The Time Batman And Superman Crashed A Justice Society Meeting!

Back in the Golden Age, DC had this silly rule about not having Superman and Batman be active participants in the Justice Society.

Well, I suppose there were reasons. The "Big Two" each already had 3 books apiece, and to some extent their presence could be seen as overshadowing the "lesser" heroes.

So they were made "honorary" members, and never had more than glorified cameos.

But as sales declined in the post-WWII years, how could DC resist goosing their numbers with stuff like this?

But how could they do this, without arbitrarily violating their arbitrary rules?

Would you believe...an injury and an illness?!?

Let's take that in reverse order, shall we?

Johnny Thunder had...a cold?!? Dude, this is the Justice Society Of America, not a book club!!

And a personal ad? Really?

But what do you know...

...it worked!!

So...did Johnny take that ad in the Daily Planet? Or does Superman read the personal columns in all newspapers?

But what about replacing the Atom?!? (And BTW, bonus hilarity for the Atom, famously a short guy, getting hurt playing basketball...)

Why not get...Bruce Wayne?!?

NOTE: That means that, at this point, Bruce Wayne and Al Pratt know each other's identities! Or maybe Pratt just "knows," likes everyone in Gotham, that Bruce "knows" Batman?

You know, Bruce, you could have done like Kal-El, and just shown up in your heroic identity. Why did you need the grandstanding shenanigans?

I imagine Earth-1 Bruce pulled this stunt at all the early JLA meetings...

Oh, and by the way...

...even in 1947, Batman is kind of full of himself.

From All-Star Comics #36 (1947)