Firebrand

Leftest activist Andre Twist is the fourth incarnation of Firebrand. Firebrand joined Uncle Sam's latest Freedom Fighters after gaining his powers over fire after Chemo was dropped on Bludhavan.

 

Firebrand I

Rod Reilly

Bored with his life of perpetual leisure, millionairre playboy Rod Reilly created the masked identity of the Firebrand so he could experience the thrills and adventures that had been so sorely lacking in his life. His secret known only to his best friend, "Slugger" Dunn, the ex heavyweight boxer who helped train Reilly for his new role, the Firebrand took on a villainous crime syndicate that had virtually taken over the city, only to find himself mistakenly accused of being the syndicate's leader.

Though wanted by both the police and the mob, Firebrand continued to fight crime until the early days of World War Two, when he and "Slugger" enrolled in the navy. Critically wounded during the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbour, Roy lay bedridden for many months while his sister Danette assumed the identity of Firebrand, making use of the fiery super powers she had accidentally gained just weeks before.

Ultimately recovering from his wounds, Rod once more assumed the guise of Firebrand, travelling to the parallel planet Earth -X in an undisclosed manner. There he battled the Nazi menace in his own way for the next few decades until the Third Reich was finally defeated by Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters. When the Freedom Fighters eventually left Earth -X behind, Firebrand followed them and eventually joined their ranks. 

Skills and Abilities

In his prime, Reilly was an Olympic-level athlete and superb hand-to-hand combatant. Reilly possesses no super-powers, but he was personally trained by ex-heavyweight boxer “Slugger” Dunn to the height of physical perfection.

Danette Reilly

Danette Reilly was the daughter of steel tycoon, "Emerald Ed" Reilly and the sister of Rod Reilly, who was secretly the costumed crime fighter Firebrand. She was also once the lover of the brilliant atomic physicist Terence Curtis. Danette became a Vulcanologist and in December 1941 went to study a volcanic island that had just appeared north of the Hawaiian islands.

She was captured by Per Degaton and his allies who were using the island as a base. While fleeing through a cavern on the island, Danette was struck by a mystical bolt hurled by Degaton's ally Wotan, which surrounded her with a strange green aura.

She fell into a vat of artificial lava that Degaton had left there. Danette survived and the JSA and other costumed heroes - who became the All-Star Squadron- defeated Degaton.

Danette learned that her brother Rod who had joined the Navy had been seriously wounded in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Back in New York City, Danette used a key that Rod had instructed his friend Slugger Dunn to give her to open a secret closet in his penthouse. There she found Rod's Firebrand costumes and a letter to her revealing his double identity. Intrigued, Danette made a costume for herself out of one of her swimsuits and one of her brother's Firebrand costumes. Then she discovered by accident that she could create fires by gesturing, apparently as a result of what happened to her on Degaton's island. Danette became the new Firebrand and joined the All-Star Squadron. She fell in love with fellow team mate Sir Justin.

In early 1942 the new Firebrand was captured by Terence Curtis who had become the super powered Cyclotron. Learning that Firebrand was Danette, Curtis confessed to her that he was being forced to serve the evil Ultra-Humanite in order to save his and his infant daughter's life. After Curtis' heroic death, Firebrand and the Atom took it upon themselves to ensure that Cutis' daughter Terri ( Atom-Smasher's mother) was raised properly. She was killed by the villain known as Dragon King.

Skills and Abilities

Danette could generate fire, usually in the form of fireblast and "bolts". She's impervious to fire, which she can surround her body with and not harm herself or her clothing. She has complete mental control over fire in her immediate vicinity and can absorb it into her body harmlessly.  Danette also learned to use her power to make her fly, which she usually surrounds herself with a  flaming aura when in flight.

Alex Sanchez

Alejandro 'Alex' Sanchez was a former police detective who nearly was killed in an explosion that destroyed his apartment. Sanchez underwent experimental surgery to restore his mobility,  the surgery was graciously paid for by local philanthropist Noah Hightower.  Hightower had specific plans for him and later approached Sanchez with a "special opportunity". Hightower offered Sanchez a suit of advanced armor which, when combined with the implants, would give Sanchez enhanced strength and speed for a period up to four hours. Telling Sanchez that it was an opportunity of a lifetime for a man like him, who after being broken could pick the pieces of his life up and become even more than before.

After Sanchez's partner was attacked during an investigation, he agreed to become a costumed superhero, Sanchez chose Firebrand as his alias. Sanchez soon learned that in addition to enhanced strength, the armor emits an eerie greenish flame, giving him a otherworldly demonic appearance.

Sanchez's tenure as Firebrand lasted only nine issues of his self-titled comic. He reappeared in later in the JSA's pages where he is stabbed in the throat and dies in Roulette's underground gaming arena for costumed characters, the House, at the hands of a drugged Checkmate knight.

Skills and abilities

Sanchez's surgical implants and advanced suit gives him enhanced strength and speed. His suit also emits a greenish flame that gives him a demonic appearance.

Firebrand IV

Andre Twist

Twist gains control over fire after his exposure to the villain Chemo being dropped on the city of .  Twist hears a voice in his head, asking him to come to the and fight for liberty, claiming that he is pure of heart and will be his Firebrand. The voice turns out to be that of Uncle Sam.

After joining forces with Uncle Sam, Twist is captured and tortured by Father Time after being caught attacking senator/presidential candidate Henry Knight, who is really Gonzo the Mechanical Bastard.  Twist is freed from captivity by the current Phantom Lady, and joins the rest of Uncle Sam’s Freedom Fighters to recruit the new Black Condor.  Twist and the rest of the Freedom Fighters manage to defeat Gonzo, and are offered positions as the new leaders of S.H.A.D.E.

Twist strikes up a relationship with the new Red Bee and is distraught when she had been taken over by an alien insectoid race. Together, the Freedom Fighters are able to save Red Bee and repel the insectoid’s invasion.

Skills and Abilities

Twist is good at hand-to-hand combat with some level of athletic and martial arts abilities. He carries a bo staff as an offensive and defensive weapon. Twist exposure to Chemo granted him control over fire, the limits of this power have yet to be measured.