In this second volume of vintage Justice Society of America stories sub-titled The Plunder of the Psycho-Pirate, we see the team become more cohesive, beginning to function as a single unit, though individual stories are still by and large the order of the day. The war is still on and the "Justice Battalion" is very much in evidence, battling Fascist spies and rallying support for the war here at home and in other parts of the world.
"Shanghaied into Space" is a wild yarn in which the Nazis scheme to rid themselves of the JSA by rocketing the team into outer space, in particular to the various planets of our solar system. Hawkman is sent to Saturn, The Sandman rockets to Uranus, Dr. Mid-Nite lands on Neptune, Starman jets to Jupiter, The Atom ends up on Mars, The Spectre finds the remote Pluto, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt descend onto Mercury, and Wonder Woman explores Venus. Each of the members finds a war being fought by the denizens of these distant worlds and helps. This is really the only issue in the collection in which Wonder Woman has her own individual chapter.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with William Moulton Marston handling Chapter 8. The art was handled by Jack Burnley (Cover, Introduction, Chapter 4 & Conclusion), Sheldon Mayer (Chapter 1), Cliff Young (Chapter 2), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 3 &7), Joe Gallagher (Chapter 5), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 6), and Harry Peters (Chapter 8).
"Food for Starving Patriots" sees the Justice Society help the war effort by delivering enriched food capsules to the hungry populations of Europe fighting against the Fascist forces. Hawkman feeds the French, Starman brings food to Poland, The Atom assists the hungry in Holland, Dr. Fate delivers food to German concentration camps, Dr. Mid-Nite gives sustenance to Norway, The Spectre aids starving folks in Belgium, Johnny Thunder transports needed food to Czechoslovakia, and The Sandman brings food to Greece. The team is still functioning as the "Justice Battalion", supporting the war effort above all other concerns, and doing so by not only feeding but fighting alongside the disparate forces inside occupied Europe.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with with Jack Kirby and Joe Simon handling Chapter 8. Cover by Frank Harry. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Introduction, Chapter 3 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Lou Ferstadt (Chapter 2), Howard Sherman (Chapter 4), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 5 & 7), Bernard Bailey and Pierce Rice (Chapter 6), and Jack Kirby, Joe Simon and Howard Ferguson (Chapter 8).
"The Man Who Created Images" introduces the villain Brainwave. For the first time Wonder Woman is sad to report that none of the JSA members have shown up for the regular meeting. Instead, each member has been delayed by a personal mission and as it turns out each of those missions involve illusions (ghosts, walking statues, and other assorted apparitions) created by Brainwave. Wonder Woman for her part contacts the women in the lives of the JSA members and recruits them to stand in for the missing team.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with Jack Kirby and Joe Simon handling Chapter 5. Cover by Frank Harry. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Introduction, Chapter 4 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 2 & 3), Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (Chapter 5), Ed Drobrotka (Chapter 6), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 7), and Howard Sherman (Chapter 8).
"The Justice Society Fights for a United America!" is my favorite story in this collection and one I wish Americans today would read and take to heart. The JSA seek out members of the Junior Justice Society (advertised in recent issues) for information about those in various communities who are attempting to undermine the unity of American citizens in the fight against fascism. The members confront division within the factories, the mines, and the cities of the nation. Even criminals rise to the challenge and unite against the greater threat. The Final few pages of this epic showcase a united country made up of all kinds of people including those of other races. It's a story which reminds me of Gardner Fox's Silver Age Justice League classic "Man Thy Name is Brother".
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with Jack Kirby and Joe Simon handling Chapter 5. Cover by Frank Harry. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Introduction, Chapter 3 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 2 & 8), Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (Chapter 5), Ed Drobrotka (Chapter 6), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 7), and Howard Sherman (Chapter 4).
"The Brain Wave Goes Berserk" features the return of the big-domed baddie who had just a few issues before challenged the team and had seemingly fallen to his death. This time the villain shrinks our heroes down to doll size and they have to overcome their individual opponents at that size. It's a nifty handicap to inflict on the team and makes for some fanciful action sequences. In particular I looked forward to reading The Atom chapter in which for the first time he was functioning in a similar fashion to his Silver Age namesake. Wonder Woman missed out as she left the meeting before Brain Wave shrunk the heroes.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with Jack Kirby and Joe Simon handling Chapter 2. Cover by Frank Harry. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Introduction, Chapter 7 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 5 & 8), Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (Chapter 5), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 3), Howard Sherman (Chapter 4), and Paul Reinman and Sam Burlockoff (Chapter 6)
We get a really strange one when "Insects Turn to Crime!" King Bee makes his debut in this wild yarn in which insect hormones are spread out to various criminal gangs who use them in various ways to create strange and dangerous hybrids. The JSA members have to confront dangerous bee-men, offbeat ant-men, ferocious termite-men, manlike water-bugs, flying hornet-men, insidious spider-men, high-flying grasshopper men, and human flies.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox. Cover by Frank Harry. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Introduction, Chapter 7 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 5 & 8), Pierce Rice and Arturo Cazeneuve (Chapters 2 & 6), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 3), and Howard Sherman (Chapter 4).
"Crimes Set to Music" has the JSA on a quest to discover the location of the missing Hawkman. They are sent on various missions led by strange notes which disclose names, addresses, and cryptic messages. Each note leads to a musical-themed crime about to be committed and which the JSA members must stop. It turns out the men threatened were once friends in the same town and all demonstrated singular musical talents, all save one, and he is the villain behind the plot to end the music produced by the others who have found successful careers.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox with Jack Kirby and Joe Simon handling Chapter 5. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Cover, Introduction, Chapter 4 & Conclusion), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 1, 2 & 6), Chester Kozlak (Chapter 3), Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (Chapter 5), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 7), and Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 8).
"The Movie that Changed a Man's Life" is a strange one. The JSA is contacted by the industrial magnate Jason Rogers who is being besieged by the villain known only as "The Monster". Further Rogers reveals that there is a movie in his possession which when seen had caused the death of his wife and the loss of all his friends. He has turned to the JSA in desperation to end the predations of The Monster's threats to his businesses and holdings. The fanged villain merely laughs as he knows the JSA members are headed his way. Though featured on the cover and in the group scenes, The Sandman does not get his own chapter.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Cover, Introduction, Chapter 3 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 4,5 & 6), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 2), and Howard Sherman (Chapter 8).
"The Man Who Relived His Life!" is a bizarre tale for sure. Professor Everson, who had previously sent the JSA on time travel jaunts, asks for their help when a man named Joe Fitch is on his deathbed. Fitch had swallowed a drug which proved lethal to him but allowed Everson to know that another drug was beneficial. His sacrifice was a noble one, but Fitch wishes to die with clear conscience and as it turns out he's led a life full of violence and crime. Everson arranges to transport the JSA members back to different parts of Fitch's life and help him to avoid making poor decisions. They agree and see the team get involved with all manner of events from history. Though he's not shown on the cover, he does rate his own chapter this is Sandman's final appearance in the collection.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Cover, Introduction, Chapter 2 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 3,4 & 6), Bernard Bailey (Chapter 2), and Joe Kubert (Chapter 5).
"A Cure for the World" is one of the strangest of the JSA stories here. Also going by the title "The Test of Time", this yarn has the JSA empowered by the personification of mankind's collective conscience travel to various time periods where they must overcome the prejudices of each era and situation. Each hero is robbed of his modern sophistication and must rely on his personal desire for fairness and good to overcome the hatreds they encounter. Whether its cavemen, ancient Greeks, frightened Puritans, enraged French peasants, or fearful luddites, the team must overcome to show the youth of today what real progress and brotherhood is. The story ends with a big rally of young people saying the pledge.
"The Plunder of the Psycho-Pirate" introduces another classic JSA villain, this time one who uses the emotions of people and our heroes against themselves to fulfill his need for crime and to exert pressure on a newspaper publisher. Each member of the team is challenged individually by the mysterious villain to confront the emotions of Love, Hate, Fear, Conceit, Greed, and Despair. As will come as a surprise to nearly no reader, the villain himself is closer than the heroes think.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox. The art was handled by Joe Gallagher (Cover, Introduction, Chapter 6 & Conclusion), Sheldon Moldoff (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 2, 3 & 4), and Cliff Young and Steve Brodie (Chapter 5).
"This is Our Enemy!" is more propaganda for the wartime audience. In the past the stories of this kind have been about strengthening the bonds of Americans and others across the world against a common enemy. In this story, the very nature of that enemy is exposed as Germans are presented as having been singularly warlike over the course of hundreds of years. Sadly, it's the very jingoism often preached against in other JSA stories, but understandable given the desperation of the war effort abroad. A young man is uncertain if he should enlist to battle the German threat overseas, so the JSA with the help of the personified Conscience of Mankind sends the fellow back to various eras of German history where he learns of the relentless warlike nature of German leaders. Flash and Green Lantern turn up in cameos, but this issue is most notable in that both Wildcat and Mr. Terrific debut in separate chapters.
The script this issue was handled by Gardner Fox. The art was handled by Martin Naydel (Introduction & Conclusion), Joe Kubert (Chapter 1), Stan Aschmeier (Chapters 2, 3 & 6), and Joe Gallagher (Cover and Chapters 4 & 5).
Also included in each issue is a Hop Harrigan text story. I haven't taken the time to document those, however. DC also includes some fun advertising bits and bobs. It was remarkable how little Wonder Woman participated in the team, almost as if she'd been shunted to "Honorary" status alongside other heroes carrying their own titles. But it's not made official in anyway.
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