Justice Society Returns

"Justice Society Returns" is a nine issue story arc that ran through a number of comic books published by DC Comics in 1999, reviving the Golden Age superhero team, which had previously been revived in the 1980s.

Publication history

The comics involved in this multi-title crossover were the retro-revival issues "Adventure Comics" #1, "All-American Comics" #1, "All-Star Comics" #1-2, "National Comics" #1, "Sensation Comics" #1, "Smash Comics" #1, "Star-Spangled Comics" #1, and "Thrilling Comics" #1. The names included those of comics released by All-American Publications, one of the three companies that merged to form the present-day DC, as well as Quality Comics, the rights to which DC purchased in the 1950s.

The story arc was collected in the trade paperback "Justice Society Returns" (ISBN 1401200907), published by DC Comics in 2003.

toryline

During World War II, Nazi sympathizers trap the Justice Society of America (JSA) in order to use their power to fuel a ritual and bring a being known as Koth to Earth, in order to ensure an Axis victory. The spell goes wrong, however, and they release a villain known as Stalker who decides the only way to stop the war is to end all life on Earth. Several magical heroes, including Merlin the Magician are killed in the attempt.

The JSA is able to force Stalker to retreat, but he turns the seven men who summoned him into his "disciples", and sends them across the globe to continue his mission. Splitting up, the JSA members each take on a disciple, unaware that in doing so they have given Stalker the time he needs to recuperate. Working together, the JSA is able to defeat Stalker once and for all.