10 Patriotic Comic Characters That Aren’t Captain America

Happy America, everyone! This Fourth of July, as we all express patriotism in our own ways, why not celebrate those comic characters from indie titles that while not as iconic as Marvel’s main avenger, show their own special pride for the red, white, and blue? Arguably several comic characters are proud of their geographic heritage, but these specific heroes are not only proud of the country they come from, but they incorporate our flag into their costume in ways both awesome and awkward! After all, what says independence more than the possibly questionable creative choices of an American independent publisher? So without further ado, here are ten patriotic independent comic characters that are NOT Captain America!

10. The Statesman (Cryptic Studios)

The Statesman is a character from the popular MMO game City of Heroes. He first debuted in an online promotional comic for the game of the same name produced by Cryptic Studios. Bio via Comicvine: “Born Marcus Cole, he fought his way through poverty and serving in the Great War before becoming the Statesman, revered hero and leader of Paragon City’s first group of heroes, The Freedom Phalanx.”

9. Patriot (Top Cow)

A character from Top Cow series, Rising Stars, Patriot (real name Jason Miller and formerly known as Flagg) is a superhero in a group of 113 operatives known as “Specials.” Bio via Wikipedia: “Masked corporate superhero employed by NexusCorp, later turned vigilante – With the powers of super-strength, flight, near-invulnerability and the power to sense radiation, he was initially considered the strongest among the Specials.”

8. The Shield (Archie)

Real name Lancelot Strong, was created in 1959 by Joe Simon and Jacky Kirby for Archie comics in a series called The Double Life of Lancelot Strong. It was later canceled after two issues when DC complained that the character’s origin was too similar to Superman. Bio via Wikipedia: “Lancelot’s scientist father developed a method to create a superhuman by expanding the mind, which he used on his infant son. After his father was killed by foreign agents, Lancelot was adopted by a farm couple and raised as their son. Once he hit his teens, he discovered the truth of his background and his powers: strength, flight, near-invulnerability, vision powers, the ability to generate lightning, and a few more. His father had created a patriotic costume for him, and he started off as the new superhero, the Shield. He soon joined the Army, acting like a Gomer Pyle-style country bumpkin, while leading a double life as the Shield (hence the title of his comic).”

7. Fighting Yank (Nedor Comics/American’s Best Comics/Dynamite)

Originally printed with Nedor Comics and later picked up briefly by American’s Best (a branch of DC), Fighting Yank was resurrected again by an indie publisher when Dynamite snagged the rights to the character in 2007. Bio via Wikipedia: “Bruce Carter III obtained his superhuman powers when the ghost of his ancestor Bruce Carter I, a hero from the American War of Independence, appeared to him and showed him the location of a magical cloak that could give the wearer invulnerability and super strength. Only Carter III’s girlfriend, Joan Farwell, knows of his dual identity. Along with this magical cloak, Fighting Yank’s outfit also included a tri-corner hat, square buckles, an American flag on his chest, a white shirt, and blue pants.”

6. Yankee Girl (Dynamic Comics/A.C. Comics)

Yankee Girl, who originally appeared in Dynamic Comics in the late ’40s is said to (according to Comic Vine) possess super powers arrived from “the American Spirit.” Bio via Wikipedia: “Yankee Girl’s secret identity is Lauren Mason, a heroine from the Golden Age of comics that AC revitalized and incorporated into the modern world. Her powers were originally bestowed by the wizard Merlin himself in order to produce a champion during the dark times of World War II.”

5. SuperPatriot (Image)

SuperPatriot was created by Erik Larsen in 1992 and published by Image comics. Bio via Comicvine: “An American soldier of WWII who was captured and given superpowers through Nazis’ experiments before becoming a costumed superhero. He was turned into a cyborg in the 1990s and continues to fight for justice and freedom as America’s SuperPatriot!”

4. Miss Victory (Holyoke Publishing/A.C. Comics)

After an originally more demure appearance in 1941′s “Captain Fearless #1″ published by Holyoke Publishing, Miss Victory was brought back for A.C. Comics series FemForce in 1984. Bio via Wikipedia: “Miss Victory was secretly stenographer Joan Wayne, whose work in a Government department, coupled with her desire to help the war effort, led her to don the patriotic guise of Miss Victory: a tight-fitting, red-white-and-blue costume with a plunging neckline and a V emblem across her chest. The 1984-revival version also possesses superhuman strength, as well as the ability to fly over short distances. Her true identity is Dr. Joan Wayne, a research scientist in the United States Department of Defense, who in the 1940s developed the “V-47 formula” to increase the strength/stamina of allied troops. The formula, however, only worked on Joan herself, and she became a superheroine. The formula also prevented her from aging, so that the Ms. Victory of today is still a young, attractive woman.”

3. Liberty Girl (Heroic Publishing)

One of many characters with liberty in their superhero mantle, Liberty Girl is known as the “America’s Bronze Goddess of Freedom.” Bio via Comicvine: “Liberty Girl was a popular superhero during World War II and maintained her popularity until her disappearance in 1956, in what appeared to be some freak temporal storm, only to re-appear in 2006.”

2. Liberty (Image)

Liberty is a character from Image comics that appeared in the Savage Dragon comic series. She is the twin sister of character Justice, who are the children of Superpatriot. Bio via Wikipedia: “The twins were the product of the union between Superpatriot and a girl named Rebecca who met at a peace rally in 1971 but were raised by her and Jake Farrell, an old ‘acquaintance’ of Superpatriot’s who works for the US government and had a supporting role in the Freak Force ongoing series who they call Uncle Jake. It is later revealed that Rebecca abandoned the children in the end and joined the underground organization The Covenant of the Sword, eventually becoming a techno-organic lifeform. Coincidentally her daughter Liberty would become a Covenant member years later.”

1. Flag (Ace Magazines)

I’m not sure how much more close to brand Flag (real name, Jim Courtney) could be. Bio via Comicvine: “When crippled war veteran and flag-maker, John Courtney, finds a baby boy on his doorstep, he cannot help but notice his American flag birthmark. Realizing the child is something special, he names him Jim and raises him as his own son. As young Jim grows, he discovers that his uniqueness consists of possessing the ‘speed of the wind and the strength of 100 men.’ When The Flag runs, he leaves a red, white and blue flag waving contrail in his wake. It’s soon discovered that if an American is in trouble and sing the Star Spangled Banner, then John’s birthmark glows and he is drawn to where that person is. Also if anyone else touches the flag birthmark on his chest they gain powers like The Flag for an hour.”

Elicia Sanchez

Elicia Sanchez is a writer, stand-up comedian and comic book reader. She has written for websites Wonder and Risk, Have You Nerd? and Autostraddle and has performed comedy at Bumbershoot, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Northwest Comedy Fest. She once did live commentary over Beastmaster with director Don Coscarelli who told her she was funny because he's really nice. Elicia currently resides in Seattle, WA where when not writing or performing, she spends her free time having panic attacks on the bus for no reason and dusting her action figures.

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