Celebrities
The Justice Society of America, also known as the JSA, is a superhero alliance that appears in the DC Universe. The team made its first appearance in All Star Comics #3 and is therefore believed to be the first-ever superhero team. In the comics, its original members included Sandman, Spectre, Hour-Man, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Atom, Flash, and Doctor Fate. Other members like Wildcat, Starman, and Dr. Mid-Nite joined in later issues of the comics.
The JSA is making its way into the mainstream again with the new DC Universe series Stargirl, but this time the Justice Society of America has a new generation of powerful women among its members. Get to know them here.
Stargirl/Courtney Whitmore
Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) becomes Stargirl upon finding the Cosmic Staff hidden in the basement of Pat Dugan, her stepfather and former sidekick to Justice Society of America member Starman.
In the world of the new series, headed by executive producer Geoff Johns, nearly all the original members of the JSA were killed in an encounter with the Injustice Society of America. Dugan, operating as Stripesey, was able to escape and immediately retired from his sidekick duties, though he held onto some of the original members’ possessions, like the Cosmic Staff and Dr. Mid-Nite’s goggles.
Stargirl’s powers include stellarkinesis and flight, both granted by the Cosmic Staff.
As Stargirl, Courtney sees herself as the heir of Starman and decides to resurrect the Justice Society of America, beginning to recruit new members to fight the Injustice Society of America.
Wildcat/Yolanda Martinez
Yolanda Montez, a student at Blue Valley High with Courtney Whitmore, is suffering the after-effects of a cruel and humiliating prank when she is selected by Whitmore to join the new Justice Society of America. Courtney gives Yolanda the Wildcat suit, which adjusts to fit Yolanda’s frame and grants her superpowers.
When wearing the suit, Yolanda is given the Wildcat’s abilities: retractable claws and enhance agility, balance, and reflexes. Her experience as a boxer gives her a leg-up when battling her enemies.
Dr. Mid-Nite/Beth Chapel
A quiet, intellectual outsider at school, Beth Chapel overhears Courtney and Yolanda talking about the Justice Society of America and becomes close to them to get the opportunity to join. While at Courtney’s house on Halloween, Beth comes across a pair of goggles that belonged to the original Dr. Mid-Nite and bonds with the artificial intelligence built into the goggles, becoming the second Dr. Mid-Nite.
The goggles give her powers including the ability to detect lies, break through encryptions, recognize objects and faces, and create three-dimensional images. Beth also inherits Charles McNider’s super suit, which includes gloves that hold potions and healing salves for her to use against enemies and to help her allies.
f you want to know more about the other members of the new Justice Society of America or their foes, make sure to tune in to Stargirl. Catch up on the first season on DC Universe’s streaming service, HBO Max, or The CW.
