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

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 appearances that are concurrent with All-Star's run:

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 Batman vs. Penguin, Riddler — Prince 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 monthly cover date, but complications ensued for books without them, like quarterlies and one-shots. 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!

JANUARY 3, 1942

SENSATION COMICS #3
March 1942
Cover by Irwin Hasen

Wonder Woman
By William Marston and Harry Peter (13 pages)

Steve leaves the hospital, so "Diana Prince" tries to become his secretary. But he already has one named Lila, so she becomes Gen. Darnell’s secretary. Lila is resentful of Diana, but it's her younger sister who's trouble. Eve is mixed up with spies because of love, and is passing information she gets from Lila. Diana is suspected as the mole. But Wonder Woman gets to the bottom of it, with the help of the Holliday Girls. They rescue Steve and a secret formula. Darnell apologizes to Diana for suspecting her, so she asks him to drop charges against Eve and let her attend Holliday College. I don't remember if Eve becomes a running character or not, but this is a pretty good origin.

Best bit: The Holliday Girls have Eve and are trying to get her to say where Steve is. They have her blindfolded and on all fours, as she is spanked with a paddle. When Wonder Woman arrives, she says, "That's enough nonsense, girls!" Nonsense, indeed. How did this get published in 1942?

Takeaway: it's only recently that it occured to me that it's possible all the Holliday Girls aren't all in one sorority. For some reason, I assumed they were, and online resources like DC Fandom usually treat them that way, if any disntinction is made at all. It might be that I thought they were all in the same sorority because that's how they've been portrayed. But I haven't noticed, as it's never been on my radar before. Anyway, if they're all in Beeta Lambda, why refer to them as the "Holliday Girls" instead of the "Beeta Lambda Girls"?

Etta Candy mentions the Beeta Lamda sorority in this issue, and the internet helpfully informs me that sometimes it's spelled Beeta Lambda (as I've always spelled it). Anyway, this might be the first mention of the sorority, as I haven't been watching for it. And I remain unsure if "Holliday Girls" refers to all the co-eds at Holliday College, or just the ones in Beeta Lambda. It might be that Holliday is small enough that there's only one sorority and almost all the students are members, or that what constitutes a "Holliday Girl" shifts according to plot needs, or that Marston simply wasn't careful (or aware) of the difference. (Surely Elizabeth or Olive would be.)

Where I Read It: Wonder Woman Archives Vol. 1.

Mr. Terrific
By Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp (8 pages)

Terry Sloane is in Santa Flora (obviously a Latin American country) on a business trip, when he stops the assassination of newly elected President Del Rio. Del Rio is a reformer, and the wealthy land-owners want him dead. Del Rio goes to the U.S. on the same boat with Sloane to get a loan, but is drugged by Don Carlos (wealthy land-owner), who wears a disguise and replaces him. Don Carlos makes a fool of himself in the U.S., destroying Del Rio's reputation. Which is actually a pretty clever plan.

But Sloane grows suspicious, and visits Del Rio's hotel room, where he finds the real article. He gives Del Rio an antidote for the drug (of his own devising) and doses Don Carlos and his henchman with the drug they gave Del Rio. They expose themselves, and Del Rio puts in for the loan. But Don Carlos had destroyed the lengthy report that must be submitted for the loan. Fortunately, Mr. Terrific skimmed it on board ship and is able to re-type it perfectly from his "photographic memory."

Fun Fact: Mr. Terrific instructs the U.S. bankers to keep 'em flying.

Where I Read It: Online.

Gay Ghost
By Gardner Fox and Howard Purcell (13 pages)

I just happened to skim this one, because it seemed unusually long, and I was curious if the ghost's M.O. had changed since the first issue. And it hadn't: He's still inhabiting the body of Charles Collins (who's dead), the boyfriend of socialite Deborah Wallace. Which is plenty weird. The ghost of Keith Everett (it was Everet in the first issue) has "Charles" sleep a lot, and faint during danger, so as to emerge and operate freely. This is in contradistinction to The Spectre, whose "body," Jim Corrigan, can at least stand on its own when the Ghostly Guardian goes to work. (I assume Charles presents as dead when Everett is ghosting about, because he is, but evidently nobody notices.)

The good news is that Wallace, who was afraid of Everett in the first issue, now thinks highly of him. (And less highly of her always-sleepy boyfriend.)

The Gay Ghost demonstrates a host of powers in this issue, rivaling those of The Spectre. And the story is 13 pages, which is the same length as the lead Wonder Woman story. And it's by two of AA's stars, Fox and Purcell. One has to wonder if the editors didn't have Spectre-level hopes for the character. He could easily have replaced the Ace of Shades in the Justice Society. And maybe he would have, if he didn't have such a dopey name.

Where I Read It: Online.

Wildcat
"Case of the Phantom Killers" by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen (10 pages)

The Purple Mask Gang robs a bank, and Mitch Daly and Joe Conti are captured (the rest get away). Since a bank guard was murdered, the two face the electric chair. Despite the efforts of attorney Malcolm Glibson (ha! ha!) they're convicted, and electrocuted. But both claim they'll be back. And, in fact, the judge and the D.A. in the case are murdered by what appears to be Mitch Daly and Joe Conti.

Wildcat guards the jury foreman, who Wildcat suspects will be the next victim, and brawls with the "ghosts." They get away, but he follows them from their next job and captures them. They are living member of the gang wearing "rubberoid masks" of the dead men, and Glibson is revealed as the head of the Purple Mask Gang.

Where I Read It: Online.

Takeaway: In retrospect, it was always going to be fake ghosts. So why did Daly and Conti play along? There was little reason for them to be so invested in the gag, since they wouldn't be around to see it. In the Spectre strip, when somebody says they're going to come back from the dead, they do. (Although how they know is a mystery.) These guys were just lying, with no benefit to themselves.

Fun Facts:

As he slaps a cop (who is mistakenly trying to arrest him), Wildcat says, "Keep 'em flying!"
Wildcat leaves a paw print on Glibson's forehead. That's new, but really derivative of The Phantom, Green Lantern, and others. I hope it doesn't last.

Continuing: Little Boy Blue, Black Pirate

Replies

Captain Comics May 6, 2026 at 1:24pm
JANUARY 2, 1942

SUPERMAN #15
March-April 1942
Cover by Fred Ray

Superman
By Jerry Siegel and Leo Nowak (13 pages)

Metropolis Police Sgt. Bob Branigan ("famous two-fisted fighter of the Metrpolis Police Force") is A) blinded by Bill Talley and his gangsters, B) kicked off the force for the accidental death of a woman and C) extorted for protection money by the gangsters who blinded him.

While Superman protects Branigan (occasionally Brannigan), Lois engages in a little light breaking and entering at Nick Talley's house, and discovers that the slain woman was his ex-wife, whom he killed to avoid alimony payments. Jimmy Olsen (who just happens to run into Lois outside Nick's house) tells Branigan what Lois is up to, and he charges to the rescue (blind or not). A random blow restores his eyesight, and he and Superman clean up the gang. Lois' discovery gets Branigan restored to the force.

Where I Read It: The Superman Archives Vol. 4

Best line: "Can you beat it?" Superman says. "Lois can't even go to lunch without getting into mischief!"

Fun Fact: Jimmy Olsen's surname is revealed. And yes, he has red hair.

Superman
By Siegel, Nowak and John Sikela (12 pages)

Superman discovers that Battleship Y-92 had been sabotaged (he fixes it), and Secretary of the Navy Hank Fox tells him agents of Napkan are responsible. "Napkan" is obviously a stand-in for "Japan." Superman surreptitiously visits the Napkanese embassy in Metropolis, where he overhears Utsum tell Ambassador Hokopoko that he has succeeded in overturning the government of the South American nation of Equaru (Equador, most likely). Superman races off and fixes that. Returning to the U.S., he is kidnapped by the Napkanese as Clark Kent. Naturally, he survives being thrown off a cliff and riddled with bullets. Returning to the embassy as Superman, he overhears plans to blow up a suicide ship in the Panama Canal. He races off and fixes that. Hokopoko and his agents flee America, fearing their country's response to their failure.

Where I Read It: Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies

Takeaways
- It's probably a coincidence that "Napkan" sounds like napkin. Or maybe not.
- At this point other DC/AA comics are pretty open about depicting Germany and Japan as enemies. See All-Star Comics #9, for example, where Nazis and Nazi regalia are much in evidence. But Superman #15 remains coy for some reason. (It's true that Pearl Harbor has already happened in real time, but the comics haven't caught up yet.)
Superman
By Siegel and Sikela (13 pages)

In Europe, Oxnalia invades Numark. Superman flies to Europe and rescues Numarkian King Boris from an assassination attempt by fifth columnists. Then he rescues Numarkian Prince Micheal from a kidnapping attempt by Lord Murgot. Then he stops an Oxnalian bombing raid. After beating up on the Oxnalian air forces, he beats up on Oxnalia's army. Then he forces Razkal, the dictator of Oxnalia, to call back his forces, which Superman then destroys. Rakzal tries to escape, but is shot by one of his own men.

Where I Read It: The Superman Archives Vol. 4

Takeaway: Once again, Superman #15 is coy about who the bad guys are. But it's pretty obvious, as "Razkal" looks just like Hitler, wears what looks like a German uniform, and wears iron crosses on that uniform. I can see that they needed a stand-in, given how easily the Oxnalian armed forces were defeated and that its leader was killed. Europe in 1942 wasn't quite so lucky.

Power Creep: Prince Micheal notes that Superman can fly, so the jumping business is clearly over (although how Superman crossed the Atlantic wasn't visually very clear). Also, when hit by an exploding shell, Superman says, "The bomb hasn't been invented yet that can make the slightest impression on me."

Superman
By Siegel, Nowak and Sikela (13 pages)

Lois is seeing a lot of Phil Carter, track athlete, much to Clark's annoyance. But he disappears. Later, Lois is accosted by an elderly man who says he's Phil Carter. Lois doesn't believe the old man's story, but Clark follows up and discovers Carter was dragged into a car by Tony Rico of the Joe Glower gang. Vistiing Glower in both identities, Superman eventually finds the ultimate boss, "The Evolution King." This unnamed scientist can age people back and forth. He escapes as Superman rescues a bunch of athletes, now all old men. Then a bunch of babies show up on doorsteps, whose fingerprints indicate they are missing adults. Then the King kidnaps Clark and Lois. Lois faints, allowing Clark to break his bonds and trick the King into using the wrong pills, dying of old age. The athletes, who were being blackmailed, are restored to their normal age. (Presumably the babies were restored as well.)

Where I Read It: The Superman Archives Vol. 4

Takeaway: Superman's pretty ruthless here. Once he broke his bonds, it was pretty obvious Evolution King wasn't going to survive the encounter.
- Philip Portelli > Captain Comics May 6, 2026 at 1:54pm
  
  Bob Brannigan sounds like someone who would have starred in his own feature before the superheroes arrived.
  
  I guess that Superman invaded Oxnalia before Hitler got the Spear of Destiny.
- Captain Comics > Philip Portelli May 6, 2026 at 9:29pm
  
  I guess that Superman invaded Oxnalia before Hitler got the Spear of Destiny.
  
  Wait, where does Rufus T. Firefly fit into it? Or this guy:
  
  They can't ALL have the spear!
- Philip Portelli > Captain Comics May 6, 2026 at 10:29pm
  
  Adenoid Hynkel was struck by the Stick of Happenstance!
  
  And Rufus T. Firefly found the Ladder of Fortune in his pajamas. How it got in his pajamas, he'll never know!
- Captain Comics > Philip Portelli May 7, 2026 at 10:53am
  
  Is that a Ladder in your pajamas, or are you just glad to see me?
Captain Comics May 7, 2026 at 11:12am
JANUARY 3, 1942

SENSATION COMICS #3
March 1942
Cover by Irwin Hasen

Wonder Woman
By William Marston and Harry Peter (13 pages)

Steve leaves the hospital, so "Diana Prince" tries to become his secretary. But he already has one named Lila, so she becomes Gen. Darnell’s secretary. Lila is resentful of Diana, but it's her younger sister who's trouble. Eve is mixed up with spies because of love, and is passing information she gets from Lila. Diana is suspected as the mole. But Wonder Woman gets to the bottom of it, with the help of the Holliday Girls. They rescue Steve and a secret formula. Darnell apologizes to Diana for suspecting her, so she asks him to drop charges against Eve and let her attend Holliday College. I don't remember if Eve becomes a running character or not, but this is a pretty good origin.

Best bit: The Holliday Girls have Eve and are trying to get her to say where Steve is. They have her blindfolded and on all fours, as she is spanked with a paddle. When Wonder Woman arrives, she says, "That's enough nonsense, girls!" Nonsense, indeed. How did this get published in 1942?

Takeaway: it's only recently that it occured to me that it's possible all the Holliday Girls aren't all in one sorority. For some reason, I assumed they were, and online resources like DC Fandom usually treat them that way, if any disntinction is made at all. It might be that I thought they were all in the same sorority because that's how they've been portrayed. But I haven't noticed, as it's never been on my radar before. Anyway, if they're all in Beeta Lambda, why refer to them as the "Holliday Girls" instead of the "Beeta Lambda Girls"?

Etta Candy mentions the Beeta Lamda sorority in this issue, and the internet helpfully informs me that sometimes it's spelled Beeta Lambda (as I've always spelled it). Anyway, this might be the first mention of the sorority, as I haven't been watching for it. And I remain unsure if "Holliday Girls" refers to all the co-eds at Holliday College, or just the ones in Beeta Lambda. It might be that Holliday is small enough that there's only one sorority and almost all the students are members, or that what constitutes a "Holliday Girl" shifts according to plot needs, or that Marston simply wasn't careful (or aware) of the difference. (Surely Elizabeth or Olive would be.)

Where I Read It: Wonder Woman Archives Vol. 1.

Mr. Terrific
By Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp (8 pages)

Terry Sloane is in Santa Flora (obviously a Latin American country) on a business trip, when he stops the assassination of newly elected President Del Rio. Del Rio is a reformer, and the wealthy land-owners want him dead. Del Rio goes to the U.S. on the same boat with Sloane to get a loan, but is drugged by Don Carlos (wealthy land-owner), who wears a disguise and replaces him. Don Carlos makes a fool of himself in the U.S., destroying Del Rio's reputation. Which is actually a pretty clever plan.

But Sloane grows suspicious, and visits Del Rio's hotel room, where he finds the real article. He gives Del Rio an antidote for the drug (of his own devising) and doses Don Carlos and his henchman with the drug they gave Del Rio. They expose themselves, and Del Rio puts in for the loan. But Don Carlos had destroyed the lengthy report that must be submitted for the loan. Fortunately, Mr. Terrific skimmed it on board ship and is able to re-type it perfectly from his "photographic memory."

Fun Fact: Mr. Terrific instructs the U.S. bankers to keep 'em flying.

Where I Read It: Online.

Gay Ghost
By Gardner Fox and Howard Purcell (13 pages)

I just happened to skim this one, because it seemed unusually long, and I was curious if the ghost's M.O. had changed since the first issue. And it hadn't: He's still inhabiting the body of Charles Collins (who's dead), the boyfriend of socialite Deborah Wallace. Which is plenty weird. The ghost of Keith Everett (it was Everet in the first issue) has "Charles" sleep a lot, and faint during danger, so as to emerge and operate freely. This is in contradistinction to The Spectre, whose "body," Jim Corrigan, can at least stand on its own when the Ghostly Guardian goes to work. (I assume Charles presents as dead when Everett is ghosting about, because he is, but evidently nobody notices.)

The good news is that Wallace, who was afraid of Everett in the first issue, now thinks highly of him. (And less highly of her always-sleepy boyfriend.)

The Gay Ghost demonstrates a host of powers in this issue, rivaling those of The Spectre. And the story is 13 pages, which is the same length as the lead Wonder Woman story. And it's by two of AA's stars, Fox and Purcell. One has to wonder if the editors didn't have Spectre-level hopes for the character. He could easily have replaced the Ace of Shades in the Justice Society. And maybe he would have, if he didn't have such a dopey name.

Where I Read It: Online.

Wildcat
"Case of the Phantom Killers" by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen (10 pages)

The Purple Mask Gang robs a bank, and Mitch Daly and Joe Conti are captured (the rest get away). Since a bank guard was murdered, the two face the electric chair. Despite the efforts of attorney Malcolm Glibson (ha! ha!) they're convicted, and electrocuted. But both claim they'll be back. And, in fact, the judge and the D.A. in the case are murdered by what appears to be Mitch Daly and Joe Conti.

Wildcat guards the jury foreman, who Wildcat suspects will be the next victim, and brawls with the "ghosts." They get away, but he follows them from their next job and captures them. They are living member of the gang wearing "rubberoid masks" of the dead men, and Glibson is revealed as the head of the Purple Mask Gang.

Where I Read It: Online.

Takeaway: In retrospect, it was always going to be fake ghosts. So why did Daly and Conti play along? There was little reason for them to be so invested in the gag, since they wouldn't be around to see it. In the Spectre strip, when somebody says they're going to come back from the dead, they do. (Although how they know is a mystery.) These guys were just lying, with no benefit to themselves.

Fun Facts:
- As he slaps a cop (who is mistakenly trying to arrest him), Wildcat says, "Keep 'em flying!"
- Wildcat leaves a paw print on Glibson's forehead. That's new, but really derivative of The Phantom, Green Lantern, and others. I hope it doesn't last.
Continuing: Little Boy Blue, Black Pirate
Captain Comics May 8, 2026 at 12:14pm
JANUARY 10, 1942

FLASH COMICS #27
March 1942
Cover by Sheldon Moldoff

The Flash
By Gardner Fox, E.E. Hibbard and Hal Sharp (13 pages)

The Flash tries to reform "Spike" Dugan, the brother of hardened criminal "Slit" Dugan, and his two pals (Lefty and Mugs), before they also become gangsters. He shows them how cowardly "Little Sam" and his gangsters are. (Other gangsters mentioned in the story are "Ratsy" McGee and another Mugs.) The kids work for The Flash chasing small-timers out of their neighborhood and convincing kids to stop playing hooky. When Spike's brother Slit breaks jail, Flash convinces him to tell his brother to go straight and and turn himself in. He does, redeeming himself in the process of turning his brother from crime.

Where I Read It: Online.

Takeaway: I have to wonder what happened to Spike, Lefty and Mugs. I'd prefer them to Winky, Blinky and Noddy, and we haven't even gotten to them yet!

Fun Fact: While capturing "Little Sam" and his boys, Flash tells the kids to "Keep 'em flying!"

Johnny Thunder
By John Wentworth and Stan Aschmeier (8 pages)

Johnny and Peachy Pet paddle down the Amazon, with the intro paragraph suggesting they're hiding from bill collectors. In the course of their adventure, they are pursued by a crocodie and nearly eaten by cannibal natives. Thunderbolt gets them out of trouble and takes them back to New York.

There are some fun bits. When a wtich doctor calls down lightning to battle Johnny and Peachy, Thunderbolt battles the bolts -- which immediately anthopomorphize in order to make '40s banter and indicate their surrender. Thunderbolt makes the crocodile friends with Johnny, and it immediately begins to talk as well, with Peachy Pet even hiding inside its mouth to avoid the cannibals.

Needless to say, the racism elements haven't aged well, but at least the natives aren't stupid. (That's Johnny's job.)

Where I Read It: Online.

Fun Fact: Thunderbolt says, "Keep 'em flyiing!"

Hawkman
By Fox and Sheldon Moldoff (9 pages)

Hawkman is teaching his birds how to fight in formation in the "Valley of the Hawks," which may be the first time that phrase has been used. They break up an aerial hijack of government gold, but Nixon, a gangster who had been using pigeons to convey plans for the gang, captures Hawkgirl. (By clipping her head with his airplane's wing, which would almost certainly decapitate her.) Hawkman and his bird air force follow Nixon's pigeon to the hideout, where he defeats the gang, frees Shiera, and forces Nixon to give up his inside man, Homer Elkins.

Where I Read It: Online.

Fun Facts:
- Hawkman says "Keep 'em flying," when he's alone in the air and no one can hear him.
- Hawkman gets shot in the shoulder ("You're hurt ... wounded!" "Not badly!"). I guess he couldn't get his helmet in front of the gun in time. And here's another example, if any is needed, of an adventure character shrugging off a bullet wound that would almost certainly incapacitate hin immediately, and kill him without immediate medical help.
Continuing: Les Sparks, The King, The Whip
- Philip Portelli > Captain Comics May 8, 2026 at 1:05pm
  
  The Flash story sounds similar to the first Mister Terrific one.
- The Baron > Captain Comics May 8, 2026 at 1:17pm
  
  Johnny and Peachy Pet paddle down the Amazon, with the intro paragraph suggesting they're hiding from bill collectors.
  
  Surely it would not be beyond even Johnny Thunder to have the Thunderbolt cough up some cash to pay any bills.
- Philip Portelli > The Baron May 8, 2026 at 1:28pm
  
  Or going to Sandman or Hawkman "Say, you want to loan me some cash to tide me over? Thanks! You're the best! Keep 'em flying!"

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