It had been a while since I looked at a DC book, but I couldn't figure out what DC book I wanted to review. One day, I went to a comic shop and started looking around for old issues that looked like they'd be fun reads. In one of those bins was the first issue of a series I had always wanted to read: All-Star Squadron.
What is the All-Star Squadron, you may ask? Well, the name was a reference to All-Star Comics, the title that introduced the Justice Society of America. Naturally, considering it involved Golden Age-era superheroes, Roy Thomas was involved. DC had wanted a series focused on the JSA, so Thomas decided to do something a little different: Set this series showing new adventures of the JSA during the time leading up to and during World War II. Thomas had also wanted to include various other characters that debuted during the 30s and 40s but were not published by DC (DC had acquired other companies and their characters over the years). Thomas had also wanted to give spotlight to some lesser-known characters of the era, instead of focusing on JSA members that already had JLA/Earth-One counterparts (The Green Lanterns, Flashes, etc). This series would last for six years, with 67 issues and three annuals. So, how did this massive Nazi-busting superteam get formed? Let's find out by looking at All-Star Squadron #1!
The cover is a Rich Buckler piece. I honestly thought that it was a Jim Aparo piece. Maybe due to Dr. Mid-Nite's jaw. That looks like an Aparo jaw. The cover depicts Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Atom looking over photographs of various superheroes. I like this cover. It's really cool seeing the photographs of the various heroes. It helps show that on Earth-Two during WWII, the JSA were not the only "Mystery People" running around. As appropriate for a first issue of a new team, this cover gives the impression that the three JSA members are hard at work, deciding which of these superheroes should make the new team.
"The World on Fire!"
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Rich Buckler
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Len Wein
Executive Editor: Joe Orlando
The story begins with Carter Hall, the Earth-2 Hawkman. The year is 1941, and the Winged Wonder is flying towards the headquarters of the Justice Society of America. The "headquarters" is actually a rented floor in a Manhattan building. Hawkman arrives at the darkened floor, only to seemingly get attacked by something that wraps around his leg like a snake.
Hawkman gives the source of the attack a Mighty Punch, only to reveal the perpetrator is hardly a super-villain.
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| "Good thing I have stretching powers, otherwise that would have hurt!" |
It's Eel O'Brian, aka the Plastic Man. He's functioning as an FBI agent and is here on the orders of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt himself. Roosevelt had been trying to contact the JSA, and presumably sent Plas to help find them Hawkman finds that weird, as a friend of his was supposed to keep an eye on the place. That friend being Wesley Dodds, the Sandman. The two head to his penthouse, and find it deserted, with the lights on and everything. Plastic Man turns on the radio, but sadly, it's not playing some good songs.
It's actually tuned to Plot Convenience Radio News. The caster reports that members of the Justice Society have been captured by strange powerful foes. The first to be captured were the Jay Garrick Flash, Alan Scott Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. Solomon Grundy got them in Los Angeles. In Gotham City, Batman, Robin, and Superman were captured by a Professor Zodiak. In Salem, Massachusetts, a figure captured the Spectre and Dr. Fate. Must be quite a powerful force if it could catch the literal Wrath of God. That's what the Spectre was.
In New York City, a flying Spanish galleon appeared in the sky. Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, the Ted Knight Starman, and the Wesley Dodds Sandman intercepted it...and they haven't been seen since. The ship itself then vanished.
Hawkman points out that he, the Charles McNider Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Al Pratt Atom were recently attacked themselves. The perpetrator was someone calling himself "The Monster". The three JSAers barely were able to beat him, and then he vanished as well. But before he did, he uttered a single word: Degaton. Hawkman and Plastic Man fly off, only to be ambushed.
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| "Let's float like butterflies and sting like bees, gentlemen!" |
The man's name is King Bee, and he sends his drones after the two heroes. The two heroes easily get through said drones, noting they have vanished as well. They deduce they disappear when they are knocked out, so Hawkman tries to capture King Bee without punching him out. And knowing Hawkman, that's a tall order. King Bee vanishes, which knocks the Winged Warrior out for a loop.
Plastic Man grabs him and tries to give him a soft landing thanks to taking the form of a parachute, but the two still land hard.
In the White House, Harry Hopkins (a deputy of FDR and Secretary of Commerce) tells his men to keep trying to contact the JSA. He fears that if they fail, then December 7, 1941 will be the most tragic day in American history. If you know your history, then you know what happens on this day.
We next focus on another costumed character, this one a bit different: Sir Justin, the original Shining Knight.
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| "What is this 'Pegasus' and why doth my horse be called that?!" |
We get a bit of a recap of who he is here, an Arthurian-era knight who basically ended up pulling a Captain America and got frozen in ice. He got revived in the then-modern 1940s, becoming a member of the original Seven Soldiers of Victory, aka the Law's Legionnaires. The Knight spots a camp at the base of a smoldering volcano, and sees if there is anyone in need of aid. After all, as a romanticized knight, his code of chivalry demands he help those who need it. He finds the camp seemingly empty, except for a redheaded woman who greets him with a gun.
Don't worry, she's not a bad guy. And Sir Justin's magic armor is invincible, anyway. The lady is Dannette Reilly, a vulcanologist. Basically, a volcano expert. She's here to study this thing. The ground starts to shake, implying the volcano is getting ready to erupt. This island (including the volcano) appeared literally a few days earlier, and that's weird. Sir Justin asks her to get on his flying horse, Winged Victory, but she refuses. This is an odd volcano, and she wants to know more about it. Even her own brother couldn't get her to leave. Justin hits the side of the volcano with his sword, and it reveals a cavern. Danette is delighted to see this.
After all, this helps show why this volcano is so weird. She notes the cavern seems man-made. More proof of her theory then shows up...in the form of Solomon Grundy.
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| "SOLOMON GRUNDY WANT PANTS, TOO!" |
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| "We also do regular D&D sessions. We're all Chaotic Evil." |
Yup, Per Degaton himself. With him are another pair of Golden Age-era villains, the Sky Pirate and Wotan. Sir Justin asks if he's an agent of the Axis Powers, but Degaton is allied to no nation. In fact, he plans to conquer the world...from the future year of 1947!
Well, he is a time-traveler, after all. We then turn to the sunny beaches of Hawaii. In particular, Wheeler Field, the Army's fighter base in Oahu. Two men are driving up on a Jeep.
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| "Surely nothing bad will happen to us, Slugger..." |
These two men are Rod Reilly (Dannette's brother), and "Slugger" Dunn. Before joining the Navy, Reilly had operated as the superhero known as the Firebrand. The two spot some planes in the sky. Dunn thinks they're some of the flyboys doing some maneuvers, but Rod realizes they are Japanese planes. Yup, this is the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. The bombs destroy their jeep, injuring Slugger's leg. The two try to run to their ship, the Arizona, unaware that it was already destroyed. Slugger falls. Rod tries to go get him and is seemingly killed when he gets shot up by a plane's guns.
The scene then goes to Griffith Stadium. A football game is being played, and it's attended by two other JSAers: Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Atom. An intercom calls for a General Brody. The two superheroes come along as well. They are alerted to the Pearl Harbor attack. The Atom tries to leave through a steel door, but he can't budge it. However, another man there can.
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| "'Cyborgman' isn't as catchy." |
...because he is a Robotman. Well, technically, he's a cyborg, his brain is still human. He easily brings the door down and takes the two JSAers to the White House. Three other figures are also on their way.
Meet Johnny Chambers, Tubby Watts, and Libby Lawrence. Chambers is a cameraman (Tubby is his assistant), and Libby is a radio war correspondent. Chambers is taken with the blonde bombshell reporter, and we get a recap of her past. She lost her father in Poland when the Nazis bombed Warsaw. She witnessed the Nazis conquer Holland and France. She even was at Dunkirk and escaped there by swimming across the English Channel to, well, England. Yeah, Miss Lawrence has been through a lot. It would be revealed her journey was for the purpose of intelligence-gathering.
The three see Robotman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Atom arrive at the White House. Hawkman and Plastic Man follow along. Lawrence and Chambers then assume their own heroic identities: the super-athlete Liberty Belle and the super-fast Johnny Quick, respectively. The seven heroes gather at the White House's front door, and then meet President Roosevelt himself.
He alerts them of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The heroes are ready to go take on the Japanese forces, but FDR says he has another need for them. This has made him realize that the America will not be ignored in this war, and considering the country has an abundance of superheroes, he wants to mobilize every one of them into a special massive fighting unit, an All-Star Squadron dedicated to protecting the country.
Plastic Man, being an FBI agent at the time, will serve as the liaison between the law enforcement group and the new team. The Squadron's first mission is to head to the West Coast. After Pearl Harbor, FDR does not want to take any chances that the mainland could be attacked next. FDR's fears aren't completely unfounded, as when night comes to San Francisco, something launches planes from underneath the surface of the Pacific.
Inside the aircraft carrier-sized sub is Per Degaton, and he has Dannette and Sir Justin prisoner. Degaton is feeling triumphant, as this day will not be a day of infamy, but it will be the day that he achieves his victory over the world and takes it as his own.
I have been wanting to read this comic for quite some time, and I admit, I was not disappointed. This comic is basic set-up, but that is the ultimate point. I also liked we got a bit of character moments for each of the featured heroes, like Johnny Quick's ego. I did expect Plastic Man to be, well, a bit goofier, as I was first exposed to him thanks to the old animated series that was played on Cartoon Network back in the day. There was plenty of action, and Thomas's usage of actual historical figures and events was in full force. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
Sadly, you'll have to look in the back issue bins to find this book. DC has reprinted various issues in other trades (mainly connected to various Crises), but they have never published trades dedicated to the group...well, except for one Showcase Presents trade back in 2012. But it's in black-and-white. So, there is that option if you really want. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
