When you think about it, when you have one set of characters that mimic your main set of characters you can take that group that is not the main group and take risks with them. The characters can grow, evolve, even die without an impact to merchandising. At least in 1982 to think that one day they would kill off a character as main as Batman was impossible. But a copy of Batman on another earth? Well, that could be entirely plausible as we will see.

Tonight we examine the “new kids” of the JSA at least as of 1982.

Yes, Robin, but the Robin of Earth-Two. Dick Grayson has grown up, become a lawyer, district attorney, and ambassador to the United Nations. Having grown up in Batman’s shadow all his life, Dick needed to get out from underneath the shadow of the Bat. Eventually he would wear a costume combining both his Robin colors and the Batman’s motif. He also went by “the Ex-Boy Wonder” to further distance himself as a man, not a boy.

Batman of Earth-One, Robin of Earth-Two, and that is the original Batwoman, Kathy Kane in this issue of Brave and the Bold.

Sylvester Pemberton picks up the mantle of Starman after Ted Knight breaks due to his involvement in creating the Atomic Bomb. Along with his friend Pat Dugan as Stripesy, both of the heroes being skilled in athletics and gymnastics, the two fought Nazism during WWII. Later Sylvester would be able to tweak the cosmic rod and make a Cosmic Converter Belt out of it in order to advance the Cosmic Rod technology even further. At this point Sylvester joins the JSA full time.

And you thought a guy couldn’t pull off the star spangled look.

Wait! Dude, you’ve done Red Tornado already!

Yes, I have.. However the Red Tornado here is an earlier version of the one that later JOINS the JLA. Just like Black Canary who immigrated over, so did the Red Tornado. Oddly enough, just like Canary the cross over occurs in a JLA/JSA Crisis issue in which the Tornado sacrifices himself, only to be rebuilt later.

And I’m very glad they gave him a better costume. That red and purple outfit just looks odd somehow.

Karen Starr is Power Girl who (stop me if you’ve heard this before), rocketed from Krypton’s Argo City to Earth where she encountered her cousin Superman. She grows up and as Superman retires, Power Girl takes over the main role of Kryptonian protector of Earth, while Clark and his lovely wife Lois Lane of Earth-Two, live a happy existence.

If you are saying, wait, that sounds kind of like what would happen if Supergirl grew up and Superman was allowed to retire.. well you’re catching on. Karen instead of Kara. Just a little bit older and more.. blessed up front. It’s impossible to mention Power Girl without mentioning her attributes. Both of them. Without a doubt she holds the title for largest bust line in the DCU.

Yes, those are the boobs you are looking for.

Ahhh, she’s sexy, she’s mysterious, she carries a crossbow and isn’t afraid to use it. Now, just look at her. Who do you think her parents are?

The cape should be at least a little bit of a giveaway, huh?

The Huntress is Helena Wayne, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, otherwise known as Batman and Catwoman. Yes on Earth-Two, Catwoman reformed after doing her time and she and Bruce found love in each other’s arms. Given those genes, Helena was at the very least destined to be a thrill seeker, but tempered with her time at law school and her father’s drive for justice, Helena took up the good fight and joined the JSA. Her addition to the JSA was even more poignant when in a story her mother was drawn back into crime via blackmail and lost her life as did Batman. Helena lost both her parents making her move to the “Batman family” complete.

Next Time: We discuss the five members of the All-Star Squadron in our JLA/JSA crossover.