[1] The Crusaders were a metafictional team of superheroes appearing in comic books on Earth-One during World War II.

The Crusaders appeared "for real" on Earth-One during the 1970s, offering their services to New York City District Attorney David Pearson to help capture the Freedom Fighters, who were at that time fugitives because they were believed to have been working with the villainous Silver Ghost.

Pearson gave the Crusaders the authority to pursue Uncle Sam and his group after a report that they had caused a blackout in upstate New York.

[2] The Ray was later rescued by Rod Reilly, the Golden Age Firebrand, who had emigrated to Earth-One some time prior to the Freedom Fighters.

[3] In the 2007–2008 Uncle Sam series, a new team of Crusaders, gathered and controlled by the government, were introduced, including Captain Triumph, Citizen X, the Libertine, and Magno.