Issue Description

Per Degaton is enraged that the All-Star Squadron has intervened in his latest scheme. From a monitor screen, Per Degaton observes the Hawkman, Johnny Quick, and Robotman destroying his "Japanese" fighter planes. On the ground, in San Francisco, The Atom, Doctor Mid-Nite, Liberty Belle, Plastic Man, and the Phantom Lady raise cheers from the crowds, as their very presence boosts morale. Per Degaton's second wave of "Japanese" fighter planes head towards California. Fearful that the Justice Society of America could still pose a threat, Per Degaton activates the self-destruct on his artificial volcanic island, where the team is held captive.

The Shining Knight holds off Professor Zodiak, Solomon Grundy, and Wotan, to give Danielle Reilly a chance to escape. The Shining Knight slices through the hull of Per Degaton's submersible air craft carrier, flooding the compartment. Reilly, and the Shining Knight, escape the vessel, and swim for the surface. The Shining Knight's steed, Winged Victory, is waiting for them. Reilly, and the Shining Knight, race back to the volcanic island, to free the Justice Society of America. Professor Zodiak, and Wotan, pursue them. Solomon Grundy threatens Per Degaton. Per Degaton begins to question the wisdom of allying himself with the future foes of the Justice Society of America.

Per Degaton reflects on gathering Wotan, Professor Zodiak, the Sky Pirate, the King Bee, the Monster, and Solomon Grundy, from the future. Solomon Grundy spies the All-Star Squadron closing on Per Degaton's position. Plastic Man drills through the hull of Per Degaton's submerged air craft carrier. The Atom decks Per degaton, while Doctor Mid-Nite hurls a blackout bomb at Solomon Grundy. Per Degaton's "Robot-Men" join the conflict. An epic battles ensues. The Hawkman, Johnny Quick, and Robotman take out the remainder of Per Degaton's "Japanese" fighter planes, over Monterey. Upon reaching the volcanic island, Winged Victory collapses in exhaustion.

The Shining Knight attempts to free Superman from Wotan's enchanted aura, to no avail. Professor Zodiak, and Wotan, attack the Shining Knight. The Shining Knight holds Professor Zodiak, and Wotan, at bay, to give Reilly time to flee. Wotan burns through the Shining Knight's defense, nearly felling him. Losing consciousness, the Shining Knight hurls his sword at Professor Zodiak, causing him to drop his universal elixir. Wotan fires on Reilly, sending her plummeting into a river of molten lava. The volcanic island begins to collapse. Professor Zodiak, and Wotan, fade away, returning to their proper era. From a monitor, Per Degaton observes the destruction of his volcanic island.

To his horror, Per Degaton sees the image of the Spectre, looming gigantic over the island, carrying the Justice Society of America, in the palms of his hands. Professor Zodiak's universal elixir fell upon the Spectre, dissolving his mystic bonds. The Justice Society of America, along with Reilly, Robin the Boy Wonder, the Shining Knight and Wonder Woman, assemble on a nearby atoll. Realizing his scheme is rapidly coming to ruin, Per Degaton returns to the year 1947. Per Degaton tells Doctor Zee of a dream he had, the night before, where he conquered the world. Zee tells Per Degaton to get back to work. Solomon Grundy seizes the Atom, and throws him into a bulkhead.

The Hawkman is just able to cushion the Atom's impact, though the effort takes the Hawkman out of the combat. Robotman battles Solomon Grundy. Suddenly, Solomon Grundy fades away, returning to his proper era, where he finds himself marooned on the moon. Per Degaton's submersible air craft carrier also fades away. The All-Star Squadron swim to the surface, where Plastic Man forms himself into a raft, for the team to board. The Hawkman scouts for any Coast Guard cutters in the nearby vicinity, finding instead the Justice Society of America. The Spectre carries the Justice Society of America, and the All-Star Squadron, to San Francisco.

As the last vestiges of Per Degaton's scheme fade away, the assembled heroes lose all memory of the conflict. Eleanor Roosevelt addresses he nation. asking the nation's heroes to band together, and join the All-Star Squadron.

Note- This issue also features a one-page All=Star Squadron Super-Villain Fact File, detailing the history of Solomon Grundy, Professor Zodiak, Wotan, and the Sky Pirate.

All-Star Squadron

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

"Come with us now to Earth-Two, and the awesome origin of the All-Star Squadron!"

Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway (credited here as Jeremiah Ordway!) along with editor Len Wein, letterer John Costanza and colorist Carl Gafford begin the wartime adventures of the Golden-Age heroes of the DC Universe. Writer Roy Thomas is no stranger to World War II, or wartime comic book super-heroes having come off Marvel's WWII super-team, The Invaders.

The world of Earth -2 was at war. In a dimension not unlike that of the Justice League on Earth - 1, the greatest heroes of the 1940s had banded together to form the Justice Society of America, but even that wasn't enough to battle the Axis powers plaguing their society. So, at the behest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a new, larger team was created to help unite the war torn country. The massive All-Star Squadron was formed, setting up their headquarters in the Perisphere at the heart of New York's World's Fair.

The creative team of writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler on "All-Star Squadron" offered readers a nostalgic glimpse back in time, albeit through the slightly distorted lens of Earth-2's history. In this popular series that ran for 67 issues, readers were treated not only to the adventures of the more familiar Justice Society, but also to every other mystery man of the time and dozens of minor heroes from DC's Golden Age, including the speedster Johnny Quick, the patriotic Liberty Belle, power houses Robotman and Commander Steel, and the 1940s versions of Batman and Robin.

With Thomas'comprehensive knowledge of the heroes and history of World War II era Americana, the All-Star Squadron was a certifiable hit, even if the Earth - 2 shattering events of DC's tumultuous "Crisis on Infinite Earths" maxi series of the mid-1980s took a toll on the book's continuity.

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