All-Star Comics #4

(March-April 1941)

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

Johnson Smith & Company / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

For America and Democracy! [Introduction] (Table of Contents: 2)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

E. E. Hibbard

Inks

E. E. Hibbard

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [The Spectre [Jim Corrigan] (inset); Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson] (inset); The Sandman [Wesley Dodds] (inset); The Flash [Jay Garrick] (inset); Hawkman [Carter Hall] (inset); Green Lantern [Alan Scott] (inset); The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler] (inset); The Atom [Al Pratt] (inset)]; un-named FBI Chief

Synopsis

The FBI Chief has called the members of the JSA together in order to battle America's internal enemies: spies and saboteurs. Newspapers are being threatened, munition plants wrecked, defense secrets stolen, foreign college teachers preaching anti-democracy and strong-arm tactics being used by these groups. The JSA is to stamp these out!

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Bureau of Investigation; Salem Tower

Indexer Notes

The FBI Chief, no doubt J. Edgar Hoover, also appears in All-Star #9.

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 1] (Table of Contents: 3)

The Flash; 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]; Fritz Klaver (villain, leader of 30,000 spies, mention only); the Grey Shirts (villains)

Synopsis

The Flash heads to manufacturing centers in Michigan and Wisconsin to put a stop to insidious work stoppages brought about by a group known as the Grey Shirts, who work for a mastermind named Fritz Klaver, who lives in Toledo, Ohio. The Scarlet Speedster destroys a source of their propaganda materials and prevents work stoppages and prevents the ship "Liberty" from being blown up with all on board.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Detroit (Michigan); Detroit Michigan; Liberty; Toledo (Ohio); Toledo Ohio; Wisconsin

The Flash Wins and Becomes the Next Quarterly Like Superman and Batman! (Table of Contents: 4) (Expand) /

All-Flash Quarterly / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 2] (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Marty Nodell

Inks

Marty Nodell

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Irene Miller; un-named President of Apex Broadcasting; Krapek (German-American factory worker); Fritz Klaver (villain, mention only); The Baron (villain, death); other Fifth Columnists (villains, all die)

Synopsis

Green Lantern and Irene Miller investigate radio transmission interruptions, believed to be caused by foreign agents. Irene is captured and held aboard a giant dirigible, containing a machine that jams radio frequencies and hinders reception, and which is commanded by a man known as the Baron. G.L. attacks the dirigible and flies away with Irene and a fatally wounded Krapek with him, as the dirigible bursts into flames and burns.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Apex Broadcasting; Mysterious Lamp; oath; Rower Ring; Station WXF

Indexer Notes

The destruction scenes of the dirigible, found in panel 8 on page 6 and panel 1 of page 7, were clearly patterned after photos taken of the Hindenburg disaster at Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1937.

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 3] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Bernard Baily (signed)

Inks

Bernard Baily (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Bernard Baily

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Fritz Klaver [aka The Leader] (villain, mention only); Hans (villain, death); Dorgoff (villain, death); other Fifth Columnists (villains, some die)

Synopsis

The Grim Ghost travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to investigate the sabotage of munitions factories there, and catches a Fifth Columnist worker sabotaging gun barrels with steel wool. He is rescued by his buddies, but shot for failing. The Spectre discovers future plots to blow up a factory and steal the Army's new gun plans, and makes sure each fail. Suddenly he is drawn into the occult world where brilliantly colored rays seek to destroy him. But he uses the Ring of Life to overcome them.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #7 ([1973]), #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Forman Factory; Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania); The Ring of Life

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich.

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 4] (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Bernard Baily

Inks

Bernard Baily

Colors

?

Letters

Bernard Baily

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Hour-Man [Rex Tyler]; Fritz Klaver (villain, mention only); Captain Erdner (villain); The Grey Shirts [Masters; rest un-named] (villains)

Synopsis

Hour-Man heads for Oklahoma to disrupt the plans of a Captain Erdner, who is planning to dynamite all oil wells within that state. Rex is hired on at one of the oil field facilities where four guards have been found murdered. Aware he is being set up by the Grey Shirts, Tyler switches to Hour-Man, pops a Miraclo pill, and rounds up the villains and saves a well from destruction.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #7 ([1973]), #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Miraclo; Oklahoma; Ryan Oil Fields

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich.

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

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

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 5] (Table of Contents: 9)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Howard Sherman

Inks

Howard Sherman

Colors

?

Letters

Howard Sherman

Genre

superhero

Characters

Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds] (cameo); The Flash [Jay Garrick] (cameo); un-named FBI agents; Fritz Klaver (villain, mention only); The Grey Shirts [Carl; rest un-named] (villains)

Synopsis

Dr. Fate is ordered to New England to look for sabotage at the naval yards along the Atlantic Seaboard, sending out a Cloud of Darkness to seek out evil. And find it it dies, aboard fishing smacks with Grey Shirts on board, whom Fate overcomes. When they refuse to talk, he summons up horrible beasts from the deep to "convince" them to tell all they know. Fate then sends out his Cloud of Darkness to summon the FBI to take them into custody, then Fate consults his crystal to learn the identity of the leader of the villains before warning Sandman and the Flash about Klaver.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #7 ([1973]), #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Cloud of Darkness; crystal ball

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Howard Sherman.

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 6] (Table of Contents: 10)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Chad Grothkopf

Inks

Chad Grothkopf

Colors

?

Letters

Chad Grothkopf

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson] (cameo); un-named newspaper editor; un-named Secretary of the newspaper editor; Bill (reformed Grey Shirt, brother of the newspaper's Secretary); Fritz Klaver (villain, mention only); The Grey Shirts (villains, some reform)

Synopsis

Sandman heads for El Paso to help out the editor of a newspaper there, who has been receiving threats because he dares write editorials criticizing dictator nations. Wes Dodds first of all impresses young American recruits of the Grey Shirts that they are being a line of baloney when their leaders try to convince them to overthrow America from the inside. Sandman leads the redeemed Grey Shirts to stop the villains trying to destroy the newspaper.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

El Paso; El Paso Patriot; Gas Gun; Wirepoon

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich, confirmed by Chad Grothkopf.

A Fortune Teller's Fortune (Table of Contents: 11)

Johnny Thunder / text story / 1.67 pages (report information)

Script

Evelyn Gaines ?

Pencils

Sheldon Mayer (spot illustrations)

Inks

Sheldon Mayer (spot illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor; superhero

Characters

Johnny Thunder; Mrs. Darling (Daisy's mother); Daisy Darling; The Thunderbolt [Archibald]; Doris Palmer; Mogi the Marvelous (villain)

Synopsis

Daisy and Johnny are on their way to a birthday party, aware that a lot of jewelry robberies have occured in town recently. Daisy insists that Johnny go with her to a fortune-teller named Mogi, the Marvelous, first. Johnny calls the Mogi a fraud, and, later it proves true when Daisy's pearls disappeared, and Johnny faced off with Mogi, knowing that he had them.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])

Keywords

Appleville; Say You

Indexer Notes

The Thunderbolt is yellow in this story.

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

statement of ownership / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])

Indexer Notes

Lists M. C. Gaines as Editor and Managing Editor and J. S. Liebowitz as Business Manager.

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

Hop Harrigan's All-American Flying Club / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 7] (Table of Contents: 14)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Sheldon Moldoff

Inks

Sheldon Moldoff

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Shiera Sanders; Mr. Finney (Aviation Research Department scientist); Fritz Klaver (villain, mention only); The Grey Shirts (villains)

Synopsis

The Flying Fury travels to California to prevent spies from stealing the designs of a new speedy plane being developed at an aviation plant called the Flying Fortress. After its pilots are gassed, Hawk saves the plane and crew. Meanwhile, Shiera decides to visit California and jumps from a plane, hoping Hawkman will save her. He does, and while she does research on the strange gas used on the pilots, Hawkman rounds up the spies.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

California

For America and Democracy! [Chapter 8] (Table of Contents: 15)

The Atom; Justice Society of America / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Ben Flinton

Inks

Ben Flinton

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Atom [Al Pratt]; Fritz Klaver (villain, voice only); Hans (villain); Buddy (villain); The Grey Shirts (villains)

Synopsis

Atom heads for Tri-State College to prevent foreign students, being sent there by enemy nations, from indoctrinating American students. He breaks up attempts of beating up college students, but the enemy devises new ways of indoctrination, including the use of the Grey Shirts to beat up Al Pratt. Atom takes care of them and makes his way to Toledo, coming face to face with Fritz Klaver.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Fatherland Club; Tri-State College

For America and Democracy! [Conclusion] (Table of Contents: 16)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 3.67 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox

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 Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]]; Johnny Thunder; The Thunderbolt [Archibald]; FBI Chief; Fritz Klaver (villain); The Grey Shirts (villains)

Synopsis

The JSA closes in on Fritz Klaver, who threatens to blow up everyone rather than be captured. But the JSA overpowers the Grey Shirts while Dr. Fate's occult powers halt Klaver in his tracks. Later, the JSA reports to the FBI Chief that their assignments have been successfully completed.

Reprints

• in Flashback (DynaPubs Enterprises, 1973 series) #6 (1974)
• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #1 (1991 [June 1992])
• in Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2015 series) ([September] 2015)

Keywords

Power Ring; Say You

And in Our Next Issue! (Table of Contents: 17) (Expand) /

Justice Society of America; All-Star Comics / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

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

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

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

Daisy Air Rifles / Daisy B-B Guns / advertisement / 1 page (report information)