All-Star Comics #20

(Spring 1944)

Editorial Advisory Board (Table of Contents: 1) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Waste Paper (Table of Contents: 2)

public service announcement / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

The Movie That Changed a Man's Life [Introduction] (Table of Contents: 3)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher

Inks

Joe Gallagher

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Wonder Woman [Diana Prince] (Secretary); Starman [Ted Knight]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]]; Jason Roger's unnamed wife (death); The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain)

Synopsis

Jason L. Rogers attends the meeting of the JSA to tell them about a Monster who has been robbing his banks, dynamited his factories...even broken into his home. Rogers says that this fiend has been giving him problems ever since a picnic years back, shot on film, and when that film was shown, his wife passed out from the shock. Later, Rogers was left plans for more schemes by the Monster and has now brought them to the meeting for the members to deal with. After they leave, the Monster suddenly appears and taunts the JSA, threatening to drive Roger's mind from his body.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Indexer Notes

Sandman and Doctor Fate do not have individual chapters in the book, no doubt due to the actions of the War Production Board cutting back on paper use (as noted in issue #16). Gardner Fox, however, does report writing chapters for both characters that were not used. The reason is found on page "D" of the introduction where panel 5's word balloon has clearly been re-lettered to send Sandman and Fate to Roger's home.

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 1] (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Sheldon Moldoff

Inks

Sheldon Moldoff

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Harlan Walsh (steel baron); The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Marvin Walsh (villain, Harlan's twin brother, gambler); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

Hawkman notices that a man is being attacked near a bog, and he alights and dispatches the thugs, then takes off for the home of Harlan Walsh, steel baron, not realizing the man he saved has news about the Monster. Meanwhile, the Monster threatens Walsh to rebuff the Feathered Fury when he arrives...or else! Hawkman leaves and is approached by the man he saved...the twin of the man inside, who is really Marvin Walsh, the black sheep of the family, and in the employ of the Monster. Hawkman re-enters the home, captures Marvin, who then tells Hawkman where the Monster's gang hides out.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 2] (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Bernard Baily

Inks

Bernard Baily

Colors

?

Letters

Howard Ferguson

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Walter Noonan (architect, Jason's friend); The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

Spectre sees the Monster getting ready to blow up a building, quickly rescuing Walter Noonan, a friend of Jason Rogers, and tells Spectre how the Monster came to him demanding $50,000 or risk having a dam blown up that his company had built. Noonan is told to agree to the terms so that he can set a trap. But the Monster sets a trap of his own, and when he arrives for the payoff, it goes off without a hitch. To the Monster, that is good because he would have blown away Noonan at the first sign of the Spectre. However, on the way back to the hideout, the Monster somehow gets away.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit from Craig Delich.

The Big Eight: Tops in Monthly Comic Magazines (Table of Contents: 6) (Expand) /

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

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 3] (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher

Inks

Joe Gallagher

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Atom [Al Pratt]; The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

The Monster, intending to rob an office payroll, lowers a magnet from his weird aircraft and attracts the safe from the of office. The Atom hops aboard the magnet being drawn back up to the strange ship to confront the crew. As the sky-craft lands on a roof, a net is thrown over the Atom, trapping him. The Monster shows up, but the Atom cowers in fear and faints! Upon awakening, the Monster puts him up against the wall to shoot him, when Atom throws a brick, hitting a lever and starting up the magnet, attracting the thug's guns. Atom mops them up, but the Monster escapes in his aircraft.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

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

Junior Justice Society of America / public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Joe Gallagher; Harry Peter (Wonder Woman only)

Inks

Joe Gallagher; Harry Peter (Wonder Woman only)

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Free! A membership in the Junior Justice Society for all who help in the March of Dimes!

Genre

advocacy; superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Starman [Ted Knight]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]]

Synopsis

Members of the Justice Society make an appeal for the March of Dimes campaign. Wonder Woman offers a free membership in the Junior Justice Society to all who contribute to the March of Dimes

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])
• in Wonder Woman: The War Years 1941-1945 (Chartwell Books, 2015 series) (2015)

Keywords

infantile paralysis; Junior Justice Society; March of Dimes

Indexer Notes

Illustrated plea, with coupon, for readers to donate to the March of Dimes. All readers who contribute 15 cents to the March of Dimes campaign will receive a free membership in the Junior Justice Society of America.

Ghost Plane (Table of Contents: 9)

Hop Harrigan / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jon Blummer (illustration of Hop Harrigan); ? (spot illustration)

Inks

Jon Blummer (illustration of Hop Harrigan); ? (spot illustration)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

aviation

Characters

Hop Harrigan; Tank Tinker; Major Dunning; the Japanese (some die)

Synopsis

Time after time bombs hit Allied airfields, destroying planes, but no plane is ever seen or heard. Hop and Tank set out to solve the mystery, only to discover that a hot-air balloon is the culprit.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Indexer Notes

P-38 Lightning; New Guinea

Commando Training with Thom McAn (Table of Contents: 10) (Expand) /

Thom McAn / advertisement / 2 pages (report information)

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 4] (Table of Contents: 11)

The Justice Society of America; Dr. Mid-Nite / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Stan Asch

Inks

Stan Asch

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; Dr. Horatio Hill (surgeon, death); unnamed U.S. Senator (death); Roland Cord; The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

Dr. Mid-Nite awakens strapped to an operating table as the surgeon relates how the Monster had drugged the doctor, then called in to operate on an important Senator, who died on the table. He lost his license and hope until the Monster persuaded him to operate on the wealthy, disfigure their faces, then blackmail them to restore their looks. But he refuses to operate on Dr. Mid-Nite to drive him insane and cuts him loose. Then the Monster shoots Hill and leaves. The doctor tells Dr. Mid-Nite how to restore people's faces before he dies.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Doiby Dickles Goes on a Case: Paper Salvage! (Table of Contents: 12)

Green Lantern / public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Paul Reinman

Inks

Paul Reinman

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

advocacy; superhero

Characters

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Doiby Dickles

Synopsis

Doiby tackles a stranger and accuses him of wasting paper and explains its importance to the war effort. The stranger explains that the receptacle the paper was thrown into was not a waste bin but was rather specifically designated for collecting waste paper for the war effort.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Keywords

paper salvage; waste paper

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

Fat and Slat / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Ed Wheelan

Pencils

Ed Wheelan

Inks

Ed Wheelan

Colors

?

Letters

Ed Wheelan

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Fat, elaborate on this theme...

Genre

humor

Characters

Fat; Slat

Indexer Notes

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

This filler does NOT appear in the Archives.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 14)

statement of ownership / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15) (Expand) /

Picture Stories from the Bible / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.67 page (report information)

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 5] (Table of Contents: 16)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Stan Asch

Inks

Stan Asch

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Starman [Ted Knight]; Ira Young (millionaire); Hank (Young's assistant); The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

Starman arrives a millionaire Ira Young's estate knowing the Monster is due to strike there somehow. Jason Rogers happens to be there as a guest and is being shown the new planetarium when gas strikes down Rogers and friends, and thugs begin to pick the people's pockets. Starman dives right into action, and while he is busy bopping the bad guys, the Monster loots the unconscious victims and flees. Giving chase, the Astral Avenger is saved from being fried by artificial lightning by his gravity rod, saves the stolen money, but misses out on capturing the Monster.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Keywords

Gravity Rod

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 17) (Expand) /

Wheaties / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Chapter 6] (Table of Contents: 18)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Stan Asch

Inks

Stan Asch

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

humor; superhero

Characters

Johnny Thunder; The Thunderbolt [Archibald]; unnamed Policemen; The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain); Monster's thugs (villains)

Synopsis

As Johnny walks the streets, he noticed two Policemen laughing their heads off, and tell Johnny that the jewelry house is being robbed. Going inside, Johnny is overcome by the gas used on the Police and is taken to the Monster's hideout, where upon the Monster tells Johnny he is going to chop his head off. The Thunderbolt prevents that from happening and helps brother John to round up the gang. Thunderbolt takes on the Monster himself with little success and the Monster flees away into the night.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Keywords

Black Star Jewelry House; Say You

[The Movie That Changed a Man's Life, Conclusion] (Table of Contents: 19)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher

Inks

Joe Gallagher

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Sandman [Wesley Dodds]; Starman [Ted Knight]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; Dr. Fate [Kent Nelson]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]]; The Monster [Jason Rogers] (villain, death)

Synopsis

The JSA returns to Rogers home to see the film that caused the problem, and the film is blank, but Rogers restores it and disappears. The Monster appears and attacks the JSA as he tells them that Jason Rogers is his twin brother, whom he hates. After a struggle, the Monster is hit by a lethal ray and is fatally wounded. Dr. Mid-Nite concludes that while the two were twins, the Monster had never developed a body, just a mind, which would often inhabit Roger's body without his knowing it. Meanwhile, the Monster has reverted to his Roger's appearance and, now knowing the truth, dies at peace.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #5 (1999 [February 2000])

Indexer Notes

Wonder Woman does not appear in the conclusion.

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

The Weather Man / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Captain Tootsie and the Secret Weapon! (Table of Contents: 21) (Expand) /

Captain Tootsie; Tootsie Roll / comics-form advertising / 1 page (report information)