[[quoteright:329:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/new_crusaders_7319.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:329: A [[LegacyCharacter New Generation of Heroes]] will rise . . .]]

Before there was Creator/ArchieComics, there was [=MLJ=], who, in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, published comics featuring super heroes like the Shield (who happened to be [[CaptainPatriotic the first patriotic superhero]] . . . yes, before Comicbook/CaptainAmerica), the Comet and Steel Sterling. In UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, these heroes were joined by the likes of the Fly, Fly Girl, the Jaguar and the Web. They joined forces as a super team dubbed . . . The Mighty Crusaders.

The Mighty Crusaders title was revived in TheEighties.

More information about the Mighty Crusaders can be found in Website/TheOtherWiki.

But enough history.

The Present: The Mighty Crusaders, after defeating every known supervillain, opted to retire to the town of Red Circle to raise families of their own. During a party celebrating the anniversary of their victory, the Brain Emperor, an old enemy of theirs, attacks them. Joe Higgins a.k.a. '''the Shield''', takes the other Crusaders' teenage children to safety. By the time he returns to aid his fellow Crusaders, he arrives too late. Brain Emperor has disposed of them. The Shield takes it upon himself to train his teammates' children to take their place as '''The New Crusaders'''.

The Crusaders are:

'''The Comet''' (Greg Dickering) - Adopted son of the original Comet (John Dickering).

'''Steel Sterling''' (Johnny Sterling) - the original Steel Sterling's son.

'''Fireball''' (Alex Tyler) - the original Fireball's (Ted Tyler) nephew.

'''Fly Girl''' (Kelly Brand) - Daughter to the original Fly Girl (Kim Brand).

'''The Web''' (Wyatt Raymond) - His parents were the original Web (John Raymond) and his wife Pow-Girl (Rose Raymond).

'''The Jaguar''' (Ivette "Ivy" Velez) - Apprentice to zoologist Ralph Hardy (the original Jaguar).

The first story arc is titled "Rise of the Heroes". It is followed by "Dark Tomorrow".


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!!Tropes Associated with this comic:

* AxCrazy:
** The Sting was considered so dangerous, he was caged in a small containment pod, behind a completely sealed cell door.
** Ivy as the Jaguar becomes noticeably more aggressive and bloodthirsty (being an avatar to a war god can do that to a person), while still able to maintain a measure of control over herself.
* BadassLongcoat: The Brain Emperor sports a black one.
* BaldOfEvil: Brain Emperor.
* GentleGiant: Johnny Sterling/Steel Sterling. Heck, the author described him as such word-for-word.
* HappilyAdopted: Greg by John and Dora Dickering.
* KilledOffForReal:
** The whole original Mighty Crusaders team besides the Shield.
** [[spoiler: At the climax of the first arc, Fireball is killed by a super villain called the Eraser.]]
* ShrinkingViolet: Ivette, before becoming the new Jaguar.
* SlasherSmile: Brain Emperor flashes a particularity nasty one after vaporizing the original Steel Sterling.
* WarGod: Ai Apaeic, who is the source of Ivette's powers.
* UpgradeArtifact: Despite being the son of two super-heroes, Wyatt has virtually no athletic ability so The Shield gives him a suit based on his own that increases the wearer's physical attributes ten-fold. The 98-pound weakling goes from barely being able to do a single pull-up to doing...wait for it...a Back Flip!