Antagonist Automatons Aid Assembled Avengers

Perhaps the deadliest foe of the Justice League of America was the adaptable android known as Amazo. A creation of the sinister scientist Professor Ivo, Amazo had the ability to absorb and replicate the superhuman abilities of all he encountered, and he was tasked with defeating the Justice League in order to secure for his master the secret to immortality. Eventually defeated by the team's combined might, Amazo was kept stored inert at the League's original cave headquarters, and later onboard its orbiting satellite base above Earth-One.

Amazo's physical doppleganger on Earth-Two, the android known as Akhet was developed by the international brain trust known as the Binary Brotherhood to portray an alien invasion that would motivate the warring nations of the world to unite against a common threat. Although Akhet's energy abilities kept members of the Justice Society of America and their allies in the All-Star Squadron humbled for a time, the heroes eventually defeated both him and his true master, Hawkman's oldest enemy Doctor Hastor. While Akhet did not possess powers similar to those of the Justice Society, these were contained in other devices from another reality.

However, the brain developed by Amazo was a singular creation, one intent on remaining eternally in a state of slumber. When awoken, the angered android struck out against his enemies time and time again. And in fact, twice the League reactivated him to regain their "winning factor" and powers that were sapped by an extraterrestrial entity known as "I" and later after their battle with Libra and his Injustice Gang. So more than once, Amazo was an unwitting aid to his bitterest foes.

Was there a correlating brain behind Akhet, which later assisted the Society and Squadron? Indeed there was, and it originated from the brains of All-Stars Robotman and Commander Steel, who reprogrammed the once robotic pawn of Brain Wave... the World's Fair automaton named Elektro*... into the subservient mechanized butler of the Squadron named Gernsback. Prior to this, Steel and Robotman were among those captive scientist who's brainwaves powered Hastor's Akhet, hence Akhet and Gernsback had a mutual genesis in their cybernetic synaptic network.. making Gernsback a later incarnation of Akhet. And one that was much more amiable to those whom he once fought... first in the Akhet body and later in Elektro's form. He would reside at the Squadron's Perisphere headquarters through the end of World War II. What became of him after is unknown.

* The Elektro robot of the Earth-One World's Fair, as with its Earth-Prime counterpart, was kept as a museum piece until the present day. Likewise, the Akhet android was last seen sequestered by the United States government following its failed attempt at world conquest, and kept in its collection.

The Brave and the Bold: Wildcats - Part 1

The Undefeated Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Ted Grant, faced just as many obstacles as successes in his life. After training under former professional boxer Joe Morgan, Grant rose up the ranks of boxing until he fought the current champion and his sparring partner, Soccer Smith. When framed for Smith's dead during a fight, Grant sought to clear his name, and was inspired by a young boy regaling about the masked hero known as Green Lantern. Inspired by this example, Ted adopted the alter ego of Wildcat, and brought Soccer's killers to justice. Shortly thereafter, Wildcat joined the All-Star Squadron, and later Earth-Two's Justice Society of America. 

Decades later, Grant had retired from boxing and only recently came out of retirement as a costumed crimefighter. After a few teamups with his fellow members of the Justice Society, Wildcat found he was overwhelmed by a lowly crook named Sad Jack Dold, who had gained cosmic power. With the help of Jim Corrigan and his caped alias of the Spectre, Ted was able to shake off this lost and instead started Grant's Gym. This Gym was dedicated to training young men in the art of self-defense.

A couple years later, on the parallel planet of Earth-One, that world's Ted Grant had closed down his version of Grant's Gym due to various financial problems. Bruce Wayne sought him out in order to recruit Grant into becoming the coach of America's boxing team for the World Youth Games. however, Grant had lost his confidence in himself, which force Wayne to orchestrate a fake mugging that Ted was able to rescue him from... and still later in Vienna Austria where the games were being held, as Batman he fought Grant to a draw.

This inspired Ted to once more put on his Wildcat costume, and in both identities he assisted Batman in battling foreign spies. After a decisive victory versus the enemy country's boxing coach Koslov, himself an agent of this adversarial spy network, Ted used this experience to reignite his love of teaching young men the art of self-defense.

Would Ted-Two succeed with his gym where Ted-One failed? Will Ted-One resume his costumed career full time as had Ted-Two? Find out next time…

Legendary L L Ladies: Lena Luthor and Libby Lawrence

Lena Luthor was the younger sister of future master criminal Lex Luthor of Earth-One, whose "space-brain" device accidentally bequeathed telepathic and telekinetic abilities upon her. When her brother turned criminal, her parents changed their family name to Thorul, and soon after died in a car crash. In her late teenage years, Lena became best friends with fellow orphan Linda Lee Danvers aka Supergirl. She would even impersonate Supergirl  on occasion, and attracted the attention of Dick Malverne, whom both girls liked.

Libby Lawrence was the daughter of an American major stationed in Poland during the period when Germany invaded the country during the early days of World War II. Fleeing from that conquered country following her father's death, she ended up back in her home country with the aid of Major Rickey Cannon, and subsequently gained fame from her daring swim of the English Channel during her exodus from Europe. 

Lena was even used as a pawn by a third lass who looked like both girls, Lesla-Lar of Kandor. Once while meeting her brother whom she was told had died, the trauma caused her to temporarily assume the alias of the Jungle Princess, using her mind powers on animals. 

Lena joined the FBI and married fellow agent Jeff Colby. She would later be a widow and as single mom, obtained work on the Secret Hearts television soap opera as a script writer assistant. There she with Linda, who was an actress on the show. After her mental abilities grew, she learned of her relationship with Lex, a secret Supergirl kept from her for years for her own protection.

Libby became a radio commentator and reporter, while also adopting the costumed alter ego of Liberty Belle. Gaining an adrenaline rush from the ringing of the actual Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, connected to her miniature liberty bell broach, Belle combat various threats.

Liberty Belle become a founding member and eventual chairwoman of the All-Star Squadron. There she met her boyfriend and future husband Johnny "Quick" Chambers. She lead this large group, which contained various other heroic teams such as the Justice Society and Seven Soldiers, into a variety of adventures throughout World War II.

On one adventure, she and Johnny met future members of the Justice Society visiting the 1940s, including Power Girl who... although alive during Belle's time period... was asleep in her Symbioship rocketing to Earth-Two. Later, Belle gained sonic projecting power, although this ability weakened over time as did her relationship with Johnny.

In the lives of the Supermen, they always seems to attract men and women with double "L" initials in their name. Such women as Lois Lane and Lang Lang were examples of these, both working as journalists alongside Superman's alter ego of Clark Kent. Although Lena Luthor and Libby Lawrence did not have as much contact with these Men of Steel, they still impacted their lives. While Lena would mostly only interact with Superman's cousin Supergirl, instead of Power Girl it was her cousin Superman who worked side-by-side with Libby. And each were notable in their own right, for their good hearts and selfless devotion.

Sensational Successors of Sandmen Sufficiently Skilled

Jeb Paulsen was a lad with a strange history who would became a legend over a century after his birth. As a young orphan with a propensity to dream, he was drawn into the world of the Sandman, the self appointed protector of the Dream Dimension where nocturnal realities are conceptualized. As a mentor to Jeb, Sandman soon realized that Jeb was displaced in time and belonged in a future era. The boy was then sent by Sandman to the 21st century, where he was raised under the loving care of his adoptive "grandfather" Buddy Blank aka Omac. 

After Buddy died, Tommy then lived in an orphanage,  until he was adopted by Horatio Tomorrow and his wife. This lad grew up to become the Planeteer known as Tommy Tomorrow. Armed with a special pistol and futuristic equipment, it was his physical prowess and keen problem solving aptitude that made him a fine example as a guardian amongst his peers... much like his counterpart a universe away and decades earlier than Tommy's date of birth.

On that parallel world of Earth-Two, Jed's doppleganger was John.... Jonathan Law. Novelist John Law conceived of the ideal source material for his next great story, a behind the scenes publication of costumed crusaders appearing in the early 1940s. Law interviewed the girlfriend of the mystery man known as Sandman. Following the interview, the woman... Dian Belmont... handed Jonathan a drawing of a new spandex outfit she had designed for her boyfriend, believing that Law would appreciate it more. 

Indeed, Jonathan wore a fabricated replica of her handiwork, and as Tarantula when he encountered Dian once more, while she was substituting for Sandman on a case. Sadly, her duel with some crooks led to her perishing in a car crash, with Tarantula and Sandman having witnessed this tragedy. Armed with his web-shooting pistol and equipped with suction cup boots, his acrobatic agility and mental ingenuity made Law a capable hero, fighting in memory of Dian.

Back on Earth-One, through some interaction with Supergirl, Jeb ended up in the future and would in one timeline be the warrior lad known as Kamandi yet in the actual future would become the aforementioned Tommy Tomorrow. As an ace graduate, Tommy was the premier member of the Planeteers which protected the Solar System from various threats. He would return to the 20th century on a few occasions such as when combatting time lost dinosaurs, assisting fellow heroes who were "showcasing" their abilities versus an alien treat, and during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

John Law was already experienced in battling crime in his previous professions such as law enforcement (chronicled in More Fun Comics #21-44 from June 1937 to June 19, 1939), then his second career blending his experience in law with his knowledge of science (chronicled in Smash Comics #3-12 from October 1939 to July 1940). Still restless and unsatisfied with his previously occupations, Law tried his hand an author, which led to a profitable path to fame and fortune. 

This culmitated in his fourth "career" as costumed crusader (in Star-Spangled Comics #1, beginning in October 1941) as the Tarantula. As Tarantula, Law was successful as both a solo adventurer and a member of the All-Star Squadron. His various experiences side by side with superheroes allowed him to research his literary masterpiece, Alter Ego, after which he retired from alter ego in April 1943.

Dynamite Duos - Charged Crusaders

Vykin the Black was one of the Forever People who traveled to Earth-One in order to save their teammate Beautiful Dreamer. With the ability to emit magnetic energy and to spearhead the transformation of he and his friends into becoming the powerful Infinity Man, his greatest attribute was his wisdom which aided in directing the teens towards battling the forces of evil. His constant ally was Mark Moonrider, who possessed a megaton touch, allowing him to either shock and opponent or generate a devastating explosion. His greatest attribute was a a natural born leader of the Forever People. Together with teammates Big Bear , Serifan and Dreamer herself, this duo had brief but memorable careers before they were shunted off into the other dimensional world of Adon, where they remained through the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Thomas N. "Tex" Thomas was a chemistry teacher and physical education instructor for a prestigious school where, alongside his prized pupil Daniel Dunbar, discover the means to internally harness atomic powers. Through an accident, Tex was positively charged while Dan was negatively charged. Creating specialized rings which they both wore, just by touching these together both would be imbued with various electro-magnetic powers and enhanced physical capabilities. As TNT and Dan the Dana-Mite, the pair had several tales as a dynamite duo which led to their membership in the All-Star Squadron. In the waning days of World War II, they were recruited by Robotman along with other unaffiliated All-Stars who through his cybernetic ally Mekanique located their long lost ally Hank "Commander Steel" Haywood who sought their aid in ending the War on his new world of Earth-One. Aiding to the Manhattan Projecr on Earth-One, Tex and Dan soon discovered that the new science based universe they now resided in caused their powers to become unstable. Heywood arranged for the pair to be housed separately in underground bunkers for decades before TNT was moved to the bottled city of Kandor and Dan to the  domed city of Atlantis for further treatment.

Avenging Aliens Adopt Amazing Abilities

There were two Manhunters from Mars, J'onn Jon'zz who moved to Earth-One and Roh Kar who once visited Earth-Two. But they were not alone, as other heroes from these respective Mars were T'omm Jon'zz... himself once known as a Martian Manhunter ... and Thund Dran, as well as rogues such as B'rett and Vulkor of Mars-One, also Sax Gola and Quork of Mars-Two. 

Each of these individuals had an impact on the third planet from the Sun, both for good and for ill. And would tie into the mythos of the Batman of twin terra-firmas. While J’onn would have a more notable presence, after years operating behind the scenes, Roh only appeared once as himself… although evidence suggests he also operated covertly behind the scenes mentally-bonded to Mighty Mite Justice Society ally of Batman (although that is a tale left to be told for another time).

As a charter member of Earth-One's Justice League, J'onn had carved a niche for himself as a protector of the Denver metropolitan area of that era in the suburb of Middleton. Adopting the alter ego of police detective John Jones, the Manhunter used his various abilities to protect his adopted world.  With superhuman strength, speed, vision, flight as well as shape-shifting and telepathy, J'onn was a formidable hero on par with Superman himself. 

After years of working his heroic feats while being invisible, when he was exposed in his true form to humanity he revealed himself to mankind as an alien protector in their midst. He would remain such until eventually returning to his then decimated homeworld, assisting in helping its survivors locate a new Mars to rebuild their civilization.

After some time there, J'onn returned to Earth-One when he became a pariah to his people as a reminder to their failures as a society compared to his noble stand during the Earth-Mars war. At that point, J'onzz resumed his Justice League membership and became leader to a new generation of heroes. He also resumed his John Jones alter ego, now a private investigator. The Jones alias, a superstrong alien detective, mirrored a detective named Trent who was once a superstrong alien himself!

Police officer Larry Trent worked alongside his partner Sandy Keane as the "Radio Patrol", capturing various unusual criminals in New York City during the early 1940's on Earth-Two. Possessing a peak physique and intuitive investigative skills, Officer Trent even brought a young Alexie Luther to justice, shortly before that villain met his arch-enemy Superman.

Trent was inspired towards this crimefighting career due to the influence of Superman, who saved him from a suicide attempt. Larry had previously been a professional boxer until a corrupt manager ended his career, and the Man of Steel impersonated Trent in order to restore his reputation. Once this was accomplished, Larry decided to pursue a new life, like that of another superstrong alien officer in John Jones.

Roh Kar was in pursuit of the criminal from his world known as Quork, who on Earth-Two had adopted the alias of the Stranger. To that end, Kar enlisted the aid of Batman and Robin who were operating in Gotham City where Quork had set up his criminal enterprises. Once the trio apprehended their alien adversary, the Martian Lawman return to his native world with his captive to continue as golden age Manhunter of Mars.

What the Dynamic Duo had failed to disclose with Roh during this case was of how some time prior to this adventure, they had been brought to Mars-Two by another Martian lawman known as Thund Dran, who sought their assistance in capturing the criminal mastermind of his world known as Sax Gola. Batman and Robin were given jet packs and weaponry in their fight against Sax Gola, the same tools which Roh Kar used when he visited their world years later.

Prior to leaving Earth-One, J'Onn assumed another identity after his John Jones alias was presumed deceased, that of international playboy Marco Xavier. Secretly a subcontractor for the villainous organization known as VULTURE, when Xavier seemingly perished his alter ego was assumed by the Manhunter, in order to bring it down along with its mysterious leader Mister Vulture. Turns out, Faceless was the original Xavier.

On Earth-Two, Marco's doppelgänger was British secret agent Richard Spencer, a member of the elite Espionage organization. Presumed killed in a plane crash, Spencer adopted the alter ego of Black X, or Black Ace, and battled various threats around the world. Using his mastery of disguise along with his fighting prowess, Black X operated during the same time period as Larry Trent, only he plied his spy craft abroad until later in his career when he moved to New York City to become a private detective.

Manhunter...Meet the Manhunter...And the Other Manhunter...Oh, and the Manhunters!

Paul Kirk began life as Rick Nelson, big game hunter turned crime fighter to avenge the death of his friend Inspector Donovan of Empire City of Earth-Two. Unaware that Donovan had himself been recruited into the fraternity of the Manhunters, secretly an armada of android troops originally created on the planet Oa in a parallel universe, Rick quickly assumed to new alter egos. Borrowing the identity of a former manhunter in civilian clothes named Paul Kirk, the adventurous Nelson also assumed the costumed career of those who recruited him. 

Given a special uniform modeled after the androids by the Grand Master who had originated in that other universe, Kirk as the Manhunter had a short lived yet prominent career, even joining the All-Star Squadron during the war time years in the 1940s. And then, Kirk hung up the red and blue and returned to his first love hunting in Africa, after he along with other heroes were exiled to Earth-One* when they confronted Per Degaton, these men becoming reacquainted with their long lost All-Star teammate Hank "Steel" Heywood".

However, while stalking one prey, Kirk let down his guard and was stampede. Fortunately, Heywood had set up an organization known as the Council to enforce order on this world as his Squadron had on Earth-Two, although without the moral factor in the equation. Kept in a coma for decades while his body was repaired, the Council scientists cloned Kirk's body to make duplicates of the hero to be their personal army. 

When revived, Kirk was trained further in combat skills with the intent of leading these clones for the Council, and Heywood's, personal agenda. Instead, Kirk rebelled and joined Interpol agent Christine St. Clair and a man named Nitobe in defeating the Council, and destroy all the clones. All, that is, save one who would infiltrate and lead the Secret Society of Super-Villains in a battle to stem the tide of Darkseid's invasion of Earth-One. He perished trying to end the threat bend the Society in Darkseid.

* Paul Kirk and his eleven All-Star Squadron compatriots who migrated to Earth-One on or after 1945 had their places taken in Earth-Two’s universe by the Justice Society of post-Crisis Earth-0, who protected that realm from the incursion of forces in an adjacent notional dimension which manufactured a faux-Asgard. In time, the Society themselves were then replaced by the dozen Daemen of their home reality, so that they may return to Earth-0.

Knights of Ancient and Modern Eras Converge on the 20th Century

Two knights out-of-time, thrust into the present...and two modern day Templar knights of a different type... each impacting the 20th century in various ways.

Jason Blood was the premier protector of the Camelot of Earth-One, wherein his superhuman alter ego of Etrigan struck terror in his foes. However, facing insurmountable forces, Blood retreated from the battle to protect his home and lived for centuries until the modern era when he was revived in Gotham City, a noted historian who protected to innocent alongside Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman... among others.

Sir Justin Arthur was the premier protector of  the Camelot of Earth-Two, hand picked by his counselor to be the Shining Knight. Given an indestructible golden armor, a sword that could slice through anything, and a flying horse named Winged Victory, Justin had adventures in this historical time period. Then, a battle with a giant ogre sent Justin into the cold waters enveloping him in ice and freezing him for over a thousand years, awakening in a modern era of the 20th century to become one of Law's Legionnaires.

Keith Kenyon was a political dissident and scientist who discovered a sunken gold chest that enabled him to modify its ancient properties to become an elixir which he drank, turning him into the criminal known as Goldface. After his initial defeat at the hands of Earth-One's Green Lantern, Kenyon developed his gold armor along with a modified liquid gold spray gun. Despite an inherent weakness to the color yellow which prohibited Lantern's power ring from affecting, the hero was still able to outmaneuver Goldface once more. Kenyon returned years later to resume his criminal career in Coast City, and resume his war against his foe.

His counterpart of Earth-Two was criminal gang leader Baron Buckton, known as the Black Templar, an ancient 1000 year order allegedly originating in Camelot (who a time-traveling Alan "Green Lantern" Scott encountered while battling their then leader Tarquin). This meglamonical malcontent led forces of the same name. Twice his forces struck against Keystone City, drawing first his henchmen and then himself into conflict with its costumed protector, the Flash. Along with his ancient weaponry, including the ancient Flame of Buckton, Templar incorporated modern sensibilities into his schemes and nearly succeeded in conquering his city and its prize jewel, Keystone Research (that world's version of S.T.A.R Labs) possessing cutting edge technology itself, owned by the Flash. Yet both times they battled, the Flash beat the Black Templar.

Cookie-Cutter-Counterparts: Johnny Thunder

Although they look identical, even having the same first and last names, the two Johnny Thunders were anything but the same. On Earth-Two back in the 1940's, Johnny was the first recruit of the Justice Society of America, where he along with his Thunderbolt fought crime and even big time supervillains. Although he possessed tremendous power, his intellect was his chief liability. However, it was trumped by his drive to help his fellow man. Well, as long as he made a name for himself, at least. Then in the 1950's, Thunder retired to become the monarch of Badhnesia, the land he lived in as a little boy when their past leader kidnapped him.

In fact, the same thing occurred in the early years of Earth-One's Johnny Thunder, who grew up and followed an entirely different course life. Becoming a low-level criminal who led his own gang, when he first met his visiting and naïve counterpart, he saw the opportunity to steal his Thunderbolt and remake his native world as Earth-A with its Lawless League. However, before they could establish themselves as the conquerors of Earth-A, the Justice Society of America defeated both the League and its leader, who reset history so that these events never occurred.

Then, several years later it occurred that the good Johnny once more wanted to me his doppleganger, and traveled to Earth-One. Since neither Thunder remembered their last meeting, events unfolded as they had previously, only this time the evil Johnny recruited the Crime Champions to be his hired muscle rather than his own gang. However, his own carelessness led to his cosmic twin reversing all that Thunder had accomplished when he placed all of Earth-One's heroes into a coma and nearly vanquished the Society through his Champions. Left defeated once more, this time evil Johnny couldn't escape capture, and was left powerless, while good Johnny remained a member of the Society in good standing into his old age.

Robin's Radical Relationships: Turbulent Teenagers

Some things were easier for Earth-One's Robin than for that of his counterpart, some things were not. One thing that went smoothly was the former's fine friendship with other teenage sidekicks, with whom he formed the Teen Titans. For the latter, there was no such Titans, instead there was the Blue Boys of whom Robin was not a member. However, the Boy Wonder did meet other lads who... like him... accompanied their mentors at a meeting of the All-Star Squadron. While the Titans began with four lads... Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad and Speedy... and a lass named Wonder Girl, the young All-Star quartet of Robin, Dyna-Mite, Sandy and Speedy didn't mesh quite as well (and on Earth-Two, Donna Troy never assumed the alter ego of Wonder Girl as had her twin). One parallel quite evident, however, was the fact that each Robin and Speedy immediately butted heads with one another. Still, Earth-One's pair would develop a begrudging friendship while the Earth-Two pair would find a more significant gap between them. For there, that Speedy was lost in time for decades with his Law's Legionnaires comrades, and returned in the 1970s as still a teenage, encountering a now forty-year old Robin alongside the Justice Society... a team where Robin would finally find the acceptance had that his twin found amongst the Titans!

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: Boys Wonder

The former Boys Wonder carved a niche, and a legend, for themselves as the right-hand lads of the Batmen. Yet it was once they matured into men themselves that they showed their true potential. While Earth-One's Robin was an early participant in cases involving his mentor's allies on the Justice League, it was Earth-Two's Robin that as a seasoned veteran was awarded membership with the Justice Society of America. Earth-One's Robin joined Batman on cases versus the Key and the Lord of Time, as well as working alongside his counterpart on a joint case versus Solomon Grundy. Earth-Two's Robin first officially worked with the Society when he was recruited to help them versus the Black Sphere Gang... and later aiding them versus the Iron Hand, the Injustice Society, King Kull of Earth-S and the evil duo Brain Wave and Per Degaton.

Interestingly, each Robin joined other costumed crusders to battle the League and Society, when those teams were effected by the machinations of Antithesis and Psycho-Pirate. In the end, both Ex-Boys Wonder stepped out of the shadows... and into the light of legend amongst a cadre of their peers!

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: The Wonder Women

The Amazing Amazon were the first and foremost female members of their parallel planets' protectors. On Earth-One, Wonder Woman was a founding member and continued working with the team until she lost her powers for a time, at which point she became an honary member of the Justice League of America.

On Earth-Two, Wonder Woman joined the Justice Society months after it was formed, and only then as its recording secretary. It would take years before her allies allowed her to participate in their cases actively, despite being among the Society's most powerful members! Still, both Amazons proved true assets for their teams up until, and even after, those groups had been dissolved.

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: The Green Lanterns

Right from the founding of the Justice League and Justice Society of America, Hal Jordan and Alan Scott... aka the Green Lanterns of their respective worlds... were valued members of these teams.  Hal was always a fixture of the League up until its dissolution following the Martian invasion. For Alan, after his brief tenure as the Society's second chairman, he felt a need to take a leave of absence to become an  honorary member... due to his failure to save a boy's life at the hands of the evil Wotan. However, a few years later, Scott would reunite with the Society and through the years become one of its key members. Even though Hal was already affiliated with the Green Lantern Corps and Alan had joined the All-Star Squadron, both large organizations, it was with the League and Society where they truely felt at home.

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: High-Flying Hawks

Although the Hawkmen were fixtures of their world's foremost fighters of felons, their histoies with these teams were different indeed. On Earth-One, Hawkman was the third member to be voted to the Justice League, after which he aided them until he and his wife left for their homeworld Thangar during a crisis there, though they returned shortly thereafter. After years of aiding the League on a few cases, Hawkgirl was finally elected as a member... of which her actual adventure were eratic at best. And on Earth-Two, its Hawkman was an actual founding member of the Justice Society of America, and soon thereafter became its third and then permanent chairman. His wife Hawkgirl aided the Society from time-to-time, although she was never considered for membership despite her occasional protests to her husband. When that team was revived years later, she at that point retired to raise their son Hector, although her husband continued to be the leader from then on.



Titan's Tenures on Terrific Teams: The Batmen

Although both Batmen were founding members of their parallel planets' prime protectors, their relationship with their allies was at times strained indeed. Months after the Justice League's founding, Earth-One's Batman  found his niche on the team and was active throughout its various cases until an uprising in the nation of Monrovia threatened his old friend Lucius Fox. When the League wouldn't aid him in saving Fox, Batman left the team to form his own, the Outsiders.

His counterpart on Earth-Two had immediately chose to be an honorary member of the Justice Society of America, like his best friend Superman. After which, Batman only joined the team on cases involving Ian Karkull, the "Five Drowned Men" and the Society's attack on Nazi Germany which time erased. However, Batman, was more active alongside the All-Star Squadron, operating around the same time period. Although aiding the Society on one adventure to Earth-S, afterwards as Commissioner Bruce Wayne he allowed his vendetta (caused by the influence of Psycho-Pirate and the effects of his advance-stages cancer) versus the Justice Society to cause a war within itself. Later he wrote a disparaging diary which held clues to the reemgence of their old foe Per Degaton, and finally he gave his life to protect his allies against the machninations of Bill Jensen and Frederick Vaux... which showed that he like his twin had deep down cared for his fearless friends.

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: Fastest Men Alive

As with their compatriots Superman, Batman and Green Lantern, each Flash was a founding member of his world's premier protectors. Barry Allen aka the Flash continued his association with the Justice League throughout its history, up until its dissolution following a Martian invasion. At one point, due to his inadverdent slaying of his foe Professor Zoom, the Flash was nearly evicted from the League, although they elected to keep him as a member. Still, he left shortly thereafter to be reunited with his wife in another century.

Jay Garrick aka the Flash participated during the first few cases of the Justice Society of America, being its first chairman, after which he takes of leave of absence to become the team's third honorary member. However, a few years later he returned and was hencforth an active member up until its dissolution in 1951, and rejoined it after it was revived a decade later. From then on, Jay was virtually inseperable from his Society comrades, even training a new generation of heroes.

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: The Atoms

The smallest members of their respective rosters were sizable additions to their teams. Ray Palmer, known as the Atom, was the second new recruit of the Justice League of America after it formed... Al Prat, is world's Atom, was a founding member of the Justice Society of America. Nevertheless, once both Mighty Mites joined these teams, they were stalwarts, participating in several adventures with their allies throughout the years. When Ray's marriage dissolved and he found a new life in the Amazon jungle with a tribe of minature aliens, he left the League prior to its dissolution. Al was only beaten out of the most appearences with the Society by his best buddy Hawkman, though when his group reformed decades later Atom had himself retired to his own marital bliss.

Titans' Tenures on Terrific Teams: The Supermen

The Justice League and Justice Society of America were the template upon which all other superhero teams were based on their respective worlds. And the Supermen were the cornerstones of these titantic teams. Kal-El aka Earth-One's Superman was, like his counterpart Kal-L aka Earth-Two's Superman, a founding member of his Justice organization. In the beginning, Kal-El like his twin was an irregular particpant in the League's early adventures, although within a year he became more active and was an active member for several years until its dissolution after a Martian invasion. Kal-L, however, remained an honorary member after the Society's first adventure, only appearing alongside his allies in an official capacity twice more versus Ian Karkull and the "Five Drowned Men". Another case, lost in time, had Kal-L alongside his allies invading Nazi Germany, although this tale was wiped from history.

When the Society reemerged decades later, Kal-L participated in JSA cases involving Creator-2, Aquarius, the Freedom Fighters, the Injustice Society, Vandal Savage and the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Though not as visibile as his doppleganger Kal-El, it was evident that both men set the tone upon which their teammates followed...

Migrants of Multiple Earths: The Mekanique Method

Under mysterious events during the middle 1940s to the year 1950, several superheroes and their young sidekicks disappeared from their native Earth-Two, and later became the first wave of costumed crusaders of Earth-One.

From in-story references, we know that: a.) there was a connection between Hank "Commander Steel" Heywood... originally of Earth-Two and the first All-Star to migrate to Earth-One... and Per Degaton, the time travelling tyrant, b.) several heroes' "DC’s Who's Who" entries state both their affiliation to Earth-Two's All-Star Squadron as well as detailing their later lives on Earth-One, c.) Steel's recruitment of Infinity, Inc. to obtain assistance from Earth-Two heroes on what he viewed as hero-deprived Earth-One. Connecting the dots provides us with an idea as to the order of events that precipitated the migration of a dozen mystery men and their allies during 1946 from Earth-Two to Earth-One, as follows....

Steel had in his possession a futuristic transponder that a German scientist purchased from the Monitor in order to send the Justice Battalion into hyperspace. When he was accidentally shunted to Earth-One by this device in 1942, Heywood joined the military and then returned to the United States towards the end up World War II, Hank used this device to contact select individuals from his home world at some point between 1945 and 1946.

The robot-woman Mekanique had betrayed the Squadron in 1942, and although her body had been destroyed, her head with its time-space crystal was preserved at Project M by lab assistant Per Degaton, who was a colleague of Chuck Grayson. Thus, prior to starting his criminal career, Degaton formed a relationship through Grayson and his pal Robotman with Heywood… although on separate worlds.

Heywood was able to use the Monitor's transponder to communicate with his old ally Robotman aka Paul Dennis through the cybernetic head of Robbie’s former “girlfriend” Mekanique. Utilizing her ability to cross dimensional planes, Robotman initiated Mekanique's trans-dimensional capabilities and brought along with himself several former fellow All-Stars to Earth-One. Robotman and Steel recruited TNT, Dyna-Mite, Manhunter, Guardian among with Newsboy Legion and Guardian’s younger brother Will, Air Wave, and Zatara. Years later, as previously mentioned, Steel would do much the same thing when he temporarily recruited Infinity, Inc. of Earth-Two to battle the newest incarnation of the Justice League on Earth-One.

No doubt these heroes and their colleagues were inspired by the example a few years prior of Uncle Sam, a patriotic hero like Steel who recruited several members of the All-Star Squadron into forming the Freedom Fighters, protecting another earth in Earth-X that had no superheroes. And so, the first generation of superheroes on Earth-One were migrants from Earth-Two.

Heywood would secretly sponsor research on cloning technology through his Council and the young adept minds of the Newsboy Legion. These now adult Legionnaires became aspiring geneticists using perfect physical specimens such as Guardian and Manhunter, incorporating cybernetic technology Robotman utilized, while TNT and Dyna-Mite could add insight into atomic technology. Larry Jordan incorporated the Monitor's device into teleportation technology he would use as Air Wave. All of these great minds were orchestrated by Heywood in order to bring about a new world order on his adopted world, to model it after his home world of Earth-Two! But what became of these All-Stars later in life on their adopted world?

• Larry Jordan aka Air Wave and Zatara fathered their own counterparts in a son in Hal Jordan a and daughter in Zatanna Zatara! Air Wave perished in the prime of his life when his son was 3 years old, while Zatara journeyed throughout the Multiverse when his daughter was still a little girl, before reuniting with Zatanna when she was a young adult!

• Jim "Guardian" Harper and his little brother Will pursued civilian lives as had the four Newsboy Legionnaires. Eventually, Jim and the Newsboys were each cloned for a new generation, while Will died soon after his son Roy "Speedy" Harper was born, counterpart to his native world's Speedy!

• Paul Kirk retired his Manhunter alter ego, and during a big game hunt ended up in a coma for decades. When he awoke, he learned he had become the template for an army of clones of the Council. This Council attempted to rule the world, which Kirk would help defeat at the cost of his life, just as his surviving clone would do when facing Darkseid!

• TNT and Dyna-Mite had been recruited by Steel during the waning days of the Manhattan Project, only to find that their powers had increased and become unstable on their adopted world. They were kept in an underground bunker, and ultimately moved to the cities of Kandor and Atlantis to live out their lives after meeting Earth-One's Super Friends. TNT joined the Kandorians on the new trans-dimensional world of Rokyn while Dyna-Mite remained in Aquaman's city indefinitely.

• Robotman made several appearances on Earth-One from 1946 until 1953, then worked alongside the Justice League of America during their first case. Robbie was soon after trapped in suspended animation within a cave for over a decade. Once revived he migrated back to Earth-Two, and had his mind transplanted into the body of his now brain dead former colleague Chuck Grayson. Assuming his late friend’s identity, There he renewed his friendship with members of the Justice Society, even testifying at a congressional hearing they were involved in.
  
  
• In 1950, Sargon had himself traveled from Earth-Two to Earth-One and become reacquainted with these heroes and Hank Heywood. He left his native Earth at that time due to all superheroes (aside from a select few) being banned by the United States government, and his awareness as to where some of his fellow All-Stars migrated to within the Multiverse. Unfortunately over time, after a brief marriage failed (except for having a close relationship with his ex-wife’s niece), and Sargent turned evil. Seeking to gain more power for himself, Sargon ended up being a recurring foe of the Flash and later Wonder Woman, although he did end up helping the Justice League in their battle with Starbreaker.
  
  
• Decades later, Steel employed Degaton and charged him with the task of rebuilding Mekanique’s body after his initial plans with Steel's fellow All-Stars had failed, given their own individual life choices. During this occasion, Degaton retrieved Mekanique's head, attaching it to a new body and sent her to Earth-One to fulfill her mission before she returned to Degaton's side in a post-Crisis universe.

While the Justice Society of America* of post-Crisis Earth-0 assumed the place vacated by the above All-Stars, migrating to Earth-Two and its adjacent Apokolips Ragnarok notional dimension, this was only for a few years (with the exception of four additional teammates who joined them there**). When the JSA returned to their own Earth, an Earth-0 group known as the Daemen filed their roles and offset the departing All-Stars on Earth-One. Their membership included Arquoi, Blaquokar, Calabri, Dhaozan, Feth Sudol, Gulgak, Huromon, Inztuk, Kistimaak, Piztok, Tzingaas and Zhazor. These former villains redeemed themselves as they protected both Earth-Two and all other reality from then onward within Asgard.

* The Earth-O Justice Society members migrated to Earth-Two's Asgard were Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Flash, Green Lantern, Hourman, Atom, Sandman, Sandy, Johnny Thunder (and his Thunderbolt), Starman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Wildcat. These individuals compensated for the loss of All-Stars Air Wave, TNT, Dyna-Mite, Sargon, Zatara, Robotman (and his pal Chuck Grayson), Manhunter, Guardian and his brother Will Harper, (along with Guardian's four Newsboy Legionnaires:) Tommy Tompkins, Big Words, Gabby, Scrapper.

** Four other Justice Society teammates also for a time resided in this Earth-Two adjacent dimension were the Spectre, Doctor Fate, Power Girl and Star-Spangled Kid. Similarly, the original Spectre of Earth-Two, the former Earth-Two Lord of Chaos known as Doctor Chaos, the Supergirl clone Nightflame within the Innerverse, and Lady Quark of Earth-Four were migrants to either Earth-One or its adjacent realms. 

Cookie-Cutter-Counterparts: The Vigilantes

On both Earths One and Two, Greg Sanders was a renowned country singer who doubled as a gun-slinging crimefighter, the Vigilante. Each had partners named Stuff, an arch-foe named the Dummy...who looked like an actual wooden dummy, and eventually paired up with his late former sidekick's son Stuff Junior.

However, there were points of departure as well. While the golden age Vigilante had a well-chronicled history in the 1940's, his silver age counterpart did not only appearing to true public notoriety on Earth-One when teaming up with the Justice League of America to battle aliens! On Earth-Two, Vig was already a member of two teams, Law's Legionnaires and the All-Star Squadron. It was with the former team that he also battled an alien, this one sending him to another century before the white man arrived in North America, to be rescued by the Justice Society of America and their JLA allies.

Another pair of counterparts, two weapon-wielding warriors each with brief costumed careers, were the Swashbuckler and the Sword. The alter ego of Swashbuckler was Michael Carter, while Sword's was Chic Carter. Michael was the nephew of Earth-One's Vigilante, while any family relationship between Earth-Two's Vigilante and Chic is unknown. Not much was known of Michael's private life except that he resided in Houston as its sole costumed crusader, and aided Batman on one occasion in apprehending the Riddler. Chic may have run across a caped crusader of his own in the form of Superman, as like that hero's secret identity of Clark Kent, Chic also worked at the Daily Star as a police reporter for the newspaper. As the Sword, Chic only had a handful of adventurers, although in his civilian identity he was heavily involved in crime fighting cases as was another Daily Planet reporter in Jimmy Olsen. The Swashbuckler, if he reappeared in his full faced mask, has had no further tales recorded.

Otherwise... true mirror images of one another through and through... a pity they never met to exchange campfire yarns and bellow out tunes as the "Prairie Troubadours".