The Best of DC #21 [Newsstand]

(February 1982)

Best of DC -- Justice Society of America (Table of Contents)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover. Table of contents.

The Untold Origin of the Justice Society (Table of Contents)

Justice Society of America / comic story / 34 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Paul Levitz

Pencils:

Joe Staton

Inks:

Bob Layton

Colors:

Tony Tollin

Letters:

Bill Morse

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Green Lantern; the Spectre; Superman; Batman; Hour-Man; Doctor Fate; Hawkman; the Atom; the Flash; the Sandman; cameos on splash page: Dr. Mid-Nite; Wildcat; Mr. Terrific; Johnny Thunder; the Thunderbolt; Black Canary; Wonder Woman; Starman; Star-Spangled Kid; Power Girl; Robin; and Red Tornado-2; President Franklin D. Roosevelt; Smythe; Commissioner James Gordon; V: Adolf Hitler; Helmut Streicher; the Valkyries

Synopsis:

A secret meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British agent Smythe leads to the formation of the Justice Society of America, whose avowed mission is to stop the planned invasion of English by Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• from DC Special (DC, 1975 series) #29 (August-September 1977)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time introduction (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Irwin Hasen

Inks:

Irwin Hasen

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Atom [Al Pratt]; Johnny Thunder [Earth-2]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Wonder Woman [Earth-2]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Flash [Jay Garrick]; Dr. Mid-Nite (all as the Justice Society of America/JSA); Per Degaton (intro, villain); Professor Zee

Synopsis:

As the JSA convenes their monthly meeting, Chairman Hawkman discovers a strange metal shield none of them had seen before. Wonder Woman recognizes it as Macedonian writing and translates it....but the signature is unrecognizable. She speculates that this must deal with a case that all of them have forgotten, so she uses the Magic Sphere, which shows the members how modern inventions, like airplanes and trains, age then suddenly disappear. As the story continues to unfold, the JSA members are shown in the room of their friend, Professor Zee, who has been badly wounded. Quickly, he explains that the process being used on modern inventions is his handiwork, although someone else is causing it to occur....most likely his new lab assistant, Per Degaton. The Sphere then shows Degaton shooting the professor and, upon awakening, he found himself in the hospital, asking to see the JSA. Just as the professor warns the members that they not only must stop Per Degaton, but also to undo what he has done, a shot from Degaton in the hallway further injures the professor....and only penicillin will save his life. Unfortunately, with crucial events in the past being changed by Degaton, the hospital stocks of the drug have disappeared. The Flash leaves to secure penicillin, Atom leaves to find Per Degaton, Hawkman heads over to protect the Mayor and Dr. Mid-Nite leaves to round up and protect the world scientists. G.L., Johnny Thunder and Wonder Woman remain behind at the hospital to protect Professor Zee.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time chap 2 (Table of Contents)

Flash / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Lee Elias

Inks:

Lee Elias

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Flash [Jay Garrick]; Per Degaton

Synopsis:

The Magic Sphere continues to show what happened with the Flash, who returned to the professor's lab to see if there was any penicillin located there. Finding none, he returns to the hospital, and aska a doctor where a supply might be found. He tells the Scarlet Speedster that they may be some in "The Time Capsule" in Colossal Caves, which would be immune to time change. With the scenery changing all along the Flash, the Flash arrives at the caves and runs smack dab into Per Degaton and his men. Degaton manages to knock a stalactite from the ceiling onto the head of Flash, blacking him out. Upon recovering, the Flash is taken to the time capsule and placed inside, then Degaton leaves. The Flash uses his speed to propel the capsule through a metal wall, releasing him and dumping the contents of the capsule to the ground. Fortunately, Flash grabs the penicillin before it hits the floor, subdues Degaton's men and races the penicillin over to the hospital, musing to himself that the JSA must figure out WHAT crucial event in the past Degaton is changing to cause the effects taking place.

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time chap 3 (Table of Contents)

Atom / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Paul Reinman

Inks:

Paul Reinman

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Atom [Al Pratt]; Per Degaton

Synopsis:

As the Atom speeds from the hospital, the Magic Sphere shifts the scene to Per Degaton and his men in armored tanks, entering the city of Gotham. But the column stops as one of the men asks Degaton when they are going to get the money that was promised them. When Degaton balks, the men point out that they are in front of the Gotham Insurance Company, and their vault has a million in gold in it. Degaton agrees to their request for money, realizing it will reinforce their loyalty. As they break into the vault, the Mighty Mite shows up and begins cleaning house with Degaton's thugs. But Atom is kayoed, tied and taken to the company's accident exhibit, which contains dozens of things that can cause instant death. Degaton leaves the Atom suspended over rotting floor boards in the room with a dripping kerosene lamp, that will eventually start a fire and cause the Atom to drop to his death below. Fortunately the Atom escapes, having at least learned that Degaton has changed "a battle" in the past, so he returns to the hospital with the news.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time chap 4 (Table of Contents)

Hawkman / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Joe Kubert

Inks:

Joe Kubert

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Per Degaton

Synopsis:

While the city of Gotham reels under the disappearnce of modern conveniences, the Sphere now shows Hawkman on his way to the Mayor's office, when he spots a bridge transformed back into an ancient rope bridge, and he must save the people on it falling to their deaths. Meanwhile, Degaton's army of tanks emerges from the city's subway system, and the thugs of Degaton enter the Mayor's office. The gun the Mayor pulls on them suddenly turns into an ancient flintlock --- but their guns, protected by the rays of special metal, are pulled on the Mayor as the Feathered Fury enters the open window, and starts working over the criminals. But Hawkman is captured and led away to the back of an antique shop, with the Mayor, and laid on a canopy bed. Degaton hits a switch, bringing the top of the canopy and the bed closer and closer to crushing the pair....but Hawkman uses his untied legs to stop the top, forcing the ancient springs in the mattress to snap, thus saving their lives. Hawkman then flies the Mayor back to his office.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time chap 5 (Table of Contents)

Dr. Mid-Nite / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Frank Harry

Inks:

Frank Harry

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Dr. Mid-Nite; Per Degaton

Synopsis:

With darkness falling swiftly upon Gotham, because of modern streetlights, house lights and cars disappearing, Dr. Mid-Nite enters Gotham's blackened Hall of Science, listening to an address by Professor Appleby, famed chamist, to the world's scientists gathered there. Per Degaton suddenly enters the meeting, boasting that he is the one responsible for the change, and that he will not allow them to reconstruct what he is destroying. The Wonder of the Witching Hour jumps at Degaton's men and wipes them out, and throws Degaton across the room....just as the last of Degaton's men, Kale, hits the Man of Midnight over the head. When Dr. Mid-Nite recovers consciousness, he is tied on the floor, and three of scientists are brought before Degaton, who reminds all of them that he was once their assistant, and orders them to devise a clever death for the helpless JSA member on the floor. They devise a gruesome plan to destroy the good doctor with hydrocyanic acid, but Mid-Nite uses his wits to cause the acid to drip on his bonds instead, and he breaks loose in time to save the three scientists from being killed by Degaton's men with his blackout bomb. Dr. Mid-Nite then heads back for the hospital, hoping that Professor Zee has recovered enough to tell the JSA what event Degaton has changed in the past.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time interlude (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Irwin Hasen

Inks:

Irwin Hasen

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Flash [Jay Garrick]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Wonder Woman; Dr. Mid-Nite; Atom [Al Pratt]; Johnny Thunder (all as the Justice Society of America/JSA); Professor Zee

Synopsis:

Back at the hospital, the doctor has already administered the penicillin and the professor recovers enough to let the JSA know that Degaton has changed the outcome of the famous Battle of Arabela, that took place in 331 B.C. He tells the Justice Society to go to Colossal Caves and enter into his time machine, and go back to that year and cause the original outcome of that battle to happen. Green Lantern offers to go alone, fearing that the entire group might frighten Degaton into destroying the time machine before they could use it. Once he secures the machine, he is to bring it back to the hospital and the entire JSA will go back in history to correct Degaton's actions.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time chap 6 (Table of Contents)

Green Lantern / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Irwin Hasen

Inks:

Irwin Hasen

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Hawkman [Carter Hall] (cameo); Johnny Thunder [Earth-2] (cameo); Wonder Woman [Earth-2] (cameo); Dr. Mid-Nite (cameo); Atom [Al Pratt] (cameo); Flash [Jay Garrick] (cameo) (all as the Justice Society of America/JSA); Per Degaton

Synopsis:

As the Green Gladiator reaches Colossal Caves, he spots Degaton's men outside the entrance, so he decides to use his ring to enable him to enter the cave right through the mountain's wall. Once inside, he walks down the cave's corridors, but suddenly hears Degaton order Kale and his men to destroy the time machine, as it has served its purpose. Green Lantern charges Degaton by the machine, and accidently trips into the machine and is knocked out. Degaton then sets the machine for 10,000 years in the future, and off it whisks! When G.L. awakens, we discover that the Lantern's head has knocked the switch in such a way that he has only traveled ten years into the future, and as he emerges, the JSA is there to greet him! They are amazed that he is still alive after all of those years, and G.L. suddenly realizes that he is in the future, and not the present, and also discovers that the JSA are now wanted outlaws! Realizing that they can still change the Battle of Arabela, they head toward the time machine...but it explodes as they near it. So Green Lantern uses his power ring to take the group 3000 years back into the past.

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Day that Dropped Out of Time conclusion (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

John Broome

Pencils:

Irwin Hasen

Inks:

Irwin Hasen

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Johnny Thunder ; Dr. Mid-Nite; Atom [Al Pratt]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Wonder Woman; Flash [Jay Garrick] (all as the Justice Society of America/JSA); Per Degaton (villain); Professor Zee (cameo)

Synopsis:

Meanwhile, Degaton and his men are sitting in his office, discussing the fate of the JSA, when all of a sudden, modern inventions begin re-appearing. The scene shifts to 331 B.C. with Alexander the Great's Army being routed, when the JSA suddenly appears and turns the tide of battle in Alexander's favor. Just then, they all hear gunfire, as Degaton's men appear on the scene....but the JSA is quick to defeat them. In gratitude, Alexander gives the Justice Society his personal shield and dagger, which they accept as they fade away from view. As the course of history begins to correct itself, Wonder Woman suddenly remembers that, as all of them return to the future, memory of these evnts will completely disappear from their minds. The Magic Sphere finishes its tale....and Johnny wonders how they could all now remember what had happened, and the Amazon Princess reminds them of the shield and dagger. And as they look at the shield, they see that the Sphere has translated the Macedonian language and illegible signature to that of Alexander. The story closes with Professor Zee in his lab with Per Degaton, who seems to remember some foolishness about him dreaming that he was the ruler of the world!

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• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)

The Big Super-Hero Hunt! (Table of Contents)

Starman & Black Canary / comic story / 24 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Gardner Fox

Pencils:

Murphy Anderson

Inks:

Murphy Anderson

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Characters:

Starman; Black Canary; Wildcat [revival]; the Huntress (villainess); the Sportsmaster; Larry Lance

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• from The Brave and the Bold (DC, 1955 series) #62 (October-November 1965)

Indexer Notes

guest star Wildcat

Another Dynamite Comic from the House of Daring Concepts! (Table of Contents)

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Reprints:

• in The Best of DC (DC, 1979 series) #22 [Direct] (March 1982)

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover. Promo for Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew. Cover to #1 is depicted.

2 Novel-length JSA Adventures! (Table of Contents)

Justice Society of America / foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

?

Inks:

?

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Indexer Notes

Back cover. Previews of the interior stories. Includes covers to DC Special #29 and All-Star Comics #35.