The Brave and the Bold: Black Canary and Starman

Times Past, 1964-1969

Wings and Stars

by JSAGL, with Martin Maenza (Prologue) and Gardner Fox (scenes from Showcase #61 and 62)

Prologue: Earth-One

Dinah Lance listed to Oliver Queen explain himself as they stood before each other in her flower shop. “The wife of an old friend contacted me recently. She suspected some foul play involved in the death of her husband, but didn’t know what to do about it. I promised her I’d look into it for her. So that’s why I’ll be out of town without knowing for how long. I’m going to have to do some undercover work on this one.” He raised his open right hand and gently placed it under Dinah Lance’s chin. “You trust me, right?”

Dinah opened her pouting lips. “Yeah, I trust you,” she said softly. She looked up at him, feeling kind of ashamed for her outburst. Ollie smiled at her, and then she smiled back. That single gesture was enough to reassure her that the man loved her with all his heart. Nothing would ever change that. She then gave him a great big hug. “Don’t get in over your head, OK?”

He squeezed her tight. “When do I ever do that?” And they both laughed.

As Dinah watched Ollie go, she shook her head in regret for not trusting him. She had long ago dealt with the idea that she was her own person and not her mother as she had thought for so many years. With the help of Doctor Fate, she was able to separate her mother’s memories from her own. Had she not they may very well have driven her insane. Fate had told her that he could simply wipe the memories out completely, but Dinah told him no. Even though they weren’t really hers, it would be as if her mother had completely died, and Dinah couldn’t bear that thought. It took three months of therapy and help from Fate, but in the end, it had been worth it. Dinah was her own person, and her mother’s memories were still there, but Dinah could now separate the two and not drive herself crazy.

Of course, there were still the times when her mother’s memories came unbidden, and in this case, Dinah certainly understood why…

Chapter 1

1964.

JSA Headquarters, Earth-2.

“Sounds like you all had quite a time of it.”

Green Lantern was speaking to the assembled JSA at their meeting table. Black Canary, Dr. Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, Hawkman and Starman had returned not too long before on a case with Earth-1′s Justice League of America. Also at the table were the Atom, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, the Flash and Wonder Woman.

“Yes, we did, Green Lantern. Thankfully, we were able to imprison them where hopefully they’ll trouble the people of Earth-3 no longer.”

“Darn it all, why do I always miss these things? I’ve got my Thunderbolt back, so it’s not like I’d be in the way or anything,” Johnny Thunder lamented.

“Cheer up, Johnny. You might have missed out on these past two get-togethers with the JLA, but who knows? You might be front and center at the next one,” the Flash said.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, Flash, but still…”

As the JSAers thinned out and started heading back to their respective homes, Black Canary felt a tap on her shoulder.

“What? Oh, Starman. I thought you’d left already,” Black Canary said with a smile.

“I was going to, but I wanted to say, I mean, umm, you did really well out there today,” Starman said, somewhat flustered.

“Well, thank you. So did you. I think this is the first time we’ve actually worked together, isn’t it?” Dinah asked.

“Yes. I retired as Starman before you ever joined,” Starman replied.

They both stood there for a moment in awkward silence, and then Starman extended his hand. “Ted Knight.”

Dinah took his hand and held it. “Dinah Lance. Listen, I’d like to stay and chat, but my husband Larry is expecting me. See you around.”

As Dinah left, Ted just stared until he was interrupted by a cough behind him. “Isn’t Doris waiting for you at home?” Dr. Mid-Nite asked.

“What, Charles? Oh, yes. I need to bring some things home for David, too,” Ted said as he snapped out of it.

Ted started to leave when Dr. Mid-Nite grabbed his arm. “Ted, she’s married. So are you.”

Starman looked back at his friend. “I know that, Charles. Good Lord, is there something wrong with being attracted to another person?”

“No, just so long as you don’t act on it.”

***

1965.

Inside the lavish Drake Flower Shoppe, Larry Lance, head of a private investigation agency, made a hurried call on his wife, Dinah Drake Lance.

“Just dropped in to say hello, honey — and so long, sweetheart. There’s been another of those mysterious robberies — and I’ve got to check it out,” Larry said as he kissed Dinah on the cheek.

Dinah continued working on an arrangement as she forced a smile. “Good clue hunting, darling.”

As she finished the arrangement, Dinah’s mind was obviously elsewhere. How long is it going to be like this, Larry? I’ve barely seen you at all for the past few weeks, and when I do it’s just long enough for you to eat something and go to bed. Is this why I semi-retired as Black Canary? To devote my life to this flower shoppe? I thought at least we’d have children by now and…

Dinah suddenly became dizzy and had to brace herself lest she fall. Getting her strength back, she started working on another order. “Enough of this self-pity. I’ve got work to do.”

A few minutes later, another visitor arrived…

“Ted! Ted Knight!” Dinah said with a smile as she greeted her JSA comrade and friend. She and Larry had gotten to know Ted much more over the last year.

“Dinah, you doll! I’m in Gotham City to look over some of my business interests — none of which will be half as interesting as spending an evening with my friends, the Lances!” Ted gave the girl he knew to be the Black Canary a friendly kiss… “I hear your husband does all the crime fighting these days.”

“Well, I am in semi-retirement — but speaking of evening spending, I insist you have supper with Larry and me as soon as I close up shop.”

“Good deal! That’ll give me a chance to do some research at the observatory.”

Dinah broke off a flower from a bunch she was preparing for delivery and put one in Ted’s lapel.

“Wear this flower as a reminder to keep that date–”

“Ha! As if I’d let it slip my mind!”

As Ted left the flower shoppe, Dinah thought to herself, I’d forgotten how handsome he is and… Dinah Lance!! You’re a married woman, what in the world are you thinking??

And outside, Ted Knight adjusted the flower in his lapel. As if I’d ever forget a date with a woman as beautiful as Dinah.

***

Later that evening, after the Mist and his mobsters have been turned over to the police, a long-delayed dinner date was kept at a rooftop restaurant…

“It sure is good to see the stars again — and know I’ll keep on seeing them. I wish you’d keep the miniature cosmic rod, Dinah.”

“No thanks, Ted — when I go back into action again, it’ll be Black Canary style all the way!”

The conversation was interrupted as the maitre’d approached the table. “Mister Lance? There is a phone call for you.”

Larry got up from the table. “Ted, Dinah, excuse me, that must be someone from the office.”

Dinah pulled the napkin from her lap and threw it on the table, obviously perturbed by the phone call.

“Dinah?”

“I’m sorry, Ted, but Larry hasn’t been home much lately, and now that we finally get an evening on the town, he’s going to be taking off… again!”

Ted smiled as he looked into Dinah’s eyes. “I can understand your frustration. Ever since David was born, Doris hasn’t wanted to do much of anything outside the house. That’s why she didn’t come with me on this trip. I wish I knew what to do for her. Some days she’s fine, and then others she cries all the time, and when I try to comfort her she gets angry and tells me to leave her alone.”

Dinah placed her hand on Ted’s. “Oh, Ted, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Ted looked at their hands and then into Dinah’s eyes. She looked back at him and time seemed to stop for a moment, and then–

“Sorry to do this, but I’ve got to run. We just got a big lead in a case I’ve been working on,” Larry said, returning to the table and kissing Dinah on the cheek. “Ted, would you mind seeing Dinah home?”

Before Ted could even respond, Larry dashed out.

“See what I mean?” Dinah said as they too got up to leave.

As they walked down the street back to the flower shoppe (and the Lance’s apartment above), Dinah poured her heart out about how frustrated she’d been lately. “…I don’t know, Ted, it’s as if there’s this gigantic hole in my life and I don’t know why. Every time I try to talk to Larry about it, he just clams up, and then it’s out the door on another case.”

Ted looked into her eyes, those gorgeous eyes, and said, “Well, I don’t understand why Larry would want to spend so much time away from you. You’re beautiful, gorgeous, intelligent: everything a man could want.”

They stopped in front of the flower shop. Dinah’s took Ted’s hands and held them. “Doris is the lucky one, Ted. You are a sweet, darling man, and I…” Dinah reached up with her left hand and caressed Ted’s face.

“Dinah, I…”

Dinah put her fingers to Ted’s lips. “Hush. I don’t want to talk anymore.”

She replaced her finger with her lips and kissed Ted passionately. Ted was taken aback, but within seconds, he was kissing her with as much energy as she kissed him. They finally came up for air. Without another word, Dinah took Ted inside. Neither noticed the man taking photographs of them from a nearby rooftop.

***

One month later, Starman and Black Canary were joined by Wildcat in taking down his old foe, the Huntress and her husband, the Sportsmaster. After the villainous duo had been taken to police headquarters in Opal City, the stolen Parker Trophy was returned to the Sportsman’s show where it was presented by Ted Grant as Dinah Drake Lance and Ted Knight looked on…

“It’s too bad the Sportsmaster prefers to use his great athletic skill to commit crimes,” Dinah said to Ted who was seated next to her.

“Yes, for otherwise he might very well have won that Parker Trophy legally. All he’ll win now is a long jail term,” Ted replied. “So tell me, where is Larry anyway?”

“Same old story: on a case. We were supposed to come here together, but as usual, his work takes precedence. I can’t say I minded coming here alone, because I knew you’d be here.”

Ted blushed as Dinah said that. “I’ve thought about you a lot too since, well, since what happened. I’ve… I’ve missed you, Dinah.”

“Man, I tell ya, it is great being back in the saddle again. I haven’t felt this alive in years,” Ted Grant said as he interrupted Ted and Dinah.

“We appreciate your help, Ted. I never realized how cagey those two were,” Ted Knight said.

“Yeah, that Huntress, she’s a real spitfire; and believe it or not, Sportsmaster used ta give GL quite a workout back in the day,” Wildcat added.

“I remember, Ted. They were with the Injustice Society on the case in which I became a member of the JSA,” Dinah said.

“Yeah, speaking of the JSA, do ya think I could get an invite to yer next shindig with the JLA?” Ted Grant asked.

“I’m sure Hawkman would love to have you back on the active roster,” Starman said.

“So what exactly was it that happened last time that you two were whispering about?” the ‘Cat asked.

Dinah looked at Starman with shock in her eyes. Could Wildcat know?

Starman quickly answered, “Um, well, uh, Dinah was being used by the Mist about a month or so ago, and we were just mentioning how well we worked together.”

Wildcat nodded as they headed to the parking lot. “Uh huh. Listen, I’d love ta stay and chat, but I gotta go. Give my best ta Doris and Larry, ‘kay?”

Ted Grant jumped on his motorcycle and left a very disturbed Ted and Dinah in his wake.

“Oh dear Lord, Ted. Wildcat knows. We can’t… we can’t do this again,” Dinah said as the tears welled up in her eyes. She put her head on Ted’s arm and began to cry. Ted put his arms around her.

“I love Larry, Ted, I really do, but there’s been this big hole in my life for years, and I don’t know why. Then you came along, and it seemed so right. I’ve never stopped loving him, Ted, but I couldn’t help falling in love with you, too.”

“Dinah, I know. I love Doris with all my heart, but this thing with you. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind this past month. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t want this to end before it’s really begun.”

Just then, a car pulled up next to the two heroes. The driver rolled down his window. “Hey, Knight. I got a message for you.”

Ted left Dinah standing on the sidewalk and went over to the car. “What is it?”

“The Mist requests your presence at Blackgate Prison in Gotham.”

“What? I’m just an astronomer. What would the Mist want with me?”

The man laughed. “Yeah, OK, pal, whatever. Name’s Bullock. Harvey Bullock. The Mist arranged for me to follow you and your cupcake here while you was in Gotham. You nabbed him as Starman and Black Canary. Don’t bother denying it. Oh, and by the way, next time you go up to a married woman’s apartment, make sure the blinds are pulled.”

Ted swallowed hard as Bullock sped off into the distance.

Chapter 2

Blackgate Prison.

Starman and Black Canary followed the guard down the dreary corners of the prison. They passed cells that were filled with many foes of Batman and others who belonged to that superstitious, cowardly lot.

The guard opened the door to a cell and the two JSAers saw the Mist sitting at a table in his cell reading a copy of Time magazine. He smiled as they entered.

“Starman. Black Canary. Do sit down. How good of you to join me.”

Ted and Dinah just stood there.

“As you wish,” the Mist said as he put his magazine down. “Stand if you must.”

The Mist raised his hands, showing manacles much like Wonder Woman’s bracelets. “Ingenious, don’t you think? These prevent me from using my powers, but I am far from powerless.”

Ted smacked his hand down on the table. “Get on with it, Mist. Why did you have Harvey Bullock follow us?”

The Mist reached over to a stack of papers on the table and pulled out two photographs. He handed one to Starman and the other to the Canary.

“Speaks volumes, doesn’t it?”

Dinah and Ted looked at the pictures which showed them kissing in front of the Drake Flower Shoppe.

“There are others, if you would like to see them. He also tells me that he found you together again, this time in Opal.”

Dinah spoke this time, and she could barely contain her rage, “What do you want, Mist?”

He smiled. “A simple thing, really. Remove the manacles for me. Allow me safe passage from Gotham. You can claim I attacked you. I’ll even knock you both out if it will be helpful.”

“And if we don’t?” Starman asked, he too barely able to contain his anger.

“If you don’t, then copies of these photos will be delivered personally to one Mr. Larry Lance and one Mrs. Doris Knight. Either way, I get my revenge.”

Ted grabbed the Mist by his prison smock and pulled him up close. The Mist just laughed.

“Damn you, Mist!!! I’ll…”

Dinah pulled his arm down and forced him to let go of the villain. “No, Ted. He’s not worth it. We both know what we have to do. Mist, do what you must, but we’re not helping you.”

The Mist picked himself up. “I figured as much. That’s why I had Bullock deliver the photos while you were here.”

Ted knocked on the door of the cell. “Guard, let us out. Now.”

As Starman exited, Black Canary lagged behind for a moment. “Mist, one more thing…”

With cat like speed, Dinah landed her boot against the Mist’s face, sending him crashing into the cell wall. The guard looked at Black Canary and then closed the door.

“Damn slippery floors in here,” the guard muttered, chuckling to himself.

***

Opal City.

Ted Knight landed on the balcony of his bedroom. He went inside, but the room was empty. He walked downstairs to see Doris playing with David in the living room.

Maybe I got here before Bullock, he thought.

“Doris, I’m home.”

Doris said nothing, continuing to play with David. He giggled at his mother.

“Doris?”

“Is it over, Ted?”

Ted pulled his cowl down and walked over to Doris. She picked David up and moved away from him. He stopped and stood where he was.

“Yes…”

“Would you have told me if those pictures hadn’t arrived?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“How long?”

“It was only the one time, Doris. It’s not like we planned it. It just… happened.”

This time Doris turned to face him. The rage was evident in her eyes, but she would not yell in front of her son. “Why? I trusted you, Ted Knight. Am I not good enough for you? Did I put on too much weight after David was born? Don’t you love me anymore? How could you do this to me? To our son?”

Tears began to fill Ted’s eyes. He sat down on the couch, the weight of the world crushing his shoulders.

“I can’t explain it, Doris. You have to believe me! I never stopped loving you. I just… I never counted on falling in love with someone else.”

He sat in silence and cried. Doris held on to her son and did the same. “Can you forgive me?” Ted said as he looked at the mother of his son, wiping the tears from his eyes.

“I don’t know, Ted. You’ve shattered our trust. How do I know you won’t take up with her again?”

“Doris, I promise you, as God is my witness, I will never touch her again. Please give me another chance.”

Doris looked into Ted’s eyes. She wanted desperately to believe him.

Ted handed her his cosmic rod. “I’ll hang up the cosmic rod for good if that’s what it takes. I’ll do anything to not lose you, Doris. I love you with all my soul.”

Doris took the rod from Ted. She knew what Starman meant to him, which was why she had let him resume the role in the first place.

“No, I can’t ask you to give Starman up. He’s too much a part of you; but… consider yourself grounded for the next two years. No more Starman. No more JSA until 1967. And don’t think that gets you off the hook either. I’m calling Dr. McNider and asking him to set us up with a good marriage counselor.”

Doris reached out her hand and took Ted in her free arm. This time, they both cried.

***

Gotham City.

Dinah entered her apartment. The lights were off and the curtains drawn. Larry hadn’t been at his office. Maybe Bullock hadn’t gotten to him.

She closed the door behind her, and a light suddenly switched on. Larry was standing there, holding a rose and a bottle of champagne.

“Surprise, honey!”

“Larry, what in the world?”

Larry grabbed his wife in his arms and whirled her around. “Happy anniversary, darling. Today is the anniversary of the day we met.”

Dinah looked to see the table set quite elegantly. “Larry! It’s beautiful, but when in the world did you learn to cook?”

“I’ll confess, I had it catered from Kanigher’s. But nothing’s too good for my pretty bird. Here, open this.”

Larry pulled a box off the table and handed it to Dinah. She opened it, and inside was an exquisite carved statue of a black canary with a jewel in each eye.

“Oh, Larry! It’s gorgeous! You shouldn’t have. I feel so terrible. It completely slipped my mind.”

Larry pulled out her chair as Dinah sat at the table. He popped the cork and poured the champagne. “It’s OK, honey. I’ve been so busy lately, and I realized just how much I’ve been ignoring you. I’d like to change that.”

Dinah put her glass down. “Larry, there’s something I need to tell you…”

Larry looked at her. ” I know.”

Dinah was flabbergasted. “Larry, if you know, then why…”

“Dinah, my love, I won’t say I’m happy about it. I got those pictures earlier today, and it gave me time to do a lot of thinking. I wanted to kill Ted. How dare he take up with my wife? But he wasn’t forcing you. You were a willing participant. That told me there must be something wrong between you and me. Imagine that — thick-headed Larry Lance finally figuring something out. So I decided that instead of fighting Ted Knight, I was going to fight to win you back. Should I do that, Dinah? Is our marriage worth saving?”

Dinah smiled through her tears. “Oh, Larry, yes. I thought I’d lose you forever, and I couldn’t bear that.”

Larry took Dinah’s hand. “Then tell me it’s over, and you’ll never see him again.”

“It’s over, Larry. It really is.”

Standing up, Larry took Dinah over to the record player and turned it on. Music began to play. “May I have this dance, Miss Drake?”

“Oh yes. Thank you, Larry. Please forgive me,” Dinah said as she began to sob.

“I do, Dinah,” Larry said, holding his wife close. “I’ll spend the rest of my life reminding you how much you mean to me.”

***

1969.

“I’ll miss all of you.”

Superman of Earth-1 stood there with Black Canary at Ted Knight’s estate, preparing to enter the transmatter device that led to Earth-1. Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Red Tornado and Dr. Mid-Nite said their goodbyes and watched as Superman and Black Canary vanished.

Later that day, Ted Knight stood before a pair of newly finished cemetery plots. The stones read: Lawrence Arthur Lance and Dinah Drake Lance. The sky was gray this day, much like Ted’s mood. The rest of the JSA had long departed, leaving Ted to his memories and his grief. A car pulled into the cemetery. A woman wearing a black dress and hat walked up to Ted and put her arm around him.

“Ted, we need to leave. David’s getting restless, and I think Jack is coming down with something.”

“All right, Doris.”

They walked back to the car.

“You really loved her, didn’t you?”

“Yes…”

“You kept your promise,” Doris said, both as a statement and a question.

“Yes, because I’ve always loved you more.”

Doris put her head on Ted’s arm as they approached the car. “I know. I’ve always known. She was a good woman, Ted. A hero.”

“Yes, she was.”

As the Knights drove off, they didn’t notice a flash of pink lightning and the appearance of Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt.

“Do it, T-Bolt.”

The Thunderbolt snapped his fingers, and a life-size statue of Black Canary appeared behind the graves. “How’s that, Master John?”

Tears formed in Johnny’s eyes. There just weren’t any words.

And on Earth-1, Superman and Black Canary reappeared on the other side, where Green Arrow, who was on monitor duty, greeted them.

“Welcome to Earth-1, Black Canary,” Green Arrow said, taking her hand and giving it a kiss.

“Umm, thank you, Green Arrow,” Black Canary said as she held his hand. She had just lost her husband a few weeks prior, and yet she couldn’t deny the attraction this man was making her feel. It was though she was feeling it for the first time.

Epilogue

Today.

Dinah knew now, of course, that she truly had been feeling those things for the first time. She thought that Green Arrow had helped her get over losing Larry, but in reality Ollie was teaching her about life itself. When the truth about her and her mother had been revealed, Dr. Fate mercifully removed the memories involving her father’s and mother’s ‘personal moments’ (talk about an Elektra complex!). She did, however, retain her mother’s memories of Ted Knight and the awful feelings of guilt that her mother had over her affair with Ted. One thing she was certain of, though, was that her father and mother did make up and were happy together for the last two years of their lives.

That’s why she had gotten so upset with Ollie. Dinah could tell that Moonday had been the love of his life before her. Dinah knew what could happen, just as she also knew that she had to have faith in Ollie. She did, but the possibility just scared her. Her mother had entered into the affair with Ted Knight because subconsciously she knew something was missing in her life. That something had been her daughter. Now there was a possibility that Ollie might have a son out there that he never knew about. Could he resist the temptation that her mother could not? Dinah decided that he could. He had to. She sat down and turned on the radio. A song by Simple Minds played through the speaker:

“Don’t you forget about me…”