Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "all-star-comics"

All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 2 by Gardner F. Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book begins with a rousing introduction from Jerry Bails, which really sets the stage for the book.

The Justice Society were the original large-scale Superhero team. This second volume collects All Star Comics Issues 7-10 with 4 adventures from the Justice Society. The society featured a team plus several honorary members. At the start of this book, the honorary members are Batman, Superman, and the Golden Age Flash.

Issue 7 was the first and only issue during the Green Lantern era as Chairman of the Society. The society sets out raise $1 million for humanitarian war relief. Usually, they don't accept rewards, but they've got the spirit of World War 2 and set out to help others in a fun and moving adventure. Grade: A-

Issue 8 begins the Hawkman era as Chairman as the Golden Age Green Lantern joins the honorary member list. The plot centers around several criminals going insane. With Green Lantern inactive and Hourman taking a leave of absence, that opens spots for Starman and Dr. Midnite who are introduced in this issue. Overall, this was an okay story with unsatisfactory ending. However, it's made better because All Star Comics #8 throws in the first Wonder Woman story at no additional cost. Grade: B+

Issue 9 features the JSA going after fifth columnists spread throughout Central America. and J. Edgar Hoover being made an honorary JSA member. I'm usually all in for World War 2 propaganda efforts, this one suffered. There was really no unified meeting or big goals the team was going for leading to an average series of solo stories. Grade: C

Issue 10 has the Justice Society Teaming up with scientists who are working on a system of bombing defense. No one has the exact way to do it, but one of them has invented a time machine and the JSA proposed to go forward in time to get the components. Yes, it's a time paradox, but I have to love the optimism about the future even in the midst of war. A hopeful and fun story. Grade: A-

The big plus in this issue besides Wonder Woman is Captain Midnite who could have been a basis for Daredevil. While the Golden Age Atom is a weak character, my least favorite character here is Johnny Thunder who remains the, "One of these things is not like the other" member of the JSA as his magic thunderbolt genie is the only ace he has. It's a good ace but functions as a deus ex machina for the clueless JSA member.

But even with Johnny Thunder, the book was still pretty fun reading.



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All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 6 by Gardner F. Fox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects Issue 24-28 of the Golden Age All-Star Comics. This included three issues where due to All American Comics deciding to separate from DC's characters, some regular members were banished and Green Lantern and Flash returned dropping their honorary member title.

Issue #24: This Is Our Enemy: A man is unsure if fighting in the War is worth it, and so the Justice Society takes him on a tour through time highlighting all the cruelty and war-mongering in German history. It's War Propoganda, but it's fairly well done and enjoyable for what it is. Grade: A-

Issue #25: The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime: A man comes to the Justice Society with a very bad case of amnesia, but he does remember that a man convicted of a crime was innocent of it and the Justice Society sets out to investigate. It's a fun, if cliched mystery with some over the top twists. It's still very enjoyable. Grade: B+

Issue #26: Vampires of the Void: The Justice Society takes on a group of metal eating monsters. This is a very traditional superhero story, but enjoyable and a lot of fun in its own right. Grade: B+

Issue #27 : A Place in the World: A lovely and life-affirming story regarding disability. It was very timely because many men returned from war with new disabilities. One of these was a focal point in the story, a football player who lost an arm in the War. Prior to the War he'd been a football player who'd looked down on his own disabled brother. Now, he found himself not being respected and having to be encouraged by his brother. He asks the Justice Society to help a group of young men with disabilities who were struggling with depression. The Justice responds by each having a disabled person assist them in their own unique way. It has a powerful for kids as well as affirming people with disabilities. There are problems you could point to if you wanted to be skeptical but it's heartfelt and particularly for the era, is a brilliant moving story. Grade; A+

Issue #28: A dying man asks the Justice Society to thwart a murder plot he set in motion. The would-be killer is an artist who sent paintings painted with paint that causes the subject to come to life at night. It's an insane concept leading up to amazing insane conclusion. My big problem is that the framing story of people in the future finding paints from the JSA that it says not to use is completely unnecessary. Grade; B+

Overall, these are some of the better All Star Comics stories. I think the limited quarterly publication schedule really does help them maintain quality writing, although the art is iffy at times, though that's to be expected from a book that was produced by a variety of freelancers.

Still, this is a great collection full of sublime JSA goodness.



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All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 7 by Gardner F. Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Golden Age Justice Society team of Hawkman, the Flash, Green Lanter, Doctor Midntite, the Atom, Johnny Thunder, and Wonder Woman as Secretary return for five post-War adventures in Issues 29-33

Issue 29: The Man Who Knew Much: Landor, a man bored with a Utopian future returns to the 1940s only to discover it takes money to live so he sets out to commit some daring crimes to capture the attention of the Justice Society. Really fun. Grade: B+

Issue 30: Dreams of Madness: An old JSA villain Brainwave tricks the JSA into going under so that he can use their dreams to drive the mad. Can anyone save the JSA? This is the best story for Johnny Thunder I've ever read. A very fun ending. Grade: B+

Issue 31: The Workship of Willie Wonder: A toymaker is turned evil by a mini-red evil alien sun creature and designs stuff for criminal. A bit meh for me on this one. Grade: C

Issue 32: The Return of Psycho Pirate: Psycho Pirate returns in a story that serves to teach kids the dangers of letting various emotions get out of control. Not sure the writer understands humility, but anyway not a bad story. Grade: B

Issue 33: The Revenge of Solomon Grundy: JSA Headquarters has been trashed, Green Lantern's disappeared and his old enemy Solomon Grundy is on the loose. It's easily one of the best JSA tales I've ever read. Very tense ending. Grade: A

Overall, this is a strong volume. The worst story is only mediocre. I actually found myself enjoying the Johnny Thunder chapters, and everything else is as good or better than previous volumes. One big bonus of this book is Roy Thomas' loving introduction. His passion and enthusiasm for the series shows and is quite contagious. A very solid read.



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All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 8 by Gardner F. Fox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects Issues 34-38 of All Star Comics. There are several big changes that occurr. First, Johnny Thunder is benched, so no adventure is saved by him saying, "Say you."

Issue 34 sees the Introduction of the Wizard, a villain who believes the Justice Society must be pretending to be heroes for some reason but really trying to make money on the side. Issue 35 features the villain Per Degaton in time travel tale that was a bit advanced for the Golden Age and also a bit confusing. Issue 36 is a tale of men corrupted by drowning in a body of water that turns them evil. Superman and Batman appear in this one and actually take part in a JSA golden age adventure for the first and only time.

Issue 37 sees the introduction of the Injustice Society and our heroes face a grim battle. Disappointment in this one is that Johnny Thunder are captured off-panel. Issue 38 sees a big shake-up as all the male JSAers are apparently killed in the first pages and Wonder Woman has to revive them with the help of Black Canary (who makes her first JSA appearance.) and we get a long adventure without individual chapters which is a first for All Star Comics.

The book features an enthusiastic introduction from comics legend Roy Thomas. Whether you agree with Thomas that this was the JSA at its best, this is certainly one of the best volumes and showed that even though the golden age was nearing an end, this book wasn't running out of steam at all. My complaints are mostly minor. This book is a classic must-read if you're a fan of Golden Age comics.



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