A Veritable Treasure Trove of Invaluable Information! The All-Star Comics Illustrated Index

Murray R. Ward's All-Star Comics Illustrated Index spotlighting the Justice Society of America was definitely one ambitious undertaking! A few words of his own, followed by a few words from Roy Thomas, then headlong into a veritable definitive Who's Who of the Justice Society. Secret Origins, notable adventures and appearances. All of this is a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths wrap to the Golden-Age era, Earth-2 and the classic Justice Society. Crisis on Infinite Earths erased the Golden-Age era Superman family, Batman family, Wonder Woman family and Aquaman. The sliding timeline meant that the Justice Society had already formed without these heroes. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were now part of the Justice League. And Wonder Woman wasn't even a founding member of the Justice League! Black Canary was a founding member of the League, and Diana joined later.

So gone were Superman, Batman and Robin, Helena Wayne as The Huntress and Wonder Woman. 

Starting with DC Special 29, from August-September of 1977, which featured the Secret Origin of the team, this illustrated index features a breakdown of the first four issues of All-Star Comics. The highlight being All Star Comics 3 from Winter 1940, the very first appearance of the classic line-up of the Justice Society.

It's incredibly detailed and researched. Very informative. Unfortunately, it also seemed to be short-lived and cancelled.

For what it is, a first issue and launch of a series it earns five stars.  

Kneel Before This Man of Steel! JSA: The Unholy Three

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production. Sequel to The Liberty File.

Clark Kent reveals his true identity. As he murders Shiera Sanders. What's mind-blowing is that he turns out to be Zod! Not Kal-El. As a reckless youth on Krypton, he is about to be sentenced to The Phantom Zone, when an American scientific wormhole project draws him to Earth. Realizing his potential, he is placed with Jonathan and Martha Kent and, as he put it, indoctrinated.

Not sure if this is a continuity error or a plot hole, but in The Liberty File, it appeared as if Hitler had a Superman. Not just J'onn J'onzz drawn through a similar means as Zod was drawn to the Allies. Perhaps that was a red herring. It is an interesting turn of events. Hitler tries to use an Übermensch in world domination. The Martian Manhunter turns out to be more altruistic. The United States attempts something similar, and the tables seem to turn - the Übermensch attempts world domination! It's somewhat unclear it Zod is working alone, or if he was working with The Parasite and Steelwolf. The work seems to be similar. Zod is killing meta-human agents!

It isn't until Bruce and Rex connect with another agent, Wesley Dodds, The Sandman, and Alan Scott, The Green Lantern, that "Kent" tips his hand.

The Trigger turns out to be in Chernobyl. Realizing that Kent, The Super-Man has gone rogue, Bruce makes an emergency call: The Atom, The Hawk (Hawkman), The Huntress, Mercury (The Flash), The Tornado (The Red Tornado) and The Star (Starman). Each one relinquishes their cover to answer the summons.

What follows is a glorious, spectacular blowout mother-of-all slugfests! The Atom and Hawkman are early casualties.

Dan Jolley brings the goods as far as story. Tony Harris, Ray Snyder and JD Mettler bring all the blood and guts and gore in the art. From Zod's subtle murder of Shiera at the top, to Alan Scott, Al Pratt, Carter Hall and all the injuries that pile up with Theo Knight, Wes, Helena, Jay and the rest. It seems that superhero Ragnarok involves all the capes and cowls mounting against Kryptonians.

JSA: The Unholy Three earns four stars. 

The Dark Reflection JSA: The Unholy Three 1 Review

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production. Sequel to The Liberty File.

1948. Supposed to be eight years after the events of The Liberty File. Those events were placed in 1942. That would make The Unholy Three six years instead of eight.

Dan Jolley and Tony Harris double-down in this story. They open with Sandy Hawkins being tortured by The Parasite, who is a KGB interrogator. The Parasite is teamed with Steelwolf. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is living the dream as The Bat back in Gotham City. He's captured Harvey Dent, who's been working with Pamela Isley and Anton Arcane. Dent is now a horrific genetic mutation, half-man, half-creature. Some kind of insectoid creature. A darker image of Two-Face. Returning to Wayne Manor, Bruce is confronted by Army General Maitland and Clark Kent. The General wants The Bat, The Clock and the Super-Man to track down "The Trigger" that The Parasite and Steelwolf are after. The trio head off to Berlin, where Parasite murders Johnny Thunder.

Bruce sends Clark off for documentation while The Bat and The Clock head off for clues. Kent encounters Shiera Sanders. Later, in costume, he catches with them and together they bring down The Parasite, who seems to have turned on his partner.

Once again Dan Jolley has crafted a dark mirror image of familiar faces. This is, once again, a mature readers story. There's a flashback sequence that explains just how unreasonably bitter and angry Terry Sloane is toward Bruce Wayne. It's chilling. Tony Harris and Ray Snyder provide the smoke and shadows, with JD Mettler providing the dark tones. Ken Lopez once again breaks it all up with fine lettering.

The Cold War is as dark a place as the World War, with the same question being, Who can you trust?

JSA: The Unholy Three 1 earns four stars.  
 

Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend... JSA: The Liberty File 2 Review

Elseworlds. A Jolley Roger Production.

1942. World War II. "Chaz" McNider, The Owl, was wounded in the explosive conflict in the previous issue. He's recuperating in hospital. There's a comment from Rex Tyler, The Clock, that McNider's codename should have been something more personal than "The Owl", being that he's such a horndog, ladies' man. McNider's convalescence is cut short by The Scarecrow, an incredibly creepy and horrific Nazi "cleaner". The Scarecrow murders McNider, then murders The Bat and The Clock's contact. During the ensuing chase and conflict. Terry Sloane's paramour is gunned down as well. Just as he was about to propose. 

Sloane revives his "fair play" costume of Mr. Terrific and joins The Bat and The Clock. They manage to overcome The Scarecrow. The trail of the Nazi Übermensch leads back to Africa. There, Bruce Wayne uses the vital piece of information to sway the alien "super man" to the Allies side. The tide of the war does turn, against Hitler and Germany.

Dan Jolley's story is definitely for fans of the Justice Society as well as the Elseworlds concept - DC's version of "What if...?" Jolley's story is also for more mature readers, and not for the squeamish. Definitely not an all-ages book. Your mileage may vary on that. Jolley does a fine job of misdirection and creating a surprise conclusion that is definitely genuine and thrilling. Tony Harris, with Ray Snyder and Matt Hollingsworth on art creates a very dark and moody atmosphere, perfect for the period piece. Tyler makes a comment about Bruce Wayne's disguises changing his hair color. It seems confusing and kind of falls flat with the shadows and dark tone of the art. Ken Lopez's lettering is enjoyable as it changes from narration to sound effects.

Overall, it's a thrilling alternate version of familiar characters. JSA: The Liberty File earns four stars.

Through the Glass More Darkly - JSA: The Liberty File Review

Elseworlds. A Jolly Roger Production.

1942. World War II. The Joker is re-imagined as Jack, The Grin. He's an underworld figure that has come upon a vital Nazi communique. He's hidden it and is in the market to sell it to the highest bidder. The Nazi's want him for it. The Allies want him for it. The Bat has been assigned to work with The Clock and The Owl. We're jumping right in, into the story as it unfolds. Apparently, Ted Grant, The Cat is dead. The Bat typically works alone. Trust issues. Charles McNider, The Owl (we might recognize him in another reality as Dr. Mid-Nite), is quite the ladies' man, or maybe, a bird dog. He jokes that he's compensating for his blindness. Rex Tyler, The Clock, is the strong man. Not so much with finesse or subtlety, like The Bat. The trio follow The Grin's trail to Africa. Until reconnecting with The Bat, Jack has been suffering from amnesia.

"Chaz" contacts singer Dinah Drake, The Canary for information on where to find Jack. They do. The three manage to get their hands on the important information. It could turn the tide of the war!

Dan Jolley story is definitely for mature readers. This is not an all-ages book. Which is the only downfall. It has everything else. Jack is written very violent and blood thirsty. The reality really doesn't seem to matter; The Joker is written as incredibly violent. It's almost gratuitous. More and more, Batman comes off as deranged and unhinged, rather than focused and determined. Tony Harris on art with Ray Snyder and Matt Hollingsworth just adds to the sinister bent of the story. Ken Lopez's lettering is enjoyable for The Bat's narration and the prompts that move the story along and the pacing.

Your mileage may vary, based on the dark grisly tone.

JSA: The Liberty File 1 earns four stars.         

Beware The Power of the Darkest Night! JLA: Age of Wonder 2 Review!

Years pass in "The Age of Wonder". Ambition grows. Barry Allen and Ted Knight, now joined by Ray Palmer as The Atom and the enigmatic Plastic Man investigate the explosion at a munitions warehouse that killed Oliver Queen, The Green Arrow. Diana, Princess of the Amazons of Themyscira, was seen escaping the blast. Urban legend The Batman advises that the League should have paid closer attention to an eyewitness. He tells them to find the woman.

As Bruce Wayne, he does. Lex Luthor now is President Wilson's secretary of defense. Diana, an emissary from a Paradise Island, is also Luthor's protege. Luthor is manipulating world events toward world war! Hal Jordan advises the British Army against the Kaiser's forces. He discovers Luthor's treason. In attempting to stop Luthor and Diana, Hal is murdered. 

What comes next is the unimaginable. The Kaiser unleashes an atomic bomb on London, leaving more than 200,000 dead, the city in ruins and uninhabitable.

The one hope is the dying General Jordan send his ring to find Clark Kent. The Super Man returns and unites the League to crush the Prussians. Batman and Diana defeat Luthor. As Luthor is executed for treason, Clark Kent forms the Justice League of Nations.

Adisakdi Tantimedh's story is truly the darkest before the dawn. Luthor's naked ambition to leave a mark and be remembered as greater than The Super Man brings a hellish world tomorrow. P. Craig Russell, Galen Showman and Dave McCaig ignite the explosive fury of Luthor's devilish machinations. It is tragic that Hal and Diana are casualties of Luthor's madness. The hope is that a brighter day rises like a phoenix from the ashes.

JLA: Age of Wonder 2 earns five stars
 

The Man of Tomorrow Can't Catch a Break! "JLA: The Age of Wonder" 1 Review

Jonathan and Martha Wayne are in Philadelphia for the 1876 Exposition. Lois Lane is there, interviewing one of Thomas Edison's top men, Lex Luthor. "The Age of Wonder" opens with Clark Kent making his debut as "The Super Man" at the Exhibition. He selflessly and generously offers his services to Edison. While most men work toward advancement for financial gain. Kent is a humanitarian and philanthropist. Persuaded by Lex Luthor, Kent, Nikola Tesla, Barry Allen and Ted Knight decide to branch off from Edison. Knight develops a power rod, becoming The Starman. Following a freak accident, Barry Allen becomes The Human Flash. With Luthor and Thomas Wayne funding, they become The Justice League of Science. When an alien wielding a Green Lantern power ring arrives on Earth and dies, Hal Jordan joins the group as The Green Lantern. 

Kent maintains his firm stance as a generous humanitarian, even when the public's greed turns noble efforts to failure. Luthor tires to make his mark with unique and singular discoveries, which bring him into direct conflict with Kent. 

Luthor manipulates Jordan to an extreme effort against The Man of Tomorrow.

Adisakdi Tantimedh's story is quite riveting, an ideal Elseworlds "What if..." tale. Unfortunately, the utopian future crumbles under human nature, ambition, avarice and greed. 

P. Craig Russell, Galen Showman and Dave McCaig capture the Industrial Revolution quite vividly and enjoyably. Bob Lappan's lettering enhances the period piece.

JLA: Age of Wonder 1 earns five stars.