Broken Frontier

The Justice Society of America’s Golden Age adventures came to an end with All-Star Comics #57 (February/March 1951) as the title transitioned to a western series. By way of explanation for the Justice Society’s disappearance, it was retroactively established that the team disbanded during the 1950’s following an investigation by the House of Un-American Activities Committee (in the story, the Society chose to retire rather than reveal their secret identities to the world). Although the individual heroes continued with infrequent adventures, the Society as a whole did not return until 1963, where they became guest-stars as part of an annual team-up with the Justice League of America (beginning with Justice League of America #21, August 1963). According to the stories, the Justice Society (who resided on Earth-Two) were essentially a generation older than the Justice League. As such, these Silver Age stories began introducing a younger wave of heroes into the Society;

Robin (Dick Grayson) – The Golden Age Robin (debuted Detective Comics #38, April 1940) was now an adult and replaced a retired Golden Age Batman as of Justice League of America #55 (August 1967). In addition to his career as a superhero, this version of Grayson also was a lawyer and later an ambassador to South Africa. He was killed during Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986) and erased from continuity at the conclusion of the series.

Red Tornado (John Smith) – An artificial construct created in Justice League of America #64 (August 1968), Red Tornado was originally part of a plot to infiltrate the Justice Society from within. Siding with the forces of good, the wind controlling android became a member of the Society, but never felt completely accepted. Eventually leaving Earth-Two for Earth-One, Tornado has had a long affiliation with the Justice League. Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Red Tornado’s affiliation with the Society has been removed from continuity.

Power Girl (Kara Zor-L) – Thanks to many revisions, Power Girl is another Society member with a convoluted past. The most recent version of her origin is that she is the Kryptonian last survivor of Earth-Two. The cousin of the recently-restored-to-continuity Golden Age Superman, Power Girl possesses all the abilities of the Man of Steel. Kara joined the Society in All-Star Comics #58 (January/February 1976), the same issue she debuted. Having served with the modern incarnation of the team, she recently accepted the role as chairperson.

Skyman (Sylvester Pemberton) – Joining at the same time as Power Girl, the former Star-Spangled Kid (first appearance in Action Comics #40, September 1941) made a career of crime-fighting using super-gadgets. He most frequently used a gravity rod given to him by Starman, and later a cosmic converter belt that enabled him to fly and shoot bolts of energy. He was killed in Infinity Inc. #51 (June 1988).

Huntress (Helena Wayne) – The daughter of the Earth-Two Batman and Catwoman, Huntress first appeared in the pages of All-Star Comics #69 (November/December 1977). Borrowing techniques and weapons from her famous parents, Huntress joined the Society in All-Star Comics #72 (May/June 1978) and became close friends with Power Girl. Huntress met her end alongside the Earth-Two Robin in pages of Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986). Helena has been erased from current DC continuity, although there is another unrelated character operating under the Huntress name.

Beyond their guest appearances in Justice League of America, a short revival of All-Star Comics (#58, Jan/Feb 1976 - #74, Sep/Oct 1978) and appearances in the period book, All-Star Squadron (67 issues, 1981-1987), the Justice Society largely remained in the background of the DC Universe through the 1970s and 80s. The rewriting of DC continuity through Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985/86), seemed to put the final nail in the Justice Society’s coffin, as a special titled The Last Days of the Justice Society of America (1986) trapped almost all of these Golden Age heroes in a never-ending timeloop.

As the comic industry boomed in the 1990s, DC eventually looked to their past for inspiration for new titles. In 1991, they released an 8-issue Justice Society of America mini-series, which recounted an untold adventure from the 1950s. Riding on the moderate success of that series, the final issue of Armageddon: Inferno (1992) brought the de-aged Justice Society out of their timeloop and into modern DC continuity, setting the stage for a new series. The ongoing Justice Society of America series (1992) failed to capture fan attention however, and was quietly cancelled after only 10 issues. Having apparently proven that the Justice Society property was dead, the team was controversially dispatched early in the pages of the Zero Hour (1994) crossover event. Several members were killed, others aged to their proper ages and even more stripped of their heroic identities. The one bright spot of these changes came from the launch of a new Starman series (1994) by James Robinson. Chronicling the adventures of the original Starman’s 30-something ne’er do well son, the critically acclaimed comic revitalized interest in the Golden Age heroes, by mixing a respect for the past with new complexities and depth. After years of speculation (and a "testing the waters" series of one-shots), DC finally announced that a new Justice Society series would be launched in 1999. Simply titled JSA, the book featured a healthy mix of timeless Society members and 21st century successors including;

Starman (Jack Knight) – First appearing in Zero Hour #1 (September 1994), Jack is one of Ted Knight’s two sons. Dismissive of his father’s career as a superhero, Jack found the role of Starman thrust on him when his brother (and Ted’s successor to the Starman legacy) was murdered. Wielding his own version of the Cosmic Rod, Jack eventually embraced his family’s legacy, while carving out his own way of being a superhero. Jack joined the new incarnation of the Society in JSA #2 (September 1999) and remained with the team until he retired from adventuring to raise a family.

Atom-Smasher (Albert Rothstein) – First appearing in the pages of the Justice Society spin-off, All-Star Squadron #25 (September 1983) under the alias of Nukklon, Rothstein is the godson of the Golden Age Atom. Rothstein always carried his legacy close to him, using his size-changing abilities for good, but a series of events (that began with his mother being murdered), led him down a darker path. Although Atom-Smasher has not been seen in recent months, his last recorded adventures found him trying to atone for his past sins.

Black Canary (Dinah Lance) – The daughter of the original Black Canary, Dinah actually "first" appeared in Justice League of America #219 (October 1983; in the course of this story, it was retroactively established that all the Black Canary tales prior to Justice League of America #75 in November 1969 were the Golden Age Canary, while everything after was the daughter). In addition to the hand-to-hand combat skills of her mother, Dinah has possessed a "sonic scream" at various points of her career. Although she is no longer affiliated with the Justice Society, she is the current chairwoman of the Justice League of America.

Sandman (Sanderson Hawkins) – Originally known as Sandy the Golden Boy (in Adventure Comics #69, December 1941, when he was the teenaged sidekick of the Golden Age Sandman), Sanderson did not age for many years due to an accident that turned him into a sand monster. When he was restored to human form in the late 20th century, he found he had the ability to control silica and morph into sand. More recently, Sanderson has returned to the Justice Society in the guise of the Sandman, apparently imbued with the ability to see the future through prophetic nightmares.

Hourman (Matthew Tyler) – The third hero to bear that name, this Hourman was actually a time-traveling android from 853rd century. First appearing in JLA #12 (November 1997). Hourman’s time as a superhero was marred by failures, self-doubt and his inability to comprehend the human condition. He served short stints with both the JLA and JSA (beginning JSA #3, October 1999) before disappearing to find himself. He recently returned during a battle in which both of his Hourman predecessors were in mortal danger, and heroically sacrificed himself in their stead.

Dr. Fate (Hector Hall) – The son of Hawkman and the original Hawkgirl, Hall began his superheroic career as a member of Infinity Inc. under the alias of the Silver Scarab (first appearance All-Star Squadron #25, September 1983). Following his death, Hall’s spirit was co-opted by demons to become their closely controlled bodyguard under the alias of Sandman. Eventually, Hall’s spirit was cast back into the realm of the dead, only to be reincarnated in a new body as the fourth Dr. Fate. Wielding the magical abilities of his predecessor, Hall served with the Justice Society almost non-stop from his induction in JSA #4 (November 1999), until his death in JSA #80 (February 2006).

Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) – The grandniece of the original Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders was a troubled teen who committed suicide. At the exact moment Kendra took her own life, the original Hawkgirl was killed, her spirit cast into a cycle of reincarnation. Due to this cosmic coincidence, the original Hawkgirl’s spirit found its way into Kendra’s body. Operating with a mixture of Shiera’s soul and Kendra’s memories, the young woman took up the mantle of Hawkgirl in JSA Secret Files #1 (August 1999) and joined the Justice Society not long after. Kendra is currently a member of the Justice League of America.

Stargirl (Courtney Whitmore) – The stepdaughter of the original Star-Spangled Kid’s sidekick, Courtney stole the cosmic converter belt and became the new Star-Spangled Kid to annoy her step-father. Since her first appearance in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999) Courtney has grown-up quite a bit. Now a true heroine, she has taken the name "Stargirl" (after the retiring Jack Knight passed his cosmic rod onto her) and carries on the legacies of both the Star-Spangled Kid and Starman as a key member in the Justice Society (since JSA #4, November 1999).