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Uncle Sam

Created by Will Eisner & Lou Fine

+ History

Uncle Sam's origin has been told three times, first in National Comics #5, then retold rather faithfully in Secret Origins v.2 #19, by Len Wein and Murphy Anderson. It was retooled for the modern era by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake's epic "Haunting of America" (The Spectre v.3 #38-50). In the remake, the essentials remained the same, but Ostrander's retelling added a bit of real life history to the mix. Whereas originally, the American Spirit was always called Uncle Sam, Ostrander's version named him "the Minuteman" in its earliest days. In real history, the term "Uncle Sam" wasn't coined until the early 1800s, so Ostrander's spirit went by other names such as "Brother Jonathan" —a similar figure in top hat and striped pants—until that time.

The first mention of "Uncle Sam" in print was in 1816's Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy. His first visual depiction was considered to be much later, 1861.

Ostrander's Samuel Augustus Adams was created as a contemporary of real life political cartoonist, Thomas Nast. Nast's cartoons criticizing the Tweed gang are represented (as Adams') in The Spectre #38.

1777: The American Talisman is Born

The being known as "Uncle Sam" is actually the manifest, mystical spirit of America. In different eras, this spirit has chosen to bond with like-minded individuals (many of whom happened to bear the name "Samuel").

In 1777, just after the American colonies had declared their independence, a group of thirteen patriots, one from each state, convened to define and protect the new nation's spirit. To help in this mystical endeavor, they enlisted an alchemist named Taylor Samuel Hawke.

With the combined will of the men, an American Talisman was created. This Talisman provided a physical link to the new spirit, which manifested itself as a great eye atop a pyramid. Likewise, the Talisman itself bore this image; and on the reverse, an eagle. Hawke was entrusted with the Talisman, and at a key point in the Revolutionary War, he undertook a suicide mission to divert Hessian soldiers away from a supply convoy. The gambit worked, but Hawke was slain by the Hessians. As he lay dying, the American Spirit came to him and offered new life. Hawke became a host for the new Spirit, and the new nation would come to call this being The Minuteman. (National #5, The Spectre v.2 #37-38)

In one account, the original Sam (Hawke) was shown in his home, with his wife, Bea. She worried that the old man was biting off more than he could chew by serving in the revolution. (In his younger days, he'd served in the French and Indian conflict, as he had in previous conflicts.) (Uncle Sam #1)

After the revolution, the American Spirit waned. Since then, it has arisen repeatedly in times of great crisis, to serve as a beacon for the nation's people. In the period leading up to the War of 1812, it was reborn as Brother Jonathan a figure in top hat and suit. During the Civil War, the Talisman was split in two, creating opposing spirits, Billy Yank and Johnny Reb. (#38)

In the original tale, "Uncle Sam" was given as the avatar's name from its inception. With the retooling in The Spectre, this was changed so that he bore historically-appropriate names. In real history, the term "Uncle Sam" wasn't crafted until around 1816.

Uncle Sam

The character of Uncle Sam grew in America's popular culture throughout the 1800s. In the 1870s, he was given form by a Nast political cartoonist named Samuel Augustus Adams. As it happened, Adams had come to possess the halved American Talisman. His cartoons drew fire from his detractors—literally. Adams was accosted at gunpoint for expressing his views. The American Spirit saved his life as it has others before, and the mighty Uncle Sam was borne. The American Spirit manifested itself three times as Uncle Sam. After Adams, two others were joined during World Wars I and II. (The Spectre v.2 #38)

As the threat of Axis evil began to threaten America, the spirit came across another man named Samuel Wilson in the town of Glen Valley. Seeing the potential in this mercantile owner, the spirit empowered "Old Man Sam," and he was created as the third Uncle Sam. There he overthrew the threat of the Black Legion. (National #5, Spectre v.2 #49) The last name "Wilson" was first mentioned in The Spectre #49; it was not originally given.

Not so with the onset of Axis evil. It was then that the spirit of America took a direct role in defending the U.S.A. His first recorded foe was the Cobra, and his henchmen Snyle and Scar. Cobra was attempting to organize disillusioned citizens under a Nazi-esque banner called the Purple Shirts.  Sam adopted an assistant, a young boy named Buddy, whose grandfather was killed by the terrorists. Their foreign benefactors also made their move and kidnapped the U.S. President. When they captured Sam as well, the hero’s rhetoric stirred some of the recruits, inciting them to revolt against the Shirts. The Army arrived then and Uncle Sam delivered the President to safety. (National #1) Real Nazis were often called “brown shirts”)

J.P. Potter sickening kids with inferior candy. One printer was brave enough to stand up to him, (#2)

Stepped in to help the Philippines against an expansionist power. King Midas and his hitman, Yiffendi. They slaughtered native people. Sam rallied the locals to take back their land. (#3)

On one hand, Sam was unafraid to send Buddy into mortal danger, and on the other, constantly panicked about the boy's resulting predicaments.

Although Uncle Sam represented the Zeitgeists of the American times, he is known to act anachronistically. For example, he would scale a building instead of taking the elevator.

Sam took lots of time to help train young Buddy Smith, teaching him skills like tracking (#5),

Sam helps free enslaved miners(#13)

US uncovers a massive plot by the Black Legion to infiltrate America’s manufacturing. The Legion had somehow managed to cause mass blindness, but Sam traced them to a Pacific Island and alerted the military to intercept their foreign invasion. He cured the blindness, too. (#14)

Evil professor attacks a shipyard (#15)

Spies found fertile ground for an attack on the movie set of director Emil Von Blon. The Warren Bros. director was so successful and powerful that he procured the use of a fleet of US Navy ships. The picture was meant to stir American patriotism, but the set was infiltrated by Nazi Fifth Columnists. Buddy—who was onboard one of the submarines to help with the filming—got wise and turned the tables on the saboteurs, taking one of their guns and making his escape through a torpedo bay. Meanwhile, the spirit of George Washington appeared to Uncle Sam and alerted him to the danger. Buddy and Sam defeated the spies, but only after several ships had been destroyed. (#16)

When Senator Northrup Bristol forced a "Youth Training Bill" through Congress, children across the country were herded into near-slavery. Bristol's ambitions grew so far as to kidnap the President and assassinate his detractors in order to pass further fascist laws. In time they came to "recruit" Buddy as well. Uncle Sam was powerless to save him—it was the law. Meantime, Bristol hired a sculptor named Curwen to mold faces and create a duplicate of Uncle Sam and others. Bristol cried for war, but the nation wasn't ready. Uncle Sam freed himself and rallied the country and military to end Bristol's fevered plans. (Uncle Sam Quarterly #1)

The Black Guard returned to threaten U.S. forces in Panama, where Sam and Buddy narrowly prevented them from blowing up the canal. (#17)

Uncle Sam and young Buddy entered World War II very early, after Axis forces attacked both Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Portland, Maine. It was Buddy's idea to build a wire net that was carried below airplanes to foul up the invaders' plane props. While defending the seas near Maine, Uncle Sam encountered the spirit of Capt. John Paul Jones, the "Father of the American Navy." That inspired Sam to use America's retired frigates to encircle the enemy in fire. In the meantime, Boston was invaded by enemy soldiers (#18) Though this issue's date was December 1941, it would have been produced some months ahead of time.

Spirit of George Washington was approached by Simón Bolívar (the first president of Columbia), hoping that Uncle Sam would help fight the Nazis in South America, too (Brazil, specifically). Together he and Buddy decimated an air attack launched from Africa. (#20)

Intervened during the sentencing of some underage thugs, and begged the court's mercy. Instead, Sam took the four boys under his wing (all save one, who had actually killed a man). Surprisingly, the boys' reformation began with a Sunday trip to church! (#22)

World War II

In current DC Comics continuity, Uncle Sam assembled the first team of Freedom Fighters (Hourman, the Invisible Hood, Magno, Miss America, Neon the Unknown, and the Red Torpedo) to unsuccessfully stop the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (All-Star Squadron #31)

For the first time takes out a machine gun and mows down enemy Japanese. (#28)

Sam also once mentored another bunch of kids, the Kid Patrol. He encouraged them to perform in order to raise money for war bonds. (#28) One of his few… irregular… opponents was the hideous Dr. Dirge. (#29)

Traveled into the heart of Nazi Germany itself to assist his friend, the guerilla leader called the Vagabond. Sam and Buddy supplied the Vagabond's band with weapons to fight the Fuhrer. (#37)

Sam's last recorded wartime adventure (in 1944) involved a case south of the border, in the country of Zatlan. The country's president requested Uncle Sam's aid in ferreting out a ring of criminals who incited Zatlan's people to revolt. (#45)

His solo adventured spanned the globe for the better part of

. Supposedly the Freedom Fighters continued to operate out of Washington D.C. for the remainder of the war.

Golden Age Notes

The cover of National #23 (June 1942) may be the first produced after Pearl Harbor. It is the first to depict Japanese enemies. Issue #24 begins sporting a tag promoting war bonds.

The tone of the Uncle Sam strip shifted considerably with National #28. The story was narrated by "Father Time," the art was signed for the first time by Al Gabriele, and the lettering style was different.

Buddy Smith, Uncle Sam's tales seemed formulated to appeal to America's youngsters, to give them a sense of "what you can do."

Quality had faith enough to give Uncle Sam his own title, but after only eight issues, it was changed to Blackhawk in late 1943. Not long after this switch, Sam was also removed from the cover of National Comics beginning with #42 (May 1944), by a non-super-hero, the Barker. His feature ended then in National #45 (December 1944). At the same time, other costumed adventurers like G-2 and the Unknown were also being retired.

Sam's creator, the great Will Eisner, was drafted into the war in 1942. His byline appears on the Uncle Sam strip in National Comics #26 (November 1942), but the art is attributed to Reed Crandall (it is obviously not Eisner's art). It appears that Eisner transitioned away from the strip (and Uncle Sam Quarterly) gradually. The strip was probably written by Eisner, but not always drawn by him. In those days it was common for artists to "ghost" each other's work. This was especially common on Eisner's popular Spirit feature, while he was enlisted.

The story in National Comics #18 featured an eerily ominous bombing of Pearl Harbor! Although the cover is also December 1941, this comic was produced well before December.

Like many contemporary strips, Uncle Sam stopped short of naming his enemies' homelands, but the swastika was clearly depicted. (#16)

In National #20, Sam referred to Buddy as his nephew, thought this was not biologically true. As Sam explained it, "every red-blooded American boy is my nephew!"

Wasn't it odd that Sam could neither fly nor teleport, yet found himself in battle all over the world?

In recent decades, Uncle Sam has been portrayed rather more of an "old man," but in his Golden Age adventures, he was consistently portrayed as nothing but hale and spry (despite his silver hair).

Sam and Buddy bear some resemblance to Captain America and his boy sidekick, Bucky. Sam debuted in 1940, a year before the Marvel legend, who came in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941). Captain America's creator, Jack Kirby once worked for Will Eisner, Uncle Sam's creator.

Pre-Crisis: Earth-X

 

A Case of Vertigo

On the current Earth-0 in the DC Universe, Uncle Sam might have first returned after World War II in more recent times. He emerged from nowhere, delirious and fevered as he suffered from all manner of social injustices. Naturally, most dismissed Sam as a vagrant and a psychopath. But as he wandered the country, he recalled all his past lives until he remembered his true purpose. (Uncle Sam #1)

He was aided by an old friend, the former spirit of America called Columbia. This womanly spirit transported Sam to her domain, which resembled her last glory days (at the 1940 New York World's Fair). She inspired Sam to return to America and fight again. He realized that "the only way to know how freedom works, is to work at it." To resume his mission, he confronted an alternate version of himself, one built on greed and excess. Sam defeated this spirit—whom he admitted might be the spirit of a nation, but not of America. (#2)

The Haunting of America: The Patriot

After World War II, Uncle Sam disappeared again and the Talisman was further fragmented by the nation as it struggled with racism, corruption and an unpopular war. (The Spectre v.2 #38)

During this time, a new group called the National Interest formed to collect the pieces of the Talisman. From their base inside the former Norad Mountain, they began amassing cultural artifacts for mystical power. One of these was an alien craft acquired from Roswell, New Mexico. They could not crack its secrets—until they met Sam Wilson. Somehow the former Uncle Sam merged with the craft. His mind now resided therein, but amnesiac; the N.I. called him the Sorcerer. Wilson's empty body was then used as cloning material to create a supernatural servant called Shadrach. (#46, 49)

Shadrach eventually crossed paths with the Spectre, who quickly learned the importance of the fragments of the Talisman. (#37) With some difficulty, the Spectre destroyed Shadrach beyond the National Interest's ability to repair. (#38-39, 43)

During this time, the true spirit of America began exerting its influence from beyond, reaching out to various Americans to form a new Talisman. These people included little Sojourner Tsange-Taylor and her parents Anna Tsange and Randall Abaki Taylor(#42); Madam Xanadu's daughter, Helen Belcanto (#43-44); and American Indian twins Victorio Cutter and Tahzey Wovoka. (#46)

Just as these and seven others were converging on Mount Rushmore, the National Interest succeeded in reuniting all the all the fragments of the original American Talisman. Their aim was to recreate the avatar in their own perverted image. But the National Interest had discounted the fight left in old Samuel Wilson. their Sorcerer. Wilson had discovered his former body lying comatose. When he learned what they had done to him, he rebelled against the N.I., scooped up his withered body and headed for Mount Rushmore as well. (#49)

When Wilson arrived in the Black Hills, he joined the others, who were all willing to give themselves over to the creation of a new American Talisman. This time, the Talisman and its avatar were one and the same. All thirteen individuals merged to form the Patriot. The Patriot immediately sensed the danger back at Norad, where he discovered that the National Interest had succeeded in their goal. They'd created the American Scream, a vile twisted version of Uncle Sam. The Spectre destroyed the Scream. Afterwards, the Patriot returned most of its hosts to their homes. Two of them, however—Tahzey Wovoka and Sam Wilson—no longer had living bodies. Thus, the form of the Patriot was their permanent "home." (#50)

For unexplained reasons, this Patriot was seen only once again (JSA: Our Worlds at War) before once again taking the form of Uncle Sam. (Superman v.2 #178)

Freedom Fighters, Take Four

In Uncle Sam & the F. F. v.2 #4, Uncle Sam makes a very curious statement: "I am the spirit of an alternate America on another Earth." A mystical being, he remembers the first crisis and Earth-X—which he describes as his "home" Earth. Like Power Girl, he is one of the few inhabitants of Earth-0 to recall the original multiverse. Despite this, he also verifies that his current history includes the incarnations as Minuteman, Johnny Reb, etc., so his origin from The Spectre stands.

 

+ Powers

Invulnerable, fast, strong, “universal translator” Can’t be photographed. A variety of seemingly limitless mystical abilities. A crack aviator.

Sam frequently receives visits and counsel from the spirits of other American historical icons, including George Washington, Capt. John Paul Jones and Miss Columbia. Buddy Smith was also able to see these spirits.

Although he was often depicted towering over landscapes (usually on splash pages), Sam never exhibited this ability, per se, in his adventures.

Had to hold his breath underwater.

Appearances + References

Justice League of America #107-108 Secret Origins v.2 #19 The Spectre v.3 #37-50

National Comics #1-45 (July 1940–December 1944) Uncle Sam Quarterly, 8 issues (Autumn 1941–Fall 1943) Freedom Fighters, 15 issues (1976) Uncle Sam, 2-issue prestige series (1997) Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters v.1, 8-issue limited series (2006) Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters v.2, 8-issue limited series (2007)

Freedom Fighters Toonpedia: Uncle Sam