Justice Society

1941 - After the attack on Pearl Harbor, 33-year-old Kent Nelson founds the Justice Society. Carter Hall is elected chairperson.
Team Membership: 33-year-old Kent Nelson, 42-year-old Alan Scott, 29-year-old Hippolyta, 28-year-old Jay Garrick, 29-year-old Al Pratt, 31-year-old Rex Tyler, 44-year-old Wesley Dodds, 36-year-old Gavyn, 37-year-old Jim Corrigan, 40-year-old Shiera Hall, 46-year-old Carter Hall

1942 - Will Everett sacrifices himself to save Hippolyta & Steve Trevor, absorbing the radiation of an experimental reactor in Gerald Shugel's laboratories. He is in hospital for three months, learning to use his newfound adaptive powers. He is invited to join the Justice Society as Amazing Man. Joan Dale comes out of retirement and joins the Justice Society. The Freedom Fighters assist the Justice Society in a mission on the North African Front.
Membership: 34-year-old Kent Nelson, 43-year-old Alan Scott, 30-year-old Hippolyta, 29-year-old Jay Garrick, 30-year-old Al Pratt, 32-year-old Rex Tyler, 45-year-old Wesley Dodds, 37-year-old Gavyn, 38-year-old Jim Corrigan, 41-year-old Shiera Hall, 47-year-old Carter Hall, 22-year-old Will Everett, 38-year-old Joan Dale

1943 - The Justice Society helps Hippolyta stop 32-year-old Queen Clea, leading to the loss of the entire Atlantean nation of Venturia & the Trident of Poseidon. They help 44-year-old Alan Scott fight off Solomon Grundy, finally burying him so deep into Slaughter Swamp that they believe he'll never escape.
Team Membership: 35-year-old Kent Nelson, 44-year-old Alan Scott, 31-year-old Hippolyta, 30-year-old Jay Garrick, 31-year-old Al Pratt, 33-year-old Rex Tyler, 46-year-old Wesley Dodds, 38-year-old Gavyn, 39-year-old Jim Corrigan, 42-year-old Shiera Hall, 48-year-old Carter Hall, 23-year-old Will Everett, 39-year-old Joan Dale

1944 - Wotan assembles the first Injustice Society in an attempt to destroy the Justice Society, but they are defeated.
Team Membership: 36-year-old Kent Nelson, 45-year-old Alan Scott, 32-year-old Hippolyta, 31-year-old Jay Garrick, 32-year-old Al Pratt, 34-year-old Rex Tyler, 47-year-old Wesley Dodds, 39-year-old Gavyn, 40-year-old Jim Corrigan, 43-year-old Shiera Hall, 49-year-old Carter Hall, 24-year-old Will Everett, 40-year-old Joan Dale

1945 - 33-year-old Hippolyta returns to Themyscera at the end of the War. Joan Dale leaves the Justice Society and retires.
Team Membership: 37-year-old Kent Nelson, 46-year-old Alan Scott, 32-year-old Jay Garrick, 33-year-old Al Pratt, 35-year-old Rex Tyler, 48-year-old Wesley Dodds, 40-year-old Gavyn, 41-year-old Jim Corrigan, 44-year-old Shiera Hall, 50-year-old Carter Hall, 25-year-old Will Everett

1947 - 39-year-old Kent Nelson retreats into Fate's Tower.
Team Membership: 48-year-old Alan Scott, 34-year-old Jay Garrick, 35-year-old Al Pratt, 37-year-old Rex Tyler, 50-year-old Wesley Dodds, 42-year-old Gavyn, 43-year-old Jim Corrigan, 46-year-old Shiera Hall, 52-year-old Carter Hall, 27-year-old Will Everett

1948 - The Justice Society returns to 43-year-old Gavyn's Throneworld, defeats his usurpers & installs his sister on the throne. 49-year-old Alan Scott sacrifices himself to save an entire planet. They battle superpowered thief Johnny Sorrow, and see him absorbed into subspace when his device is damaged.
Team Membership: 35-year-old Jay Garrick, 36-year-old Al Pratt, 38-year-old Rex Tyler, 51-year-old Wesley Dodds, 44-year-old Jim Corrigan, 47-year-old Shiera Hall, 53-year-old Carter Hall, 28-year-old Will Everett

1949 - The Spectre abandons 45-year-old Jim Corrigan's civilian identity. 29-year-old Will Everett chooses to retire as Amazing Man 'when his powers begin to wain.
Team Membership: 36-year-old Jay Garrick, 37-year-old Al Pratt, 39-year-old Rex Tyler, 52-year-old Wesley Dodds, 48-year-old Shiera Hall, 54-year-old Carter Hall

1950 - 38-year-old Al Pratt saves everyone in a collapsing nuclear research facility, sacrificing himself.
Team Membership: 37-year-old Jay Garrick, 40-year-old Rex Tyler, 53-year-old Wesley Dodds, 49-year-old Shiera Hall, 55-year-old Carter Hall

1951 - 50-year-old Shiera Hall & 56-year-old Carter Hall are confronted by alien shapeshifter Byth, and to stop him from consuming their Nth metal armory they seal themselves inside in suspended animation..
Team Membership: 38-year-old Jay Garrick, 41-year-old Rex Tyler, 54-year-old Wesley Dodds

1953 - The Justice Society are called before the Un American Activities Commission. They choose to disband and retire, but 39-year-old Jay Garrick reveals his identity and attends the hearing, his testimony crucial in the decline of Senator McCarthy's influence.

9 years ago - Michael Holt conceives of the new Justice Society when the Justice League collapses, leaving no one to stop the Ultra-Humanite. Artemis Crock breaks into their Brownstone to steal her father Crusher Crock's equipment. The Society approaches Richard Occult to assist in containing 23-year-old June Moone's extradimensional spirit entity and stop her from taking control of Midway City. The Society stops Felix Faust & Blackbriar Thorn from recovering the Spear of Destiny.
Team Membership: 27-year-old Michael Holt, 35-year-old Pieter Cross, 58-year-old Carter Hall, 23-year-old Karen Starr, 55-year-old Ted Grant, 18-year-old Albert Rothstein, 17-year-old Todd James Rice, 17-year-old Jennifer-Lynn Hayden.

8 years ago - The Society is attacked by Johnny Sorrow's Injustice Society. They are only undone when Jade befriends Solomon Grundy. Kent Nelson is defeated in his tower by Lord Mordru, who usurps Nabu's helmet. The Justice Society stops him, trapping him in an amulet.
Team Membership: 28-year-old Michael Holt, 36-year-old Pieter Cross, 59-year-old Carter Hall, 24-year-old Karen Starr, 56-year-old Ted Grant, 19-year-old Albert Rothstein,18-year-old Todd James Rice, 18-year-old Jennifer-Lynn Hayden.

6 years ago - Michael Holt steps down as Justice Society chairman, to be replaced by 61-year-old Carter Hall. They stop Vandal Savage from claiming the remaining arsenal of Quroc. 21-year-old Albert Rothstein turns himself in for murder and goes to prison.
58-year-old Ted Grant reties as Wildcat after his in injured in Veronica Sinclair's underground powered fighting tournament.
Team Membership: 30-year-old Michael Holt, 38-year-old Pieter Cross, 61-year-old Carter Hall, 26-year-old Karen Starr, 20-year-old Todd James Rice, 20-year-old Jennifer-Lynn Hayden.

5 years ago - 21-year-old Jennifer-Lynn Hayden & 21-year-old Todd James Rice retire from the Justice Society.
Team Membership: 31-year-old Michael Holt, 39-year-old Pieter Cross, 62-year-old Carter Hall, 27-year-old Karen Starr

4 years ago - 63-year-old Carter Hall retires, and Karen Starr becomes the new chairperson of the Justice Society. She deliberately begins aggressively recruiting young heroes to mentor, including Courtney Whitmore & Pat Dugan. 60-year-old Ted Grant agrees to return to the Justice Society specifically to teach hand-to-hand combat.
Team Membership: 32-year-old Michael Holt, 40-year-old Pieter Cross, 28-year-old Karen Starr, 51-year-old Pat Dugan, 13-year-old Courtney Whitmore.

3 years ago - Kendra Saunders & Albert Rothstein join the Justice Society.
Team Membership: 33-year-old Michael Holt, 41-year-old Pieter Cross, 29-year-old Karen Starr, 52-year-old Pat Dugan, 14-year-old Courtney Whitmore, 22-year-old Kendra Saunders, 24-year-old Albert Rothstein

2 years ago - 21-year-old Timothy Karnes performs a murderous blood ritual, summoning hugely enhanced powers. He battles the entire Justice Society and is left comatose. Billy Batson is invited to join the Justice Society. 53-year-old Pat Dugan steps down from the Justice Society to show Courtney Whitmore that she has earned his trust, and accepts a request to join the new staff at Oolong Island, working with the Doom Patrol. Despero’s consciousness is placed in president Lex Luthor’s body by Johnny Sorrow. They are defeated by the combined Justice League, Justice Society & the Watchtower.
Team Membership: 34-year-old Michael Holt, 42-year-old Pieter Cross, 30-year-old Karen Starr, 15-year-old Courtney Whitmore, 23-year-old Kendra Saunders, 25-year-old Albert Rothstein, 15-year-old Billy Batson

1 year ago - Jesse Chambers & Jamie Reyes are invited to join the Justice Society. The Society join the battle against Mageddon.
Team Membership: 35-year-old Michael Holt, 43-year-old Pieter Cross, 31-year-old Karen Starr, 16-year-old Courtney Whitmore, 24-year-old Kendra Saunders, 26-year-old Albert Rothstein, 16-year-old Billy Batson 23-year-old Jesse Chambers, 16-year-old Jamie Reyes

now - Natasha Irons & Traci Thirteen are invited to join the Justice Society.
Team Membership: 32-year-old Karen Starr, 36-year-old Michael Holt, 44-year-old Pieter Cross, 17-year-old Courtney Whitmore, 25-year-old Kendra Saunders, 27-year-old Albert Rothstein, 17-year-old Billy Batson 24-year-old Jesse Chambers, 17-year-old Jamie Reyes, 19-year-old Natasha Irons, 17-year-old Traci Thirteen

Noteworthy Teams

Original Team

Mister Terrific's Team

Jade

Other Members

S.T.R.I.P.E.

Modern Team

Steel

In 1940, comic book superheroes had existed for exactly one year. There was no roadmap for what a superhero looked like, or what kind of stories they told. DC what definitely the biggest publisher of this new type of character, but there were literally thousands out there coming from everywhere. How could DC put a spotlight on their particular lineup of exciting characters and show that they were a cut above the rest?

The Justice Society was the answer. For a narrative space that is largely defined by the idea of superhero teams, it's wild to imagine that at some point, someone had to be first.

The Justice Society's Comic History.

The Justice Society originally appeared in 1940 in All-Star Comics #3. Comic book superheroes were still a very new thing, and the idea of bringing together some of its recognizable, successful heroes that weren't headlining their own series was a pretty huge coup of synergistic marketing, even if in that first issue the main thing they did was just introduce each other and sit around a table.

The Society would continue to appear in All-Star Comics for over a decade,, their lineup growing to include most of the heroes from the era. (The membership has basically never stopped expanding, because as DC picked up other heroes from other publishers of the era, or even introduced new heroes meant to exist at the time, they are almost all retconned to have been members of the Society.) Eventually, waining interest in superhero comics led to the end of All-Star Comics in 1951, although this didn't last long.

The resurgence of superhero popularity in the late fifties led to Gardner Fox's introduction of the Justice League in 1960, and it wasn't long before the League started to regularly feature crossovers with the Society, now established to exist on an alternate Earth-2. This concept became more and more popular, leading to All-Star Comics returning to publication after a 25-year gap. The Adventures of the Justice Society on Earth-2 continued right up until the Crisis of Infinite Earths.

The Crisis brought the multiverse together, and the Justice Society was now meant to have its entire history take place during World War II, with their children and spin-off characters now occupying the same world as the mainstream heroes.

Unfortunately, this created a seemingly endless series of continuity issues, and it seemed like the better part of the next decade was spent slowly trying to pick apart the knots left in the DC timeline. DC's Golden Age heroes are in a lot of ways their own little mini-universe, and trying to make this fit in with the rest of their world seemed like a Sisyphean task.

By the late '90s, however, things seemed to finally be coming together as a series of new characters were introduced successfully moving the legacies of these characters forward. This all led to the series JSA by James Robinson, and later Geoff Johns. This series quickly carved a corner of DC for itself, reestablishing legacy characters, resolving longstanding continuity issues, and just generally finding ways to bring the history of the Justice Society into the modern era. Not everything done in this series was perfect, and eventually it was replaced after Infinite Crisis with the series Justice League of America, which seemed determined to make the Elseworlds series Kingdom Come canon. After the New 52, we eventually got a return to Earth-2, where we were introduced to new versions of the classic Justice Society.

Our Justice Society

This is a huge and incredibly important part of getting our version of the DC timeline correct. We've already firmly established that we're going to be separating the timeline that tracks real-world dates from our main timeline, and the Justice Society needs to largely function during World War II. This means that these characters, for the most part, aren't going to continue on into the modern story, with only a few exceptions.

Some of these characters have very particular roles to play in BOTH timelines, so for characters like Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and the Hawks, we need them to each experience their own individual event that allows them to carry on into the current timeline. Characters like Doctor Fate and the Spectre don't really need that much effort.

Also, characters that are sometimes depicted as being part of the Society who are mostly defined as parents of modern heroes will instead be part of the All-Star Squadron, a team taking place before the Justice League. This allows us to very deliberately choose characters that really define the Wartime society, and the result, we think, speaks for itself.

Meanwhile, we also want to have a modern version of the Justice Society. In the comics, this team is defined by its lineup of elder statesmen heroes, but for the most part we've made the deliberate decision to focus instead on stand-out modern characters. This team is a creation of Mister Terrific in an intentional effort to honor the history of the classic Society.

In particular, once Power Girl becomes the team chairperson, we've focused on the group's initiative to provide legacy characters with a place to thrive. This makes it a great place for legacy characters like Blue Beetle and Steel to grow into fantastic next-generation heroes under the watchful eye of classic members of the Society that are already legends themselves. This is a very carefully constructed group of heroes that we believe honors the legacy of the oldest and greatest heroes in DC.

Interestingly, while teams like the Watchtower are in the middle of transitions to new, younger lineups, this iteration of the Society is incredibly young and new and exciting and poised to make a huge difference in the world.

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