Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam is a spiritual entity representing the spirit of the United States of America. As one of the oldest surviving super-heroes, he continues to fight against evil and acts as a mentor to the younger generation. He is a founding member and the leader of the Freedom Fighters.

Background
The being known as "Uncle Sam" was originally a spiritual entity created through an occult ritual by the Founding Fathers of the United States to protect the country during times of need. This "Spirit of America" was initially bound to a powerful talisman and would take physical form by merging with a dying patriot. As such the spirit had taken human form as the Minute-Man during the Revolutionary War, Brother Jonathan in later conflicts and, during the American Civil War, had been split in two as Johnny Reb and Billy Yank.

The spirit first assumed its "Uncle Sam" incarnation in 1870, when it resurrected a political cartoonist who had been killed by Boss Tweed. The second host of "Uncle Sam" fought in World War I. A third was a superhero during World War II, fighting alongside young Buddy Smith. The spirit was resurrected in a new costumed form called the Patriot during the Imperiex War, but later reverted back to Uncle Sam.

Involvement

 * As part of a recruitment drive for DC Universe Online in 2013, players who managed to recruit ten new players into the game would receive a trinket that would enable them to appear as Uncle Sam.

Trivia

 * Uncle Sam first appeared in National Comics #1 (July, 1940)
 * After the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Uncle Sam organized and led a group of heroes known as the Freedom Fighters in addition to being a member of the All-Star Squadron. While Sam himself disappeared after the war, both teams would later be resurrected again during times of urgency.
 * Uncle Sam's powers are proportionate to the United States' faith in the ideals of liberty and freedom.