| All Star Comics | |
|---|---|
 All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940–1941), cover art by Everett E. Hibbard. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Quarterly #1–4, 18–27 Bimonthly #5–17, 28–57[1]: 15 |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Publication date | (Original run) Summer 1940 – February–March 1951(Revival) January–February 1976 – September–October 1978 |
| No. of issues | (Original run) 57 (Revival) 17 |
| Main character | Justice Society of America |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | List |
| Artist | List
|
All Star Comics is anAmerican comic book series fromAll-American Publications, one of three companies that merged withNational Periodical Publications to form the modern-dayDC Comics. While the series' cover-logo trademark readsAll Star Comics, its copyrighted title as indicated by postalindicia isAll-Star Comics, with a hyphen.[2] With the exception of the first two issues,All Star Comics told stories about the adventures of theJustice Society of America, the first team of superheroes. It also introducedWonder Woman.
The original concept forAll Star Comics was ananthology title containing the most popular series from the other anthology titles published by both All-American Publications and National Comics.[1]: 13–14
All Star Comics #1 (cover-dated Summer 1940) contained superhero stories that included All-American'sGolden AgeFlash,Hawkman,Ultra-Man, as well as National'sHour-Man,Spectre, andSandman. The adventure strip "Biff Bronson" and the comedy-adventure "Red, White, and Blue" also premiered with the Summer 1940cover date.[2]
Issue #3 (Winter 1940–1941)[3][4] depicted the first meeting of the Justice Society of America, with its members swapping stories of their exploits which were subsequently illustrated in the comic's array of solo adventures. In addition to the Flash, Hawkman, Hour-Man, the Spectre, and the Sandman wereDoctor Fate from National'sMore Fun Comics and theGreen Lantern and theAtom from All-American's flagship titleAll-American Comics.[5][6] The Justice Society of America (JSA) was originally aframe story used to present an anthology of solo stories about the individual characters,[1]: 43 with each story handled by a different artist.[1]: 43 Comic historianLes 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".[7] The anthology format was dropped in 1947 and replaced with full issue stories featuring the heroes teaming up to fight crime.[1]: 43
All Star Comics #8 (cover dated January 1942) featured the first appearance ofWonder Woman in an eight-page story written byWilliam Moulton Marston, under the pen name of "Charles Moulton" with art byH. G. Peter.[8] The insert story was included to test reader interest in the Wonder Woman concept. It generated enough positive fan response that Wonder Woman would be awarded the lead feature in theSensation Comics anthology title starting from issue #1.[9] That same issue saw the induction ofDoctor Mid-Nite andStarman as members of the Justice Society as well.[7] Starting with issue #11, Wonder Woman would appear inAll Star Comics as a member of the Justice Society as their secretary.
With issue #34 (April–May 1947), Gardner Fox left the series and a new super-villain, theWizard,[10] was introduced. TheInjustice Society first battled the JSA in issue #37 in a tale written byRobert Kanigher.[11] The Black Canary guest starred in issue #38 and joined the team three issues later in #41.[12]
All Star Comics increased its frequency from a quarterly to a bimonthly publication schedule, and the JSA lasted through March 1951 with issue #57 in a story titled "The Mystery of the Vanishing Detectives".[13]
Superhero comics slumped in the early 1950s, andAll Star Comics was renamedAll-Star Western in 1951 with issue #58. In this issue, the "Justice Society of America" feature was replaced byWestern heroes.[14]
Artwork from anunpublishedAll Star Comics story titled "The Will of William Wilson" had survived and was printed in various publications fromTwoMorrows Publishing.[15]
In 1976, the nameAll Star Comics was resurrected for a series portraying the modern-day adventures of the JSA. The new series dismissed the numbering fromAll-Star Western and continued the original numbering, premiering withAll-Star Comics #58.[1]: 194 Starting with issue #66, a hyphen was added to the title and the words "All-Star Comics" became a much smaller part of the cover; while the words "Justice Society" became much larger. The 1970s series introduced the new charactersPower Girl[16][17] and theHelena Wayne version of theHuntress.[18] This series ran for seventeen issues before it was abruptly canceled with issue #74[19] as part of theDC Implosion and the JSA's adventures were folded intoAdventure Comics.[20]
After 23-year-oldGerry Conway became an editor at DC Comics, long-time JSA-fanRoy Thomas suggested to Conway that the JSA be given their own title again. Conway offered Thomas a chance toghostwrite an issue of the revivedAll-Star Comics, but he declined as Thomas was under an exclusive contract withMarvel Comics at the time.[21] However, in 1981 Thomas moved to DC and was able to work with the characters.[22]
A two-issueAll-Star Comics series was published as a part of the "Justice Society Returns" storyline in May 1999.[23]
In 2000 and 2001, DC Comics reprinted several of its most notable issues in theMillennium Edition series.All Star Comics #3 and #8 were reprinted in this format.[24][25]
DC took the 'greatest hits' premise of the comic to its logical conclusion inAll Star Comics #3 by teaming the Flash, the Atom, Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, Sandman, and the Spectre under the banner of the Justice Society of America for an ongoing series.
Mayer and Fox cooked up one of the biggest ideas in superhero history: What if the varied stars ofAll-Star Comics actually met and worked together?
The contents ofAll-Star Comics #75 were split into a two-part Justice Society story published inAdventure Comics #461–462.
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