All-Star Comics #25

(Summer 1945)

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

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

The AA Emblem Makes a Hit Every Time!! (Table of Contents: 2) (Expand) /

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

The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime [Introduction] (Table of Contents: 3)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash and Green Lantern figures)

Inks

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash and Green Lantern figures)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Wonder Woman [Diana Prince] (Secretary); The Atom [Al Pratt]; Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]]; Hooded Figure [Rob Victor]; Tim Kimball (amnesiac)

Synopsis

The JSA note the body of a man slumped on the floor of their HQ, looking as if he'd been in an auto accident, and mumbling that Rob Victor is innocent of murdering Ted Kimball 20 years earlier. Hawkman questions the man who says he has clues in his possession that may tell who he is as well as possibly uncovering what had happened to the D.A.. The JSA decides to follow the clues to 1) discover who their visitor really is, and 2) see if they can prove Rob Victor innocent. Unknown to the JSA, a hooded figure outside a window has sworn to get every member before they can learn the truth.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Indexer Notes

The addition of Naydel to the art credits by Craig Delich.

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 1] (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Kubert (signed as Kubert)

Inks

Joe Kubert (signed as Kubert)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Hawkman [Carter Hall]; unnamed housekeeper for the Kimball's (also in flashback); Tim Kimball (flashback); Rob Victor (flashback); Doris Black (flashback); Martini (villain, jeweler); Big Hunk's gang (villains)

Synopsis

Possessing a silver belt buckle as his only clue, the Hawk visits Martini, a famous jeweler who is taken aback when he sees the buckle, who tells Hawk that he may learn more about it from the person he sold it to who lives at the old Kimball country home. When Hawk arrives, he is knocked out, but later captures them. Then he visits the Kimball house and talks to the housekeeper, who was a witness to the murder of Tim Kimball. Before Hawkman heads back to JSA HQ, she tells him that she doesn't know what happened to the District Attorney in the case, who mysteriously disappeared after the trial.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Keywords

Kimball Country Home

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 5) (Expand) /

Wheaties / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 2] (Table of Contents: 6)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Stan Asch; Martin Naydel (Green Lantern figures)

Inks

Stan Asch; Martin Naydel (Green Lantern figures)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; unnamed newspaper reporter; Doris Black (also in flashback); unnamed prison warden; Rob Victor (flashback); Tim Kimball (flashback); gang of thugs (villains)

Synopsis

G.L.'s clue is a wallet with "From Boots to Doe" embossed on it, and shows it to a newspaper reporter who had covered the murder. He tells G.L. that the wallet was a birthday gift from Doris Black to Tim Kimball, but that he doesn't have a clue as to who "Boots" is unless it was Kimball. He tells of the quarrel over Doris, but says he should see Doris herself. As G.L. leaves, he is suddenly attacked by several men, but he quickly mops them up. He visits Doris, who recounts that night, then visits the prison warden who tells G.L. that Rob Victor escaped prison two years after being jailed.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Keywords

Power Ring

Indexer Notes

This chapter was originally written and illustrated featuring the Starman by Asch. Naydel drew Green Lantern figures that were pasted over the Starman figures. The last panel on page 3 clearly shows that G.L.'s hand once held the Gravity Rod.

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 3] (Table of Contents: 7)

The Justice Society of America; 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]; Jabez Smith (Kimball's butler); Hooded Figure [Rob Victor]; unnamed District Attorney (flashback); gang of thugs (villains)

Synopsis

The Atom's clue is a scarf, so he heads for Bleak Point, where the Kimball's former butler, Jabez Smith, lives. But Atom is jumped by several men, but he takes care of them all, while unknowingly being watched by a mysterious red-hooded figure. The scarf is shown to Smith, which he says was a gift by him to Tim Kimball, and says that he is in possession of the murder weapon, owned by Hengast Kimball and having just one bullet. Just then, the hooded figure grabs and makes off with the gun, Atom chases him, but is knocked out. He is left wondering why the "one bullet" is an important clue.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Keywords

Bleak Point

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

Popsicle / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 4] (Table of Contents: 9)

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]; Hooded Figure [Rob Victor] (also in flashback); Tim Kimball (flashback); Doris Black (flashback); Kimball's unnamed bodyguards; Hengast Kimball (villain, oil man)

Synopsis

Mid-Nite's clue is a gold watch, and he figures that the one person who benefited most from Kimball's death was his cousin, Hengast Kimball, a millionaire oil man, so he decides to call on him. He spots a hooded figure trying to shoot Kimball, but he gets away and Mid-Nite tangles with some bodyguards. Mid-Nite questions Kimball about the night of the murder and he states that he tried to deter Victor, but couldn't. He also tells about being forced to watch Kimball's body being drug down to the docks, put aboard a boat, doused in gasoline, set afire and adrift.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 10)

J. Modest Martin / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Ron Santi

Pencils

Ron Santi

Inks

Ron Santi

Colors

?

Letters

Ron Santi

First Line of Dialogue or Text

We are gathered here to-day to do honor...

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

J. Modest Martin

Indexer Notes

This filler does NOT appear in the Archives edition.

Letterer credit by Craig Delich.

Lead in His Shoes (Table of Contents: 11)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Miller (credited as Jay Marr)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

sports

Characters

Buster Leeds (track coach); Roy Minters; Bill Brent

Synopsis

Roy Minters was discouraged that he hadn't been able to develop a proper "finishing kick" to be able to compete in the mile relay for his college team. Coach Leeds was concerned as well, since the dean of the college had told him that if Porter did not win the Tri-State Meet, he'd be through as coach! Roy makes a deal to help Bill Brent with his grades if Bill will help him develop a finishing kick for the mile relay. As it turns out, Bill passed his classes and became eligible, and Roy successfully ran the finishing leg of the mile relay, leading Porter College to the championship!

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Keywords

Porter College

Indexer Notes

Who's Who of American Comics 1928-1999 gives "J. Marr" as a penname of Jack Miller.

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

Victory Puzzles / activity / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

A. W. Nugent

Pencils

A. W. Nugent

Inks

A. W. Nugent

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

children

Indexer Notes

This feature does NOT appear in the Archives edition.

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

statement of ownership / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 5] (Table of Contents: 14)

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]; Hooded Figure [Rob Victor]; gang of thugs (villains)

Synopsis

Johnny's clue is a tie clasp, but is accosted by toughs, taken to an abandoned house, tied up, and left with a candle burning down to gunpowder. The hooded figure saves Johnny, and tells Johnny that Victor IS innocent, but he can't say more until he kills all of the Kimballs. Johnny suddenly realizes that he can't allow this to happen and begins chasing the strange fellow right to the Kimball house, where he pulls out the murder weapon and points it at the family. Johnny promptly calls for the Thunderbolt to go and get the rest of the JSA members.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Keywords

Say You

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Interlude] (Table of Contents: 15)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash and Green Lantern figures)

Inks

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash and Green Lantern figures)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; The Atom [Al Pratt]; Johnny Thunder]; The Thunderbolt [Archibald]; Hooded Figure [Rob Victor]

Synopsis

The T-Bolt gathers up the members and takes them all to the Kimball home. Johnny begins to explain the situation, stating that the red-hooded figure says that the Kimball family was responsible for killing the District Attorney! The Flash asks Hawkman for an assignment, so he tells Flash to go out and round up Big Hunk Adams, the gang czar whose men have been attempting to thwart the JSA's investigation into this case. Hawk then tells the others that all the witnesses in the case will be brought together to settle the case once and for all, as well as identifying the mysterious red-hooded man.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

You... A Champion? (Table of Contents: 16) (Expand) /

Wheaties / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Chapter 6] (Table of Contents: 17)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash figures)

Inks

Joe Gallagher; Martin Naydel (Flash figures)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Chez "Hunk" Adams (villain); Adam's gang (villains)

Synopsis

After a brief battle, the Flash persuades Big Hunk to tell him why he and his gang were interfering with the JSA's investigation, and he tells Flash that Hengast Kimball came to see him and paid Adams to stop the JSA----one way or another! Flash asks Adams if his boys could identify Hengast as the man who bribed them, and he said that they could. Flash tells the boys that they are going with him, but has to do a bit more "convincing" before they all agree to come along peacefully.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Indexer Notes

This chapter was originally written and drawn featuring the Spectre. Naydel drew the Flash figures that were pasted over those of the Spectre.

Join the Junior Justice Society of America (Table of Contents: 18) (Expand) /

The Junior Justice Society of America / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[The Mystery of the Forgotten Crime, Conclusion] (Table of Contents: 19)

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

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Martin Naydel (pages W & X, Flash and Green Lantern figures on pages Y & Z); Joe Gallagher (pages Y & Z)

Inks

Martin Naydel (pages W & X, Flash and Green Lantern figures on pages Y & Z); Joe Gallagher (pages Y & Z)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Justice Society of America [The Flash [Jay Garrick]; Hawkman [Carter Hall]; Green Lantern [Alan Scott]; Johnny Thunder; Dr. Mid-Nite [Dr. Charles McNider]; The Atom [Al Pratt]]; Doris Black; Hooded Figure [Rob Victor]; Tim Kimball; Jabez Smith; Hengast Kimball (villain)

Synopsis

Flash returns to the Kimball house and informs Hawkman that Big Hunk confessed that Hengast Kimball hired him to keep the JSA out of the case. Hawkman reviews the information about the case as he knows it, which stuns Hengast, when he finds out that the JSA knows about the single bullet, and tries to escape. Hawkman knows why this fact was important, because Hengast knew the gun was empty when Rob Victor held it on all concerned. The red hooded man is unmarked as Rob Victor and the man with amnesia is determined to be Tim Kimball, who recounts how a tramp was killed by Hengast on that boat.

Reprints

• in All Star Comics Archives (DC, 1991 series) #6 (2000 [January 2001])

Indexer Notes

Wonder Woman does not appear in the conclusion.

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

Illinois Merchandise Mart / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 21)

public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Boys-girls! Be sure to show this to your mother...

Genre

advocacy

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

Captain Tootsie Captures Red the Terror! (Table of Contents: 22) (Expand) /

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