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Justice League Unlimited's new episode, Patriot Act, features the original Seven Soldiers. Not Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers, but his inspiration. Forty years ago, there were the Seven Soldiers of Victory, an eclectic and diverse group of heroes that banded together during World War 2. I can only assume that the editor or writer who selected the members put a list of heroes on a corkboard and threw darts to choose them at random. The Golden Age Seven Soldiers were:
Shining Knight: Sir Justin, a member of King Arthur's court.
Green Arrow: the Golden Age version of DC's archer.
Speedy: Green Arrow's teenage sidekick.
Star-Spangled Kid: DC's version of Captain America, as a teen.
Stripesy: the Star-Spangled Kid's sidekick. This is the first and only sidekick who was physically bigger and older than the headliner.
Crimson Avenger: one of DC's earliest heroes, he avenges crimes, duh.
Vigilante: Cousin Dick's favorite hero, a country-western hero who rides a motorcycle and uses twin pistols to dispense justice.
I first encountered the SSOV in the Justice League of America, during one of their annual crossover events with Earth-2. DC reprinted some SSOV tales in their 100 page Super Spectaculars, and in the 1980s, Roy Thomas featured them on the cover of All Star Squadron #29 (brilliantly rendered by Jerry Ordway).
Patriot Act is a subtle nod to this odd collection of heroes. Mr. Terrific sends the Shining Knight, Vigilante, Green Arrow, Stargirl, and Stripesy to attend a parade in Metropolis (since Superman is off in a neighboring galaxy). The other heroes fit into the SSOV, but what about the last two? In the DC Universe, the Star Spangled Kid died, and Stargirl adopted his costume and belt, courtesy of her adopted father, who happens to be Stripesy. Stripsey invented a giant Transformer robot that he rides around in, to keep Stargirl out of too much trouble. Stargirl got a power boost and her name when Starman retired and gave her the star lance. That's five members of SSOV-not enough to fight off General Eiling when he becomes an Ultramarine and beats the tar out of any hero on the street. Later in the episode, Green Arrow calls for backup, and Mr. Terrific, running low on resources, sends in Crimson Avenger and Speedy.
There you go, this episode is strictly for the old timers who wanted to see the Seven Soldiers of Victory back in action. It's a riot to see Vigilante and Shining Knight, two people who are anachronisms, interact with the other heroes. I didn't realize what was going on until Crimson Avenger showed up near the end. How great is it that the JSA's Mr. Terrific is taking over Jonn J'onzz role as JLU operations manager? Geoff Johns must be pleased. Nuff said.
