10 Key Members Of The Justice Society Of America
5. Sandman
Not to be confused with Marvel's villainous Sandman or DC/Vertigo's Morpheus, this Sandman was one of the first-ever costumed crimefighters to appear in comic books.
Wearing a fedora, cloak and a trademark gasmask, wealthy socialite Wesley Dodds fought crime with a range of sleeping gas-weapons, various gadgets, and his brains. A true pulp hero - the Golden Age Sandman was similar in many ways to Batman, with both first appearing in 1939.
Sandman became a founding member of the Justice Society and later wore a more colourful superhero costume to fit in with his cape and mask-wearing peers.
Like most Justice Society characters, Sandman left behind a legacy for other heroes to take up his mantle. The early 2000s JSA run saw Dodds and his girlfriend Dian Belmont's nephew Sandy Hawkins join the team under the codename 'Sand'.
This version of Sandman was originally Dodds' protege in the 1940s - the Robin to his Batman - but had been subject to a scientific experiment gone wrong. Unlike the original Sandman, Sand possessed the ability to manipulate silicon-based materials, cause small earthquakes, and have precognitive dreams about the future.
An influential and imposing figure throughout DC Comics' history, Sandman has also appeared in CW's Smallville and Stargirl in minor roles. Hopefully, his status as one of the first crimefighters in comics will be one day be recognised by mainstream audiences.