DC SUPERHEROES: THIRTIES TO SIXTIES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at assorted DC characters from the 1930s to 1960s. DC fans have mentioned how Marvel-heavy my posts can be, but I also cover DC and independents.

BATMAN: THE REAL YEAR ONE

As fans know, this figure debuted in the May 1939 issue of Detective Comics and over the next 12 months he earned an eponymous second series.

The first appearances of the Joker, Catwoman, Hugo Strange and others were featured.

Click HERE.   

SUPERMAN: THE REAL YEAR ONE

The June 1938 issue of Action Comics introduced the world to Superman. It’s unintentionally funny how recklessly violent the character was at first.

See this hero tussle with governments, industries and armies while shrugging off collateral damage. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: WORLD WAR TWO

The very first superteam in history. These heroes held their first meeting in the December 1940 issue of All Star Comics.

Wonder Woman had not yet joined, but the original, female Red Tornado was there. Hourman, Dr. Fate, Sandman, the Spectre plus the original Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman showed up. Click HERE. And for their adventures all the way up to the end of 1945 click HERE. 

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: 1946 

The examination of the JSA’s 1940-1945 stories proved so popular that I followed up with a look at the team’s 1946 adventures.

The heroes take on menaces from ancient Atlantis, a supervillain from the 25th Century, a powerful alien criminal and more. They must also deal yet again with their recurring foes like Brain Wave and Psycho-Pirate. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: 1947

A look at yet another year’s worth of stories from the JSA.

The Justice Society clashes with Solomon Grundy, the Wizard, Per Degaton, the Black Rider, the Wrecker, the Injustice Society and the Waxworks. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: 1948

Nineteen Forty-Eight brought new challenges for the JSA.

See our heroes battle the Alchemist, the Gold Men, Evil Star, Crimson Claw, plus the Lorelei. There’s also a return bout with the Injustice Society. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: 1949

This year the JSA faced plenty of supervillain teams who were NOT the Injustice Society. They only faced one solo costumed villain – Mr. Alpha. 

Meet the Cosmic Criminals, who gained superpowers from items charged with cosmic energy; the Invisible Band, ingenious crooks; the Fire People, invading aliens; an Old West-themed outlaw gang led by a super-strong “Billy the Kid” pretender; and a non-powered gang called the X-Criminals. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: 1950-1951

A mixed menagerie for the JSA as they starred in their last several Golden Age stories.

Costumed supervillains? There’s the Circus of Wonders and the Key. Invaders from outer space? There’s Bakeelu and his People of the Green Star as well as the Chameleon Race. Menaces from the ancient past? There’s the mystical Four Kings. Menaces from inside the Earth? There’s the Diamond People. Click HERE.

NEGLECTED DC SUPERHEROES OF THE GOLDEN AGE

Everybody knows Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest, but there were many more who were forgotten over the decades.

Take a look at Air Wave, Miss X, Flying Fox, the Guerilla, Lady Danger, Robotman, Gimmick Girl and over a dozen more, including the very different original Aquaman. Click HERE. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE-JUSTICE SOCIETY TEAM-UPS: 1960s

After DC launched the first comic book Multiverse with Earth-Two as an explanation for their classic heroes and younger counterparts it was inevitable that the JSA and JLA would meet.

In these 1963-1969 stories the two superteams saved Earth-One and Earth-Two from the Crime Champions, the Lawless League, Anti-Matter Man, the Crime Syndicate of America, Aquarius and more. Click HERE.

*** I’ve also covered plenty of DC stories from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s HERE.