No offense, but I don't see History 101 here as being real useful to me. I'd rather be out kicking butt, y'know? 
JSA Secret Files and Origins #1 is an issue of the series JSA Secret Files and Origins (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1999.
Synopsis for "Gathering Storms"
Wesley Dodds, the retired mystery man once known as the Sandman stands at the peak of Mt. Kalaish in Western Tibet. His old colleague, Speed Saunders scales the mountain and meets with him, inquiring about recent events. The mysterious Gray Man interrupts their meeting, and it becomes apparent that an event of cosmic significance is soon to take place. The Gray Man tells Wes and Speed the location of three possible living vessels, which may soon harness the power of the Lord of Order, Nabu. This child is destined to become the new Doctor Fate. After delivering the information, both the Gray Man and Speed Saunders disappear.
A powerful mystic known as the Dark Lord arrives and demands to know the location of the Fate child. Wes does not intend to give up the information and keeps the Dark Lord at bay with a blast of sleeping gas. He then turns and flings himself from the mountaintop to his doom.
Some time later, Wes' old colleagues in the Justice Society of America learn of his fate. They go out to find other surviving team members in order to tell them the news and inform them of any pending memorial service.
Sentinel flies to Knight Observatory in Opal City where he tells Ted Knight, Jack Knight and Courtney Whitmore of Wes' fate. The Flash meanwhile, tracks the new Hourman to Hartford, Connecticut and delivers the same news.
In New York City, Al Rothstein, the super-hero formerly known as Nuklon, decides to honor the memory of his godfather, the original Atom, and his grandfather, Cyclotron, by naming himself Atom Smasher.
Hippolyta tracks down the Black Canary and helps her beat up a gang of criminals (who all possess the exact same physical features). She then tells her of Dodds' death, and the pending JSA reunion.
In West Texas, Speed Saunders' granddaughter, Kendra dons the Nth Metal wings of her late aunt, Shiera Hall, and becomes the new Hawkgirl.
In upstate New York, Sanderson Hawkins, the former ward of Wesley Dodds suffers from a horrible nightmare. The power of prophetic dreaming, once possessed by Wes Dodds, has been passed down, and Sanderson sees visions of the immediate future.
Appearing in "Gathering Storms"
Featured Characters:
- Atom Smasher (First appearance as Atom Smasher)
- Black Canary
- Hawkgirl (First appearance)
- Sanderson Hawkins
- Hourman
- Justice Society of America
- Starman
- Star-Spangled Kid
Supporting Characters:
- Wesley Dodds (Dies)
- Speed Saunders
- Ted Knight
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- The Atom (Al Pratt) (In a photograph only)
- Dian Belmont (Mentioned only)
- Black Canary (Dinah Drake) (In a photograph only)
- Snapper Carr (Mentioned only)
- Cyclotron (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) (In a photograph only)
- Pat Dugan (Mentioned only)
- Gray Man
- Jade (In a photograph only)
- Mr. Terrific (Terry Sloane) (In a photograph only)
- Nabu (Mentioned only)
- Oracle (Mentioned only)
- Sylvester Pemberton (Mentioned only)
- Shiera Sanders (Mentioned only)
- Louis Sendak (Mentioned only)
- The Stalker (Mentioned only)
- Jakob Tolzmann (Mentioned only)
- Rex Tyler (Mentioned only)
- Rick Tyler (Mentioned only)
- Wendi Harris Tyler (Mentioned only)
- Wonder Woman (Mentioned only)
- Zatara (In a photograph only)
Locations:
- New Earth
- United States of America
- Connecticut
- Hartford
- Tyler Chemical
- Hartford
- New York
- Opal City
- Rhode Island (Mentioned only)
- Happy Harbor (Mentioned only)
- Texas
- Connecticut
- Western Tibet
- Mt. Kailash
- The Dreaming (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
Items:
Synopsis for "Lost Pages: Black Canary and Fate: Dead Ends"
Black Canary meets Fate at a rough-looking biker bar. She tells him that Wes Dodds, the original Sandman has recently died, and invites him to attend the memorial service. Jared has never even heard of the Sandman and has no interest in honoring his memory.
As they converse, Jared points out that one of the angry bar patrons is actually a demon, looking for trouble. The two heroes jump into the fray and break up the fight. After which, Fate teleports them both to a more quiet location.
Dinah again asks him to attend the funeral in recognition of the original JSA's legacy. Fate reminds her, that unlike she, he never chose to live in the shadow of the Justice Society. His current lifestyle was thrust upon him. He tells Dinah that he has no interest in joining a modern version of the JSA. Dinah tells him that the JSA doesn't exist, but Fate can see the destinies of others. There will be a new Justice Society.
Appearing in "Lost Pages: Black Canary and Fate: Dead Ends"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Claws
- Mordru
- Sons of Anubis
Other Characters:
- Black Canary (Dinah Drake) (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Fate (Inza Cramer) (Mentioned only)
Items:
Synopsis for "JSA Timeline"
Timeline
Appearing in "JSA Timeline"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for "History 101"
Sentinel has agreed to keep an eye on Courtney Whitmore, the new Star-Spangled Kid, and help her to adapt to life with the new JSA, and the tradition that she is to uphold. He shows her a warehouse full of old souvenirs and trophies from the glory days of the Justice Society. Courtney is bored, preferring to spend her time kvetching about her stepfather, Pat Dugan. Alan shows her the original Justice Society meeting table and tells her that the spot she is sitting in is the same place where the original Star-Spangled Kid once sat. Although she scoffs at the tradition of the JSA, Courtney has developed an appreciation for her predecessor. She asks Alan to tell her more about Sylvester Pemberton.
Appearing in "History 101"
Featured Characters:
Other Characters:
- The Flash (Jay Garrick) (In a photograph only)
- The Sandman (Wesley Dodds) (In a photograph only)
- Star-Spangled Kid (Sylvester Pemberton) (In a photograph only)
- Starman (Ted Knight) (In a photograph only)
- Starwoman (Doris Lee) (In a photograph only)
- The Chordettes (Mentioned only)
- Per Degaton (Mentioned only)
- Red Tornado (John Smith) (Mentioned only)
- Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel) (Mentioned only)
- Stripesy (Mentioned only)
- The Thinker (Clifford DeVoe) (Mentioned only)
- Vulcan (Christopher Pike) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- New York City
- JSA storage
- Gotham City (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Cosmic Rod
- Doctor Fate's Half-Helmet
- The Flash (Jay Garrick)'s winged boots
- Green Lantern Power Battery
- Harlequin's spectacles and conical hat
- Hawkman (Carter Hall)'s Mace
- Hooty the Owl (taxidermised)
- Justice Society meeting table
- Merry's costume
- Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel)'s helmet
- Robotman (Robert Crane) robotic body
- Robbie the Robot Dog
- Sandman's Gas Gun
- Spectre statue
- Star-Spangled Kid's uniform
- Thinker's Thinking Cap
- Uncle Sam's top-hat
- Vulcan (Christopher Pike)'s axe
- Wirepoon
- Zatara's top-hat
- 31st Century robot
- Future Flight Packs
- Jovian Metal Creature
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "JSA Headquarters"
Headquarters
Appearing in "JSA Headquarters"
Other Characters:
Locations:
Synopsis for "Profile Pages"
Profiles
Appearing in "Profile Pages"
Featured Characters:
- Atom Smasher
- Black Canary
- Dark Lord
- Doctor Fate
- Doctor Mid-Nite
- Charlie (Cameo)
- Extant
- The Flash (Jay Garrick)
- The Flash (Barry Allen) (Mentioned only)
- Impulse (Cameo)
- The Flash (Wally West) (Cameo)
- Hawkgirl
- Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders) (Mentioned only)
- Speed Saunders (Mentioned only)
- Hourman
- Mister Terrific
- Obsidian
- Sand
- Sentinel
- Spectre
- Starman
- Star-Spangled Kid
- S.T.R.I.P.E. (Cameo)
- Wildcat
- Batman (Mentioned only)
- Wonder Woman
Notes
- "Gathering Storms" was reprinted in JSA: Justice Be Done and JSA Omnibus, Volume 1.
- "Lost Pages: Black Canary and Fate: Dead Ends" was reprinted in JSA: Return of Hawkman.
- "History 101" was reprinted in Justice Society Returns!.
- This storylines from this issue continue in JSA #1.
- The opening page to this issue is a montage poster illustrated by Michael Bair.
- This is the first appearance of Al Rothstein as Atom Smasher. Prior to this issue, he used the heroic identity, Nuklon.
- Behind the scenes appearance by Doctor Fate (Hector Hall). Hector won't fully come into his power until JSA #4.
- Fate chronologically appeared last in Living Assault Weapons #1. He appears next in JSA #1.
- This is the first appearance of Kendra Saunders, the new Hawkgirl. She appears next in JSA #2.
- Mordru is only referred to as the Dark Lord in this issue. This is Mordru's first appearance in the 20th century. He is usually found plaguing the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th century.
- First appearance of Sanderson Hawkins as Sand. In the Golden Age era, he was known as Sandy the Golden Boy.
- Final appearance of the Golden Age Sandman. Sandman chronologically appeared last in Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason #1.
Trivia
- This issue includes a two-page blueprint of the newly renovated JSA Headquarters. The headquarters will make its first modern appearance in JSA #1.
- "History 101":
- Doctor Mid-Nite's old pet companion, Hooty the Owl can be seen amongst the various bricabrac. This suggests that one of the JSA caretakers had Hooty stuffed at some point in the intervening years.
- Goitrude can be seen in the troophy room, but this is impossible. "She" was destroyed by Sinestro. A second Goitrude, capable of interstellar travel, is owned currently by Doiby Dickles.
- This issue includes a two-page timeline of events, chronicling the actions of the Justice Society of America from the Golden Age until the present.
- In Doctor Mid-Nite's profile, he is seen wearing a costume that he has never worn either in Doctor Mid-Nite (Volume 1) or in JSA (Volume 1).
See Also
- Cover gallery for the JSA Secret Files and Origins series
- Images from JSA Secret Files and Origins Vol 1 1
Recommended Reading
- Justice Society Recommended Reading
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Squadron (Volume 1)
- America vs. the Justice Society (Volume 1)
- Infinity Inc. (Volume 1)
- JSA (Volume 1)
- JSA: All Stars (Volume 1)
- JSA Classified (Volume 1)
- JSA: Strange Adventures (Volume 1)
- JSA vs. Kobra (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 2)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 4)
- Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
