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
Al was always an interesting character(for a certain definition of "interesting"). I can see why they gave him "atomic strength" after the war. When all he had was the proportionate strength and speed of a short guy, he should've been mown down by the first crook with a gun that he encountered, although I suppose that that applies to most of the "Captain Punch-in-the-Face" characters of that era.
Of course, he was a small target. (Sorry.)
'MORE FUN COMICS' #60
Cover date: October 1940
On-sale date: Aug. 28, 1940
Cover: Spectre (by Bernard Baily) just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
The Spectre
Untitled by Siegel and Baily (10 pages)
Where I read it: Golden Age Spectre Archives Vol. 1 (2003)
A train full of gold disappears, and a vision of a giant Spectre flickers at the crime scene, so he is blamed.
There's a brief "humorous" interlude where Corrigan disappears from an elevator, terrifying the elevator operator. Sadly, the operator is Black, and speaks in sho-nuff dialect and, like all simple people, is afraid of "haunts." Siegel doesn't usually run afoul of the casual racism of the time, but he kills a little time in this story by doing so here. Too bad.
Later, Spectre interrupts a jewel store robbery — he turns the bullets into butterflies — but the fleeing crooks also disappear. Spectre follows into "nothingness,' and finds a globe full of crooks, buildings, stolen loot, etc. This is the creation of scientist Xnon (a caption helpfully informs us it's pronounced "Ecksnon") who uses his "power rod" to detect Spectre, turn him visible and hypnotize him. Then he orders him to destroy a police parade!
There's a brief scene where Siegel and Baily let their imagination run a bit, with Spectre's fingers summoning thunderbolts and awesome doom about to occur. But Spectre is summoned by The Voice again (in a neat rainbow effect), who gives him the Ring of Life again, and that's it for this story. After rescuing the train (whose passengers and guards had been enslaved), Spectre destroys the globe (and all the criminals in it) and imprisons Xnon in a meteor (that looks like a five-pointed cartoon star).
The twist at the end is that the Chief still isn't sure The Spectre is a good guy, and orders Corrigan to bring him in. I know it's a trope, but it's a tiresome one.
Once again Spectre is almost easily foiled, this time by a "power rod." And once again, the Ring of Life is a deus ex machina. In this case, a deus ex vox. Maybe I should do a Ring of Life watch. Nah, it's a gimmick I dislike.
Doctor Fate
Untitled by Fox and Sherman (6 pages)
Where I read it: Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives Vol. 1 (2007)
While "motoring through the Catskills," Inza sees some one-foot-tall men with weaponry. She ovehears them planning to go to New York City, and motors off to tell Fate. I think I like it better when Fate picks up Inza to explain humans to him, rather than yet another Golden Age coincidence.
Fate is pondering the Three Fates and hears Inza outside. He uses "a peculiar light beam" to see Inza outside, although we were told two issues ago that the Tower has windows. (Evidently now it does not.) Nor does he use a "sliding door" to go out -- now he just walks through the wall like a ghost, which Fox doesn't merit worthy of mention. We just see it.
Fate goes to New York where the little men have defeated the military and are destroying wantonly. He destroys them with his internal force (depicted as fire this time). He has Inza take him back to where she first saw the little men, discovers a cave, and goes in to find the Norns! They are making homunculi from clay to kill people because ... well, because. They won't promise not to make more evil little men, so Fate uses his internal force to remove their power to create life. Then he seals them in the cave with the same power. (It's depicted as fire both times.)
Fun facts
Continuing: Detective Sergeant Carey, Congo Bill, Captain Desmo, Biff Bronson, Radio Squad, Lieutenant Bob Neal, Sergeant O'Malley of the Red Coat Patrol.
Note: Edited to remove erroneous Fury info.
'DETECTIVE COMICS' #44
Cover date: October 1940
On-sale date: Aug. 30, 1940
Cover: Batman watches Robin subdue some crooks, by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and George Roussos
Batman and Robin
"The Land Behind the Light!" is by Bill Finger, Kane, Robinson and Roussos (13 pages).
Where I read it: Batman Archives Vol. 1 (1990).
GCD: "Batman and Robin follow Dr. Marco into his invention, which hurls them into the 4th Dimension, which is inhabited by a race of giants and a race of midgets. They discover, upon their capture, that the King of the giants intends to invade their world."
I may have to re-read this one!
Crimson Avenger has a new costume, consisting of red-and-yellow tights with a cape, although the cape wouldn't last. The story (by Jack Lehti, 6 pages) opens with Lee Travis saying, "Quick, Wing, get my new costume ready." So, I guess we're supposed to roll with it.
Continuing: Spy, Larry Steele, Crimson Avenger, Speed Saunders, Steve Malone, Cliff Crosby, Slam Bradley.
You can see Cynthia, Mildred and Mordred in the DC Finest: Horror volume that reprints The Witching Hour #3-7. Their interactions are more enjoyable than the actual stories! I have said that there was some potential in Cynthia that DC never used.
The "Golden Age" Fury was created in 1987 to replace the Earth-Two Wonder Woman as Infinity Inc's Fury's mother. She was supposed to take the Amazing Amazon's place in the Justice Society but didn't, that spot going to Quality's Miss America!
Helena Kosmatos was a young Greek girl who gets revenge on her traitor brother by making a pact with the mythological Fury, Tisiphone, gaining powers and armor. She also has anger issues that would allow Tisiphone to possess and alter her. That part eventually went away.
My main problem with her was that she looked too "modern" and provocative for a teenager in the 1940s.
In my head canon, all of the Earth-Two Wonder Woman's JLA/JSA appearances were done by Fury Post-Crisis, finally having her join the JSA in the 60s.
"Mordred" always struck me as an odd name for the Crone. It's like, "Nah, let's not use any of the stereotypical 'old lady' names, let's name her after King Arthur's evil nephew, instead."
I wonder if she was supposed to be "Morgan" but "Mordred" sounded better with "Mildred".
Lyta Trevor, introduced in Wonder Woman #300 in the early 1980s, was originally the daughter of Steve Trevor and Princess Diana of Earth-Two. Since that could no longer be true in the aftermath of Crisis, Roy Thomas decided that she was instead biologically the daughter of his own creation, the Golden Age Fury, Helena Kosmatos.
Helena was very much connected to the Furies, and in fact cursed by one of them (Tisiphone) who occasionally took control of her body with a murderous rage, although her sisters attempted to contain her. Her daughter Lyta was apparently empowered indirectly post-Crisis by way of her mother. It was never particularly clear.
Helena Kosmatos was one of the main characters of "Young All-Stars", and later became a supporting character in Wonder Woman.
Edited to add: Phil Portelli beat me to it..
I'll be darned! Since Arn Monroe and Flying Fox were actual Golden Age characters (albeit altered for Thomas' purposes), I assumed Fury was, too. Or maybe I was thinking of Miss Fury, who is a Golden Age character, but unrelated to all of this. I have amended the original post.
Look what I picked up at Target today!
But I must admit that I would have rather it was the green suit/purple cape version!
'ADVENTURE COMICS' #55
Cover date: October 1940
On-sale date: Sept. 6, 1940
Cover: Hourman throttling a crook, by Bernard Baily
Sandman
Untitled by Gardner Fox, Creig Flessel and Chad Grothkopf (10 pages).
Where I read it: Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol. 1 (2004)
Police ask Sandman to crack a bank safe when a guard is left inside to suffocate by jewel thieves who stole the "Star of Singapore." The bank manager and police are willing to keep working with Sandman to get the "Star" back. He teams up with a Detective Brophy. He decides the crooks could only sell the gem in South America (?) and sees a yacht at the docks that looks likely (??). He swims out to it — giving us Sandman in swim trunks again — and fights with the gang to get the gem. Brophy is following in a police launch, thinking Sandman has double-crossed him. An exchange of deck guns renders both boats unseaworthy. Sandman saves as many gangsters as he can, while also rescuing the Star of Singapore (by cracking a safe as it sinks). Brophy realizes his error and apologizes.
Not a particularly good Sandman story. I prefer them with Dian, and with Dodds being a lot more careful and strategic than he is here. And I've commented on the cops tolerating Sandman before, but here he's practically a member of the force.
The Hour-Man
Untitled is by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily (8 pages).
No reprint, but read online
Cosmos City officials decide to let children run the city for "Boys' Week," because comic book officials in the Golden Age were incredibly stupid. We see a criminal gang plotting to take advantage.
Tyler's boss orders Tyler to get a sleep-gas shipment out, even though there's no permit. He does it personally, and the people receiving it are obviously crooks. And yes, this is the Golden Age, so by coincidence it is the same crooks we saw before. Tyler has to go to a Minute Men meeting as Hour-Man, but plans to check this out afterwards.
During the Minute Men meeting, our crooks commit a robbery using sleep gas. Hour-Man, Jimmy and the boys race to the scene, while the crooks commit a second crime, and kidnap Minute Man Cosgrave. Hour-Man is soon chasing them but is overcome by "smoke gas" in the exhaust. He awakens to find a handkerchief dropped out the window signed by Minute Man Cosgrave, alerting hime to a robbery at The Lyceum Theatre. Busy crooks! He gets there too late, but tells the boys to come to the warehouse where Tyler delivered the sleeping gas, and to bring sticks.
Yes, sticks.
Hour-Man gets to the warehouse first, but his pill runs out and he is overpowered. The boys rush in and overcome the crooks. With sticks.
Commentary
It feels like the boys are really the stars of this strip, as they act with more agency and maturity than Hour-Man does. Hour-Man sends boys armed with sticks against armed gangsters, which makes him look irresponsible. He is easily overcome by a ridiculous gimmick ("smoke gas" in a car's exhaust pipe), which makes him look inept. At least he realized where the gangsters were, thanks to his sleep gas delivery. But he misjudged his Miraclo dose, which makes him look incompetent. He should've just stayed at Bannerman, and let the boys take care of this.
Hour-Man is hyphenated throughout.
Minute Men watch:
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