Reference: COMICS FEATURE #11 (An All-Star Series by Murray Ward, 1981)

ORIGIN

Back in the 1940’s DC Comics was a divided company. The over reaching DC Universe that we take for granted did not exist, and would not exist for 50 years until the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS maxi-series in 1985. The division that would dominate the editorial structures of the company (which would last well past the Silver Age) consisted basically of the Superman/Batman line of the company (ACTION COMICS and DETECTIVE COMICS plus their quarterly spin offs of SUPERMAN and BATMAN) and All-American Comics (which covered everything else). At the time All-American were producing four main anthology titles (as outlined in the GA Introduction) each home to it’s own stable of heroes that had not yet gained their own quarterly spin off titles as Superman and Batman had. It was decided to launch such an anthology to be a showcase of the various characters that were then holding sway in the individual books. The result was ALL-STAR COMICS.

Dated Summer 1990, the first issue featured stories from the Sandman, Ultra-Man, Spectre, Flash, Hourman, Biff Branson, Hawkman and Red, White and Blue. For the second issue Biff and Ultra were replaced by Johnny Thunder and Green Lantern. However from issue three things got really interesting. The cover of that issue featured the eight founding members of the Justice Society sat around a table (as reproduced by Alex Ross in the opening illustration in the GA Introduction) in a hotel in New York. The legend declared:

And that was basically what happened. The actual origin of the Justice Society (JSA) would not be told for another thirty five years until DC SPECIAL #29 in 1977, but the meeting in ALL STAR COMICS #3 is alluded to at the end of the reworking of the origin post-crisis in SECRET ORIGINS. Why those eight characters? Most of them were already in place in the previous two issues and continued over with their own stories embedded within the JSA framing sequence, but more that that there were two from each of the All American anthologies. Within the story itself we were told that Superman and Batman were honorary members.

The keen eyed and mathematically astute among you will notice that there are in fact nine names listed on the cover of ALL STAR COMICS #3, the ninth name belonging to Johnny Thunder. It was Thunder gate-crashing the meeting (he is not part of the post-crisis origin) that started off the “roundtable” story telling. The meeting was also gate-crashed by the humour character “Ma” Hunkle - the Red Tornado. At the time Thunder was not a member but after an initiation test in issue six he was brought aboard as a full member to replace the Flash who was leaving.

The manner in which the Flash left started a tradition that would hold for much of the JSA’s run in the title. You must remember that each character had their own stories as part of one of the four main anthologies and when they became popular enough they copied Superman/Batman by being awarded their own title. Which strangely meant that the character was pulled from the Justice Society. The reason for them being pulled from the roster can be traced back to the fact that back then the editors were loathed to over-expose their product. This seems strange to those of us brought up in the Bronze Age with two Legion titles, four Superman titles and over eight X-related titles each month.

The writer of that first issue was the legendary Gardner Fox who kept the format of each character having his own story that dealt with an individual aspect of the case, only changing to a full group story with his last story (issue thirty-eight). The title was then taken over by John Broome who stayed with the JSA until the book became ALL STAR WESTERN with issue fifty-eight. With ALL STAR COMICS #57 the JSA disappeared from the world of comics for twelve years until they reappeared in the Silver Age titles written unsurprisingly by Gardner Fox.

ALL STAR COMICS INDEX

1. A normal anthology
2. A normal anthology
3. The first meeting of the Justice Society where they, at Johnny Thunder’s prompting, proceed to swap stories.
4. Recruited by the FBI, the JSA smashed Fifth Column spy groups
5. The underworld unit behind Mister X in an attempt to destroy the new JSA.
6. Johnny Thunder’s initiation tests. The title goes bi-monthly
7. The Flash leaves while GL takes over as chairman. The JSA with Batman, Superman and the Flash manage to raise $1,000,000 for war orphans. Dr. Fate switches to the half-length helm.
8. An important issue. Doctor Mid-Nite and Starman replace Hourman and Green Lantern. Wonder Woman’s origin appears as a back up and the JSA guest in the Hop Harrigan text feature. Hawkman becomes chairman and will remain in that postion for the rest of the team’s existance.
9. The FBI chief (now an associate member) sends the JSA off to battle more fifth column spies in Latin American countries.
10. GL and Flash mind hold the fort while the JSA goes off for a jaunt through time for the war effort.
11. As the USA enters W.W.II the Justice Society members enlist in the armed forces with the Justice Society becoming the Justice Battalion.
12. The JSA battle the Black Dragon Society, a Japanese spy ring.
13. Hitler rockets the individual JSA members to different planets in the Solar System but they eventually manage to escape and return to Earth. Wonder Woman becomes the JSA’s secrectary.
14. Hawkman creates food capsules for feeding patriot groups in Europe.
15. The first appearance of Brainwave who causes the disappearance of the JSA. It is left to their girlfriends to save the day.
16. The JSA battle racism and efforts to turn various ethnic groups against one another.
17. Brainwave shrinks all the members to eight inches in height.
18. JSA vs. the King Bee. The title returns to quarterly status due to war time paper shortages.
19. The Hawkman disappears.
20. The JSA investigates a Hyde/Jekyll Monster.
21. Another time travel tale where the JSA travel back to alter a heroic man’s past life.
22. Sandman and Dr. Fate disappear from the rollcall. Conscience the Good Fairy sends the heroes back in time to learn about bigotry.
23. First appearance of the Psycho-Pirate.
24. A controversial issue where the JSA with Conscience the Good Fairy try an convince a man to enlist. A propaganda piece. Flash and Green Lantern replace the Spectre and Starman while Wildcat and Mister Terrific guest-star.
25. Who is the nameless stranger? A 20 year old murder mystery,
26. The first JSA spaceborn adventure.
27. The JSA tackles the issue of the disabled.
28. Ancient curses and living painting. The title becomes bi-monthly again.
29. A time traveller from the 25th century becomes a criminal in this time.
30. Brainwave returns and makes our heroes nightmares real.
31. An alien space being takes over the mind of a toy maker.
32. The Psycho-Pirate returns.
33. Solomon Grundy seeks out Green Lantern with the Justice Society in the way.
34. W. I. Zard a criminal mage thinks that the JSA are really criminals pretending to be heroes and demands in on the game.
35. Per Degaton uses a time machine to bring back the Dark Ages.
36. Superman and Batman guest-star.
37. The Injustice Gang of the World makes it’s first appearance with the Thinker, Brainwave, the Wizard, Per Degaton, the Gambler and of course Vandal Savage.
38. Wonder Woman uses the Amazon’s purple healing ray to restore the deceased JSA. Wonder Woman becomes a full member. Black Canary guest-stars.
39. The JSA encounters a world of magic.
40. Johnny Thunder leaves and Black Canary guest-stars.
41. The Injustice Gang returns. Black Canary joins the team.
42. The Alchemist and the JSA as children. The Atom’s costume changes.
43. JSA goes travelling extra-dimensionally to battle the Gold Men.
44. The JSA go to Hollywood and a number of film stars guest as the team track down Evil Star.
45. Bumbling crooks gains powers approximating those of the JSA.
46. A comedy of errors.
47. Billy the Kid vs. the Justice Society.
48. The JSA help a dying boy.
49. Warned by humans from the future the JSA battle space invaders.
50. The JSA battle a former class mate of the Flash.
51. The JSA battle the Diamond Men from the centre of the Earth.
52. The JSA seemingly disappear for a year only to find that the world is on the brink of WWIII
53. The JSA purse a murder weapon into the past.
54. The JSA fights crime at the circus.
55. The JSA battle invaders who have conquered the other planets in out solar system.
56. The JSA travel to the 31st century, alas no sign on the LSH.
57. The JSA investigate the disappearance of international detectives. This is the last GA story of the Justice Society
58. The title changes to ALL STAR WESTERN