WARNING: The following contains spoilers for "Stargirl," the Stargirl series premiere, available now on DC Universe and The CW.
The legacy of the Justice Society of America looms heavily in the latest DC superhero television series Stargirl, as the team who died valiantly battling against the Injustice Society to save the world. After an explosive prologue with the team's final battle against their assembled villains, teenager Courtney Whitmore discovers a photograph of the assembled team among her stepfather Pat Dugan's possessions.
Here is a complete rundown of each of the characters included in Pat's photo of the Justice Society, including the surprise characters not initially included in the DC Universe series' marketing.
STARMAN
The most prominent member of the Justice Society in the pilot episode is Sylvester Pemberton, Starman and wielder of the Cosmic Staff before passing it on to his sidekick Pat as he succumbed to mortal wounds endured at the hands of the villainous Icicle. Pat later reveals that when Sylvester first became a superhero, he first used the moniker the Star-Spangled Kid. In the comics, the hero was introduced by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and Hal Sherman in 1941's Star Spangled Comics #1. Decades later, Sylvester would later become a member of the Justice Society and Infinity Inc.
WILDCAT
The Justice Society member actually seen in the pilot episode is the original Wildcat Ted Grant, gravely wounded after he is blasted out of the mansion where the Justice Society and Injustice Society are battling. The character was introduced by Batman co-creator Bill Finger and Irwin Hansen in 1942's Sensation Comics #1 as a world-class boxer who decided to fight crime as a superhero. Ted was a co-founding member of the Justice Society and later retconned to be a member of the All-Star Squadron during the 1940s. After his legs were shattered during Crisis on Infinite Earths, Ted was temporarily paralyzed and passed the mantle of Wildcat to his goddaughter Yolanda Montez.
HOURMAN
One of the earliest JSA members introduced was the original Hourman Rex Tyler, created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey in 1940's Adventure Comics #48. Rex was a scientist developing new experimental vitamins and medical treatments when he accidentally developed a serum he dubbed "Miraclo." Rex learned the serum gave those that took it super strength, speed and endurance for an hour after ingestion and decided to use it himself to become the superhero of his native Appleton City.
During Zero Hour, Rex was killed by the villain Extant. An incarnation of Rex from earlier in the timestream was revealed to have survived in a pocket dimension, offering his son Rick Tyler counsel as he took on the mantle of Hourman himself while knowing he would eventually have to face his death at the hands of the monster that killed Rex.
DOCTOR MID-NITE
Created by Charles Reizenstein and Stanley Josephs Aschmeier in 1941's All-American Comics #25, the original Doctor Mid-Nite was surgeon Charles McNider. While performing an operation on a key witness against the mob, Charles was blinded when a mobster threw a grenade into the operating room. After recovering, Charles discovered he could see in absolute darkness, developing eyewear to see at night as well as grenades that could temporarily block out all light.
SANDMAN
Decades before Neil Gaiman's Morpheus became the character most widely linked to the moniker, the DC Universe's original Sandman was Wesley Dodds. Introduced by Bert Christman and Justice Society and Justice League co-creator Gardner Fox in 1939's New York World's Fair Comics #1, Wesley was a masked crimefighter who received dreams peering into the future while developing a gas gun that compelled those that inhaled its vapors to speak the truth. It was revealed that Morpheus' captivity on Earth for decades would subconsciously influence Wesley into becoming a superhero, serving as a co-founder for the Justice Society. In Stargirl, Sandman is seen laying by the helmet of the Flash.
THE FLASH
Fox also co-created the original Flash Jay Garrick with Harry Lampert in 1940's Flash Comics #1. After accidentally ingesting heavy water vapors from a college experiment he was working on, Jay developed super-speed and decided to become a superhero, modifying his father's army helmet from World War I to serve as a key part of his costume and co-founding the Justice Society. Jay discovered of the DC Multiverse's existence after a surprise team-up with Silver Age Flash Barry Allen in The Flash #123.
HAWKMAN
Also introduced in Flash Comics #1 was Hawkman, created by Fox and Dennis Neville. Archaeologist Carter Hall learned he was the latest reincarnation of Ancient Egyptian Prince Khufu along with his beloved Chay-Ara. Using a strange material known as Nth metal, Carter developed a gravity-defying belt and wings that would allow him to fly and a powerful mace to serve as his primary weapon. Hawkman co-founded the Justice Society and became a permanent chairman of the Golden Age team. In addition to serving on the Justice Society, Hawkman would also become a prominent member of different iterations of the Justice League.
HAWKGIRL
Along with Hawkman's creation in Flash Comics #1 was Shiera Sanders Hall who took on the mantle of Hawkgirl the following year in All Star Comics #5, with Sheldon Moldoff developing her superhero persona based off of Neville's designs for Hawkman. By the Silver Age, Shiera was renamed Shayera Hol and changed her superhero moniker to Hawkwoman while she and Hawkman were reimagined as interstellar superheroes. Decades later, a new Hawkgirl named Kendra Saunders was created by James Robinson, David S. Goyer and Scott Benefiel in 1999's JSA: Secret Files #1.
JOHNNY THUNDER AND THUNDERBOLT
Another superhero introduced in Flash Comics #1 was Johnny Thunder, created by John Wentworth and Sandman co-creator Stan Aschmeier. Born as the seventh son of a seventh son at 7 am on Saturday, July 7, 1917, Johnny was kidnapped by mystics from the fictional country of Badhnesia to complete a prophesied ritual due to the synchronicity of his birth. The ritual bonds Johnny with an electrical spirit known as Thunderbolt who is summoned whenever Johnny says the word "Cei-U."After Thunderbolt takes Johnny to the Justice Society, the team reluctantly allows him to join, appreciating his earnest, easy-going nature while tolerating his usual obliviousness to the world around him.
GREEN LANTERN
After witnessing a trainman waving a lantern on darkened train tracks, comic book creator Martin Nodell was inspired to develop the original Green Lantern Alan Scott in 1940's All-American Comics #16. Young train engineer Alan Scott discovered a mythical green lantern that had descended to Earth from a meteor, granting a whole array of dazzling superpowers, with Alan fashioning a ring to help him channel the lantern's powers while regularly charging it from the lantern itself. Alan served as co-founder of the Justice Society before fathering the superhero children Jade and Obsidian. Alongside Jay Garrick and Ted Grant, Alan would help mentor and lead a new generation of the Justice Society.
DOCTOR FATE
One of the biggest magical superheroes in the DC Universe is Doctor Fate, created by Fox and Sherman in 1940's More Fun Comics #55. While exploring the ancient tomb of a magical figure named Nabu, a young boy named Kent Williams accidentally unleashes poison gas that kills his archaeologist father while reviving Nabu from stasis. Nabu trains Kent for decades in his magical abilities, with Kent emerging armed with a variety of mythical artifacts -- including a helmet, amulet and cape -- to become the supernatural superhero Doctor Fate. Doctor Fate became a member of the Justice Society and All-Star Squadron while continuing to fight crime for decades.
DC Universe's Stargirl stars Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl) and Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan (S.T.R.I.P.E.). The series airs Monday on DC Universe and Tuesdays on The CW at 8 pm ET/PT.