The Black Dragon versus the Justice Battalion

I swore I'd never do it again but...

I am going to try to read another Golden Age Justice Society of America comic book (All-Star Comics #12, AUG-SEP 1940), if for no other reason than to dissuade you from ever trying to do so yourself.

Oh gods this is AFTER Flash and Green Lantern left; I'm doomed.

This the first outing of Justice Society as the "Justice Battalion", meaning... well, nothing really.  It just meant FDR gave them a new nickname and permission to fight against the Axis with his blessing (and some coordination by Uncle Sam)

And by that I mean The Federal Government, not the CHARACTER, who had much more important things to do, like give piggy-back rides.

The war was too big to be ignored in comic books and editors had to find ways of making their heroes' adventures fit into war-time storytelling.

Except of course for Batman who always does whatever the heck he wants;
he was playing keep away with Catwoman while other heroes -- government pawns that they are! -- fought Uncle Sam's war.

The Flash and Green Lantern, being popular AND sensible, had gotten their own comic books and so had already left the JSA.  

I guess it makes sense that Jay would be the fastest one OUT of the JSA.

Green Lantern was only in nine issues of the JSA.
That's about the length of an average Geoff Johns story.

As I regularly remind people, the JSA is not so much the JLA's conceptual predecessor as it's conceptual opposite.  The JLA was composed of the DCU's most popular and iconic heroes; the JSA was composed only of characters NOT popular or iconic enough to have their own comic book series. At times, it REALLY shows.

In this issue, actual comic book star Wonder Woman becomes the JSA secretary, 

Starman always had a way with words. And oomphy way.

This not so much because She Was The Woman (like everyone assumes), but to explain why she didn't get story segments of her own, because she was a STAR in her own comic. The POINT of the JSA was to showcase these also-rans and Wonder Woman only did cameos in the hope that her popularity would boost interest.

The cover is proof of that, if proof were needed.

She was already a busy lady and none of these feebs were up to the task of saving Steve Trevor's bacon on the regular.

The premise for this series of stories is that the "Justice Battalion" has been asked by the feds to look into an Axis subversive organization called "The Black Dragon".  Who are they?

A shadowy tong headed by a war-mongering self-centered elder who has a very high opinion of himself, a very low opinion of his countrymen, and wields power through a fanatical cult.
Thanks goodness America is safe from such things!

They also double as a pre-explosion Kryptonian cos-play society.

Major Exposition shows up from the Pentagon to give the JSAers their assignments.

Actually, this was before the Pentagon, but you get the idea.  The JSAers don't care WHERE their assignments come from as long as they GET ASSIGNMENTS. They can't live without them!

There are eight inventors who've been kidnapped along with their war-relevant inventions.

Unlike me!

Eight? How terribly convenient.

"Count me out, boys! While you're off beating up racist caricatures, I'll stay here and battle The God of War himself, along with his divine minions."

I am deeply moved by the sad sight of the godlike Spectre, disappointedly opening what he had hoped was a Valentine from the Little Red-Haired Girl.

I am impressed, however, that even the Golden Age, the writers found the time to call themselves on their own BS, in anticipation of potential reader objections:

Whatever helps you sleep at night, you deserter.

So off "the boys" go to fight the Black Dragon.  Oh, and despite Wonder Woman's clearly superior "star" status, Golden Age writers were not above some standard sex-stereotyping:

"Wistful"? More like dumbstruck by how much their enthusiasm outstrips their confidence.

Tomorrow we join JSA Chairman Hawkman on HIS part of the adventure.  Will he be saving an AERIAL invention, as would be thematically appropriate? You'll see...!