Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a team of fictional superheroes whose adventures have been published by DC Comics. They're the first such superhero team in comic book history.

The Modern Age

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The JSA's popularity gradually 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 only lasted until #74 (September-October 1978), with a brief run thereafter in Adventure Comics #461-466, but it had three significant developments: it introduced the popular character Power Girl (All-Star Comics #58); it chronicled the death of the Golden Age Batman (Adventure Comics #461-462); and, after nearly 40 years, it finally provided the JSA with an origin story in DC Special #29 (August-September 1977). This run was mainly written by Gerry Conway and Paul Levitz, and artists included Wally Wood, Joe Staton and Bob Layton.

Related Topics:
1976 - 1978 - Adventure Comics - Power Girl - Batman - DC Special - 1977 - Gerry Conway - Paul Levitz - Wally Wood - Joe Staton - Bob Layton

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A series taking place in the team's original setting of the wartime 1940s called All-Star Squadron (1981-1987) featured the JSA frequently along with several other Golden Age superheroes. This led to a spin-off, contemporary series entitled Infinity Inc. (1983-1988) 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.

Related Topics:
Wartime - 1940s - All-Star Squadron - 1981 - 1987 - Infinity Inc. - 1983 - 1988 - Roy Thomas - Rich Buckler - Jerry Ordway - Todd McFarlane

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Meanwhile, the JSA continued their annual team-ups with the Justice League. Notable events included meeting the Fawcett Comics heroes, including Shazam (JLA #135-137), the death of Mr. Terrific (#171-172), and an explanation for why Black Canary hadn't aged much despite debuting in the 1940s (#219-220). Arguably the best-ever JLA/JSA team-up came in #195-197, in which the two teams had to contend with a reformed Secret Society of Super-Villains, lavishly drawn by George Pérez.

Related Topics:
Fawcett Comics - Shazam - Secret Society of Super-Villains - George Pérez

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In 1985, DC retconned many details of the DC Universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Among the changes, the Golden Age Superman, Batman and Robin, and 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 resulting confusion led to seemingly more time spent trying to resolve the problems than tell good stories, and soon both All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc. were cancelled.

Related Topics:
1985 - Retcon - DC Universe - Crisis on Infinite Earths - 1980s

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The JLA/JSA team-ups ended during the Crisis with Justice League of America #244.

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Notable Modern Age, Pre-Crisis Appearances

• All-Star Comics vol. 1, #58-74
• Adventure Comics vol. 1, #461-466
• DC Special #29
• Justice League of America #135-137, 147-148, 159-160, 171-172, 183-185, 193 (All-Star Squadron preview), 195-197, 207-209, 219-220, 231-232, 244
• Wonder Woman vol. 1, #231-232 (JSA guest-stars; part of a run of Earth-2 Wonder Woman stories set during World War II)
• All-Star Squadron #1-67, Annuals #1-3
• Infinity Inc. #1-10, 19, various other issues
• America vs. The Justice Society #1-4
• Secret Origins vol 3, various issues; notably #1 (Golden Age Superman), #6 (Golden Age Batman)

New Modern Age Members

• Star-Spangled Kid (joined in All-Star Comics #58) (later Skyman)
• Power Girl (joined in All-Star Comics #58)
• Huntress (first appeared in All-Star Comics #69) - deleted by retcon after the Crisis on Infinite Earths