The July 4th Project

THE FANTASTIC FIGHTIN' FREEDOM FRIES FORCE by Caitlin Plovnick

2009-07-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is the Fantastic Fightin' Freedom Fries Force. They fight to rename things in the name of nationalism - they also do battle by hardening their enemies' arteries. They occasionally fight alongside Liberty Cabbage (not pictured). Their helmets are made of ketchup, catsup or maybe Independence Sauce.

Caitlin is a funny cartoonist!

DEMOLITION DOVE by Javier Hernandez

2009-07-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Demolition Dove is, according to Javier, a character he's working into a comic book this year.

More from Mr. Hernandez:
"Right now I have a four-page comic that I've put online. This web comic is more along the lines of some of Steve Ditko's Mr. A comics, where they're more about editorial exposition than a proper narrative."

Here's the Demolition Dove web comic.

And here's Javier's site.

CAPTAIN DRIVE-THRU by Janee Trasler

2009-07-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is Captain Drive-Thru … staunch defender of every American’s right (regardless of age, creed, ethnicity, gender, or musical preference) to clog arteries and pack on pounds.

Janee has lots of fun sites and blogs.

THE SECRET OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE concept and character art by Peter Duffy with color and overly wordy writing by Chris Duffy

2009-07-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana Purchase--president Thomas Jefferson's bold move in 1803 that secured America's expansion past the Mississippi. But do the history books reveal ALL his reasons for acquiring so much new territory? Few government officials, even with highest levels of security clearance, have ever known that the secret motive that made it crucial for the U.S. to gain this territory was one man: Jacques Chasseur, also known as the Secret of the Louisiana Purchase, Jack the Hunter, He Who Always Catches His Prey, and the Immortal American.

Though Chasseur's full life story is not known, it is believed that he has lived in the area comprising the western portion of the Mississippi drainage basin since BEFORE the arrival of the peoples who would become the Indian tribes of the Western Hemisphere. This has never been confirmed, but folktales about an ageless hunter in this region who possessed great strength, the eyes of a hawk, and an uncanny sense of smell predate the arrival of Europeans.

In making his historic purchase, Jefferson managed to make this legendary individual a citizen of the young republic. Stories had already reached Washington via spies of a wandering trapper who was said to be able to elude or fend off even the largest of Indian war parties (though he was generally regarded by tribes as an ally if not as a sort of demi-god).

For reasons unknown, Chasseur is compelled to obey the rulers of the territory he calls his home, though he will only follow direct orders spoken aloud in his earshot. These facts had also come to Jefferson via spies in the Spanish and French army, the two nations that had previously controlled the region (it is also unknown how the French and Spanish learned that Chasseur was compelled to obey any occupying government). Chasseur had managed to mostly avoid contact with Spanish and French who would issue orders to him, but in the few cases when he DID receive commands, his abilities had proven invaluable.

The United States did not have to wait long to benefit from their control of Chasseur. In 1815 in the Battle of New Orleans, he single-handedly repulsed several attacks on American positions, luring hundreds of British infantry into the nearby Cypress Swamps from which they never emerged.

Chasseur served for a time in the Secret Service, but most of his career as a U.S. agent (like most of his life story) is shrouded in mystery.

CONSTITUTION and THE BILL OF RIGHTS by Scott Cunningham and Phillip Pittz

2009-07-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

Before that fateful night of July Fourth, Fergy Mendez was just your average American, slightly klutzy, security guard, saddled with the graveyard shift at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. But when he accidently spilt apple pie on one of the country's most prized documents and hurriedly tried to wipe away the stain, Fergy discovered that the acidic juice had revealed a secret message hidden along the edges of the aging parchment: "Whosoever Holds This DOCUMENT, If He Be Worthy, Shall Possess The Power Of All Three Branches of Government, If He Should Speak Aloud the Word RATIFICATION!" No sooner had Fergy finished uttering the inscription, when suddenly light bulbs began to explode throughout the Archives, and a bright energy CASCADED from the document, directly into the confused security guard! HE screamed "WE THE PEOPLE!!!" as he was consumed in the yellowish glow. When the smoke finally cleared out stepped THE CONSTITUTION! Though his clothes were in tatters, the cherished document was still intact!

Brandishing the Taser of Truth, and possessing great physical strength (thanks to his astonishingly strong, ahem, constitution), Fergy now transforms into America's greatest super hero whenever the country find itself under threat. The Founding Fathers foresaw that the nation would one day need a champion and coated the Constitution with a special magical ink that would activate when the time was right. But, also knowing that they was no way to be certain these great powers might suddenly go astray, the wise Fathers provided their heirs with a magic bronze band, passed down from generation to generation within the select families of the Constitution's co-signers. And so it came to be that the LET FREEDOM RING (with its distinctive Liberty Bell logo), would come into the hands of mild-mannered constitutional lawyer, William Jennings Hancock Esq., Jr. upon graduation from an exclusive Washington private prep school. Now, with a twist of the ring, his pin-striped suit is transformed into "The Tights of Rights!" For with powers so great, the Founding Fathers reasoned, they might well destroy the very people they are meant to protect...were it not for The Constitution's trusted sidekick, BILL OF RIGHTS!

Scott and Phillip also do a web comic called starringLi'l Bigfoot (who I think may be Canadian, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt).

THE STAR-SPANGLED BADGER designed by Julie Van Voorhis, drawn by Andrei Molotiu

2009-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

When not celebrating the intersection of wildlife and patriotic heroism, Julie teaches art history.

ROCKETS REDGLARE by Andrei Molotiu

2009-07-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Rockets Redglare is the alter ego of Veronica ("Ronnie") Rowley, the heiress to the Rowley Fireworks fortune. Having studied jet propulsion and astrophysics at M.I.T., she quit a promising career at NASA to take over the family business when her father's health problems forced him to retire (he remains her closest advisor and the only one to know her secret identity). Working after hours in her company's labs, Ronnie perfected her trademark Propell-O-Boots.

A highly successful businesswoman, Ronnie has unfortunately not been so lucky in her personal relationships. One day, frustrated over her then-boyfriend's immaturity and fear of commitment, she distractedly allowed herself to fly high above the earth's atmosphere, where she was bombarded with All-Purpose Metamorphic Cosmic Rays. This is how she developed her super-power. Whenever enemies threaten America, she gets very pissy and gives them dirty looks, which manifest themselves as deadly beams shooting from her eyes. Her power only falters when her adversaries turn out to be reasonable, responsible adults; but, since most of them are men, this rarely ever happens.

Andrei has a blog and a beautiful brand-new book out.

MAYFLOWER POWER by Greg Means

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

With a heart as pure as a puritan and fists as strong as a field of daisies, he fights for liberty, justice and fancy belt buckles!

In addition to being a drawer of cool stuff, Greg Means is a publisher of quality comics!

AMERICAN STREAM by Tom Cherry

2009-07-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

When congressional aide Bitsy Palmer dove into the raging Potomic River to rescue a drowning class of kindergartners, she heroically  sacrificed her own life to save each child! Touched by her valor, a patriotic nymph brought the young woman back to life and gifted her  with the ability to transform into a living body of water. Using her  powerful waves of red, white, and blue for good, Bitsy Palmer protects our nation's capital as...THE AMERICAN STREAM!

There's a wealth of comic strips and drawings at Tom's blog!

THE BLOOMERED WONDER by Alexis Frederick-Frost

2009-07-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Alexis has a blog with a funny name and cool art.

THE ALL-AMERICAN LOVER BOY by Ana Benaroya

2009-07-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

Ana's site is really buff!

REDNECK-DUDE-MAN by Amanda Geisinger

2009-06-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

After a quick change in the outhouse, mild mannered Bubba becomes our mulleted hero, Redneck-Dude-Man—ready to fight for everyone’s god-given right to have Christmas lights on their porch in June, an armory in their basement, and a refrigerator on their front lawn.

Amanda Geisinger has a nifty website.

THE 50 STARS OF JUSTICE by Peter Duffy (with final art by some old guy)

2009-06-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Each of the 50 stars on the costume of this freedom-loving champion represents a different state--and a different superpower related to that state! All the FSOJ need do to activate a state-based ability is push the appropriate star. Depressing New Jersey's five-pointed symbol, for example, allows him to shoot noxious fumes out of his gauntlets. Pushing the Hawaii star gives him control over lava. Pushing New York gives him translation abilities (because of the state's large percentage of immigrants.) The star of Texas gives him rocket boots (for NASA's Houston HQ). And so on.

In addition, rotating the star for a state enables a completely different, second state power. Thus, while pressing Alaska's star bestows the ability to shoot snow, turning that star allows the FSOJ to see Russia from his house.

ADAM BOMB by Mark Martin

2009-06-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Go to markmartin.net!

GENERAL PATRIOT by Andrew Wales

2009-06-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

General Patriot is somewhat similar to Captain America, only instead of being eternally young, he has gotten quite old over the years. Now he's the leader of all superheroes in Eclectic Comics, even though he's gotten quite senile.

Check it out: Eclectic Comics and General Patriot are "real"! (Not invented for the J4 project.)

STRONG THURMOND and THE FILIBUSTER by Bob Flynn

2009-06-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

The frail and elderly Senator Strom Thurmond once took to the skies above Capitol Hill as Strong Thurmond, defender of the Southern delegation! Tourists would cry, "What's that up in the sky? A turd? A stain?" just before he smacked head-on into the Washington Monument. Strong Thurmond often joined forces with The Filibuster, known for his uncanny ability to speak at great length. When armed with a phonebook, no legislation could stand in their way (including the Civil Rights Act of 1957—ouch!). They hold the record for a full 24 hours and 18 minutes!

Bob Flynn's website is great!

THE SECOND AMENDMENT by Jef Czekaj

2009-06-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Young Nathan R. Armstrong has invented a teleportation device, which  he plans to demonstrate at his school's Science Fair. Unfortunately,  as he enters the teleporter, a bear enters the school (it's a long story) and sneaks into the device. The two emerge from the teleporter  seemingly unharmed, but with a bizarre mix-up: N.R. Armstrong now has  the arms of a bear, and the bear is left with puny 10-year-old human  arms.  

Frustrated by his disfigurement (and the fact that he didn't win the  Science Fair), Nathan turns to a life of crime under the name The  Second Amendment. His side-kick, the bear he has named Winnie the  Goon, can't really do much with his little arms, but he sure looks  weird.

Check out Jef's site.

THE THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT by Bill Alger

2009-06-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

When America needs a super-powerful weapon to crush its most hated enemies, the President of the United States calls upon our greatest scientists to crack open the inter-dimensional doorway that releases the terrifying uber-entity known as 'Code Name- Thousand Points of Light.' But will this undefeatable being of light and darkness destroy everything in its path- including us?!?

More by Bill Alger

CAPTAIN 48 by Chris Duffy

2009-06-26T16:26:00.001-07:00

The captain has a pre-1959 US map on his chest. His dialog is riddled with the names of states. ("Be with you in a New York minute, 5th columnist!" or "Well, aren't you a Georgia peach, Adolf!")

Full disclosure: Captain 48 was created 2 years ago as a Livejournal doodle.

Chris Duffy's comics.

Send me your Ameri-heroes!

2009-06-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Captain America, Liberty Belle...Commando Yank? Yes, patriotic superheroes have inspired some silly characters...and yet how I love them. All at once, they go right to the heart of what's fun and what's...problematic about the so-called Golden Age of comic books.

This blog is for YOUR democracy-loving, 5th column bashing champions of justice. I exhort you in the name of Old Glory to wrack your brain in search of a superhero (or villain) who stands for SOMETHING uniquely American, draw said champion, and send it my way with a description. (See "contact" to the right.)

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

Because July 4th approaches and I think it's a fun idea.

That's all I have to say, except this: Please interpret freely. You can be sarcastic, political, pro-America, anti-America, whimsical, or nerdy (my favorite)!