In the depths of the Second World War, Harold Gray paints a dark vision of stateside America when Annie's most loyal friends turn out to be a boarding house full of thieves, forgers, and mindreaders. The red-garbed orphan sees that petty politicians and their underworld companions can deprive a small town of freedom just as easily as can foreign spies, and that a big city can be home to a larger and even more dangerous threat to national security. To Annie's initial joy, "Daddy" Warbucks comes home from war, but this time it's not to be with his beloved adopted daughter, but... to die. With "Daddy" gone, Annie ends up terrorized by the wretchedly evil Mrs. Bleating-Hart, who robs Annie of her liberty in a very real and personal way. Volume 11 of The Complete Little Orphan Annie reprints all daily and Sunday strips from August 8, 1943 to April 14, 1945, in the darkest hours before the dawn.