Johnny Thunder All-American Comics

Just a quick look at the earliest Johnny Thunder (the western hero) and his debut covers for All-American Comics.  They were all drawn by Alex Toth, and he did these 3 covers as Johnny took over the comic from Green Lantern (who was regulated to just a feature of these issues, before the comic became All-American Western with #103 (November, 1948), but Toth still supplied a cover....

All-American Comics #100 and #101 (August and September, 1948)

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All-American Comics #102 and All-American Western #103 (October and November, 1948)

Gotham Guide: The Golden Age Of Solomon Grundy

Solomon Grundy....born on Monday, christened on Tuesday, married on Wednesday, took ill on Thursday, grew worse on Friday, died on Saturday and buried on Sunday.  That was the end of Solomon Grundy.  But, here, instead of talking of the old nursery rhyme, it will be a look at the creature that came out Slaughter Swamp on the outskirts of Gotham...who was named for the character in that rhyme in a classic Golden Age tale.

Fighters Never Quit

Solomon Grundy first emerged  in All-American Comics #61 (October, 1944) by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman, coming out of Slaughter Swamp after criminal Cyrus Gold, the man who would become Grundy had been left there for dead 50 years before.

The animated corpse leaves the swamp and heads into Gotham (getting his name of Solomon Grundy from a couple of hobos), becomes their crime boss, and leads them on an attempted take over of Gotham, until Green Lantern (Alan Scott) takes him on (and has problems with Grundy, as Grundy is made of plant material, including wood, which the Golden Age GL is powerless against).  Still, Alan and his partner, Doiby Dickles defeat the creature.

This was the only solo Solomon Grundy tale reprinted, in Wanted, the World's Most Dangerous Villains #4 (December, 1972).

And, Then There Was One

Grundy returns in Comic Cavalcade #13 (Winter, 1945) by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman for more battles with Green Lantern.


This time, Solomon Grundy is reanimated with the use of chlorophyll, by the Professor, who had killed Baron York (his own brother), in an attempt to take over Gotham's gangs.  Green Lantern (Alan Scott) is warned by his mystic Lantern, but too late, as he is overpowered by Grundy.  Solomon Grundy kills the Professor to advance his own plans and take over the gang, but has become too plant-like, allowing Green Lantern to defeat him by taking away his carbon dioxide, which Grundy needs to live, leaving Grundy petrified in a power ring bubble!

The Revenge Of Solomon Grundy

Grundy gets free from the bubble in All-Star Comics #33 (February-March, 1947) by Gardner Fox, and a host of artists, including Irwin Hasen, Joe Kubert, Stan Aschmeier, Martin Naydel, Jon Chester Koziak and Paul Reinman after a lightning bolt struck.

The JSA find their meeting room ransacked, and realize that it must have been Solomon Grundy, so they go searching for him (and the missing Green Lantern).  Each member meets Grundy (except Johnny Thunder), but it was the Golden Age Green Lantern who eventually defeats Grundy, this time, sending him to the moon!

This story was reprinted in Super-Team Family #4 (April-May, 1976) and in All-Star Comics Archives #7 of 2001.

The Case Of The Withered Flower

Solomon Grundy came back from the moon in Comic Cavalcade #24 (December-January, 1947/1948) by John Broome, Irwin Hasen and John Belfi to face Green Lantern (Alan Scott) and Doiby Dickles again.

This time, Grundy appeared to be much smarter than he was before, and could also disguise himself as Dick Cashmere (the long lost son of John Cashmere, a friend of Alan Scott's).  Grundy plans to kill John, but Green Lantern defeats him, this time imprisoning Grundy at the Earth's core.

Grundy was picked up where he was left here by Per Degaton, and put in the previous trap he had been, as revealed by Roy Thomas in the earliest issues of All-Star Squadron (to explain that this story had been forgotten about!).

Solomon Grundy's first appearance of the Silver Age was in Showcase #55 (March-April, 1965), facing off against Dr. Fate and Hourman (along with the Golden Age Green Lantern), and it took until his next appearance, in Justice League of America #46 (August, 1966) for Batman to first face Solomon Grundy (though it was more Batman foe, Blockbuster (who much later joined the Suicide Squad), doing that....for that and the second issue of the JLA/JSA team-up).

In Justice League of America #91 and #92 (1971), Solomon Grundy faced the same heroes from Earth-1 and Earth-2 (with the Golden Age Batman not around, though the Earth-1 Batman was a little, plus both Earths' Robins), and Solomon Grundy got the idea there may be an Earth-1 Solomon Grundy, an idea played out in the Superman titles, with Batman later facing an inferior outgrow of Solomon Grundy in Detective Comics #523 (February, 1983), where Batman ended the menace of the Earth-1 Solomon Grundy in fire.

Wonder if it was a Sunday?

The original Solomon Grundy continued on in Infinity, Inc., Starman, Green Arrow (and more), and as a member of the Injustice Society of the World, after getting some fame in the 1970s as a part of the Legion of Doom on the Super Friends cartoon show...

...as well as getting two live action portrayals, once in two episodes of the Legends Of The Super Heroes, played by Mickey Morton, and in the two episodes of Arrow that introduced Barry Allen, (but as Cyrus Gold) played by Graham Shields, before moving to Gotham (to be played by Drew Powell).

Guide To Golden Age Green Lantern Reprints

Alan Scott first picked up the green lantern that would define his life in All-American Comics #16 (July, 1940) by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell, continuing on in that title until All-American Comics #102 (October, 1948), as well as spinning off into his own 38 issues of Green Lantern from the Fall of 1941 to May-June of 1949, as well as 29 issues of Comic Cavalcade, and being a member of the Justice Society in All-Star Comics.

Let's shine a light on where to find these 1940s tales a little closer to modern times!

Green Lantern

Starting with Green Lantern's own title (but it also has that first appearance, as well as another Golden Age story...), is Green Lantern #30 (February-March, 1948) by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth, and "The Saga of Streak" introducing a pet dog for Alan Scott, and partner to the Green Lantern!  Streak even got his own feature in Green Lantern #34 to #38, as well as Sensation Comics #91 to #93!


Though having more stories focused on Hal Jordan, Green Lantern #30 is reprinted in Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years of 2015, which also features Hal's first appearance, the first appearances of Sinestro, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Itty, Kyle Rayner (as Green Lantern) and the first solo meeting of Hal and Alan, which gives the origins of the Guardians (and the first appearance of Krona and "the cosmic hand", which could be the earliest recorded look at the DC Universe as well as a hint of how the scientific Green Lanterns of Earth-1 related to the magical Green Lantern of Earth-2!).

Next up is Green Lantern #37 (March-April, 1949) with "Too Many Suspects" by writer Robert Kanigher, penciller Alex Toth and inker Frank Giacoia.  This story has Green Lantern going into action to save his friend, Doiby Dickles from a crime he didn't commit (nor does he remember what he was doing at the time of the crime!).  Alan Scott finds six more people who are suffering the same fate and must save them all!

This story was first reprinted in Detective Comics #440 (April-May, 1974) under a Jim Aparo cover, with a new Batman story and new Manhunter story, as well as a Silver Age Hawkman and Golden Age Doll Man and Golden Age Manhunter reprint.  This story was also reprinted in the Green Lantern Annual #1 that looks like it came from 1963, but was really made in 1998 (and focuses more on Hal Jordan, and meetings with Star Sapphire, Sinestro and the Flash!).

Last, but not least, is the last story from Green Lantern #38 (May-June, 1949) where Alan Scott of Station WXYZ faces off against "The Impossible Mr. Paradox", a villain who fights Green Lantern using illusions based on scientific paradoxes in a story by Robert Kanigher with art by Irwin Hasen and inks by Frank Giacoia.

Ironic then that it should be reprinted in Green Lantern #89 (April-May, 1972), under a cover by Neal Adams, featuring the last of the Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and Green Arrow team-ups in their own title by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams.

But, not unlike Hal and Ollie, Alan Scott has more stories to tell (and a few more solo Green Lantern tales reprinted....though way too few!).

Comic Cavalcade

From Alan's issues that he shared with the Golden Age Flash and the Golden Age Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade #6 (Spring, 1944) with "They Are Invincible" by writer Alfred Bester and artist Paul Reinman, featured a story about writer Al Bester, who gave Doiby and Alan hypothetical problems to solve (and saw the creation of the more modern Green Lantern Oath).



This story was reprinted in the Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years in 2015.

Green Lantern's first three stories from Comic Cavalcade #1 to #3 from 1943 can be found with rest of those issues in the Comic Cavalcade Archives #1 of March, 2005, with Green Lantern's pre-JSA solo tale from All-Star Comics #2 (Fall, 1940) facing the robot men of Baron von Zorn was reprinted with all of All-Star Comics #1 and #2 in All-Star Comics Archives #0 of March, 2006, and a story of Green Lantern and Doiby where "Heroes Are Born -- Not Made" by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman from the Big All-American Comic Book of 1944 making into a collection of DC Comics Rarities Archives #1 of December, 2004 along with stories about Wildcat, Mr. Terrific, Johnny Thunder, Atom, and more!

All-American Comics

Back to the beginning, with All-American Comics #16 (July, 1940) and the origin of Green Lantern by writer Bill Finger and artist Mart Nodell, where train engineer Alan Scott survives a train wreck, holding onto a Green Lantern, that tells the story of how this mystical power came into his hands!

This story was reprinted in  The Great Comic Book Heroes of 1965, Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes of 1976, and leading off Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years in 2015.  Amazing how Alan was allergic to appearing on covers of his reprints!

Next up of Golden Age Green Lantern reprints is All-American Comics #61 (October, 1944) with "Fighters Never Quit" by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman, which introduced a menace that would go beyond Green Lantern, facing the JSA, Superman, Batman, Green Arrow and more (as well as joining the Injustice Society of the World), the reanimated swamp monster called Solomon Grundy!

This tale was reprinted in Wanted, The World's Most Dangerous Villains #4 (December, 1972) under a cover by Nick Cardy (and with a reprint of Kid Eternity facing his foe, Master Man, as well).  It was in the 1970s that Solomon Grundy became more well known to the world as a member of the Legion of Doom on the Super Friends cartoon!

For all the foes the Golden Age Green Lantern had, he could have taken up all the issues of Wanted, but the tale to focus on now is All-American Comics #89 (September, 1947) with the introduction of "The Harlequin" by Robert Kanigher and Irwin Hasen.  This was the first appearance of the Harlequin, who was Alan Scott's secretary, Molly Mayne, and he used her to hype a department store over the radio.  The things we do to keep our day jobs.

This tale was reprinted in World's Finest Comics #211 (May, 1972) under a cover by Neal Adams (and an odd Superman/Batman story at a time when Superman was teaming up with everyone BUT Batman).  Sadly, this is Harlequin's only solo GL reprint (her appearance in All-Star Comics was collected), but at least you can read about where to find her original tales here!

Another foe of Green Lantern's was the Icicle, and it is his second appearance from All-American Comics #92 (December, 1947) where "The Icicle Goes South" by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth that is the topic now.  Green Lantern has to stop the Icicle from taking over a South American country....pretty good for a guy with an ice gun.

This story has been collected twice, once in Green Lantern #86 (October-November, 1971) under a cover by Neal Adams,  and later in the Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told of 1990 under a Jerry Ordway cover (along with tales from Black Canary, Dr. Mid-Nite, Johnny Quick, and more).  Wouldn't it be great to see the Icicle's first tale reprinted as well?

The last of the Golden Age Green Lantern stories to get a solo reprint is All-American Comics #98 (June, 1948) with "The End Of Sports" featuring the Sportsmaster being a menace to Gotham City in a story by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth.

This story is found in Detective Comics #443 (October-November, 1974) under a cover by Jim Aparo, with Batman and the Manhunter in battle with the Council, and reprints including the first appearance of the Creeper and a Golden Age Spectre reprint.  Sportsmaster also joined the ISW, and sadly, has Golden Age appearances not reprinted as well.

Thankfully, a few more Golden Age Green Lantern appearances have been collected as well.

 

Green Lantern Archives

The Golden Age Green Lantern got two Archives.  The Green Lantern stories from All-American Comics #16 to #30 (September, 1941) as well as Green Lantern #1 (Fall, 1941) were collected in the Golden Age Green Lantern Archives #1 of 1999.  The Green Lantern stories of All-American Comics #31 (October, 1941) to #38 (May, 1942), as well as Green Lantern #2 (Winter, 1941-1942) and #3 (Spring, 1942) were all in Golden Age Green Lantern Archives #2 of January, 2002.  Great stories (especially if you are a fan of Mart Nodell) but a little lacking in signature Green Lantern villains like Vandal Savage and the Gambler....

Unpublished Golden Age Green Lantern tales

There were a few Golden Age Green Lantern stories created but not published.  One tale did end up in Green Lantern #88 (February-March, 1972) under a cover by Neal Adams.  The story featured "The Menace Of The Marching Toys" with no identified writer, and art by Carmine Infantino and Bernard Sachs, had Alan Scott facing off against the Tin Soldier, who battled Green Lantern with his mechanical toys!  Four other Golden Age Green Lantern tales were reported as well, but none of them were ever collected for print.

Odder still was Green Lantern's part in an unpublished Golden Age Flash story, featuring the Thorn, of which two pages were reprinted in an issue of Lois Lane (this had a huge impact on Alan's future, as well as the life of Jade and Obsidian of Infinity, Inc.).

At least all of the Golden Age Green Lantern's appearances with the Justice Society of America were collected when all 57 Golden Age issues of All-Star Comics were collected in the multiple volumes of the All-Star Comics Archives!  Would that we get more reprints of Golden Age Green Lantern stories to shed their light on the evil of not being reprinted....

Guide To Golden Age Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite and Hourman Reprints

Next up in our look back to where to find the greats of the Golden Age, the Justice Society members....and their stories represented in the more modern ages, and all thanks to Roy Thomas and Rich Morrisey's work in this previously...

...a look at Dr. Mid-Nite, Hourman and the Atom!

Dr. Mid-Nite

Charles McNider premiered back in All-American Comics #25 (April, 1941) with the story "Dr. Mid-Nite, How He Began" (title added later; original story by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stan Aschmeir), with the doctor preparing to testify against racketeer Killer Maroni, and losing his sight to a bomb.  Still, Charles found he could see in the dark when an owl crashes through his window, and the doctor develops "Blackout bombs" to take away the light, infra-red goggles to see in the day, rescues the owl (and names him, Hooty), and adopts the identity of Dr. Mid-Nite!

This tale was reprinted in Justice League of America #95 (December, 1971) under a groovy cover by Neal Adams, without the doctor making the cover!  This issue also had Golden Age Dr. Fate reprint, so the doctors are in!

All-American Comics #88 (August, 1947) is the next tale of the doctor's to be reprinted, wherein "Tarantula Unmasks Dr. Mid-Nite" by John Broome and Alex Toth.  Crooks kidnap Dr. McNider thinking they'd find out if he's Dr. Mid-Nite, but the doctor proved too smart for them, beating them with hypnosis, no less.



This story was retold in 100-Page Super-Spectacular DC-20 of September, 1973, and the doctor shares the book with Golden Age tales of Batman, Black Canary, the Spectre and more!

Last, but not least is the Dr. Mid-Nite story from All-American Comics #101  (September, 1948) and the "Case of the Talking Shadows" by John Broome and Rudolph Palais.  The doctor and his assistant, Myra Mason, face off against the criminal, the Great Ludwig.


This story was reprinted in Detective Comics #445 (February-March, 1975) under a Batman cover by Jim Aparo (and a few other reprints in the book, though no JSAers)...

...and the doctor only had one more adventure, that of All-American Comics #102 (October, 1948) in the Golden Age, or at least that how it appeared back then.

But, there was an unpublished Golden Age adventure, that was published in Adventure Comics #418 (April, 1972) called "The Sight Stealers, written by John Broome, and inked in the modern day by Sal Amendola.

Oddly, this tale was recently reprinted in the Justice Society of America 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 of 2000, along with a solo Silver Age of the Golden Age Flash, a team-up of Starman and Black Canary from the Silver Age, and some team action of the JSA as well.

Sadly, the doctor only found the first five of his individual tales, those from All-American Comics #25 to All-American Comics #29 (August, 1941) in the JSA All-Stars Archives #1 of 2007 (along with the next two JSAers and more), with the rest of his Golden Age tales being with the Justice Society.


These tales were reprinted in the All-Star Comics Archives, including a solo Dr. Mid-Nite tale from All-Star Comics #6 (August-September, 1941) in All-Star Comics Archives #1 from 1992 (along with the JSA tales from All-Star Comics #3 to #6)...


...and you can read on how Dr. Mid-Nite joined the JSA here!

Hourman

Rex Tyler started popping pills to become the man of the hour with Adventure Comics #48 (March, 1940) by Ken Finch and Bernard Bailey, in the tale later titled "Presenting Tick-Tock Tyler, the Hour-Man", facing jewel thieves at the request of a friend who was worried about her husband...

...and having to do all this in an hour, as that's as long as his super-strength would last!


This story was reprinted in Justice League of America #96 (February, 1972) under a cover by Neal Adams, in an issue which also featured a Golden Age Wildcat reprint.

Hourman's next reprint done in the 20th century was in Adventure Comics #57 (December, 1940) with the story of "The Menace of Dr. Togg" by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bernard Baily (title created later), where Hourman and his Minute Men of America faced Dr. Togg and his Gombezi (genetically created creatures the doctor controlled).


This story was reprinted in 100-Page Super-Spectacular DC-18 of July, 1973, with a cover by Nick Cardy (and Dr. Togg and his creations returned later to face the robotic Hourman and his friends!).

Hourman got another reprint, thanks to the fellow who replaced him in the Justice Society, Starman. Adventure Comics #61 (April, 1941) with "The Runaway Dinosaurs" by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily (title created later)...

...where Hourman and the Minute Men of America faced off against Mr. Whistle, who stole mechanical dinosaurs from a museum to use in other robberies.



This reprint came about in the Millennium Edition: Adventure Comics #61 (December, 2000), which was a reprint that came from a vote by the fans, and proved how popular Starman was (with Hourman and his fans also being one of the lucky recipients of that popularity!).

The last of Hourman's Adventure Comics run reprinted was Adventure Comics #72 (March, 1942) was the tale of "Dr. Glisten" by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily (title created later), where Hourman faced glowing hypnotic foe, Dr. Glisten.

This Hourman was reprinted in Wanted, the World's Most Dangerous Villains #7 (March-April, 1973), with a cover by Nick Cardy, and also contained Golden Age Hawkman and Johnny Quick reprints, in a series edited by E. Nelson Bridwell (who was responsible for so many Golden Age reprints finding new life).

The last Golden Age Hourman story was in Adventure Comics #83 (February, 1943), but we still have a few more of his reprints to cover!

Hourman's first five tales of Adventure Comics #48 to Adventure Comics #52 (July, 1940) made it into the JSA All-Stars Archives #1 of 2007 (along with Dr. Mid-Nite, next JSA to be covered the Atom, where you'll see the cover to this book, and more).

Next up for the man of the hour is New York World's Fair Comics #2 (1940) with the story "At The World's Fair" by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, where Hourman fights crime at...well, you get the idea.



This, and stories with the Golden Age Sandman, Johnny Thunder, Superman, Batman and more is presented in DC Comics Rarities Archives #1 of 2005, and this volume will be referenced back to many more times to come!

Hourman also appeared in the first two issues of All-Star Comics that preceded the JSA, with solo tales in All-Star Comics #1 (Summer, 1940) with "The Forest Fire" by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily, and in All-Star Comics #2 (Fall, 1940) with "Dr. Morte, Spiritualist" also by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily.

 
These two tales, along with stories about Flash, Spectre, Hawkman and more soon to be JSAers were reprinted in the special All-Star Comics Archives #0 from 2006, and is also a great source of individual JSA solo tales before the JSA existed as such, even if Hourman couldn't make the covers of these books....

...and you can read of Hourman's short Golden Age JSA career here, which also details his later involvement with groups like the Freedom Fighters and the All-Star Squadron!

The Atom

Last this time around is the little man with a mighty punch, Al Pratt, also known as the Atom, who premiered in All-American Comics #19 (October, 1940) in "Introducing the Mighty Atom" by Bill O'Connor and Ben Flinton, where diminutive college student Al gets fed up with being picked on (especially when a mugger shames him in front of his girl, Mary James), secretly trains with homeless fighter Joe Morgan, and returns full of energy to fight crime as the Atom (though he doesn't get a costume until his next appearance!).

This tale is reprinted in  the Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes of 1976 (in both hardcover and soft cover) with a cover by Neal Adams, which is one of the best sources for anyone who gets confused about the Golden and Silver Age differences between DC heroes.

Sadly, none of the Atom's appearances in All-American Comics were reprinted in color at the time of release of America vs. the Justice Society (and all too few afterwards!).

Atom did see one of his tales of this period reprinted, his story in the Big All-American Comic Book (1944) by Joe Greene and Joe Gallagher, and the entirety of that book (along with appearances by Mr. Terrific, Wildcat, Hawkman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and more Golden Age greats) was reprinted in the  DC Comics Rarities Archives #1 of 2005.

Atom's last appearance in All-American Comics was in All-American Comics #72 (April, 1946), then he moved over to Flash Comics #80 (February, 1947) for a regular feature, and was also in Comic Cavalcade #22, #23 and #28 in 1947 and 1948.

Atom's next reprinted story was from Flash Comics #90 (December, 1947) with "Murder On A Star", with a little murder mystery that finds the Atom falsely accused of a crime.

This story was reprinted in the 100-Page Super-Spectacular DC-18 of July, 1973 with a cover by Nick Cardy, and has Golden Age reprints of TNT, Captain Triumph and Hourman....and a few tales of some guy with a red cape as well!

Flash Comics #98 (August, 1948) features the debut of Atom's new costume (with the fin on top and atomic symbol on his chest) in the story "Terror Rides The Rails" by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, where the Atom demonstrates super-strength as well, and fights railroad saboteurs (details about the Atom's change and how it happened were later revealed as part of the retroactive continuity of Roy Thomas' tales of the All-Star Squadron, and it was quite the ride!).



This story is reprinted in Justice League of America #99 (June, 1972) under a Nick Cardy cover, and also has a Golden Age Sandman reprint.

Atom's series ran until Flash Comics #104 (February, 1949) and one last tale in Sensation Comics #86 (February, 1949), until an unpublished story surfaced, "Danger In The Totem's Eye", originally planned for Flash Comics #105, by writer Arthur Adler and artist Arthur Peddy, with Atom fighting robbers in a museum.  This story appeared in Batman #238 (January, 1972) and is also known as DC 100-Page Super-Spectacular DC-8, under a Neal Adams cover that includes almost everyone...except the Golden Age Atom!

Atom's JSA career as a charter member gets a little more coverage here.


Modern Archives weren't too kind to the little man either, the Atom's first five stories from All-American Comics #19 to #23 (February, 1941) were reprinted in the JSA All-Stars Archives #1 of 2007, along with Hourman and Dr. Mid-Nite...

 
...and Johnny Thunder, the Red Tornado, Mr. Terrific and the Wildcat, whom we will cover soon!