JSA vs. Solomon Grundy Hot

Wally Wood worked on the Justice Society of America title of All-Star Comics for a time in the 1970s (including the Star-Spangled Kid and Power Girl), and got a chance to put the team to work in the heat of Egypt.....

....with a battle against Solomon Grundy from the 1977 Super DC Calendar for August!

Origin Of The Justice League Minus One

Think the Justice League of America formed fighting against the threat of the Appellaxian meteors?   Think again!   Here is the story, as focused around the Martian Manhunter....and how the Justice League really formed, and had quite a few more potential members involved, as well as one less, as Superman and Green Lantern gave the facts to Green Arrow one day.....in Justice League of America #144 (July, 1977, and told by Steve Englehart, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin).

The Origin Of The Justice League  -- Minus One

Martian Manhunter was the start of all this.  Brought to Earth by Dr. Erdel and his Robot-Brain in Detective Comics #225 (November, 1955), J'onn J'onzz had to hide in American society as detective John Jones, struggling to find a way to return home to Mars after his appearance startled Dr. Erdel to death.  Using his Martian abilities in secret, J'onn fought crime on Earth.

After destroying a cache of Martian weapons found on Earth (in Detective Comics #264 in February, 1959), J'onn was confronted by Commander Blanx, the white Martian who had sent J'onn into exile.

Narrowly escaping, J'onn was chased by Flash (Barry Allen), fresh from having confronted the Mirror Master (in Flash #105 from February-March, 1959).   J'onn and the other Martians escaped the Flash when confronted by paranoia from the residents of Middleton, who felt they were being invaded.

They were even suspicious of new hero, Flash, so he went to Metropolis to attract the attention of someone everyone would trust....Superman.  Superman did indeed show up (from Action Comics #249 of February, 1959), with Batman and Robin in tow (these three already a team), but, they also attracted the attention of Roy Raymond, TV Detective, who advertised for more heroes to come....and boy did they!  All the heroes (plus Daily Planet reporters Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen) split up to cover three different reports of alien invaders.

Team One

The first team was composed of:

the Blackhawks (Blackhawk, Andre, Chuck, Olaf, Hendrickson, Stanislaus and Chop-Chop), international ace aviators who had fought in World War II, but now were professional adventurers.  Their Earth-1 adventures started in  Blackhawk #108 (January, 1957),  where they fought foes like Killer Shark and the War Wheel, were aided by Lady Blackhawk, and they had last appeared in Blackhawk #133 (February, 1959).

Plastic Man, the stretchable sleuth, had had a few variations across the cosmos, but this was the first appearance of this version, the Earth-1 Plastic Man, who would appear next (in what was chronologically his first appearance in Brave & the Bold #95 of April-May, 1971), and later in issues #11-20 of his own title, and a run in Adventure Comics.

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, or at least the Earth-1 version of the reporter who first appeared in Superman #91 (August, 1954), rounded out the team (with Jimmy coming fresh from Action Comics #249 of February, 1959), and even had his own title, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, that lasted 163 issues from September-October, 1954 to February-March, 1974.

The heroes faced off against a mysterious man in a cabin, who disappeared from that house, even though it was surrounded by the heroes.....and where (and when) he went to was revealed as he first appeared a little later, in Showcase #20 (May-June, 1959), and you can figure out who he is by going here!

Team Two

The second team was made up of:

Congo Bill first appeared in More Fun Comics #56 (June, 1940) as a big game hunter, but added a magic ring that allowed him to exchange minds with the golden gorilla, Congorilla, in Action Comics #248 (January, 1959), and the two last appeared in Action Comics #249 (February, 1959).

The Challengers of the Unknown (pilot Ace Morgan, acrobat Red Ryan, boxer Rocky Davis and scuba diver Prof. Haley), who were men living on borrowed time since Showcase #6 (January-February, 1957), when the group survived a plane crash together while headed for a TV Show appearance.  They remained together to fight odd menaces like Ultivac, as well as alien invasions, adding June Robbins as a member, with the team last in Challengers of the Unknown #6 (February-March, 1959).

Vigilante has a bit of a confusing history, looking just like his Earth-2 version, but this Vigilante first appeared in Justice League of America #78 (February, 1970), so this is a chronologically earlier appearance of the western warrior, who uses six-guns, motorcycles and lassos to hunt modern criminals.

Robotman is even more confusing, having started out on Earth-2 in Star-Spangled Comics #7 (April, 1942), having his human brain transferred out of his dying body into the robot form, later retroactively appearing in World War II group All-Star Squadron as a member, he must have left Earth-2 for Earth-1 sometime after Detective Comics #202 (December, 1953), his last Golden Age appearance.

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane rounded out this group, having first appeared (as an Earth-1 version) in Superman #46 (May-June, 1947), and Lois used her reporter's savvy well here (having last appeared in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #56 (April, 1965, a flashback story itself), and Lois' title lasted 137 issues from March-April, 1958 to September-October, 1974.

This batch faced a flying menace in the woods, who was chased by all the heroes, except Lois, who figured out the mysterious figure was trying to get them to leave and area, but, that spaceman did disappear after being hit by an energy beam (and he explained it to his girlfriend, as these two were appearing between Showcase #18 and #19 of 1959; he later helped Superman save Lois and Earth, as explained here).

Team Three

The third team was made up of the future charter members of the Justice League of America:

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (coming from Wonder Woman #104 of February, 1959), Aquaman (last in Adventure Comics #256 of January, 1959), and the Flash!


These heroes ended up out on the west coast, in Coast City.

There were a few others investigating this with them as well...


Batman's partner, Robin (who first appeared as an Earth-1 version in Superman #76 from May-June, 1952, and was last in Detective Comics #264 from February, 1959 with Batman).

Roy Raymond, TV Detective, who was the host of the Impossible But True TV show, and premiered in  Detective Comics #153 (November, 1949), but appeared here along with his assistant, Karen Duncan, fresh from Detective Comics #264 (February, 1959) and getting the scoop for his viewers.

Rex the Wonder Dog was the last of this group, with this intelligent canine having premiered in the  Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #1 (January-February, 1952), where Rex was trained as a part of the K-9 Army Dog Training Corps.  Rex and the Dennis family would help people who needed it (though none of the Dennis' appeared here).  Rex had appeared in the Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #43 (January-February, 1959).

These heroes did work together safely, after finding the captive Martian Manhunter and defeating Commander Blanx and his Martians at the Ferris Aircraft facility (where the activities of the aliens were reported by test pilot, Hal Jordan).  Deciding it was still a little too soon for these heroes to gather as a team, as people were still a little too paranoid, they waited a few months (to when Earth was being invaded again) to band together and form the JLA (along with new hero, Green Lantern, who, unbeknownst to the heroes at the time, was test pilot Hal Jordan!).

Green Arrow had not been present (and joined the JLA later), as he and his ward, Speedy, had just solved a case on the island that created the Green Arrow (as revealed in Adventure Comics #256 of January, 1959) and had stayed for a little vacation, missing out on the invasions)...

...and Green Arrow was sad to have missed the original JLA meeting (As well as the time they formed again facing the Appellaxians), and the recent brief return to Earth for a bit of the Martian Manhunter.

Superman Times Two Plus One

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  That's true wherever you might go, even across the reaches of the DC Multiverse.

Not sure about that?  Well, here's a look at that philosophy in action, with DC Comics Presents Annual #1 (September, 1982), by Marv Wolfman, Rich Buckler and Dave Hunt, all under a cover by Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano.

Crisis On Three Earths

It all stars with a battle between Superman and Luthor, as Lois watches.  But, it plays out a little differently depending on which Earth you live on.

On Earth-1, reporter Clark Kent has to avoid Lois Lane to go and fight bald Lex Luthor as the JLA's Superman, saving the Daily Planet (a subsidiary of WGBS Communications) from his attack.

On Earth-2, editor Clark Kent gets help from Lois Kent to go and fight red haired Alexei Luthor as the JSA's Superman, saving the Daily Star from the extreme attack.


Still, the Luthors end up captured and in jail, with the Supermen victorious, and Metropolis safe.

But, a new twist...in jail, the Earth-1 Luthor plans his escape, by switching places with the Earth-2 Luthor....leading to each Luthor taking on the other's Superman...with similar results, and the two Superman deciding to imprison the two Luthors in the Limbo dimension between worlds.

Still, the Earth-1 Luthor was ready....and using equipment in his green and purple suit, take the two to a third Earth, Earth-3, which has its own version of Superman... Ultraman.  But, this is no hero, he's a member of the evil Crime Syndicate of America, and is powered by Kryptonite.

The three villains go off to make plans, observed by this Earth's Lois Lane.  This Lois goes to warn Earth-3's Alexander Luthor....who calls in the two Supermen for aid, and, spurred on by Lois, puts on a super suit of his own, to finally give Earth-3 its first hero.

Meanwhile, the villains have continued their plan, albeit working against each other as much as together.  While the Earth-1 Luthor was looking to conquer the world, the Earth-2 Luthor planned on destroying Earth-1 and Earth-2 (while Ultraman was to betray them both).

Still, the heroes united battle their foes, with Alexander taking out Ultraman while Superman-2 takes down both Luthors, and the Superman-1 prevents the two Earths from merging into the same space.

The villains defeated, the heroes each end up dealing with their own version of Lois, with slightly different results.

All the while, awaiting an approaching bigger Crisis On Infinite Earths..... 

JLA JSA First Multiple Crisis

There shall come a Crisis.  Worlds will live, worlds will die.

But, long before the Crisis On Infinite Earths happened, the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America were dealing with a Crisis every year.

Let's take a look back, and see how these started....with the return of the JSA!

Crisis On Earth-One

It really started with Flash (Barry Allen) who found Flash (Jay Garrick), and after a few team-ups, the JSA.  The JLA and JSA first met in Justice League Of America #21 (August, 1963) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, and summers were never the same!

This story was where the JLA's Earth (Earth-1) and JSA's Earth (Earth-2) were named, making this the start of the DC Multiverse.  The Crime Champions (villains from Earth-1 and Earth-2) gathered as the Earth-2 villains escaped to Earth-1, then the villains came up with the idea to rob from their own world, and spend their cash on the other Earth.   To prevent the heroes from catching onto their scheme, they imprisoned the Flashes of Two Worlds (Barry Allen and Jay Garrick), who had first traversed the Earths. 

But, the Earth-2 villains got greedy, and faced the JLA (minus Barry) disguised as the Earth-1 villains, magically trapping them in the JLA's Secret Sanctuary.  Using Merlin's Crystal Ball that they had from a previous adventure, they contacted their Flash, who then instructed the JLA how to contact the JSA, whom they teleport to Earth-1 to go face their villains, while the JLA goes to Earth-2 to stop theirs (with Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Alan Scott going between Earths to rescue the Flashes).

Crisis On Earth-Two

Picking up from where the last issue left off, Justice League Of America #22 (September, 1963) under a cover by Murphy Anderson, and story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, the Green Lanterns were searching for the Flashes, while the JLA and JSA were to take down the Crime Champions.

Hourman and the Atom stopped the Fiddler, Dr. Fate defeated Icicle, and Hawkman and Black Canary beat the Wizard on Earth-1, while Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow and the Atom stopped Felix Faust, Batman and Wonder Woman beat Dr. Alchemy and Superman and Aquaman defeated Chronos on Earth-2.  But, as the Green Lanterns were freeing the Flashes, a spell placed by Felix Faust and the Wizard trapped both teams of heroes in cages in space designed to neutralize their powers.  Still, working together, the heroes escaped, and came back to Earth to beat the combined Crime Champions. 

These two issues started an annual tradition of JLA/JSA team-ups, and was the first Silver Age appearances of Dr. Fate, Hourman, Black Canary, the Wizard and the Icicle.

 

Crisis On Earth-Three

The first pairing of the JLA and JSA proved so popular, that with Justice League Of America #29 (August, 1964) it began again, with this story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, introducing the teams (and readers) to the menace of Earth-Three!

Adding an "evil" Earth to the Multiverse, the Crime Syndicate of America was comprised of villain versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern called Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick and Power Ring.  These villains defeat the JLA members via trickery (using a magic word to imprison their opponents in the JLA's Secret Sanctuary), and with Aquaman and Martian Manhunter otherwise occupied, the Crime Syndicate goes to Earth-2 to face the JSA (with the JLA having warned them of the villains plans).

The Most Dangerous Of All

Justice League Of America #30 (September, 1964) picks up where the last issue left off, with the JLA  trapped and JSA in trouble with the Crime Syndicate Of America, as shown on the cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, and story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.

The JSA (composed of Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite, Starman and Black Canary) take on the five members of the Crime Syndicate, but, a new wrinkle of the villain team, that of the heroes disappearing to Earth-3 when they claimed victory over the villains.  The Crime Syndicate decide to directly face their Earth-1 dopplegangers, and the JLA beat the CSA, by helping to increase their powers, which makes the CSA defeat themselves by not being able to control their powers.  The JLA and JSA trap the villains between worlds, ending their menace.

This pair of stories was the first Silver Age appearance of Starman.

Earth--Without A Justice League

Time to slow things down, and look at Earth-2's Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, returning to the fold, and introducing an Earth-1 Johnny Thunder, who causes trouble in Justice League Of America #37 (August, 1965) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson.

Say, you'd think the JSA's Johnny Thunder would be smart enough NOT to summon his magical Thunderbolt, find the Earth-1 version of Johnny Thunder (who was evil), then lose control of his magical T-Bolt to the villain, wouldn't you?   You'd be wrong, as JSA Johnny did.  The evil Johnny then used the Thunderbolt to commit crimes, and, to stop the JLA from interfering, send the T-Bolt back in time to stop the origins of Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Green Lantern and Atom, creating an alternate Earth (not a parallel world) called Earth-A. 

The JSAers (Flash, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, Atom, Hawkman and Mr. Terrific) go looking for their missing Johnny Thunder on Earth-1, find out all that has happened, and try to stop the Earth-1 Johnny disguised as JLAers (Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, Atom, Martian Manhunter and Batman), but fail, with the evil Johnny sending his gang back in time to take the place of the JLA which didn't happen, making his gang into the Lawless League.

Crisis On Earth-A

Earth-1's Johnny Thunder has made quite the mess by making Earth-A, home of the Lawless League, who feature in Justice League Of America #38 (September, 1965) under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, with story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.

The JSA quickly defeat Ripper Jones as Superman, Bill Gore as Batman, Eddie Orson as Martian Manhunter, Race Morrison as Flash, Monk Loomis as Green Lantern and Barney Judson as the Atom, because the thugs didn't get any experience with their powers.  Evil Johnny creates new villains, Medusa-Man, Absorbo-Man and Repello-Man, which do defeat the JSA except for Dr. Fate, who, after beating them, takes on Johnny's Thunderbolt, with the evil Johnny giving the Thunderbolt one last command...to undo all he had done, returning everything to the way it was before he met his double.  Then, only the Thunderbolt remembered this adventure....maybe.

This batch of stories marked the first Silver Age appearance of Mr. Terrific and Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt.

Crisis Between Earth-One And Earth-Two

Batman features on the cover to Justice League Of America #46 (August, 1966) by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella (due to the Batman TV show), and even in the story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene.

The two Earths were having multiple menaces this time....with people mysteriously transferring from one Earth to another, while the Anti-Matter Man headed towards the two Earths, now being drawn together.  Solomon Grundy was sent to Earth-1, where he faced the JLA's Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman with the JSA's Black Canary and Dr. Mid-Nite.  On Earth-2, the Earth-1 Batman worked with Dr. Fate, Sandman (returning in his original costume) and Wildcat to stop Blockbuster.  The Spectre became aware of the Anti-Matter Man's approach and went to stand between the Earths to try to hold them apart....while, on Earth-1, Ray Palmer (the Atom) was unable to help as his size-control unit on his suit would not function.

The Bridge Between Earths

Holy crossover, Batman.  Batman continues to be a big part of this issue, Justice League Of America #47 (September, 1966), by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella.

The Atom is finally able to get involved after he finds the problem with his suit...a space warp machine created by his assistant, Enrichetta Negrini.  That machine was also causing the transference between Earths, so stopping it exchanges Solomon Grundy with Blockbuster.  Dr. Fate finds out about Spectre's problems, and brings the heroes to him to help against the Anti-Matter Man while Atom and Spectre find a way to restore the Earths to their proper location.  Meanwhile, Green Lantern kept Grundy and Blockbuster busy by having them fight each other!

This is Sandman's first Silver Age appearance, but fellow charter JSA member Spectre and later inductee Wildcat only are a part of their first JLA/JSA team-up, having returned in Showcase and Brave and the Bold just before this meeting.

This seems a natural spot to end the summaries of the JLA/JSA team-ups, as this is where the Crisis On Multiple Earths Volume 1 ended (with a wonderful painted cover by Alex Ross).

But, there were more Crises for the teams to face, as there were more volumes in this series of reprints!

Who Is Fishing Who?

A nice time on the lake, enjoying your time there...fishing....but, who is trying to catch who?


That's the question, the answer is in House Of Mystery #94 (January, 1960), with a cover by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff, and in the story of "The Creature In Echo Lake"  with art by Bill Ely.

Lobo Convention Special

With San Diego hosting their annual convention, here's to hoping all that are there are having a good time.

But, there was a time when the Main Man went down to the convention floor, and all hell broke loose!

First, though, a little history of dolphin loving Lobo!

Lobo's Origins

Lobo premiered in Omega Men #3 (June, 1983) by Roger Slifer, Keith Giffen and Mike DeCarlo, where he had been hired by the Citadel to capture Queen Kalista.  Appearing here and there in the series, Lobo helped the Omega Men defeat the Citadel.  Later, he returned in
Justice League International #18 (October, 1988), now working for the Cluster, and, through a series of mishaps, fighting Green Lantern Guy Gardner.

Joining L.E.G.I.O.N.

Spinning out of the Invasion! event, L.E.G.I.O.N. got its own title, and Lobo followed soon after.  He appeared first in L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #3 (April, 1989), finding one of his precious space dolphins dead, he went to track the killer.  Lobo decided it was Garryn Bek, and, as he was about to kill him (and other team members like the Durlan), Vril Dox (the son of Brainiac)  made him an offer he couldn't refuse, leading to Lobo joining L.E.G.I.O.N. in L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #5 (June, 1989), with Dox using Lobo's battle energy to convince Bek's disreputable police force to be the foundation of an intergalactic police patrol, taking down an interplanetary drug lord with an army of Lobos (as Lobo replicates when his blood is shed....)..

Mini-Series

After encounters with Superman and Mr. Miracle, Lobo had a few mini-series, specials and even an Annual.  His first 4 issue mini-series from 1990 by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant and Simon Bisley, had Lobo going after a person who wrote an unauthorized biography of the Last Czarnian (him).  A 1992 mini-series, Lobo's Back, finds Lobo dead, but neither heaven nor hell want him, so he gains an immortality.  After a few other specials, full of inappropriate violence and language (all proving popular), Lobo, "he who devours your entrails and enjoys it" finds himself in...

The Convention Special

The Lobo Convention Special #1 (September, 1993) was a give-away at the SDCC (and sold through comic shops across America), by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant and Kevin O'Neill.

Lobo, finding his copy of the Death of Superman messed up, wants to get a new one, and decides the best place to get a comic (and not be ripped off)  is the San Diego Comic Convention. 

Full of Lobo's unique brand of social commentary (along with plenty of violence...lots and lots of violence), he both succeeds and fails in his quest for the elusive deal on that issue, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake.

The success of his various mini-series, specials, guest appearances and L.E.G.I.O.N. membership lead to....

His Own Title

Lobo finally got his own regular title, with Lobo #1 (December, 1993), which lasted for 64 regular issues as well as a zero issue and one special 1 Millionth issue, ending in July, 1999.

Still somewhat offensive, but much more in a comedic vein, quite a bit of fun was had here, firmly implanting Lobo in the DC Universe, where he continues to be revived here and there (in places including R.E.B.E.L.S. and Young Justice to this day.

Riverdale Comic Con

With CW's Riverdale likely a part of the San Diego Comic Con, it is time to show that Archie and his friends have been a part of Comic Cons for years, with this cover by Bill Galvan and Mike DeCarlo for Archie And Friends #156 (August, 2011), the last issue of the series with a new story (the next three issues of the series were reprints).

On the cover are:  Betty Cooper (Avatar), Archie Andrews (Pureheart The Powerful), Veronica Lodge (Snow White), Sabrina Spellman (Princess Leia), Josie McCoy (Catwoman), Reggie Mantle (Harry Potter), Chuck Clayton (Luke Skywalker), Jughead Jones (Spock) and Bingo Wilkin (vampire)....with the group dealing with someone in a Maximus Chrome robot costume trying to wreck their show in a story by Alex Segura, Bill Galvan and Jim Amash.