The next Justice Society storyline starts on Tuesday, thus I am looking back at my favorite storyline from my favorite superhero team. I am going to give spoiler free summaries.
10. Virtue and Vice
| Members | Black Adam, Captain Marvel, Dr. Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Sandman, Stargirl, Wildcat |
| Villain(s) | Despero, the seven deadly sins, and Johnny Sorrow |
| Year | 2003 |
| Writer(s) | Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer |
| Penciler(s) | Carlos Pancheco |
| Most Main Character | Stargirl? |
My favorite JSA/JLA crossover. Mostly a lighthearted fun story.
9. The Hunt for Extant
| Members | Atom Smasher, Black Canary, Dr. fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hourman, Metron, Mr. Terrific, Sandman, Stargirl, Starman, Star-Spangled Kid, Wildcat, and Wonder Woman |
| Villains(s) | Extant and Kobra |
| Year | 2000 |
| Writer(s) | Johns and Goyer |
| Penciler(s) | Stephen Sadowski |
| Most Main Character | Atom Smasher |
Unlike the previous pick this is a really dark one that made me realize how special this run would be.
8. JSA/JSA
| Members | Atom, Atom Smasher, Dr. Mid-Nite, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Hourman, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Mr. Terrific, Johnny Thunder, Johnny Thunder, Sandman, Sandman, Stargirl, Starman, and Wonder Woman |
| Villains(s) | Per Degaton, etc. |
| Year | 2004-2005 |
| Writer(s) | Johns |
| Penciler(s) | Don Kramer |
| Most Main Character | Stargirl |
A big crossover between two eras of the team (there are many heroes with no or little words that I did not list). This is a dark storyline where the main characters have to come to terms with their predecessors’ flaws and badly need their help.
7. All-Star Comics 37
| Members | Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Johnny Thunder, Wonder Woman |
| Villains(s) | Brainwave, Gambler, Per Degaton, Thinker, Vandal Savage, Wizard |
| Year | 1946 |
| Writer(s) | Robert Kanigher |
| Penciler(s) | Irwin Hasen |
| Most Main Character | Green Lantern |
The first ever time a team of supervillains was introduced, and it made a very solid and weird storyline full of odd twists and a growing sense of dread. It is lighthearted superhero action.
6. Out of Time
| Members | Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hourman, Hourman, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Sandman, and Stargirl |
| Villains(s) | Extant and Grundy |
| Year | 2004 |
| Writer(s) | Johns |
| Penciler(s) | Kramer |
| Most Main Character | Hourman |
Bring on the waterworks.
5. Thy Kingdom Come
| Members | Atom Smasher, Amazing Man, Cyclone, Citizen Steel, Damage, Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, Jesse Quick, Johnny Thunder, Judomaster, Magog, Mr. America, Mr. Terrific, Obsidian, Power Girl, Sandman, Stargirl, Starman, Superman, Wildcat, and Wildcat |
| Villains(s) | Gog, Etc, |
| Year | 2007-2008 |
| Writer(s) | Johns and Alex Ross |
| Penciler(s) | Dale Eaglesham, Jerry Ordway, Fernardo Passarin, and Ross |
| Most Main Character | Superman |
The Justice Society grows to huge numbers, and the villain attacks them internally in a long epic.
4. Black Reign
| Members | Atom, Atom Smasher, Black Adam, Captain Marvel, Dr. Mid-Nite, Dr. Fate, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Power Girl, Stargirl, and Wildcat |
| Villains(s) | Atom Smasher, Black Adam, Brainwave, Eclipso, Mr. Mind, Nemesis, and Northwind |
| Year | 2004 |
| Writer(s) | Johns |
| Penciler(s) | Kramer and Rags Morales |
| Most Main Character | Atom Smasher |
The team battles many of their reserve members while trying to figure out if they are even on the right side. The darkest comic book I ever read.
3. My Heroes
| Members | Flash, Hourman, Sandman, Stargirl |
| Villains(s) | None |
| Year | 2006 |
| Writer(s) | Johns |
| Penciler(s) | Eaglesham |
| Most Main Character | Stargirl |
A one shot where Stargirl comes to terms with her unheroic origins.
2. Black Vengeance
| Members | Atom Smasher, Black Adam, Captain Marvel, Dr. Mid-Nite, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Power Girl, Sandman, Stargirl, Johnny Thunder, and Wildcat |
| Villains(s) | Spectre, Eclipso, and Black Adam |
| Year | 2005 |
| Writer(s) | Johns |
| Penciler(s) | Kramer, Sadowski, and Leonard Kirk |
| Most Main Character | Atom Smasher |
In the sequel to Black Reign Spectre attacks Kahndaq forcing Atom Smasher’s return.
1. Princes of Darkness
| Members | Atom Smasher, Black Adam, Captain Marvel, Dr. Mid-Nite, Dr. Fate, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, Mr. Terrific, Power Girl, Sandman, Stargirl, and Wildcat |
| Villains(s) | Eclipso, Kobra, Mordru, and Obsidian |
| Year | 2003 |
| Writer(s) | Johns and Goyer |
| Penciler(s) | Sal Velluto and Kirk |
| Most Main Character | Green Lantern |
Several of the team’s mega threats from the past 45 issues unite together in a surprise attack.
For the hall of fame Johns wins writer with 9 spots. Don Kramer wins penciler with 4 spots. Eclipso wins villain spot with 3.
| 10 | |
| 9 | Dr. Mid-Nite, Flash, Green Lantern, Hourman, Stargirl |
| 8 | Mr. Terrific, Sandman, |
| 7 | Hawkman, |
| 6 | Hawkgirl, Wildcat, |
| 5 | Johnny Thunder, Power Girl |
| 4 | Black Adam, Captain Marvel, Dr. Fate, |
| 3 | |
| 2 | Wonder Woman |
| 1 |
I made some judgement calls on if some heroes should actually be on the list or if they were just in the background. I felt I was being generous to Hawkgirl and hard on Johnny Thunder and Power Girl. The biggest surprise is how low Wildcat is. I heard that he has the most appearances in JSA in a tie with Stargirl, so I thought he would have at least 7 or 8.
I look forward to the next storyline and seeing if it can make the list.
The Animation Historian 