FREEDOM'S FIVE
Membership: Crimson Cavalier (Jean-Luc Batroc), Iron Fist (Orson Randall), Phantom Eagle, Sir Steel, Silver Squire, Union Jack (Montgomery, Lord Falsworth)
Purpose: To defend the allied nations of World War I against their enemies
Affiliations: Eben Stafford and his Men on the Wall
Enemies: The Central Powers of WWI and their agents, including Baron Blood (John Falsworth);
Martian Masters;
possibly Urusla Frankenstein and her monstrous corpse soldiers
Base of Operations: Europe, World War I
First Appearance: Invaders I#7 (July, 1976)
History:
(Invaders I#7 (fb)) - In the
latter days of World War I, a team of costumed heroes was formed to combat Germany and the Central Powers. The members included Union Jack, the Crimson Cavalier, the
Phantom Eagle, and Sir Steel and his Silver Squire, and the group was known as the "Freedom's Five."
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Phantom Eagle) - The Freedom's Five were instrumental in bringing about a number of significant victories for the Allies during World War I.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) - Freedom's Five had an adventure, where Sir Steel came at their opponents straight on, getting their attention and drawing their fire, while the others took their opponents by surprise from the flank.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) - Silver Squire received unspecified injuries and was tended to be Dr. Pilate.
(All-New
Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) - During this time, Iron Fist (Orson Randall)
served as the Silver Squire's temporary replacement in Freedom's
Five.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) <October, 1917> - A Freedom's Five meeting -- joined by Iron Fist (Orson Randall), but lacking Phantom Eagle and the Silver Squire -- regarding the threat of Ursula Frankenstein (who was apparently creating "monstrous corpse soldiers using some kind of mad science") was interrupted by notification of the threat of the Martian Masters.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb)) - As Freedom's Five confronted the Masters, Sir Steel and Iron Fist attacked a tripod, while Crimson Cavalier and Union Jack engaged the armored Masters. The Cavalier wondered if they were German or Turkish monsters, but Union Jack, recalling a similar attack from "about a decade ago," noted that they were from Mars. Ned vaguely recalled hearing a whisper of the previous attack at the manor growing up.
Soon after, all members appreciated the timely arrival of the Phantom Eagle who cut down a number of the Masters.
Sir Steel encouraged the others as they achieved the final blows that broke one the tripod's legs. As the tripod shattered upon striking the ground., Ned noted that this was but one of many walking horrors.
After a group of high-tech weaponry-wielding men under Eben Stafford arrived and attacked the remaining Martian Masters, the Masters vanished back to Mars, taking one of these high-tech warriors with him (I'm not sure whether this was supposed to be John Carter, or what....)
(Invaders I#7 / Vampires: Marvel Undead: Baron Blood entry) - Freedom's Five was often on Baron Blood’s trail, but always a few steps behind; actual encounters proved rare, fleeting, and never when Union Jack was present, until 1918, when Blood was sent to London to slay senior British government and military leaders.
Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins and Vince Colletta.
See the individual members' profiles for discussion regarding contradictory names, etc.
In All-New Invaders #12, in October 1917 Freedom's
Five are planning an attack on Ursula Frankenstein, who is creating monsters
for the Germans. In Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of
Death#1, in 1933 Orson Randall seeks medical aid at one of Frankenstein's old
hideouts for the wounded Wendell Rand. He is greeted by a Frankenstein Monster
(presumably not the famous one, who should be frozen at this point in time I
believe), who tries to scare him, and Orson responds that "I wasn't afraid
of you in Germany fifteen years ago" - which supports the probability that
Orson went on to carry out the mission against Ursula, and maybe the rest of
Freedom's Five, too.
That said, this "Frank" (as he is called by his creator) is working
for a Frankenstein with whom Orson used to be friends with, who used to be a
university roommate of Orson's father, Phineas, who fled from Germany at some point, and
who has now transplanted his own brain into his son in an attempt at
immortality. But even so - ANI #12 says "going to Germany to fight a
Frankenstein circa late 1917" and ORGMD #1 says "met a Frankenstein's
Monster in Germany, circa 1918." Seems too big a coincidence to ignore.
Given Orson knew he had a hideout, they presumably spent some time together.
I'd guess that the raid happened, the elder Dr. Frankenstein in some way
assisted, and Frank, the monster, went from serving Ursula to the unidentified
Doctor. OSLT.
--Loki
by Prime Eternal; update/expansion by Snood
CLARIFICATIONS:
Freedom's Five should not be confused with:
Images taken from:
Invaders I#7, page 17 (numbered), panel 2
All-New
Invaders#12, story pg. 1, pg. 7
First Posted: 06/17/2007
Last updated: 01/24/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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