DC Database
Register
Advertisement

"Justice Society of America: "Dreams of Madness!, Introduction"": Brain Wave approaches the Justice Society of America in disguise and dupes them into taking part in an experiment to unlock the potential of man's unconsci

Quote1 Any normal person would be driven crazy by this place- but not Johnny-- it only makes him sane! Quote2
The Thunderbolt

All-Star Comics #30 is an issue of the series All-Star Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1946.

Synopsis for Justice Society of America: "Dreams of Madness!, Introduction"

Brain Wave approaches the Justice Society of America in disguise and dupes them into taking part in an experiment to unlock the potential of man's unconscious through dreaming. The JSA members each allow themselves to be subjected to a sleep inducing machine and then Brain Wave induces dreams in the Justice Society members specifically designed to drive them mad, leaving him free to carry out his crimes undisturbed by their interference.

Appearing in Justice Society of America: "Dreams of Madness!, Introduction"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for Chapter 1: "Hawkman and the Ice People and the Fire People"

Hawkman dreams he is in a land where birds are threatened by the constant warring of the ice and fire people. He tries to fight against both sides but is battered by the hot, the cold, and the wind until he is driven crazy, finally believing that he is a thermometer.

Appearing in Chapter 1: "Hawkman and the Ice People and the Fire People"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Chapter 2: "Dr. Mid-Nite and the Germ People"

In Doctor Mid-Nite's dream, he enters a land of huge, civilized germs. He immediately helps a man escape being a lab rat in a study by the germs, then sets out to kill the germ people with medicine. When the medicine fails to work, Mid-Nite is captured by the germs, but the germs that touch him immediately die. He’s reduced to tears, believing he is no longer human, but merely a living sickness.

Appearing in Chapter 2: "Dr. Mid-Nite and the Germ People"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Chapter 3: "Green Lantern and the Man in the Moon"

Green Lantern finds a group of scientists observing stars that are really just the sparks from a child's sparkler. Gangsters steal the sparkler and the Lantern struggles to capture them, because his power ring is not working properly. He accidentally turns them into floating balloons and captures them, but the scientists convince him he is a sun, and the balloon gangsters are his planets.

Appearing in Chapter 3: "Green Lantern and the Man in the Moon"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Chapter 4: "The Flash and the Animal People"

The Flash's dream finds him in a land of talking animals and human slaves. All of the animals constantly ridicule Flash, but Flash insists that the humans should have rights. To win the rights for the humans, a race is proposed. During the race, strange occurrences prevent Flash from running, prompting the animals to mock him. After losing the race, the animals label him a laughing stock, and he breaks down, believing that he is.

Appearing in Chapter 4: "The Flash and the Animal People"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Chapter 5: "The Atom and the Umbrella Clock People"

In the Atom's dream, the rain and sun cause him to grow and shrink, preventing him from stopping a bank robbery. When he does return to normal size, he can't throw a punch because he's full of water. He realizes he is no longer a man but a sponge!

Appearing in Chapter 5: "The Atom and the Umbrella Clock People"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Chapter 6: "Johnny Thunder in the Land of the Already Equipped"

Johnny Thunder dreams he is in the land of the already equipped, a place where everyone is born with the tools of their profession as part of their bodies - i.e. a painter with brushes for hands and a palette for a face. Instead of finding it strange, Johnny finds it sensible and wishes real life was the same. Johnny finds that gangsters have been turning people normal with the help of a magician. He chases after the gangsters but is unable to stop them. He calls on his Thunderbolt, who captures the gangsters and seals the magician in a jar. Johnny is then celebrated as a hero. Unlike the other members, he is not driven mad by his dream.

Appearing in Chapter 6: "Johnny Thunder in the Land of the Already Equipped"

Featured Characters:


Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Justice Society of America: "Dreams of Madness!, Conclusion"

Upon awakening, all the JSA members all behave mentally unbalanced with the exception of Johnny Thunder who is uncharacteristically focused and alert. Unable to help his friends recover, he calls for his Thunderbolt. Johnny suggests that they figure out what the Brain Wave is up to. After learning of his plan, Johnny deals with Brain Wave's gang while the Thunderbolt rouses the rest of the Justice Society. The JSA makes short work of the Brain Wave’s thugs while Atom knocks the Brain Wave out. His blow slams Brain Wave into Johnny, who takes a blow to the head that returns him to his usual self.

Appearing in Justice Society of America: "Dreams of Madness!, Conclusion"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:


Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Notes

Trivia

  • The Brain Wave's scheme here is similar to the motif of future Justice League of America's villain, Dr. Destiny.


See Also


Links and References

Advertisement