Now on to part two!



Justice League of America #101

On sale July 18, 1972

Written by Len Wein
Penciled by Dick Dillin
Inked by Joe Giella
Edited by Julius Schwartz
Cover by Nick Cardy

JLA ROLL CALL: Superman, Batman, Hawkman

JSA ROLL CALL: Dr. Mid-Nite, Green Lantern, Hourman, Mr. Terrific, Robin, Sandman, Starman, Wonder Woman

7 SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ROLL CALL: Green Arrow, Stripesy, Shining Knight

GUEST STARS: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Metamorpho

and now... "THE HAND THAT SHOOK THE WORLD!"

Diana Prince waits for her friends in the JSA HQ when Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific and Robin arrive. Still no Jay and Carter, those two and Al Pratt are probably out looking for the Spectre to solve this problem. She gives us a two page recap of last issue and the other heroes leave to investigate the tomb and stop along the way to help those in trouble.

Superman, Sandman and Metamorpho: The Element Man

They travel back to an ancient Chinese village that is about to be run over by the hordes of Genghis Khan. Khan's shaman has the Shining Knight under his command and is using him to lead his armies to victory. Metamorpho tries to sneak in to speak to him, but to no avail. Superman advises they wait until morning to stop the Mongols. Superman flies up to stop the Shining Knight, but it's a magic sword so Superman makes a hasty retreat. He says "You two hold off Khan and his crew for a while! I've got something important to do!" You want to run that by me one more time Clark??? Metamorpho turns into a tank and lobs Sandman's sleep grenades at the Mongols.   Sandman gives Sir Justin an antidote to retrun him to normal just as Superman returns. Superman makes sure the Mongols won't find the village again by moving it somewhere else. In a really cool moment, the Sandman leaves his calling card on Genghis Khan. It would help if he could read English, but I digress.

Wonder Woman, Hawkman and Dr. Mid-Nite

Our heroes arrive in Medieval England and are attacked by arrows. The heroes defeat the archers who turn out to be Little John and the Merry Men. Robin Hood is about to be hanged on the morrow and the heroes have to save him. Wonder Woman brings down the castle drawbridge, Hawkman takes out the soldiers with his trusty buck and a quarter quarterstaff and Dr. Mid-Nite gets the guards. He finds Green Arrow in the cell and he reveals that Robin Hood is recovering from wounds, so he took his place. As with the other groups Oracle conveniently returns them back home.

Batman, Starman and Hourman

Of the seven groups, this is my favorite team. They are in Ancient Egypt and see Stripesy enslaved and working on building a pyramid. Since Moses doesn't seem to be around, Batman advises they wait until dark to free him. They had more time to save the world back then. They attack Stripesy's guards but one uses his whip to rob Ted of his Cosmic Rod and the heroes surrender rather than having Stripesy's throat slit. With no Cosmic Rod and Hourman off the pill it's up to Batman to save the day. He shatters Hourman's hourglass and they use the pieces to cut their bonds. Starman mentally calls on his Cosmic Rod to point the way out of their pyramid prison and then uses it to take out some guards. Stripesy frees himself with pure strength and the four heroes fight their way to escape.

On the last page we see Diana by herself as the Iron Hand approaches!

to be continued! (again? what is this the Avengers?)

JLA Mailroom: The conclusion of the Starbreaker Saga gets a mixed reaction. Probably as good a reaction as Mike Friedrich's JLA ever got.

Story: B+
Just the team ups and the cliffhanger is a good one

Art: A-
Same team, same art

Cover: B+
I just love the heads on the sides JLA covers. I'm not sure what Sandman is thinking trying to gas a giant hand, he should try using Aquaman's hammer.

Historical Significance: B
7 Soldiers of Victory/ Law's Legionnaires (mentioned by the Iron Hand in this issue) still coming back

and now the conclusion!



Justice League of America #102

On sale August 17, 1972

Written by Len Wein
Penciled by Dick Dillin
Inked by Joe Giella and Dick Giordano
Edited by Julius Schwartz
Cover by Nick Cardy

JLA ROLL CALL: Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Atom, Hawkman and Black Canary

JSA ROLL CALL: Dr. Fate, Dr. Mid-Nite, Green Lantern, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, Mr. Terrifc, Red Tornado, Robin, Sandman, Starman, Wildcat and Wonder Woman

7 SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ROLL CALL: Green Arrow, Speedy, Crimson Avenger, Star Spangled Kid, Stripesy, Shining Knight and Vigilante

GUEST STARS: Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Zatanna, Metamorpho, Elongated Man and Wing

and now... "AND ONE OF US MUST DIE!"

Oracle gives us a brief recap on parts of the story, pledged to not interfere. And we're off.

Green Arrow, Black Canary and the Incomparable Johnny Thunder

They are in the North American plains and Johnny and Ollie get into a tiff over Dinah right away. They discover the captive Vigilante and Johnny calls for the Thunderbolt. He doesn't arrive and they are captured by the braves. They escape and free the Vigilante just as the Thunderbolt shows up after a thousand years of searching. He turns a charging herd of bison into butterflies just as the Oracle returns them to the present.

Aquaman, Green Lantern and Wildcat

They are 50,000 years in the past and spy a giant Shrinky Dink looking version of the Star Spangled Kid. Green Lantern falls to the ground as there is yellow fog everywhere. Wildcat fights of the cavemen as Aquaman finds the Kid in a cave. He has the flu and has been using a crystal to keep our ancestors away from him. Suddenly, water floods the cave and sweeps them out where Green Lantern plucks them out of the water. It's been raining A LOT so the fog is gone.

The Flash, Zatanna The Magician and The Red Tornado

They find Speedy quickly, but he's been turned into a centaur. It's the work of Circe, ancient evil sorceress. Speedy is in her thrall and hits the other three with magic arrows. Flash is turned into a half snail, Red Tornado a half mole and Zatanna a hybrid hummingbird with no voice. While the other two fight one another, Zatanna uses the sound of the wings to copy her voice and cast a spell freeing them. They get Circe's wand away from her and escape home.

With everyone reunited, Johnny Thunder asks, " Who is buried in the Unknown Soldier's tomb?" Crimson Avenger explains that it was his sidekick Wing that sacrificed himself against the Nebula Man. Then the Iron Hand appears with Diana Prince in his clutches. He threatens to kill her if anyone tries to stop him. Diana of course uses her martial arts to free herself and smash his iron hand. Batman says she's "still a wonder." However, the controls of the planet sized hand were in the iron hand she just crushed! Ooops! The 7 Soldiers recreate the rod they used to defeat the Nebula Man and Superman and friends fly into space to charge it.

They have a weapon, but no one human could survive the explosion it would make when it destroys the planet sized hand. While the heroes bicker over who should deliver the weapon, the Red Tornado sneaks off with it. He also wrote a goodbye note really really quickly. Batman reads the note as the women cry. The hand and hero both vanish without a trace. He and Wing are remembered for their sacrifice.

The End!

Mailroom: One writer asks for new members while Mark Gruenwald calls for Hakwman to be the team's coordinator and live on the satellite as J'onn did decades later.

Story: A-
Not quite Vision territory, but the saga of Red Tornado has just begun. Wein did do a good job of giving everyone something to do and make a contribution in this arc. JLA/ JSA teamups are always a favorite of mine and this one is no exception.

Art: A-
Now Giordano is inking too? Sweet!

Cover: A
My favorite Nick Cardy cover of all time

Historical Significance: B
They might be back, but this set of Golden Agers wouldn't find quite the success of the team featured in next year's crossover.

Up next... a trip to Rutland, Vermont!

Are we giving A-minuses to Dick Dillin art?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #103

on sale October 10, 1972

Written by Len Wein
Penciled by Dick Dillin
Inked by Dick Gioradano
Edited by Julius Schwartz
Cover by Nick Cardy

ROLL CALL: Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and Green Arrow

GUEST STAR: Phantom Stranger

and now... "A STRANGER WALKS AMONG US!"

It is October 31st and in the town of Rutland, Vermont, a macabre ceremony is about to take place. As the clock tower chimes midnight, Mistress Sarah reveals the names of those who will die in the next 24 hours. The names are the six heroes of the JLA that appear in this story! Black Canary, Aquaman and the Atom are still on Earth 2 helping the 7 Soldiers.

The other six gather at the satellite, but who called the meeting that Batman was an hour late to? It is the Phantom Stranger who has witnessed the events in Rutland and has come to seek the help of the JLA. Thanks to Bob Haney, Batman knows who this man is and the rest of the team listens to his story. He warns the JLA that demons will be summoned to Earth that night in Rutland, Vermont, by their old nemesis Felix Faust.

Meanwhile, on a country road, we meet four travelers from New York City on their way to the Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont. They are Len Wein, his (first ) wife Glynis, Steve Englehart and Gerry Conway. The muffler has fallen off their car, but they are determined to meet up with festival host Tom Fagan that night.

The JLA searches around the town during the day, but finds nothing. Batman has an idea and they make their way into town. Our four travelers meet up with Tom Fagan  just as the JLA arrives. Batman has met Tom Fagan before (Batman #237) and Tom asks the JLA to stay and be in the town's Halloween Parade. Green
Lantern conjures up a float and the JLA joins the other floats in the parade. Suddenly, the rest of the parade disappears and the crowd is frozen. Ollie and Carter decide now is a good time to argue while Batman tells the team to split up and find the other floats.

Flash and Hawkman encounter the first group of parade goers dressed as Supergirl, Adam Strange and Commando America. That last one looks familiar, a bit skinny and the shield is a bit bulkier, but I can't quite put my finger on it. They have been possessed by demons and compelled to destroy the JLA. Our heroes are defeated by the demons and as their life energy slips away they see the Phantom Stranger approach. He takes a couple of items from the heroes and walks away. Not very helpful is he?

Batman and Green Lantern are fighting a web slinger and a thunder god that look real familiar too. Both look like they need to hit the gym though. Joined by a demon possessed Robin, they also defeat our heroes. Once again the Phantom Stranger shows up, picks up a couple of souvenirs and leaves our heroes behind.

Superman is fighting a parade goer dressed up as Captain Action, I mean Captain Marvel. The real one from Fawcett Comics not the one from where Commando America and his pals are from. Superman refers to him as The Big Cheese. Oddly enough, there is a house ad for a new Shazam! comic in this very issue. He and Green Arrow are defeated by Mr. Cheese and a Jay Garrick Flash. And, once again, Phantom Stranger collects a couple of objects from our heroes and leaves.

It is now midnight and if Felix Faust is right, the JLA members will die and he will take over the world. As each bell chimes the Phantom Stranger speaks the name of each JLAer and tosses their object into the air. It seems that the Phantom Stranger could break the spell with these objects, but they could not be given to him willingly. So he had to resort to vulture tactics to save the day. With the JLA still alive the demons are weakened enough that the JLA is able to beat them back into their home realm.

Felix Faust is upset and almost out of power. Len, Steve and Gerry stop by looking for Glynis, but they encounter Faust about to leap out a window. He jumps a couple of floors to the street and steals their car. They reunite with Glynis and their story continues elsewhere. Felix is pulled over by the cops because his car has no muffler. Out of power, Felix surrenders and the cops haul him off.

Meanwhile the six present members of the JLA vote the Phantom Stranger on to the team. I think Superman and Batman get proxy votes for the missing members, so it's a done deal. The Stranger disappears before the announcement, but Batman assures everyone that he'll be back if he's ever needed. The Phantom Stranger had his own book at the time, unlike half of the JLA, so it wasn't that big of a stretch.

The End!

JLA Mailroom: Everyone loved part one of the JLA/ JSA/ 7 Soldiers crossover.

This issue is part of the unofficial DC/ Marvel crossover concocted by the writers of the time. The other two parts happened in Amazing Adventures #16 (Englehart) and Thor #207 (Conway). This Dial B for Blog link has more details.

Story: B
Self indulgent claptrap! At least it was fun and well done unlike another story further along in our tour. I loved how Faust was captured.

Art: A-
The parade goer costumes looked great for those of less "heroic" physiques.

Cover: B+
Cardy's back in the cemetery again. You can see part of the name of Black Canary on the tombstone even though she wasn't in the issue.

Historical Importance: B
It was a fun little prank and DC/ Marvel's first crossover of sorts. The first official one was a few years away.
The Rutland Halloween Parade would be seen a few more times in comic book history. It still exists to this very day, though Tom Fagan died in 2008.
Steve Englehart and Gerry Conway would go on to make large contributions to the JLA in the rest of the 1970s when they took over the writing chores.

Up next... two classic villains unite to destroy the JLA! sort of...

Seconded. 

There are more capable artists, but I can't help but love Dillin's art. It has kind of an Aparo-ish feel and that's never a bad thing. 

I love over this span of JLA and continue loving it pretty much up until JL Detroit.  

#103 was such a tease! Back then, additions to the JLA were rare, and I remember it blew my mind to think of the Phantom Stranger, one of my favorites, joining the League. But...did he? Had he? Would he? I knew he didn't really fit the mold, but there they were, the JLA, voting him in! I remember deciding then that the only thing that mattered was the vote, and, whether he formally agreed or not, the Phantom Stranger was now a member in full standing. Not that I especially *wanted* him in the League, but loyalty demanded that I consider him a JLA-er. It probably turned out for the best that he never showed up on a routine basis for meetings or monitor duty, but instead popped in at random times when needed.