I WANT YOU. Not in a romantic way. Or in a possessive way. Like, in a patriotic way. Like a draft. But not a literal draft. Because then I'd be going to war. I'm a dodger, not a fighter. Square up, proud Americans. Today's Z-Lister is DC Comic's Uncle Sam!
Originally a character owned by Quality Comics and created in 1940's "National Comics #1" by Will Eisner, Uncle Sam is a comic book interpretation of the American icon by the same name. "Uncle Sam" had been a personification of the American government and the country in general ever since The War of 1812 and has since been used to promote aid to the country. When the U.S. government has urged American citizens to do their part, Uncle Sam has been the visual voicebox for them. When it came to comic books there was never any kind of rights quarrel. American culture icons like Uncle Sam, Columbia, and Brother Jonathan are under The Fair Use Policy, the document that states which fictional characters can and can't be used by any party. Its this policy that keeps Mickey Mouse a Disney property, Superman a DC Comics property, and Uncle Sam, Santa Claus, and The Grim Reaper available to anyone who wants to use them.
In 1973, DC Comics acquired Uncle Sam and a few other characters from Quality Comics and formed them into a team called The Freedom Fighters. Alongside Phantom Lady, The Human Bomb, Doll Man and a few others, Uncle Sam fought Nazis on "Earth-X" a version of Earth where World War II lasted until the 1970's. In the main DC Comics canon, Uncle Sam was once a spiritual entity created by The Founding Fathers in an occult ritual. He was bound to a talisman and would possess the body of a dying patriot. It was also stated that he took other forms like the character Minuteman, Brother Jonathan, Johnny Reb, and Billy Yank. One of his more recent appearances was when the organization SHADE-ran by Father Time-tried to create a new, militarist version of The Freedom Fighters. New versions of it's members included. When Sam learned of this, he sought out this new team and taught them the true meaning of heroism and patriotism. By his side, these new Freedom Fighters fought against SHADE.
Uncle Sam has been scanned up and down and doesn't appear to be human, metahuman, or even mystical in nature. He simply exists when America needs him to exist. He has the powers of super strength, super speed, he can alter his size, and some level of clairvoyance. His other interesting ability is his access to "The Homeland". This is a pocket dimension he can teleport himself and others to. Uncle Sam's life is directly attached to the American public. If we are weak, he is weak. If we do not believe, neither will he. He is the literal personification of American pride.
I really like Uncle Sam. Next to being a cool reinvention of a historical icon, his connection to our country makes him very interesting to me. You know by now that while I try not to be political on The Panel Biter, I do believe in people. I do enjoy my country and characters like Superman, Captain America, and Uncle Sam remind me what makes patriotism so important. Because it inspires others. This country was founded on the principle of unity. How can those who protect us do so if we do not support them? And that's what Uncle Sam is. He's a tank without a driver. He's not a character, he's a force of nature. Like Death or Time or Consciousness. He simply exists. The difference is that he depends on people like you and me to believe our country is still the best there is. To believe America is where dreams become reality. It's not the bright side Uncle Sam believes in, it's the hope that we can always come back stronger than before.
Thanks for reading.
In 1973, DC Comics acquired Uncle Sam and a few other characters from Quality Comics and formed them into a team called The Freedom Fighters. Alongside Phantom Lady, The Human Bomb, Doll Man and a few others, Uncle Sam fought Nazis on "Earth-X" a version of Earth where World War II lasted until the 1970's. In the main DC Comics canon, Uncle Sam was once a spiritual entity created by The Founding Fathers in an occult ritual. He was bound to a talisman and would possess the body of a dying patriot. It was also stated that he took other forms like the character Minuteman, Brother Jonathan, Johnny Reb, and Billy Yank. One of his more recent appearances was when the organization SHADE-ran by Father Time-tried to create a new, militarist version of The Freedom Fighters. New versions of it's members included. When Sam learned of this, he sought out this new team and taught them the true meaning of heroism and patriotism. By his side, these new Freedom Fighters fought against SHADE.
Uncle Sam has been scanned up and down and doesn't appear to be human, metahuman, or even mystical in nature. He simply exists when America needs him to exist. He has the powers of super strength, super speed, he can alter his size, and some level of clairvoyance. His other interesting ability is his access to "The Homeland". This is a pocket dimension he can teleport himself and others to. Uncle Sam's life is directly attached to the American public. If we are weak, he is weak. If we do not believe, neither will he. He is the literal personification of American pride.
I really like Uncle Sam. Next to being a cool reinvention of a historical icon, his connection to our country makes him very interesting to me. You know by now that while I try not to be political on The Panel Biter, I do believe in people. I do enjoy my country and characters like Superman, Captain America, and Uncle Sam remind me what makes patriotism so important. Because it inspires others. This country was founded on the principle of unity. How can those who protect us do so if we do not support them? And that's what Uncle Sam is. He's a tank without a driver. He's not a character, he's a force of nature. Like Death or Time or Consciousness. He simply exists. The difference is that he depends on people like you and me to believe our country is still the best there is. To believe America is where dreams become reality. It's not the bright side Uncle Sam believes in, it's the hope that we can always come back stronger than before.
Thanks for reading.
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