All-Star Comics #3 [Without Canadian Price]
(Winter 1940)

DC, 1940 Series
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Volume
1
Price
0.10 USD
Pages
68
Indicia Frequency
quarterly
On-sale Date
1940-11-22
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
All-American Comics Inc.
Brand
A DC Publication
Editing
M. C. Gaines (managing editor); Sheldon Mayer (uncredited)

Issue Notes

The on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing.

According to Craig Delich and Martin O'Hearn, some of the chapters of the main story were written by the regular writers of the features, not Gardner Fox, the regular JSA writer. Anthony William Durrant says that the framing story was written after the individual stories were completed.

Story synopses and notes for this index originally from Craig Delich.
This issue has variants:

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America] (Table of Contents)

Justice Society of America / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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]]
Reprints
Cover Thumbnail for All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #3 [Without Canadian Price] Cover Thumbnail for All-Star Comics (1940 series) #3 [With Canadian Price]
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Cover gallery

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1)

Wilson Chem. Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Introduction] (Table of Contents: 2)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Power Ring; Say You

Indexer 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.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 1] (Table of Contents: 3)

The Flash; The Justice Society of America / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Aztec; Nancy K; Panama; Sancta Joanna

Indexer Notes

The Flash is the Chairman of the Justice Society, although there was no election held that is noted in the story.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 2: The Men Who Could Live in Fire] (Table of Contents: 4)

Hawkman; Justice Society of America / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
Sheldon Moldoff (signed); E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Inks
Sheldon Moldoff (signed); E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Krakatoa; New York City; Science Club; The Hammer of Thor; The Volcano People

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 3] (Table of Contents: 5)

Justice Society of America; The Spectre / comic story / 6.5 pages (report information)

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)
Colors
?
Letters
Bernard Baily
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Red Moon Stone of Yzgartyl; The Central Building

Indexer 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.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 4] (Table of Contents: 6)

The Hourman; Justice Society of America / comic story / 5.5 pages (report information)

Script
Ken Fitch; Gardner Fox (final panel re-write)
Pencils
Bernard Baily
Inks
Bernard Baily
Colors
?
Letters
Bernard Baily
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Durant Diamond Collection; Miraclo

Indexer 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.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude] (Table of Contents: 7)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Sheldon Mayer
Pencils
Sheldon Mayer
Inks
Sheldon Mayer
Colors
?
Letters
Sheldon Mayer ?
Genre
superhero
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!
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit from Martin O'Hearn and Craig Delich, previously credited to Gardner Fox. Letterer credit from Craig Delich.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 8)

promo (ad from the publisher) / 2 pages (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
various
Inks
various
Colors
?
Letters
?
First Line of Dialogue or Text
All the best in comic magazine reading...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Superman [Clark Kent]; The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds] (inset); The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; The Flash [Jay Garrick] (inset); The Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; Doctor Fate [Kent Nelson]

Indexer Notes

2-page centerfold, featuring the covers to many of the DC books currently or soon to be on sale: Flash Comics #13, All-American Comics #22, Action Comics #32, Superman #8, Batman #3, Adventure Comics #58, More Fun Comics #63, Detective Comics #47, and All-Star Comics #3.

Sequence added by Craig Delich.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 5] (Table of Contents: 9)

Justice Society of America; Sandman / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

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)
Colors
?
Letters
Chad Grothkopf
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Gas Gun

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Chad Grothkopf.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 6] (Table of Contents: 10)

Doctor Fate; Justice Society of America / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

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)
Colors
?
Letters
Howard Sherman (except first two and last panels)
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Salem Tower

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Howard Sherman.

Guarding an Heiress (Table of Contents: 11)

Johnny Thunder / text story / 1.5 pages (report information)

Script
Evelyn Gaines
Pencils
Sheldon Mayer (spot illustration)
Inks
Sheldon Mayer (spot illustration)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
Genre
humor; superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Hotel Chase; Say You

Indexer Notes

Script credit confirmed from the corrections page in Millennium Edition: Superboy No. 1 (DC, 2001 series).

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 12)

All-Star Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Be sure to see the next issue...
Characters
The Spectre; The Flash; The Green Lantern

Indexer Notes

Announces a contest in which readers are asked to suggest which JSA character should receive his own magazine, and the results would be announced in the next issue. The first 1000 readers, already having sent in their suggestions, received a free copy of All-Star #3 by November 20th.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 13)

Hop Harrigan / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Jon Blummer (spot illustration)
Inks
Jon Blummer (spot illustration)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Hope you'll forgive me...
Genre
adventure; aviation
Characters
Hop Harrigan

Indexer Notes

Readers are asked to join Hop Harrigan's All-American Flying Club, an organization started 5 months earlier. They can still become a charter member, and will receive, for their 10 cents, a membership card, golden-winged emblem, and the opportunity to enter contests for prizes and free trips. A coupon is provided.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 7] (Table of Contents: 14)

The Atom; Justice Society of America / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Bill O'Connor; Gardner Fox (last panel)
Pencils
Ben Flinton; E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Inks
Ben Flinton; E. E. Hibbard (last panel)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
Apex Hauling

Indexer 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.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude] (Table of Contents: 15)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 8] (Table of Contents: 16)

Green Lantern; Justice Society of America / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
Marty Nodell; E. E. Hibbard (first two panels)
Inks
Marty Nodell; E. E. Hibbard (first two panels)
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints
Keywords
ABC Radio; Oath; Power Ring; The Lamp

Indexer 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.

[The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Conclusion] (Table of Contents: 17)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gardner Fox
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
?
Genre
superhero
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.
Reprints

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 18)

The Justice Society of America / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
E. E. Hibbard
Inks
E. E. Hibbard
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Thanks a million, boys and girls...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Justice Society of America [The Atom [Al Pratt]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]]

Indexer Notes

The editors of All-Star Comics announce that All-Star will become a bi-monthly with the next issue and they preview the story for that next issue.

The artwork replicates that of the cover.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 19)

Berkeley Models Inc. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 20)

American Specialty Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Back cover.

Editing
Issue at my.comics.org
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America]
    Justice Society of America
  2. 1. [no title indexed]
    Wilson Chem. Co.
  3. 2. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Introduction]
    Justice Society of America
  4. 3. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 1]
    The Flash; The Justice Society of America
  5. 4. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 2: The Men Who Could Live in Fire]
    Hawkman; Justice Society of America
  6. 5. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 3]
    Justice Society of America; The Spectre
  7. 6. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 4]
    The Hourman; Justice Society of America
  8. 7. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude]
    Justice Society of America
  9. 8. ["All the best in comic magazine reading..."]
  10. 9. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 5]
    Justice Society of America; Sandman
  11. 10. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 6]
    Doctor Fate; Justice Society of America
  12. 11. Guarding an Heiress
    Johnny Thunder
  13. 12. ["Be sure to see the next issue..."]
    All-Star Comics
  14. 13. ["Hope you'll forgive me..."]
    Hop Harrigan
  15. 14. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 7]
    The Atom; Justice Society of America
  16. 15. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Interlude]
    Justice Society of America
  17. 16. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Chapter 8]
    Green Lantern; Justice Society of America
  18. 17. [The First Meeting of the Justice Society of America, Conclusion]
    Justice Society of America
  19. 18. ["Thanks a million, boys and girls..."]
    The Justice Society of America
  20. 19. [no title indexed]
    Berkeley Models Inc.
  21. 20. [no title indexed]
    American Specialty Co.
This issue was modified by, among others
  • Darci
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • Peter Croome
  • Craig Delich
  • Juan Gonzalez
  • Matthew Head
  • Bob Hughes
  • R. S. Martin
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Per Sandell
  • Jim Van Dore
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