Publication history
''All Star Comics''
The Justice Society of America first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' #3 (Winter 1940–1941) written by Gardner Fox and edited by Sheldon Mayer during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The team initially included: Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Doctor Fate, Hourman, Hour-Man (as his name was then spelled), the Spectre (comics), Spectre, the Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Sandman, the Atom (Al Pratt), Atom, Flash (Jay Garrick), Flash, Alan Scott, Green Lantern, and Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hawkman. Because some of these characters (the Atom, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman) were published by All-American Publications rather than DC Comics, ''All-Star Comics'' #3 is the first inter-company superhero title, as well as the first team-up title. Comics' historian Les Daniels noted that: "This was obviously a great notion, since it offered readers a lot of headliners for a dime, and also the fun of watching fan favorites interact." The JSA's adventures were written by Gardner Fox as well as by John Broome (writer), John Broome and Robert Kanigher. The series was illustrated by a legion of artists including: Martin Nodell, Joe Kubert, Jack Kirby, Harry Lampert, Joe Simon, Alex Toth, Sheldon Moldoff, Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella, Win Mortimer, Bernard Baily, Frank Giacoia, H. G. Peter, Jack Burnley, Lee Elias, Irwin Hasen, Bob Oksner, Paul Reinman, Everett E. Hibbard, and Bernard Sachs (comics), Bernard Sachs. The first JSA story featured the team's first meeting, with a framing sequence for each member telling a story of an individual exploit. In the next issue, the team worked together on a common case, but each story from there on still featured the members individually on a mission involving part of the case, and then banding together in the end to wrap things up. An in-house rule explicitly laid out on the last page of ''All Star Comics'' #5, reprinted on page 206 of ''All Star Comics Archives'' Vol. 1, required that whenever a member received his or her own title, that character would leave ''All Star Comics'', becoming an "honorary member" of the JSA. Thus, the Flash was replaced by Johnny Thunder after #6, and Green Lantern left shortly thereafter for the same reason. For this reason, Superman (Earth-Two), Superman and Batman (Earth-Two), Batman were established as already being "honorary" members prior to ''All Star Comics'' #3. How these two heroes helped found the JSA before becoming honorary members was not explained until ''DC Special'' #29 in 1977. Hawkman is the only member to appear in every JSA adventure in the original run of ''All Star Comics''. ''All Star Comics'' #8 (December 1941/January 1942) featured the first appearance of Wonder Woman (Earth-Two), Wonder Woman. Unlike the other characters who had their own titles, she was allowed to appear in the series, but only as the JSA's secretary from #11 onward, and did not actively take part in most adventures until much later in the series. She was excluded from the title because of the same rules that had excluded the Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, and Batman from the title, though in #13 it was claimed she had become an active member. A fan club for the team called the "Junior Justice Society of America" was introduced in ''All Star Comics'' #14 (Dec. 1942-Jan. 1943). The membership kit included a welcome letter, a badge, a decoder, a four-page comic book, and a membership certificate. By ''All Star Comics'' #24 (Spring 1945), a real-world schism between National Comics and All-American Publications—a nominally independent company run by Max Gaines and Jack Liebowitz—had occurred, which resulted in the Detective Comics, Inc. (National Comics) heroes being removed from the title. As a result, the Flash and Green Lantern returned to the team. With issue #27 (Winter 1945), National Comics bought out Max Gaines' share of All-American and the two companies merged to form Detective Comics, Inc. The JSA roster remained mostly the same for the rest of the series. Gardner Fox left the series with issue #34 (April–May 1947) with a story that introduced a new super-villain, the Wizard (DC Comics), Wizard. The Injustice Society first battled the JSA in issue #37 in a tale written by Robert Kanigher. The team's second female member Black Canary (Dinah Drake), Black Canary first helped the group in ''All Star Comics'' #38 and became a full member in #41. ''All Star Comics'' and the JSA's Golden Age adventures ended with issue #57, the title becoming ''All-Star Western'', with no superheroes. A good amount of artwork has survived from an List of comics solicited but never published, unpublished ''All Star Comics'' story titled "The Will of William Wilson" and has been reprinted in various publications from TwoMorrows Publishing. The explanation for the team's disappearance, and the inactivity of most of its roster after the early 1950s, was first given in ''Adventure Comics'' #466 ("The Defeat of the Justice Society!", December 1979) by writer Paul Levitz, which explained that most of the Society chose to disband and retire rather than appear in front of the Joint Un-American Activities Committee, which demanded that they unmask themselves. The chairmanship of the Justice Society mostly resided with Hawkman, although initially the Flash, and later Green Lantern, took turns leading the team. For a brief period in 1942, they were known as the Justice Battalion, as they became an extension of the armed forces of the United States of America during World War II. It was later explained that the reason the JSA did not invade Europe and end the war was because of the influence of the Spear of Destiny, which caused the JSA's most powerful members to fall under the control of its wielder, Adolf Hitler. In the 1980s, it was established that the JSA had a loose affiliation with the All-Star Squadron. The All-Star Squadron's adventures were set in the 1940s, and were considered to have happened concurrently with the Justice Society's in a "Retroactive continuity, retcon". The headquarters for the JSA was a hotel suite in New York City initially and, after the war, the team settled on a brownstone building in Gotham City, and later in Civic City. For a very brief period, the JSA was provided a satellite headquarters, much like their later counterparts, the JLA. This turned out to be a deathtrap orchestrated by a crooked senator's henchman from Eliminations, Inc. The Gotham City brownstone remained unoccupied until years later, when the team was active again. The headquarters used in the 2000s was a brownstone in Morningside Heights.The Silver Age
Having successfully introduced new versions of several characters (the Flash, Green Lantern, etc.) during the late 1950s, DC tapped industry veteran, and former Justice Society writer, Gardner Fox to create a new version of the Justice Society. Editor Julius Schwartz, influenced by the popularity of Major League Baseball's National League and American League, decided to change the name of the team from Justice ''Society'' to Justice ''League''. In ''The Flash (comic book), The Flash'' #123 (September 1961) "The Flash of Two Worlds", the Silver Age Flash meets his Golden Age counterpart, Jay Garrick who, along with the rest of the original Justice Society, is said to inhabit an alternative universe. This historic meeting thus became one of the classic DC comics of the Silver Age. Comic book letter column, Fan letters on the pages of following issues were wildly enthusiastic about the revival of the original Flash, both from older fans who remembered the old JSA tales, and younger fans eager to learn more about these new heroes. Further meetings occurred in ''The Flash'' #129 "Double Danger on Earth" (June 1962), and ''The Flash'' #137 "Vengeance of the Immortal Villain" (June 1963). ''The Flash'' #129 contains the first mention of the JSA in the Silver Age, and refers directly to their last adventure in ''All-Star Comics'' #57, while in ''The Flash'' #137 the JSA re-form. These stories set the stage for "Crisis on Earth-One" (''Justice League of America'' #21, August 1963) and "Crisis on Earth-Two" (''Justice League of America'' #22, September 1963), a two-part tale where the Golden Age Justice Society teams up with the Silver Age Justice League to combat a team of villains from both worlds. The following year, the two teams of heroes worked together to stop an evil version of the Justice League from another alternative Earth (''Justice League of America'' #29, "Crisis on Earth-Three", August 1964). These stories became the first in a long series of team-ups of the two supergroups, an annual summer tradition which continued until 1985. As well as the annual Justice League of America appearances, members of the JSA guest-starred in other titles over the next several years: the Golden Age Atom in ''The Atom (Ray Palmer), Atom'' #29 and #36, and the Golden Age Green Lantern in several issues of ''Green Lantern''. In addition, a number of the characters appeared in team-up stories in issues of the DC titles ''The Brave and the Bold'' and ''Showcase (comics), Showcase'', while the Spectre was given a solo run in the latter which led to his own series. Some JSA members during this period, residing on "Earth-Two", were portrayed as middle-aged versions of their younger, contemporary "Earth-One" counterparts; the "Earth-Two" characters' portrayal as older than their counterparts eased incorporation of the existing fictional history of the Justice Society of America into newly written stories about the "Earth-Two" characters. Later, this fictional age gap was to become a major theme for character development, with the fictional histories of different versions of the same characters deviating significantly from each other in ways impacted by their differences in age, including even the deaths of popular characters such as Batman in one setting while different, contemporary versions of the characters lived on as inhabitants of a different fictional "Earth".The Bronze Age
The JSA's popularity grew until they regained their own title. ''All Star Comics'' #58 (January/February 1976) saw the group return as mentors to a younger set of heroes briefly called the "Super Squad" until they were integrated into the JSA proper. This run lasted until #74, with a brief run thereafter in ''Adventure Comics'' #461–466, but it had three significant developments: it introduced Power Girl in ''All Star Comics'' #58, chronicled the death of the Batman (Earth-Two), Golden Age Batman in ''Adventure Comics'' #461–462, and, after nearly 40 years, it finally provided the JSA with an origin story in ''DC Special'' #29. The Huntress (Helena Wayne), Huntress was introduced in ''DC Super Stars'' #17 (Nov.-Dec. 1977) which told her origin, and ''All Star Comics'' #69 (Nov.-Dec. 1977), which was published the same day. The 1970s run of ''All Star Comics'' was written by Gerry Conway and Paul Levitz, and artists included Ric Estrada, Wally Wood, Keith Giffen, Joe Staton, and Bob Layton. The series was noteworthy for depicting the heroes as having aged into their 50s. The artwork gave them graying hair and lined faces. It was highly unusual, then or now, for a comic book to have heroes this old. Most comic books obscure the timelines or periodically relaunch the series to keep the characters youthful. This depiction was a consequence of the fact that the heroes were closely linked to the era of World War II. This became problematic in the 1980s when the heroes would logically be well into their 60s. The explanation given for this by writer Roy Thomas in ''All-Star Squadron Annual'' #3 is that the team, and several friends, have absorbed energy from the magical villain Ian Karkull during an adventure in the 1940s that stunts their aging process. Meanwhile, the JSA continued their annual team-ups with the Justice League. Notable events include meeting the Fawcett Comics heroes, including Captain Marvel (DC Comics), Captain Marvel, the death of Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane), Mr. Terrific, and the origin of the Black Canary. The JLA/JSA crossovers often involved a third team as well such as the Legion of Super-Heroes, the New Gods, the Secret Society of Super Villains, and the All-Star Squadron. ''All-Star Squadron'' was a series taking place in the JSA's original setting of the World War II, wartime 1940s. This led to a spinoff, modern day series entitled ''Infinity, Inc.'' which starred the children and heirs of the JSA members. Both series were written by noted JSA fan Roy Thomas and featured art by Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway, Todd McFarlane, and others. In 1985, DC Retroactive continuity, retconned many details of the DC Universe in ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Among the changes, the Superman (Earth-Two), Golden Age Superman, Batman (Earth-Two), Batman, Dick Grayson (Earth-Two), Robin, and Wonder Woman (Earth-Two), Wonder Woman ceased to exist, and the Earth-One/Earth-Two dichotomy was resolved by merging the Multiverse into a single universe. This posed a variety of problems for the JSA, whose history—especially in the 1980s comics—was strongly tied up in these four characters. The JLA–JSA team-ups ended with the last pre-Crisis teamup occurring in ''Justice League of America'' #244 and ''Infinity Inc.'' #19 during the ''Crisis''.After ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''
One of Roy Thomas's efforts to resolve the ''Crisis''-created inconsistencies was to introduce some analogues to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, in a sequel to ''All-Star Squadron'' titled ''Young All-Stars''. In 1986, DC decided to write off the JSA from active Continuity (fiction), continuity. ''Last Days of the Justice Society of America, The Last Days of the Justice Society'' One-shot (comics), one-shot involved most of the team battling the forces of evil while merged with the Norse gods in an ever-repeating Ragnarök-like Limbo (DC Comics), Limbo, written by Thomas, with art by David Ross (comics), David Ross and Mike Gustovich. Only Power Girl, the Sylvester Pemberton, Star-Spangled Kid, the Spectre, and Doctor Fate escaped the cataclysm. This is later revealed to be a simulation created by Odin searching for a way to thwart the real Ragnarök. Roy Thomas revised the JSA's origin for post-''Crisis'' continuity in ''Secret Origins'' vol. 2 #31.''Justice Society of America'' (vols. 1 and 2) (1991–1993)
Fan interest resulted in the revival of the JSA in 1991. An eight-issue ''Justice Society of America'' limited series featuring a previously untold story set in the 1950s was published in 1991. In the final issues of the four-issue ''Armageddon 2001, Armageddon: Inferno'' limited series, the JSA returns to the modern-day DC Universe when Waverider (comics), Waverider transported the "daemen" of the interdimensional Abraxis to Asgard (comics), Asgard as a substitute for the JSA in the Ragnarök cycle, allowing the team to return to Earth. In 1992, the JSA was given an ongoing monthly series titled ''Justice Society of America'', written by Len Strazewski with art by Mike Parobeck, featuring the original team adjusting to life after returning from Ragnarök. Though ''Justice Society of America'' was intended as an ongoing series, and was popular with readers, the decision was made to cancel the book after the third issue's release. Twelve issues of the new series were ultimately commissioned, though publication itself ended with issue #10. Portions of the remaining two issues originally intended for #11–12, which were part of a planned crossover with ''Justice League Europe'', were published in ''Justice League Europe'' #49–50. Strazewski, in an interview explaining the cancellation of this series, said, "It was a capricious decision made personally by Mike Carlin because he didn't like Mike's artwork or my writing and believed that senior citizen super-heroes was not what DC should be publishing. He made his opinion clear to me several times after the cancellation." ''Justice Society of America'' included the first appearance of Jesse Chambers, Jesse Quick, the daughter of All-Star Squadron members Liberty Belle (comics), Liberty Belle and Johnny Quick, who would go on to be a major figure in ''Flash'', ''Teen Titans'', and later ''Justice Society'' comics. Not long after, most of the team was incapacitated or killed in the 1994 crossover series ''Zero Hour: Crisis in Time''. During the battle between the Justice Society and the villain Hank Hall#Zero Hour: Extant, Extant, the latter removes the chronal energies keeping the Justice Society young. The Atom (Al Pratt), Atom, Charles McNider, Doctor Mid-Nite, and Hourman die immediately. Hawkman and Shiera Sanders Hall, Hawkgirl, who were separated from the rest of the Justice Society after being pulled into the timestream, merge into a new Hawkman (Katar Hol), Hawkgod being, resulting in their deaths. Doctor Fate dies of the resulting aging shortly after ''Zero Hour''. Green Lantern is kept young because of the mystical effects of the Power ring (DC Comics), Starheart, but loses his ring and subsequently changes his name to Sentinel. The rest of the team is now too physically old to continue fighting crime and retires. Starman (Ted Knight), Starman retires and passes on the Starman legacies to his sons, resulting in the creation of one of the new series following ''Zero Hour'', James Robinson (writer), James Robinson's ''Starman (Jack Knight), Starman''.''JSA'' (1999–2006)
The JSA remained inactive for some time after the events of "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, Zero Hour", but the surviving members of the Flash, Wildcat (Ted Grant), Wildcat, and Alan Scott (now going by the name Sentinel) have remained active throughout the DC Universe, having been placed as reserve JLI members, as evidenced in ''Justice League Europe'' #50. The Justice Society was revived as a monthly series called ''JSA'' in 1999 which mixed the few remaining original members with younger counterparts. This incarnation of the team focused on the theme of generational legacy and of carrying on the heroic example established by their predecessors. The series was launched by James Robinson (writer), James Robinson and David S. Goyer. Goyer later co-wrote the series with Geoff Johns, who continued to write the series solo after Goyer's departure. The series featured the art of Stephen Sadowski, Leonard Kirk, and Don Kramer, among others. It featured a story by Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon. During the events of ''Infinite Crisis'', some of the surviving Golden Age characters, such as Wildcat and the Flash, are transported to the new "Earth-Two," as created by Alexander Luthor Jr., and seem to recall the existence of the original one, albeit vaguely.''JSA: Classified'' (2005–2008)
In September 2005, ''JSA''s popularity led to a spinoff series, ''JSA: Classified'', which tells stories of the team at various points in its existence, as well as spotlighting specific members in solo stories. The first arc, written by Geoff Johns with art by Amanda Conner, featured Power Girl's origin. The series was cancelled with issue #39 (August 2008).''One Year Later''
After the events of DC's ''Infinite Crisis'' crossover and the World War III (DC Comics), World War III event chronicled in ''52 (comics), 52'', JSA members Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Ted Grant decide to revive the Justice Society.''Justice Society of America'' vol. 3 (2006–2011)
On December 6, 2006, a new series was launched with the creative team of Geoff Johns (writer), Dale Eaglesham (pencils), and Alex Ross (cover art). The beginning of the new series showed JSA veterans the Flash, Green Lantern, and Wildcat choosing members of the new generation of superheroes to train. Continuing a major theme from the previous JSA title, this new series focused on the team being the caretakers of the superhero legacy from one generation to the next. The crossovers between the JLA and JSA began again with "The Lightning Saga" (see below) in ''JLA'' vol. 4 #8–10 and ''JSA'' #5–6 and an epilogue in issue #7. ''Justice Society of America Annual'' #1 (September 2008) featured the Justice Society Infinity, a team continuing from an analogous post-''Crisis'' Earth-Two. Most of the members of the Justice Society Infinity are either original members of Earth-Two's Justice Society, such as the Atom and Robin (comics), Robin (Dick Grayson), but the Society includes characters that are normally associated with Infinity, Inc., such as Jade (comics), Jade and Nuklon (Albert Rothstein). Johns' run as writer of ''Justice Society of America'' ended with issue #26. Following a two-issue story by Jerry Ordway, Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges took over as writers with issue #29 in July 2009. Another JLA/JSA crossover was chronicled in ''Justice League of America'' #44–48 and ''Justice Society of America'' #41–42 under the ''Brightest Day'' banner. James Robinson, the writer who co-wrote the 1999 ''JSA'' relaunch, took over as the book's writer for the crossover while Mark Bagley illustrated the entire event. After the crossover, Robinson wrote one final issue with artist Jesus Merino, which dealt with the relationship between Green Lantern and his son Obsidian (comics), Obsidian. Following the ''Brightest Day'' story arc, Marc Guggenheim became the new writer with issue #44, and Scott Kolins took over art duties from Merino. During his first several issues, Guggenheim introduced a number of new characters to the team, such as Blue Devil (DC Comics), Blue Devil and Manhunter (Kate Spencer), Manhunter. In issue #49, he expanded the JSA's roster by bringing back all of the JSA All-Stars except for Magog (comics), Magog, who had been killed in ''Justice League: Generation Lost'', and Power Girl, who had unofficially departed from the JSA during the same maxi-series, as well as the original Liberty Belle (comics), Liberty Belle. In addition, Guggenheim introduced a new character named Red Beetle (a gadget-wielding heroine clad in a red variation of the Silver Age Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), Blue Beetle's costume), and brought in Ri and Darknight, two Chinese superheroes that he had created for his ''Batman Confidential'' run.''JSA All-Stars'' vol. 2 (2009–2011)
An ongoing series titled ''JSA All-Stars'' debuted with a February 2010 cover date and should not be confused with the ''JSA: All Stars'', a limited series published from July 2003 to February 2004. The series focused on a second team that formed after the JSA split. Calling themselves the "All-Stars", the group included more of the newer, younger members of the JSA. The roster consisted of: Magog, Damage (DC comics), Damage, Power Girl, Hourman, Albert Rothstein, Atom Smasher, Sandy Hawkins, Sand, Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl, Cyclone (DC Comics), Cyclone, Tom Bronson, Wildcat (Ton Bronson), Commander Steel#Citizen Steel, Citizen Steel, Judomaster#Sonia Sato, Judomaster, King Chimera, Anna Fortune, and the A.I. Roxy, with Damage and Magog later being killed. DC cancelled ''JSA All-Stars'' with issue #18 (July 2011) because of the events of ''Flashpoint (comics), Flashpoint'', the DC 2011 summer event. As a result of the title's cancellation, writer Marc Guggenheim had all of the All-Stars except Power Girl and Magog rejoin the JSA in ''Justice Society of America'' #49.''DC Rebirth''
In the DC Universe ''Rebirth'' one-shot, Johnny Thunder is in a nursing home. He is trying to escape, but Kid Flash Wally West appears to Johnny trying to establish a link to return from the Speed Force. Johnny admits he threw away the magic pen containing Thunderbolt. In ''The Flash Rebirth'' series, the interaction between Pre-''New 52'' Wally West and ''New 52'' Wally West triggers a disturbance in the Speed Force, which causes Barry to have a strange vision. In the vision, Barry sees Johnny Quick's Speed formula and Jay Garrick's Flash helmet. Johnny Thunder is seen again during the ''The Button (comics), Button'' crossover, where he is on a roof shouting for his Thunderbolt and that it is his fault they lost the Justice Society. At the end of the crossover, it is revealed that the Pre-''New 52'' Jay Garrick was also stuck in the Speed Force, and Barry is able to momentarily free him. However, when Barry tries to secure him to the universe just as he did to Wally, Jay instead is transported back into the Speed Force in a blast of blue energy. In the ''Watchmen'' sequel ''Doomsday Clock (comics), Doomsday Clock'', Doctor Manhattan recalls various events in which he indirectly killed Alan Scott and thus brought about changes in the timeline. On July 16, 1940, Alan Scott was riding on a train over a collapsing bridge, but he survived by grabbing onto a green lantern. He continues his life, eventually "sitting at a round table wearing a mask" and later testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee but refusing to implicate anyone in his employ. On July 16, 1940, again, Doctor Manhattan moves the lantern six inches out of Alan Scott's reach so that Scott dies in the train accident and leaves no family behind. At the Daily Planet, Lois Lane finds a flash-drive showing footage of various members of the Justice Society of America such as Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, Hourman, Sandman, and Spectre. Lois did not know about the Justice Society until now. When Doctor Manhattan first arrived in the DC Universe, he witnesses the creation of the JSA and each of its founding members superhero personas. In one timeline (Golden Age/Earth-2), Doctor Manhattan watches as the JSA wait for the arrival of Superman to formally create their team. This then changes to a timeline (Post-Crisis/New Earth) where Superman was not a founding member and did not arrive until 1956. Curious about the importance of Superman and what would happen if time were to be changed and how it would affect him, Doctor Manhattan prevented Alan Scott from becoming Green Lantern. This in turn created the ''New 52'' Universe, and with it, the creation of the Justice Society of America was erased. When Doctor Manhattan undoes the experiment that erased the Justice Society and the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Justice Society (consisting of Atom-Smasher, Cyclone, Damage, Doctor Fate, Doctor Mid-Nite II, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman II, Jade, Jakeem Thunder and Johnny Thunderbolt, Liberty Belle, Mister Terrific, Obsidian, Power Girl, Sandman II, Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E., Wildcat I, and Wildcat II) appears to help Superman fight the rampaging metahumans. Afterwards, the Justice Society investigates the Department of Metahuman Affairs which led to the arrest of those involved. The Justice Society returns in the pages of ''Justice League''. The League splits up to retrieve fragments on the Totality from the past and future. Flash and Green Lantern are transported to 1941 to retrieve a fragment. They arrive in December 1941 to discover that the Legion of Doom has already travelled to the past and meddled in history, attacking and seemingly conquering the United States. They encounter the Justice Society, much to their surprise, as they are not aware of any superheroes active in the 1940s. However, they begin to develop an affinity for their Golden Age counterparts, and feel that there is an intricate shared history they cannot fully remember. In the fifth volume of ''Hawkman'' following the defeat of Anton Hastor, a deceased Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hawkman and Shayera Hol, Hawkwoman are reborn as their Golden Age counterparts, reuniting with their old friends in the Justice Society. In the pages of "Dark Nights: Death Metal", Justice Society members Green Lantern, Flash, Doctor Fate, and Wildcat were shown to be guarding the Valhalla Cemetery. The password to get in was "Ma Hunkel" where Green Lantern mentioned that she was the first guardian of the JSA's first headquarters. As Superman and his allies prepare for their final fight against both Perpetua and the The Batman Who Laughs, Darkest Knight, Justice Society members Damage, Green Lantern, and Flash were present. In addition, Batman used the Black Lantern ring to revive JSA members Atom, Hourman, Ma Hunkel, and Sandman. At the end of "Dark Nights: Death Metal", the Justice Society are shown fighting in World War II alongside the narrator of the series Sgt. Rock. It is explicitly noted that this is 1943 in the DC universe, indicating that they have been fully restored to the timeline.''Infinite Frontier / The New Golden Age''
In August 2022 it was announced that following the conclusion of ''Flashpoint Beyond'', a one shot entitled ''The New Golden Age'' would release in November that year, with a new JSA series spinning out of that with Geoff Johns writing and Mikel Janín providing art.Membership
Collected editions
The Golden Age issues of ''All Star Comics'' were collected in the following hardcover ''DC Archive Editions'': Most of the Silver Age and Bronze Age stories depicting the annual team-up adventures of the Justice League and the Justice Society were collected in the following Trade paperback (comics), trade paperbacks: The Bronze Age continuation of ''All Star Comics'' (1976–1978), along with the subsequent JSA series in ''Adventure Comics'' and a related special, has been collected in the following trade paperbacks: The ''JLA (comic book), JLA'' story arc "Crisis Times Five" (1999), which features the first Justice League/Justice Society team-up since ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', has been collected in the following trade paperback: The ''JSA'' (1999–2006) series was collected in the following trade paperbacks: The third ''Justice Society of America'' series was collected in the following trade paperbacks: A new JSA team, the ''JSA All Stars'', spun off from the original and was collected in the following trade paperbacks: The New 52 series ''Earth 2'' was collected in the following trade paperbacks: Several JSA miniseries, ''Elseworlds'' (non-Canon (fiction), canon) graphic novels, Silver Age collections, and one-shots were collected in the following trade paperbacks:Awards
The Justice Society received a Alley Award#1965, 1965 Alley Award in the category "Strip or Book Most Desired for Revival".Other versions
Kingdom Come
In the story ''Kingdom Come (comics), Kingdom Come'', the List of Kingdom Come (comics) characters#Superman's Justice League, Justice League that is reformed by Superman (Kingdom Come), Superman is an amalgam of the Justice League and the Justice Society.JSA: The Golden Age
In the ''Elseworlds'' story ''JSA: The Golden Age'', it focuses on the Justice Society after World War II.Earth 2
With ''The New 52'', the JSA was relaunched by writer James Robinson (writer), James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott in the ''Earth-Two, Earth-2'' series. Additionally, the ''Worlds' Finest'' title featured the Huntress (Helena Wayne), Huntress and Power Girl, from the new Earth 2, stranded on the main DC Earth. ''Worlds' Finest'' was written by Paul Levitz, and was drawn initially by George Pérez and Kevin Maguire (artist), Kevin Maguire on a rotating basis. Under James Robinson, ''Earth 2'' featured new versions of the classic Justice Society members, including a young unmarried Jay Garrick, a gay version of Alan Scott, an African-American version of Hawkgirl, and a version of the Atom who was a soldier and possessed powers similar to his protege Atom Smasher where they are members of the Wonders of the World and working for the World Army. The series revolved around an Earth 2 that had been devastated by an invasion from Apokolips, led by Steppenwolf (comics), Steppenwolf, that ended with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman dead and Power Girl and Robin (a.k.a. Helena Wayne a.k.a. the Huntress) exiled on Earth-0. ''Worlds' Finest'' dealt with Power Girl and Huntress's quest to return home, and the rescue of Mister Terrific (Michael Holt), Michael Holt who had been exiled to Earth 2 by Desaad, who was now impersonating him on Earth-0. Mister Miracle and Big Barda later joined the cast, with Mister Miracle having just escaped from the villainous Darkseid. His relationship with Barda was strained because of a mutual mistrust as the result of Barda being a former member of the Female Furies. Robinson quit ''Earth 2'' with issue #16. DC wished to launch a second weekly Earth 2 book to tie into ''Future's End'', which told of a future where Earth 2 is destroyed by Darkseid, and the surviving residents flee to Earth-0 for sanctuary. The tie-in series ''World's End'' saw Darkseid terraform Earth 2 into a new Apokolips as the heroes are barely able to get several ships full of survivors off-world. Robinson's replacement on ''Earth 2'', Tom Taylor (writer), Tom Taylor, would promptly phase out the Justice Society characters, replacing them with Batman (who was replaced by a still-alive Thomas Wayne using Miraclo), Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Lois Lane (who was dead under Robinson but resurrected by Taylor as the new Red Tornado), and a new Superman named Val-Zod (a black Kryptonian). Power Girl and Huntress would join the cast as well once ''Worlds' Finest'' was cancelled. Several characters from ''Earth 2'' were the main characters of ''Convergence'', which saw them trapped in the war between the imprisoned cities of previous incarnations of the DC Universe. One of the cities was the Pre-Crisis Earth 2 New York City, where the original JSA and Infinity Inc. participated in the war against their fellow heroes and later Telos and Deimos (comics), Deimos. When the war ended, a repentant Telos sacrificed the last of his energies to stabilize the planet so that the heroes could lead those who escaped Apokolips to it in order to start anew. The new series ''Earth 2: Society'' chronicles the heroes' attempt to recreate Earth on this new world. At one point in issue #11, the Wonders of the World were referred to by Green Lantern in the final scene as the "Justice Society."Earth 3
On Earth-Three, Earth 3, the Justice Society All-Stars is a superhero team and is the good counterpart of the Injustice Society. It consists of Lion-Miss (an Earth 3 amalgam of Cheetah (comics), Cheetah and Lion-Mane), Pinkerton Ghost (Earth 3's version of Gentleman Ghost), Matter Mage (Earth 3's version of Matter Master), and Shadow Sheriff (Earth 3's version of Shadow Thief).Injustice: Year Zero
Injustice: Year Zero was a digital-first comic book series, published by DC Comics from August 2020 to January 2021. The series is a prequel to the ''Injustice (franchise), Injustice'' franchise.In other media
Television
Animation
* The ''Justice League (TV series), Justice League'' two-part episode "Legends" pays homage to the Justice Society with the Justice Guild of America, a team of imaginary superheroes who exist in Multiverse (DC Comics), another universe. The team consists of the Green Guardsman, the Streak, Black Siren, Catman, and Tom Turbine, who are all based on JSA members Alan Scott, Alan Scott / Green Lantern, Jay Garrick, Jay Garrick / Flash, Black Canary (Dinah Drake), Dinah Drake / Black Canary, Wildcat (Ted Grant), Ted Grant / Wildcat, and Atom (Al Pratt), Al Pratt / Atom respectively. They fought crime until they were all killed in a nuclear war. Over the course of the following 40 years, a boy mutated by the radiation named Ray Thompson used his psionic powers to recreate the JGA as an illusion until the Justice League arrive in his universe and eventually inspire the JGA to sacrifice themselves to restore reality. According to the writers, the creative team originally intended to use the JSA for the episode, but DC Comics declined as their portrayal clashed with their comic counterparts' post-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' portrayal. * The Justice Society appeared in ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'', consisting of Jay Garrick / Flash, Ted Grant / Wildcat, Hourman (Rex Tyler), Rex Tyler / Hourman, Charles McNider, Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite, Hawkman (Carter Hall), Carter Hall / Hawkman, Dinah Drake / Black Canary, Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate, the Spectre (DC Comics character), Spectre, Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane), Terry Sloane / Mister Terrific, Alan Scott / Green Lantern, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), Wesley Dodds / Sandman, and Starman (Ted Knight), Ted Knight / Starman. This version of the group tutored Batman in his early days. Additionally, Drake was killed in action and asked Grant to look after her daughter Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance), Dinah Laurel Lance. * Several members of the JSA appear in ''Young Justice (TV series), Young Justice''. According to the show's producers, most of the original JSA members are either dead or retired by the time the series takes place. The team itself appears in a flashback sequence in the episode "Humanity", consisting of Alan Scott / Green Lantern, Jay Garrick / Flash, Wesley Dodds / Sandman, Ted Grant / Wildcat, Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate, and Red Tornado. Additionally, Firebrand (DC Comics), Firebrand was also a member for a short time before she was revealed to be an Android (robot), android created by T. O. Morrow while Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett), Dan Garrett / Blue Beetle appears as a member in the episode "Failsafe".Live-action
* The Justice Society of America appeared in the ''Smallville'' two-part episode / television movie "Absolute Justice", consisting of Carter Hall / Hawkman, Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate, and Courtney Whitmore, Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl. Several other members appear briefly or in flashback, including Sylvester Pemberton, Sylvester Pemberton / Star-Spangled Kid, Wesley Dodds / Sandman, Ted Grant / Wildcat, Jay Garrick / Flash, Al Pratt / Atom, Alan Scott / Green Lantern, and Red Tornado. Shiera Sanders Hall, Shiera Hall / Hawkgirl, Rex Tyler / Hourman, Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite, Terry Sloane / Mister Terrific, the Spectre, and Dinah Drake / Black Canary appear in a painted group portrait. The JSA, like their post-''Crisis'' incarnation, are portrayed as an earlier generation of superheroes who were forced to retire when the government tried to take control of them after determining their real identities before resurfacing in the present to mentor new superheroes. * The Justice Society of America appear in The CW's Arrowverse series ''Legends of Tomorrow''. This version is a World War II-era team and consists of Rex Tyler / Hourman, Commander Steel#Henry Heywood, Henry Heywood / Commander Steel, Obsidian (comics), Todd Rice / Obsidian, Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl, List of Legends of Tomorrow characters#Amaya Jiwe / Vixen, Amaya Jiwe / Vixen, and Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite. In 1942, the JSA works with the time-traveling List of Legends of Tomorrow characters, Legends to stop a group of Nazis after they obtain a super-power granting serum from Eobard Thawne (Arrowverse), Eobard Thawne. After his plan is foiled, Thawne kills Tyler, leading to Vixen joining the Legends to avenge his death. In 1956, the JSA became inactive when everyone but Obsidian were believed to have been killed during a covert mission. In reality, they recovered the Spear of Destiny, a powerful artifact with the power to rewrite reality, with the help of Rip Hunter (Arrowverse), Rip Hunter. After recovering the Spear, Hunter transported Stargirl, Steel, and Mid-Nite to differing points in time to guard fragments of the Spear and prevent its reassembly. However, the Legion of Doom brainwashes Hunter into joining them and recovering each fragment, killing Mid-Nite and Steel in the process. * Two incarnations of the Justice Society of America appear in the DC Universe (streaming service), DC Universe / The CW series ''Stargirl (TV series), Stargirl''. ** The original group consists of Sylvester Pemberton / Starman, Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate, Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite, Jay Garrick / Flash, Alan Scott / Green Lantern, Carter Hall / Hawkman, Shiera Hall / Hawkgirl, Rex Tyler / Hourman, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt (DC Comics), Thunderbolt, Wesley Dodds / Sandman, and Ted Grant / Wildcat. A decade prior, the Justice Society was attacked by the Injustice Society while struggling with what to do about Eclipso. When Pat Dugan arrived, most of the team had been killed and he only had time to evacuate a fatally wounded Starman. Before he died, the latter told the former to find someone worthy of wielding the Cosmic Staff to keep the JSA's legacy alive. ** By the present day, Courtney Whitmore finds the Cosmic Staff, becomes Stargirl, and rebuilds the Justice Society with Pat as S.T.R.I.P.E. and her friends Wildcat (Yolanda Montez), Yolanda Montez, Beth Chapel and Hourman (Rick Tyler), Rick Tyler as the new Wildcat, Doctor Mid-Nite, and Hourman respectively. At the end of season two, Whitmore recruits Shiv (comics), Cindy Burman into the JSA. Ten years later, as depicted in the series finale, the JSA's ranks have grown to include Jade (DC Comics), Jennie-Lynn Scott / Jade, Todd Rice / Obsidian, Mike Dugan / S.T.R.I.P.E. 2.0, Jakeem Thunder and Thunderbolt, Cameron Mahkent, Cameron Mahkent / Icicle, Artemis Crock, Sandy Hawkins, Sandy Hawkins / Sand, Damage (DC Comics), Grant Emerson / Damage, Solomon Grundy (character), Solomon Grundy, and Shade (character), Richard Swift / Shade. Additionally, Whitmore and Burman went on to become Starwoman and Dragon Queen respectively. *** Ahead of the series premiere, the founding members of Stargirl's JSA made a cameo appearance in the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse), Crisis on Infinite Earths", which used footage from the ''Stargirl'' episode "The Justice Society".Film
* The Justice Society of America appears in the opening credits of ''Justice League: The New Frontier'', consisting of Hourman (Rex Tyler), Rex Tyler / Hourman, Wildcat (Ted Grant), Ted Grant / Wildcat, Alan Scott, Alan Scott / Green Lantern, Jay Garrick, Jay Garrick / Flash, Black Canary (Dinah Drake), Dinah Drake / Black Canary, Hawkman (Carter Hall), Carter Hall / Hawkman, and Charles McNider, Charles McNider / Doctor Mid-Nite. After Tyler is killed, the JSA retire, though Grant remained active as a professional boxer. * A variation of the Earth-Two, Earth-2 Justice Society of America appears in ''Justice Society: World War II''. This version of the group was active during their Earth's version of the titular war, is led by Wonder Woman, and consists of Rex Tyler / Hourman, Dinah Drake / Black Canary, Carter Hall / Hawkman, Steve Trevor, and Jay Garrick / Flash. * The Justice Society appeared in the DC Extended Universe film ''Black Adam (film), Black Adam'', led by Carter Hall / Hawkman and consisting of Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate, Cyclone (DC Comics), Maxine Hunkel / Cyclone, and Atom Smasher (DC Comics), Albert Rothstein / Atom Smasher. Originally, Shayera Hol, Shayera Hol / Hawkgirl and Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl were going to appear as members as well, but were cut in favor of Cyclone. This version of the group are associates of Amanda Waller (DC Extended Universe), Amanda Waller. * In addition to ''Black Adam'', a Justice Society film was reported to be in development by Warner Bros. as of May 2020.References
Further reading
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