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Uncle Sam (comics)

For the Vertigo miniseries, see Uncle Sam (Vertigo).
Uncle Sam
Promotional artwork from DCU Brave New World #1 (August 2006) by Daniel Acuña.
Publication information
PublisherQuality Comics
(1940–1944)
DC Comics
(1973–present)
First appearanceNational Comics #1 (July 1940)
Created byWill Eisner (writer/artist)
In-story information
Team affiliationsFreedom Fighters
All-Star Squadron
S.H.A.D.E.
Council of Immortals
Notable aliasesSpirit of America, Minuteman, Brother Jonathan, Johnny Reb, Billy Yank, Patriot, Taylor Samuel Hawke, Samuel Augustus Adams, Samuel Wilson
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength
Enhanced speed
Invulnerability
Limited clairvoyance
Size alteration
Ability to transport himself and others to The Heartland

Uncle Sam is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Based on the national personification of the United States, Uncle Sam, the character first appeared in National Comics #1 (July 1940) and was created by Will Eisner.[1]

Publication history

Quality Comics

National Comics #3 (September 1940). Cover art by Lou Fine.

Uncle Sam first appeared in National Comics #1 (July 1940), which was published by Quality Comics during the Golden Age of Comic Books.[2] He is depicted as a mystical being who was originally the spirit of a slain patriotic soldier from the American Revolutionary War and appears whenever his country needs him.[3] The character was used for a few years from 1940 to 1944, briefly receiving a solo series, Uncle Sam Quarterly.[4] During this time, he had a sidekick named Buddy Smith.

According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "he fights a variety of Axis agents, human and superhuman, from the Black Legion to the shrink-ray-wielding Professor Nakajima. Uncle Sam also fights the mad scientist Dr. Dirge, the King Killer, and the insanity-causing Mad Poet".[5]

DC Comics

Following DC Comics' acquisition of Quality Comics, Uncle Sam is reimagined as the leader of the Freedom Fighters on Earth-X, where the Nazis won World War II.[6]

In The Spectre, Uncle Sam is reimagined as a spirit created by the Founding Fathers who is bound to a talisman and assumes a physical form by possessing others.[7][8]

In Infinite Crisis, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters are ambushed by the Secret Society of Super Villains where he is seemingly killed by Sinestro. He is later resurrected and makes subsequent appearances in Final Crisis, Blackest Night, and The New 52 continuity reboot.[9][10][11][12]

Powers and abilities

Uncle Sam has demonstrated various powers, including super strength, invulnerability, the ability to alter his size, enhanced speed, and some degree of clairvoyance.[citation needed] He is also shown to be able to transport himself and others to a pocket dimension called The Heartland and travel between universes.[13][14] Furthermore, Sam's abilities are dependent on the United States' patriotism.[15]

Other versions

Main article: Uncle Sam (Vertigo)
  • In 1998, DC published under its adult imprint Vertigo a two-issue prestige format comic series, Uncle Sam. It was written by Steve Darnall with painted artwork by Alex Ross. Uncle Sam is depicted as a ragged old man who is tormented by visions of historical episodes and modern aspects of the United States at its worst. He is forced to battle a dark doppelganger of himself based on corruption, deceit, and oppression, with the identity of the United States at stake.
  • In an alternate DC timeline appearing in Superman/Batman, Superman and Batman have been raised by Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen, the three original members of the Legion of Super-Villains, and have turned the Earth into a totalitarian state. Uncle Sam becomes Green Lantern when Wonder Woman gives him Abin Sur's ring, as Hal Jordan is dead in this reality. When Wonder Woman first encounters this Uncle Sam, he is visually similar to the Uncle Sam from Alex Ross' miniseries; once she uses her magic lasso to reveal the truth to him, he reverts to his classic persona and costume.
  • In the final issue of 52, a new multiverse is revealed, originally consisting of 52 identical realities. Among the parallel realities shown is one designated Earth-10. As a result of Mister Mind "eating" aspects of this reality, it takes on visual aspects similar to the pre-Crisis Earth-X, including the Quality characters.

Based on comments by Grant Morrison and the fact that a Nazi version of Superman is depicted in the scene, this alternate universe is not the pre-Crisis Earth-X.[16]

  • On Earth-11, a world of reversed genders, a female version of Sam named Columbia leads the Freedom Fighters.
  • New Super-Man features a character, Flying Dragon General, as an analog of Uncle Sam.

In other media

References

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ Koolman, Mike; Amash, Jim (2011). The Quality Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 193–198. ISBN 978-1605490373.
  3. ^ Markstein, Don. "Uncle Sam". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 189. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ Nevins, Jess (2013). Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes. High Rock Press. p. 281. ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
  6. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Freedom Fighters". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  7. ^ The Spectre (vol. 3) #37–38
  8. ^ Voger, Mark (2006). The Dark Age: Grim, Great & Gimmicky Post-Modern Comics. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-893905-53-5.
  9. ^ Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #1–8 (2006)
  10. ^ Final Crisis #4 (2008)
  11. ^ Blackest Night #1–6 (June 2009 – May 2010)
  12. ^ Human Bomb #1
  13. ^ All-Star Squadron #36
  14. ^ Freedom Fighters #1
  15. ^ Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #3
  16. ^ Brady, Matt (2007-05-08). "THE 52 EXIT INTERVIEWS: GRANT MORRISON". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
  17. ^ "Uncle Sam Voice - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 9, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^ JayShockblast (September 25, 2013). Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure - A look at every character in the game (over 2000!!). Event occurs at 1:06:49. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Justice League Unlimited #17 - Let Freedom Ring (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
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