JUSTICE SOCIETY: 1948 STORIES

For this weekend’s light-hearted, escapist blog post about superheroes, Balladeer’s Blog goes back to the Justice Society of America, this country’s very first superteam.

Years ago, I covered the early years of the JSA, from their first appearance in December 1940 up to their December 1945 issue, which wrapped up their World War Two tales with a look at disabled veterans. Earlier this summer I covered their 1946 stories and their 1947 stories.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #39 (February 1948)

Title: The Invasion From Fairyland

Justice Society Roster: Dr. Mid-Nite, Johnny Thunder, the 1st Wonder Woman, 1st Flash, 1st Green Lantern, 1st Atom, 1st Black Canary, and 1st Hawkman  

Villainess: The Lorelei

Synopsis: Every thousand years, a portal appears connecting Fairyland to the real world for 24 hours. The Lorelei, evil ruler of Fairyland, wants to lead an army of evil figures from fairy tales to take over the Earth.

The JSA members enter Fairyland and try to stop the Lorelei, a basilisk, a griffin, a dragon, Gallifron the Ogre, tinderbox dogs and a giant from using the portal to invade Earth. Lorelei leads her army in destructive attacks around the globe.

The Justice Society minimizes the damage as much as possible until, at length, the 24 hours elapse and the portal linking Earth and Fairyland disappears. Because they are in the real world when this happens, the Lorelei and all her minions are destroyed. 

I would substitute: Dr. Fate for Johnny Thunder.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #40 (April 1948)

Title: The Plight of a Nation

Justice Society Roster: The 1st Wonder Woman, 1st Flash, 1st Atom, 1st Hawkman, 1st Green Lantern, Dr. Mid-Nite and 1st Black Canary

NOTE: The long national nightmare was over as the bow-tied blonde weenie Johnny Thunder was no longer part of the JSA … until the 1960s. 

Villains: The Crimson Claw Gang

Synopsis: In an ABC After School Special type story, the Justice Society tries to fight juvenile delinquency, which, though it’s largely associated with the 1950s, was already seen as an issue before then.

Our heroes walk a fine line, defeating the teenage delinquents of the Crimson Claw Gang without seriously hurting them and exposing the adult criminals manipulating them and, finally, trying to teach the kids to pursue more constructive lives. 

I would substitute: Mr. Terrific for Dr. Mid-Nite.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #41 (June 1948)

Title: The Case of the Patriotic Crimes

Villains: Injustice Society of the World (The Wizard, The Fiddler, Icicle, Harlequin (female), Sportsmaster and the 1st Huntress)

Synopsis: The Wizard escapes prison and forms a new Injustice Society out of supervillain enemies of the JSA’s members. The Injustice Society defeat the Justice Society again and again as the heroes try to stop them from stealing the Liberty Train, Plymouth Rock, Old Ironsides, the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Washington Monument.

Needless to say, the JSA bounces back from their early losses and manages to defeat and imprison the Injustice Society.

I would substitute: Batman for the Atom.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #42 (August 1948)

Title: The Man Who Hated Science

Villain: The Alchemist

Synopsis: A new supervillain called the Alchemist beats the Justice Society in a quest to recover the four great relics of alchemy: the Philosopher’s Stone, the Universal Solvent, the Elixir of Youth and the Secret of Perpetual Motion.

With those four relics increasing his powers geometrically, the Alchemist delivers his demands to the United States Congress. It turns out the JSA members all survived the death traps he left them in, and they show up to battle him again.

Outfought, the Alchemist flies off, but dies when his aircraft goes down in flames. 

I would substitute: The Spectre for Green Lantern, and have the Spectre cause the plane crash.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #43 (October 1948)

Title: The Secret of the Golden Universe

Villains: Aurikon and his Gold Men

Synopsis: The Justice Society members clash with men made of gold as they steal iron objects from the Earth. When the villains retreat across dimensions to Xenca, the Golden Dimension, our heroes follow via the Green Lantern’s ring and learn that in this realm, life forms are gold-based rather than carbon based. 

Myrla the Scientist Queen of Xenca informs the JSA that her villainous brother Aurikon has raised an army and is using the iron stolen from Earth to fuel his giant war machines in an attempt to depose her. The Justice Society goes into action, and after several battles they defeat Aurikon, his army and war machines.

With Queen Myrla’s throne safe, the JSA returns to Earth.

I would substitute: Superman for the Atom.

ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #44 (December 1948)

Title: Evil Star Over Hollywood

Villain: Evil Star

Synopsis: When Stellar Studios in Hollywood is being harassed and sabotaged by the supervillain Evil Star (I’d prefer Dark Star), who runs all west coast rackets, the studio’s owner Frank T. Fanum asks the Justice Society for help.

The heroes go to Hollywood to protect Stellar Studios AND bring down Evil Star’s empire of crime. They have multiple clashes with the villain, whose high-tech powers and weapons all turn out to be offshoots of devices used in movie special effects.

Guy Pompton, head of a special effects firm, is exposed as Evil Star and arrested along with many of his underlings. 

I would substitute: Hourman for Dr. Mid-Nite.

FOR MY REVIEW OF THE 1960s TEAM-UP STORIES OF THE JUSTICE SOCIETY AND THE JUSTICE LEAGUE CLICK HERE.

FOR MY EXAMINATION OF CANADA’S GOLDEN AGE SUPERHEROES CLICK HERE.