JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Pre-Crisis Chronology
Original / Earth-Two
Part 3: War's End
| Sequence of Events | Issue (Date) |
|---|---|
| April 18, 1942: A squadron of B-25 bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, attacks Tokyo. The raid inflicts little actual damage, but provides a tremendous boost to American morale. One of the bomber crews secretly includes the mysterious covert operative code-named the Unknown Soldier. | Star-Spangled War Stories #151 (July 1970) |
| June 4-6, 1942: A massive battle between the American and Japanese fleets near the island of Midway sinks four Japanese aircraft carriers, the first major American naval victory in the war in the Pacific. | |
| June 10, 1942: After preventing the kidnapping of Albert Einstein in Chicago, Wonder Woman and Superman stop Baron Blitzkrieg and Sumo from stealing a prototype nuclear reactor. | All-New Collectors Edition #C-54 (Jan. 1978) |
| Mister America passes his spy training and becomes the Americommando. He parachutes into Nazi Germany to carry out undercover operations as a German officer, "Otto Riker." NOTES: Americommando's last Golden Age appearance was in Action #74 (Aug. 1944). Young All-Stars #27 (July 1989), recaps this event and others—All-American Comics #43, Adventure Comics #79, Detective Comics #68, Flash #34, More Fun Comics #84, Sensation Comics #11, Star-Spangled #13 and All-Star #14. | Action #52 (Sept. 1942), Secret Origins #29 (Aug. 1988) |
| "Food for Starving Patriots": The Justice Society of America delivers much-needed food to the Allied nations of Europe. NOTES: As revealed in Young All-Stars #27, Doctor Fate and the Spectre were able to create a spell to temporarily resist the effects of the Sphere of Influence. | All-Star Comics #14 (Dec. 1942/Jan. 1943) |
| Batman's heroic efforts in Europe inspire a new generation of European heroes. After the war, some of these heroes, including the Knight and the Squire, the Legionary, the Musketeer and the Wingman, form the Dome, which later becomes the sponsoring agency of the Global Guardians. NOTES: The Knight and Squire II first appeared in Batman #62 (1950-1951); the Legionary and the Musketeer debuted in Detective Comics #215 (1955), and the Wingman first appeared in Batman #65 (1951). | Infinity, Inc. #34 (Jan. 1987) |
| Flash battles the Shade (first appearance in print). | Flash Comics #33 (Sept. 1942) |
| September 15, 1942: Soviet troops surround the German army, beginning the Battle of Stalingrad. | |
| November 8, 1942: American forces in North Africa join the campaign against Rommel's Afrika Korps. | |
| Kent Nelson attends medical school, using his magical abilities to accelerate his studies. He begins an internship under Doctor Emmett Roland. | More Fun Comics #85 (Nov. 1942) |
| The Flash battles the Rag Doll. | Flash Comics #36 (Dec. 1942) |
| Wonder Woman again defeats the Red Panzer, who has formed an alliance with Paula Von Gunther. NOTES: Technically, the Red Panzer didn't appear until 1943 so this tale doesn't fit precisely. | Wonder Woman Spectacular (1978) |
| December 10, 1942: Baroness Paula Von Gunther repents her crimes after Wonder Woman rescues her young daughter from a German concentration camp. Paula nearly dies saving Wonder Woman from a bomb hidden inside a burning building. Von Gunther is tried for espionage, sabotage and murder. Thanks to the impassioned testimony of Wonder Woman, she is acquitted. She returns with Wonder Woman to Paradise Island, where she pledges herself to the service of Aphrodite. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #3 (Feb./Mar. 1943) |
| When the male JSA members are kidnapped, Wonder Woman enlists the aid of Hawkgirl, Mary James (Al Pratt's girlfriend), Inza Cramer (Kent Nelson's), Doris Lee (Ted Knight's), Myra Mason (Doctor Mid-Nite's secretary), Peachy Pet (Johnny Thunder's adoptive daughter), Clarice Winston (Jim Corrigan's ex-fiancee), and Sandman's girlfriend, who dress in their boyfriends' costumes to track down the Brain Wave (first appearance in print). Afterwards, he is believed dead. Note: Sandman’s girlfriend is not identified by name. By this time, his adventures no longer included Dian Belmont, and she had died in All-Star Squadron #18 (Dec. 1982); he did have later girlfriends. | All-Star Comics #15 (Feb./Mar. 1943) |
| Several JLAers and Outsiders fight alongside Easy Company against the forces of the Pantheon. NOTE: Date based on Sgt. Rock's mention of Rommel's Afrika Corps, which the U.S . fought from November 8, 1942 to May 11, 1943. | World's Finest #300 (Feb. 1984) |
| 1943 | |
| February 2, 1943: The German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad. | |
| Paula Von Gunther helps Wonder Woman capture a group of Japanese spies and invents an electrical ray, based on the Amazons' Purple Healing Ray, that can restore the dead to life. The goddess Aphrodite accepts Paula as a true Amazon. NOTE: The Amazonian healing ray is later used to resurrect the JSA in All-Star Comics #38. | Wonder Woman #4 (Apr./May 1943) |
| Hourman defeats a gang of crooks committing crimes based on nursery rhymes. NOTE: This was Hourman's last Golden Age appearance. | Adventure Comics #83 (Mar. 1943) |
| April 18, 1943: American fighters shoot down Admiral Yamamoto, the supreme commander of the Japanese fleet. | |
| With the help of the Junior Justice Society, the JSA battles a group of Axis agents attempting to stir up racism and class conflict. NOTES: The Junior Justice Society of America was the official JSA fan club, first announced in All-Star Comics #14 (1942). | All-Star Comics #16 (Apr./May 1943) |
| Jim Corrigan is separated from the Spectre, allowing him to enroll in Army officer's training school. | More Fun Comics #90 (May 1943) |
| 1943: Wonder Woman battles the Red Panzer. NOTES: These stories are presented in sequence, but the text indicates some took place in 1942, so it's possible that the events of Wonder Woman's '70s Earth-Two revival didn't take place in the same order they were published. They also contain numerous continuity errors, due mostly to an attempt to make the stories correspond with the first season of the Wonder Woman TV series. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #228-229 (Feb.–Mar. 1977) |
| 1943: Wonder Woman and the JSA battle the alien goddess Osira, who plans to end the war by taking mental control of the world's leaders, and rescue Steve Trevor from her clutches. NOTES: The Sandman is incorrectly depicted in his original costume in this story. Mister Terrific is shown as a JSA member in this story, although he did not join the group until All-Star #24 (Spring 1945). | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #231-232 (May–June 1977) |
| 1943: Wonder Woman battles the shape-changing Japanese metahuman, Kung. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #237-238 (Nov.–Dec. 1977) |
| The Flash helps Wonder Woman thwart a plot by the Duke of Deception to brand her a traitor. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #239-240 (Jan.–Feb. 1978) |
| The Spectre watches unseen as Wonder Woman battles Sumo. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #241 (Mar. 1978) |
| May 7, 1943: The Allied campaign to retake North Africa ends with the capture of Tunis. | |
| June 1943: Superman discovers the existence of Kryptonite and learns that he is a survivor of the planet Krypton. NOTES: This story aired on the Adventures of Superman radio series; in the comics, Superman did not learn of his origins until Superman #61 (1948); however, World's Finest Comics #271 established that the later radio saga, "Superman versus the Atom Man," was part of Earth-Two continuity. In that storyline, Superman is aware of his Kryptonian origin and Kryptonite by September 1945; therefore, the introduction of Kryptonite on the radio series also is part of Earth-Two continuity. | World's Finest #271 (Sept. 1981) |
| July 9-10, 1943: Allied forces begin Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. | |
| Johnny Thunder liberates Bahdnisia from Japanese control. | Flash Comics #42 (June 1943) |
| "Brain Wave Goes Berserk": The JSA has a rematch with the Brain Wave, who shrinks the male members to a height of eight inches. NOTE: Wonder Woman appears only briefly in this story. | All-Star Comics #17 (June/July 1943) |
| July 25, 1943: Benito Mussolini is forced to resign as prime minister of Italy. | |
| Wildcat battles the murderous Yellow Wasp. | Sensation Comics #20 (Aug. 1943) |
| The JSA battles the King Bee. NOTE: Wonder Woman appears only briefly in this story. | All-Star Comics #18 (Aug./Sept. 1943) |
| September 8, 1943: Italy surrenders to the Allies. On October 13, it declares war on Germany. | |
| September 1943: Wonder Woman first encounters Priscilla Rich, the Cheetah. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #6 (Fall.43) |
| Green Lantern meets the immortal Vandal Savage. | Green Lantern vol. 1 #10 (Winter 1943) |
| The JSA rescues Hawkman from the Mad Maestro. NOTE: Wonder Woman appears only briefly in this story. | All-Star Comics #19 (Winter 1943) |
| Wonder Woman meets Queen Clea of Aurania and her daughter, Ptra. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #8 (Spring 19.44) |
| 1944 | |
| Doctor Fate battles "The Bashful King of Crime." NOTE: This was Doctor Fate's last Golden Age solo appearance. | More Fun Comics #98 (Jan. 1944) |
| The JSA encounters mild-mannered businessman Jason Rogers and his evil alter ego, the Monster (first appearance in print). NOTE: Doctor Fate, the Sandman and Wonder Woman appear only briefly in this story. | All-Star Comics #20 (Spring 1944) |
| Johnny Thunder is discharged from the Navy. | Flash Comics #53 (May 1944) |
| June 6, 1944: D-Day: Allied troops storm the beaches of Normandy, beginning Operation Overlord, the invasion of France. | |
| "The Man Who Relived His Life": With the aid of Professor Everson of the Time Trust, the JSA travels back in time to help a dying man named Joe Fitch undo the mistakes he made in life. NOTES: Last Golden Age appearance of Doctor Fate and the last Golden Age appearance of the Sandman with the JSA. | All-Star Comics #21 (Summer 1944) |
| Green Lantern fights the Gambler. | Green Lantern vol. 1 #12 (Summer 1944) |
| July 18, 1944: Hideki Tojo is forced to step down as premier of Japan. | |
| Professor Carter Nichols sends Batman and Robin back in time to ancient Rome, the first of many journeys into the past. NOTE: According to America vs. The Justice Society, Professor Nichols was a colleague of the Time Trust, although he was not a member. | Batman #24 (Aug./Sept. 1944) |
| August 25, 1944: Allied troops liberate Paris. | |
| September 19, 1944: The Earth-Two Batman and the Blackhawks join forces to destroy a German base in the Arctic. NOTES: This adventure does not fit into any continuity. The Blackhawks of Earth-Two traveled to Earth-X in April 1942, as described in All-Star Squadron #50 (1985), and there was no Golden Age Batman on Earth-One. | Brave & Bold #167 (Oct. 1980) |
| The incarnation of human conscience sends the JSA to different eras of history to demonstrate the evils of bigotry. | All-Star Comics #22 (Fall 44) |
| Green Lantern clashes with Solomon Grundy, who is running amok in Gotham City. | All-American Comics #61 (Oct. 1944) |
| November 7, 1944: FDR is reelected to a fourth term as President. | |
| The JSA battles Charlie Halstead, Psycho Pirate, who kidnaps Hawkman's girlfriend Shiera. NOTES: This was the Spectre and Starman's final appearance in All-Star. Wonder Woman does not appear in this adventure. Shiera does not appear as Hawkgirl in this story. | All-Star Comics #23 (Winter 1944) |
| December 16, 1944: The Germans begin a counteroffensive in the Ardennes, leading to the Battle of the Bulge. | |
| 1945 | |
| January 27, 1945: The Soviet army liberates the Auschwitz extermination camp, uncovering evidence of the horrific scope of the Nazi "Final Solution." | |
| Mister Terrific and Wildcat become JSA members, replacing the Spectre and Starman. Joined by the Flash and Green Lantern, the JSA helps Dick Amber to realize he has a stake in the war; he goes on to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. NOTES: This was Mister Terrific's only Golden Age appearance with the JSA. According to All-Star Comics v2 #1, Mister Terrific and Wildcat accepted reserve membership status after this adventure. Wonder Woman does not appear in this story. For various business reasons, this issue and All-Star #25 and #26 (and other books under the All-America imprint) did not carry the DC logo. | All-Star Comics #24 (Spring 1945) |
| The Spectre solves the mystery of "The Unsafe Safe." NOTE: This was the Spectre's last Golden Age appearance. | More Fun Comics #101 (Feb. 1945) |
| The Allies produce anthrax for deterrence and retaliation against Germany, if necessary, and the project (which was inaugurated by Neville Chamberlain in the mid/late 1930s and pushed forward by Churchill; the USA provide some material assistance) took place on the remote Scottish island of Gruinard. NOTES: This is referenced in the next entry's story. Gruinard was not pronounced decontaminated until 1986). The UK developed an "anthrax bomb" and by the end of 1944 the U.S. was ready to produce a half-million four pound anthrax bombs. But the Allies never had enough anthrax itself for large-scale warfare. | |
| Days prior to the marine landing at Iwo Jima, the Unknown Soldier infiltrates the island. He tricks the Japanese there into letting him broadcast a message to the U.S. Later, he gives the Marines the flag to raise. | Unknown Soldier #209 (Nov. 1977) |
| February 19, 1945: The U.S. Marines invade Iwo Jima. | |
| March 1, 1945: Superman, Batman and Robin share their first adventure, fighting Zoltan. Although they have met several times before, this is the first time they have actually participated in a case together. NOTES: This story was broadcast on the Superman radio series. Its place in Earth-Two continuity was established in World's Finest #271. | World's Finest #271 (Sept. 1981) |
| Hawkman battles the Monocle. | Flash Comics #64 (Apr. 1945) |
| April 12, 1945: FDR dies of a cerebral hemorrhage while posing for a portrait. Vice-president Harry Truman is sworn in as President. | |
| April 15, 1945: Thirteen members of the JSA act as honor guard for FDR's funeral in Hyde Park. The heroes vow to continue the war effort until the Axis powers are defeated. Superman and Batman are present, for a total of 15 JSAers. NOTES: According to Last Days of the JSA, this was the last time in the forties that all of the JSA's members (to that date) were together, including Hourman, Mister Terrific and the Spectre, who had already left the team. In an alternate timeline, the Spectre appears after the burial and sends the JSA on a final raid in Berlin, where they all perish in a failed attempt to stop Hitler from destroying the world with the Spear of Destiny. That timeline was negated by the JSA's entry into the Ragnarok cycle. | Last Days of the JSA (1986) |
| War's End | |
| April 21, 1945: Soviet troops enter Berlin. Four days later, American and Soviet troops meet at the Elbe river, their forces now splitting Germany in two. | |
| April 28-29, 1945: The Unknown Soldier parachutes into Berlin and uncovers Hitler's contingency plan, "Operation: Nosferatu." | Unknown Soldier #268 (Oct. 1982) |
| April 30, 1945: Hitler places a hidden cyanide capsule in his wife's mouth, ordering Eva to commit suicide if they are captured by the Russians. Disguised as Nazi S.S. Officer Kessler, the Unknown Solder infiltrates German security. The Soldier enters Hitler's bunker. He learns the horrible truth about "Nosferatu" and draws his gun on Hitler. Eva accidentally bites her poison capsule and dies. Hitler is slain by the Soldier. Impersonating Hitler, the Soldier then orders the S.S. to destroy the dangerous Nosferatu project. Then as Kessler, the Soldier reports Hitler's suicide and departs the Nazi stronghold. Minutes later, the undisguised Soldier saves a child from a Soviet barrage in the streets of Berlin and disappears in the explosion. His apparent death is witnessed by a Russian tank commander. | Unknown Soldier #268 (Oct. 1982) |
May 1, 1945: Hitler's death is announced by Grand Admiral Karl Donitz, who claims that the dictator died in battle with Allied soldiers. Donitz declares himself Reichsfuhrer. May 7, 1945: Germany officially surrenders, ending the war in Europe. May 8 is celebrated as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. |
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| The Unknown Soldier is reported dead to all troops stationed in Berlin. One American G.I. writes the Soldier's eulogy at the site of the fatal explosion. But a disguised private in his company is in fact the Unknown Soldier himself. | Unknown Soldier #268 (Oct. 1982) |
May 23, 1945: Heinrich Himmler commits suicide after his capture by British authorities. May 25, 1945: The American Joint Chiefs of Staff approve Operation Olympic, a planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. |
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| Hawkman encounters Neptune Perkins. | Flash Comics #66 (June 1945) |
| The JSA helps an amnesia victim rediscover his identity and solve a 20 year-old murder mystery. NOTES: The Flash and Green Lantern returned to active membership in this story. | All-Star Comics #25 (Summer 1945) |
| July 16, 1945: The first atomic bomb is detonated at Los Alamos, New Mexico. | |
| August 6, 1945: The B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb, code-named Little Boy, on the city of Hiroshima in the southern part of the Japanese mainland. 100,000 people are killed instantly. | |
| August 8, 1945: The Soviet Union declares war on Japan and moves into Manchuria and North Korea. | |
| August 9, 1945: A second atomic bomb, code-named Fat Man, is dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing 70,000. | |
| August 14, 1945: The Japanese high command surrenders unconditionally. | |
| August 15, 1945: The U.S. celebrates V-J (Victory in Japan) Day, marking the end of the second world war. | |
| 1945: With the war over, Queen Hippolyta contemplates ordering Wonder Woman home to Paradise Island. Doctor Fate and the Spectre appear through the Magic Sphere to ask her to allow Wonder Woman to remain in Man's World, to which Hippolyta reluctantly agrees. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #242 (Apr. 1978) |
| September 2, 1945: The formal document of Japanese surrender is signed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, officially ending World War 2. | |
| September 1945: The Nazi agent Der Teufel uses a piece of Kryptonite to transform a young Nazi named Heinrich Milch into the Atom Man, giving him the power to fire Kryptonite lightning from his fingertips. He nearly kills Superman and destroys Metropolis before his ultimate defeat. NOTE: This story was originally broadcast on the Superman radio series; its place in Earth-Two continuity was established by World's Finest. | World's Finest #271 (Sept. 1981) |
| During a battle with Azmodus, the Spectre is trapped in the form of Jim Corrigan. He does not recover for 20 years. | Showcase #60 (Jan./Feb. 1966) |
| The JSA stop a race of robotic creatures from Jupiter from consuming all of Earth's metal. NOTE: Wonder Woman appears only briefly in this story. | All-Star Comics #26 (Fall 1945) |
| Wildcat fills in for the Atom as the JSA helps a group of handicapped people, including a crippled veteran. NOTES: Wildcat is admitted as a full-time member of the JSA in this story, but this is his last Golden Age appearance with the group. Wonder Woman appears only briefly at the end of this story, which was mentioned in the 1950 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia. | All-Star Comics #27 (Winter 1945) |
| 1945: Wonder Woman apologizes to the JSA for not taking an active role in their most recent adventure and joins forces with her Earth-One counterpart to battle Earth-One's Angle Man. | Wonder Woman vol. 1 #243 (May 1978) |
| The Flash battles the Turtle I. | All-Flash #21 (Winter 1945) |
| Representative J. Parnell Thomas (R-NJ) becomes the chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, which renews its efforts to rout out communism in America. | |
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