It began in late 1940, when DC Comics (then known as All-American Comics), created a new comic book series called All-Star Comics. All-Star included several stories, each featuring a different popular costumed character of the time : Flash, Hawkman, Green Lantern, etc. With the Winter 1940 issue, #3, the format changed. Writer Gardner Fox decided to have all the primary characters meet in a single story, not for the purpose of stopping some major crime spree, or to save the world from destruction. They met for dinner.
This was the humble beginning of what was the first and, quite possibly, the best super hero team ever put together.
Those in attendance at the first meeting of the Justice Society included :
Two other characters decided to "crash" the dinner party : Johnny Thunder and the original Red Tornado. Johnny was allowed to stay as the official JSA "mascot"; Red Tornado only hung around for one page, as an embarrising tear in her costume demanded a hasty retreat. Too bad, too, as the JSA would not have an opportunity to induct another female member until issue #9, when Wonder Woman joined.
Unlike other comic book characters of the time, and most comic books today (John Byrne's run on She-Hulk nonwithstanding), the JSA realized they were comic book characters. When Flash and Green Lantern were given their own comic books, they left the JSA and became reserve members. The reason cited ? They were busy chasing bad guys over in their new titles !
The Flash served as the JSA's first chairperson, for issues 3-6. In issue #6, The Flash left, as he was busy over in his new title, All-Flash Comics. Johnny Thunder took his place as a full member, and Green Lantern became the second chairperson in issue #7.
Green Lantern served a one-issue office, as he was also awarded his own comic book. In issue #8, Green Lantern was replaced by Dr. Mid-Nite (his buddy from over in All-American Comics), Hourman took a leave of absence (it was revealed years later in All-Star Squadron that Hourman had joined the Freedom Fighters) and was replaced by Starman (who starred (pun intended) over in Adventure Comics with Hourman). Hawkman became the new chairperson and because the Golden Age Hawkman never got his own comic book (he shared with Johnny Thunder, The Whip, and, of course, The Flash over in Flash Comics), he remained chairperson until his apparent death (?) during Zero Hour in 1994.
Also in isuue #8, there was a backup feature introducing a new character who would eventually become the first female JSA member : Wonder Woman.
Over time, new characters joined the JSA and the membership roster was constantly changing. The team appeared in every issue of All-Star Comics from issue #3 (Winter, 1940) to issue #57 (Feb./March, 1951). With issue #58, the title was changed to All-Star Western. In official DC history, the Justice Society retired in 1951, during the age of McCarthyism, because they refused to let the US Government know their secret identities. Many of the team members settled down and started families during this time.
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