All-Star Comics #28

(April-May 1946)

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [introduction] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Martin Naydel [as Mn] (signed)

Inks:

Martin Naydel [as Mn] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Justice Society of America [Atom [Al Pratt]; Wonder Woman (cameo, splash page only); Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Flash [Jay Garrick]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]]; Nels Farrow

Synopsis:

10,000 years in the future, in the city of Nu Yuk, in a land known as Amerika, hands reach for several strangely wrough jars that carry a warning from the Justice Society NOT to open them. A parchment is attached, which is read and gives the story behind the warning and the strange jars. It seems that Nels Farrow, member of an archaeological expedition, had discovered the jars, and picking one up, saw a kindly faced visage on the bottom of one. That evening, he took out a canvas and opened the jars to paint in response to that face.....and he ended up painting the picture of that face on canvas. Suddenly, it spoke to him, and told him that he had discovered a secret of ancient Atlantis and to be very careful what he painted with them. The face said that, at night, under the light of the full moon, the paints came to life and acted accordingly with what was painted....for good or for evil! Farrow says that the paints could serve humanity, but he'd rather have them serve him, as he had several enemies, five fellow graduates from college, who were all successful....except him. So, Farrow decides to paint pictures for each of his classmates with scenes depicting their interests....all with evil intentions, then mail them to them. Some months later, the Chief of Police tells the Justice Society that a man is laying near death in the hospital and needs to see them immediately....to help prevent six murders! The JSA went to the hospital and met with Nels Farrow, and he told them the story about discovering the paint jars and the story behind them, stealing them from the expedition he was on, painting the six pictures, mailing them out and then getting hit by a car after leaving the post office. He tells them the pictures should arrive any moment now and that only they could save the people they were sent to. He advises them that the paint creatures must be a part of the picture during the day, and he gives his keys to the Flash, telling him that the paint jars are in this garret, and the JSA must secure the jars somewhere where fools like him with never get their hands on them again. Deciding where to go and who to help, from the information provided by Farrow, the JSA members head out on an assignment that will prove to be chilling to say the least.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

Indexer Notes

The splash page repeats the cover scene, except for a minor variation in Naydel's initial signature on one of the paint jars. The Atom, on the cover and splash page, sports long sleeves, while everywhere else in the story, he has long sleeves. According to Gardner Fox and Jerry Bails, this is the first JSA tale to be written and drawn from the start to include Green Lantern and the Flash in the line-up as returned JSA members.

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 1] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Joe Kubert

Inks:

Joe Kubert

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Hawkman [Carter Hall]

Synopsis:

Archaeologist Hank Cavanaugh received the painting from Farrow, but soon forgot about it as he made a tremendous discovery: an ancient gold platter he hoped would reveal the lost Atlantean language, as well as their scientific secrets. But at that same moment, the full moon came out and its rays touched the painting, and the figures of thirties-era gangsters sprang to life, and headed to the place where Kavenaugh had made his discovery. Hawkman shows up and witnesses this scene, and tries to battle the painting's figures....but he can do them no harm. He races inside and tells Kavenaugh what is happening, but he can't believe it....but he soon does when he tries to shoot and kill them. Hiding Kavenaugh's discoveries in a tank of gold polish, the Feathered Fury wades into them again, then remembers what Farrow told him: that the beings must become a part of the canvas during the day. So Hawkman, after telling Kavenaugh where to find the treasures he hid in the polishing tank, grabs the canvas and flies off with it, baiting the figures to follow him.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 2] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Jon Chester Kozlak [as CK] (signed)

Inks:

Jon Chester Kozlak [as CK] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]

Synopsis:

Green Lantern reaches the land of the African veldt and finally locates hunter Elbert Jenkins, a man who had supplied many zoos with rare animals. G.L. tells him of the painting and its weird properties, and both head to his home to get it before darkness falls. The Emerald Crusader rolls the painting up so the moon rays will not touch it, but unknown to either man, one of Jenkin's native helpers overheard the Man of Light's remarks about the painting and begin talking about it. They, in turn, are overheard by several hunters that Jenkins had kicked off the hunting grounds, and they decide to get even by sneaking into Jenkin's cellar and unrolling the picture.....the last thing they would ever do, for the painting came to life and the horrible warriors on the canvas sprang to life and killed them. They then go upstairs and chase Jenkins from his home, all seen by Green Lantern, who swoops down and confronts the strange enemy made of paint. G.L. saves Jenkins and flies him back to his home, where Green Lantern rolls up the canvas and goes airborne again, forcing the unkillable enemy to chase him.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 3] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Stan Aschmeier [as Stan Josephs] (signed)

Inks:

Stan Aschmeier [as Stan Josephs] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Dr. Mid-Nite

Synopsis:

Dr. Mid-Nite heads to the frozen north to seek out Greg Scallop and warn him about the evil properties of his painting, which shows a band of knights in armor. Scallop laughs at the prospect, but still agrees to go with the Wonder of the Witching Hour down to the mine office, where he had the picture sent. But they arrive too late, as moonlight has already touched the painting and the strange armored figures have come to life, cutting elevator cables leading down into the mine. Scallop tells Mid-Nite that there is another cable down in the mine, so the Man of Night lets himself down the shaft into the mine to get that cable and repair the elevator. But he is attacked and has a rough time until other miners show up. Mid-Nite tells them to fix the cable while he leads the figures on a merry chase back into an area of the mine where Doctor Mid-Nite shuts off the lights....blinding the paint beings, but not our hero. When the cable is repaired, the miners yell to the doctor and he races to the elevator in time to make it to the surface. He then grabs the empty canvas, puts on skis and heads down the slope with the paint beings in hot pursuit.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 4] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Stan Aschmeier [as Stan Josephs] (signed)

Inks:

Stan Aschmeier [as Stan Josephs] (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero; humor

Characters:

Johnny Thunder; Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt

Synopsis:

Johnny is taken by the Thunderbolt to the good ship S.S. Headliner, already at sea, so that he can find its Captain, Ira Haggard, who received one of Farrow's paintings, and warn him of its perils. Johnny spots many paintings lining the walls of the ship, and begins slashing them....until a crewman grabs him and takes him to the Captain. In his office, Johnny sees Farrow's painting on Haggard's wall and warns him that the figures in that painting will kill him. Johnny is ordered locked in the brig for being a lunatic and the Thunderbolt arrives to break him out. At the same time, moonlight has touched the painting and the beings spring to life and start attacking the passengers. Johnny and the Thunderbolt race in to help.....Johnny tries throwing turpentine on the beings, but with no effect, and even the Thunderbolt is having a rough time. So Johnny grabs the rolled up canvas and T-Bolt flies them away, with the beings on flying seahorses in hot pursuit.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

[untitled] (Table of Contents)

Simp Odill / filler / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Sol Hess

Pencils:

Wallace A. Carlson

Inks:

Wallace A. Carlson

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

gag

Synopsis:

Two, one-page gags.

Indexer Notes

This filler is NOT found in the Archive.

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 5] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Joe Gallagher

Inks:

Joe Gallagher

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Atom [Al Pratt]

Synopsis:

Black Jack Cassidy was well-pleased by the Farrow painting that he received, and ordered his secretary, Miss Evans, to have it framed immediately. As a strange, clawed hand reached for her, the doorbell rings and the Atom arrives to tell her that the beings in the painting will be coming to life to kill anyone they can find. Sure enough, as they turn around, the simitar-armed beings come at them.....Atom puts up a fight, but is knocked out. The beings then head for Cassidy's oil fields and attack him and the workmen, until the Atom shows up again to do battle. The Mighty Mite sprays the man things with oil and sets them afire, all with no effect. Tossing Cassidy and Evans into a car, the Atom races back to the office, grabs the canvas and begins running with it, hoping the beings will follow him, which they do.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

The Case of the Nifty Lifter (Table of Contents)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jesse Merlan (signed)

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Genre:

crime

Characters:

Detective Sergeant Mooney

Synopsis:

Sgt. Mooney was having breakfast at the corner drugstore, baffled by a criminal that left no clues and had the Police scratching their heads. In his head, he reviewed the case of the Silver Cup, bought by Percy Van Husted for $50,000, shipped to America, but was mysteriously missing from the crate it was sent in upon arrival. Sgt. Mooney decided to read a few detective books while thinking about the case and he just happened to find a book which described a crime of the very nature as the Silver Cup case. As it turns out, that book helped Mooney solve the case.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

[untitled] (Table of Contents)

Simp Odill / filler / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Sol Hess

Pencils:

Wallace A. Carlson

Inks:

Wallace A. Carlson

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

gag

Synopsis:

Two, one-page gags.

Indexer Notes

This filler is NOT found in the Archives.

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [chapter 6: The Paintings Would Walk the Earth] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Martin Naydel

Inks:

Martin Naydel

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Flash [Jay Garrick]

Synopsis:

The Fastest Man Alive heads for the Farnum and Daley Circus to warn Josh Mason, the owner, about the terrible evil in the painting that Nels Farrow had sent him, which showed cavemen and savage beasts. When the Scarlet Speedster finds him, Mason tries to convince Flash to join the circus, not realizing that this delay for the Flash allows the painting to come to life. As the cavemen and mammoths enter the arena floor, Flash goes into action while Mason assures the crowd that all of this is a part of the show, hoping to avoid a panic. And what a show it is....but soon, Flash realizes it is all for naught, so he heads to Mason's office, grabs the empty canvas and begins running with it to attract the paint beings into following him.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

The Paintings That Walked the Earth! [conclusion] (Table of Contents)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Martin Naydel

Inks:

Martin Naydel

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Justice Society of America [Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Atom [Al Pratt]; Johnny Thunder; Flash [Jay Garrick]; Dr. Mid-Nite; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Wonder Woman (cameo)]; Nels Farrow

Synopsis:

As the members arrive with their empty canvases at JSA HQ, wach of them unrolls them and places them in prominent positions, then duck for cover. The paint beings enter and head back toward the canvas they came from...then the JSA members scrape the paint off of each one and place the scrappings into the jars. Green Lantern then hermetically seals the jars and places the warning on them, along with a parachment being read by the men of 10,000 years in the future. They decide, after reading the account, NOT to tempt fate by opening the jars, but leave them where they found them.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6

Indexer Notes

Art credits from Craig Delich; formerly credited to Joe Gallagher.