Welcome to our re-read of the first and greatest superhero team in comics ... and quite a bit more!
My plan is to re-read and discuss the Golden Age Justice Society of America, which ran from All-Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940) to All-Star Comics #57 (February-March 1951), and is currently being reprinted in DC's "DC Finest" line.
But, as ever, I am consumed by context. What events brought us to All-Star Comics #3? What characters did editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox have available from which to choose? What else was competing in the superhero space? To achieve that context, I plan to start the discussion at the publisher's beginning, when Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson launched National Allied Publications Inc. in 1935. That was the first step toward the Justice Society — and to DC Comics as we know it today.
So before we even get to the JSA, I'll re-read and open for discussion all the solo stories starring JSA members, mostly from DC's Archives and Famous First Edition series. Which is actually quite a lot! (Although not as much as I'd prefer. I want it ALL!) I'll be writing about non-JSA superheroes created by National, Detective Comics Inc. and All-American Comics Inc. too, like Crimson Avenger and Doctor Occult. I'll also be tipping my hat to some non-powered characters, principally those who managed to appear outside their parent title, like Slam Bradley and Hop Harrigan. That means no re-read for the likes of "Bart Regan, Spy" and "Speed Saunders." Sorry, fellas, but I had to draw the line somewhere — before I found myself doing a deep dive into the history of Ginger Snap.
But I will be re-reading reprints, or availing myself of online information where reprints don't exist, of 14 of the 17 Golden Age characters who launched or appeared in All-Star Comics #3-57. Those characters include:
- The Atom: All-American Comics #19-46, 48-61, 70-72; All-Star Comics #3-26, 28-35, 37-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Flash Comics #80, 82-85, 87 89-95, 97-100, 102-104; Comic Cavalcade #22-23, 28; Sensation Comics #86.
- Black Canary: All-Star Comics #38-57; Comic Cavalcade #25; Flash Comics #86-88, 90-104.
- Doctor Fate: All-Star Comics #3-12, 14-21; More Fun Comics #55-98.
- Doctor Mid-Nite: All-American Comics #25-102; All-Star Comics #6 (text story), 8-57.
- The Flash: All-Flash #1-32; All-Star Comics #1-7, 10, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Flash Comics #1-104, Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties)
- Green Lantern: All-American Comics #16-102; All-Flash #14; All-Star Comics #2-8, 10, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Green Lantern #1-38.
- Hawkman: All-Star Comics #1-57, Big All-American Comic Book, Flash Comics #1-104, Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties).
- Hourman: Adventure Comics #48-83, All-Star Comics #1-7, New York World's Fair Comics [#2].
- Johnny Thunder: All-Star Comics #2-4, 6-35, 37-39; Big All-American Comic Book; Flash Comics #1-91; New York World's Fair Comics [#2]; World's Best Comics #1; World's Fair Comics #2-3; Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties).
- Mister Terrific: All-Star Comics #24, Big All-American Comic Book, Sensation Comics #1-63.
- Sandman: Adventure Comics #40-102, All-Star Comics #1-21, Boy Commandos #1, Detective Comics #76, New York World's Fair Comics [#1-2], World's Finest Comics #3-7.
- The Spectre: All-Star Comics #1-23, More Fun Comics #52-101, a single panel in More Fun Comics #51.
- Starman: Adventure Comics #61-102, All-Star Comics #8-23.
- Wildcat: All-Star Comics #24, 27; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-2; Sensation Comics #1-90.
The obvious exceptions here are Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. Superman and Batman, called "honorary members" in the text, appeared twice in All-Star Comics, but I don't plan to re-read all their adventures from 1938 to 1951. They are peripheral at best to the Golden Age JSA, and would overwhelm the discussion through sheer volume. This problem extends to Wonder Woman as well, who appears in four titles in the Golden Age (Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade, All-Star Comics). I'll re-read and report on her JSA adventures, but like Batman and Superman, I'll just note her solo stories in passing with a summary that I'll grab somewhere online. That will keep the discussion abreast of any major developments, like new supervillains, in Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman stories.
Here are their appearances that are concurrent with All-Star's run:
- Batman: All-Star Comics # 7 (cameo), 36; Batman #1-63 (February-March 1951); Batman 3-D #1; Detective Comics #1-169 (March 1951); New York World’s Fair Comics [#2]; World’s Best Comics #1, World’s Fair Comics #2-50 (February-March 1951).
- Superman: Action Comics #1-154 (March 1951); All-Star Comics #7 (cameo), 36; New York World’s Fair [#1-2]; Superman #1-69 (March-April 1951); Superman 3-D #1; Superman at the Gilbert Hall of Science; Superman Miniature; World’s Best Comics #1; World’s Fair Comics #2-50 (February-March 1951).
- Wonder Woman: All-Star Comics #8, 11-22, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Sensation Comics #1-102; Wonder Woman #1-46 (March-April 1951).
Fortunately, Jeff of Earth-J is already doing a re-read of the Golden Age Superman. Jeff isn't doing a re-read of all Batman books, but he is compiling "The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told," by which he means "all of them." Recently he's begun re-reading other major Bat-villains, which he discusses in Batman vs. Penguin, Riddler — Prince of Puzzles, The Crimes of Two-Face and Catwoman: Nine Lives of a Feline Fatale.
I should note that my methodology changed over time, as realities required. For instance, I initially lumped books together by monthly cover date, but complications ensued for books without them, like quarterlies and one-shots. As the number of quarterlies and their importance increased, I ended up going by on-sale dates as the primary organizational tool. (Which aren't available for all books, but that's a lesser devil than chronologically misplacing Batman or All-Star Comics). Initially I only included mention of others strips in anthology books if they were of some importance, like Slam Bradley, but eventually I started including all of them. Here and there I would try to improve the format. And so forth. In some imaginary "someday" I'll go back through and make them all consistent.
I've tried to be comprehensive, relying on a variety of sources, from online to reprints to "companion" books. A tip of the cowl to a Luke Blanchard post in what amounts to an outline for this discussion. But I'm sure I've left out tons, especially stories I don't have or can't find, which may be at hand in your collection. I hope folks will do re-reads of stories I've left out, as well as comment on what I've written. So let's hear what I've missed Legionnaires — and what you think!
Replies
Rather than deal with a bundle of new dimensional duplicates, someone had the bright idea to establish a mass exodus of heroes from Earth 2 to Earth 1.
Was there ever an official acknowledgement for this, Dave, or a reason given? As far as I know, it happened piecemeal. Here's what I remember, and would welcome corrections:
SPECTRE: I remember one scene, I think in America vs. the Justice Society #1 (1984), where a thought balloon indicates that the Spectre can't show up for the trial because he's on Earth-One. This was the first clue younger me had that the Spectre in Adventure Comics and Brave and Bold WASN'T a dimensional counterpart, but was the original Earth-Two Spectre, somehow arrived on Earth-One with a personality transplant. Transplants, actually, since the Michael Fleisher and Bob Haney Spectres had little in common beyond the name. And, of course, Jim Corrigan had to come along for the ride.
Prior to the Fleisher stories, Spectre's last appearance (and it was on Earth-Two) was Justice League of America #83 (September 1970). He appeared to have been destroyed, but we are to assume now, I guess, that he simply moved to Earth-One.
I don't know if I ever read an explanation for WHY Spectre switched worlds. It turned out to be lagniappe, though, when Crisis came along. With only one Spectre ever having existed, and an immortal character at that, fewer explanations were needed.
ZATARA first appeared on Earth-One in Justice League of America #51 (February 1967). I don't recall an explanation there, or in the later "Homo Magi" origin story. But that doesn't mean there wasn't a reference I wasn't paying attention to. I likely assumed a dimensional counterpart or, not knowing much about Zatara, didn't ask any questions at all. Again, this made the Crisis transition easier when the time came -- there's only ever been one Zatara, and he's long-lived because of magic. (Well, until Swamp Thing.)
GREEN ARROW AND SPEEDY: It never bothered me to read Green Arrow and Speedy reprints from the '40s -- once again, I assumed dimensional counterparts. And, at some point, the Earth-Two versions had retired or died, likely in 1958, with the Ace Archers' second origins, widely regarded as the beginning of the Earth-One duo. No explanation needed. Then came Crisis, and they had to be explained or retconned away. For a while they tried to sub for Green Arrow and Speedy, but ended up with the modern versions somehow going back in time, at least for the Seven Soldiers stories (of which there were only 14). I think that was revealed in Stargirl Spring Break Special, but I'd be happy to be corrected. I don't know if the Battling Bowmen hung around long enough in the past to have all those Golden Age adventures in More Fun Comics, Adventure Comics and World's Finest Comics (1941-1958), which seems implausible. Maybe we're just supposed to forget those, or assign them to the myriad other archer heroes of the time.
AQUAMAN: I assumed a dimensional counterpart until Crisis, confirmed by All-Star Squadron. I don't know if there's any explanation now. Aquaman also got a second origin in 1958, also widely regarded as the beginning of the Earth-One character, who very shortly would become a charter member of the Justice League. I guess the 1941-1958 stories go down the memory hole.
SARGON first appeared on Earth-One in The Flash #186 (1969). I don't believe an explanation was provided, but it's been decades since I read that. And magic's involved, which can hand-wave away a lot of questions. As you noted, Dave, his brother had to come with him.
AIR WAVE first appeared in Green Lantern #100 (1977), and I vaguely recall that his father was a dimensional counterpart of the first Air Wave, but wasn't a superhero on Earth-One. Air Wave was the first of his name on Earth-One, while the Earth-Two version(s) were quietly swept away by Crisis. I don't know if that holds true post-Crisis, but don't remember any evidence to the contrary.
NEWSBOY LEGION clones first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 (1970), so Scrapper, Big Words, Tommy, Gabby, the Guardian, and their Golden Age stories were somehow transported without comment to Earth-One (and Metrpolis, instead of New York). Famous Bobbie was introduced, and has now been retconned to be with the boys from the beginning.
That's what I remember, but the usual caveats apply. Anybody got corrections or more info?
Back in the day, there was a fan theory that, rather than being destroyed in JLA #83, the Spectre was actually scattered across the multiverse, so all the subsequent versions were splinters of the original, which is why they were so different when they appeared in different series.
The fact is that, except for the characters who made it through to the Silver Age with mostly unbroken runs (the Trinity, Aquaman, Green Arrow & Blackhawk), who all became Earth 1 heroes once the multiverse became a thing, with Earth 2 counterparts revealed as needed, until Justice League #100, all the non-JSA characters that were revived were reintroduced as Earth 1 heroes, which largely sidestepped the timeline issues that continue to plague the Infinity Inc characters: the Earth 1 Zatara didn't necessarily begin his career in 1938, just X number of years before Zatanna started hers, so both of them could just slide through the floating "now " of comic book time. This neatly avoided the problem of dealing with how and why so many Golden Age heroes waited until they were in their 70s or 80s to start a family. Plus, since there were no on-going series set on Earth 2 at the time, it would have been easier to bring back vintage heroes in Hawkman or The Flash than squeeze them into a JLA/JSA team-up. Until said team-ups became all about squeezing in bunches of other characters.
CRISIS ON EARTH-PRIME
The then-annual JLA/JSA crossover in 1982 ran in Justice League of America #207-209 and All-Star Squadron #14-15. The crossover included the All-Star Squadron for the first time. However, no Golden Age JSA members were included in the lineup — just modern ones, circa 1982. I should just skip over "Crisis on Earth-Prime," but that feels lazy.
I can well understand why the creative team opted to exclude any JSA members from the 1942 team, and use the collection of B-listers that constituted the All-Star Squadron at the time. The sad truth is that Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle and Robotman never had much impact on DC continuity, and were all gone by the end of 1954. (Steel and Firebrand II are, of course, continuity inserts.) So using them meant no complications, like a 1942 Green Lantern meeting his older self. It also demonstrated to this reader what a crew of second bananas the All-Star Squadron really was without any of the big guns from the JSA — especially compared to the other two teams, who had some real powerhouses.
JUNE 8, 1982
October 1982, DC Comics Inc., 36 pages
Cover by George Perez
"Crisis Times Three!" aka "Crisis on Earth-Prime: Book One"
By Gerry Conway, Don Heck and Romeo Tanghal (23 pages)
Title Watch: No surprise, as Thomas continues the naming convention of JLA/JSA crossovers.
Calendar Watch: January 1942, probably the third week.
JSA Roll Call: Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Huntress, Power Girl, Starman (1982)
JLA Roll Call: Aquaman II, Firestorm, Hawkman II, Superman II and Zatanna
All-Star Squadron: Cover vignettes only.
Aquaman II, Firestorm, Hawkman II, Superman II and Zatanna are expecting five members of the JSA to appear from the JLA satellite's transmatter machine, but the Crime Syndicate appears instead. There's a fight and the Crime Syndicate escapes. Meanwhile Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Huntress, Power Girl and Starman — who were meant to arrive on Earth-One — were shunted into the green-globe prison created for the Crime Syndicate, established in Justice League of America #30 (September 1964). They escape, and discover 1982 Earth-Prime, which has been destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. ("Earth-Prime" was us, BTW.)
There were TWO Jim Corrigans (actually three as there was a different one in Jimmy Olsen) but only ONE Spectre. There was supposed to be a graphic novel to explain all this but it was never published.
ZATARA: the Master Magician was always on Earth-One. He even guest starred in New Adventures of Superboy #14 and met Superbaby!
(I'm doing this by memory so the actual issue numbers may be wrong! Sorry in advance!)
GREEN ARROW & SPEEDY: counterparts since 1972 then ignored until Crisis! I already said how I feel about the current continuity!
AQUAMAN: I was surprised that they had one on Earth-Two. Then they brought back Neptune Perkins before showing us Aquaman!
Fun Fact: the overly complicated origin of Neptune Perkins was originally meant for the Earth-Two Aquaman!
SARGON THE SORCERER: from what I remember, he was described as a hero who turned evil in The Flash but in his second issue it was revealed that he had a niece!
AIR WAVE; his father was a hero on Earth-One and was the uncle of Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan. He met Superboy in DC Comics Presents #38 and inadvertently saved the Boy of Steel from gold kryptonite.
NEWSBOY LEGION: Where are they now, I wonder!
Plus:
VIGILANTE: definitely two versions as seen in Justice League of America #78-79 and issues of Adventure Comics and World's Finest Comics. He even had a nephew, Swashbuckler in an issue of Detective Comics.
MANHUNTER: thanks to Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson's incredible series from Detective Comics #438-443, Paul Kirk was rooted on Earth-One where his clones were prosperous and he may have even lived to an old age in 1st Issue Special #5!
PLASTIC MAN: both he and his son appeared in their own series and numerous guest appearances!
TNT & DAN THE DYNAMITE: appeared on Earth-1.5 (my reckoning) in Super Friends #12 plus an issue of Superman Family.
Other doppelgängers may include: BLACKHAWK, ROBOTMAN, BOY COMMANDOS and SLAM BRADLEY.
There is, of course, "Earth-Two-A... a reality postulated by E. Nelson Bridwell in the Superman Family letters page" "to explain the discrepancies between the Earth-Two Superman and the actual Golden Age comic Superman stories," according to the DC fan site and the Guide to Crisis. It strikes me that Earth Two-A might also account for the versions of Green Arrow, Speedy, and Aquaman that appeared in stories that fall, if you will, between the Golden and Silver Ages.
The solution can always be, there's yet another universe.
I don't have the issue number handy, but in one of the Jimmy Olsen letter pages during the Kirby run, it was specified that the pre-clone Guardian was an Earth 1 character...
Don't worry, Dave... my backissues are handy and I've got you covered. But one issue of the Jimmy Olsen letter page? Try three. But it has less to do with the Guardian than it does the Sandman. It all began in #139 when reader Steve Utlery wrote in to point out that the Newsboy Legion met the Sandman (a member of the JSA) in the Golden Age, which he refers to as a "technicality" and a "minor point," but E. Nelson Bridwell responded: "Okay--since there is a Superman on each Earth--and a Batman, too--why not a Newsboy Legion?"
Then, in Jimmy Olsen #143, reader Harold May writes in to dispute ENB's answer and postulates (for reasons we need not go into here), that the entirety of Jack Kirby's Jimmy Olsen takes place on Earth-2 (!), but Bridwell doubles down on his original answer. Next, in #147, Richard Morrissey offers his own explanation, namely that there are two Sandmen, one who wore as gasmask (on Earth-2) and one who wore tights (on Earth-1). Finally, also in #147, Harold May writes a second letter, admitting that Jimmy Olsen must take place on Earth-1, but he has reached the same conclusion about a Sandman of Earth-1 and Earth-2 that Richard Morrissey has.
Bridwell points out that the tights-wearing Sandman appeared alongside the JSA in no fewer than twelve issues of All Star Comics, tripled down on his answer about there having been two Newsboy Legions, and that was the end of that.
Hope this helps.
It's been my personal theory that there was a Sandman and Sandy on Earth-One, predating the Justice League naturally. Since the other Simon & Kirby (or Kirby & Simon if you prefer) DC Golden Age features all took place on Earth-One: The Newsboy Legion (Jimmy Olsen), Manhunter (Detective Comics) and the Boy Commandos (New Gods plus they shared a villain, Crazy Quilt, with Robin and that happened on Earth-One), it just figured that the yellow and purple Sandman existed there as well.
I never thought that he wore the gasmask on E-1 and Sandy never became Sand Hulk. I had them just retire, probably around the time Superboy went public.
JUNE 29, 1982
October 1982, DC Comics Inc., 36 pages
Cover by Joe Kubert
"The 'Mystery Men' of October!" aka "Crisis on Earth-Prime: Book Two"
By Roy Thomas, Adrian Gonzalez and Jerry Ordway (23 pages)
Title Watch: Likely inspired by "The Boys of October," a nickname for the 1975 Boston Red Sox, who won the World Series that year. Roy Thomas would have been 34 at the time, and probably living in New York.
Calendar Watch: January 1942, probably the third week.
JSA Roll Call: In Per Degaton's dream: The 1942 Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and future member Wonder Woman.
JLA Roll Call: Aquaman II, Firestorm, Hawkman II, Superman II and Zatanna
All-Star Squadron Roll Call: Firebrand, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Robotman and Steel. In Per Degaton's dream: Phantom Lady, Plastic Man, Shining Knight.
After a series of dreams, the 1947 Per Degaton's memories of All-Star Comics #35 and All-Star Squadron #1-3 return.
A flashback explains the events in JLA #207: Per Degaton discovered both Earth-Prime and the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 accidentally, due to a time storm while trying to return to 1942 Earth-Two. He sends the Crime Syndicate to the Cuba of 1962 Earth-Prime to steal nuclear missiles to take back to 1942 Earth-Two. It is his interference which results in the nuclear war that destroys Earth-Prime, as discovered by the 1982 JSA last issue.
Meanwhile, the 1942 Firebrand, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Robotman and Steel battle a villain who styles himself Nuclear, the Magnetic Marauder. (A difficult foe when two of your five members are mostly metal.) He gets away, and the five return to the Smithsonian, where Aquaman II, Firestorm, Hawkman II, Superman II and Zatanna accidentally arrive from 1982 Earth-One.
Fun Facts
Roy Thomas would have been 24 at the time, and probably living in New York.
The subtitle of Roy Thomas's editorial from Giant-Size Super-Stars #1 (May 1974) sticks in my mind: "A Self-Indulgent Sermonette from Roy Thomas, 33-Year-Old and Aging Boy Editior." (When I was ten, I couldn't belive he was that old.) I think you transposed those numbers there. Either that, or you need to brush up on your math skills, because Roy Thomas was born in 1940. ;)
Oops, typo. Fixed!
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