Kickers, Inc. Vol. 1 1

"Just needs a little modification to... Kickers, Inc!!"

Synopsis
The New York Smashers, led by Jack Magniconte, win their football game against the Boston Battlers. After the game, Magniconte and his wife Darlene visit Jack's brother, Steve at his workplace. Steve tells Jack that he's invented a machine, called "The Intensifier", which can increase a person's strength by 10%, maybe 15%. He wants to use it on Jack the next day. Later, Jack and Darlene are in Central Park discussing whether he should use the machine when the White Event occurs. Magniconte reacts to the flash with dizziness.

The next day, Jack uses Steve's intensifier and it overloads while Jack is inside it. Emerging from the machine, Jack finds that his hair has turned white, but after being examined by Steve, he finds that he is otherwise normal.

While running in Central Park, Jack learns he possesses superhuman strength and speed when he catches up with a car and pulls off its fender. Returning to his brother's laboratory, Jack has his strength tested. When he leaves for his scheduled football practice, Steve is phoned by a loan shark to whom he owes money.

While in a game, Jack injures wide receiver "Dasher" by throwing the football to him. Dasher is then hospitalized with several broken ribs. Jack realizes he is using his strength too much, so he plays the rest of the game carefully monitoring his throws. After the game the team visits Dasher in the hospital. In the weeks that follow, the public interest in the team grows.

The New York Smashers win the American Football League Superbowl. As a result, Steve is slain by angry Mr. Sloan and his men who had attempted to fix the game.

Jack attempts in vain to sue his brother's intensifier to give his teammates (Brick Wall, Dasher, Suicide Smythe) and and wife powers similar to his. They create Kickers Inc., a non-profit help agency, as a way of using his powers to good.

Notes:

 * Jack Magniconte doesn't realizes his paranormal powers stemmed from the White Event, not the intensifier.

Creators

 * Writer: Tom DeFalco
 * Penciler: Ron Frenz
 * Inker: Sal Buscema
 * Letterer: Phil Felix
 * Colourist: George Roussos
 * Editor: Michael Higgins
 * Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter

Characters
Protagonist(s) Deuteragonist(s) Tritagonist(s) Antagonist(s)
 * Kickers, Inc. (First appearance)
 * Jack Magniconte, Inc. (First appearance)
 * "Dasher" Corbin (First appearance)
 * Brick Wall (First appearance)
 * Suicide Smythe (First appearance)
 * Darlene Magniconte (First appearance)
 * Steve Magniconte (First appearance)
 * Punk drivers at Central Park
 * Phil (First appearance)
 * Mr. Sloan (First appearance)
 * Mr. Sloan goons

Locations

 * Sports Power Plus
 * Central Park
 * Flushing Hospital
 * New Orleans
 * Jack's apartment

Objects

 * The Intensifier