Origin and first appearance of the Justice Society of America. First Atom cover appearance. E. E. Hibbard cover and art. Sheldon Moldoff, Bernard Baily, Martin Nodell, and Creig Flessel art. Currently #31 on Overstreet's list of Top 100 Golden Age Comics.
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COVER DETAILS
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America
Characters:
Justice Society of America [The Atom [Al Pratt]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; The Hour Man [Rex Tyler]]
Pencils:
E. E. Hibbard
Inks:
E. E. Hibbard
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
STORY DETAILS
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Introduction
Characters:
Justice Society of America [Doctor Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Hourman [Rex Tyler]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; The Atom [Al Pratt]] (introduction); Johnny Thunder; The Thunderbolt [Archibald] (cameo)
Synopsis:
The JSA are gathering together at a hotel for dinner and Johnny Thunder, in his own bumbling way, arrives at the hotel via the T-Bolt, and is invited to eat with them. After dinner, Johnny suggests that each of the members tell about one of their most exciting adventures. Flash thinks that is a great idea and leads off.
Pages:
4.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
E. E. Hibbard
Inks:
E. E. Hibbard
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
The splash page character and table art replicated on the cover.
Johnny is not a member of the JSA as yet. The Thunderbolt is shown as blue. Superman, Batman, Robin, and the Red Tornado are mentioned, but not seen.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 1
Characters:
The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Mary Rogers; Tim Rogers (Mary's father); Johnny Thunder (cameo); Hawkman (cameo); Nancy K sailors [Burly Billy; rest unnamed] (villains)
Synopsis:
The Flash tells of a Spanish galleon, the "Sancta Joanna," which sank off Panama in 1567 carrying a fortune in Aztec gold, which had not been recovered to date. Jay learns that Joan's friend, Mary Rogers's father, was attempting to salvage the gold, but was threatened by a gang of roughnecks in a rival salvage boat. The Flash takes a hand, putting the ruffians in their place, and salvaging the gold for Tim Rogers. Hawkman volunteers next to tell his tale about men who could live in fire.
Pages:
7.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
E. E. Hibbard
Inks:
E. E. Hibbard
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
The Flash is the Chairman of the Justice Society, although there was no election held that is noted in the story.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 2: The Men Who Could Live in Fire
Characters:
Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Shiera Sanders; Johnny Thunder (cameo); The Spectre [Jim Corrigan] (cameo); Mazda (villain, leader of the Volcano People, a scientist, death); The Volcano People (villains, all die); a dying native (villain, death)
Synopsis:
Shiera tells Carter that the Science Society is going to study the Krakatoa volcano closely, and is soon threatened with death if she doesn't stay away. Hawkman then takes over and reaches the volcano in time to see flaming men coming out of the crater. Getting Shiera, and after both don protective clothing, they enter the crater and are attacked by flaming beings which take Hawk to Mazda, who sentences both of them to death. But Hawk escapes, saves Shiera and escapes before the volcano blows up. The Spectre than volunteers to tell his story.
Pages:
7.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
Sheldon Moldoff (signed); E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Inks:
Sheldon Moldoff (signed); E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 3
Characters:
The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; unnamed night watchman (death); unnamed Police Chief; Johnny Thunder (cameo); The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler] (cameo); Oom (villain, death); dragon (villain, death)
Synopsis:
Corrigan is put on the case of a series of mysterious deaths that occur during nights of the full moon, all committed by a creature that has come from the dark side of the Moon. When the two first meet in battle, this creature, Oom, bargains with the Ghostly Guardian that whichever of them first brings the Red Moon Stone of Yzgartyl to Earth, will be allowed to remain on Earth, the other banished. Although Oom gets the stone first, Spectre tricks Oom into dropping it into Spectre's hands, and Oom's spirit is then forever trapped in stone. Hour-Man then volunteers to tell his tale.
Pages:
6.500
Script:
Jerry Siegel; Gardner Fox (4th panel of last page)
Pencils:
Bernard Baily; E. E. Hibbard (4th panel of last page)
Inks:
Bernard Baily; E. E. Hibbard (4th panel of last page)
Letters:
Bernard Baily
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Letterer credit and Hibbard art credits from Craig Delich. Script credit from Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich, previously credited to Gardner Fox alone. Final panel credit by Craig Delich.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 4
Characters:
The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]; Rex Tyler's unnamed boss; Regina Paige (Tyler's bosses' niece); Mr. Durant (villain); group of phony Hour-Men (villains)
Synopsis:
Rex Tyler is told by his boss that he is going to attend a costume party and that he is taking his niece to it. When Tyler offers to dress as the Hour-Man, his boss pays for the costume. When the pair get to the party, Rex is surprised to see more Hour-Men at the party, who later steal the Durant Diamond Collection to put the blame on the real Man of the Hour. But the Hour-Man quickly rounds up the crooks and unmasks Durant as the leader, who stole phony gems to collect the insurance on them and pay off his helpers. Hour-Man then announces that the Sandman will tell his story next.
Pages:
5.500
Script:
Ken Fitch; Gardner Fox (final panel re-write)
Pencils:
Bernard Baily
Inks:
Bernard Baily
Letters:
Bernard Baily
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Letterer credit from Craig Delich. Script credit from Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich, previously credited to Gardner Fox alone. Fox framing panel re-write credit by Craig Delich.
The framing panel of this chapter most likely was originally a panel alerting readers about reading the next story in Adventure Comics (common practice at the time). The reason for this is that Hour-Man is pictured alone in it, announcing that Sandman would tell the next yarn, which goes against what appeared in the other chapters, when Johnny Thunder and the next story teller appeared together. Lettered by Baily, the balloon was most likely re-written to fit the story arc. Added by Craig Delich.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude
Characters:
Justice Society of America [The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]]; Johnny Thunder; The Red Tornado [Ma Hunkle]
Synopsis:
The Red Tornado enters the room after listening to the previous tales. Rather than sticking around for the meeting, she decides to gracefully back out, and heads out the door, leaving behind her red pants that have a large hole in them!
Pages:
1.000
Script:
Sheldon Mayer
Pencils:
Sheldon Mayer
Inks:
Sheldon Mayer
Letters:
Sheldon Mayer ?
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Script credit from Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich, previously credited to Gardner Fox. Letterer credit from Craig Delich.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 5
Characters:
The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Dian Belmont; Johnny Thunder (cameo); Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson] (cameo); Dr. Faversham (villain)
Synopsis:
Wes and Dian are driving through the countryside when they suddenly see a giant man, who collapses and dies. When they hear and reads of huge bags of human flesh and bones being found, the Sandman follows up by locating Dr. Faversham's residence, a scientist who injects his victims, whether they be man or animal, with a secret formula into their pituitary glands. Talking with a soon to be victim, Sandman then faces the doctor and overcomes him. Johnny then asks Dr. Fate to tell the next story.
Pages:
6.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
Chad Grothkopf; E. E. Hibbard (first panel); Sheldon Mayer (last two panels)
Inks:
Chad Grothkopf; E. E. Hibbard (first panel); Sheldon Mayer (last two panels)
Letters:
Chad Grothkopf
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Chad Grothkopf.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 6
Characters:
Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; Inza Cramer; Johnny Thunder (cameo); The Atom [Al Pratt] (cameo); Egyptian Princess; antique store owner; a wizard (villain, death); dead phantoms (villains); Three Witches of Endor (villains, cameo)
Synopsis:
Inza visits an antique store and a mysterious woman hands her a box, then disappears. When she opens the box at home, the drug Chevergris comes out and knocks her out. She goes to Dr. Fate and tells him they must go to the Moors, where they are attacked by phantoms. Dispensed with, Fate flies Inza home, where she suffers from black magic, and Fate puts her to sleep while he tracks down a sorcerer who came across an ancient book that explained how the dead could be restored to life. Fate dissolves him, saving Inza's life. Shivering from the tale, he turns to the Atom for the next story.
Pages:
6.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
Howard Sherman; E. E. Hibbard (first and last two panels)
Inks:
Howard Sherman; E. E. Hibbard (first and last two panels)
Letters:
Howard Sherman (except first two and last panels)
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Howard Sherman.
Title:
Guarding an Heiress
Characters:
Johnny Thunder; The Thunderbolt [Archibald]; Daisy Darling; Theresa Drew (heiress); Edgar Eggwell, Jr. (villain, Daisy's date); Mike (villain)
Synopsis:
Johnny finds out that Daisy has a date for a dance being held in the evening, but jealous Johnny, berated by the guy, wishes the guy had poison ivy. Whammo! The T-Bolt strikes and, sure enough, the guy gets it. Daisy chases them both out of the house and Johnny barely escapes from the guy. Soon, Johnny rescues a girl being kidnapped, and agrees to act as bodyguard for her for $100 a week. But when Daisy sees her with Johnny, sparks fly, not understanding the situation. Later, Johnny discovers that Daisy's date is the thug wanting to kidnap the heiress.
Pages:
1.500
Script:
Evelyn Gaines
Pencils:
Sheldon Mayer (spot illustration)
Inks:
Sheldon Mayer (spot illustration)
Letters:
typeset
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Script credit confirmed from the corrections page in Millennium Edition: Superboy No. 1 (DC, 2001 series).
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 7
Characters:
The Atom [Al Pratt]; Mary James; Johnny Thunder (cameo); The Boss (villain); The Brooklyn Murder Trust (villains, a gang of crooks)
Synopsis:
Al is out on a college class geology expedition when he spies members of the feared Brooklyn Murder Trust waiting for the passage of an armored car. He notes that several members of the gang switch into Army clothes, and drive off. He tries to follow, but is knocked out. Mary finds him and almost unmasks him. When he spots the truck again, he believes the thugs have looted the U. S. government gold cache nearby of $20 million. He makes short work of the crooks. Johnny then chimes in that it was time for someone else to relate a story.
Pages:
6.000
Script:
Bill O'Connor; Gardner Fox (last panel)
Pencils:
Ben Flinton; E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Inks:
Ben Flinton; E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Hibbard credits from Craig Delich. Script credit from Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich, previously credited to Gardner Fox solely.
Fox had to have written the last (framing) panel on page 6, and it's very possible that the first three panels on page 1 and first panel on page 3 (written by O'Connor and drawn by Flinton) were specially done as a lead in to the story parts which had been written and illustrated sometime before.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude
Characters:
Justice Society of America [Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Doctor Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]]; Johnny Thunder; unnamed messenger boy
Synopsis:
The JSA receives a message from the FBI Chief in Washington D.C. and Flash volunteers to make the trip to Washington to see what he wants.
Pages:
1.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
E. E. Hibbard
Inks:
E. E. Hibbard
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 8
Characters:
Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Police Commissioner Mason; Paul Pryer (news reporter); Irene Miller; unnamed City Mayor; Johnny Thunder (cameo); un-named judge; Commissioner Lacy (villain); Lacy's thugs ["Ape"; rest unnamed] (villains)
Synopsis:
Political crooks are committing crimes all over the city, and the Police can't seem to stop it. Cries go up for a new Police Commissioner, especially when "evidence" is uncovered of Commissioner Mason taking a bribe. The Mayor replaces Mason with Lacy and all seems to quiet down. However, behind the scenes, crime is in full swing: gambling dens and so on. Green Lantern learns the truth and feeds reporter Paul Pryor the information so he can announce it over the radio, but is captured. Lacy attempts to murder Pryor, but G.L. escapes and stops it.
Pages:
7.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
Martin Nodell; E. E. Hibbard (first two panels)
Inks:
Martin Nodell; E. E. Hibbard (first two panels)
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Notes:
Script credit in dispute: Ted Watson argues for Bill Finger; Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich stand by the attribution to Gardner Fox.
The last panel of the story, though illustrated by Nodell, was added to fit the story arc as a framing piece.
Title:
The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Conclusion
Characters:
Justice Society of America [Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Hour Man [Rex Tyler]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]]; Johnny Thunder
Synopsis:
The Flash returns from Washington as G.L. finishes his story and informs the members that he has made an appointment for the group with the FBI Chief in Washington for the following Tuesday, and the group agrees to head to Washington.
Pages:
1.000
Script:
Gardner Fox
Pencils:
E. E. Hibbard
Inks:
E. E. Hibbard
Reprints:
Famous First Edition (DC, 1974 series) #F-7 (June-July 1975)
Exclusive to Heritage members: GoCollect price report for this certified comic.
CGC Census Report*
Grade
NG
PG
CVR
0.5
1.0
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.2
9.4
9.6
9.8
9.9
10.0
Total
Universal
5
58
0
7
6
5
2
4
0
5
5
4
2
2
6
5
5
3
0
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
66
Qualified
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Signature Series
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
CGCxJSA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Restored
1
0
0
1
0
2
0
1
2
1
4
1
3
5
4
5
2
8
7
6
3
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
59
Total
6
58
0
8
7
7
2
5
2
6
9
5
5
8
10
10
7
11
7
7
5
4
0
1
1
0
0
0
127
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