THE CRUSADERS

HISTORY

The Crusaders were a team based out of Star City, California in the 1960's and early 70's. The team mainly fought crime on the west coast, occasionally encountering more global threats like the Sinister Society and Doctor Radiation. The team also traveled through time and space on several occasions alongside the time traveler Gideon battling the alien Krozzar and renegade time traveler Futurion and his Time Terrors. The team disbanded in the mid-seventies in the aftermath of Dr. Trap's lethal attacks on super heroes and villains across the country.

The Crusaders were:

• Crimebuster: an athletic hero with no powers, Crimebuster was a superb detective and scientist and an expert at hand-to-hand combat. Crimebuster was the leader and the brains of the team. Crimebuster was killed by Dr. Trap in 1972, becoming the first to fall.
• Dwarfstar: a scientist with a doctorate in astrophysics, Jacob Keller gained gravity and mass manipulating powers in an accident while still at university. When the team disbanded Dwarfstar fell into a deep depression, wandering between menial jobs for over a decade before a mysterious benefactor helped him regain his confidence. A series of lucky breaks on the stock market have made Keller a wealthy man and he currently divides his time between research, philanthropic efforts, and a life-long pursuit of lovely ladies.
• Ebony: despite her intelligence and ability, Dianne Carter found herself with no future because she was a woman and she was black. Unable to work change through the system she adopted the identity of the vigilante Ebony. Though she had no powers she was a talented athlete and martial artist. With additional training by Crimebuster she reached a world-class skill in her martial arts. She witnessed Crimebuster's death at the hands of Trap and retired her Ebony identity permanently. Dianne was finally able to enter college and obtained a law degree. After a successful career as a criminal lawyer she is now an Assistant DA in Star City.
• Mr. Marvel: an alien that arrived on Earth during the Summer of Love, Mr. Marvel was in many ways the soul of the team. Though incredibly naive of Earth culture, Marvel was a powerful ally to the team. He was captured by Dr. Trap and has not been seen since.
• Powerhouse: possessing a wide range of powers and an indomitable spirit, Powerhouse was the heart of the team. Dr. Trap found a way to permanently remove Powerhouse's metahuman abilities. Only quick thinking and luck saved the hero from certain death at the fiend's hands. In the aftermath Powerhouse went to university and through hard work earned a science degree. Ever since he has been seeking a way to restore his lost powers. He currently works as a metahuman researcher at S.T.A.R. Labs in Superior City.
• Slipstream: a mutant speedster who also had the ability to fly, Slipstream was crippled by Dr. Trap. He is still alive, but lives in seclusion. He can barely use his legs and his sense of balance was damaged which combined denies him the use of his powers.

Crimebuster

Dwarfstar

Ebony

Mr. Marvel

Powerhouse

Slipstream