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Agent Liberty Part 3: The End?

These two issues from 1992 are pivotal in understanding Agent Liberty’s role in the DC Universe and his most recent appearance in the New Krypton issues of Superman. Two weeks ago we looked at Agent Liberty’s first appearance, last week we looked at his origin, and this week we will wrap up Continuity Catch-Up with Agent Liberty and the downfall of the Sons of Liberty.

Superman #69 & Adventures of Superman #492

This story builds upon the capture and trial of Major Holcraft and his role in the assassination attempt of the president of Qurac. Holcraft at the time of the assassination attempt was the leader of the Sons of Liberty who “exists to bring this country back to its original values,” and they “seek the restoration of the spirit of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.” 

Since the assassination attempt, the Sons of Liberty, lead now by Judge Ronald Kramer, assassinated a member of the senate and replaced him with a senator they can control - Pete Ross. Pete Ross, who is a childhood friend of Clark Kent, is not a member of the S.O.L. willingly. Judge Kramer and Jay Harriman are holding Ross’ wife, Lana Lang, hostage to ensure the new senator complies with wishes of the Sons of Liberty.

Superman escorts Major Holcraft into the senate hearing to protect him from a possible assassination attempt by the Sons of Liberty to keep him quiet. Superman diligently scans everyone who enters the hearing with his x-ray vision to keep Holcraft safe, everyone except his childhood friend Senator Pete Ross. Ross has been instructed to assassinate Holcraft before he testifies and in return the S.O.L. will release his wife. At the last minute Ross’ conscience kicks in. Just as the Senator is about to turn himself in Ben Lockwood (Agent Liberty - not in costume) grabs Ross’ gun and shoots Holcraft since Ross did not.

Lockwood retreats out the window while Superman is concerned for Holcraft’s safety and immediately flies him to the hospital. Lockwood meets up with the helicopter Satellite and returns safely to the Son’s base of operation. While on route to the hospital, Holcraft, knowing that he will not make it, tells Superman that the Sons of Liberty are behind more than just the assassination attempt of Qurac.

 

After learning that the Sons of Liberty assassinated a senator and manipulated the situation so that Ross would take his place, Superman decides to visit his old friend in jail. Meanwhile, Ben Lockwood at the S.O.L. base, questions his officers in command about the two assassination attempts. Upset and unsure of the Sons’ tactics to create a better America, an America that would not strand soldiers in battle like he was, Lockwood states that “Agent Liberty stands for something better!” than cold blooded murder.

After learning about Pete Ross’ involvement with the Sons of Liberty, Superman decides to pay Pete a visit in jail. Senator Ross, still concerned for his wife’s safety, decides not to give up the Sons of Liberty and takes the wrap for attempting the assassination of Major Holcraft. The interrogation is cut short as the senator is carted off to court for his crime. Upon entering the court, Senator Ross sees a familiar face holding the gavel - Judge Ronald Kramer, the leader of the Sons of Liberty.

Judge Kramer is not the only Son of Liberty at the hearing. Agent Liberty is also present waiting for the perfect time and shot to take down Pete Ross. Agent Liberty, crouched in the rafters, notices that the senator is not saying a word about his involvement with the Sons of Liberty or anything about the Sons of Liberty in general. Liberty, whose confidence in the leaders of the group is already dwindling, wonders what the S.O.L. is holding over his head to keep him quiet. Realizing that the Sons of Liberty may be going too far, Agent Liberty does not take the shot, leaves, and goes to Ross’ apartment to dig a little deeper.

Not satisfied with the answers from Senator Ross, Superman decides to check out the senator’s apartment for clues. Superman finds a check from the Liberty Foundation, proving that his friend did lie. Leaving the apartment, Superman runs/flies into Agent Liberty and they begin to throw-down. During the scuffle Supes shares the information that Holcraft told him about the Sons of Liberty assassinating a senator so that they could place Ross there to manipulate the senate. Agent Liberty tells Superman that the Sons told him a different story about the assassination. At that moment Satellite shows up and distracts Superman. Agent Liberty feels betrayed by his partners escapes.

Back at the Sons of Liberty headquarters, Harriman discovers that Liberty did not pull the trigger on Ross and decides to do the job himself and heads off to the jail where Ross is being held. After his discussion with Superman, Agent Liberty realizes that the Sons of Liberty are more like terrorists than patriots. Knowing that the S.O.L. will try  to kill the senator again, Agent Liberty quickly heads to the jail.

Superman follows the helicopter, Satellite, to the Sons of Liberty’s headquarters. Superman interrogates the members of the S.O.L. finding out about Lana and demands to know where Agent Liberty is. The pilot of Satellite tells Superman that Agent Liberty is not the one in charge; that he is “just a soldier following orders.” Superman quickly finds Lana Lang and rescues her. Lana tells Superman how the S.O.L. were blackmailing her husband and threatening to kill her.

Agent Liberty shows up to the jail just as Jay Harriman, dressed as an arrested vagrant, pulls a knife on the senator. Agent Liberty, disguised as a police officer, shoots Harriman before he can harm the senator.

Now ticked off and betrayed, Agent Liberty decides to pay Judge Kramer a visit in his chambers. During the confrontation the judge tries to explain how all of the assassinations and espionage were for the betterment of America. Agent Liberty, not buying it, tapes the whole conversation and leaves. Knowing that if he had killed Ronald Kramer he would have been as much a terrorist as the Sons of Liberty, Agent Liberty mails the tape and the evidence to Clark Kent. After witnessing Kent take on and take down Intergang (Superman #60) Agent Liberty decides that is the best way to put an end to the Sons of Liberty.

 

These two issues were the last time I remember Agent Liberty playing a large role in the Superman Comics. I loved the government espionage aspect and the ending of these stories back in the 90’s. So I am excited to see Agent Liberty return. I hope you enjoyed these three Continuity Catch-Ups focusing on Agent Liberty and hope you are as excited as I am to see what role he plays the New Krypton storyline.

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Posted by Fred, on 11/20/08 5:42 PM Bookmark this post Digg Reddit Blogg-Buzz StumbleUpon

1st Appearance - Agent Liberty

What started with Jimmy Olsen noticing a “floating man” and a helicopter during Superman’s battle with Atlas ended with a cross-country romp uncovering a military plot to take down Superman if necessary in the one-shot “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen.” Immediately after learning that the government was creating weapons to take down the last Kryptonain hundreds of thousands of Kryptonians immigrate to Earth in the New Krypton Special.

With Cadmus, the Guardian, and a floating man communicating with a helicopter it only makes sense that another early nineties player enters this story - Agent Liberty.
Who is Agent Liberty?

What role could he play in the government’s plan to take down Superman and all other Kryptonians?

It’s time to play Continuity Catch-Up with Agent Liberty and his first appearance in Superman #60.

 

This issue begins with Clark Kent trying to take down Intergang. With two attempts on his life Kent wants to use the power of the news media to “out” Intergang and it’s crimes to both the police and public.

Not wanting to use his powers, and risk his secret identity, Clark Kent snatches a briefcase full of incriminating paperwork from the second in charge of Intergang - Louis Gillespie. Gillespie catches Clark in the act and places a gun to his head. Clark is scared, not of the gun but of getting shot and reviling his secret identity. Just before Gillespie can pull the trigger a new hero, Agent Liberty, makes his first appearance in the DCU and saves Clark Kent.

Instead of shooting Clark Kent, Gillespie takes a couple of shots at the more threatening of the two men - Agent Liberty. Liberty easily deflects the bullets using a fancy force-shield of energy that emanates from his costume’s glove. Intergang reinforcements arrive to the scene as Gillespie and Clark Kent run away and the new hero Agent Liberty flies off via his Glider Pack.

Clark Kent releases the information from the stolen briefcase to the news media most of Intergang are arrested.

Agent Liberty makes his second appearance of the issue doing something not so patriotic - breaking and entering. Agent Liberty breaks into Clark Kent’s apartment looking for the stolen briefcase. During this scene we see that Agent Liberty does not act alone. Throughout the issue Agent Liberty can bee seen talking to someone he calls “Satellite.” Satellite is either the name of a helicopter, or the person flying the chopper, that is Liberty’s eyes and ears from a distance.

 

After looking over the documents in Gillespie’s briefcase, Agent Liberty deduces that Clark Kent is planning to put Mannheim away with the rest of Intergang by catching him importing a shipment of drugs. Immediately Agent Liberty heads to the docks.

Not only is Intergang at the docks when Agent Liberty arrives, but Superman is also there dodging shots from Intergang’s Apokoliptic weapons. During the battle Mannheim reveals that he is not human and from Apokolips. Now donning Apokoliptic Bio-Armor Mannheim and Superman throw down.

While Superman and Mannheim sock each other in the face, a Boom Tube from Apokolips appears right next to Agent Liberty. Not knowing what a Boom Tube is, Liberty radios to his buddy Satellite for advise. The guy in the helicopter tells the new super-hero that a magnetic back-charge may close the portal before any anything can come through it to Earth. Sacrificing his magnetically powered Glider Pack, Agent Liberty is able to close the Boom Tube allowing only one Parademon through. Superman and Mannheim continue to play fisticuffs leaving only Liberty to handle the member of Darkseid’s army.

Against the Parademon Agent Liberty has an ace up his sleeve… not exactly an ace, but a snazzy retracting blade that springs out from each forearm. Liberty showcases both his new weapon and his hand-to-hand combat skills by taking down the Parademon with one punch. In the end Superman takes down Bruno Mannheim and locks him up while Agent Liberty flys off and is nowhere to be found.

At the end of this issue we never find who Agent Liberty was, and why exactly he was in Metropolis. Agent Liberty’s motive is shown in Superman #69 and Adventures of Superman #492 and his true origin is described in Agent Liberty #1.

Check back next Thursday for Continuity Catch-Up: Agent Liberty Part 2

1 Comment

Posted by Fred, on 11/6/08 6:18 PM Bookmark this post Digg Reddit Blogg-Buzz StumbleUpon