Review by Win Wiacek

After the actual invention of the comic superhero, the most significant event in the industry’s history was the combination of individual sales-points into a group. Thus what seems blindingly obvious to us with the benefit of four-colour hindsight was proven: a multitude of popular characters could multiply readership simply by appearing together.

Plus, of course, a mob of superheroes is just so much cooler than one (or one-and-a-half if there are sidekicks involved).

The creation of the Justice Society of America in 1941 utterly changed the shape of the budding industry. Oddly DC’s next team never settled on a name, and the collection of non-super powered mystery men who gathered in Leading Comics were only retroactively and alternatively dubbed The Law’s Legionnaires or The Seven Soldiers of Victory.

The full contents of this bombastic barrage of comic bravado were originally spanned Winter 1941/1942 to Autumn 1942 and, following a fascinating history lesson and potted biography of the component crusaders by R.C. Harvey, the glamour and glory begins.

The sagas all follow a basic but extremely effective formula, established by scripter Mort Weisinger in the first adventure when dying criminal genius the Hand draws up a ‘Blueprint for Crime’ (illustrated by George Papp) to leave a lasting legacy of villainy. Unable to carry out his perfidious plans in person, he subcontracts a fistful of macabre felons, but insisted they warn their particular heroic arch-enemies as part of the triumphal deal.

Following a trail of breadcrumbs, Green Arrow and Speedy, the Shining Knight, Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, Crimson Avenger and the Vigilante stumble upon each other to share their knowledge of the grand scheme. They soon separate again to tackle their own particular antagonists in stories by other creative teams, although Papp continues as illustrator for Green Arrow.

Regular creative team Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman take the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy to Panama, where ectomorphic assassin the Needle tries to steal a seismic ray gun and shatter the Canal Zone and American trade. Then Jack Lehti reveals how Crimson Avenger (and Asian American sidekick Wing) bag blue-collar mobster Big Caesar.

Arthurian paladin the Shining Knight slept in ice until defrosted in 1941, where his magic sword, armour and winged horse made Sir Justin a formidable foe of injustice. Here he battles the Red Dragon (illustrated by Creig Flessel) to free a lost Native American tribe from a sinister slaver, whilst undisputed artistic star of the show Mort Meskin reveals in stunning style how the Vigilante saves Hollywood’s glitterati from the diabolical Dummy.

With each subordinate subdued, the heroes simultaneously closed on the Hand to end the dying dastard’s depredations in Weisinger and Papp’s explosive finale.

Three further raw, wild and excessively engaging capers are actually some of the most neglected thrillers of the halcyon 1940s. Still modern tastes too have moved on, and yet despite the poor handling of the Chinese American Wing,  these gritty yarns are probably far more in tune with contemporary mores. It makes this a truly guilty pleasure for all fans of mystery, mayhem and stylish superteam tussles. More in Volume 2.