The American Crusader is a

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

who originally appeared in ''

Thrilling Comics ''Thrilling Comics'' is the title of a comic book series published by Standard Comics for 80 issues from 1940 to 1951. The first issue is the first appearance of the comic-book character Doc Strange, who debuted in a 37-page origin story. The "Thr ...

'' #19 (

Better Publications Standard Comics was a comic book imprint of American publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines (under a variety of company names that he also used for the comics) and paperback books (under the Popular Library name). Standard in t ...

, Aug 1941). He appeared in almost every issue until #41 (April 1944). The character was revived in the Modern Age in ''

Femforce ''Femforce'' is a comic book published by AC Comics that began publication in 1985, detailing the adventures of the titular team: the "Federal Emergency Missions Force" or "Femforce", some of them original creations, while others originated in th ...

'' #59, by

AC Comics AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.

, and in ''

Tom Strong ''Tom Strong'' is a comic book created by writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, initially published bi-monthly by America's Best Comics, an imprint of DC Comics' Wildstorm division. Tom Strong, the title character, is a "science hero", wi ...

'' #11, by

Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman:'' ''The Killing Joke'', and ''From Hell' ...

and

Chris Sprouse Chris Sprouse (born July 30, 1966) is an Americans, American comics artist. Sprouse has worked for multiple publishers and has won two Eisner Awards for his work on ''Tom Strong'', a series he created with writer Alan Moore. Early life Chris Spro ...

Character history

His

secret identity A secret identity is a person's alter ego which is not known to the general populace, most often used in fiction. Brought into popular culture by the Scarlet Pimpernel in 1903, the concept was widespread in pulp heroes and is particularly prevalent ...

is Professor Archibald (Archie) Masters, an astronomy professor at an unnamed university in the

Eastern United States The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...

. The character debuted in 1941, his mousy alter-ego being similar to that of

Superman Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...

Clark Kent Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publish ...

identity. He accidentally got caught in a room with a device called an

atom smasher A particle accelerator is a machine that uses electromagnetic fields to propel electric charge, charged particles to very high speeds and energies, and to contain them in well-defined particle beam, beams. Large accelerators are used for fun ...

, and, inevitably, the experiment went awry. Instead of killing him, the accident blasted him with radiation, which endowed him with various superhuman abilities. He used these powers to fight crime as the American Crusader. Cribbed from

's relationship with

Lois Lane Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). Lois is an award-winning journalist for ...

, Prof. Masters has a secretary named Jane Peters, who despised the professor but idolized the hero. The Crusader also briefly has a teen sidekick named Mickey Martin. His enemies include Nazis, mad scientists, and Nazi mad scientists, as well as Nazi zombies. The Crusader appeared in the following titles in the Golden Age: * ''America's Best Comics'' #6 * ''Thrilling Comics'' #19-35, #37-39, #41

Revivals

AC Comics

The American Crusader, along with other heroes from

Nedor Comics Standard Comics was a comic book imprint (trade name), imprint of United States, American publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines (under a Thrilling Publications, variety of company names that he also used for the comics) and pape ...

, was revived by

AC Comics AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.

through the Vault of Heroes, a suspended animation program for superheroes. He later joined the

Sentinels of Justice Sentinels of Justice is a fictional organization of superheroes. The comic was published by Americomics (a.k.a. AC Comics) in 1983 during a very brief time that AC was able to license the Charlton Comics superheroes before the rights were purcha ...

America's Best Comics

Several heroes from

were revived by

in his

America's Best Comics America's Best Comics (ABC) is a comic book publishing brand. It was set up by Alan Moore in 1999 as an imprint of WildStorm, an idea proposed to Moore by WildStorm founder Jim Lee when it was still under Image Comics. History ''America's Best ...

continuity, starting with''

'' #11. The next issue, #12, revealed the American Crusader was among these heroes. In the canon of America's Best Comics, the American Crusader and his comrades were all part of a team called SMASH.''Tom Strong'' vol. 1 #11 (2000, cover date "January, 2001"). Published by Wildstorm Studios. On Tom Strong's world, they were believed to be comic book characters, but in fact they were real people who inhabited another version of Earth occupying another area of the same universe. Tom Strong referred to this other Earth as "

Terra Obscura ''Terra Obscura'' is a 2003 comic book miniseries spin-off from Alan Moore's ''Tom Strong'' series. The stories are written by Peter Hogan, and drawn by Yanick Paquette and Karl Story with additional flashback sequences drawn by Eric Theriault. ...

".''Tom Strong'' vol. 1 #11 (2000, cover date "January, 2001"). Published by Wildstorm Studios. The American Crusader and other SMASH heroes then went on to star in ''Terra Obscura'' vol. 1 and ''Terra Obscura'' vol. 2.''Terra Obscura'' Vol. 1 #1-6 (2003). Published by Wildstorm Studios. In this canon, the Crusader operates as a powerful superhero while also dealing with alcoholism. He works alongside the other heroes of SMASH for many years until 1969, when he and his comrades are imprisoned by an alien device that capture them in localized time-loops.''Tom Strong'' vol. 1 #11 (2000, cover date "January, 2001"). Published by Wildstorm Studios. The only member of SMASH who isn't imprisoned is "Doc"

Tom Strange Doc Strange is a Golden Age comic book superhero who originally appeared in '' Thrilling Comics'' #1 (Better Publications, also called Nedor Comics) in February 1940. The character continued in ''Thrilling Comics'' until issue #64 (Feb 1948). ...

, his world's version of Tom Strong. Doc Strange journeys to Tom Strong's Earth to recruit his help while his SMASH comrades remain frozen in time.''Tom Strong'' vol. 1 #11 (2000, cover date "January, 2001"). Published by Wildstorm Studios. In the year 2000, Tom Strong and Tom Strange finally free the American Crusader and other heroes from the time-loops.''Tom Strong'' vol. 1 #12 (2000, cover date "February, 2001"). Published by Wildstorm Studios. Having not aged since 1969, the members of SMASH resume their heroic activities, including the Crusader who now seeks help in managing his alcoholism.''Terra Obscura'' Vol. 1 #1-6 (2003). Published by Wildstorm Studios.

Living Legends and Tales of the Living Legends

The American Crusader made a brief appearance in the prose story ''Living Legends'', published by Metahuman Press. A flashback comic story featuring rescripted pages over the comic work has also been published as part of the ''Tales of the Living Legends'' webcomic.

Project Superpowers

The American Crusader appears in the mini-series ''

Project Superpowers ''Project Superpowers'' is a comic book limited series published by Dynamite Entertainment beginning January 2008. It was co-plotted by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, with scripts by Jim Krueger, covers by Alex Ross, and interior art by Doug Klaub ...

'', by

Alex Ross Nelson Alexander Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an American comic book writer and artist known primarily for his painted interiors, covers, and design work. He first became known with the 1994 miniseries ''Marvels'', on which he collaborated wi ...

and

Jim Krueger Jim Krueger () is an American comic book writer, novelist, and filmmaker. Early life Jim Krueger and his brother grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He developed an interest in comic books and storytelling in his youth, and has described a fateful t ...

. He is kept imprisoned and unconscious by a totalitarian government, and clones called Crusaders are created from his DNA to function as super-powered soldiers. In the related ''

Black Terror The Black Terror is a fictional comic book superhero who originally appeared in ''Exciting Comics'' #9, published by Nedor Comics in January 1941. The character was popular, and on the strength of the Black Terror's sales, Nedor made ''Exciting C ...

'' series, the Black Terror finds Archie and helps him to lure the Crusaders and destroy them, using the last of Archie's energy in the process. The Crusaders all die, and an African-American soldier named Marcus Chamberlain, who was with Archie and the Terror at the last moment, gains the power and becomes the new American Crusader. In the spin-off ''Project Superpowers: Fractured States'', the original American Crusader is resurrected alongside other heroes lost in the void.

Heroes Inc.

Archibald Masters, the American Crusader, appears as a center character in the ongoing webcomic ''Heroes Inc.'', created in 2009 by Scott E. Austin. The webcomic takes place in an alternate reality where the allies of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

lost the war. In present day, the American Crusader gathers DNA from Golden Age heroes in order to create a new generation of heroes.

DC Comics

A version of the character was used in the ''

Multiversity ''The Multiversity'' is a two-issue limited series combined with seven interrelated one-shots set in the DC Multiverse In DC Comics, the Multiverse is a "cosmic construct" composed of the many fictional universes the stories of DC take plac ...

'' series, where he was the leader of a superteam on a parallel Earth, called the Retaliators (a reference to Captain America and his

Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...

). A second version of the character is killed at the beginning of the story to raise the stakes, and the character is shown on the cover of a comic read by a character during the story.

Powers and abilities

The American Crusader is capable of flight, superhuman strength, invulnerability to bullets, and

electromagnetic pulse An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), also a transient electromagnetic disturbance (TED), is a brief burst of electromagnetic energy. Depending upon the source, the origin of an EMP can be natural or artificial, and can occur as an electromagnetic fie ...

generation. The full extent of his powers at this time is unknown.

References

External links

American Crusader
at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
''Heroes Inc.''''Tales of the Living Legends''Metahuman Press
{{GoldenAge American superheroes America's Best Comics superheroes Comics characters introduced in 1941 Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds Comics characters with superhuman strength Dynamite Entertainment characters Fictional inventors Fictional scientists Golden Age superheroes Nedor Comics superheroes United States-themed superheroes