David Gallaher
@davidgallaher
Paris-mostly | Associated Press | Author | Game Dev | he/him 🌈 🇫🇷 🇺🇸 ✊🏿Ⓥ
Since "fumble" is also a football term and Bollix's padded costume and helmet resemble a football uniform, he may have been intended as a sports-themed criminal, similar to DC's Sportsmaster. His partner Rustler (a Fiddler homage) suggests these two were nods to the Injustice Society.
Project 712 continues with Bollix, who became an enemy of the Whizzer and was apparently among the super-speedster’s earliest recurring foes.
The Global Directorate has its own cheerful Chris Giarrusso -inspired mascot: Junior Blue Eagle, who cheers: "Don't forget the Junior Blue Eagle Code, Little Soldiers! Behind every order, there's a good reason for giving it! So don't waste time asking questions. Just get on with the mission!"
The Blue Eagles closest DC analogue are Manhunters, not just in color scheme but also in function. Both are authoritarian enforcement forces built around a corrupted heroic ideal. The Manhunters begin as supposed agents of justice but become rigid, coercive instruments of control.
The Blue Eagles are next for Project 712. Following Blue Eagle’s death and the Squadron’s temporary exile, the Global Directorate appropriated his name, image, and legacy to legitimize its power-armored enforcers. Each suit contains countermeasures developed to neutralize members of the Squadron.
Oh, yeah, Crowley is listed in the profile. And apparently she knows and communes with Gaea? I would have given her the Moonglow outfit, but I'm partial to Byrne's early designs so lean on them a little more. Props to Arcanna for also being a great poker player.
The Blue Eagle was the symbol used by businesses to demonstrate compliance with the National Industrial Recovery Act. For a hero defined by duty, law, institutional authority, and ultimately his complicity in the Utopia Program, the name feels apt socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/new-deal/nat...
Blue Eagle was arguably the most law-abiding, and dare I say, conservative, member of the Squadron Supreme. Over the course of his career he wore many identities: American Eagle, Cap'n Hawk, and Blue Eagle. For a minute, an Official Handbook entry even referred to him as Condor, without fanfare.
Blue Eagle is the latest entry in Project 712, my celebration of the Squadron Supreme. The son of the original American Eagle, James Dore Jr. carried on his family's legacy with nothing more than courage, ingenuity, and a pair of anti-gravity wings. Over time he forged his own identity.
Rather than evoking a theatrical illusionist like Zatanna, Arcanna feels rooted in folklore—a hedge witch, druidic sorceress, or earth mother whose magic is tied to the natural world. That distinction gave her a visual identity that was unmistakably her own. Credit to Gru, Byrne, Ryan & Perlin
Arcanna stands out because she balances extraordinary magical power with an unusually grounded personal life. Her greatest strength isn't just her magic... it's that she never loses sight of the people she's fighting to protect.
Arcanna is the latest entry in my Project 712 series celebrating the Squadron Supreme. One of my favorites, she is a powerful sorceress who commands the elements, plays a mean hand of poker, and is an exceptional mother. This costume is my take of Byrne's design while staying true to its roots.
Also, I'll cover it a little more when we get to Power Princess, but in a cameo in Fantastic Four Unlimited #11, Zarda investigates how a newly-risen Atlantis on 616 mirrors Utopia Isle on hers.
Squadron Supreme: Project 712 continues with Ape X, basically what happens when you fuse Gorilla Grodd with Monsieur Mallah and the Brain. Our super-intelligent simian mastermind combines scientific brilliance with ruthless ambition, making her one of the Squadron Supreme's most unique characters.
Next up for Squadron Supreme: Project 712 is Amphibian... the Aquatic Adventurer! Credit to Len Kaminski, Anthony Williams, and Andy Lanning for Amphibian's distinctive aquatic appearance, giving him a more overtly marine look that sets him apart from his Distinguished Counterpart.
Next up for Squadron Supreme: Project 712 is American Eagle. James Dore Sr. was an inventor who built mechanical wings. As part of the Golden Agency, he fought alongside WWII heroes before becoming the father of Blue Eagle. For this piece, I tried to channel the heroic anatomy of John Buscema.
What makes A.I.D.A. so unique is that MCU fans might know her best, not from the Squadron Supreme, but as Ophelia and later Madame Hydra from Marvel's AGENTS OF SHIELD played by Mallory Jansen and Amanda Rea in the 4th season of the show.
It begins today with A.I.D.A., Tom Thumb’s digital assistant, confidante, and most trusted companion.
Although he never had the opportunity to write JLA before his untimely passing, Gruenwald was given something nearly as compelling: a twelve-issue limited series starring characters conceived as reflections of those familiar icons. He transformed that premise into something far more ambitious.
Happy Squadron Supreme Day! Over the past year, I have spent considerable time revisiting, reconsidering, and reflecting upon the champions of Earth-712. A lifelong admirer of the Justice League, acclaimed writer Mark Gruenwald recognized the potential in Marvel’s analogous team of heroes.
A sneak peek at a little project I am going to try to keep throughout the month.
He was originally a character called Wild Card, but I think that skirted too close to the sun for DC comics, but you can see it reflected in the comments section here: www.marvunapp.com/Appendix6/re...
Continuing my way through drawing obscure characters from the Squadron Supreme. American Eagle is part Steve Trevor (in his really obscure Patriot era) and Hawkman. Remnant is a combination of Joker and Riddler with a fashion-theme. The Mink is an heiress who turned to crime, ala Catwoman.
Oh, I do know THAT... which is why he parodied in Justice League's episode Legends. It's in his blood.
Gru used two public domain characters -- the other was Cerebrax, Master Menace's robot butler to fill out the series. There were three characters designed by Byrne that we didn't get the see. One of which, was mentioned in New world order though. One could surmise Blackbird became Nighthawk II.
I have Brain Child, Lady Lark and Haywire (maybe) up next. My goal is to eventually make them in the style of the old handbook entries. Here's the proof of concept temple:
The Shape is a wild example ... because he is SO heavily borrowed from Charlton and Roy Thomas. I did a take on the Charlton look earlier this year... but my next stab will borrow from Jose Luis Garcia Lopez.