The Massive, Extravagant, Over-the-top Golden Age JSA Re-read

[Captain Comics]

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 15 of the 17 Golden Age characters who launched or appeared in All-Star Comics #3-57. Those characters include:

1. 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.
2. Black Canary: All-Star Comics #38-57; Comic Cavalcade #25; Flash Comics #86-88, 90-104.
3. Doctor Fate: All-Star Comics #3-12, 14-21; More Fun Comics #55-98.
4. Doctor Mid-Nite: All-American Comics #25-102; All-Star Comics #6 (text story), 8-57.
5. 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)
6. 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.
7. Hawkman: All-Star Comics #1-57, Big All-American Comic Book, Flash Comics #1-104, Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties).
8. Hourman: Adventure Comics #48-83, All-Star Comics #1-7, New York World's Fair Comics [#2].
9. 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).
10. Mister Terrific: All-Star Comics #24, Big All-American Comic Book, Sensation Comics #1-63.
11. 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.
12. The Spectre: All-Star Comics #1-23, More Fun Comics #52-101, a single panel in More Fun Comics #51.
13. Starman: Adventure Comics #61-102, All-Star Comics #8-23.
14. Wildcat: All-Star Comics #24, 27; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-2; Sensation Comics #1-90.
15. 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.

The obvious exceptions here are Superman and Batman. These characters, 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.

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 Riddler - Prinze 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 cover date, but complications ensued for books without them, like quarterlies and specials. 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's 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!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I'M IN!

[Philip Portelli]

Ever since I saw that two-page group shot of the JSA in Justice League of America #110 (Ap'74) which I got for Christmas '73 when I was eight, I've loved the Justice Society and the Golden Age reprints that followed! 

Before the Archives came out, DC had reprinted a mere eight JSA stories from All Star Comics and I tracked them all down!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Robin's costume in that Murphy Anderson pin-up confused the hell out of me for years until I learned that the JSA and other Golden Age stories were set on another Earth.

[Philip Portelli]

IIRC, they had Black Canary explain that she was from Earth-Two in the headers above the JSA story. I liked the headers from the 100 Pagers. I knew about the parallel Earths fairly early. My first JLA/JSA team-up was #113, the Sandy Monster. But I really remember JLA #123-124, the Cary Bates/Elliot S! Maggin story where I finally saw the Earth-Two Robin in action! 

Later I got a copy of JLA #54 where the Man Wonder joined the JSA.

I don't recall being too confused about Superman, Batman and especially Wonder Woman though at that time the E-1 WW was not in Justice League of America.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

IIRC, they had Black Canary explain that she was from Earth-Two in the headers above the JSA story.

I think you're right, but if I read it at the time it didn't stick. I first learned about the concept of Earth-2 in an article. I was never "confused" about any of the other characters , only Robin. I just assumed the others' adventures took place in the same reality, only years early (as, indeed, they eventually, again, did, post-Crisis). But why would Robin change into a more "Batman-like" costume, then switch back? I couldn't figure it out. 

[The Baron]

I could swear that I did a JSA read-through at one point, but I'll be blessed if I can find it now.  So, either it got swallowed up in some previous iteration of the Board, or the current Board's search function hates me.

I did find my Golden Age JSA Timeline, though.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I could swear that I did a JSA read-through at one point...

You definitely did. I searched for it a while ago, couldn't find it either, and concluded it must have been on the O.B.

[The Baron]

Ah, well. It's not as though anyhting I've ever posted here was "important", as such.

[Philip Portelli]

That's odd because my three JLA/JSA Team-Up threads are still available and I did those way before yours!

[Captain Comics]

Can you give me a link, Philip? If I ever get through the Golden Age JSA, and we're all still alive, the next obvious step is the "team-up age" of the JSA. Not just JLA/JSA team-ups, but Flash/Flash, Green Lantern/Green Lantern, Atom/Atom, Doctor Fate/Hourman and Black Canary/Starman! (Oh, and The Spectre #1-10.) Which would be a natural stopping point before the All-Star Squadron years (beginning 1981). Maybe, if I can find the right books, we could revive your thread.