The Justice Society of America pt 1

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The Justice Society of America pt 1

September 14th 2008 15:22

This is where it all started. In two or three years we are going to see an Avengers movie. A film that combines several different heroes in the one film. A team formed to take on threats that are too big for them to face on there own.

But the Avengers were following in the proud tradition of the Justice Society of America. This team of heroes was created in 1940 and was the first team of super-heroes in comics.

The original team comprised of Dr Fate, Dr Mid-Nite, Hour-Man, Specter, Sandman, Atom, Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman.

From Left to Right Atom, Sandman, Specter, The Flash, Hawkman, Dr Fate, Green Lantern, Hourman

These characters joined forces in the pages of All Star Comics #3. This landmark issue told the story of these mystermen sitting around telling tales of there adventures and didn't actually have them jump into action till a few months later.

But then a team was born.

Batman and Superman were honorary members and in Issue #8 Wonder Woman made her debut.

In the 1950s super heroes mostly went away. All Star Comics became All Star Westerns with issue #57. (In 1951) An issue that featured the last of the Justice Society of America.

In 1956 the book Showcase #4 was published by DC comics. This book is widely acknowledged as being the birth of the Silver Age.

It introduced Barry Allen - The Flash and it was a way for DC comics to reintroduce there Super Heroes with a more Science Fiction Edge. The book would start a spark of invention that would re - introduce the staple of super heroes to the world, but with new characters taking on the identity with little or no reference to the previous holders of the name.

Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom all these characters had no relationship with the previous holders of the title. The Justice Society was renamed as The Justice League of America.

All this changed with The Flash #123 "Flashes of Two worlds" in this landmark issue Barry Allen the Flash discovers another earth (Later Dubbed Earth 2) with another Flash (Jay Garric the original Flash from 1940).

This followed a series of stories where the Justice League would team up with the Justice Society of America defeat enemies that threatened both Earths.

Over the next 30 years the DC universe expanded with the tales of Earth 2 allowing the writers to Age the characters while using Earth 1 to keep the characters at there prime.

Earth 2 introduced an older Superman and a second generation of heroes and in 1984 DC Comics introduced the children of the Justice Society of America as a new Team Called Infinity Inc. This is coincidentally the first #1 comic I ever owned.

This introduced me to the concept of Earth 2 and the Justice Society. I was excited to be part of something new.

Unfortunately as I could only get my comics from a country newsagent I was at the whims of what ever they stocked on the shelves.

But I read that issue over and over again. Immersing my young mind in the four color world of the Justice Society of America.

Then in 1985 Dc comics launched Crisis on Infinite Earths. A 12 Issue miniseries that basically removed all the other earths, including Earth 2 and the Justice Society of America (Banished to fight in Ragnarok for all eternity). Superman was re launched by John Byrne and Barry Allen the flash died.

Justice Society was a memory and Inifinity Inc and several other books were incorporated into Earth 1.

Then came Secret Origin #16

In that book It contained the Secret Origin of Hourman. Strange as he had been banished to Ragnarok with the rest of the JSA and the story was framed as a letter written from Rex Tylor to his son Rick and suggested that Rex may not be banished after all. This book I also read over and over and fell in love with Hourman a character that was created as a normal guy who when he took a pill would become super powerful for 1 hour. This interpretation of the character focused on the drug addiction element of the character . Something about Hourman appealed to me and in some ways because he was so obscure I liked him even more.

Hourman would be a character that was mainly forgotten a foot note in DC history that I could search out obscure references to till 1992.

To be continued in Part 2

Read of the Week
Crisis on Infinite Earths This is THE story that changed DC comics super heroes. It has a story that was epic enough in scale to destroy the DC multiverse and create a new unified universe for 20 years. Also it contains art by George Perez this man is one of the most talented super hero artists. Thoroughly recommended.
Crisis on Infinite Earths

View of the Week
Justice League Animated Season 1. One of the best presentations of the DC universe. You also get a two parter Legends where the league meet a version of the JSA.
Season 1
Game of the Week
Mutants and Masterminds The Super Hero roleplaying Game you and your friends can re create the adventures of the JSA. A neat elegant system that will have you saving the world and fighting the forces of evil.
Mutants and Masterminds

The Justice Society of America pt 1

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