All-Star Comics #26

In "Vampires of the Void! [Introduction]" from All-Star Comics #26 (1945), when scientist Herbert Crawford vanishes, Hawkman reveals Crawford’s alarming theory: Earth faces invasion by living metal beings from Jupiter. With a mysterious spaceship already on course and reports of strange metallic phenomena cropping up, each hero is sent to investigate one of the incidents—before the metal creatures strike.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 1," Hawkman investigates the mysterious disappearance of a silver mine in Silverland City, where remnants of a Jovian spaceship have awakened metallic creatures that drain metal and grow under the sun’s warmth. After a failed fight, he discovers the beings are stealing the mine’s payroll—then accidentally charging them with electricity by knocking them into dynamos—before using a handful of pennies to short them out. Confused by their strange motive, Hawkman sends word to the rest of the JSA, leaving the mystery of the creatures’ purpose unresolved.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 2," the Atom investigates a mysterious sabotage of a great city’s subway system, uncovering a bizarre threat: Jovian beings consuming the iron rails. With help from Hawkman and a specially designed oxygen accelerator, the Atom devises a shocking countermeasure that turns the invaders to rust—revealing their deadly dependence on iron.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 3," Frankie Tweed’s experimental alloy draws the attention of mysterious Jovian metal beings, who strike at his factory with deadly precision. With help from a message relayed by Hawkman via his power ring, Green Lantern springs into action—tracking the magnesium-fed invaders through the countryside and using his ring to stop them before they can strike again.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 4," Dr. Mid-Nite faces a bizarre threat as the Jovians—otherworldly beings drawn to metal—ravage telephone cables and then target a bank for cash. With the help of metal workers, he sets a clever trap using lead-laced currency, luring the creatures into a bank where their hunger leads to their downfall. The story blends sci-fi menace with wartime ingenuity, showcasing Mid-Nite’s resourcefulness in a battle that turns a city’s infrastructure into a weapon.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 5," a mysterious invasion unfolds at a museum when tiny, metallic beings—drawn to gold—begin feeding on jewelry, leaving only scattered fragments. The Flash, racing to stop them, realizes their weakness lies not in strength but in material: gold’s malleability. With quick thinking and a bold plan, he turns their hunger against them, transforming the intruders into inert lumps of metal—saving both the art and the last golden necklace.

In "Vampires of the Void! Chapter 6," Johnny ventures into the frozen north, guided by a mysterious shipwreck legend, where he's aided by wary but kind natives who warn him away from the site. Ignoring their pleas, he stumbles upon the alien vessel—only to have it unexpectedly come to life, swallowing the sole of his shoe before rolling downhill and swelling in size. With the locals now convinced he's cursed, Johnny calls on the Thunderbolt for help, then summons the rest of the JSA to the scene.

In the final pages of *All-Star Comics* #26, the Justice Society faces a lingering threat as they grapple with the mysterious ship left behind by the Vampires of the Void. With G.L. using acid to dismantle the vessel, the team is caught off guard when Herbert Crawford suddenly transforms—revealing he’s absorbed the powers of the Metal Men. As tensions rise, Hawkman realizes Crawford’s newfound abilities come with the same vulnerabilities as his former allies, offering a way to stop him. The story closes with the JSA committed to helping Crawford rebuild, not just as a hero, but as a man.