Friends, thanks to the likes of the iconic Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe series that ran from 1985 until 1987 – I became a huge fan of the Justice Society of America. That encyclopedic series from Marv Wolfman (The New Teen Titans), Len Wein (X-Men, and Robert Greenberger (Starlog) filled in a lot of details on the roster of the JSA. Although as I have already explained in various articles and podcasts in the past – my first introduction to that team of Golden Age heroes was courtesy of Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, and Jerry Ordway’s All-Star Squadron comic book series. I mention all of this as way to help explain just how excited I was earlier this afternoon when the first trailer for the upcoming animated Justice Society: World War II film was released. One that appears to hurl Barry Allen aka the Flash into the dark days of World War II – where he must team up with the Justice Society and beat back the armies of Nazi Germany.
A quick look at the IMDB credits for Justice Society: World War II reveals that it is Matt Bomer (Doom Patrol) who will be playing the Silver Age and possibly most recognizable version of the Flash. In addition the film boasts the talents of Matthew Mercer (Overwatch) as Hourman, Stana Katic (Castle) as Wonder Woman, Elysia Rotaru (Arrow) as Black Canary, Armen Taylor (Spider-Man: Miles Morales) as Jay Garrick, Chris Diamantopoulos (Mickey Mouse) as Steve Trevor, and Omid Abtahi (American Gods) as Hawkman. Although I should add that the credits list for Justice Society: World War II list more iconic comic characters than were featured in that trailer.
The official synopsis for the film states:
“Justice Society: World War II finds modern-day Barry Allen – prior to the formation of the Justice League – discovering he can run even faster than he imagined, and that milestone results in his first encounter with the Speed Force. The Flash is promptly launched into the midst of a raging battle – primarily between Nazis and a team of Golden Age DC Super Heroes known as The Justice Society of America.
Led by Wonder Woman, the group includes Hourman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Steve Trevor and the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. The Flash quickly volunteers to assist his fellow heroes in tipping the scales of war in their favor, while the team tries to figure out how to send him home. But it won’t be easy as complications and emotions run deep in this time-skipping World War II thriller.
This is the first film in the DC Universe Movies series — of which this film will be No. 42 over the past 14 years — to feature the Justice Society. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Justice Society: World War II will be available on Digital and home entertainment later in 2021.”
In closing out this article, I will admit that I do wish that we fans of the JSA could have seen the likes of the Sandman, Starman, the Spectre, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Wildcat, and the Atom among others in Justice Society: World War II trailer. But with this upcoming animated feature as well as the likes of the Stargirl series – the Justice Society of America appears to be getting some long-overdue time in the spotlight.
Pop Culture Retrorama 