Comic Title: Best of DC #21
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: February 1982
On Sale Date: November 5, 1981 Newsstand Date November 5, 1981
Source: Comic Reader, #196

Newsstand Date November 5, 1981
Source: Comics Journal, #68

Newsstand Date November 5, 1981
Source: Amazing Heroes, #6

Copyright Date October 13, 1981
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1981
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.95
Page Count: 96
Editor: Len Wein

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Untold Origin of the Justice Society"
Pages: 34

Feature(s):
Justice Society of America (of Earth-2)

Writer: Paul Levitz
Penciller: Joe Staton
Inker: Bob Layton
Letterer: Bill Morse
Colorist: Anthony Tollin

Reprinted From:
DC Special #29 (1977)

Feature Character(s)

• Justice Society of America (origin revealed; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #31; next appearance in Superman #8)
• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #46; next appearance in Detective Comics #47)
• Flash (last appearance in Flash Comics #12; next appearance in Flash Comics #13)
• Hawkman (last appearance in Flash Comics #12; next appearance in Flash Comics #13)
• Green Lantern (last appearance in All-American Comics #21; next appearance in All-American Comics #22)
• Atom (last appearance in All-American Comics #21; next appearance in All-American Comics #22)
• Sandman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #57; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
• Hourman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #57; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
• Spectre (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
• Doctor Fate (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)

Villain(s)

• Adolf Hitler (last appearance in All-Star Squadron #9; next appearance in All-Star Squadron #44)
• Red Panzer (as Helmut Streicher; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Wonder Woman #228)
• Professor Stauffen (a Nazi scientist; no further appearances)
• Admiral Wilhelm Von Krupp (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• A general, a field marshal, and other Nazi soldiers (no further appearances)
• The Valkyries (next appearance in Comic Cavalcade #17)
• Two kidnappers (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Franklin D. Roosevelt (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Squadron Annual #3)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #3; next appearance in World's Best Comics #1)

Other Character(s)

• William Stephenson (also called "Intrepid"; behind the scenes only; next appearance in All-Star Squadron #36)
• Mr. Smythe (an agent of "Intrepid"; no further appearances)
• Agent Digby of British Intelligence (no further appearances)
• British and U.S. Army soldiers (no further appearances)

Comments:
Prologue
Chapter One: "Gotham City, U.S.A."
Chapter Two: "Glasgow, Scotland"
Interlude: "Salem, Massachusetts"
Chapter Three: "Berlin, Germany"
Chapter Four: "America"
Chapter Five: "Dover, England—Invasion"
Chapter Six: "Berlin, Germany"
Chapter Seven: "The English Channel"

This story takes place in November, 1940, as revealed in America Vs. the Justice Society #1.

Hawkman is mistakenly depicted wearing the wrong mask in this story.

Synopsis:
To help thwart the invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany in November of 1940, President Roosevelt supplies British Intelligence with the services of Batman, Flash, and Green Lantern.

The three heroes undertake a secret mission against fifth columnists in Scotland, but are defeated by Helmut Streicher and his giant robot, and are taken to Berlin to be executed by Adolf Hitler, who wields the Spear of Destiny which supposedly pierced the side of Christ on the cross.

Dr. Fate, learning of their capture, takes Hourman with him to free the heroes, but Valkyries are summoned from the Asgardian plane to battle them. Fate then summons Sandman, Atom, Hawkman, and the Spectre from America to help the British successfully repel the German naval attack. Then the heroes unite in attempting to stop a long-range bomber from launching a missile over the White House, but their efforts are in vain until Superman appears, destroys the bomber, and (with Fate’s help) catches the bomb. The Atom saves President Roosevelt from being killed by a Valkyrie, whereupon the warrior-maidens vanish.

The President then suggests that the heroes remain together as an army regiment. The Spectre and Dr. Fate see perils ahead that they must confront as a team, but Superman refuses to be part of a military unit. They shall fight in the cause of justice, and so their group is named the Justice Society of America.