Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA - Aquaman

Here we have it, the final entry in our Aquaman week. But the last is far from least!

Aquaman, like Wonder Woman already had an origin story from back in 1941. However, to bring him up to speed, the good folks at DC felt he needed a little "tweak". The following origin story was drawn by the absolutely incredible Ramona Fradon. Unfortunately, the writer's name is lost to time and uncertainty. From Adventure Comics #260, May 1959 here's "How Aquaman Got His Powers"








But wait! Apparently the Sea King was so awesome he warranted another telling of his origin a scant two years later. This time, the Atlantean angle is expanded upon and we learn more of Arthur's mother, Atlanna. From Showcase #30, January- Februay 1961 here's an excerpt from "The Creatures From Atlantis" by Jack Miller, with more art by the dazzling Ramona Fradon.

Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA - Green Arrow

Much like Aquaman, Green Arrow spent most of his early career as a back-up feature. In fact, Green Arrow (and Speedy) debuted in the very same issue of More Fun Comics as Aquaman. Later,Green Arrow moved to Adventure Comics, followed shortly by Aquaman. Hey, us ruggedly-handsome blonde guys have to stick together.

In Justice League of America #4, Green Arrow became the first new member of the JLA since their first appearance in Brave and the Bold #28.

Green Arrow already had an origin (it involved Speedy, a lost plateau and an old Indian dude) , but it seems that 1959 was a good year for re-writes. From Adventure Comics #256, January 1959 here's "Green Arrow's First Case" by Ed Herron, drawn by Jack Kirby.

Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA Week- Wonder Woman

Technically, the Silver Age Wonder Woman WAS the Golden Age Wonder Woman. Her series had never been cancelled. This new origin story, however, creates a dividing line between the Wonder Woman who was the secretary for the Justice Society of America during WWII and the new, more powerful Wonder Woman who was an equal member of the Justice League.

Enjoy "The Secret Origin of Wonder Woman" by Robert Kanigher, penciled by Ross Andru and inked by Mike Esposito from Wonder Woman #105, April 1959.

Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA Week- The Flash

For many comics historians, Showcase #4, October, 1956 is the "Day the universe changed". Or at least one of them. The publication of this little number ushers in The Silver Age. The Flash is widely regarded as the first new superhero of the Silver Age. Especially by DC. I'm not sure why they withhold their love from poor little Johnny Jones, Manhunter from Mars. After all, he did debut almost a full year earlier than The Flash. Perhaps, as a back-up feature to Batman he just didn't bring in the sales figures of a coverboy like Flash.

At any rate, in Showcase #4, DC takes it's first steps towards creating a new age of heroes. And they did it by looking towards the past. The Flash was a remake of a previous DC hero from the 1940's whose book had been cancelled (in fact, Barry Allen is reading one of his comics in the story). This process is old hat these days, but in 1956, comics had only been around for 2 decades. As you'll see tomorrow, it was successful, because DC went back to the same well time and time again.

Enjoy the beautiful dynamic art of Carmine Infantino, inked by Joe Kubert (more commentary after the feature) :
















I have to say, Barry Allen is a likeable guy. While The Flash is a very physical sort of hero, his alter-ego is a genuinely nerdy police scientist and comics geek.

There are many ways to show a man running fast but Infantino seems to have mastered the technique of depicting The Flash's speed through blurred motion lines, suggesting that he's moving faster than the eye can keep up with.

My favorite panel in this issue? Top of page 5, with the food floating in mid-air. Comics don't actually move, like film or TV, so it's remarkable how well Infantino captures the moment here. I think the coffee really sells it. It would have been very easy to draw this scene and simply rely on captions to tell you what was happening, but this picture actually tells you that everything is standing still except Barry.

Tomorrow: Green Lantern.

Not-So-Secret Origins of the JLA Week- Martian Manhunter

This week, I'm going to further highlight the original Justice League of America- One member at a time.

Since the JLA debuted already formed in Brave and the Bold #28, I have decided to spotlight them each in the order they (or their Silver Age origins) debuted in the comics.

We start with Martian Manhunter or, as he was originally known, John Jones, Manhunter from Mars. Mr. Jones debuted as a new back-up feature to Batman in Detective Comics #225, November, 1955. As you can see from the story you are about to read, the emphasis of the comic was on the detective angle of the character. John wouldn't be written as a more conventional Superhero for a few years.


Enjoy "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel" . Script by John Samachson, art by Joe Certa.









I don't know a lot about 1955, but I still find it unlikely that you could walk in off the street and become a police detective. I doubt it was like walking into a diner holding up their "Help Wanted" sign.