Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 22, 2024 | 1 comment

TOYHEM! Took a long time to happen, but the wait was worth it…

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Welcome to TOYHEM! For the sixth straight holiday season, we’re bringing you a series of features and columns celebrating the toys of our youth, which often made for the best memories this time of year. Click here to check out the complete index of stories — and have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays! — Dan

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By JIM BEARD

The Justice Society of America isn’t exactly known for the toys and merchandise it spawned, not like some other comic-book hero teams, but I love the JSA so much I figured it was past time to give them their TOYHEM due.

I first encountered the Justice Society way back in 1973’s 100-Page Super-Spectacular #DC-17 and its exciting reprint of “The Injustice Society of the World!” from 1947’s All-Star Comics #37. With that one story, I was a loyal JSA fan (and an Alex Toth admirer!).

I had a lot of toys based on DC characters as a kid, but one thing I never had was a JSA toy… and boy, would I have loved to have one. Sadly, toymakers weren’t hip to what the Justice Society, which has been around since 1941, was laying down then and the team had to wait a long, long time before its members were immortalized in plastic or similar materials. But, if my list does its job, you’ll see it was worth the wait to see them done justice.

Here are my 13 picks:

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The Thunderbolt (Ideal, 1966). It took the 1966 Batman TV series and the Justice League to bring about what I believe is the very first JSA-related toy ever (outside any earlier Superman and Batman toys). Too bad the ol’ T-Bolt was mistaken for a baddie because of the cover of Justice League of America #37, but it’s pretty cool he paved the way for the rest of the JSAers.

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Green Lantern: The Golden Age 1:6 Scale Deluxe Collector Figure (DC Direct, 2005). Probably my most favorite JSA action figure, this 13-inch representation of Alan Scott is a stand-out. Unfortunately, I missed out on picking up the Jay Garrick Flash figure from the line, but I’m sure glad I got Alan.

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Pocket Super Heroes (DC Direct, 2002-03). Before DC got off its high horse and allowed DC Minimates to exist, they tried their own diminutive figures. Pocket Super Heroes never caught on, but the line included a whole slew of Justice Society heroes and villains.

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Slurpee Cups (7-Eleven, 1973). Yeah, DC Slurpee Cups didn’t have anywhere near the staying power of the later Marvel cups, but in the one DC series there was, not less than four JSAers got their chance to deliver pure sugar goodness to kids who rode their bikes to the local 7-Eleven.

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DC Super Hero Collection (Eaglemoss, 2011). Eaglemoss figurines can be hit and miss most times, but they really stepped up and gave us a few great JSA choices. My favorite is most likely #82, a classic Golden Age Doctor Mid-Nite… who also just happens to be my most favorite JSA member.

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The Justice Society of America PVC Set (DC Direct, 1999). DC Direct made three sets all together of JSA characters, but I think the first one from ’99 is the best. That may just have a little bit to do with the inclusion of my beloved JSA-adjacent character, Ma Hunkel, the Golden Age Red Tornado. This was the very first merchandise ever of ol’ Ma, so I can forgive them the off-model pink gloves.

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JSA Museum Heroclix Map (Wiz Kids, 2007). This was included in a case of the “DC: Origin” series of Heroclix play pieces and may be one of the most obscure and rarest JSA things ever. I was lucky to be gifted with one and I just love how it’s filled with deep dives and Easter eggs — not the least of which is what’s supposed to be a Ma Hunkel statue in the Museum.

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DC Universe Justice League Unlimited (Mattel, 2011). Mattel did some really great Golden Age-related figures in their JLU line, but for my money this three-pack of Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Carter Hall they produced as a Matty Collector exclusive is the finest example.

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JSA Action Figure Series 1 (DC Direct, 2006). This was DC Direct’s attempt to cash in on the popularity of the late-lamented JSA comics series with the modern members, but they chose to quell fan “outrage” over the supposed dissing to that point of Al Pratt by making a two-pack with both his Golden Age costumes. It was nice to finally see them in action figure form.

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DC Universe Classics (Mattel, 2009). Mattel’s DC Universe series were not only fine figures but also a showcase for a bevy of JSA and JSA-related characters. My favorite among them is this Wildcat. I love how it looks like he’s jumping in to take down Chemo all by himself—something I know Ted Grant and his two fists could totally do.

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DC First Appearance (DC Direct, 2004). Wow, this was a DC Direct line I really, really loved. So many great Golden Age figures, chief among them the original Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman in their first appearance looks.

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XXRay Golden Age Flash (Mighty Jaxx, 2017). I don’t own this and will probably never understand Asian toys and their obsession with cutaways of characters, but it’s kind of cool, isn’t it? They did a whole wave of Golden Age DC figures including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Alan Scott in addition to Jay here.

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DC Minimates (DC Direct/Art Asylum, 2007). Again, after Pocket Super Heroes failed, DC lent their characters for Minimates adaptation and the result was another round of JSA choices… and Ma Hunkel. Proud to say that this figure came about because of me and my grass-roots campaign back then to get the Golden Age Red Tornado her own action figure. We got this instead, but I ain’t unhappy.

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MORE

— The Complete TOYHEM INDEX of Stories and Features. Click here.

— HOLY BOOTLEG! Dig These 13 Favorite WANNA-BE BATMAN TOYS — and MORE. Click here.

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JIM BEARD has pounded out adventure fiction since he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. He’s gone on to write official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comics stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history. His prose work includes his own creations, but also licensed properties such as Planet of the Apes, X-Files, Spider-Man, Kolchak the Night Stalker and Captain Action. In addition, Jim provided regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, for 17 years.

Check out his latest releases: Rising Sun Reruns, about classic Japanese shows on American TV; a Green Hornet novella How Sweet the Sting; his first epic fantasy novel The Nine Nations Book One: The Sliding World; and the most recent Batman ’66 books of essays he’s edited: Zlonk! Zok! Zowie! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Essays on Batman ’66 – Season One, Biff! Bam! Ee-Yow! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Essays on Batman ’66 – Season Two and Oooff! Boff! Splatt! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Guide to Batman ’66 – Season Three.

He’s also published novels about a character very much like GI Joe: DC Jones – Adventure Command International.