Tag Archives: superheroes

November 29, 2018 · 11:12 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY 2: THE GREYSHIRTS

Continuing with the Christmas Season here’s the 2nd adventure of the very FIRST superhero team in history: DC’s JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA. It’s some Kid-Friendly Holiday Fun here at Balladeer’s Blog. 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 COMICS #4 (March 1941)

Title: FOR AMERICA AND DEMOCRACY

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

Villains: THE GREY SHIRTS

Synopsis: Summoned to Washington, DC by FBI Director J Edgar Hoover, the Justice Society of America is told about a secret Axis organization operating inside the United States despite America still being neutral in the Second World War then raging. That secret organization – the Grey Shirts – are carrying out covert sabotage operations across the nation. Continue reading →

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November 24, 2018 · 8:51 pm

JUSTICE SOCIETY: FIRST STORY

We 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 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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November 4, 2018 · 1:40 am

BLACK SATAN: ANOTHER CHESLER SUPERHERO

Balladeer’s Blog’s recent look at the superhero pantheon of Harry A Chesler Publishing was pretty popular. To meet demand here is another Chesler superhero. I went ahead and added him to the main list, too. For many more Chesler heroes click HERE

BLACK SATAN

Secret Identity: Howard Flynn, District Attorney

Origin: Like many in law enforcement Howard Flynn wearied of seeing powerful gangsters going unpunished.

He adopted the costumed identity of Black Satan and went after those criminals that the law couldn’t touch.

First Appearance: Yankee Comics #1 (September 1941).

Powers: Continue reading →

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October 30, 2018 · 2:00 pm

SUPERHERO PANTHEON OF HARRY A CHESLER PUBLISHING

Superhero cosplay for Halloween has begun threatening to overtake horror themes in recent years. In recognition of that, Balladeer’s Blog has been including a look at a different superhero pantheon during each October’s Halloween celebration. This year it’s the superheroes from Harry A Chesler ‘s publishing company.

THE DRAGON

Secret Identity: Bill Norton, Police Scientist

Origin: Tired of being relegated to the scientific end of crime solving, Police Scientist Bill Norton decides to seek out some action. He devises a flame-thrower pistol for himself plus a costume and starts fighting crime as the Dragon in his series titled Alias the Dragon.

First Appearance: Skyrocket Comics #1 (March 1944).

Powers: The Dragon had the strength and agility of a very athletic man. He wielded a pistol which could shoot fire like a flame-thrower and the dragon-scale cape of his costume was bullet-proof. In addition this hero was a first-rate scientist in criminology.

Comment: The Dragon was one of those Golden Age superheroes who didn’t care if he killed the criminals he fought. As Bill Norton our hero serves under Captain Donovan, no first name given. This character’s willingness to kill and his flame-thrower gimmick can’t help but remind a Bad Movie Fan like me of Robert Ginty’s two-movie character the Exterminater.

YANKEE GIRL

Secret Identity: Lauren Mason, wealthy socialite

Origin: Lauren Mason’s family line included practioners of the mystic arts, but the only spell-casting Lauren herself ever employed was a magic conjuration employing the words “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” (I guess her delivery made all the difference.) Chanting those three words transformed her, Shazam-style, into the super-powered Yankee Girl.

First Appearance: Either Red Seal Comics #17 (July 1946) or Dynamic Comics #23 (November 1947). There is still some dispute.

Powers: Continue reading →

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October 12, 2018 · 8:16 pm

RANDOM FRIDAY WEIRDNESS IV

Democrat Keith Ellison IS Superman! Continue reading →

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Tagged as Comic Books, DC Comics, humor, opinion, Random Friday Weirdness, superheroes, Superman

October 5, 2018 · 6:00 pm

RANDOM FRIDAY WEIRDNESS III

THE ULTIMATE BAT-FLECK MOMENT Continue reading →

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September 28, 2018 · 1:30 pm

RANDOM FRIDAY WEIRDNESS II

I WANT TO SEE THIS ON THE BIG SCREEN! Continue reading →

SOME RANDOM FRIDAY WEIRDNESS

You can insert your own Phantasm joke here. Superman Grave IF YOU’RE WONDERING HOW LOIS DIED … Continue reading →

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September 12, 2018 · 2:32 am

SPOILER FOR THE NEXT SUPERMAN MOVIE

Balladeer’s Blog’s sources in the industry – and by the industry I mean the business – have provided me with this exclusive storyboard revealing the entire plot of the next Superman movie. Looks like DC’s record of big-screen inanity will hold up!

Superman kill Prankster