William Storm (New Earth)

From DC Database

Capt. Storm; illustration by Irv Novick

"Lead never hurt a wooden leg! Keep firing men!"

--Capt. Storm

Real Name: William "Bill" Storm
Nicknames: Ahab
Former Aliases: P.T. Boat Skipper; Lt. Storm
Other Current Aliases: Capt. Storm

Status

Occupation: Commissioned officer in the United States Navy holding the rank of Captain.
Legal Status: William Storm was a citizen of the United States with no criminal record.
Identity: Public
Marital Status: Marital status unknown
Group Affiliation: Losers
Base of Operations: The South Pacific during World War II.

Origin

William Storm enlisted in the United States Navy some time prior to the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941. By the time he reached the rank of lieutenant, he was stationed aboard his first patrol boat, PT-93. ^[1] After serving aboard the PT-93, Storm was eventually promoted to the rank of Captain and given the command of PT-47.

In the early years of World War II, the PT-47 ran afoul of a Japanese submarine which capsized the boat. Storm was thrown overboard and lost his left leg during the attack. A deck gunner named Buddy Brown managed to save his life, but the Japanese sub slaughtered the remaining crewmembers, including Brown.

Storm returned to the naval base at Pearl Harbor a broken man. Nothing could assuage the guilt that consumed him over failing to save his crew. Like a living Captain Ahab, William Storm inwardly swore revenge against the Japanese ship that killed his men. The hospital staff fitted Storm with a wooden prosthetic leg, but it appeared as if his time in the Navy was over. He struggled through rehabilitation, and eventually managed to function with the wood leg as efficiently as if it were his natural one. During his convalescence, Storm briefly fell in love with his nurse, Lea, the daughter of a Navy commander. Although they shared some intimate moments together, nothing could avert Storm’s desire to get back to the sea. ^[2]

Capt. Storm's PT-47

Captain Storm argued his case to his superior officers, pleading to be placed back in command despite his handicap. Although reluctant, the Navy recognized Storm’s commitment and bravado and provided him a new crew for the PT-47.

This second crew had learned about Storm's previous failures and grew concerned. They feared that Storm’s obsession for revenge would affect his command judgment. On one of their first missions, the PT-47 encountered the Japanese submarine again, but Storm was able to prevent history from repeating itself. In a moment of irony, one of the crewmen that he saved from the Japanese attack was the brother of Buddy Brown – the man who saved Storm's life on his first ill-fated mission as Captain. ^[3]
What followed next were a series of death-defying adventures that took the crew of PT-47 all across the South Pacific.

Captain Storm

On one of their earlier missions, they encountered a Hawaiian tribal leader known as King Komokka. Storm learned of a prophecy which told that he would save a native princess by "fighting fire with wood". As predicted, Storm's crew managed to save the life of an island princess named Anooa. Working alongside the islanders, Captain Storm managed to hide the PT-47 behind a fence of wooden canoes as Japanese zeros battered the area. With his crew safely screened in, Storm was able to repel the invaders and secure the island. ^[4]

Despite his heroism however, there were always those who doubted Storm's ability. One such crewman, a lieutenant named Calvin Clinton argued that Storm was unfit for command and should return the boat to Pearl Harbor. After a tumultuous sea battle however, Clinton recognized Storm's prowess and bravely followed Captain Storm in a battle against a Japanese destroyer. Storm even allowed Clinton the chance to command, and the green lieutenant heroically sacrificed his life defending the PT-47. ^[5]

Place of Birth: Place of birth unknown
Place of Death: Markovia, 1944
Known Relatives: No known relatives
First Appearance: Captain Storm #1
Final Appearance: Losers Special #1 (See notes)

History

Captain Storm was featured in his own title, Captain Storm - P.T. Boat Skipper, which ran for eighteen issues from 1964 until 1967. He later joined with several other retired feature characters, including Johnny Cloud, Gunner & Sarge to form the Losers. The Losers made their first appearance in Our Fighting Forces #123 and remained as the feature spotlight until the series cancellation in 1982. Captain Storm and his allies remained in publishing limbo until they were briefly resurrected for the 1985 max-crossover series, Crisis on Infinite Earths. All of the Losers (including Storm) died defending the nation of Markovia from the Anti-Monitor's demon-shadows in Crisis on Infinite Earths #3. A more comprehensive version of their ill-fated final mission was detailed two months later in The Losers Special #1.

Characteristics

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 167 lbs (75.749 kg)
Eye: Brown
Hair: Brown
Unusual Features: Capt. Storm only had one leg. He lost his left leg during a sea battle in World War II. Storm substituted his missing limb with a wooden prosthetic throughout the remainder of the war. Late in the war, Captain Storm lost his right eye as well.

Powers

Known Powers: No known powers.
Known Abilities: No known abilities.
Strength Level: Captain Storm possessed the strength level of a man his age, size and weight who engaged in intensive regular exercise.

Miscellaneous

Equipment: Endless supply of relacement wooden legs.
Transportation: PT-47 (patrol boat)
Weapons:

.45 calibur M3 Submachine Gun
.Browning 9mm Hi-Power pistol

Personnel

Crewmen under Capt. Storm's command:

Andy Adams
Buddy Ames
Buddy Brown
Cal
Calvin Clinton
Fats
Jockey
Mac
Mickey Brand
Nick Mason
Phil
Stringbean

Notes

The character of Capt. Storm was created by writer/editor Robert Kanigher.

Although Capt. Storm's final published appearance was in the Losers Special #1, he actually died in Crisis on Infinite Earths #3, published two months earlier.

To all accounts, Capt. Storm and his teammates, the Losers are preserved in the Post-Crisis canon continuity.

Trivia

Other patrol boats under Captain Storm's command include: the PT-51, the PT-93 and the PT-177.

Captain Storm's eye(s) are sometimes mis-colored blue.

Captain Storm wasn't too proud to not use his wooden leg as a melee weapon if the situation called for it. The cover to Captain Storm #9 illustrates the Captain brandishing his leg like a club to repel enemy soldiers.

Captain Storm gets a leg up!

External Links

References

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[0] Losers Special #1

[1] Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #4

[2] Captain Storm #1.

[3] Captain Storm #2

[4] Captain Storm #3 – Captain Storm #4

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