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 comparing ship dates on books that don't have months assigned to covers, like quarterlies and specials, to ship dates on monthlies to figure out where those books should be placed. All-Star Comics #3, for example, is dated "Winter" on the cover, but the on-sale date places it with books with December 1940 cover dates, so that's where I put it..
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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Oh, Rang-A-Tang.
They ripped off Tarzan, the Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet and the Shadow!
Why not Rin-Tin-Tin?
The Magician from Mars was a lady superheroine of the far future. Her powers were as impressive as Superman's, and are explained in her debut story as magic-like but science-based. To my knowledge she was the first comics superheroine in the superpowers sense. (This has been claimed for Fantomah from Jungle Comics, but the Magician from Mars predates her.) She didn't wear a distinctive costume.
Inspired by this thread, I've started to reread my Sandman Archives, and have checked out the first two stories -- World's Fair Comics, and Adventure Comics 40. And I've got a couple thoughts.
First off, someone calls him "Mr. Sandman" in his debut, and Wes calls himseld "Mr. Sandman" in Adventure 40. For point of reference, the song "Mr. Sandman" was written by Pat Ballard in 1954. It's tough to google something like the uses of "mister" before "sandman" prior to the song, but the wikipedia article about the Sandman figure from folklore doesn't mention a "Mr." or even "Herr" being part of his traditional name. So it's neat that the comics anticipated the song in that way.
One other cool thing I (re)noticed -- I initally thought Wes leaving a little doll of himself in bed while he fought crime at night was a Wagner/Seagle/Davis invention, but there he is, in Adventure #40!
And did he ever refer to himself as a "candy-colored clown" prior to 1963?
Not yet, but there's time!
On Earth-Lynch, Wesley Dodds called himself Ben and was played by Dean Stockwell.
I didn't remember that the doll was repeated in Sandman Mystery Theatre. I am definitely going to have to do a re-read of that title.
I love that series. I started a reread a few years ago, but I petered out a few storylines after my trade paperback collections ran out. I dug around in the longboxes for a big chunk, but never went back for a second round.
Tarantula looks pretty much the same in the Vertigo series, too -- that tall, pointed hood just gets creepier and creepier.
DECEMBER 1939
'ADVENTURE COMICS' #45
Sandman
Cover: Wait, where's Sandman? By Fred Guardineer.
Untitled by Gardner Fox and Creig Flessel (10 pages)
Where I read this story: Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol. 1
Sandman surveils a nightclub singer because of a kidnap plot that, if successful, will cost Wesley Dodds' friend Doug Nye his job. (The friend confided in Dodds, thereby bringing in Sandman. Dodds hints a bit too broadly to Nye about what he knows about Sandman, IMHO. Nye would have to be an idiot not to figure it out.) Anyway, the singer is in on the plot to fleece the insurance company. Sandman (and now you) know this from the outset, and the rest of the story is Sandman's convoluted plot to get the guilty to betray themselves. Not as strong as some other stories.
Interesting points:
Sartorial watch: Green suit, orange hat and gloves, purple cape.
Biff Bronson of More Fun Comics cameos in the Socko Strong strip.
'MORE FUN COMICS' #50
Biff Bronson has a story in More Fun Comics #50.
'DETECTIVE COMICS' #34
Cover: Crimson Avenger is throwing a man off a boat (by Creig Flessel). Despite being on the cover, Crimson Avenger doesn't appear inside. Which is weird.
Batman: Gardner Fox, Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff bring us a tale of a man with no face. Batman tracks down the villain who did this (10 pages).
Slam Bradley has a story.
'ACTION COMICS' #19
Cover: Superman is now the regular cover feature.
Superman: The Ultra-Humanite wants to kill a doctor who has the antidote to a "purple plague" sweeping Metropolis. Ultra-Humanite is why we can't have nice things (Jerry Siegel and Paul Cassidy, 13 pages).
Tex Thomson and Zatara also have stories in Action Comics #19.
'ALL-AMERICAN COMICS' #9
Ultra-Man, Hop Harrigan, Scribbly and Red, White and Blue have stories in All-American Comics #9
'SUPERMAN' #3
Superman: Reprint from newspaper strip. Superman saves a runaway boy and he (and Clark Kent) enlist the boy into helping to expose mistreatment at an orphanage. Siegel and Shuster, 24 pages.
Superman: Reprint from Action Comics #5
Superman: Reprint from Action Comics #6
Superman: "Attaining Super-Health: A Few Hints by Superman!" Siegel and Shuster, one page.
Superman: Reprint from newspaper strip. Superman saves Lois, catches jewel thieves. Siegel and Shuster (8 pages).
THE COMPETITION
Samson and Stardust debut in Fox's Fantastic Comics #1.
Neptina and Blazing Scarab debut in Worth Carnahan's Champion Comics #2.
Bob Phantom (the second one) debuts in Archie's Blue Ribbon Comics #2.
The Wizard debuts in Archie's Top Notch Comics #1 and is from the Mandrake school.
Kardak the Mystic debuts in Archie's Top Notch Comics #1. Another turbaned magician. The only place I can find where these early MLJ stories have been reprinted is at Gwandanaland.
Doll Man debuts in Quality's Feature Comics #27.
Lev Gleason enters the field with Silver Streak Comics #1. Mister Midnite, The Claw, The Wasp and Spirit Man debut. Wasp, like Sub-Mariner, was reprinted from Motion Pictures Funnies Weekly #1, which was never distributed. Wikipedia says the first two issues of this title were published by something called Rhoda Publications, with Lev Gleason purchasing and publishing the title with issue #3. The Grand Comic Book Database doesn't list a Rhoda Publications, and cites Gleason as publisher with issue #1. Shrug.
Marvel's Marvel Comics becomes Marvel Mystery Comics with its second issue.
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