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Sometimes being the first means leading the way. When legacies stem from your choices, you have educate the next generation following in your footsteps. This not only leads to aiding the younger, but it teaches the older generation new things as well. The Justice Society of America began as a way to help the world when it most needed it and then carried on that legacy for decades to come. What is the JSA and how did they come to be? Let’s find out!

During World War 2, it was becoming bigger than its predecessor and it was only getting worse. The Spear of Destiny was a powerful artifact and was now in the hands of the Nazis. The U.S. government recruited two of it’s super-powered masked men, Green Lantern and the Flash, to try and retrieve the relic but learned that it had the ability to control individuals with any powers. Both heroes barely got out alive but were able to return home to help establish a team to defend the home front, the Justice Society of America was born.

Heroes from all over the country would unite to work together, many of them weren’t even wielding any super powers, just grit and gumption with a mask to keep their identity safe. They would often use their headquarters as much as a base to rally as it was for them to get a respite from their adventures. Many of them not having any real base of operations in their solo endeavors, just taking off their costume and living their normal lives, so having a place to store their equipment was a huge boon.

During the 1950s, the government support turned to suspicion as fear of communism was rampant. The House of Un-American Activities Commission would find the masks to be hiding something and demand the Justice Society unmask. Forced to either reveal their identities or quit, the team disbanded, finding it easier to maintain their work solo to keep the government from catching them.

The team would eventually reform, but it would lead to what would be their last and longest mission for the world around them. Time travel would get them sent back to 1945, where their team member, The Spectre, was being effected by the Spear of Destiny. The Spectre is the wrath of God, that Abrahamic religions God, so having his powers in command by the Nazis would lead to a time paradox and unraveling of all things. The only way to stop this was to enter Ragnarok, the final battle, in a perpetual unending fight that they would win but be trapped in repeating.

Saving the world, the Justice Society was seen as taking on one last noble sacrifice for many years until they were able to be rescued by the Justice League, who was inspired by the older team. The Justice Society found themselves now several decades later, but still around the age they went in. No longer young, but not as old as they should be, the heroes were also hearing of a new generation with their own names. They had inspired a legacy, there were now more heroes carrying on their ideals.

Deciding that instead of retiring, they would open the Justice Society to this new batch to allow them to not only work with their elders, but have access to their resources. Now you could find the team having multiple heroes with the same name and general look, learning and teaching one another how to fight crime in this modern age.

There you have it! The Justice Society is one of my favorite teams as it has many of my favorite heroes, new and old, as part of it. As the first real crossover team up, it was a way to see the golden age of heroes fighting evil. Then, as time went on, training and becoming the next wave of heroes. They’ve been animated and live action on the small screen. Will they ever see a big screen debut? We’ll have to wait and see! Until then, see you next week!

Suggested Reading
All-Star Comics
Justice Society of America
JSA
JSA All-Stars

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net