All-Star Comics Vol 1

{{Volume Template
 * LogoImage              =
 * IssueImage             = All-Star Comics 3.jpg
 * Publisher              = All-American Publications
 * Type                   = Ongoing Series
 * TotalIssues            = 74
 * StartMonth             = Summer
 * StartYear              = 1940
 * EndMonth               = September
 * EndYear                = 1978

All-Star Comics was a ongoing comic book series that debut the beginning of the world's first superhero team, the Justice Society of America. The team does not actually form until the third installment of the title after two showcase styled books. The third book has the eight superheroes meeting up on the street on the way to a pre-determined meeting. Once at the meeting they introduce themselves, set some membership rules, and then regale each other with stories. There is also a legendary appearance of the first Red Tornado at this meeting, albeit brief and missing certain threads. Once the fourth title does roll around a long held tradition in comics history is born. The concept by legendary writer Gardner Fox is to bookend each story with the collection of superheroes meeting up at the beginning and end of each story, then each superhero would have their own adventure story between the bookends that would accomplish a showcase of that superhero and further the overall plot.
 * Creators               = Gardner Fox; Jerry Siegel
 * Featured               = Justice Society; Power Girl
 * StoryArcs              =
 * Crossovers             =
 * History                =

For the next twelve years this format would be adhered to with some alterations. The showcase concept is important when you consider that even though this title was technically an effort by All American Publications the first superheroes to appear in the title represented both All American and National Periodical Publications. The Spectre, Dr. Fate, Hourman and the Sandman were provided by National and The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and the Atom were provided by All American. At the time of the appearance of All Star Comics the superhero world was its infancy and yet this was the single greatest period of character creation in the history of superhero comics. Of course not necessarily from a super-villain's viewpoint.

All Star Comics would go on to introduce Wonder Woman, and showcase new superheroes like Starman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Black Canary, Mister Terrific, and Wildcat. The All Star concept is not all that dissimilar from sports when one considers that an all star baseball team is formed from the popular and the favored players, but not necessarily from the best players. This is a loose description but it fits when you look at the early concept of membership in the Justice Society. If you became popular as a member of the Justice Society(i.e. You received your own comic book title) you would then become an "honorary" member of the Justice Society and would be dropped from appearing in the title. Superman and Batman were immediately added in All Star 3 as "honorary" members and then one after the other The Flash and The Green Lantern became "honorary" members as the titles Flash Comics and Green Lantern subsequently appeared. Bye Bye GL and Flash from All Star.

This might indicate that those left behind on the title were not as popular as those who were leaving for ...greener pastures? After GL and the Flash left Hawkman would become the leader of the Justice Society and would retain this position throughout the Golden Age. The Atom was considered to be a very mediocre character but he stuck around as the second longest appearing superhero next to Hawkman himself in the title. Green Lantern and Flash would both return to the title even though Hawkman remained in charge. Superman and Batman would also eventually appear as members of the Justice Society in their own showcase pieces.

All Star Comics was canceled in the early 1950s which was way beyond the end of the superhero boom but it would not take all that long before another superhero boom was in the works and the Justice Society would be resurrected with help from the emerging fandom boom. In those early days of fandom it was a sign of dedication to comics to have a complete set... of All Star Comics.


 * IssueList              =

1976 revival

 * SpecialName1           = *All-Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1
 * SpecialYear1           =


 * SpecialName2           = *JSA Returns: All-Star Comics #1
 * SpecialYear2           =


 * SpecialName3           = *JSA Returns: All-Star Comics #2
 * SpecialYear3           =


 * SpecialName4           = *Millennium Edition: All-Star Comics #3
 * SpecialYear4           =


 * SpecialName5           = *Millennium Edition: All-Star Comics #8
 * SpecialYear5           = February, 2001


 * TradePaperbackName1    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 1
 * TradePaperbackYear1    = 1992


 * TradePaperbackName2    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 2
 * TradePaperbackYear2    = 1992


 * TradePaperbackName3    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 3
 * TradePaperbackYear3    =


 * TradePaperbackName4    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 4
 * TradePaperbackYear4    =


 * TradePaperbackName5    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 5
 * TradePaperbackYear5    =


 * TradePaperbackName6    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 6
 * TradePaperbackYear6    =


 * TradePaperbackName7    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 7
 * TradePaperbackYear7    =


 * TradePaperbackName8    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 8
 * TradePaperbackYear8    =


 * TradePaperbackName9    = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 9
 * TradePaperbackYear9    =


 * TradePaperbackName10   = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 10
 * TradePaperbackYear10   =


 * TradePaperbackName11   = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 11
 * TradePaperbackYear11   =


 * TradePaperbackName12   = *All-Star Comics Archives Volume 0
 * TradePaperbackYear12   = 2006


 * TradePaperbackName13   = *Justice Society
 * TradePaperbackYear13   =

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 * SeeAlso                =