Liberty Belle II / Jesse Quick

Jesse Chambers inherited power from both her parents. Like her father, she used the spoken formula 3X2(9YZ)4A to gain the power of super-speed and flight, which she used in her first costumed identity as Jesse Quick. She also inherited super-strength from her mother, the original Liberty Belle, which she used when she took over her mother’s legacy.

Daughter of Lightning

Jesse Chambers’s parents split up over the value of super-heroics. Her mother had given up the life of adventure, and tried to get her father to quit as well. He refused, and started training Jesse to follow in their footsteps. She left.

Jesse went on to study meta-humans at Gotham University, writing a dissertation on “Mystery-Men and Their Effects on Culture.”* She began her career as Jesse Quick when her father assisted the Justice Society in a case after its return from limbo (Justice Society of America v.2, 1992–1993).

Jesse Quick initially got on well with fellow speedster Wally West, the third Flash (Justice Society of America v.2 #5, 1992). He even named her his successor when he began transforming into energy. Then Jesse learned that he had only chosen her to shock Impulse into learning caution and planning ahead (Flash v.2 #95–100: Terminal Velocity, 1995). She and Bart both resented being used as pawns for some time.

Jesse’s life reached a turning point in an all-out battle with Savitar. Johnny Quick lost his life (Impulse #11: Dead Heat, 1996), and Jesse took over her father’s position as head of Quick-Start Enterprises. The next few years were hard on her. She had trouble reconciling her super-hero, business and personal lives, and felt she didn’t deserve any of them. Things reached their lowest point while she was working with the Titans. She tried to make amends, but finally gave up her speed to help the Flash defeat Zoom II (Flash v.2 #198–200: Blitz, 2003).

Walking away from heroics for a time, she joined the JSA as their business manager.

Legacy of Strength

Jesse found a new home with the Justice Society of America.** She reconciled with her mother during Infinite Crisis (JSA #81, 2006). She also started dating—and married—Rick Tyler, the second-generation Hourman. Rick helped her realize that she didn’t need to be perfect to deserve to be a hero, and she accepted her other legacy of power: the super-strength she inherited from her mother. Jesse joined the JSA as the new Liberty Belle (Justice Society of America, 2007).

Not long after taking up her new role, Liberty Belle found herself confronting Zoom once again, as he psychologically taunted her teammate Damage. During the confrontation, she got over her mental block and regained her super-speed, fulfilling both legacies (Justice Society of America #8, 2007).

Costumes

Jesse went through a half-dozen costume designs during her career as Jesse Quick. Perhaps they reflected her troubled state of mind at the time?

• Art Credits
• Origin Tales
• Profiles in Print
• Series Regular In...
• Solo Appearances
• Legacy-Era Appearances
• One Year Later Appearances
• Further Notes

Art

• Liberty Belle: Justice Society of America #1 (February 2007) - Dale Eaglesham and Art Thibert
• Knee-high Costume: Wonder Woman Plus Jesse Quick (January 1997) - Mike Collins and Tom Palmer
• “Jacket” Costume: Flash (second series) #101 (May 1995) - Oscar Jimenez and José Marzan, Jr.
• Flash Heir-Apparent: Flash (second series) #98 (February 1995) - Salvador LaRocca and José Marzan, Jr.
• “Q” Costume: The Titans Secret Files #2 (October 2000) - Paul Pelletier and Bud LaRosa
• Combined Costume: Flash (second series) #200 (September 2003) - Scott Kolins and Doug Hazlewood

Origin Tales

Justice Society of America #8

• Justice Society of America v.3 #8 (October 2007): “Bells & Whistles,” Geoff Johns

Profiles

• The Flash Secret Files #1 (November 1997)
• The Titans Secret Files #1 (March 1999)
• The DC Comics Encyclopedia as Quick, Jesse (2004)
• Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 under “Speed Force” (May 2010)

Series Regular In...

• Justice Society of America v.2 recurring role (1992–1993)
• The Titans (1999–2003)
• Justice Society of America v.3 (2007—)
• JSA All-Stars “Liberty Belle and Hourman” Second Feature (2010—)

Solo Appearances

• Showcase ’96 #12 (Winter 1997): “Overrun” Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• Wonder Woman Plus Jesse Quick #1 (January 1997): “Heroes!” Christopher Priest
• Speed Force #1 (November 1997): “Like Straws in a Hurricane,” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash 80-Page Giant #1 (August 1998): “The Professional,” Christopher Priest

Significant Legacy-Era Flash Appearances

• Flash #96–100 (December 1994–April 1995): “Terminal Velocity Parts 2–6,” Mark Waid
• Flash #101 (May 1995): “Going the Distance,” Mark Waid
• Flash #108–111 (December 1995–March 1996): “Dead Heat,” Mark Waid
• Impulse #11 (February 1996): “Dead Heat,” Mark Waid
• Flash #112 (April 1996): “Future Perfect,” Mark Waid
• Impulse #22 (February 1997): “Played,” Mark Waid
• Impulse #26 (June 1997): “Scorched,” Mark Waid (cameo)
• Flash Annual #11 (1998): “Haunts,” Brian Augustyn
• Flash #139–141 (July–September 1998): “The Black Flash,” Mark Millar
• Impulse #1,000,000 (November 1998): “Desperate Times—A Million,” William Messner-Loebs
• Flash #145–150 (February–July 1999): “Chain Lightning,” Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• Flash Annual #12 (1999): “The Apes of Wrath,” Brian Augustyn
• Flash #152–155, 157–159 (September 1999–April 2000): The Dark Flash Saga, Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
• Impulse #67 (December 2000): “Friends Like These...” Todd Dezago
• Flash #170, #172–173 (March–June 2001): “Blood Will Run” parts 1,3&4, Geoff Johns
• Flash #189 (October 2002): “Messengers,” Geoff Johns
• Flash #198 (July 2003): “Blitz Part 2: Rush,” Geoff Johns
• Flash #200 (September 2003): “Blitz Conclusion: The Final Race,” Geoff Johns

Significant One-Year-Later Flash Appearances

• The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13 (August 2007): “Full Throttle: Fastest Man Alive,” Marc Guggenheim (cameo)

Notes

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