It could be argued that self-interested corporate shill Booster Gold is the embodiment of the modern American Dream. But the DC Universe already has an embodiment of the American Spirit, and he's been around for a long, long time.

"In 1776, as a new, but tattered flag was hoisted over the thirteen free states, a new spirit was born, a spirit that grew until 48 states became united under one flag."

That's how National Comics #1 opened in 1940, thus beginning the comic book adventures of the personification of the American Spirit of Liberty, better known to comic book readers as Uncle Sam, eventual leader of the Freedom Fighters, first on Earth-X, then on the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths's only Earth, and now on Earth-10.

You might think that Booster and Uncles Sam, both being active, time-traveling, metaverse-hopping superheroes for decades now, would have worked together a bunch. But that's actually far from the case. As it happens, they've appeared on panel together in only two adventures.

The first time was in 2007's Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime, when the heroes of Earth came together in an attempt to put the rampaging Superman of Earth-Prime in his proper place: six-feet underground.

Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1, Page 4, Panel 1

The second time was a few year later, in the pages of Blackest Night #8, when the heroes of Earth came together in an attempt to put the rampaging Nekron in his proper place: also six-feet underground.

Blackest Night #8, Page 10, Panel 1

As you can imagine, there's not a lot of time for small talk when you're trying to save the world.

I like to think that once the smoke cleared, the two heroes got a chance to share a Coca-Cola and a slice of apple pie and argue about baseball. One might love money while the other loves freedom, but something tells me they have more in common than they have differences.

Blackest Night #8, Page 33, Panel 6

Happy Independence Day, everybody.

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Source: "The Greatest Story Never Told," Justice League Unlimited (by way of every episode of The Adventures of Superman, because Booster Gold only steals from the best!)

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Last year, Joey Chestnut set the world record by eating 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Can anyone top that? We'll find out today at the 99th Annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, held each year on Independence Day in Coney Island, New York.

If it is a history-making moment, we can bet Booster Gold will be there!

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On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed Virginian Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain, and thus was born the United States of America.

The adoption of the declaration of that new-found independence two days later is what we now celebrate, but the real secret of America's independence is the role that Booster Gold played in ensuring it ever happened.

What really happened in Independence Hall in the summer of 1776? The world may never know.

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In celebration of American Independence Day, today DC Comics is releasing Justice League International #11. A 4-page preview of the issue is online at Comic Book Resources. (Thanks to MetalWoman for the link.)

According to DC's advance solicitations at dccomics.com, "the team is defeated at the hands of The Burners," a team of anarchists currently planning to bomb the nation's capital. Hooray!

While the timing may be only coincidental -- what team of anarchist super-villains aren't always trying to blow up national monuments? -- I'm just not sure I want to read a story in which America's foremost hero, Booster Gold, gets his ass handed to him on America's birthday. Maybe tomorrow.

Buy this issue and watch some fireworks with Skeets.

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