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.
Speaking of drawing lines, I won't be re-reading Superman and Batman. They are peripheral at best to the Golden Age JSA, and would overwhelm the discussion through sheer volume. The volume issue extends to Wonder Woman as well (Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade), but she was a major player in the JSA, so I haven't decided yet if I'll include her solo stories. (And I have quite a bit of time to decide, since the bulk of DC"s Golden Age Archives books consist of material published before Sensation Comics #1.) Fortunately, Jeff of Earth-J is already doing a re-read of the Golden Age Superman.
I should note that I'm using cover dates instead of ship dates (not all ship dates are available) and assigning specific months to seasonal cover dates. That is to say, I consider "Spring" to mean March-April-May, "Summer" to mean June-July-August, "Fall" to mean September-October-November and "Winter" to mean December-January-February. I know the books with seasonal dates don't always align with the months I've assigned. But I'm organizing by month, so I have to assign months to seasonal cover dates. The cover date for All-Star Comics #3 was Winter 1940, for example, so I'm going to call it "December." (The actual ship date was Nov. 22, 1940, according to the Grand Comics Database, for whatever that's worth.) It's not necessary for Golden Age books to be in specific order very often, but where they need to be (like Detective Comics #38 and Batman #1), I'll order them properly.
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 some of Luke Blanchard's posts in what amounts to almost an outline for this discussion. But I'm sure I've left out tons, especially reprints that I don't have or can't find, which may be at hand in your collection. I hope folks will do re-reads of reprints 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!
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I'M IN!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ah, well. It's not as though anyhting I've ever posted here was "important", as such.
That's odd because my three JLA/JSA Team-Up threads are still available and I did those way before yours!
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.
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