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{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|title = The Mighty Crusaders
| title = The Mighty Crusaders
|image = The Mighty Crusaders no 1.png
| image = The Mighty Crusaders no 1.png
|caption = ''The Mighty Crusaders'' No. 1 (Nov. 1965). Cover art by [[Paul Reinman]].
| caption = ''The Mighty Crusaders'' No. 1 (Nov. 1965). Cover art by [[Paul Reinman]].
|schedule = Monthly
| schedule = Monthly
|ongoing = y
| ongoing = y
|Superhero = y
| Superhero = y
|publisher = [[Archie Comics]]
| publisher = [[Archie Comics]]
|date = November 1965&nbsp;– November 1966
| date = November 1965&nbsp;– November 1966
|issues = 7
| issues = 7
|main_char_team =
| main_char_team =
|writers = [[Jerry Siegel]]
| writers = [[Jerry Siegel]]
|artists =
| artists =
|pencillers = [[Paul Reinman]]<br />[[Mike Sekowsky]]
| pencillers = [[Paul Reinman]]<br>[[Mike Sekowsky]]
|inkers = [[Joe Giella]]<br />[[Paul Reinman]]
| inkers = [[Joe Giella]]<br>[[Paul Reinman]]
|letterers = [[Sam Rosen (comics)|Sam Rosen]]
| letterers = [[Sam Rosen (comics)|Sam Rosen]]
|colorists = [[Victor Gorelick]]
| colorists = [[Victor Gorelick]]
|creative_team_month =
| creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year =
| creative_team_year =
|creators =
| creators =
|TPB = Origin of a Super Team
| TPB = Origin of a Super Team
|ISBN = 1-879794-14-4
| ISBN = 1-879794-14-4
|subcat = Archie Comics
| subcat = Archie Comics
|sort = Mighty Crusaders
| sort = Mighty Crusaders
}}
}}
The '''Mighty Crusaders''' is a fictional superhero team published by [[Archie Comics]]. The team originally appeared in ''Fly-Man'' No. 31, #32 and No. 33 before being launched in its own title, ''Mighty Crusaders''.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team|date=November 2003|publisher=Archie Comic Publications|id={{ISBNT|1-879794-14-4}} }}</ref> Written by Superman co-creator [[Jerry Siegel]], the series lasted seven issues before being cancelled. The team was revived under Archie's [[Red Circle Comics]] line in 1983. In 1992 [[DC Comics]] licensed the characters and relaunched the team as ''The Crusaders'', aiming the comic at younger readers as part of its [[Impact Comics|!mpact]] line. This series lasted eight issues, [[cover-date]]d May to December 1992.
The '''Mighty Crusaders''' is a fictional [[superhero]] team published by [[Archie Comics]]. The team originally appeared in ''Fly-Man'' No. 31, #32 and No. 33 before being launched in its own title, '''''The Mighty Crusaders'''''.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team|date=November 2003|publisher=Archie Comic Publications|id={{ISBNT|1-879794-14-4}} }}</ref> Written by Superman co-creator [[Jerry Siegel]], the series lasted seven issues before being cancelled.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=48}}</ref> The team was revived under Archie's [[Red Circle Comics]] line in 1983. In 1992 [[DC Comics]] licensed the characters and relaunched the team as ''The Crusaders'', aiming the comic at younger readers as part of its [[Impact Comics|!mpact]] line. This series lasted eight issues, [[cover-date]]d May to December 1992.


==Publication history==
==Publication history==
The popularity of DC's and Marvel's Silver Age superhero titles led [[Archie Comics]] to revive their own line of superhero comics.<ref name="Weiland"/> The Archie Adventure line began with titles centered on [[Fly (Red Circle Comics)|The Fly]], [[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|The Jaguar]], and a superheroic/spy version of the 1930s pulp character [[The Shadow#Comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels|The Shadow]]. After suggestions and fan-art<ref>"The Jaguar's Lair [lettercolumn]," ''The Jaguar'' #8 (September 1963). Fan Paul Seydor suggests a team called "The Anti-Crime League," and includes a drawing. See http://www.mightycrusaders.net/anticrimesquad.htm</ref> began suggesting a team made up of the characters published by Archie Comics precursor MLJ in the 1940s, Archie's superhero imprint, soon retitled [[Mighty Comics]], re-introduced many of these characters, and brought them together in several issues of ''Fly Man''. This team, which followed the success of [[Avengers (comics)|The Avengers]] and the [[Justice League of America]], was made up of [[Shield (Archie Comics)|The Shield]], The Fly (re-dubbed Fly-Man), [[Black Hood|The Black Hood]], and [[Comet (Archie Comics)|The Comet]]. Calling themselves The Mighty Crusaders, they initially came together as part of a plan by The Fly's nemesis The Spider to trap the hero.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Fly-Man|issue=31|writer=[[Jerry Siegel|Siegel, Jerry]]|penciller= Paul Reinman|inker=Paul Reinman|editor=Richard Goldwater|date=May 1965|publisher=Archie}}</ref> After appearing as a team for two more issues of ''Fly Man'', and gaining [[Flygirl]] as a member in the process, they spun off into their own series, ''The Mighty Crusaders'', which ran bimonthy for 7 issues.<ref name="Weiland"/><ref>{{cite comic|title=Mighty Crusaders|issue=1|writer=[[Jerry Siegel|Siegel, Jerry]]|penciller= Paul Reinman|inker=Joe Giella|editor=Richard Goldwater|date=November 1965|publisher=Archie}}</ref> The Archie series mixed typical superhero fare with high [[Camp (style)|camp]].<ref name="Weiland">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2390 |title='The Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super-Team' ships November |last=Weiland |first=Jonah |date=July 15, 2003 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref> [[Don Markstein]] writes that they touched on "all the genre's cliches of the time", with Siegel's writing on the book being a "hokey rendition of [[Stan Lee]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm |title=The Mighty Crusaders |publisher=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] |last=Markstein |first=Don |accessdate=March 9, 2009 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5f95Jb2YR?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm |archivedate=March 9, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
The popularity of DC's and Marvel's Silver Age superhero titles led [[Archie Comics]] to revive their own line of superhero comics.<ref name="Weiland"/> The Archie Adventure line began with titles centered on the [[Fly (Red Circle Comics)|Fly]], the [[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|Jaguar]], and a superheroic/spy version of the 1930s pulp character [[The Shadow#Comic strip|The Shadow]]. After suggestions and fan-art<ref>"The Jaguar's Lair [lettercolumn]," ''The Jaguar'' #8 (September 1963). Fan Paul Seydor suggests a team called "The Anti-Crime League," and includes a drawing. See http://www.mightycrusaders.net/anticrimesquad.htm</ref> began suggesting a team made up of the characters published by Archie Comics precursor MLJ in the 1940s, Archie's superhero imprint, soon retitled [[Mighty Comics]], re-introduced many of these characters, and brought them together in several issues of ''Fly-Man''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mougin |first1=Lou |title=Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics |date=2020 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638607|pages=140–142}}</ref>


This team, which followed the success of [[Avengers (comics)|the Avengers]] and the [[Justice League of America]], was made up of the [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield]], the Fly (re-dubbed Fly-Man), the [[Black Hood]], and the [[Comet (Archie Comics)|Comet]]. Calling themselves the Mighty Crusaders, they initially came together as part of a plan by the Fly's nemesis the Spider to trap the hero.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Fly-Man|issue=31|writer=[[Jerry Siegel|Siegel, Jerry]]|penciller= Paul Reinman|inker=Paul Reinman|editor=Richard Goldwater|date=May 1965|publisher=Archie}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=63}}</ref> After appearing as a team for two more issues of ''Fly-Man'', and gaining [[Flygirl (Archie Comics)|Flygirl]] as a member in the process, they spun off into their own series, ''The Mighty Crusaders'', which ran bimonthly for seven issues.<ref name="Weiland"/><ref>{{cite comic|title=Mighty Crusaders|issue=1|writer=[[Jerry Siegel|Siegel, Jerry]]|penciller= Paul Reinman|inker=Joe Giella|editor=Richard Goldwater|date=November 1965|publisher=Archie}}</ref> The Archie series mixed typical superhero fare with high [[Camp (style)|camp]].<ref name="Weiland">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2390 |title='The Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super-Team' ships November |last=Weiland |first=Jonah |date=July 15, 2003 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=2009-02-02}}</ref> [[Don Markstein]] writes that they touched on "all the genre's cliches of the time", with Siegel's writing on the book being a "hokey rendition of [[Stan Lee]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm |title=The Mighty Crusaders |publisher=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] |last=Markstein |first=Don |access-date=March 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913130158/http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
In 1983 the team and the series were relaunched, with [[Rich Buckler]] as writer and penciller on the first issue. A contractual dispute between Buckler and DC Comics saw the publication of the first issue delayed.<ref>{{cite journal | last =Thompson | first =Kim | title =Red Circle Debut Delayed | journal = The Comics Journal | issue =77 | page=23 | date=November 1982 | issn=0194-7869 |authorlink=Kim Thompson|author2=Steve Ringgenberg }}</ref> Buckler recruited [[Cary Burkett]] to write several issues of the ''Mighty Crusaders'' title.<ref name="Cobb">{{cite web|last=Cobb |first=Bradley S. |title=Cary Burkett Interview |publisher=The Mighty Crusaders Network |year=2001 |url=http://www.mightycrusaders.net/interviews/burkett.html |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/68eMGB6EZ?url=http://www.mightycrusaders.net/interviews/burkett.html |archivedate=June 24, 2012 |accessdate=June 23, 2012 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> The series ran until the middle of 1985, being cancelled with issue 13, cover dated September 1985.


⚫
In 1983 the team and the series were relaunched, with [[Rich Buckler]] as writer and penciller on the first issue. A contractual dispute between Buckler and DC Comics saw the publication of the first issue delayed.<ref>{{cite journal | last =Thompson | first =Kim | title =Red Circle Debut Delayed | journal = The Comics Journal | issue =77 | page=23 | date=November 1982 | issn=0194-7869 |authorlink=Kim Thompson|author2=Steve Ringgenberg }}</ref> Buckler recruited [[Cary Burkett]] to write several issues of the ''Mighty Crusaders'' title.<ref name="Cobb">{{cite web|last=Cobb |first=Bradley S. |title=Cary Burkett Interview |publisher=The Mighty Crusaders Network |year=2001 |url=http://www.mightycrusaders.net/interviews/burkett.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215170409/http://www.mightycrusaders.net/interviews/burkett.html |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The series ran until the middle of 1985, being cancelled with issue #13 (September 1985).
⚫
In 1992 DC Comics acquired a license to publish the characters, and launched a team book as part of the line. This series, titled only ''The Crusaders'', launched in early 1992. The first issue saw scriptwriting by [[Mark Waid]] and [[Brian Augustyn]]. The series and the line itself, Impact Comics, were aimed at younger readers. DC Comics attempted to sell Impact Comics titles through news-stands in an attempt to expand the potential market. However, due to internal conflicts, this distribution never happened and the imprint eventually collapsed due to poor sales. The last issue of the DC series was issue 8, cover dated December 1992.


⚫
In 1992 DC Comics acquired a license to publish the characters, and launched a team book as part of the line. This series, titled only ''The Crusaders'', launched in early 1992. The first issue saw scriptwriting by [[Mark Waid]] and [[Brian Augustyn]]. The series and the line itself, Impact Comics, were aimed at younger readers. DC Comics attempted to sell Impact Comics titles through newsstands in an attempt to expand the potential market. However, due to internal conflicts, this distribution never happened and the imprint eventually collapsed due to poor sales. The last issue of the DC series was issue #8 (December 1992).
⚫
The team also served as a partial inspiration for Alan Moore's ''[[Watchmen]]'' series. Moore had initially imagined the story as being based around second string heroes; "I wanted more average super-heroes, like the Mighty Crusaders line ... [the] original idea had started off with the dead body of the Shield being pulled out of a river somewhere." Moore used this idea when asked to submit a pitch for a treatment of DC Comics' then-newly acquired Charlton Comics properties. Although the treatment was rejected for those characters, DC Comics commissioned Moore to base the story on all new heroes, and the project became ''Watchmen''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Khoury|first=George|title=The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore|edition=Indispensable| date=December 2008|publisher=TwoMorrows|page=109}}</ref>

⚫
The team also served as a partial inspiration for Alan Moore's series ''[[Watchmen]]''. Moore had initially imagined the story as being based around second-string heroes: "I wanted more average super-heroes, like the Mighty Crusaders line ... [the] original idea had started off with the dead body of the Shield being pulled out of a river somewhere." Moore used this idea when asked to submit a pitch for a treatment of DC Comics' then-newly acquired Charlton Comics properties. Although the treatment was rejected for those characters, DC Comics commissioned Moore to base the story on all-new heroes, and the project became ''Watchmen''. Moore later used the Crusaders as inspiration for the Minutemen, the Golden Age predecessors of the ''Watchmen'' main characters.<ref>{{cite book|last=Khoury|first=George|title=The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore|edition=Indispensable| date=December 2008|publisher=TwoMorrows|page=109}}</ref>


==Team membership==
==Team membership==


===First series===
===First series===
The first Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie under their [[Mighty Comics]] line in the 1960s. At that time, members of the team consisted of:
The first Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie under their [[Mighty Comics]] line in the 1960s. At that time, the members of the team consisted of:


*[[Black Hood]] – first appeared in ''[[Top-Notch Comics]]'' No. 9, October 1940; revived in ''Adventures of the Fly'' #7 (July 1960).<ref>http://www.comics.org/issue/15704/#125517</ref>
* The [[Black Hood]] – first appeared in ''[[Top-Notch Comics]]'' #9 (October 1940); revived in ''Adventures of the Fly'' #7 (July 1960).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/15704/#125517|title = GCD :: Issue :: Adventures of the Fly #7}}</ref>
*[[Comet (Archie Comics)|The Comet]] – first appeared in ''[[Pep Comics]]'' No. 1 in January 1940; revived in ''Adventures of the Fly'' #30 (October, 1964).<ref>http://www.comics.org/issue/18644/#140702</ref>
* The [[Comet (Archie Comics)|Comet]] – first appeared in ''[[Pep Comics]]'' #1 (January 1940); revived in ''Adventures of the Fly'' #30 (October, 1964).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/18644/#140702|title = GCD :: Issue :: Adventures of the Fly #30}}</ref>
*[[Fly (Red Circle Comics)|The Fly]] – created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, first appeared in ''The Double Life of Private Strong'' No. 1.
* The [[The Fly (Archie Comics)|Fly]] – created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, first appeared in ''The Double Life of Private Strong'' #1.
*[[Flygirl]] – first appeared in issue No. 13 of ''The Adventures of the Fly''.
* [[Flygirl (Archie Comics)|Flygirl]] – first appeared ''The Adventures of the Fly'' #13.
* The [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield]] – first appeared in ''Fly-Man'' #31. The Shield first appeared in ''Pep Comics'' #1 (January 1940), and was a cover featured character until Archie took over ''Pep'' a few years later. The character was relaunched in 1959 as ''The Private Life of Lancelot Strong'' (by Simon and Kirby), and appeared in ''Fly-Man'' #31 with trunks instead of the singlet style American flag suit as used in the original incarnation.
*[[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield]] – first appeared in ''Fly-Man'' No. 31.


===Second series===
===Second series===
The second Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie Comics under their [[Red Circle Comics]] line of the 1980s. At this time, members of the team consisted of:
The second Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie Comics under their [[Red Circle Comics]] line of the 1980s. At this time, members of the team consisted of:


*[[Black Hood|Black Hood II]] (nephew of the original Black Hood)
* The [[Black Hood|Black Hood II]] (nephew of the original Black Hood)
*[[Comet (Archie Comics)|The Comet]]
* The [[Comet (Archie Comics)|Comet]]
*[[Darkling (Archie Comics)|Darkling]] (later killed off)
* [[Darkling (Archie Comics)|Darkling]] (later killed off)
*[[Fly (Archie Comics)|The Fly]]
* The [[Fly (Archie Comics)|Fly]]
*[[Flygirl]]
* [[Flygirl (Archie Comics)|Flygirl]]
*[[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|The Jaguar]]
* The [[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|Jaguar]]
*[[Shield (Archie Comics)|Lancelot Strong: Shield II]] (soon killed off)
* [[Shield (Archie Comics)#Lancelot Strong|Lancelot Strong, the Shield II]] (soon killed off)
*[[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield I]] (the original Shield)
* The [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield I]] (the original Shield)
*[[Web (comics)|The Web II]] (son of the original Web)
* The [[Web (character)|Web II]] (the son of the original Web)


This title kicked off the Red Circle comics and lasted thirteen issues.
This title kicked off the Red Circle comics and lasted 13 issues.


===Impact Comics series===
===Impact Comics series===
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===DC Comics series===
===DC Comics series===
A new Mighty Crusaders series was released by DC Comics, which assimilated the Red Circle heroes into its continuity following ''[[Final Crisis]]''. A series of one-shots lead into two ongoing Shield and Web titles, each of which was canceled after the publication of ten issues. Mighty Crusaders lasted seven issues. In addition to the established Red Circle characters, an original heroine by the name of '''War Eagle''' was introduced as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-july-2010-solicitations-100419.html |title=DC Comics' FULL JULY 2010 SOLICITATIONS |publisher=Newsarama.com |accessdate=2010-12-27}}</ref> The new team consists of:
A new ''Mighty Crusaders'' series was released by DC Comics, which assimilated the Red Circle heroes into its continuity following ''[[Final Crisis]]''. A series of one-shots led into two ongoing Shield and Web titles, each of which was canceled after 10 issues. ''Mighty Crusaders'' lasted seven issues. In addition to the established Red Circle characters, an original heroine by the name of '''War Eagle''' was introduced as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-july-2010-solicitations-100419.html |title=DC Comics' Full July 2010 Solicitations |work=Newsarama |access-date=2010-12-27}}</ref> The new team consists of:


*[[Comet (Archie Comics)|The Comet]]
* The [[Comet (Archie Comics)|Comet]]
*[[Inferno (Mighty Crusaders)|Inferno]]
* [[Inferno (Mighty Crusaders)|Inferno]]
*[[Flygirl]]
* [[Flygirl (Archie Comics)|Flygirl]]
*[[Shield (Archie Comics)|The Shield]]
* The [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield]]
*[[Web (comics)|The Web]]
* The [[Web (character)|Web]]
*[[Hangman (Archie Comics)|Hangman]]
* The [[Hangman (Archie Comics)|Hangman]]
*[[Fox (comics)|The Fox]]
* The [[Fox (comics)|Fox]]
*[[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|Jaguar]]
* The [[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|Jaguar]]
* The [[Black Hood#Mateo Burland|Black Hood]]
*War Eagle
* War Eagle


===New Crusaders===
===New Crusaders===
In 2012, Archie comics returned to The Mighty Crusaders characters. The new series, titled '''''[[New Crusaders]]''''' would pick up on the characters from the original series many years after the last of their arch-villains had been defeated. ''New Crusaders'' follows the progeny of the Mighty Crusaders as they struggle to become heroes after the return of the Brain Emperor. The series debuted digitally on May 16, 2012, through Archie Comics’ Red Circle app,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redcirclecomics.com/2012/05/16/the-new-crusaders-take-off-today/ |title=New Crusaders Take Off Today |publisher=redcirclecomics.com |accessdate=2012-08-09}}</ref> with print publication scheduled to begin monthly on September 5, 2012. For digital release, issues were divided into fourths and released once a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redcirclecomics.com/release-schedule/ |title=Release Schedule |publisher=redcirclecomics.com |accessdate=2012-08-09}}</ref>
In 2012, Archie comics returned to The Mighty Crusaders characters. The new series, titled '''''[[New Crusaders]]''''' would pick up on the characters from the original series many years after the last of their arch-villains had been defeated. ''New Crusaders'' follows the progeny of the Mighty Crusaders as they struggle to become heroes after the return of the Brain Emperor. The series debuted digitally on May 16, 2012, through Archie Comics’ Red Circle app,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redcirclecomics.com/2012/05/16/the-new-crusaders-take-off-today/ |title=New Crusaders Take Off Today |date=May 16, 2012 |publisher=redcirclecomics.com |access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> with print publication scheduled to begin monthly on September 5, 2012. For digital release, issues were divided into fourths and released once a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redcirclecomics.com/release-schedule/ |title=Release Schedule |date=February 13, 2012 |publisher=redcirclecomics.com |access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref>


A spinoff, ''Lost Crusade'', was announced which would run every fifth week and fill in the gaps between the 1980s Red Circle comics & ''New Crusaders''. Ian Flynn expressed a desire to explore the gap between the 1980s series and ''New Crusaders'': "There were so many open endings when the '80s era series wrapped up that it's hard to choose. What happened to Darkling? Who was the traitor? Did Black Hood figure it out, or just make things worse? Did anyone mourn Doc Reeves? There's tons of stories and characters to explore, and it's honestly hard to choose." <ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39658 Comic Book Resources: "CCI EXCLUSIVE: Chuck Dixon Joins Red Circle's "Lost Crusade""]</ref><ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40729 Comic Book Resources: Ian Flynn Launches Red Circle's "Lost Crusade"], August 29th 2012</ref> However, despite announcements for ''New Crusaders: Dark Tomorrow'' and ''Lost Crusade'' creative teams,.<ref>[http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/archie-goes-same-day-print-and-digital-with-red-circle-comics/ Robot 6: "Archie goes same-day print and digital with Red Circle comics"]</ref><ref>[http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/jon-goldwater-discusses-2012-and-what-lies-ahead-for-archie-comics/ Robot 6: "Jon Goldwater discusses 2012 and what lies ahead for Archie Comics"]</ref> The incoming Red Circle editor [[Alex Segura]] mentioned "[I] have a great fondness for New Crusaders and the stuff that book aimed to do" in a March 2014 interview but that Red Circle (later rebranded Dark Circle) would be taking a new path: "These won’t be all-ages superhero books that we hope will appeal to older readers. As much as I love New Crusaders, it won’t be a direct follow-up to that. If you want an idea of what we’re shooting for, Afterlife with Archie is your best example. We see the Red Circle expansion as a continuation of the success of Afterlife."
A spinoff, ''Lost Crusade'', was announced which would run every fifth week and fill in the gaps between the 1980s Red Circle comics and ''New Crusaders''. Ian Flynn expressed a desire to explore the gap between the 1980s series and ''New Crusaders'': "There were so many open endings when the '80s era series wrapped up that it's hard to choose. What happened to Darkling? Who was the traitor? Did Black Hood figure it out, or just make things worse? Did anyone mourn Doc Reeves? There's tons of stories and characters to explore, and it's honestly hard to choose."<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39658 Comic Book Resources: "CCI EXCLUSIVE: Chuck Dixon Joins Red Circle's "Lost Crusade""]</ref><ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40729 Comic Book Resources: Ian Flynn Launches Red Circle's "Lost Crusade"], August 29th 2012</ref> However, despite announcements for ''New Crusaders: Dark Tomorrow'' and ''Lost Crusade'' creative teams,<ref>[http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/archie-goes-same-day-print-and-digital-with-red-circle-comics/ Robot 6: "Archie goes same-day print and digital with Red Circle comics"]</ref><ref>[http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/jon-goldwater-discusses-2012-and-what-lies-ahead-for-archie-comics/ Robot 6: "Jon Goldwater discusses 2012 and what lies ahead for Archie Comics"]</ref> the incoming Red Circle editor [[Alex Segura]] mentioned "[I] have a great fondness for New Crusaders and the stuff that book aimed to do" in a March 2014 interview but that Red Circle (later rebranded Dark Circle) would be taking a new path: "These won't be all-ages superhero books that we hope will appeal to older readers. As much as I love New Crusaders, it won't be a direct follow-up to that. If you want an idea of what we’re shooting for, Afterlife with Archie is your best example. We see the Red Circle expansion as a continuation of the success of Afterlife."


===Dark Circle's Crusaders===
===Dark Circle's Crusaders===
Dark Circle comics started a new run in December 2017 featuring the new Shield (Victoria Adams), Steel Sterling, Firefly, Darkling, The Comet, and Jaguar.
Dark Circle comics started a new run in December 2017 featuring the new [[Shield (Archie Comics)|Shield (Victoria Adams)]], Steel Sterling, [[Firefly (Archie Comics)|Firefly]], Darkling, [[Comet (Archie Comics)|The Comet]] and [[Jaguar (Archie Comics)|Jaguar]].


==Collected editions==
==Collected editions==
Recently, Archie Comics has reprinted some of the Mighty Crusaders adventures in a trade paperback collection under the "Red Circle Productions" name. This TPB is no longer available, however, since [[Joe Simon]] successfully contested ownership of the character of [[Fly (Archie Comics)|The Fly/Fly-Man]] in 2011, meaning that [[Archie Comics]] is no longer allowed to use the character.
Recently, Archie Comics has reprinted some of the Mighty Crusaders adventures in a trade paperback collection under the "Red Circle Productions" name. This TPB is no longer available, however, since [[Joe Simon]] successfully contested ownership of the character of [[Fly (Archie Comics)|The Fly/Fly-Man]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The fly / By Joe Simon & Archie Comics Publications, Inc. B826394 (1959)... |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=1&ti=1,1&Search_Arg=JOE%20SIMON%20Transfer%20of%20copyright.&Search_Code=FT*&CNT=25&PID=e2WOLaGdLGaWlLUmhzKyMglUak2al&SEQ=20231223140414&SID=14 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=cocatalog.loc.gov}}</ref> meaning that [[Archie Comics]] is no longer allowed to use the character.


*''Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team'' (reprints Fly-Man #31, #32 and #33 and Mighty Crusaders #1, 96 pages, November 2003, {{ISBN|1-879794-14-4}})
*''Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team'' (reprints Fly-Man #31, #32 and #33 and Mighty Crusaders #1, 96 pages, November 2003, {{ISBN|1-879794-14-4}})
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===Toys===
===Toys===
''The Mighty Comics Superheroes Game'' board game was released by Transogram in 1966, and featured the Mighty Crusaders characters. Many of the characters featured on the box are given names they do not use in the comics ([[Fox (comics)|The Fox]] is "Mr. Fox", for instance).<ref>http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23429/mighty-comics-superheroes-game</ref>
''The Mighty Comics Superheroes Game'' board game was released by Transogram in 1966, and featured the Mighty Crusaders characters. Many of the characters featured on the box are given names they do not use in the comics ([[Fox (comics)|The Fox]] is "Mr. Fox", for instance).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23429/mighty-comics-superheroes-game|title = Mighty Comics Superheroes Game}}</ref>


Carded [[Action Figures]] were produced in 1984 for some of the Mighty Crusaders by the [[Remco]] Toy Company, featuring packaging art by [[Steve Ditko]]. Each figure came with a Secret Sonic Signaling shield. There were 4 heroes and 4 villains in the line. Included were:
Carded [[Action Figures]] were produced in 1984 for some of the Mighty Crusaders by the [[Remco]] Toy Company, featuring packaging art by [[Steve Ditko]]. Each figure came with a Secret Sonic Signaling shield. There were four heroes and four villains in the line. Included were:


*The Comet
*The Comet
Line 115: Line 118:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm The Mighty Crusaders] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://www.webcitation.org/67N2NGSw3?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm Archived] from the original on May 2, 2012.
*[http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm The Mighty Crusaders] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20120913130158/http://www.toonopedia.com/mightycr.htm Archived] from the original on May 2, 2012.
*[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/archiecom.htm Archie Superheroes] at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
*[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/archiecom.htm Archie Superheroes] at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
*{{gcdb|type=characters|search=Mighty+Crusaders|title=Mighty Crusaders}}
*{{gcdb|type=characters|search=Mighty+Crusaders|title=Mighty Crusaders}}
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[[Category:1965 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1965 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Archie Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:Archie Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:American comics characters]]
[[Category:Superhero comics]]
[[Category:Superhero comics]]

Latest revision as of 15:12, 13 December 2024

"The Mighty Crusaders" redirects here. For the adventure-fantasy film, see The Mighty Crusaders (film).

The Mighty Crusaders
The Mighty Crusaders No. 1 (Nov. 1965). Cover art by Paul Reinman.
Publication information
PublisherArchie Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication dateNovember 1965 – November 1966
No. of issues7
Creative team
Written byJerry Siegel
Penciller(s)Paul Reinman
Mike Sekowsky
Inker(s)Joe Giella
Paul Reinman
Letterer(s)Sam Rosen
Colorist(s)Victor Gorelick
Collected editions
Origin of a Super TeamISBN 1-879794-14-4

The Mighty Crusaders is a fictional superhero team published by Archie Comics. The team originally appeared in Fly-Man No. 31, #32 and No. 33 before being launched in its own title, The Mighty Crusaders.[1] Written by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, the series lasted seven issues before being cancelled.[2] The team was revived under Archie's Red Circle Comics line in 1983. In 1992 DC Comics licensed the characters and relaunched the team as The Crusaders, aiming the comic at younger readers as part of its !mpact line. This series lasted eight issues, cover-dated May to December 1992.

Publication history

[edit]

The popularity of DC's and Marvel's Silver Age superhero titles led Archie Comics to revive their own line of superhero comics.[3] The Archie Adventure line began with titles centered on the Fly, the Jaguar, and a superheroic/spy version of the 1930s pulp character The Shadow. After suggestions and fan-art[4] began suggesting a team made up of the characters published by Archie Comics precursor MLJ in the 1940s, Archie's superhero imprint, soon retitled Mighty Comics, re-introduced many of these characters, and brought them together in several issues of Fly-Man.[5]

This team, which followed the success of the Avengers and the Justice League of America, was made up of the Shield, the Fly (re-dubbed Fly-Man), the Black Hood, and the Comet. Calling themselves the Mighty Crusaders, they initially came together as part of a plan by the Fly's nemesis the Spider to trap the hero.[6][7] After appearing as a team for two more issues of Fly-Man, and gaining Flygirl as a member in the process, they spun off into their own series, The Mighty Crusaders, which ran bimonthly for seven issues.[3][8] The Archie series mixed typical superhero fare with high camp.[3] Don Markstein writes that they touched on "all the genre's cliches of the time", with Siegel's writing on the book being a "hokey rendition of Stan Lee".[9]

In 1983 the team and the series were relaunched, with Rich Buckler as writer and penciller on the first issue. A contractual dispute between Buckler and DC Comics saw the publication of the first issue delayed.[10] Buckler recruited Cary Burkett to write several issues of the Mighty Crusaders title.[11] The series ran until the middle of 1985, being cancelled with issue #13 (September 1985).

In 1992 DC Comics acquired a license to publish the characters, and launched a team book as part of the line. This series, titled only The Crusaders, launched in early 1992. The first issue saw scriptwriting by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn. The series and the line itself, Impact Comics, were aimed at younger readers. DC Comics attempted to sell Impact Comics titles through newsstands in an attempt to expand the potential market. However, due to internal conflicts, this distribution never happened and the imprint eventually collapsed due to poor sales. The last issue of the DC series was issue #8 (December 1992).

The team also served as a partial inspiration for Alan Moore's series Watchmen. Moore had initially imagined the story as being based around second-string heroes: "I wanted more average super-heroes, like the Mighty Crusaders line ... [the] original idea had started off with the dead body of the Shield being pulled out of a river somewhere." Moore used this idea when asked to submit a pitch for a treatment of DC Comics' then-newly acquired Charlton Comics properties. Although the treatment was rejected for those characters, DC Comics commissioned Moore to base the story on all-new heroes, and the project became Watchmen. Moore later used the Crusaders as inspiration for the Minutemen, the Golden Age predecessors of the Watchmen main characters.[12]

Team membership

[edit]

First series

[edit]

The first Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie under their Mighty Comics line in the 1960s. At that time, the members of the team consisted of:

  • The Black Hood – first appeared in Top-Notch Comics #9 (October 1940); revived in Adventures of the Fly #7 (July 1960).[13]
  • The Comet – first appeared in Pep Comics #1 (January 1940); revived in Adventures of the Fly #30 (October, 1964).[14]
  • The Fly – created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, first appeared in The Double Life of Private Strong #1.
  • Flygirl – first appeared The Adventures of the Fly #13.
  • The Shield – first appeared in Fly-Man #31. The Shield first appeared in Pep Comics #1 (January 1940), and was a cover featured character until Archie took over Pep a few years later. The character was relaunched in 1959 as The Private Life of Lancelot Strong (by Simon and Kirby), and appeared in Fly-Man #31 with trunks instead of the singlet style American flag suit as used in the original incarnation.

Second series

[edit]

The second Mighty Crusaders group was created by Archie Comics under their Red Circle Comics line of the 1980s. At this time, members of the team consisted of:

This title kicked off the Red Circle comics and lasted 13 issues.

Impact Comics series

[edit]

When DC Comics licensed the Archie superheroes for their Impact line in the 1990s, the team was simply called the Crusaders. The DC series The Crusaders lasted eight issues, from May to December 1992.

DC Comics series

[edit]

A new Mighty Crusaders series was released by DC Comics, which assimilated the Red Circle heroes into its continuity following Final Crisis. A series of one-shots led into two ongoing Shield and Web titles, each of which was canceled after 10 issues. Mighty Crusaders lasted seven issues. In addition to the established Red Circle characters, an original heroine by the name of War Eagle was introduced as well.[15] The new team consists of:

New Crusaders

[edit]

In 2012, Archie comics returned to The Mighty Crusaders characters. The new series, titled New Crusaders would pick up on the characters from the original series many years after the last of their arch-villains had been defeated. New Crusaders follows the progeny of the Mighty Crusaders as they struggle to become heroes after the return of the Brain Emperor. The series debuted digitally on May 16, 2012, through Archie Comics’ Red Circle app,[16] with print publication scheduled to begin monthly on September 5, 2012. For digital release, issues were divided into fourths and released once a week.[17]

A spinoff, Lost Crusade, was announced which would run every fifth week and fill in the gaps between the 1980s Red Circle comics and New Crusaders. Ian Flynn expressed a desire to explore the gap between the 1980s series and New Crusaders: "There were so many open endings when the '80s era series wrapped up that it's hard to choose. What happened to Darkling? Who was the traitor? Did Black Hood figure it out, or just make things worse? Did anyone mourn Doc Reeves? There's tons of stories and characters to explore, and it's honestly hard to choose."[18][19] However, despite announcements for New Crusaders: Dark Tomorrow and Lost Crusade creative teams,[20][21] the incoming Red Circle editor Alex Segura mentioned "[I] have a great fondness for New Crusaders and the stuff that book aimed to do" in a March 2014 interview but that Red Circle (later rebranded Dark Circle) would be taking a new path: "These won't be all-ages superhero books that we hope will appeal to older readers. As much as I love New Crusaders, it won't be a direct follow-up to that. If you want an idea of what we’re shooting for, Afterlife with Archie is your best example. We see the Red Circle expansion as a continuation of the success of Afterlife."

Dark Circle's Crusaders

[edit]

Dark Circle comics started a new run in December 2017 featuring the new Shield (Victoria Adams), Steel Sterling, Firefly, Darkling, The Comet and Jaguar.

Collected editions

[edit]

Recently, Archie Comics has reprinted some of the Mighty Crusaders adventures in a trade paperback collection under the "Red Circle Productions" name. This TPB is no longer available, however, since Joe Simon successfully contested ownership of the character of The Fly/Fly-Man,[22] meaning that Archie Comics is no longer allowed to use the character.

  • Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team (reprints Fly-Man #31, #32 and #33 and Mighty Crusaders #1, 96 pages, November 2003, ISBN 1-879794-14-4)

Other media

[edit]

Toys

[edit]

The Mighty Comics Superheroes Game board game was released by Transogram in 1966, and featured the Mighty Crusaders characters. Many of the characters featured on the box are given names they do not use in the comics (The Fox is "Mr. Fox", for instance).[23]

Carded Action Figures were produced in 1984 for some of the Mighty Crusaders by the Remco Toy Company, featuring packaging art by Steve Ditko. Each figure came with a Secret Sonic Signaling shield. There were four heroes and four villains in the line. Included were:

  • The Comet
  • The Fox
  • The Shield
  • The Web
  • The Brain Emperor
  • The Buzzard
  • The Eraser
  • The Sting

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super Team (November 2003). Archie Comic Publications, 1-879794-14-4.
  2. ^ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 9781893905610.
  3. ^ a b c Weiland, Jonah (July 15, 2003). "'The Mighty Crusaders: Origin of a Super-Team' ships November". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  4. ^ "The Jaguar's Lair [lettercolumn]," The Jaguar #8 (September 1963). Fan Paul Seydor suggests a team called "The Anti-Crime League," and includes a drawing. See http://www.mightycrusaders.net/anticrimesquad.htm
  5. ^ Mougin, Lou (2020). Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics. McFarland & Co. pp. 140–142. ISBN 9781476638607.
  6. ^ Siegel, Jerry (w), Paul Reinman (p), Paul Reinman (i), Richard Goldwater (ed). Fly-Man, no. 31 (May 1965). Archie.
  7. ^ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-1605490557.
  8. ^ Siegel, Jerry (w), Paul Reinman (p), Joe Giella (i), Richard Goldwater (ed). Mighty Crusaders, no. 1 (November 1965). Archie.
  9. ^ Markstein, Don. "The Mighty Crusaders". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  10. ^ Thompson, Kim; Steve Ringgenberg (November 1982). "Red Circle Debut Delayed". The Comics Journal (77): 23. ISSN 0194-7869.
  11. ^ Cobb, Bradley S. (2001). "Cary Burkett Interview". The Mighty Crusaders Network. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  12. ^ Khoury, George (December 2008). The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore (Indispensable ed.). TwoMorrows. p. 109.
  13. ^ "GCD :: Issue :: Adventures of the Fly #7".
  14. ^ "GCD :: Issue :: Adventures of the Fly #30".
  15. ^ "DC Comics' Full July 2010 Solicitations". Newsarama. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  16. ^ "New Crusaders Take Off Today". redcirclecomics.com. May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  17. ^ "Release Schedule". redcirclecomics.com. February 13, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  18. ^ Comic Book Resources: "CCI EXCLUSIVE: Chuck Dixon Joins Red Circle's "Lost Crusade""
  19. ^ Comic Book Resources: Ian Flynn Launches Red Circle's "Lost Crusade", August 29th 2012
  20. ^ Robot 6: "Archie goes same-day print and digital with Red Circle comics"
  21. ^ Robot 6: "Jon Goldwater discusses 2012 and what lies ahead for Archie Comics"
  22. ^ "The fly / By Joe Simon & Archie Comics Publications, Inc. B826394 (1959)..." cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Mighty Comics Superheroes Game".
[edit]
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