Comic Title: All-Star Comics #40
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Apr/May 1948
Approx. On Sale Date: February 25, 1948 Copyright Date February 23, 1948
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1948
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 48
Editor: Sheldon Mayer

Title: "The Plight of a Nation"
Pages: 36

Feature(s):
Justice Society of America (of Earth-2)

Writer: John Broome
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Penciller: Arthur F. Peddy
Inker: Bernard Sachs
Artist: Alexander Toth

Reprinted In:
Justice League of America #110 (1974)
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 9 HC (2003)
Legends of the DC Universe:Carmine Infantino HC (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Justice Society of America (last appearance in All-Star Comics #39; next appearance in All-Star Comics #41)
• Hawkman (last appearance in Flash Comics #94; next appearance in Flash Comics #95)
• Flash (last appearance in Comic Cavalcade #26; next appearance in Flash Comics #95)
• Green Lantern (last appearance in All-American Comics #96; next appearance in All-American Comics #97)
• Atom (last appearance in Flash Comics #94; next appearance in Flash Comics #95)
• Doctor Mid-Nite (last appearance in All-American Comics #96; next appearance in All-American Comics #97)
• Wonder Woman (last appearance in Comic Cavalcade #26; next appearance in Sensation Comics #77)

Guest Star(s)

• Black Canary (last appearance in Flash Comics #94; next appearance in Flash Comics #95)

Villain(s)

• The Crimson Claw and his gang (Eddie Brent named; no further appearances)
• The Junior Crimson Claws (Chick Brent, Billy Peters, and Lefty named; no further appearances)
• The Orioles (a juvenile street gang; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Don Brent and Julia Brent (a Junior JSA member and his sister; no further appearances)
• Mr. Jennings (a social worker; no further appearances)
• Several Junior JSA members (no further appearances)
• Various armored car guards (Pete named; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
The JSA receives information from a member of the Junior Justice Society regarding a gang called the Crimson Claws. Green Lantern and Black Canary are dispatched to talk to the boy, Don Brent. From Don they learn about a junior version of the Crimson Claws formed by juvenile delinquents including Don's brother Chick. GL and Black Canary attempt to help the kids, but the boys won't listen.

Meanwhile Flash and Hawkman are sent to investigate a fire, caused by the Junior Crimson Claws. On the way they meet the real Crimson Claw Gang. They are defeated and left in a death-trap, but Flash manages to get free and save them. They continue on to the Brent home, where they save GL and Black Canary from Eddie, another of Don's brothers who is a member of the adult Crimson Claws.

The JSA vows to help the kids get out of the gangs. Don is recruited to infiltrate the Junior Crimson Claws and report back to the JSA. Eddie gives his brother, Chick, explosives to create a distraction for police. While the kids cause trouble, the adult Crimson Claws conduct a jewel theft. However, the JSA is ready for them. The adult gang is captured, but Don's cover is exposed.

The Junior JSA ties Don to a railroad track and leave him. Don's sister and the Junior JSA rescue him. Then the Junior JSA confronts the Junior Crimson Claws in a fistfight. The JSA stops the fight and bring the delinquents back to their headquarters. Wonder Woman uses her Magic Sphere to show the boys their criminal futures. The boys want to change, so the JSA helps them to straighten out.