The CRUSADERS!
They meant well, they really did. The Crusaders were a group of patriotic British superheroes, each of whom was unable to serve in the British army for one reason or another (for example, Cap'n Wings had a slight heart murmur). So when they were approached by British secret agent 'Alfie' about becoming superheroes to fight in the war, they all jumped at the chance. 'Alfie' then outfitted them with costumes that gave them special abilities. They were under 'Alfie's command, since he wore a belt that would control their powers. The Crusaders began to establish themselves as the British answer to the Invaders when 'Alfie' convinced them that the Invaders were actually traitors. Shocked, but convinced by the proof 'Alfie' showed them, the Crusaders turned against the Invaders.
Suspicious of 'Alfie's claims, Crusader Dyna-Mite followed 'Alfie' to his headquarters. There, to his horror, he discovered 'Alfie' was actually a spy for the Third Reich. 'Alfie' had arranged for the Crusaders to guard King George VI as the King christened the HMS Hornblower, but the champagne bottle used for the christening was booby-trapped with an explosive. 'Alfie' caught Dyna-Mite spying on him and knocked him into the Thames River. Dyna-Mite made it to the river bank and sought out the Invaders. He explained everything to them and they went to stop the King from dying.
Still thinking the Invaders to be traitors, the Crusaders fought them. Fortunately, the Invaders saved the King and exposed 'Alfie's duplicity. 'Alfie' then tried to make his escape in his car, but a fireball from the Human Torch caused 'Alfie's car to explode and run off of a bridge. Wirh 'Alfie' dead and his control belt destroyed, the Crusaders were rendered powerless--not that they would have wanted powers created by the Nazis anyway.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
THE CRUSADERS:
SPIRIT OF '76The Spirit of '76 was actually William Nasland. He was the sole American in the Crusaders, and the only member without any powers. Inspired by Captain America, he became a costumed crimefigher in Philadelphia in 1942. He shortly shipped off to England and joined the Crusaders. When 'Alfie''s Nazi connection was exposed, the Spirit of '76 decided to continue on as a superhero (since he had no powers derived from Nazi science).
In 1945, after the disappearance of the original Captain America and Bucky, Harry S Truman selected the Spirit of '76 to become Captain America II, with Fred Davis becoming Bucky II. They fought for a time in Japan, until the war ended. In 1946, they both then joined the All-Winners Squad and learned that Adam II, a malevolent android created by Phineas T. Horton, was planning to kill and then impersonate the US Senator from Boston...John F. Kennedy. Captain America II and Bucky II tracked Adam II down to an old Boston church and fought his superhumanly strong robots. Bucky II was knocked unconscious, and Captain America II was caught in the grip of one of the robots. He was mortally wouned from the robot's crushing, but managed to fire a flare to signal his All-Winners Squad teammates. They arrived in time to save Kennedy, but it was too late to save the former Spirit of '76.
Following William Nasland's death, the Patriot took over as Captain America III.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearance: INVADERS #15
Dyna-Mite was actually Roger Aubrey. Unlike the other Crusaders, his powers didn't come from his costume. A few months prior to the formation of the Crusaders, Roger Aubrey and his friend Brian Falsworth had approved of the British government's appeasement to Hitler. They became friends of the Third Reich, until the war broke out and they discovered just how evil Hitler truly was. They decided to leave Germany, but the Third Reich stopped this from happening. Brian Falsworth escaped the German officials and became the Destroyer, while Roger was taken by German scientists. They shrank him while allowing him to retain his normal strength. They erased his memory and had him join the Crusaders as Dyna-Mite. After he exposed 'Alfie' he learned from Lord Falsworth, the former Union Jack and Brian's father, who he was. Dyna-Mite then teamed up with Lord Falsworth and Brian's sister Jacqueline (Spitfire of the Invaders) to find out what became of Brian and to discover how to undo the shrinking process. The three heroes, along with Falsworth's chauffeur Oskar, went to the Institute of Nazi Science and found Dr. Dietrich, the scientist that turned Roger into Dyna-Mite. They managed to escape with Dietrich and forced him to restore Roger's height.
After being cured, Roger took on the guise of the Destoyer (since Brian had given it up to become the second Union Jack). Roger was later taken prisoner by Master Man, who then used the Destroyer identity to fight for Hitler. The Invaders stopped Master Man and freed Roger, who again went behind enemy lines as the Destroyer. It is unknown what became of Roger after the war (but if you happen to know, please tell me!--eric).
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearances: INVADERS #15,18-23,26,34
GHOST GIRLLittle is known about the Crusader named Ghost Girl, except that she was the only Scottish member of the team. She had the ability to project her image several meters away from where she actually stood; thus, the enemy would never know exactly where she was. She first appeared, along with the Spirit of '76 and Dyna-Mite, fighting Nazis during a blitz of Britain. The Nazis had killed a few British medics, and the three members of the Crusaders arrived on the scene to stop them. After doing so, they were congratulated by the arriving Invaders.
After 'Alfie' was exposed as a Nazi, Ghost Girl lost her artificial ability to refract light and create "ghost" images of herself. She then apparently retired permanently from being a superhero. It is unknown what became of Ghost Girl after the war.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearance: INVADERS #15
CAP'N WINGSLittle is known about the history of Cap'n Wings. He had attempted to join the RAF, but a slight heart murmur kept him out. He finally got his chance to fly when 'Alfie' offered him the costume and alias of Cap'n Wings. He first appeared following a Nazi blitz of Britain. The blitz had created a massive fire, which British soldiers were struggling to put out. A man and his daughter had been trapped in the fire, but Cap'n Wings used his artificial wings to swoop in and glide them back out to safety.
Following the revelation that 'Alfie' was actually a Nazi, Cap'n Wings threw away his now useless wings and retired from active costumed duty. It remains unknown what became of him following the war.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearance: INVADERS #15
TOMMY LIGHTNINGLittle is known about the pre-war identity of the man called Tommy Lightning. He had the ability to draw in and project electricity. He used this ability in his first appearance to draw electrical energy out of fallen live wires following a Nazi blitz of Britain.
Following 'Alfie's exposure as a Nazi double-agent, Tommy Lightning discarded his now useless electrical apparatus and retired. It is unknown what became of him after the war.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearance: INVADERS #15
THUNDER FISTLittle is known about the behemoth named Thunder Fist. A large man, he wore special gloves that enhanced his strength. He used these gloves in his first appearance, trying to help British soldiers put out a massive fire that erupted following a Nazi blitz. Thunder Fist used his strength to knock rubble down on top of the fire and smother it.
Thunder Fist was suspicious of 'Alfie' at first, but was convinced by 'Alfie' that the Invaders were traitors and went along with him. Following 'Alfie's exposure as a Nazi double-agent, Thunder Fist got rid of his Nazi-created gloves and retired from superheroing. What became of him after the war is unknown.
First Appearance: INVADERS #14
Other Appearance: INVADERS #15
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