Meet the Freedom Fighters: Firebrand

The splash page for Police Comics #1 tells us everything we need to know about Firebrand, the hero who makes his first DC Comics appearance in Freedom Fighters #12:

For those who prefer words, though, Rod Reilly was the playboy son of steel tycoon Ed Reilly. He’s the first person we’ve met that became a masked vigilante simply because he was bored. He created the Firebrand persona to experience the thrills and adventure missing from his life.

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During his first story, Rod suffers the same problem as his future Freedom Fighters teammates: while stopping a gang of jewel thieves, the police mistake him for one of the thieves and force him to flee. In his social circles, he must then listen to chit-chat about that “bad” Firebrand.

Originally drawn by Reed Crandall, Firebrand continued to fight crime in the pages of Police Comics for its entire 13-issue run between August, 1941, and November, 1942. During this time, he and his bodyguard, ex-heavyweight boxer “Slugger” Dunn, joined the Navy.

Fun Facts

• Rod Reilly is an Olympic level athlete at the height of physical perfection

• He’s a superb hand-to-hand combatant.

• Firebrand’s costume consists of a transparent shirt and red pants.

• The top half of his face is covered by a red bandana.

• He uses a lariat and can climb buildings using vacuum cups:

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Title: Police Comics

Issue #: 1

Cover Date: August, 1941

On Sale Date: 5-14-1941

Writer: S.M. Iger

Penciller: Reed Crandall

Inker: Reed Crandall

Editor: Ed Cronin