All-Star Companion, Vol. 2 [Paperback]

Roy Thomas (Author), Carlos Pacheco (Illustrator), Jerry Ordway (Illustrator), Todd McFarlane (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2006

Roy Thomas' new sequel presents still more secrets of the Justice Society of America and All-Star Comics, from 1940 through the 1980s, featuring: A fabulous wraparound cover by Carlos Pacheco! More amazing information and speculation on the classic All-Star Comics of 1940-1951! Never-before-seen Golden Age art by Irwin Hasen, Carmine Infantino, Alex Toth, Mart Nodell, Paul Reinman, H.G. Peter, and others! Art from the unpublished 1940s JSA story The Will of William Wilson not seen in Volume 1! Rare art from the original 1963-1985 JLA-JSA team-ups and the 1970s All-Star Comics Revival by Mike Sekowsky, Dick Dillin, Joe Staton, Wally Wood, Keith Giffen, and Ric Estrada! Full coverage of the 1980s All-Star Squadron, America Vs. the Justice Society, and Last Days of the Justice Society, with a bio of every single All-Star (from Air Wave to Zatara), featuring never-seen art by Jerry Ordway, Rich Buckler, Adrian Gonzales, Todd McFarlane, and more! Plus: Notes and illos on the original 1940s DC Comics sources of Roy's All-Star Squadron stories, special JSA-related art and features by Frank Brunner, Alex Ross, Neal Adams, Gil Kane, Mike Mignola, and Ramona Fradon, and more!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Editor Thomas' All Star Companion (2004), a comprehensive guide to the 1940s comic book featuring the first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, seemed to be the last word on the subject. Apparently not, though, for here is a companion volume that turns over further stones by covering the costumed heroes of All Star's comic-strip format advertising, such as Roll-hawking Captain Tootsie; membership kits offered for 15 cents to those who joined the Junior Justice Society; and corrections and addenda to the first volume. The preponderance of volume 2 is, however, devoted not to the original 1940s series but to an issue-by-issue rundown of The All-Star Squadron, the 1970s comic reviving the JSA, which Thomas scripted. The comeback's later date suggests that this book may have a larger initial audience of nostalgics than volume 1 did, for baby boomers read Squadron; their parents, its forerunner. Remarkably, more apparently remains to be said about these characters and their exploits, and Thomas promises a third volume. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: TwoMorrows Publishing; First Edition edition (November 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893905373
• ISBN-13: 978-1893905375
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,290,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History's History, October 17, 2007

By 

N. Absentia "N" (the South) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All-Star Companion, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

This book follows up on the All Star Companion, Volume One, and is a collection of articles and recollections of DC's golden age heroes (namely the Justice Society of America, and The All-Star Squadron). There are some unique insights and interesting stories about these classic characters, and the book is filled with some rare and intriguing art. The wrap-around cover by Carlos Pacheco is fantastic.

For me, the most interesting feature was a complete synopsis (issue by issue) of the All-Star Squadron comics, complete with cover reproductions and background notes. There were also supposed to be notes on the Young All-Stars comic, but space constraints pushed this material out of the book (though it will appear in volume three). This is nothing short of a phenomenal read for fans of comicdom's golden age.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent companion for any who have followed the strip and seek more information on historical progression., April 18, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All-Star Companion, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

Collections strong in comic book artists and art will find this history of the Justice Society of America and friends to be moving: it provides more secrets of the comic characters from the 1940s through the 1980s, surveying major issues and events, providing black and white reproductions of pages, and detailing behind-the-scenes influences on adventures and character appearances. An excellent companion for any who have followed the strip and seek more information on historical progression.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep 'em flying!, March 10, 2007

By 

Delmo Walters Jr. (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All-Star Companion, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

If you liked All-Star Companion vol.1, you'll enjoy vol.2. More info on the Justice Society, plus an issue by issue review of The All-Star Squadron. I'm looking forward to vol.3!