was a notable American comic book and comic strip artist and writer, as well as a prominent painter whose work appeared in museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, where one of his paintings was featured in the 1955 Whitney Annual Exhibition of American...
as part of a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team, the Crusaders
Crusaders (Marvel Comics)
The Crusaders is a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters first appear in The Invaders #14 and were created by Roy Thomas, Jack Kirby, and Frank Robbins.-Publication history:...
, patterned on the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
group the Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (comics)
Freedom Fighters is a DC Comics comic book superhero team made up of characters acquired from the defunct company Quality Comics. Although the characters were created by Quality, they never were gathered in a group before acquired by DC...
. The Spirit of '76 was the equivalent of Freedom Fighters member Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam (comics)
Uncle Sam is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero based on national personification of the United States, Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam first appeared in National Comics #1 and was created by Will Eisner.-Quality Comics:...
, originally a Quality Comics
Quality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
character.
Publication history
Marvel's Spirit of '76 appeared as a member of the short-lived superhero team the Crusaders in The Invaders #14-15 (March–April 1977). In a canonicalCanon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
portion of a story in issue #4 (August 1977) of the alternate-universe
Multiverse (Marvel Comics)
Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
series What If?, Naslund succeeds Steve Rogers as Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, the first of three official replacements until Rogers resumed the role years later. This retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
became necessary after Marvel's conflicting accounts of Captain America in 1950s and 1960s comics had created a discrepancy.
Fictional character biography
William Naslund was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. An athletic young man, hoping to help the Allies' World War II efforts in a unique way, he develops exceptional fighting skills and learns to copy some of the moves Captain America employed with the discus-like shield that the superhero carried. He is recruited by a mysterious man called "Alfie" to become a costumed hero in the new team of adventurers called the Crusaders
Crusaders (Marvel Comics)
The Crusaders is a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters first appear in The Invaders #14 and were created by Roy Thomas, Jack Kirby, and Frank Robbins.-Publication history:...
, alongside Dyna-Mite
Destroyer (Roger Aubrey)
Destroyer is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is the lover of previous "Destroyer", Brian Falsworth....
, Ghost Girl
Ghost Girl (Marvel Comics)
Ghost Girl is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Ghost Girl appeared in Invaders #14-15 , and was created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins.-Fictional character biography:...
, Thunderfist, Captain Wings
Captain Wings
Captain Wings is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is based on Black Condor.-Publication history:Captain Wings appeared in Invaders #14-15 , and was created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins....
, and Tommy Lightning. The team eventually learns that Alfie is a German agent, but not before he has manipulated them into fighting the Allied super-team the Invaders
Invaders (comics)
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the . The original team was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema in The Avengers #71 . A present-day incarnation was introduced by writer Chuck Austen and artist Scott Kolins in The Avengers vol...
. Upon learning how they had been duped, all the Crusaders but Naslund left costumed adventuring.
When the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and his sidekick, Bucky Barnes
Bucky
Bucky is the name of several fictional characters, masked superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as a sidekick character in Captain America Comics #1 , published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics...
, went missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
in 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
recruited Naslund and a young man named Fred Davis to become the new Captain America and Bucky. Alongside Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Red Guardian, the new Captain America stopped a Nazi plot to destroy the Potsdam Conference. They briefly fought alongside the post-war All-Winners Squad
All-Winners Squad
The All-Winners Squad is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The company's first such team, it first appeared in All Winners Comics #19 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.While the comic-book...
, battling Isbisa
Isbisa
Isbisa is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in All Winners Comics vol. 1, #19 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, and with the Blonde Phantom
Blonde Phantom
The Blonde Phantom is a fictional masked crime fighter in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Syd Shores for Marvel predecessor Timely Comics, she first appeared in All Select Comics #11 , during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden...
, fought to prevent a criminal attempt to steal the atomic bomb, encountering a time-traveling She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
during this mission. Naslund was killed in 1946 in the line of duty when he was crushed to death by a robot serving the android named Adam II
Adam II
Adam II is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, a supervillain and most known as an enemy of the All-Winners Squad. He is an android created to duplicate another android success, the Human Torch...
while warning the rest of the All-Winners Squad of Adam II's attempt to kidnap or kill then-Congressional candidate John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
in Boston. Naslund was succeeded as Captain America by Jeffrey Mace, formerly the superhero the Patriot
Jeffrey Mace
Jeffrey Solomon "Jeff" Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, created during the 1940s period which fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
. Naslund was later brought through time by the Contemplator
Contemplator
The Contemplator is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is one of the Elders of the Universe, and first appeared in Marvel Treasury Special #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
to battle an Adam II of an alternate world alongside the original Captain America, Jeffrey Mace, and the fourth Captain America
Grand Director
The Grand Director , also known as the Captain America of the 1950s is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe...
.