Alex Ross & Jim Krueger (w) Doug Klauba & Stephen Sadowski (a)
There are apparently a huge array of "Golden Age characters whose copyright has expired and are now in the public domain. Most of these were unfamiliar to me. I'd heard of The Black Terror and read a small press version of The Green Lama but otherwise this was a whole universe of characters reintroduced to a new generation.
This issue begins with an introductory #0 issue that tells the tale of war, heroism and eventual betrayal of the USA's super-heroes by The Fighting Yank who in an attempt to prevent evil from being in the world is persuaded to use a mystical urn to imprison these forces once again but the heroes must be sacrificed alongside. This of course is a mistake and one that in the present day or rather a rather alternate version of our world Bruce Carter comes to regret.
Persuaded by The American Spirit (don't ask) he travels to the Himalayas to link up with the The Green Lama and admit his crime. The Fighting Yank expects to be killed but isn't and is offered tea before they both go off to meet The Dynamic Family in New York who are guardians of the urn amongst other artefacts.
This family have become the powerhouse behind the American economy and have advanced science so much there are no longer "casualties" in the US armed forces (though there is a price we will discover later. The Dynamics have also turned away from the path of heroism and as the urn is produced Mr Dynamite deliberately destroys it and tells them he had it exorcised. The heroes will be long gone.
Realising their mistake too late the Green Lama and Fighting Yank are taken prisoner where the inevitable fight begins with a very vengeful Black Terror joining the fray vowing to kill Bruce for what he did but opposes the Dynamics first.
It appears the destruction of the urn simply scattered the heroes around the world an d as each issue rolls out new characters are introduced The Devil, The Flame, Masquerade and the Mighty Samson amongst others come into a world they do not know.
A war begins between the heroes and the Dynamics who are in service to "The Council" but not a part and New York is captured by the Lama who has "Swamp Thing" like powers and controls the green it seems. He uses Black terror to gather the heroes as they are found.
Samson discovers the secret behind the lack of "casualties" as in total blasphemy fallen soldiers are returned to life and enhance Frankenstein style to fight again and again. The ensuing war between the heroes and the Dynastic sees the "death" of Dynamic Boy and the heroes are designated terrorists as the battle continues.
The story will continue in a second charterer though ther is one of those expensive h1/2 issues in between which should be read after #7 an will reveal some of the secrets as yet untold. The story initially runs through h a a number of mini-series featuring Back Terror, Masquerade and The Devil (or original "Daredevil" if you prefer but the next stage is set.
With good story telling and great art (under the direction of Alex Ross this first chapter of the Project Superpowers saga is a great read and in time I will get around to looking at further parts. Still available in print I believe and worth picking up as Dynamite put a lot of effort into this series.
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