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* FailureHero: In retrospect, the slaughter of the team during ''Infinite Crisis'' was as much the Society ambushing them as it was Sam's poor leadership during the fight. He blindly put the team into the situation not knowing what to expect, and when the villains attacked, his only order as team leader was "fight as hard as you can." It's no wonder Ryan, Dee, and Roy were killed and Grant was mutilated beyond recognition.
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* DeadPersonImpersonation: Quality Comics character the [[ComicBook/FreedomFightersDCComics Black Condor]] adopted the identity of murdered Senator Thomas Wright. Who [[ContrivedCoincidence just happened]] to [[IdenticalStranger look ''exactly'' like him]].
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* ArchEnemy: Silver Ghost, a Nazi who has opposed them on multiple occasions. The Silver Ghost has special animosity towards Firebrand, who pretended to be a Nazi collaborator.
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* BadassBoast: Black Condor rocks at these. Not just because they sound great, but because he can and ''will'' live up to them.
-->'''Windstorm:''' I see the one in black, but what happened to the winged shaman?\\
'''Black Condor:''' I am no shaman! I am Black Condor! Empowered by the goddess Tocotl with the swiftness of the wind and the power of the ground! And I am a god killer!
-->'''Windstorm:''' I see the one in black, but what happened to the winged shaman?\\
'''Black Condor:''' I am no shaman! I am Black Condor! Empowered by the goddess Tocotl with the swiftness of the wind and the power of the ground! And I am a god killer!
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: During the miniseries, Lester Colt grew disillusioned with working under the [[PresidentEvil Administration]] after being sent to kill an Intergang drug runner at his five-year-old grandson's birthday party.
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* ActionBomb: The Human Bomb, whose superpowers are exactly what you'd expect. They're superheroes who generate massive explosions. This dangerous condition requires them to constantly wear containment suits.
* AtrociousAlias: In the 2006 miniseries, the Ray III derides the Invisible Hood's codename, saying that it sounds like "an ultra-thin condom".
* BeeAfraid: The second Red Bee underwent a brief FaceHeelTurn after she was mutated into a human-bee hybrid by an alien insect colony, which made her want to colonize the entire earth. She wound up retiring from superheroics after this was reversed.
* BeeAfraid: The second Red Bee underwent a brief FaceHeelTurn after she was mutated into a human-bee hybrid by an alien insect colony, which made her want to colonize the entire earth. She wound up retiring from superheroics after this was reversed.
* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Black Condor has the ability to fly. Nothing too out there for a superhero, right? Oh no, unlike other flying heroes like ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}, [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica the Falcon]], or [[Comicbook/XMen the Angel]] (who all either rely on [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman specialized flight suits]] or are {{Winged Humanoid}}s), Black Condor learned to fly from years of studying vultures. Yes, apparently watching birds long enough will allow you to defy gravity and basic laws of physics. When the character was incorporated into ''Franchise/TheDCU'', [[{{Retcon}} retroactive continuity]] was invoked to credit the power to irradiation by MagicMeteor.
* ClingyCostume: The [[LegacyCharacter various]] Human Bombs have to wear suits at all times to keep from, well, exploding.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Black Condor has the ability to fly. Nothing too out there for a superhero, right? Oh no, unlike other flying heroes like ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}, [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica the Falcon]], or [[Comicbook/XMen the Angel]] (who all either rely on [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman specialized flight suits]] or are {{Winged Humanoid}}s), Black Condor learned to fly from years of studying vultures. Yes, apparently watching birds long enough will allow you to defy gravity and basic laws of physics. When the character was incorporated into ''Franchise/TheDCU'', [[{{Retcon}} retroactive continuity]] was invoked to credit the power to irradiation by MagicMeteor.
* ClingyCostume: The [[LegacyCharacter various]] Human Bombs have to wear suits at all times to keep from, well, exploding.
* ColorAnimalCodename: Black Condor.
* ConfrontingYourImposter: In the mini-series, SHADE deploys a fake version of Miss America to de-power and demoralize the Freedom Fighters, and she almost succeeds before an old woman shows up and declares that she can't possibly be Miss America... because ''she'' is Miss America. Cue CurbStompBattle...
* ConfrontingYourImposter: In the mini-series, SHADE deploys a fake version of Miss America to de-power and demoralize the Freedom Fighters, and she almost succeeds before an old woman shows up and declares that she can't possibly be Miss America... because ''she'' is Miss America. Cue CurbStompBattle...
* DefectorFromDecadence: In one version, the [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} last survivor of Krypton]] landed in Nazi Germany and became Overman. Overman steamrolled the Allies and defeated Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, leading to the Nazis ruling the United States. However, Overman grew increasingly horrified and became disenchanted with the Nazis, leaving for space. His absence gave the Freedom Fighters a chance to return.
* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: Uncle Sam's power is directly proportional to the American People's belief in freedom and liberty. Whether American protectorates like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands' people's belief in freedom and liberty counts towards this is never specified.
* HavingABlast: The Human Bomb, who made his original appearance in ''Police Comics #1'' in August of 1941, is the original super-powered explosion maker. He literally could cause anything he touched to explode... the bigger the object, the bigger the explosion. When Quality Comics went out of business, Creator/DCComics purchased the rights to its entire stable of characters, and the Human Bomb became a member of the Freedom Fighters.
* HazmatSuit: The Human Bomb has worn one since the Golden Age.
* HavingABlast: The Human Bomb, who made his original appearance in ''Police Comics #1'' in August of 1941, is the original super-powered explosion maker. He literally could cause anything he touched to explode... the bigger the object, the bigger the explosion. When Quality Comics went out of business, Creator/DCComics purchased the rights to its entire stable of characters, and the Human Bomb became a member of the Freedom Fighters.
* HazmatSuit: The Human Bomb has worn one since the Golden Age.
* {{Invisibility}}: In the 70s when Phantom Lady joined the Freedom Fighters she gained this power.
* LegacyTeam: The team usually consists of Phantom Lady, Human Bomb, Firebrand, Black Condor, Uncle Sam, The Ray, Doll Man, and Doll Girl. With various people using the identities on the team. There have been at least 4 incarnations.
* LetXBeTheUnknown: Earth X, where the Axis won World War II. According to WordOfGod, this is because [[ExecutiveMeddling editorial]] nixed the idea of calling it [[NoSwastikas Earth-swastika]].
* LetXBeTheUnknown: Earth X, where the Axis won World War II. According to WordOfGod, this is because [[ExecutiveMeddling editorial]] nixed the idea of calling it [[NoSwastikas Earth-swastika]].
* NationsAsPeople: Uncle Sam is the [[AnthropomorphicPersonification literal embodiment]] of the Spirit of America, created by the Founding Fathers using a magical talisman. He originally took the form of a Minuteman, before becoming Brother Jonathan, then split into Billy Yank and Johnny Reb, before finally taking his current form (apart from a very brief AudienceAlienatingEra where he became some kind of star-spangled spaceman called the Patriot).
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* PatrioticFervor: Uncle Sam is fueled by this.
to:
* PatrioticFervor: Uncle Sam Sam, AnthropomorphicPersonification of the American Spirit, is fueled by this.literally composed of this trope. No, really: his strength is [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve directly proportional to the faith of the American people in America and its ideals]], to the extent that [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly if nobody had any such faith he'd cease to exist]].
* PerpetuallyShinyBodies: The Stormy Knight version of Phantom Lady displayed this a lot in the mid-2000s version of ''ComicBook/{{Freedom Fighters|DCComics}}''. This was particularly notable since the artist didn't do this to any other character in the comic, leading to a fan theory that she was actually an [[Series/DoctorWho Auton]].
* PowerCreepPowerSeep: In TheSeventies Phantom Lady's power was increased from creating darkness, to invisibility and teleporting herself and the team. The last one fluctuated in the comics and in a lot of subsequent experiences as it was a GameChanger, that let them all get out of jail free. Her appearances out of ''Freedom Fighters'' have rarely brought up teleportation at all.
* PerpetuallyShinyBodies: The Stormy Knight version of Phantom Lady displayed this a lot in the mid-2000s version of ''ComicBook/{{Freedom Fighters|DCComics}}''. This was particularly notable since the artist didn't do this to any other character in the comic, leading to a fan theory that she was actually an [[Series/DoctorWho Auton]].
* PowerCreepPowerSeep: In TheSeventies Phantom Lady's power was increased from creating darkness, to invisibility and teleporting herself and the team. The last one fluctuated in the comics and in a lot of subsequent experiences as it was a GameChanger, that let them all get out of jail free. Her appearances out of ''Freedom Fighters'' have rarely brought up teleportation at all.
* RightWingMilitiaFanatic: A version of Americommando showed up as the second leader of First Strike, President Gonzo's superhero team.
* WildChild: The Black Condor is a human man who was raised by condors. Who taught him to fly (yes, without wings). And then he became a US Senator. A later retcon gives him the power of flight naturally, which makes the character ''very slightly'' less loopy.
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* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: S.H.A.D.E. treated the Freedom Fighters this way, with Uncle Sam being declared a threat to national security.
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* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: The series uses this as a recurring theme with the team usually viewed in a negative light. Their earliest stories featured them as the only heroes in a world controlled by Nazi rule, which makes this trope very obvious. More recently they are antagonists of the black-ops government organization S.H.A.D.E. treated the Freedom Fighters this way, with which leads to [[CaptainPatriotic Uncle Sam Sam]], the living embodiment and spirit of the United States, being declared a threat to national security.
security and put on their most wanted list.
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* NakedPeopleAreFunny: In the 2006 miniseries, Phantom Lady robs Lady Liberty of her powers by destroying her costume. The Ray then dumps Lady Liberty on a nearby nudist beach, supposedly to lessen her awkwardness and embarrassment. It appears to have the opposite effect, judging by how quick Lady Liberty is to [[HandOrObjectUnderwear use her arms to hide her chest and groin from the nudists.]]
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* PretenderDiss: In the 2006 miniseries, Miss America contemptuously tells each Freedom Fighter that she fights that the people they are {{Legacy Character}}s of are dead and that they are pale imitations. This gets turned on her when the real Miss America shows up and reveals that the one serving Father Time is an imposter who knows nothing of true heroism.
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* UsedToBeASweetKid: In the 2006 miniseries, Americommando is a sadistic BadBoss and BlackShirt. However, Uncle Sam recalls how when Americommando was ten, he wanted to be an astronaut like UsefulNotes/NeilArmstrong (which Sam knows due to how he can sense everyone’s American dream). In the present, Sam makes that wish come true [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor by throwing Americommando into outer space, causing him to slam into the moon at high speed.]]
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* AbortedArc: There were three miniseries released during DC's ''New 52'' period that featured new versions of the Ray, Phantom Lady, Doll Man, and Human Bomb, alongside versions of Uncle Sam, Miss America, and Neon the Unknown. By the end of the Human Bomb miniseries, it was blatantly implied that a new version of the Freedom Fighters was being formed but no follow-up series was ever released and the new versions were all forgotten.
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* SacrificialLion: Dee Tyler, Ryan Kendall, and Roy Lincoln are all mercilessly slaughtered by the Secret Society at the beginning of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' just to show how dangerous the villains are.
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The ''Freedom Fighters'' are a team of American super-heroes in Franchise/TheDCU, made up of characters bought out from Quality Comics and led by the nation's spirit [[CaptainPatriotic Uncle Sam]]. Originally they were written as the only heroes on Earth-X, a universe where the Nazis won an extended UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and had completely taken over. They fought against tyranny and oppression in a completely authoritarian world. Eventually they were integrated into the main SharedUniverse. They still operate together in the modern era mostly using {{Legacy Character}}s and fight against contemporary problems that face the country such as corruption and terrorism.
to:
The ''Freedom Fighters'' are a team of American super-heroes in Franchise/TheDCU, made up of characters bought out from Quality Comics and led by the nation's spirit [[CaptainPatriotic Uncle Sam]]. Originally they were written as the only heroes on Earth-X, a universe where the Nazis won an extended UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and had completely taken over. They fought against tyranny and oppression in a completely authoritarian world. Eventually Eventually, they were integrated into the main SharedUniverse. They still operate together in the modern era mostly using {{Legacy Character}}s and fight against contemporary problems that face the country such as corruption and terrorism.
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In the [[TheEighties 1980s]], the Freedom Fighters got a couple of retro tales in the pages of ComicBook/AllStarSquadron (which shifted their universe of origin to Earth-Two), a couple of modern tales, and participation in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. Individual members got revamped in TheNineties, and some were replaced by [[LegacyCharacter Legacy Characters]]. Then most active members died in the ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis #1 (December, 2005), to be replaced by even younger Legacy Characters, and new recruits. The newer version/s of the team received a couple of mini-series over the following years, but so far haven't been more successful than their predecessors in maintaining an ongoing series.
to:
In the [[TheEighties 1980s]], the Freedom Fighters got a couple of retro tales in the pages of ComicBook/AllStarSquadron (which shifted their universe of origin to Earth-Two), a couple of modern tales, and participation in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. Individual members got revamped in TheNineties, and some were replaced by [[LegacyCharacter Legacy Characters]]. Then Then, most active members died in the ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis #1 (December, 2005), to be replaced by even younger Legacy Characters, and new recruits. The newer version/s of the team received a couple of mini-series over the following years, but so far haven't been more successful than their predecessors in maintaining an ongoing series.
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* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: Or voice, in Uncle Sam's case. To Emma Glenn, his voice sounds like "children singing". To Doll Man II, he sounds like a leader of great compassion and integrity (and a little like [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Ike Eisenhower]]). Doll Man II hypothesizes that this is because Sam is born of all the individual perceptions of America, and may sound differently to everyone.
to:
* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: Or voice, in Uncle Sam's case. To Emma Glenn, his voice sounds like "children singing". To Doll Man II, he sounds like a leader of great compassion and integrity (and a little like [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Ike Eisenhower]]). Doll Man II hypothesizes that this is because Sam is born of all the individual perceptions of America, and may sound differently different to everyone.
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** The new Invisible Hood debuted in the first mini-series, then was killed the issue after he was introduced.
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** The new Invisible Hood debuted in the first mini-series, then was killed the issue after he was introduced.
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* CanonInvasion: The original Freedom Fighters were all characters owned by Quality Comics before DC bought out the company. There were several cross-overs with the team, who were said to live on Earth-X. Eventually CanonWelding set in and the team was established as having been a part of the ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
to:
* CanonInvasion: The original Freedom Fighters were all characters owned by Quality Comics before DC bought out the company. There were several cross-overs with the team, who were said to live on Earth-X. Eventually Eventually, CanonWelding set in and the team was established as having been a part of the ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
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* CListFodder: Black Condor, Phantom Lady and the Human Bomb were killed in the opening pages of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, an expy of the Invaders from Creator/MarvelComics, which include Captain America stand-in Americommando and Namor stand-in Barracuda.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, an expy of the Invaders from Creator/MarvelComics, which include Captain America stand-in Americommando and Namor stand-in Barracuda.
to:
* CListFodder: Black Condor, Phantom Lady Lady, and the Human Bomb were killed in the opening pages of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, anexpy Expy of the Invaders from Creator/MarvelComics, which include Captain America stand-in Americommando and Namor stand-in Barracuda.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, an
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* JustFollowingOrders: Lester, Stormy, and Andy (Doll Man, Phantom Lady, and Human Bomb) all had to be broken out of this mindset before they joined Uncle Sam. The three of them repeatedly received shit from other heroes like the Teen Titans for working alongside psychopaths such as Major Force. It's telling that after everyone watched Force rip off Major Victory's arm and beat him to death with it, Lester, Stormy and Andy were all visibly disgusted and even offended when Robin called them out for allying with Force while their other teammate Bigfoot thought it was funny.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically been the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically been the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
to:
* JustFollowingOrders: Lester, Stormy, and Andy (Doll Man, Phantom Lady, and Human Bomb) all had to be broken out of this mindset before they joined Uncle Sam. The three of them repeatedly received shit from other heroes like the Teen Titans for working alongside psychopaths such as Major Force. It's telling that after everyone watched Force rip off Major Victory's arm and beat him to death with it, Lester, Stormy Stormy, and Andy were all visibly disgusted and even offended when Robin called them out for allying with Force while their other teammate Bigfoot thought it was funny.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically been the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death,retcons retcons, or alternate universes.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically been the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death,
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* OlderThanTheyLook: Averted and later played straight with Miss America. To be with her husband she used her powers to simulate the aging process, but drops the facade after her husband died so she could go back in the field.
to:
* OlderThanTheyLook: Averted and later played straight with Miss America. To be with her husband she used her powers to simulate the aging process, but drops the facade after her husband died so she could go get back in the field.
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* StupidJetpackHitler: The Earth-X stories take place on a world where the Nazis have access to more futuristic technology.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
to:
* StupidJetpackHitler: The Earth-X stories take place on in a world where the Nazis have access to more futuristic technology.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as a compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as a compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
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* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Uncle Sam and Miss America both wear American themed costumes.
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* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Uncle Sam and Miss America both wear American themed American-themed costumes.
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* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically being the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
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* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically being been the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
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** Phantom Lady: Sandra Knight => Dee Tyler => Stormy Knight => Jennifer Knight => Sophia Becker
** Black Condor: Richard Grey => Ryan Kendall => John Trujillo => Marcus Robbins
** Human Bomb: Roy Lincoln => Andy Franklin => Michael Taylor => David Mathis
** Firebrand: Rod Reilly => Danette Reilly => Alex Sanchez => Andre Twist => Janet Fals
** The Ray: Langford Terrill => Raymond Terrill => Stan Silver => Lucien Gates
** Red Bee: Rick Raleigh => Jenna Raleigh
** Doll Man: Darrell Dane => Lester Colt => Dane Maxwell
** Doll Girl: Martha Roberts => Donna Caprese
** Black Condor: Richard Grey => Ryan Kendall => John Trujillo => Marcus Robbins
** Human Bomb: Roy Lincoln => Andy Franklin => Michael Taylor => David Mathis
** Firebrand: Rod Reilly => Danette Reilly => Alex Sanchez => Andre Twist => Janet Fals
** The Ray: Langford Terrill => Raymond Terrill => Stan Silver => Lucien Gates
** Red Bee: Rick Raleigh => Jenna Raleigh
** Doll Man: Darrell Dane => Lester Colt => Dane Maxwell
** Doll Girl: Martha Roberts => Donna Caprese
to:
** Phantom Lady: '''Phantom Lady''': Sandra Knight => Dee Tyler => Stormy Knight => Jennifer Knight => Sophia Becker
**Black Condor: '''Black Condor''': Richard Grey => Ryan Kendall => John Trujillo => Marcus Robbins
**Human Bomb: '''Human Bomb''': Roy Lincoln => Andy Franklin => Michael Taylor => David Mathis
**Firebrand: '''Firebrand''': Rod Reilly => Danette Reilly => Alex Sanchez => Andre Twist => Janet Fals
**The Ray: '''The Ray''': Langford Terrill => Raymond Terrill => Stan Silver => Lucien Gates
**Red Bee: '''Red Bee''': Rick Raleigh => Jenna Raleigh
**Doll Man: '''Doll Man''': Darrell Dane => Lester Colt => Dane Maxwell
**Doll Girl: '''Doll Girl''': Martha Roberts => Donna Caprese
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
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* ArmedFemalesUnarmedMales:
** The fourth incarnation of the team served as an auxiliary of the ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica''. Phantom Lady (Delilah Tyler) was the TheTeamNormal and relied on weapons and gadgets, while her male teammates all had superpowers.
** The post-''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' version of the Freedom Fighters had three female members -- Phantom Lady, Red Bee and Miss America. Of those three only [[{{Transmutation}} Miss America]] has powers. Phantom Lady wore {{Super Wrist Gadget}}s, and Red Bee wore PoweredArmor and [[AttackDrone used two robotic bees for battle]].
** The fourth incarnation of the team served as an auxiliary of the ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica''. Phantom Lady (Delilah Tyler) was the TheTeamNormal and relied on weapons and gadgets, while her male teammates all had superpowers.
** The post-''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' version of the Freedom Fighters had three female members -- Phantom Lady, Red Bee and Miss America. Of those three only [[{{Transmutation}} Miss America]] has powers. Phantom Lady wore {{Super Wrist Gadget}}s, and Red Bee wore PoweredArmor and [[AttackDrone used two robotic bees for battle]].
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/freedom_fighters_vol_1_1.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Even Patriotic Heroes can't catch a break!]]
-> ''The name's Uncle Sam, and we got work ta do.''
-->-- '''Uncle Sam'''
The ''Freedom Fighters'' are a team of American super-heroes in Franchise/TheDCU, made up of characters bought out from Quality Comics and led by the nation's spirit [[CaptainPatriotic Uncle Sam]]. Originally they were written as the only heroes on Earth-X, a universe where the Nazis won an extended UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and had completely taken over. They fought against tyranny and oppression in a completely authoritarian world. Eventually they were integrated into the main SharedUniverse. They still operate together in the modern era mostly using {{Legacy Character}}s and fight against contemporary problems that face the country such as corruption and terrorism.
The team first appeared in a crossover, featured in ''Justice League of America'' #107-108 (September-November, 1973). This tale was written by Len Wein, and drawn by Dick Dillin. The team featured familiar characters, Black Condor, Doll Man, Human Bomb, ComicBook/PhantomLady, ComicBook/{{the Ray}}, and Uncle Sam. All were characters from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. They lay dormant for a few years. Then they got their own series ''"Freedom Fighters''", which had them relocating from Earth-X to Earth-One. Their title lasted for 15 issues, from March, 1976 to July, 1978. This series upgraded the powers of some of the featured and added fellow Golden Ager Firebrand to their ranks. The series then fell victim to the so-called DC Implosion, the cancellation of much of DC's line of comic books. Two wore issues were by then complete. They got printed in ''"Cancelled Comics Cavalcade''" #2 (Fall, 1978).
In the [[TheEighties 1980s]], the Freedom Fighters got a couple of retro tales in the pages of ComicBook/AllStarSquadron (which shifted their universe of origin to Earth-Two), a couple of modern tales, and participation in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. Individual members got revamped in TheNineties, and some were replaced by [[LegacyCharacter Legacy Characters]]. Then most active members died in the ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis #1 (December, 2005), to be replaced by even younger Legacy Characters, and new recruits. The newer version/s of the team received a couple of mini-series over the following years, but so far haven't been more successful than their predecessors in maintaining an ongoing series.
In the Comicbook/{{New 52}}, Justin Gray and Jimmy Palimotti (who wrote the previous reinvention, based on notes by Creator/GrantMorrison) seemed to be re-reinventing the Freedom Fighters a step at a time, with linked miniseries introducing even newer versions of the characters (''The Ray''; ''Phantom Lady and Doll Man''; and ''The Human Bomb''). The third of these ended at the start of 2013, and there's been no further development, so it's probably an AbortedArc.
A version of the team appeared in Grant Morrison's ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity''. They also appeared in ''{{ComicBook/Convergence}}''. The team also appears in ''ComicBook/FreedomFighters2018''.
Not to be confused with either the [[VideoGame/FreedomFighters2003 video game]] or the ''other'' [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics team of comic-book freedom fighters]] (they started in [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM animation first]], then became a comic book).
----
!!''Freedom Fighters'' provides examples of:
* AnimalisticAbilities: The original version of the Black Condor gained the power of flight by studying the birds [[RaisedByWolves that raised him]].
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Uncle Sam is the "Spirit of America."
* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: Or voice, in Uncle Sam's case. To Emma Glenn, his voice sounds like "children singing". To Doll Man II, he sounds like a leader of great compassion and integrity (and a little like [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Ike Eisenhower]]). Doll Man II hypothesizes that this is because Sam is born of all the individual perceptions of America, and may sound differently to everyone.
* CannonFodder:
** The new Invisible Hood debuted in the first mini-series, then was killed the issue after he was introduced.
** Likewise, S.H.A.D.E.'s policy on metahuman teams operates like this. If one member of a team dies, their name, power, and gear can easily be given to a replacement. Between ''Battle for Bludhaven'' and the first miniseries, there have been three versions of Lady Liberty.
* CanonInvasion: The original Freedom Fighters were all characters owned by Quality Comics before DC bought out the company. There were several cross-overs with the team, who were said to live on Earth-X. Eventually CanonWelding set in and the team was established as having been a part of the ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* CaptainPatriotic: Uncle Sam, the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the United States of America.
* CListFodder: Black Condor, Phantom Lady and the Human Bomb were killed in the opening pages of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, an expy of the Invaders from Creator/MarvelComics, which include Captain America stand-in Americommando and Namor stand-in Barracuda.
* EvilAllAlong: [[spoiler:Stan Silver was introduced as the third Ray and spent most of the ''Freedom Fighters'' miniseries with the team while Ray Terrill was mysteriously absent and Sam didn't comment on it. It turned out Sam suspected Stan was working as Father Time's mole so he got in touch with Ray (who assumed Sam had been killed alongside the previous team by the Secret Society) just as Stan launched an attack to wipe out the rest of the group.]]
* EvilCounterpart: Gonzo the Mechanical Bastard is a modern reworking of the Golden Age character Bozo the Iron Man. Likewise, there is Uncle Sam and Father Time for most of the first miniseries until Time's appearance changed and his true loyalties were revealed, the two Miss Americas, one being the genuine article and the other a robot, and [[spoiler: Ray Terrill and sociopath Stan Silver.]]
* FanBoy: The second Human Bomb was this to [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] as a boy. He even refuses to attack him during the ''Battle For Bludhaven'' miniseries.
* HealItWithWater: The waters of the Mississippi River apparently revived Uncle Sam (the AnthropomorphicPersonification of America) after his apparent death in ''Infinite Crisis''.
* JustFollowingOrders: Lester, Stormy, and Andy (Doll Man, Phantom Lady, and Human Bomb) all had to be broken out of this mindset before they joined Uncle Sam. The three of them repeatedly received shit from other heroes like the Teen Titans for working alongside psychopaths such as Major Force. It's telling that after everyone watched Force rip off Major Victory's arm and beat him to death with it, Lester, Stormy and Andy were all visibly disgusted and even offended when Robin called them out for allying with Force while their other teammate Bigfoot thought it was funny.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically being the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
** Phantom Lady: Sandra Knight => Dee Tyler => Stormy Knight => Jennifer Knight => Sophia Becker
** Black Condor: Richard Grey => Ryan Kendall => John Trujillo => Marcus Robbins
** Human Bomb: Roy Lincoln => Andy Franklin => Michael Taylor => David Mathis
** Firebrand: Rod Reilly => Danette Reilly => Alex Sanchez => Andre Twist => Janet Fals
** The Ray: Langford Terrill => Raymond Terrill => Stan Silver => Lucien Gates
** Red Bee: Rick Raleigh => Jenna Raleigh
** Doll Man: Darrell Dane => Lester Colt => Dane Maxwell
** Doll Girl: Martha Roberts => Donna Caprese
* MagicalNativeAmerican: John Trujillo received his Black Condor powers from an ancient Native American spider-goddess. In a subversion of the trope, he is the angriest and most violent of the Fighters, at least the current ones.
* TheMole: [[spoiler: Stan Silver, the third Ray.]]
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: How the first Human Bomb died. See, Bizarro likes the lights he made, which were released every time the Bomb blew up, and Bizarro didn't know his own strength...
* OlderThanTheyLook: Averted and later played straight with Miss America. To be with her husband she used her powers to simulate the aging process, but drops the facade after her husband died so she could go back in the field.
* PatrioticFervor: Uncle Sam is fueled by this.
* PowerIncontinence: The Human Bomb has to stay in his containment suit, or he'll blow up everything around him.
* {{Stripperific}}: Phantom Lady. Not that anyone is complaining, mind you. The current Phantom Lady, with her shirt that's basically a tube top, is actually ''less'' Stripperific than previous incarnations.
* StupidJetpackHitler: The Earth-X stories take place on a world where the Nazis have access to more futuristic technology.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* WillNotTellALie: Uncle Sam is very big on telling the truth and avoids lying.
* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Uncle Sam and Miss America both wear American themed costumes.
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: S.H.A.D.E. treated the Freedom Fighters this way, with Uncle Sam being declared a threat to national security.
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[[caption-width-right:350:Even Patriotic Heroes can't catch a break!]]
-> ''The name's Uncle Sam, and we got work ta do.''
-->-- '''Uncle Sam'''
The ''Freedom Fighters'' are a team of American super-heroes in Franchise/TheDCU, made up of characters bought out from Quality Comics and led by the nation's spirit [[CaptainPatriotic Uncle Sam]]. Originally they were written as the only heroes on Earth-X, a universe where the Nazis won an extended UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and had completely taken over. They fought against tyranny and oppression in a completely authoritarian world. Eventually they were integrated into the main SharedUniverse. They still operate together in the modern era mostly using {{Legacy Character}}s and fight against contemporary problems that face the country such as corruption and terrorism.
The team first appeared in a crossover, featured in ''Justice League of America'' #107-108 (September-November, 1973). This tale was written by Len Wein, and drawn by Dick Dillin. The team featured familiar characters, Black Condor, Doll Man, Human Bomb, ComicBook/PhantomLady, ComicBook/{{the Ray}}, and Uncle Sam. All were characters from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. They lay dormant for a few years. Then they got their own series ''"Freedom Fighters''", which had them relocating from Earth-X to Earth-One. Their title lasted for 15 issues, from March, 1976 to July, 1978. This series upgraded the powers of some of the featured and added fellow Golden Ager Firebrand to their ranks. The series then fell victim to the so-called DC Implosion, the cancellation of much of DC's line of comic books. Two wore issues were by then complete. They got printed in ''"Cancelled Comics Cavalcade''" #2 (Fall, 1978).
In the [[TheEighties 1980s]], the Freedom Fighters got a couple of retro tales in the pages of ComicBook/AllStarSquadron (which shifted their universe of origin to Earth-Two), a couple of modern tales, and participation in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. Individual members got revamped in TheNineties, and some were replaced by [[LegacyCharacter Legacy Characters]]. Then most active members died in the ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis #1 (December, 2005), to be replaced by even younger Legacy Characters, and new recruits. The newer version/s of the team received a couple of mini-series over the following years, but so far haven't been more successful than their predecessors in maintaining an ongoing series.
In the Comicbook/{{New 52}}, Justin Gray and Jimmy Palimotti (who wrote the previous reinvention, based on notes by Creator/GrantMorrison) seemed to be re-reinventing the Freedom Fighters a step at a time, with linked miniseries introducing even newer versions of the characters (''The Ray''; ''Phantom Lady and Doll Man''; and ''The Human Bomb''). The third of these ended at the start of 2013, and there's been no further development, so it's probably an AbortedArc.
A version of the team appeared in Grant Morrison's ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity''. They also appeared in ''{{ComicBook/Convergence}}''. The team also appears in ''ComicBook/FreedomFighters2018''.
Not to be confused with either the [[VideoGame/FreedomFighters2003 video game]] or the ''other'' [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics team of comic-book freedom fighters]] (they started in [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM animation first]], then became a comic book).
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!!''Freedom Fighters'' provides examples of:
* AnimalisticAbilities: The original version of the Black Condor gained the power of flight by studying the birds [[RaisedByWolves that raised him]].
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Uncle Sam is the "Spirit of America."
* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: Or voice, in Uncle Sam's case. To Emma Glenn, his voice sounds like "children singing". To Doll Man II, he sounds like a leader of great compassion and integrity (and a little like [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Ike Eisenhower]]). Doll Man II hypothesizes that this is because Sam is born of all the individual perceptions of America, and may sound differently to everyone.
* CannonFodder:
** The new Invisible Hood debuted in the first mini-series, then was killed the issue after he was introduced.
** Likewise, S.H.A.D.E.'s policy on metahuman teams operates like this. If one member of a team dies, their name, power, and gear can easily be given to a replacement. Between ''Battle for Bludhaven'' and the first miniseries, there have been three versions of Lady Liberty.
* CanonInvasion: The original Freedom Fighters were all characters owned by Quality Comics before DC bought out the company. There were several cross-overs with the team, who were said to live on Earth-X. Eventually CanonWelding set in and the team was established as having been a part of the ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* CaptainPatriotic: Uncle Sam, the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the United States of America.
* CListFodder: Black Condor, Phantom Lady and the Human Bomb were killed in the opening pages of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''.
* ContinuityNod: Two new members of First Strike were field leader Americommando and the fish-like Barracuda. In the 1970s series, the Freedom Fighters fought against the Crusaders, an expy of the Invaders from Creator/MarvelComics, which include Captain America stand-in Americommando and Namor stand-in Barracuda.
* EvilAllAlong: [[spoiler:Stan Silver was introduced as the third Ray and spent most of the ''Freedom Fighters'' miniseries with the team while Ray Terrill was mysteriously absent and Sam didn't comment on it. It turned out Sam suspected Stan was working as Father Time's mole so he got in touch with Ray (who assumed Sam had been killed alongside the previous team by the Secret Society) just as Stan launched an attack to wipe out the rest of the group.]]
* EvilCounterpart: Gonzo the Mechanical Bastard is a modern reworking of the Golden Age character Bozo the Iron Man. Likewise, there is Uncle Sam and Father Time for most of the first miniseries until Time's appearance changed and his true loyalties were revealed, the two Miss Americas, one being the genuine article and the other a robot, and [[spoiler: Ray Terrill and sociopath Stan Silver.]]
* FanBoy: The second Human Bomb was this to [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] as a boy. He even refuses to attack him during the ''Battle For Bludhaven'' miniseries.
* HealItWithWater: The waters of the Mississippi River apparently revived Uncle Sam (the AnthropomorphicPersonification of America) after his apparent death in ''Infinite Crisis''.
* JustFollowingOrders: Lester, Stormy, and Andy (Doll Man, Phantom Lady, and Human Bomb) all had to be broken out of this mindset before they joined Uncle Sam. The three of them repeatedly received shit from other heroes like the Teen Titans for working alongside psychopaths such as Major Force. It's telling that after everyone watched Force rip off Major Victory's arm and beat him to death with it, Lester, Stormy and Andy were all visibly disgusted and even offended when Robin called them out for allying with Force while their other teammate Bigfoot thought it was funny.
* LegacyCharacter: While Uncle Sam has technically being the same in all its incarnations, the other members have passed the moniker to successors due to retirement, death, retcons or alternate universes.
** Phantom Lady: Sandra Knight => Dee Tyler => Stormy Knight => Jennifer Knight => Sophia Becker
** Black Condor: Richard Grey => Ryan Kendall => John Trujillo => Marcus Robbins
** Human Bomb: Roy Lincoln => Andy Franklin => Michael Taylor => David Mathis
** Firebrand: Rod Reilly => Danette Reilly => Alex Sanchez => Andre Twist => Janet Fals
** The Ray: Langford Terrill => Raymond Terrill => Stan Silver => Lucien Gates
** Red Bee: Rick Raleigh => Jenna Raleigh
** Doll Man: Darrell Dane => Lester Colt => Dane Maxwell
** Doll Girl: Martha Roberts => Donna Caprese
* MagicalNativeAmerican: John Trujillo received his Black Condor powers from an ancient Native American spider-goddess. In a subversion of the trope, he is the angriest and most violent of the Fighters, at least the current ones.
* TheMole: [[spoiler: Stan Silver, the third Ray.]]
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: How the first Human Bomb died. See, Bizarro likes the lights he made, which were released every time the Bomb blew up, and Bizarro didn't know his own strength...
* OlderThanTheyLook: Averted and later played straight with Miss America. To be with her husband she used her powers to simulate the aging process, but drops the facade after her husband died so she could go back in the field.
* PatrioticFervor: Uncle Sam is fueled by this.
* PowerIncontinence: The Human Bomb has to stay in his containment suit, or he'll blow up everything around him.
* {{Stripperific}}: Phantom Lady. Not that anyone is complaining, mind you. The current Phantom Lady, with her shirt that's basically a tube top, is actually ''less'' Stripperific than previous incarnations.
* StupidJetpackHitler: The Earth-X stories take place on a world where the Nazis have access to more futuristic technology.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During the Quality Comics years, ''ComicBook/TheSpirit'' was published there as compilation of the {{newspaper comics}}. During the years Will Eisner went to war in WWII, a copycat was created as Midnight, a similar pulp vigilante as The Spirit that even became part of Freedom Fighters during a time. Later in TheSeventies, Midnight came back as a temporary member of Freedom Fighters and ComicBook/AllStarSquadron.
* WillNotTellALie: Uncle Sam is very big on telling the truth and avoids lying.
* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Uncle Sam and Miss America both wear American themed costumes.
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: S.H.A.D.E. treated the Freedom Fighters this way, with Uncle Sam being declared a threat to national security.
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