Tag Archives: Justice Society of America

January 1, 2019 · 10:49 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 10: THE BLACK DRAGONS

SandmanEnjoy some more kid-friendly holiday season content as Balladeer’s Blog wraps up the Christmas/ New Year celebrations for this time around. It’s the very first superhero team in history: the Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK  HERE 

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 12ALL STAR COMICS #12 (August 1942)

Title: VICTORY FOR AMERICA AND DEMOCRACY

Heroes: STARMAN, WONDER WOMAN (Original), THE SPECTRE, DOCTOR FATE, SANDMAN, HAWKMAN (Original), DOCTOR MIDNITE, THE ATOM (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER

Villains: THE BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY

Synopsis: Just as the U.S. Government had previously asked the Justice Society to take on the Greyshirts, Nazi Germany’s covert saboteur network in America, they now sic our heroes on Imperial Japan’s covert Black Dragon Society in America. Continue reading →

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December 30, 2018 · 2:37 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 9: WONDER WOMAN JOINS THE TEAM

AtomHere’s some more kid-friendly holiday season content! It’s another look at the very first superhero team in history, DC Comics’ Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE 

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 11ALL STAR COMICS #11 (June 1942)

Title: THE JUSTICE SOCIETY JOINS THE WAR ON JAPAN

Heroes: WONDER WOMAN (Original), THE SPECTRE, HAWKMAN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, THE ATOM (Original), STARMAN, DOCTOR MIDNITE, SANDMAN, JOHNNY THUNDER

Villains: JAPANESE IMPERIAL ARMED FORCES

Synopsis: With World War Two raging, Hawkman’s girlfriend Shiera Sanders (aka JSA Reserve Member Hawkgirl) has enlisted as a nurse in the U.S. Army. Shiera meets Diana Prince, who is secretly Wonder Woman. The ladies share their secrets and through Shiera, Wonder Woman meets the Justice Society of America. Doctor Fate recommends Wonder Woman for JSA membership. 

Wonder WomanThe U.S. government grants the Justice Society full status as a military unit and the heroes spring into action once again against Axis forces.

They defeat Imperial Japanese attacks on American bases, destroy enemy aircraft carriers, assist Allied paratroops and prevent the destruction of a West Coast hospital.

How I Would Revise It: Continue reading →

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December 27, 2018 · 1:15 am

JUSTICE SOCIETY 8: 500 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Hourman 4Some more kid-friendly holiday season content with this 8th look at the very first superhero team in history: DC Comics’ Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE 

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 10ALL-STAR COMICS #10 (April 1942)

Title: FIVE HUNDRED YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Heroes: HAWKMAN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, BATMAN (Original), THE SPECTRE, SUPERMAN (Original), DOCTOR MID-NITE, GREEN LANTERN (Original), SANDMAN, THE ATOM (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER, FLASH (Original), STARMAN

Villains: AXIS AGENTS, THE DEFENDERS, OCEANIANS, ALIENS FROM ULTIMA

SpectreSynopsis: Justice Society of America members save a handful of War Department scientists from being abducted by Axis agents. Afterward, one of the scientists uses his newly invented time machine to send the JSA to the year 2442 to secure future technology. That technology will allow 1942 scientists to devise a high-tech national defense system that keeps mainland America 100% safe from aerial attacks.

In the far future the Justice Society members fulfill their quest despite clashing with Defenders (high-tech cops of the 25th Century), with a genetically engineered race of giants, with a race bred to live on the ocean floor and with aliens from a planet called Ultima. Continue reading →

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December 22, 2018 · 3:51 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 7: HEMISPHERE DEFENSE

Hourman 3Enjoy some more Christmastime kid-friendly content with this 7th installment featuring the FIRST superhero team in history: DC Comics’ Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE   

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 9ALL-STAR COMICS #9 (February 1942)

Title: HEMISPHERE DEFENSE

Heroes: HAWKMAN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, BATMAN (Original), THE SPECTRE, SUPERMAN (Original), DOCTOR MID-NITE, GREEN LANTERN (Original), SANDMAN, THE ATOM (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER, FLASH (Original), STARMAN 

Villains: THE AXIS POWERS

Synopsis: The Justice Society members are summoned to Washington D.C. for a meeting with the Director of the FBI. With America officially entered into World War Two the Axis Powers are actively trying to strike at the U.S. through Mexico and to add nations in Central and South America to their conquests. Continue reading →

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December 18, 2018 · 11:07 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 6: TWO NEW MEMBERS

Hourman 3Time for more Christmastime kid-friendliness with the 6th installment of the FIRST superhero team in history: DC Comics’ Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE   

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences. 

All-Star 8ALL-STAR COMICS #8 (December 1941)

Title: TWO NEW MEMBERS WIN THEIR SPURS

Heroes: DOCTOR MID-NITE, STARMAN, THE ATOM (Original), THE SPECTRE, DOCTOR FATE, HAWKMAN (Original), SANDMAN, JOHNNY THUNDER

Note: First appearance of Wonder Woman, but in her own separate story.  

Villains: DOCTOR ELBA, THE LIGHTNING MAKERS

Synopsis: Starman is being welcomed to the Justice Society of America when suddenly another superhero, Dr Mid-Nite, arrives unexpectedly with his new chemical concoction – Solution K. This solution will restore the sanity of assorted witnesses to heinous crimes, witnesses driven mad by drugs devised by a mysterious villain called Dr Elba. Continue reading →

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December 13, 2018 · 12:00 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 5: WAR ORPHANS

More Christmas Season kid-friendliness from the Golden Age with the 5th installment of the very FIRST superhero team in history: DC’s Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 7ALL-STAR COMICS #7 (October 1941)

Title: THE JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA RAISES A MILLION DOLLARS FOR WAR ORPHANS 

Heroes: BATMAN (Original), SPECTRE, SUPERMAN (Original), HOURMAN, GREEN LANTERN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, FLASH (Original), SANDMAN, HAWKMAN (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER, ATOM (Original)

Villains: THE GENERALISSIMO, HOTFIST AND ASSORTED GANGSTERS

SandmanSynopsis: Justice Society Chairman Green Lantern mentions the plight of war orphans in Europe and recommends that the JSA members combine their crime-fighting activities with fund-raising for those orphans.

The heroes spend the next several days collecting bounties on wanted criminals, selling exclusive rights to a newspaper to cover their war on a particular gang of mobsters and trying to recover a priceless Aztec treasure before it falls into the hands of a corrupt Mexican General and his troops.

In the end the JSA raises ONE … MILLION … DOLLARS … for orphans in war-torn Europe.  

How I Would Revise It:  Continue reading →

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December 7, 2018 · 7:55 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 4: INITIATION

Christmas Season kid-friendliness romps along with the 4th installment of the very FIRST superhero team in history: DC’s Justice Society of America. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 6ALL-STAR COMICS #6 (August 1941)

Title: THE JSA INITIATES JOHNNY THUNDER

Heroes: GREEN LANTERN (Original), HOURMAN, ATOM (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER, HAWKMAN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, FLASH (Original), SPECTRE, SANDMAN

Villains: Assorted Criminal Gangs

Synopsis: The Flash announces he is stepping down as the team’s Chairman. The Justice Society of America initiates Johnny Thunder, the Jar Jar Binks of the time, as a full member of the team. Naturally the JSA members all wind up having to bail out Johnny against the criminals he faces, yet they still welcome him to the team.

Hourman 2The heroes have to save Johnny from counterfeiters, bank robbers, extortionists, thieves dressed in gorilla costumes and headless zombies created by a mad scientist. (Shades of G-8 and His Battle Aces!) In the end, with all the criminals defeated, Johnny Thunder becomes a full member of the JSA. God knows why.

How I Would Revise It: Continue reading →

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December 5, 2018 · 12:23 am

JUSTICE SOCIETY 3: MISTER X

The Christmas Season rolls along with the 3rd adventure of the very FIRST superhero team in history: DC’s JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All-Star 5ALL-STAR COMICS #5 (June 1941)

Title: THE MYSTERIOUS MISTER X

Heroes: HAWKMAN (Original), HOURMAN, FLASH (Original), SPECTRE, GREEN LANTERN (Original), DOCTOR FATE, ATOM (Original), SANDMAN

Villains: MISTER X AND HIS CRIME GUILDS

Synopsis: With organized crime in America on the ropes thanks to the various members of the Justice Society a mysterious masked figure called Mister X decides to fill the leadership vacuum. Organizing nationwide crime into Guilds and Unions for each type of criminal offenders Mister X plans to get “tribute” from his gangs AND to kill the entire Justice Society of America.  Continue reading →

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November 24, 2018 · 8:51 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY: FIRST STORY

Mascot sword and pistolWe live in a superhero-crazed world right now. Here at Balladeer’s Blog I’m always glad to oblige readers’ requests to throw in superhero-related posts because I have a soft spot for the subject since superhero comic books were a gateway to two of my adult passions: mythology and opera.

DC fans have complained that I pay too much attention to Marvel Comics and other comic book companies, so here is the first of my looks at DC’s biggest claim to fame – the VERY FIRST SUPERHERO TEAM EVER. Long before the Justice League came the Justice Society in 1940.

I will review the original issue AND detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All Star 3ALL-STAR COMICS #3 (December 1940)

Title: THE FIRST MEETING OF THE JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Heroes: FLASH (Original), RED TORNADO (Original female version), SPECTRE, SANDMAN, GREEN LANTERN (Original), HOURMAN, DOCTOR FATE, HAWKMAN (Original), ATOM (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER    

Synopsis: At this very first meeting of any superteam in comic book history, the members make general introductions and each relate one of their adventures via flashback. The Red Tornado stops by for a visit.

While the meeting is going on, FBI Chief J Edgar Hoover invites the entire team to a Top Secret meeting the following Tuesday and the Justice Society of America accepts. 

How I Would Revise It: Continue reading →

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