The Justice Society of America was the creation of Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox, two legends in the comic book field. A cartoonist in his own right, Mayer is probably best known as the creator of Scribbly (a semi-autobiographical comic strip about a boy cartoonist), the Golden Age Red Tornado (in the pages of Scribbly), Sugar and Spike, Leave It to Binky, and several other classic comic books. In 1938, however, Mayer was M. C. Gaines' assistant at the McClure Syndicate. It was Mayer who talked Gaines into recommending an unpublished comic strip called Superman to Harry Donenfield when National Periodical Publications Inc.'s publisher was looking for material for Action Comics #1.

In 1939 Jack Leibowitz, Harry Donenfield's partner at National Comics, wanted to expand their line; however, Donenfield felt that the four magazines they were currently publishing were enough. Leibowitz then formed a partnership with M. C. Gaines to form what could rightfully be called National's sister company (after all, they shared Leibowitz  between them).  All-American Comics Inc. was  a separate company from National Periodical Publications Inc., with its own offices and its own staff. Despite this,  its magazines bore the DC imprint and National characters appeared in All-American comic books and vice versa. Sheldon Mayer became editor of the new line, which began with All-American Comics and grew to include Flash Comics, All-Star Comics, and Sensation Comics. It was in these magazines' pages  that some of the most important characters of DC Comics' Golden Age first appeared--The Flash and Hawkman in Flash Comics, Green Lantern and The Atom in All-American Comics, Wonder Woman in All-Star Comics. In 1945 M. C. Gaines sold his share in  All-American Comics Inc. to Jack Leibowitz (and hence National), reportedly for $500,000. Despite the high price tag, it would prove to be a very worthwhile investment for National, for it would be the revival of two All-American characters (The Flash and Green Lantern) that would spark the Silver Age.

It was in the summer of 1940 that All-Star Comics was launched. The title was meant to feature several different characters from both the Detective Comics and All-American Comics lines in individual stories. That first issue featured The Flash and Hawkman from the All-American line and Hourman, The Sandman, and The Spectre from the National Periodical Publications line. In the second issue both the Green Lantern and Johnny Thunder appeared. From a magazine which featured several different heroes from several different titles, it was a small step to a comic strip that would feature several different heroes side by side as part of a group. So it was that Sheldon Mayer conceived the Justice Society of America. The man who would write that first Justice Society story and many more to come was Gardner Fox.

Gardner Fox is now a legend in the comic book industry and with good reason. The former lawyer and prolific author (he wrote for the pulp magazines as well as the comic books) had a hand in creating some of the biggest names in comic book history. Among Fox's creations are numbered The Flash (with Harry Lampert),  Hawkman (with Dennis Neville),  Dr. Fate (Fox even designed his costume), The Sandman (with artist Bert Christman), and the Justice League of America. Having created several of  the charter members of the Justice Society of America, he was perhaps the best man for the job.

Originally the Justice Society of America was meant to showcase those characters who did not have titles of their own. It would include two characters each from National and All-American's magazines. For that reason Flash and Hawkman (from All-American's Flash Comics), Green Lantern and the Atom (from All-American's All-American Comics), The Spectre and Dr. Fate (from Detective Comics' More Fun Comics), and The Sandman and Hourman (from Detective Comics' Adventure Comics) were charter members. When a character received his own solo title, he would be retired and replaced with another character.  When The Flash and Green Lantern received their own titles in 1941, they were replaced by Johnny Thunder and Dr. Mid-Nite respectively (the Flash and Green Lantern then became honourary members). The one exception to this policy was Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman became the group's official secretary in All-Star Comics #11 and eventually became a full fledged member, even though she had received her own magazine in 1942.

The Justice Society of America made their debut in All-Star Comics #3, winter 1940-1941. The first story simply portrayed the first meeting of the Justice Society of America, at which the various members recounted  their own solo adventures. Superman and Batman were given honourary memberships. The Red Tornado and Johnny Thunder both crashed the meeting, the Red Tornado making a hasty entrance and exit. It would not be until All Star Comic #4, April 1941 that the Justice Society would have its first, full fledged adventure together.

The Justice Society of America proved to be an immediate hit. Some estimate that All-Star Comics may have been the second best selling title at the time for both National and All-American. Regardless, the series was popular enough that National and All-American formed an official fan club, the Junior Justice Society of America. No reliable figures exist as to the size of its membership, although it could well have been 100,000 or more.

Over the years the Justice Society would see several changes in its membership. In All-Star Comics #6 The Flash retired to become an honourary member and Johnny Thunder joined the group. The Flash had recently received his own title, so he was no longer eligible for full membership. Johnny Thunder, having appeared in most of the few JSA adventures to date, was his obvious replacement. The Flash, who had been the original chairman of the JSA, was replaced by Green Lantern in that same issue. The Flash would make three cameos with the Justice Society (in All-Star Comics issues 7, 10, and 24), before finally rejoining in All-Star Comics #25, summer 1945. Having received his own title, Green Lantern left the group and became an honourary member in All-Star Comics #8, December 1941- January 1942. Like The Flash, he would guest star in issues 10 and 24, before rejoining in issue 25. With Green Lantern's departure, Hawkman became chairman of the JSA, a position he would hold for the rest of the series' run. That same issue Hourman took a "leave of absence (the character was apparently not very popular and his own series would only last over little more than a year--Hourman made his final Golden Age appearance in Adventure Comics #83, February 1943)." He would not appear in All-Star Comics for the rest of its original run.

Easily one of All-American's most popular characters, Wonder Woman would become a mainstay of All-Star Comcs. Her origin appeared as a special bonus story, unrelated to that issue's JSA story, in All-Star Comics #8, December 1941-January 1942, It was not long before she made her first appearance with the Justice Society of America, taking The Spectre's place as a guest of the JSA in All-Star Comics #11, June-July 1942. With All-Star Comics#12, August-September 1942 Wonder Woman became both an honourary member and the Justice Society's secretary. She would assume an active role in both All-Star Comics #13, October-November 1942 (there she was one of the members "Shanghaied into Space" by Nazi scientists) and All-Star Comics #15, February-March 1943 (in which she and the girl friends of the other JSA members rescued her fellow teammates from Brain Wave). Depsite the fact that she was one of the group's most powerful members, thereafter Wonder Woman appeared only briefly in each issue. There can be but little doubt that this was because she had her own title, which barred her from full membership. When Green Lantern and The Flash rejoined in issue 25, however, it appears that the restriction on members having their own titles had changed. Perhaps for that reason Wonder Woman assumed an active role as a full member in All-Star Comics #38, December-January 1948.

With World War II in full swing, the United States experienced a paper shortage in 1943. As a result All-Star Comics shifted from a bi-monthly schedule back to a quarterly schedule. This  also affected the line up as well. For the next few issues one or two characters would not take an active role in the JSA's adventures, appearing only for a few panels in each issues. In All-Star Comics #19, winter 1943 Hawkman appears only in the final chapter. In issue 20, spring 1944, Sandman and Dr. Fate sit out the adventure. Finally, in issue 21, summer 1944, The Atom and Spectre sit on the sidelines. That issue marked the final appearances of Dr. Fate and The Sandman in All-Star Comics, the two characters forced out due to declining popularity and the paper shortage.

While most membership changes occurred because a character had received his own title or because a character's popularity had declined, one instance occurred because of company politics. In 1944 Max C. Gaines, the head of All-American Comics, and Jack Liebowitz, Harry Donenfield's partner at National Periodical Publications, often found themselves in bitter disagreement. As a result there was a schism between National and All-American. For that reason in All-Star Comics #24, spring 1945, two All-American characters (Wildcat and Mr. Terrific) filled in for the two members from National (Starman and Spectre) as guests of the Justice Society of America. The following issue, All-Star Comics #25, summer 1945, Starman and Spectre would be permanently replaced by The Flash and Green Lantern (it seems by this time the policy of not featuring characters who had their own titles had changed). No better representation of the schism between the two companies can be found than by the fact that All-Star Comics issues 24, 25, and 26 lacked the DC imprint--it was replaced by an All-American Comics logo. The dispute was settled when Gaines sold his interest in the company, so that National and All-American were finally merged into a single corporation.

Shortly thereafter The Atom very nearly lost his membership in the Justice Society of America. The Atom had lost his spot in All-American Comics (his series was cancelled to make way for Winky, Blinky, and Noddy). As a result, it was decided to replace The Atom, a character no longer featured in his own series, with Wildcat. Wildcat would debut as a full-fledged JSA member in the story "A Place in the World" in All-Star Comics #27, Fall 1945. Fortunately, for The Atom, three stories featuring him were already completed and "A Place in the World" was moved ahead on the publishing schedule. The Atom was given a reprieve and his series was moved to Flash Comics.

Afterwards the membership of the Justice Society of America would remain fairly stable, with only one more change in membership. Beginning with All-Star Comics #34, April-May 1947, Johnny Thunder would play a reduced role in the JSA's adventures. He made his final appearance in issue 39, February-March 1948. Johnny's place was taken by The Black Canary, who appeared as a guest of the Justice Society of America from All-Star Comics #38, December 1947-January 1948,  to All-Star Comics #41, June-July 1948. With issue 41, Black Canary finally became a full member of the Justice Society of America.

Yet other superheroes would occasionally make cameos in the pages of the Justice Society of America in All-Star Comics. Batman and Superman were only referred to in passing in All-Star Comics #3, although they made cameos in All-Star Comics #7, November 1941 (this is their first appearance together). During the Golden Age, however, DC's two best selling heroes only took part in one Justice Society adventure. In All-Star Comics #36, September 1947, in the story "Five Drowned Men," the two honourary members appeared in their own chapters, filling in for Johnny Thunder and The Atom,  for the first time fighting crime beside the Justice Society of America. As mentioned above, the Green Lantern and The Flash each made cameos in the pages of All-Star Comics, after becoming honourary members before eventually rejoining. The Red Tornado made a brief appearance in All-Star Comics #3, entering through the window. Unfortunately, this was also the reason she had to make a hasty exit--she tore her longjohns on the window sill! As discussed above, Mr. Terrific and Wildcat  each appeared in All-Star Comics #24, spring 1945. During the Golden Age it does not appear that Mr. Terrific was considered a member of the JSA and his appearance in that issue is simply a guest spot. Apparently Mr. Terrific joined sometime after the Golden Age. On the other hand, Wildcat was most definitely considered a member, as evidenced by All-Star Comics #27.

Beyond changes in the member roster, the Justice Society of America did not change too terribly much over the years. What could have been a major change occurred in All-Star Comics #10, May 1942. The JSA actually disbanded so that its various members could join the armed forces. Shortly thereafter the "Justice Battalion" was formed to help in the war. Fortunately, the Justice Battalion concept was soon forgotten and  the Justice Society was back to fighting crime as civilians.

The structure of the Justice Society stories was quite simple, with only one major change in the series' entire run. The plot would be set up in the opening pages of the story. Afterwards each character would be featured in a chapter of his own (often these would be drawn by the character's regular artist). Finally, in the closing pages of the story, the JSA would reunite to bring the story to an end. This format would change with All-Star Comics #39, February-March 1948. From that issue forward the Justice Society would divide up into teams of two, sometimes three, characters. An exception to this rule was usually Green Lantern, who still usually had a chapter to himself.

Throughout the Golden Age, the Justice Society of America was written by only three men. Gardner Fox wrote the series from its beginning until issue 34, April-May 1947. During his run on the JSA, Fox wrote several stories with a social conscience. In All-Star Comics #7, October-November 1941, each JSA member raises $100,000 for children orphaned by the war. Issue 16, April-May 1943 saw the Justice Society fighting Nazi agents intent on stirring up racial hatred in the United States. In All-Star Comics #27, fall 1945, the Justice Society helped various handicapped children. Fox was also responsible for introducing supervillains into the pages of All-Star Comics. In All-Star Comics #15, February-March 1943, Fox introduced what could be considered the group's archnemesis, Brain Wave, who would return to battle the Justice Society in further issues. He also introduced the original Psycho-Pirate and The Wizard. As a professional pulp writer, Fox often brought his often extravagant imagination to bear on his Justice Society stories. All-Star Comics #20, spring 1944, featured a supervillain called the Monster, created as the result of a home movie, who terrorises a powerful business tycoon. In All-Star Comics #28, April-May 1946, an artist bent on revenge uses ancient Atlantean paintings which can bring pictures to life to kill those he feel has offended him. Perhaps no better representative of Fox's creative (and sometimes downright strange) imagination can be found than All-Star Comics #30, August-September, 1946. In "The Dreams of Madness" Brain Wave drives the Justice Society of America mad with bizarre dreams--Hawkman believes he is a thermometer and The Atom is convinced that he's a sponge!

After Gardner Fox left the series, John Broome would assume the reins as writer, although Robert Kanigher would write three issues after Broome made his debut. Kanigher's issues would prove to be historic ones for the Justice Society of America. All-Star Comics #36, August-September 1947, marked the first time that DC Comics' three major characters (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) would appear together. It was also the first and only time during All-Star Comics' original run that Superman and Batman received their own chapters in a Justice Society of America story. In All-Star Comics #37, October-November 1947, Kanigher introduced the Injustice Society of the World, perhaps the first time that several major supervillains joined forces to present a united front against all that is pure and good. The Black Canary appeared for the first time in All-Star Comics #38, December 1947-January 1948.

John Broome's first JSA story appeared in All-Star Comics #35, June-July 1947; after Kanigher's short stint on the series, Broome wrote the Justice Society's adventures for the remainder of their original run. Broome continued to use supervillains and even introduced a few of his own. In Broome's debut, Per Degaton made his first appearance--using a time machine he manages to destroy civilisation as we know it! Zabor Zodiak utilises the Elixir of Youth, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Universal Solvent to battle the Justice Society of America in All-Star Comics #42, August-September 1948. Broome also introduced the original Key, who made his first and only appearance in the Justice Society's swan song, All-Star Comics #57, February-March 1951. A good deal of science fiction also made its way into JSA stories throughout Broome's run. One of Broome's more popular plot devices was that of invaders from another world. Entities made of flame attempted to invade Earth in All-Star Comics #49, October-November 1949 and in All-Star Comics #51, February-March 1950, civilisation faced an invasion by diamond creatures from under the ground. Time travel also played a role in some of Broome's stories (although it must be pointed out taht Gardner Fox wrote the first JSA time travel story--the group travelled "500 Years into the Future" in All-Star Comics #10, April-May 1942). Beyond Per Degaton's debut, it also played a role in All-Star Comics #53, June-July 1950, in which the Justice Society must retrieve a murder weapon which is hurling backwards in time in order to save an innocent man from execution. Time travel was also a device in All-Star Comics #56, December 1950-January 1951, in which the Justice Society travels to the future to save 31st century Earth from alien invaders.

In the earliest adventures of All-Star Comics, the Justice Society of America faced gangsters, spies, and mad scientists for the most part.  By the mid-Forties, however, supervillains had begun to dominate the comic books. Batman fought The Joker. The Flash fought The Shade. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Justice Society of America found themselves facing supervillains more and more often. They first fought Brain Wave in All-Star Comics #15, March 1943. The original Psycho Pirate made his first appearance in All Star Comics #23, winter 1944. In All-Star Comics #34, May 1947, they battled the Wizard. Even Solomon Grundy faced off against the Justice Society of America! It was only a matter of time before several of their enemies banded together to form a united front against the Justice Society and so they did. In All-Star Comics #37, October-November 1947, Vandal Savage, The Gambler, Brain Wave, The Wizard, Per Degaton, and The Thinker would form the Injustice Society of the World. Failing in their plot, The Wizard would later form a new Injustice Society in All-Star Comics #41. This time the membership roll included The Icicle, The Sportsmaster, The Fiddler, and The Huntress.

It would not be supervillains who ended the Justice Society's original run, however, but the changing currents of the comic book industry. As early as 1944 there were signs that the superhero fad was coming to an end. Dr. Fate, The Spectre, and The Sandman all saw the end of their series in More Fun Comics and Adventure Comics respectively. By 1948 the writing was on the wall--superheroes were on the way out.  Green Lantern and The Flash's solo titles were cancelled that year. All-American Comics switched to a Western format and the following year Flash Comics ended its run. The National superhero line was not the only one to suffer. At Timely Comics the Sub-Mariner and  Human Torch's solo titles were cancelled and Captain America Comics shifted towards a "weird tales" format. The superheroes of old found themselves being pushed aside more and more often to make way for other genres, such as westerns and crime stories.

The sheer popularity of the Justice Society of America allowed it to survive a bit longer. All-Star Comics outlasted every one of its members' solo runs except Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, it too would eventually fold in the face of declining sales. The Justice Society of America made their final appearance in All-Star Comics #57, February-March 1951, after which All-Star switched to a Western format. Only a few superheroes would survive into the Silver Age: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Green Arrow at National Periodical Publications and Plastic Man at Quality Comics (and even he would barely survive into the Silver Age). For the next several years comic books would be dominated by other genres.

The superheroes of old were gone it seemed, but not forgotten. As the Justice Society of America had proven time and time again in the pages of All-Star Comics, you can't keep a good hero down, at least not for long....

The Justice Society of America, The Justice League of America, The Seven Soldiers of Victory, and all characters, titles, and covers associated with them are trademarks and copyright DC Comics Inc. This site is not officially associated with DC Comics Inc. in any way, shape , or form. Cover images used on this web site are protected under the fair use principle of American copyright law for nonprofit, educational purposes.

 Unless otherwise stated, all text on this site is © 1999 T. L. Canote