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

Captain Comics June 8, 2026 at 1:32pm

Is "giving a sh*t about continuity" Stan Lee's true greatest impact on comics? It seems sometimes that no one worried about that stuff before the Marvel Age started.

I'd sign on to that interpretation.

Captain Comics June 9, 2026 at 10:28am

FEBRUARY 24, 1942

Adventure Comics #73, April 1942, Detective Comics Inc.
Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon

Manhunter
Real name: Paul Kirk (Rick Nelson this issue only)
Created by: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby
Debut story: "Manhunter and the Secret of the Buzzard's Revenge!" by Kirby and Simon (10 pages)
Significance: Golden Age DC superhero

First appearance!

Inspired by the death of police inspector Donovan (sometimes Donavan) at the hands of the Buzzard, big-game hunter Rick Nelson decides to don a costume and hunt the most dangerous game: man. He does track down the Buzzard, and after the usual bit where the hero loses and is tied up, escapes and captures the Buzzard and his gang. The Buzzard turns out to be a tramp with a mad-on for society.

Where I read it: New Gods #4 (August-September 1971)

Fun facts

The story takes place in Empire City.
This is the first Simon and Kirby "Manhunter," which replaces the version written and drawn by Ed Moore.
This Rick Nelson has no connection to the singer and actor who got his start on Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966). This is no garden party!
Throughout this issue, the lead character is referred to as "Rick Nelson." With his second appearance, he is consistently referred to as "Paul Kirk," the same name as the previous Manhunter. But they are not considered to be the same character.
The New Gods #4 reprint replaces all references of Rick Nelson with Paul Kirk.
The Buzzard wears a costume, and has a grossly distorted body to look more bird-like (and hideous).
Before Manhunter's intervention, Buzzard is going to torture the wealthy Mrs. Stanton into changing her will to benefit a Hugo Van Beck. We never learn who that is, but I must assume it's the Buzzard.
Manhunter returned as a back-up strip by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson in Detective Comics #437. This character was established as a clone of the original, and died in Detective Comics #433.
Jack Kirby established yet another costumed Manhunter, Mark Shaw, in 1st Issue Special #5 (August 1975). As you mya remember this character was later revealed to be part of a cult related to androids called Manhunters, who wore the same costume, and were predecessors of the Green Lantern Corps. Or you may not want to remember, especially his pirate phase.

Starman
Story: "The Case of the Murders in Outer Space!"
By Gardner Fox and Jack Burnley (13 pages)

A man seen in New York three hours earlier is found suffocated in San Francisco. Starman investigates, but before that we learn that the dead man is heir to the Hetty fortune, which specifies that any heir that lives or dies in California is excluded from the will. We meet the next heirs in line with Doris Lee, at a horse race. We also meet the antepenultimate heir, a cousin named Morgan, who is the lieutenant governor. We are then informed (by expositional dialogue) that he is a crook who has been stealing state funds, is deeply in debt and that if he can't replace the funds before he's caught, he'll go to jail. (Which seems like a lot to know about your cousin.)

As attempts are made on the last two heirs, Starman tries to save them, but is caught himself. Thereupon we learn the scheme: "The Hooded Hunchback" is kidnapping the heirs, putting them in rockets, and firing them to California. They suffocate en route in space, where there is no air (or heat, but that isn't addressed, which is bad science). Starman wakes up in the rocket and escapes. (Evidently, the hoods weren't smart enough to take his Gravity Rod away.) He rescues two heirs and captures the gang, He unmasks the Hooded Hunchback, who is, to absolutely no one's surprise, Lt. Gov. Morgan.

Demotion

Starman isn't the cover feature for the first time since his introduction in Adventure Comics #61. Nor would he ever be again. Nor would the previous cover feature, Hourman. Sandman — now by Simon & Kirby — makes a return for most the title's covers until Superboy takes over with #103. The other Simon & Kirby feature, Manhunter, takes this issue's cover for his debut, and pinch-hits for Sandman on the road to #103.

The whys and hows are pretty straightforward, as explained by Jack Burnley in the foreword to Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 1:

"Starman was launched with high hopes and a big build-up, but it soon became evident that he wasn't going to fulfill the DC editors' enthusiastic predictions. ADVENTURE COMICS' sales didn't soar as expected; the young fans gave the Astral Avenger an indifferent reception. After a year as sales continued to lag, the top position in ADVENTURE COMICS was taken over by a new character drawn by the team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, and Starman was demoted to a second-banana position. ... Three months after Starman lost his star status I left the character and went back to drawing Superman and Batman in stories, covers and newspaper strips."

Takeaways:

Once again, we have terrific art and a so-so story.
Starman has no problem flying quiickly from New York to San Francisco.
This is the second time Doris seems to acknowledge that Ted sometimes has "sick spells." In earlier stories she thought Ted's many illnesses were psychosomatic. Either she has become more empathetic, or she's figured out the Starman dodge and just isn't tipping her hand. I like to think that's the case sometimes when reading these Golden Age stories, because otherwise I have to believe the girlfriends (those not in the know) are utter morons for not figuring out the secret identity. Doris wasn't one of the girlfriends who greeted the JSA at the end of All-Star Comics #9, but I like to think she was there. Because I don't like to think of her as a moron.
The rockets don't seem to have any method for braking, and yet they don't burn up on re-entry or crash land. Which is bad science. (Crooks in San Francisco cart away the rocket used at the start of the story, which appears undamaged.) Obviously, Morgan isn't concerned about the health of his victims, but he does need them to be in perfect shape, outside of suffocation, so it appears that they died in California (and not burned or mangled in a falling rocket).

Where I read it: Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 1 (2000)

Sandman
"Bells of Madness"
By Kirby and Simon (10 pages)

While Wes and Sandy take a walk on Fifth Avenue, Dodds rescues Lois Mansfield, a woman who is trying to get hit by a car. She tells him she's hearing bells and it's driving her mad. She a cousin who committed suicide, and thinks madness runs in her family. Lois' sister Martha shows up, with a thug bodyguard named Mister Scata. They take Lois away, but Wes calls a newspaper friend (Al Carter of the Daily Star) and gets their files on the Mansfield family. (He'd just Google it in 2026.) They visit the Mansfield manor, and arrive just as a shot rings out. Scata says Martha started hearing the bells and killed herself. Brother Ernest shows up and blames Scata, saying he was getting too familiar with the sisters and was trying to marry into millions. (Earlier we had seen Martha slap Scata.) Later, Ernest is buying Lois a hat when Scata shows up with a gun. (Ernest calls him "Frank.") Sandman stops Scata, but he's not the main bad guy. He says he systematically searched Lois and Martha's wardrobes and made a discovery. Ernest has been rigging the hats of the sisters with "a wire ring of tiny little bells." Ernest admits that he'd been written out of the will and was driving the other members of the family to suicide so he'd be the only choice to inherit.

Where I read it: Sandman by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby (2009)

Takeaways

Simon & Kirby lean into the dream thing, despite it not having a place in the A plot. The story starts with the Sandman poem. Later, Sandman identifies himself with "Men call me the Sandman! I'n the dream of hope for the oppressed! But I'm a nightmare to the evil!"
Simon & Kirby were going for the macabre with the tinkling bells, but I don't buy the premise. One or both of the sisters would have noticed very quickly that the bells stopped when they took off their hats. Which they would do multiple times a day, whether it's just for dinner, showering or sleeping.

The Hourman
"Criminal Quiz"
By unknown and Bernard Baily (8 pages)

A man calling himself "Professor Q" takes over radio WABX by unknown means and presents a question to the audience. The answer results in a robbery. He continues to do this, as the police and Hourman get involved. David Manders, the president of WABX, says if the police don't catch Professor Q he'll run for mayor and oust them all. Hourman and Jimmy engage with his gang, while Professor Q taunts them with hidden radios. Eventually they go to office of the WABX president, where they are locked inside while "short waves" raise the temperature. Hourman finds the way into the control booth where Professor Q is revealed to be Manders (duh), but who continually outfights Hourman and Jimmy until the Miraclo wears off. The fight moves to the roof, where Manders accidentally falls off trying to hit Hourman.

Where I read it: Online.

Fun facts:

The logo reads "Hourman and Minute Man Martin."
Jimmy Martin wears his Hourman costume for the first time.
There's no mention or depiction of Jimmy getting any sort of Miraclo enhancement.
Hourman finally gets his modern spelling (instead of "Hour Man" or "Hour-Man").
Hourman uses the Miraclo ray (instead of a pill), which gives him "the strength of fifty men."
The radio president identifies himself as David Manders, but his office door reads "J.J. Manders."

Takeaways:

The advent of Minute Man Martin, the use of the Miraclo ray and the change in logo suggest a soft reboot of the strip. As is evident by its impending cancellation (see countdown below), editor Murray Boltinoff might be making an effort to save it.
Manders was the only suspect, so no surprise there. He did seem to have no problem fighting a guy with "the strength of fifty men" longer than he should have, which is unexplained, and his end doesn't make Hourman and Jimmy look very heroic (or competent).
Radios. So many radios. They were the cat's pajamas, weren't they?
Manders says he's using "short waves" to cook the Clock Constables, but short waves usually refers to short-wave radio, which is harmless. However, microwaves have even shorter waves than short-wave radio, and could be used for Manders' purpose. If you substitute "microwaves" every time Manders says "short waves," then the science works. But the plot doesn't, because who secretly rigs their office to be a trap that emits microwaves in 1942? How could they possibly do it? And if they managed to kill someone this way, how could they possibly avoid arrest for murder? The room is the evidence, with its gimmicked doors and windows, and (presumably) microwave emitters in the walls.

Cancellation Countdown: 10.

Continuing: Steve Conrad, Shining Knight.

Philip Portelli June 9, 2026 at 1:19pm

MANHUNTER was the weakest of the four Simon & Kirby DC features though better than most Golden Age heroes.

There's a lot to digest with Paul Kirk's continuity but I don't know if here is the best place to do so.

I've said this before but Green Lantern was just more relatable and personable that either STARMAN, the Spectre or Doctor Fate. A kid could easily fantasize about finding and wearing a magic ring than inventing a rod that he has to constantly hold on to!
Plus GL had so many gimmicks: the ring, the lantern, the oath, a defined weakness and a memorable sidekick.
I wonder if it's worth keeping track of if a SANDMAN & Sandy story could have easily substituted Captain America & Bucky! Cap's adventures were pretty macabre as well!

Captain Comics June 10, 2026 at 2:06pm

MANHUNTER was the weakest of the four Simon & Kirby DC features though better than most Golden Age heroes.

I think so, too. And it didn't help that he appeared in the same magazine as Simon & Kirby's Sandman, which was very similar. And a bit more interesting, since Sandman had a sidekick. But honestly? There were so many of this type of character in 1942 and 1943 -- not just by S&K, but at all publishers -- that the more I read, the more it all blurs together.

GL had so many gimmicks: the ring, the lantern, the oath, a defined weakness and a memorable sidekick.

He really did, didn't he? But then, Flash was even more popular, and didn't have any of that. What worked and what didn't is always a mystery to me. Sometimes I suspect it boils down to the whims, assumptions and opinions of the publishers.

The Baron > Captain Comics June 10, 2026 at 4:01pm

Wasn't there a Quality Manhunter, too?
Philip Portelli > The Baron June 10, 2026 at 7:00pm

Yes, patrolman Dan Richards and his dog, Thor fought crime as Manhunter in Police Comics from 1942 to 1950, outlasting the Paul Kirk version by six years!

It was a gag in All Star Squadron #34 but became a serious plot point in Millennium.
Captain Comics > Philip Portelli June 10, 2026 at 10:19pm

They argued in Absolute Power too, I think.

Captain Comics June 10, 2026 at 2:13pm

FEBRUARY 24, 1942

All-Flash #4, Spring 1942, All-American Publications Inc.
Cover by E.E. Hibbard

The Flash
“The Tale of the Time Capsule!"

Professor Archibald McQuatness of Long Island has invented a time-travel "Sleepian" pill. He goes back in time 2,000 years (58 BCE, by my math, but it's treated as 50 BCE in this story) and sees The Flash (whom he doesn't recognize) burying a metal cylinder. The Flash recognizes McQuatness, which means we're already into conflicting time-travel scenarios. McQuatness returns to 1942 and tries to tell his daughter Betsy about his invention, but she is entertaining friends (Jay Garrick and Joan Williams, of course). He instead visits his unscrupulous investor, Reginald Hasto, and tells him about the pills and that he saw someone burying something in 50 BCE — perhaps a treasure! Hasto and his uniformed henchmen makes McQuatness take them to where the cylinder is buried, knocks out the professor, and tries to dig up the cylinder. Betsy, Jay and Joan witness this, and The Flash arrives to bury everyone in sand and dig up the cylinder himself ... which, no doubt, his future self buried. But Flash thinks McQuatness is crazy when he says he met Flash 2,000 years ago (actually 1,992 years ago, but who's counting?). Flash retrieves the cylinder, but before they can open it, Hasto returns with many men. Flash protects the women, while Hasto makes off with the cylinder. McQuatness talks Flash into taking a time pill, and they go back to 50 BCE to see Caesar. The girls follow suit. Watching from outside, Hasto sees everyone disappear and takes a pill himself (with some of his men). Everyone has gone back to 50 BCE.

The Sleepians give everyone the ability to understand the languages of the time. Which is pretty handy! Also, "Sleepian, as it is digested in the human form, throws off an auro [sic] of power that controls any object the human body touches — such as shoes, clothes, weapons ... so, by putting hands on on a saw or hammer, those objects also go back through the mists of time ..." That's also pretty handy, because otherwise our characters would all show up in 50 BCE naked. But it comes into play right away, as Hasto and his men (being in the wilderness of what will become New York) must build a boat to go to where Flash and McQuatness are. (Which is Egypt.) They go back and forth in time to get the equipment to do so.

Meanwhile, Flash super-swims McQuatness to Egypt, where the professor goes to see Cleopatra. Flash, meanwhile, discovers he's lost his super-speed (which is convenient for the plot) and becomes a galley-slave.

Hasto and the boys show up in a diesel-powered boat and commit piracy on Caesar's trireme. Impressed with the "magic wands" (tommy guns), Caesar offers to join forces with Hasto to conquer Egypt. Hasto wants easy money, so sure.

Meanwhile, Flash is a galley-slave on — wouldn't you know it — Cleopatra's galley. He reunites with McQuatness, whom Cleopatra calls "Olympus." (He calls her "Cleo.") McQuatness realizes Flash lost his super-speed due to ingesting salt (from salt water) while super-swimming the Atlantic Ocean and gives him a cure, which he whips up instantly on an ancient galley. (This is comic book science at its purist. Don't ask! Just buy!) Flash destroys the Roman fleet in comical ways and delivers Caesar to Cleopatra, whom McQuatness has taught to jitterbug. Then Flash defeats Hasto and his gang on his modern boat, and rescues Joan and Betsy.

The story should be over, but McQuatness forgot to bring any more Sleepios, so they can't go back. They return to Rome, hoping McQuatness can remember the formula. Caesar thinks Flash is Mercury, and pitches a world-conquering scheme. "There are too many free-thinking, peace-loving people in the world for one man to rule over all of them," Flash says. "And I say no! And if you want to stay healthy — you'll do as I say!" Caesar isn't happy with this answer and immediately starts scheming.

Caesar starts a rumor that Mercury will drive his horses in a great chariot race, but plans to sabotage the race so "Mercury" will look foolish. "The crowd will tear him apart!" Flash hears the rumor, but also hears the complaints of the oppressed people of Rome. He agrees to the race if Caesar will free his people. "If I win, you must grant them freedom of speech, of religious worship, and not make them fight against people they have no quarrel with!"

Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius make a deal with Hasto and his men to kill Caesar. Hasto decides to play Cassius and Brutus against Caesar, and see what the Roman leader will pay him to stay alive. Joan worries that if Flash wins the race, it'll change history and they "won't have a home to go back to!" Meanwhile, Caesar has drugged Flash's horses, and Hasto and his men plan to kill him.

We're talking Flash here, so none of that will make him break a sweat. He sees the bullets coming before he hears them (which is, amazingly, good science) and dodges. Then he defeats Hasto and his men and put them in his chariot, which he super-speeds to victory. Caesar agrees to sign proclamations per Flash's demands, but first he has to go to the Senate, and it happens to be the Ides of March. Cassius and Brutus free Hasto and his men again, and they capture the professor, who has re-created Sleepios. Betsy escapes, and tells Flash about Hasto, who leaves Caesar before he enters the Senate (something similar happened in Rome, calling away Marc Antony). Flash discovers where McQatness has been kidnapped and spots the metal cylinder from the beginning of the story, where McQuatness had planned to put the treasure he received for Flash's victory in the chariot races. Flash takes it and Betsy back to Long Island, assuming that's where Hasto has gone. He buries the capsule, and is observed by the earlier McQuatness, bringing us full circle. Chapter 1 McQuatness returns to 1942, but leaves some Sleepios behind.

Flash and Betsy return to 1942, and run into Joan, who has escaped Hasto. She says they all returned to the present, where Hasto realized the cylinder is waiting for him. Flash discovers that he has already taken it (it was in a closet) and races to Hasto's palatial home. But he has escaped into time, on a boat. Flash doesn't know what time he's gone to, so he starts taking one Sleepio after another. He goes to:

1492, and tells Columbus he's right that the world is round;
1625, and sword-fights D'Artagnan; and
ca 1600, and sees Ben Jonson, Queen Elizabeth and Francis Drake, and gives William Shakespeare the line "to be or not to be."

He also finds the professor. Hasto and his men have returned to 1942, and decide to capture Joan and Betsy again as insurance against the Flash. Flash and the professor return, and the Scarlet Speedster goes after Hasto, who has erected fortifications and placed armed guard in his path. Flash makes short work of those. He rescues Betsy and Joan, who have been rigged to be catapulted into spears. That's an odd way to kill someone, but OK. Of course it backfires on Hasto, killing him. They open the cylinder, but it's empty — the absent-minded professor forgot to put the treasure in. Now he has no more money to make Sleepios, which Flash thinks is for the best.

Fun Facts

This is a fun story.
Marc Antony doesn't appear in this version of the Caesar story.
In one scene, Hasto's men use stroboscopic glasses in order to see The Flash. That's the second time the gimmick has been used.
Mention is made that Sleepios are left on the floor of McQuatness' lab in ancient Rome, but no further mention is made of them.
All-Star Squadron #20 mentions this story.
All-Star Squadron #20, which takes place in 1942, references the unnamed Spectre story in All-Star Comics #2 (Fall 1940), "When Titans Clash!" in Superman #17 (July-August 1942), the unnamed Joker story in Batman #11 (June-July 1942), "The Tale of the Time Capsule!" in All-Flash #4 (Spring 1942) and "Total War!" in Green Lantern #4 (Summer 1942) as all happening at the same time. A glance at the cover dates would suggest otherwise! I don't know why Roy Thomas chose those particular stories as happening "now," a time when Brain Wave was wondering where those particular characters were. I do note that none of the stories happen in the "home" anthologies for these five characters, so maybe Thomas felt he had more room to maneuver. For the record, I'll repeat this observation for each of the five books.

The Baron > Captain Comics June 10, 2026 at 4:06pm

Of course, Caesar didn't die until 44 BC.
Captain Comics > The Baron June 15, 2026 at 12:45pm

It was a really long walk to the Senate.

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

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