Issue 8: Escape from Checkmate
Appearing in this issue: Playboy, Rebel
(full members), 54-40, Doctor Unknown, Jet-Man (probationary members).
Villains: Grandmaster, Infamy Inc, and the Vivisector.
The issue opens with the
characters in small cells reflecting on how they were ambushed at a
public
ceremony by Infamy Inc and captured (flashback to ambush). Oxen, leader
of the Animal Farm, comes and talks with Jack. Jack promises to help
Animal
Farm escape their dependance on the Grandmaster in exchange for helping
Heroes Inc escape. The Heroes escape, regain their equipment and
confront
most of Infamy Inc (capturing three of the four members) and the
Vivisector
(a Nazi scientist now working for the Soviets) but the Grandmaster
escapes.
The Heroes emerge on 22 November to find that JFK has been shot in
Dallas.
-Interlude- Jan 1st, The first Rebel television special airs with guest stars Ann Bancroft, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ernie Kovacs, Sophia Loren, and Anna Meridian.
Issue 9: Heroes Inc no more?
and Diamonds
Appearing in this issue: Playboy, Askar
the Untamed, Blue Archer, the Human Jackrabbit, Kid Comic, Plasma-Man
(all
full members). Villains: The Mind Mistress, her Sycophant and her
Janissaries.
Part 1: Heroes Inc no
More?
President Lyndon Johnson has temporarily revoked all Government
charters
for superheroes, LBJ wants to draft heroes as the US did in WW2. Jack
is
appointed to the Warren commission as their 'expert on paranormal
capabilities.'
The other heroes gather at the Heroes Inc base to discus what to do and
end up going bowling and then having a session in the practice room.
Part 2: Diamond. Senator
Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) has pushed through the Superhero Samaritan Act
(SuSA)
and LBJ has, grudgingly, restored Heroes Inc charter. The Heroes attend
the opening of DeBeers 'Diamonds Now and Forever' exhibit. The heroes
stop
Mind Mistress and her thugs from robbing the exhibit and capture all
the
criminals.
-Interlude- Feb 6th,
Black Label Cigarettes presents 'The Rebel Variety Hour' as it premiers
in a weekly Thursday nighttime slot.
Feb 7th,
Beatles
arrive in the US to mass hysteria. 25,000 fans greet plane at JFK
airport.
Issue 10: Fear of Fashion
Appearing in this issue: Playboy, Askar
the Untamed, Blue Archer, Kid Comic, Plasma-Man (all full members).
Villains:
The Mad Mod and Modern Crimes (Big Wig, Runway and the Mannikan).
The Heroes are invited to
a charity fashion show and, of course, accept. Capt. Marcus Grimm,
USAF,
is assigned to work as the Government's liaison to Heroes Inc and
arrives.
The fashion show is interrupted by the Mad Mod and Modern Crimes after
a furious battle (which our heroes almost lose) Jack philosophical
confronts
the Mad Mod and he retreats with his team.
Issue 11: Dead Man's Hand
Appearing in this issue: Playboy, Askar
the Untamed, the Human Jackrabbit, Kid Comic (all full members). First
Appearance: Lt. Steel. Villains: The Hand of Glory and assorted demonic
entities.
The Blue Archer
leaves
the team to move to San Francisco. Lt Steel of the US Army's
Special
Equipment Division, is assigned to assist the team. Heroes Inc is
called in by the Chief of the NYPD, there has been an alarming rise in
the rate of domestic violence leading to murder. Several of the
people
involved, including one mind scanned by Mentus (one of Kid Comic's
forms),
reported seeing a spectral image of a dark hand with each finger tipped
by a burning wick before they went into a murderous rage. Jack
took
the team to Scotland in his private jet to consult with the Duke of
Sterling
(a sorcerer, who Jack had met during WW2). Then they returned to
NYC, investigated a building sight for a new subway where they fought
several
dark creatures and saw the creature bearing the Hand of Glory who is
behind
the violence. The characters were contacted by Doctor
Unknown,
who let them know that the Hand fed on fear and that he was slowly
using
wards to trap it. The Duke sent a box to contain the Hand.
Heroes Inc confronted the Hand, were sucked into the realm of
nightmare,
freed themselves, and finally defeated the Hand (saving the life of
Kitty
Genovese in the process).
Forward to Heroes Inc, Annual Zero
or to Heroes Inc, Issue 12
Back to Champions