Paul Levitz (script)
Joe Staton (pencils)
Joe Giella (inks)
Adrienne Roy (colors)
Ben Oda (letters)
For the last few issues, Dr. Fate, then Hawkman, have had C-plots involving shadow messengers who come to collect them for a higher purpose. On the splash page, we discover this higher purpose: to prepare Earth’s heroes to stop the imminent end of the world. Their meeting is quickly completed (just that splash page), as writer Paul Levitz knows the reader’s going to hear a lot about this mission in exposition throughout the issue.
But not in the second scene, which has Power Girl and Huntress out for lunch in their civilian identities. Power Girl’s just gotten hers in the Power Girl miniseries, and marvels at Helena Wayne’s ability to juggle the two. Except Helena’s been Huntress for far less time than Power Girl has been operating, so it makes very little sense. And Power Girl thinking about how growing up as Batman’s daughter must help with the comfortable duplicity is a whole different subject.
They rejoin the main team for the team briefing—Levitz is in a hurry here, too, skipping through the social pleasantries (but then immediately referencing them). It doesn’t really matter anymore because once Levitz reveals the twist, the entire issue feels like a negotiation between page count and narrative necessity. Even after the team splits up into two squads so the story can move forward (a little).
The first mission has Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Power Girl going to stop a battle between the Soviets and the Chinese. Green Lantern breaks it up, then starts caring for the injured. Hawkman bitches and moans about how Green Lantern should be taking care of the Justice Society mission and not helping some loser civilian. Superheroes are the most important! Green Lantern and Power Girl tell Hawkman he’s being a dipshit, and he takes the observation to heart.
Strange opening. Not as strange as Dr. Fate, Huntress, and Flash’s mission to Montreal. Incidentally, Earth-2’s Quebec is independent, which doesn’t play into the story but is definitely something someone wanted made clear. The heroes stop some terrorists who have attacked an international women’s conference. They do not say “feminist,” but Flash does whine about how, next thing you know, Hawaiʻi will want its independence. While not as crappy as Hawkman (and just a throwaway line), it’s not All-Star without a reminder these defenders of the planet Earth are often complete asshats.
Then the third part has the whole team going to see the “Master Summoner,” the guy who talked to Dr. Fate and Hawkman on the splash page. This time, with the whole team assembled, Master Summoner feels more comfortable revealing the plot twist.
The last chapter is a big battle, involving numerous returning characters (Superman, Wonder Woman, and so on), who get no lines because Levitz is cramped for space and for story. There’s no reason for the cameos, so giving them dialogue would be even more nonsensical.
Joe Giella does a solid job inking Joe Staton’s pencils. It’s not the best looking Staton All-Star, but it’s far from the worst. There are some decidedly goofy panels, of course.
Story-wise, it’s fairly pointless as it all turns out. Especially given the multi-issue build-up. Huntress continues to be a fine addition to the team, and Levitz focusing on her and Power Girl is the right move. If the middle-aged men heroes had any character development or just tried not to be dicks (okay, Dr. Fate and Green Lantern seem to be making an effort), maybe it’d play differently. But probably not because they don’t have anything going on in their lives. Not even lunch like Power Girl and Huntress.
A final piece of housekeeping: While the last page teases next issue, DC cancelled All-Star Comics as part of the 1978 “DC Implosion,” so their adventures (with Levitz and Staton as creatives) continued on in Adventure Comics.
