First Appearance of the Justice Society of America!
It’s another Flashback Friday with…. THE FLASH!
ALL-STAR COMICS Vol.1, No.3, December 1940; Cover Art: Everett E. Hibbard; Writer: Gardner Fox; Penciler: Everett E. Hibbard; Inker: Everett E. Hibbard
The concept of the super-team, a stroke of super heroic storytelling genius that unites multiple popular heroes from their own series into a group title like All-Star Comics, made its spectacular debut here in this very issue with the formation of the Justice Society of America. Meeting to share stories of their adventures, the rest of the team listens as The Flash leads o with his tale of a sunken Spanish galleon from 1567 called the Sancta Joanna. 
Rival teams are trying to salvage the Aztec gold that went down with the ship, and one of them is led by the father of Jay Garrick’s girlfriend’s friend. The Flash steps in to make sure the right group gets the gold, which involves facing a shark, tussling with pirates, and sending the rogues on a one-way trip to an iceberg. A Johnny Thunder solo adventure rounds out the issue.
Kudos to Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg for his expert commentary above and to the talented artists and writers of DC Comics who captivated and inspired millions of readers during this magical Golden Age.
Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg is an educator, publisher, author, comic book and pop culture historian, and former museum curator. He is the author or co-author of Zombiemania, The Big BIG LITTLE BOOK Book, and Howe’s Transcendental Toybox. He was the editor of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and also wrote for Cinescape, The International Journal of Comic Art, Fandom, and IGN.com. He holds a doctorate in Communications Design from the University of Baltimore and teaches courses in everything from comics and superhero mythology to zombies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can find him on Twitter at @DoctoroftheDead