The Best of DC #21 [Direct]

(February 1982)

Best of DC -- Justice Society of America (Table of Contents: 1)

table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

The Untold Origin of the Justice Society (Table of Contents: 2)

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

Script

Paul Levitz (credited)

Pencils

Joe Staton (credited)

Inks

Bob Layton (credited)

Colors

Anthony Tollin (credited)

Letters

Bill Morse (credited)

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In the winter of 1940, Adolf Hitler abandoned plans to invade England!

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; The Spectre [Jim Corrigan]; Superman [Kal-L]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Hourman [Rex Tyler]; Dr. Fate [Nabu; Kent Nelson]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Atom [Al Pratt]; Flash [Jay Garrick]; Sandman [Wesley Dodds];cameos on splash page [Dr. Mid-Nite; Wildcat; Mr. Terrific; Johnny Thunder; Thunderbolt; Black Canary [Dinah Drake Lance]; Wonder Woman; Starman; Star-Spangled Kid; Power Girl; Robin; Red Tornado [Ma Hunkel]]; President Franklin D. Roosevelt; Smythe; Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon; Nazis [Adolf Hitler; Helmut Streicher; the Valkyries; naval invasion force] (villains)

Synopsis

A secret meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British agent Smythe leads to the formation of the Justice Society of America, whose top secret mission is to stop the planned invasion of England by Hitler's Nazi Germany in November of 1940.

Reprints

• from DC Special (DC, 1968 series) #29 (August-September 1977)

The Day That Dropped Out of Time [Introduction] (Table of Contents: 3)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Irwin Hasen

Inks

Irwin Hasen

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

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

Synopsis

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 and translates it, speculating that this must deal with a case they have forgotten, so she uses the Magic Sphere. It shows the members how modern inventions age then suddenly disappear. The JSA members enter the room of their friend, Professor Zee, who has been badly wounded. He explains that the process being used is his handiwork, although someone else is causing it to occur....most likely his new lab assistant, Per Degaton.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Chapter 2] (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Lee Elias (signed)

Inks

Lee Elias (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Flash [Jay Garrick]; Per Degaton

Synopsis

Flash must find penicillin to save the professor's life and is told there might be some in the time capsule in Colossal Caves, which would be immune to time change. He races there and confronts Degaton and his men, who overcome him, tie him up and place him in the capsule. The Flash uses his speed to propel the capsule through a wall, releasing him and the contents. He grabs the penicillin, 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

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Chapter 3] (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Paul Reinman (signed)

Inks

Paul Reinman (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Atom [Al Pratt]; Per Degaton

Synopsis

Degaton's march into Gotham takes a detour when his men want to rob the gold from a vault in an insurance company for their pay. Degaton agrees and all goes well until the Atom shows up. After a brief struggle, Atom is captured and taken to the company's accident exhibit, which contains dozens of things that can cause instant death. 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.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Chapter 4] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Joe Kubert

Inks

Joe Kubert

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Per Degaton

Synopsis

As modern conveniences disappear, the Sphere now shows Hawkman arriving at the Mayor's office, as Degaton's army of tanks emerges from the city's subway system. Degaton's men enters the Mayor's office, and take him prisoner as Hawkman enters through a window, and starts working over the criminals. But he is overcome and both men are taken to an antique shop, laid on a canopy bed, Degaton hits a switch, bringing the top and the bed closer to crushing the pair. Hawkman is able to stop this, and the pair escape. Hawkman then takes the Mayor to his office and asks him to keep the people calm.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Chapter 5] (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Frank Harry

Inks

Frank Harry

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Dr. Mid-Nite; Per Degaton

Synopsis

Dr. Mid-Nite reaches the Hall of Science where top scientists have gathered and are told that, because the changes may become permanent, they must redesign all modern science over again. But Degaton tells them that he plans to do that himself and be the most powerful scientist in the world! A battle ensues, but Mid-Nite is captured along with three scientists who will now assist him in his mad plans. Doc escapes a death trap, uses his blackout bomb to save the scientists before they are killed, then heads back to the hospital to check on the professor's condition.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Interlude] (Table of Contents: 8)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Irwin Hasen

Inks

Irwin Hasen

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

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

Synopsis

At the hospital, the doctor has 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 JSA 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. G.L. offers to go alone, fearing that they may scare Degaton into destroying the time machine. G.L. will then bring it back to the hospital and the entire JSA will go back in history to correct Degaton's actions.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Chapter 6] (Table of Contents: 9)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Irwin Hasen

Inks

Irwin Hasen

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [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)]; Per Degaton

Synopsis

G.L. reaches Colossal Caves and uses his ring to enter the cave through the mountain's wall. He hears Degaton order Kale and his men to destroy the time machine, by sending it 10,000 years into the future with a bomb on board. G.L. charges into the machine, is knocked out and awakes in the future. Exiting, the JSA is there to greet him. He now knows he is in the future, but realizes that the JSA can still change the Battle of Arabela, so they head toward the time machine, which explodes as they near it. So Green Lantern uses his power ring to take the group 3000 years back into the past.

Reprints

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

[The Day That Dropped Out of Time, Conclusion] (Table of Contents: 10)

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

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Irwin Hasen

Inks

Irwin Hasen

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Sheldon Mayer (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

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

Synopsis

While discussing the fate of the JSA, Degaton notes modern inventions beginning to reappear. The scene shifts to 331 B.C. with Alexander the Great's Army being routed, but the JSA turns the tide, quick to defeat Degaton. Grateful, Alexander gives the JSA his personal shield and dagger, which they accept, then all fade away. The Magic Sphere finishes its tale, modernization is restored, and the strange shield is now legible. 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!

Reprints

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

The Big Super-Hero Hunt! (Table of Contents: 11)

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

Script

Gardner Fox (credited)

Pencils

Murphy Anderson (credited)

Inks

Murphy Anderson (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Julius Schwartz (sourced) (editor)

Genre

superhero

Characters

Starman; Black Canary; Wildcat (guest star, revival); the Huntress (villainess); the Sportsmaster; Larry Lance

Reprints

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

Another Dynamite Comic from the House of Daring Concepts! (Table of Contents: 12)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Scott Shaw

Inks

Bob Smith

Letters

Todd Klein (sourced)

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Reprints

• from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! (DC, 1982 series) #1 [Direct] (March 1982) [with different Superman figure]

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: 13)

Black Canary; Justice Society of America; Starman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

George Pérez; Neal Adams; Irwin Hasen

Inks

George Pérez; Neal Adams; Irwin Hasen

Colors

?

Letters

Gaspar Saladino

Genre

superhero

Characters

Black Canary [Dinah Drake]; Huntress [Paula Brooks]; Sportsmaster; Starman [Ted Knight]

Reprints

• from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35 (June-July 1947)
• from DC Special (DC, 1968 series) #29 (August-September 1977)

Indexer Notes

Back cover. Previews of the interior stories. Includes covers to DC Special (DC, 1979 series) #29 and All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #35.