raul grau
Jun 28, 2004, 07:05 am
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/nopic.jpg" align=left alt="No Image Available">Real Name: Rod Reilly
Former Aliases: None
First Appearance: Police Comics #1
Last Appearance: Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2
Cause of Death: Killed by the Silver Ghost
Known Relatives: Ed Reilly (father, deceased), Danette Reilly (Firebrand II, sister, presumed deceased)
Group Affiliation: formerly Freedom Fighters, All-Star Squadron
Known Allies: formerly Midnight I, Firebrand II
Major Enemies: formerly Silver Ghost
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Prior to World War II, Rod Reilly lived the extravagant lifestyle of a Manhattan socialite, financially supported by his father, 'Emerald Ed' Reilly, a steel magnate. While attending a society party, Rod first encountered the vigilante known as Midnight, and was inspired to use his substantial leisure time for the good of others. 'Slugger' Dunn, a former prizefighter who had become the bodyguard of Rod, trained him in hand-to-hand combat techniques, preparing Rod for his costumed debut. Taking the codename Firebrand, Rod set his sights on a local crime syndicate, and continually foiled their plans.
With war on the horizon, Rod volunteered for military service, and Dunn followed suit, hoping to protect his former employer. In the early hours of December 7, 1941, Navy Ensign Rod Reilly was returning to his post onboard the Arizona, docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, following a visit with his sister, Danette. While Dunn was driving them back to base, the two became caught up in a surprise attack by Japanese forces, and a bomb struck their vehicle. Dunn was felled by an injury to his leg, and Rod was shot several times while rushing towards his friend. Ken Hosokawa, another enlisted man, was shot trying to reach the pair, but he managed to deliver them both to safety, before succumbing to his wounds. Dunn recovered quickly, but Rod was left comatose.
Months later, Rod came out of his coma, and discovered that Danette had become the new Firebrand during his convalescence. Danette, along with some of her teammates from the All-Star Squadron, visited him in the Naval hospital, and he related the story of Ken Hosokawa to her in order to stem her budding racism. When Rod had sufficiently recovered, he again donned the Firebrand costume, joining the Freedom Fighters, a splinter group of the Squadron operating out of Washington, DC.
Following the end of the war, the Fighters disbanded for a time, but reunited decades later, when its members were among the heroes briefly captured by Apellaxian invaders. They repeatedly tangled with the Nazi supervillain known as the Silver Ghost, who succeeded in killing Rod during one such clash. With the death of Firebrand, that grouping of Freedom Fighters decided to permanently end their association.
Though he possessed no special powers, Firebrand effectively fought criminals using his advanced pugilistic skills. He also employed some specialized equipment, including a lariat and vacuum cups, which allowed him to scale buildings.
APPEARANCES:
All-Star Squadron #1, 4, 13, 50
Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2
Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, 9
Freedom Fighters #11-15
Justice League of America #193
Police Comics #1-13
Secret Origins (2nd series) #28
Former Aliases: None
First Appearance: Police Comics #1
Last Appearance: Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2
Cause of Death: Killed by the Silver Ghost
Known Relatives: Ed Reilly (father, deceased), Danette Reilly (Firebrand II, sister, presumed deceased)
Group Affiliation: formerly Freedom Fighters, All-Star Squadron
Known Allies: formerly Midnight I, Firebrand II
Major Enemies: formerly Silver Ghost
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Prior to World War II, Rod Reilly lived the extravagant lifestyle of a Manhattan socialite, financially supported by his father, 'Emerald Ed' Reilly, a steel magnate. While attending a society party, Rod first encountered the vigilante known as Midnight, and was inspired to use his substantial leisure time for the good of others. 'Slugger' Dunn, a former prizefighter who had become the bodyguard of Rod, trained him in hand-to-hand combat techniques, preparing Rod for his costumed debut. Taking the codename Firebrand, Rod set his sights on a local crime syndicate, and continually foiled their plans.
With war on the horizon, Rod volunteered for military service, and Dunn followed suit, hoping to protect his former employer. In the early hours of December 7, 1941, Navy Ensign Rod Reilly was returning to his post onboard the Arizona, docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, following a visit with his sister, Danette. While Dunn was driving them back to base, the two became caught up in a surprise attack by Japanese forces, and a bomb struck their vehicle. Dunn was felled by an injury to his leg, and Rod was shot several times while rushing towards his friend. Ken Hosokawa, another enlisted man, was shot trying to reach the pair, but he managed to deliver them both to safety, before succumbing to his wounds. Dunn recovered quickly, but Rod was left comatose.
Months later, Rod came out of his coma, and discovered that Danette had become the new Firebrand during his convalescence. Danette, along with some of her teammates from the All-Star Squadron, visited him in the Naval hospital, and he related the story of Ken Hosokawa to her in order to stem her budding racism. When Rod had sufficiently recovered, he again donned the Firebrand costume, joining the Freedom Fighters, a splinter group of the Squadron operating out of Washington, DC.
Following the end of the war, the Fighters disbanded for a time, but reunited decades later, when its members were among the heroes briefly captured by Apellaxian invaders. They repeatedly tangled with the Nazi supervillain known as the Silver Ghost, who succeeded in killing Rod during one such clash. With the death of Firebrand, that grouping of Freedom Fighters decided to permanently end their association.
Though he possessed no special powers, Firebrand effectively fought criminals using his advanced pugilistic skills. He also employed some specialized equipment, including a lariat and vacuum cups, which allowed him to scale buildings.
APPEARANCES:
All-Star Squadron #1, 4, 13, 50
Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2
Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, 9
Freedom Fighters #11-15
Justice League of America #193
Police Comics #1-13
Secret Origins (2nd series) #28