Firebrand

For the original Firebrand, see Rod Reilly 
For the second Firebrand, see Danette Reilly 
For the third Firebrand, see Alejandro Sanchez 

Origin

Activist Andre Twist was in the city of Blüdhaven when the Secret Society dropped the nuclear nightmare Chemo on the city, destroying it. In the nuclear wasteland that resulted, Twist gained the ability to control fire. After the assault, the U.S. Government erected a wall around the city, trying to keep the radiation in. However, the wall also trapped a lot of residents within the city limits. Twist took the name of Firebrand, and tried to help the remaining residents as best he could. He aided the underground railroad that smuggled citizens out of Blüdhaven, and frequently harassed government agencies that tried to control the boundaries of Blüdhaven. He always appealed to the press, using their power to draw attention to the plight of Blüdhaven.
 

Creation

After the events of the Infinite Crisis, DC Comics sought to re-launch Firebrand and the Freedom Fighters. The origin for a new group of Freedom Fighters was started in the pages of Infinite Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven. This six-issue miniseries, written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, would re-introduce characters like the Force of July, Human Bomb, Doll Man, Phantom Lady, and introduce us to Andre Twist, the new Firebrand. This new look for Firebrand was designed by Palmiotti and Dan Jurgens.
 
This Firebrand and his teammates in the new Freedom Fighters would star in two 8-issue maxiseries (also by Palmiotti and Gray) called Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, released in 2006 and 2007. The new Freedom Fighters would guest star in a couple of series before Palmiotti and Gray would launch an ongoing series, Freedom Fighters, in 2010.
 

Key Story Arcs

The Battle for Blüdhaven

Over the course of a year, Firebrand fought on behalf of the citizens of Blüdhaven. He frequently teamed up with Monolith to try to bring hope to those now homeless. After the U.S. Army confronts the underground railroad, Firebrand’s pleas to the media bring the Teen Titans into the fray.This led to a confrontation between Firebrand and the Titans, but the people sided with Firebrand, forcing the Titans to stand down. Firebrand teamed up with the Titans, Monolith, Alice, and Tilt against the agents of S.H.A.D.E., the government agency in charge of Blüdhaven. S.H.A.D.E., however, was being run by the corrupt Father Time. Father Time’s agents fought the heroes in trying to protect their secret operations in Blüdhaven. During the fight, Firebrand heard a voice calling him to Mississippi.
 

Joining the Freedom Fighters

In Mississippi, Firebrand met the reborn Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam sought to reform the Freedom Fighters to combat Father Time and S.H.A.D.E.’s corruption of the U.S. government. Firebrand and Uncle Sam were soon joined by former S.H.A.D.E. agents Doll Man, Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, and the Ray, who turned on Father Time. These new Freedom Fighters, alongside the new Black Condor, were hunted by Father Time, and were captured and tortured. However, with the help of the Red Bee, Invisible Hood, and Miss America, they brought down Father Time’s operation. Firebrand stayed on to become a permanent member of the Freedom Fighters, who now worked for a reformed S.H.A.D.E.
 
This new team helped fight Darkseid during the Final Crisis, and fought the newest El Diablo. Firebrand also began a relationship with the new Red Bee, but was distraught when she had been taken over by an alien insectoid race. The Freedom Fighters saved Red Bee and repel the insectoid’s invasion. During that time, the new director of S.H.A.D.E., Director Robbins, was also revealed to be corrupt. After the Red Bee is returned to normal, the Freedom Fighters disbanded. 
 
After a fight alongside Black Condor against the reformed Aryan Brigade, Uncle Sam recruited Firebrand to rejoin the Freedom Fighters. The Vice President of the U.S. had been kidnapped by a secret society called the Arcadians and held for ransom. The Freedom Fighters needed to find American artifacts across the country in return for the Vice President’s life. Over the course of the search, Firebrand and the Freedom Fighters fought the Renegades and the Jailbreakers. During the fight with the Jailbreakers, Firebrand was thrown across a room, where upon impact he could no longer feel his legs. After the fight, he was teleported to S.H.A.D.E. headquarters, where the medics began assessing the damage. It is unknown whether Firebrand will walk again. He was given a modified hover chair so he could rejoin the team. He died in the final battle with The Jester when falling rocks crushed him. 

Powers and Abilities

Twist is good at hand-to-hand combat with some level of athletic and martial arts abilities. He carries a bo staff as an offensive and defensive weapon. Twist’s exposure to Chemo granted him control over fire, the limits of this power have yet to be measured.