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in: Sheldon Mayer/Executive Editor, Everett E. Hibbard/Cover Artist, Gardner Fox/Writer,
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All-Star Comics Vol 1 8

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"Justice Society: "Two New Members Win Their Spurs"": Circa 1941-June: Professor Elba develops an insanity serum that causes some men to believe they are animals, and others to have phobic panic reactions to ordinary light. He distributes this serum to some gangsters. [[Charles McNider (New E


Quote1.png Chin up, and keep 'em flying! Quote2.png
— Hawkgirl

All-Star Comics #8 is an issue of the series All-Star Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1942. It was published on October 21, 1941.

Synopsis for Justice Society: "Two New Members Win Their Spurs"

Circa 1941-June:[1] Professor Elba develops an insanity serum that causes some men to believe they are animals, and others to have phobic panic reactions to ordinary light. He distributes this serum to some gangsters. Dr. Mid-Nite finds out about it and investigates the professor's lab, where he discovers a cure, "Solution K". Then he goes to visit the Justice Society.

The JSA members arrive at their headquarters for their regular meeting, and learn that each has had difficulty on their own most recent cases of racketeering and fraud, because of key witnesses having suddenly gone insane and becoming terrified of light. Dr. Mid-Nite arrives and tells them about Prof. Elba and his insanity virus, and equips them with some Solution K.

Each JSA member revisits his most recent case, applies Mid-Nite's antidote to the affected witnesses, busts the assorted blackmailers and racketeers and frauds who'd been supplied by Elba. Doctor Mid-Nite learns that a former commissioner named John Graw had been turned insane due to Elba's formula, while Doctor Fate finds that a group of racketeers have used the serum to blackmail a bus line owner. The Atom becomes involved in a jewelry scam syndicate, which likewise leads back to Professor Elba's handiwork. The Sandman exposes a group of criminals who have been running a celebrity photograph racket, while Starman investigates two thugs attempting to blackmail a high-profile political figure. Hawkman and the Spectre each disrupt similar criminality, then each gets onto the trail of Elba himself. With one exception . . .

Johnny Thunder goes to the mansion of Oscar K. Doodle to wring a confession out of him for selling supplies of inadequate cement. While there, he runs afoul of Professor Elba, who captures him. At Elba's laboratory, Johnny stubbornly does not want to summon his Thunderbolt for help, believing he can solve the case himself. But accidentally, Johnny says the magic words anyway, and the Thunderbolt brings the JSA to his rescue. Dr. Mid-Nite is brought to the lab as well, and follows Elba into a darkened room, where they briefly fight. Professor Elba attacks Oscar Doodle with his serum, but Dr. Mid-Nite deflects the evil scientist's blow. The needle jabs itself into Elba's own arm, and he falls backwards out an upstairs window to his doom.

Dr. Mid-Nite is welcomed into the JSA, joining Starman as a new member. Johnny Thunder names Hooty the Owl as the team's official mascot.

Appearing in Justice Society: "Two New Members Win Their Spurs"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Brain Wave (Behind the scenes)
  • Boss Williams
  • Butch
  • Goopy Gus Gluck
  • Hartford Dormly
  • Hunt (Dies)
  • Louie Scaloni
  • O'Hoolihy
  • Professor Elba (Dies)
  • Sam Brent
  • Watkins (Dies)
  • Whitey Wolf

Other Characters:

  • B. Jamieson Baker
  • Billy
  • Bill Benson
  • John Graw
  • Kenneth Spring
  • Marge Benson
  • Mister Corson
  • Oscar K. Doodle
  • Preston Nevel

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:




Synopsis for Hop Harrigan: "Sky Cutups"

Hop Harrigan's partner, Tank Tinker, assumes the guise of Super-Duper Man and decides to perform several dangerous aerial maneuvers in Hop's sports plane, the Sprite. Rather than fly with Hop however, Tank flies with a new pilot, Tanner.

As crowds gather at the airfield, everyone grows amazed as the Justice Society of America arrives to witness Super-Duper Man's spectacle. Tank performs three stunt maneuvers, but each one culminates in a near disaster. First, Superman must fly out onto the field to prevent the Sprite from crashing into the ground. Later, Tank parachutes from the plane and lands in a lake. As the folds of the parachute threaten to pull him down beneath the water's surface, the Flash races out to drag him to shore. Still later, Hawkman must outpace the Sprite to prevent a wing-walking disaster. After three near-fatalities, Tank decides to leave the stunt flying to Hop.

Appearing in Hop Harrigan: "Sky Cutups"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • None

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

  • None

Vehicles:

  • The Sprite

Synopsis for "Introducing Wonder Woman"

U.S. Army Intelligence pilot Steve Trevor flies his fighter across the Atlantic in search of a Nazi spy. His jet runs out of fuel and he crashes lands on Paradise Island. Two Amazons, Diana and Mala recover him and bring him to their hospital. Diana spends several days nursing his wounds and slowly begins to fall in love with him. Her mother, Queen Hippolyta reminds the Amazon that men are forbidden to set foot on Paradise Island, much less remain there. She declares that as soon as Trevor is fit for travel, he is to be returned to the United States.

During Steve's convalescence, Hippolyta and Diana uses the Magic Sphere to divine the nature of Steve's arrival on the island. They look into the past and learn of Trevor's secret mission.

Two Nazi agents named Von Storm and Fritz hijacked an experimental robot plane and attempted to bomb an army airfield. Trevor heroically took control of the plane and drove the Nazis away. He was in pursuit of Fritz' fighter across the ocean, when he crashed on the Island.

Hippolyta decrees that an Amazon agent should be sent to the United States to aid the American in their fight against the Nazis. She holds a great tournament to determine which of her warriors should act as their goodwill ambassador. Diana wants to participate in the tournament, but Hippolyta forbids it.

Diana disguises herself with a simple mask and enters the tournament anyway. She masters every competition and becomes one of two finalists to compete in the Bullets and Bracelets competition. Diana defeats her opponent, Mala, and reveals her true identity to the crowd. Hippolyta agrees to allow Diana to travel to the United States. She provides her with a patriotic costume and bestows upon her the name of Wonder Woman.

Appearing in "Introducing Wonder Woman"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Nazi Party
    • Fritz (Single appearance)
    • Von Storm (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Concepts:

Vehicles:


Notes

Justice Society of America Notes

  • The first story in this issue is divided into nine chapters.

Hop Harrigan Notes

  • This story is a two-page text feature.
  • This story features a rare guest-appearance by the Justice Society of America. The story states that the entire team is present, but only those members listed above are referenced by name.

Wonder Woman Notes

Trivia

  • Professor Elba also goes by the name of Professor Able in this issue. Able is Elba spelled backwards.
  • Throughout this issue, Bill Benson is also referred to as Bill Ford. No reason is given for the interchangeable names.
  • Big Red, Hawkman's pet hawk is seen talking in this issue.


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

  1. ↑ All-Star Squadron #20
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