All-Star Squadron Annual #3
Publisher: DC Comics
Date: 1984
Cover Price: $1.25

Writer: Roy Thomas
Researcher: dann Thomas
Colorist: Gene d’Angelo
Letters:Cody & I. Lois Buhalis
Artists: Rick Hoberg, Jerry Ordway, Rich Buckler, Wayne Boring, Richard Howell, Carmine Infantino, Don Newton, Mart Nodell, George Perez, Keith Giffen
Addtional Inkers: Mike Machlan, Frank Giacoia, Bill Collins, & Joe Giella

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Here it is, kids. This is the title that invented the term “retcon” in All-Star Squadron #20 (1983). All-Star Squadron was a framework within which DC was able to go back and fill in the gaps in 1940s superhero continuity. These adventures took place on Earth 2, which was of course destroyed only a publishing year later (1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths), and involved most of the heroes of the 1940s as they served as an American home guard during World War II.

This annual (41 pages - neat!) chronicles the actions of the Justice Society in 1941 as they fought Ian Karkull and his group of villains. Characters appearing in this issue include the following Golden-agers:

Heroes: (good) Tarantula, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, Spectre, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Hourman, The Atom, Sandman, Johnny Thunder, Superman, Lois Lane, Batman, Robin, The Flash, Joan Garrick, and Starman

Villains: Ian Karkull, Dr. Doog, Catwoman, Sieur Satan, Alexander the Great, Wotan, The Lightning Master, Zor, and the (evil) Tarantula

The JSA uncovers a plot to attack unknown people in different locations around the United States. They split up and we get a number of short stories detailing their separate triumphs over evil.

This story ends up explaining a number of things, including the departure of some members, the potential joining of others, and overall why these heroes have such extended longevity. All interesting stuff.

The art looks so alike throughout a lot of the book that I was surprised to see so many people had contributed. The artist with the most differences was Keith Giffen. His story was much darker and heavily inked.

I was a little shocked to see some bits of coarser language - just hell and damn, nothing too horrible. I was also shocked that these heroes sometimes failed. Green Lantern is unsuccessful in his attempt to save a young boy’s life. Those things seem so disconnected from the Golden Age ideal.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back and fully appreciate these older books. So much stuff is exposited in thought balloons, from description of on-panel action to the heroes’ raison d’etres. I know that this helps people who’ve never read the title pick up on the action - heck, that’s one of the flaws I see in today’s books - it’s just SO heavy-handed.

But it is a good primer on the old 1940’s heroes and villains. In some cases they’re so much different from the ones that we’re familiar with that it does us well to take a little walk through history.