Customer Reviews

All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 8 (DC Archive Editions)

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In this collection, The JSA hits the era where the villains were more colorful and the stories a bit more serious. Comic relief Johnny Thunder no longer plays a major role and the storylines were relatively sophisticated for "Golden Age" comics. The Wizard makes his first appearance, Per Degaton's time traveling causes a number of problems for the JSA, and the epic Injustice Society storyline are all in this volume. It also includes the last appearances of Superman and Batman in the JSA and the first appearance of Black Canary with art by one of comic's greatest Alex Toth. With another excellent Roy Thomas intro, this volume contains many of the JSA's best tales.

All Star Comics (the golden age run) has two periods: the World War II Period and Post World War II period.

During World War II the super heros had a common enemy after World War II things began to drift. With their patriotic duty done and the television on its way the comic heros faced a decline. But before All Star Comics dumped its heros for western fare their came one shining light, the last glint of the golden age reprinted in All Star Archives #7 (worth it just for the Solomon Grundy dust up alone).

Volume 8 is not lacking in excitement. Here we have a scaled down Justice Society without the benefit of mystic counsel (no Spectre, Dr. Fate) or even the Sandman for that matter.

In number #34 they square off against the Wizard (a mystic foe who even today while under used still haunts the DC Universe).

In #35 the JSA fights one of their most stubborn foes Per Dagaton (who is currently feature in today's current JSA storyline) as he tries to undo progress by tampering with time itself. I'd just like to know what parents would name their kid Per Degaton??

#36 is a case so big that two of DC's biggest guns Superman and Batman have to lend a hand. This storyline spilled over to the 80's early in the run of Infintity Inc. which told the stories of the sons and daughters of the JSA before the dreaded Crisis and recon took over.

#37 has the villians team up to form an Injustice Society of their own (Holy Legion of Doom Batman). This story was reprinted in one of those 100 page DC Comics that I picked up as a kid and still love today. Der Degaton, the Wizard, the Thinker, Vandal Savage. How could this not miss.

#38 has the JSA facing off against some of histories greatest villians, but the real importance of this story is the start of the redemption of the Black Canary who at that time was considered a villian (though one with a heart of gold). This would set her up to join the JSA later on in the series, just in time to see its decline and eventual resurection in the 1960's,

Let's face it for all their crudeness there was a certain charm and vitality to these stories that you just don't see today and just can't read today 'cause the price of the originals would wreck your mortgage (and marriage).

A worthy collection for anyone's collection.

In this collection, The JSA hits the era where the villains were more colorful and the stories a bit more serious. Comic relief Johnny Thunder no longer plays a major role and the storylines were relatively sophisticated for "Golden Age" comics