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 Golden Age adventures:
- 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 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 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
Apparently, the Richard Pryor movie Brewster’s Millions is one of several movies adapted from the 1902 novel of the same name
Brewster's Millions - Wikipedia
It’s not related to somebody’s will, but a Mark Twain 1893 short story called The Million Pound Bank Note. In the story, two very rich brothers in England bet each other on the fate of a poor American guy who they provide with the bank note. One thinks the guy will be very successful and the other thinks he will die in jail or the gutter.
The Million Pound Bank Note - Wikipedia
The second Wikipedia entry summarizes the story and mentions a movie adaptation starring Gregory Peck called The Million Pound Note or Man with a Million (1954), which is available on Prime without charge.
Say, you mugs! JSA #13 will be the start of the "JSA:Year One" storyline. They'll be looking at the JSA's earliest days around the same time the Skipper will be!
I'll be getting that in real time, so if it says anything useful, I can add it!
I always questioned how likely it would be that “say you” would roll off the tongue if they didn’t know it was magically connected.
I figure he says it subconsciously. Considering how often he say it, for years I have tried to take note of how many other characters use that phrase at random. I don't recall ever finding any, until just recently, when both Jimmy Olsen and the Parasite used it within the span of two pages in a 1991 story I was reading in Superman: The Triangle Era omnibus.
'ALL-AMERICAN COMICS' #19
Cover date: October 1940
On-sale date: Aug. 21, 1940
Cover: Green Lantern punches some sort of cultist off a roof, by Sheldon Moldoff
Green Lantern
Untitled by Bill Finger and Marty Nodell (8 pages)
Where I read it: Golden Age Green Lantern Archives Vol. 1 (1991)
Alan Scott saves a man from a hit and run, but reads in the paper the next day that the same man was killed later that night in a second hit and run. He realizes it's murder. Investigating as the Green Lantern, he discovers that a gangster named Slade is running an insurance racket. Slade owns a gambling hall, and convinces those who have lost a lot of money to make him the beneficiary of their life insurance policies. Then he arranges a fatal "accident."
Green Lantern disguises himself as a bad gambler, and when Slade pulls his scam, captures his gang. When he goes after Slade, the gangster surprises him with a rifle, hitting him in the head with the stock, and trying to throw the Emerald Crusader into a trap door that will have lethal results. Green Lantern recovers enough to knock Slade into the trap door instead.
Fun facts:
The Atom
Real name: Al Pratt
Created by: Bill O'Connor and Ben Flinton
Story: "Introducing the Mighty Atom" by O'Connor and Flinton
Where I read it: JSA All-Stars Archives Vol. 1 (2007)
Significance: JSA member
First appearance!
Al Pratt is taunted for his short stature by his college peers, who sarcastically call him "Atom Al." He asks fellow student Mary James out on a date, but is interrupted by a mugger, who robs them. Mary is disgusted that Pratt didn't do anything, and gives him the air. Dejected, Pratt wanders the streets, and in a fit of generosity, buys a vagrant dinner. He turns out to be Joe Turner, once a great fight manager, now "on the bum." He says he could even train Pratt, who takes him up on it. Pratt has a farm upstate and "a little money" he inherited, and he and Joe move up there and get to work. A year later, and Al's such a he-man that he manhandles a guy in a ticket line like a rag doll. He accidentally rips the knob off a door at his hotel. Al isn't just fit — he's superhumanly fit.
"Wow!" Morgan thinks. "I never thought I'd train him that good — th' size of him with th' stren'th of a giant!"
Pratt goes to Mary's house, who turns out to be rich. (As we have seen, Al isnt exactly a beggar.) She is also in the process of being kidnapped. Pratt hangs on to the back of the car, and when they stop, whales the tar out of them. He calls the police, who find the crooks unconscious and Mary unharmed. She was blindfolded, and doesn't know who saved her. Pratt leaves behind a card that read "The Atom." (Where he got that, I have no idea.)
So did the Atom have super-strength from the get-go? My introduction to the character was Silver Age team-ups, and he sure didn't have any super-powers back then. When he was retconned in All-Star Squadron to have gained super-strength from exposure to Cyclotron's radiation (which apparently took some time to manifest), that explained the occasions I vaguely recalled from my first read of All-Star Comics of apparent super-strength. Something to watch.
Fun facts:
Golden Age appearances: 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.
Death: Killed by Extant in Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3 (September 1994). He appears in the afterlife in JSA #7 (July 2025), confirming his demise remains in continuity.
Current versions: Legacy characters named The Atom (Ray Palmer, Ryan Choi) continue in Justice League Unlimited as of 2025. Pratt's godson Al Rothstein, aka Atom-Smasher, is also a member of the JSA (last I heard). Pratt's son Grant Emerson, aka Damage, was resurrected at the end of Doomsday Clock.
Note: With the addition of The Atom, all of DC/AA's six anthologies now have at least two superheroes. Let's leave aside Action Comics (Superman, Zatara) and Detective Comics (Batman, Crimson Avenger), and focus on the other four. Sandman and Hourman star in Adventure Comics, Green Lantern and Atom star in All-American Comics, Flash and Hawkman star in Flash Comics and Doctor Fate and Spectre star in More Fun Comics. Anything about those eight characters look familiar?
The stage, she is set!
Continuing: Hop Harrigan, Scribbly, Red White and Blue. Last appearance of Gary Concord the Ultra-Man.
'ACTION COMICS' #29
Cover date: October 1940
On-sale date: Aug. 23, 1940
Cover: Superman rescuing Lois, by Wayne Boring
Superman
Untitled is by Jerry Siegel and Jack Burnley, 13 pages).
Where I read it: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-31 (October-November 1974).
GCD: "Superman investigates the Fullerton Insurance Company, which is selling small valued policies to poor people, who end up dying under mysterious circumstances."
See Jeff of Earth-J's Superman from the Beginning.
Continuing: Pep Morgan, Black Pirate, Three Aces, Tex Thomson, Clip Carson, Zatara.
Continuing: Red Tornado and Scribbly...
Waitaminute... wasn't Ma Hunkel's first appearance as the Red Tornado in All-American Comics #20, next month?
Yes! Fixed. Thanks!
The Atom
Real name: Al Pratt
Created by: Bill O'Connor and Ben Flinton
Story: "Introducing the Mighty Atom" by O'Connor and Flinton
Where I read it: JSA All-Stars Archives Vol. 1 (2007)
Significance: JSA member
A long time ago, in a previous discussion of the Golden-Age Atom here, I wrote about the possible source for the creation of this character. But it must have been on one of the old, old boards, since my comments didn't surface when I ran it through this board's search engine.
Fortunately, Wikipedia has done my work for me, and here's the link to Joe Greenstein, performing strongman in the early decades of the twentieth century who billed himself as "the Mighty Atom".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Greenstein
In the Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes, the Golden Age Atom was included alnost reluctantly as he had nothing in common with his more famous Silver Age counterpart. In his intro, they did say that most people had no idea what an atom was. So at least his bullies were educated. Of course, all that changed in 1945.
In modern day retellings, they drew Al Pratt as being incredibly muscular and wide! But even in the Golden Age, his classmates and Mary James must have seen some difference in Al's physique.
And they call the 5'1 Al "Atom Al" then a 5'1 masked man calling himself the Atom appears when Al returns after a a year? Was that idea ripped off in Superman Returns?
Interestingly the Atom was revived with his JSA teammates in The Flash #137 (Ju'63) in his second costume yet in Showcase #34 (O;61) they reprint the cover of All Star Comics #3 with Al in his original costume. Thankfully, due to his Flash appearance, Al keeps his updated look unlike Doctor Fate and the Sandman who get revived with their original outfits!
And they call the 5'1 Al "Atom Al" then a 5'1 masked man calling himself the Atom appears when Al returns after a a year?
Sometimes I think of characters like Mary James (and Lois Lane), "Surely they MUST know the hero's secret ID, and they're just pretending for his sake." I mean, how could she NOT know? She's saved by The Atom nearly every issue, and sees him and Al up close a lot. How many 5'1" men does she know? Maybe he wears lifts in his Atom boots.
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