Detective Comics #415

Detective Comics #415 (On Sale: July 29, 1971), has a nice Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "Challenge of the Consumer Crusader" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown, and Dick Giordano. Batman saves a consumer advocate from murder and discovers the extortionist who is shielding herself behind his front by tricking one of his criminal allies into revealing the truth. Batman uses make-up to resemble the man that was marked for murder and he pretends to be his ghost in order to force a confession out of the thug.

After listening to the plan and learning about the master criminal behind it, Batman confronts the woman and his large gang before finally capturing her. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016).

The backup is Batgirl in "Death Shares the Spotlight" by Frank Robbins and Don Heck. When taken out on a date by Jason Bard to see the play "Invitation to Murder", the couple soon finds themselves entangled in an attempted murder of Hollywood's "Royal Couple" Robbie and Tiz Marlow. Leaving Jason behind to guard the starlets, Barbara goes off to call the police.

After the crime is reported, both Jason and Barbara begin their own investigations. This leads Batgirl to Gotham Arena, which is currently putting on a western exhibition that features Big Chuck Walla, who is responsible for the attempt on the Marlows lives.

Battling Walla, Batgirl and Jason learn that Tiz was secretly going to marry Walla, but left him instead for Barlow and that it was out of jealousy that he attempted to murder the couple. After learning the truth, and that Walla's exhibition gun is loaded with blanks, Jason knocks Walla out with one punch and he and Batgirl turn Walla over to the police. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Our first reprint features Mysto, Magician Detective in "The Forbidden Trick" by William Woolfolk and Leonard Starr and reprinted from Detective Comics #211 (1954).

We end with "The Case of the Finders Keepers" drawn by John Prentice and reprinted from Gangbusters #54 (1956).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Adventure Comics #410

Adventure Comics #410 (On Sale: July 29, 1971), has a Supergirl cover by Bob Oksner on this the first official post-Sekowsky issue.

We begin with Supergirl in "The Nature of the Beast" by John Albano, Bob Oksner, and Vince Colletta. Linda Danvers is visiting Nasthalthia (Nasty) at her apartment. Nasty is hopeful that Linda will agree to move in with her so that she can keep her under surveillance and prove she is Supergirl. While touring the apartment Linda spots a horrifying scene in the apartment next door, quickly changes into Supergirl, and bursts in next door where a man is being attacked by strange manbird creatures.

She subdues the creatures and pursues them as they fly out the window but she loses her superpowers. Her powers have been coming in and out since swallowing a drug in issue 404. Supergirl falls from the apartment to the street but manages to catch herself. She returns back to the man's apartment dressed as Linda and finds Nasty coddling the handsome young man, Mike Merrick, that had been attacked. Mike thinks that it was Nasty who saved him from the bird creatures. He invites both girls out to dinner and they dine at the Club 500 where Mike devotes most of his attention to Linda instead of Nasty. Mike and Linda spend most of their time on the dance floor and find that Nasty has left apparently out of jealousy and boredom. Mike and Linda leave the club where they are both abducted once again by the bird creatures.

The bird creatures fly them to their island where they are brought before the leader who accuses Mike of stealing jewels. The chief bird explains that they used to be villagers with normal human appearances until a professor came accompanied by Mike and performed bizarre experiments on them. The injections they received from the Professor and Mike altered their appearance into bird-like creatures. The Professor and Mike also stole a jewel from a sacred idol as they prepared to leave the island. The Professor was later found dead on the beach, supposedly murdered by Mike. 

Mike denies the accusations so the bird creatures threaten to drop Linda into a volcano to make Mike confess. At that point, Mike reveals that the jewel is back at his apartment. He and Linda are imprisoned in a cage until the jewel is recovered, but Mike tries to escape by setting a fire. As they escape, Mike is attacked by the bird creatures once more. Linda changes into Supergirl and flies Mike to safety off the island. As she is flying, Supergirls powers fade away yet again. 

She is rescued by Mike who swims her back to the beach. He lays Supergirls unconscious body down and confesses that he knows that Supergirl and Linda are one and the same. He also reveals that he lied about the location of the jewel and admits that Supergirl will eventually have to hunt him down as he walks away from Supergirls unconscious body on the beach.

The reprint backup is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Revolt of the Girl Legionnaires" by Jerry Siegel and John Forte and reprinted from Adventure Comics #326 (1964). Saturn Girl summons all the female Legionnaires to the Super-Hero Clubhouse to begin laying plans to destroy the male members. Ultra Boy, Mon-El, Sun Boy, Lightning Lad, Colossal Boy, and Matter-Eater Lad, returning from a mission are diverted elsewhere by Saturn Girl. The remaining male Legionnaires are selected as victims by the various girls, who plan to pair off romantically with each and kill them at the Interplanetary Fair.

The next day at the fair, Light Lass causes Element Lad to be stranded on a mountain peak, while Triplicate Girl, assisted by Shrinking Violet, splits into three girls who use ring devices to reduce Invisible Kid, Cosmic Boy, and Brainiac 5 to a tiny size, and entombs them inside a matchbox. Saturn Girl lures Superboy into fighting a robot lead creature, which bursts open to reveal deadly Kryptonite. Supergirl teases Chameleon Boy into becoming phantom-like, then uses a cancellite spray to keep him from changing back, and Phantom Girl tricks Star Boy into making himself super-heavy so that he sinks into the ground.

Back at the Clubhouse, the girls celebrate their success with a wild party. Queen Azura of the planet Femnaz, a world controlled by man-hating women, suddenly appears on their space monitor and releases them from the super-hypnotic command she'd put them under. She explains that the other male Legionnaires, while on their mission, had saved her people from disaster, and thus changed her attitude toward all males.

Normal once again, the girls release the boys from their traps, and all is explained and forgiven.

We end with Supergirl in "The Ruler Without a Planet" by John Albano, Bob Oksner, and Vince Colletta. Supergirl is on patrol in search of Mike Merrick from the first story. She encounters a huge ape creature causing havoc on the city block below. She notices that the beast is clutching a small boy in its hand. Supergirl quickly subdues the creature and rescues the boy. As she is setting the boy down, Supergirl notices flames coming from a nearby storage room. She tries to blow the flames out using her super-breath but finds that her superpowers have disappeared again. 

Suddenly a young girl appears out of nowhere and seemingly blows out the flames with a super breath of her own. Supergirl is amazed at the little girl's power. The girl explains that she does not have any parents, only a stepfather and that she had accidentally traveled to earth on a spaceship. The craft exploded once she landed and now she is trapped on earth. She demonstrates her powers of flight and offers to help Supergirl fight crime on earth. She also reveals that she knows Supergirls secret identity. The girl's name is Judy and Supergirl allows her to assist in crime-fighting adventures. 

One night Judy receives a telepathic message from her stepfather telling her that she was sent to earth to destroy all superheroes starting with Supergirl. The stepfather encourages Judy to shoot Supergirl with a green death ray gun but she refuses. Enraged, the stepfather attempts to shoot the girl with a death ray of his own but Supergirl blocks it from hitting Judy. In the meantime, the United States Air Force has detected the stepfather's ship hovering in the sky. They shoot it down with their weapons as Supergirl and Judy view the night sky. Judy points to the trailing flames of the craft and remarks that it is a falling star. Supergirl responds by saying it was a falling star that climbed too high and burned itself out.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Action Comics #404

Action Comics #404 (On Sale: July 29, 1971), has a Superman cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin with Superman in "Kneel to Your Conqueror, Superman" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Superman is tricked into the clutches of Rufus Caesar, a "human computer" who uses an apparatus of his own devising to drain the Man of Steel's superpowers and infuse them into his own body.

Our first reprint is the Atom in "The Specter of 3000-Moons Lake" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Atom #5 (1963). Ray Palmer and Jean Loring accompany millionaire Don Morgan to where he keeps his cottage at 3000-Moons Lake. There, a series of strange thefts and supernatural activities have become the subject of debate. Since the grounds are the location of an ancient Indian curse, the people of 3000-Moons Lake are torn between believing in the curse or summing up all the strange happenings as unrelated pranks by local children.

Ray decides to investigate as the Atom, and when another subject of strange supernatural events occurs, the Atom learns that they are really being caused by resident Fred Harris, who is using the old curse to get away with the thefts. However, the Atom tricks him into confessing by pretending to be an ancient Indian spirit (really shrunk down in size and hiding in Harris's ear) and incapacitating him by throwing off his center of balance.

Next, we have Aquaman in "The Coward and the Hero" by Jack Miller and Ramona Fradon and reprinted from Adventure Comics #220 (1956). Aquaman meets Johnny Blake, a former war hero who is now scared of the water. Johnny is humiliated when he won't dive into the water to save his own girlfriend. Aquaman saves her, then doubles as Johnny to save the man's reputation. 

His hoax is soon discovered. Aquaman explains that Johnny crashed into the water during the war and barely survived which has led to his fear. Aquaman then stages an accident where Johnny must enter the water to save him. Johnny unknowingly dives in to save Aquaman and regains his courage.

We end this issue with Superman in "The Day They Killed Clark Kent" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Clark Kent teaches a lesson to a group of fraternity brothers who like to haze new pledges.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

World's Finest Comics #205

World's Finest Comics #205 (On Sale: July 27, 1971), has a Superman/Teen Titans cover by Neal Adams.

Our cover story is Superman and the Teen Titans in "The Computer That Captured a Town" by Steve Skeates, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. A town is controlled by an alien computer which programs them all according to the wishes of a man whose memories it took and then killed. The computer makes the Teen Titans act like racists until Superman gets a subconscious message from Lilith and arrives to stop the computer from controlling the titans and the townspeople. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TPB (2007), Teen Titans: The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2017), and World's Finest: Guardians of Earth HC (2020).

Next is "Secret of the Last Earth-Man" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #111 (1959). 

We end with a real artistic treat, the Shining Knight in "The Duel of the Flying Knights" by Joe Samachson and Frank Frazetta and reprinted from Adventure Comics #153 (1950). In the days of Camelot, Mordred meets a Greek warrior displaced in time by a magical mist. Mordred pits the warrior and his flying steed Pegasus against the Shining Knight. Mordred using trickery to aid the Greek warrior, but the Knight prevails with the aid of Merlin.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Strange Adventures #232

Strange Adventures #232 (On Sale: July 27, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with "Hollywood in Space" by John Broome, Mort Drucker, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Mystery in Space #14 (1953). Though mostly known as a penciler/inker, many of \Mort Drucker's assignments before 1955 were pencils only.

Next is The Star Rovers in "Who Caught the Loborilla?" by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #66 (1961). Three adventurers answer the challenge of capturing the Loborilla, an animal with features resembling both lobster and gorilla. The first adventurer, Karel Sorensen, travels to Zaddara, the planet where the beast was spotted. She relates her experience to the others, explaining that she captured the creature.

Her story is heard by Rick Purvis, another adventurer. He tells her that he witnessed her capture of the Loborilla, but the beast tricked her using a special form of camouflage to disguise a tree as itself. When Karel checks her cage again, she discovers only a tree, not the Loborilla. Purvis then claims to have captured the beast.

Homer Glint informs Purvis that his own story was flawed because he witnessed the creature create a mental illusion to trick Purvis. When Purvis checks his cage, the illusion vanishes. Glint makes a final claim of the prize creature and shows his own cage.

The creature breaks free and telepathically explains that even Glint failed. The Loborilla is intelligent and also a hunter. He actually captured Glintand returned with him. Proof of his tale is recorded on a special camera. He then disappears, thanking the adventurers for a unique experience.

That is followed by Adam Strange in "The Multiple Menace Weapon" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #72 (1961). Adam Strange has resumed his profession as an archaeologist on Earth because the Zeta Beam will not return for nearly a year. He is surprised when a purple beam strikes him while in New York, which teleports him into the future. Then, upon his arrival, the Zeta Beam strikes him, bringing him to Rann 100,000 years in the future.

Julan, a future Ranagaran, explains that they are menaced by aliens from the planet Klannf. They have brought Adam, Rann’s legendary hero, here to combat them. Adam indeed finds a way to beat the aliens using a magnetized boomerang.

Adam is then sent back to present-day Rann to defeat a cone menace that threatens Alanna and her people. The future Zeta Beam lasts longer, allowing Adam to spend months with Alanna before he is returned to Earth. There, he awaits the next Zeta Beam to reunite him with his lover again.

We end with "The Magnetic Duel" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #17 (1953).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Date with Debbi #17

Date with Debbi #17 (On Sale: July 27, 1971), has a cover by Henry Scarpelli and Stan Goldberg.

We begin this last issue for the time being with "The Hard Sell" drawn by Doug Crane. 

Next is "The Kid with the Stupid Mouth" also drawn by Doug Crane.

That brings us to "A Bottle of Love" drawn by Stan Goldberg.

Next up is a reprint  "Losers, Weepers" drawn by Henry Scarpelli and reprinted from Debbi's Dates #9 (1970).

We end with "The Money Maker" drawn by Henry Scarpelli and Stan Goldberg.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Unexpected #127

Unexpected #127 (On Sale: July 22, 1971), has a very nice cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with  "Follow the Piper to Your Grave" by Robert Kanigher and George Tuska. A man leaves his girlfriend at a house in the swamp which turns out to be haunted by a killer. Once he realizes this, he rushes back into his car even though he has been warned that the bridge is out. Meanwhile, strange pipe music wakes the girl and compels her to follow it into the bog where she will drown. 

She prays for her man to save her and suddenly he appears to pull her from the bog. She wonders why the music doesn't affect him and, abruptly, he fades away. She is puzzled until the man who warned her boyfriend about the bridge being out appears. She learns that he died in attempting to jump the collapsed bridge in order to save her.

Next, we have "The Cats Who Knew Too Much" by Jack Kirby and reprinted from House of Secrets #8 (1958). Butler Michael Renner kills his employer but soon finds out that her will stipulates he must take care of her cats or he will receive no money. Soon he begins to imagine that the cats are out to get him.

That brings us to "The Ferry Was Waiting" drawn by John Giunta and reprinted from Sensation Comics #109 (1952). Doctor Rawlings is transported on a night ferry whose captain died shortly ago. This way the deceased captain pays off a debt to the doctor.

That is followed by "The 30,000 Corpses" by Murray Boltinoff, John Calnan, and Vince Colletta. A criminal is released from prison but he gets an unexpected surprise when he goes to retrieve the stolen money he hid before he was caught.

Next up is Johnny Peril in "Queen of the Snows" by Robert Kanigher,  Alex Toth, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Sensation Comics #107 (1952). Johnny Peril finds his friend Lee Allen, who just before he dies swears he has seen Subara the Ice Queen, who the natives believe lives on frozen Mt. Subara. Johnny returns to the mountain with two more friends, but only he encounters Subara. They refuse to believe he met the mythical woman until he produces her crown of roses.

That brings us to "Frightened to Death" by Murray Boltinoff and George Tuska. A man in a raft floating on the ocean finally finds land. 

We end with "Till Death Us Do Unite" by George Kashdan and Jim Aparo. Truman Wilkes kills and disposes of his wife, but with no physical body, he must wait seven years until she is ruled legally dead to inherit her money.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #114

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #114 (On Sale: July 22, 1971), has a nice cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with Lois Lane and The Rose and the Thorn in "The Foe of 100 Faces" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta, with an inking assist by Murphy Anderson. Lois Lane ventures into a black community to recruit a young black writer to work for the Daily Planet. When she arrives she finds Dave Stevens and his girlfriend Tina in the middle of planning a protest. 

As Lois and Dave walk outside of their building, they are attacked by henchmen from the 100. They are rescued by the vigilante Thorn and proceed to the protest site where they are fighting for better community conditions. Unbeknownst to them, the 100 have planted henchmen to disrupt the protest and violence soon breaks out. 

Thorn and Superman arrive to put down the violence. Superman offers to help with some construction that would be beneficial to office buildings and the community. Superman constructs a housing model and the community comes out to celebrate it. During the celebration, members of the 100 show up and throw a firebomb at the occupants. Lois picks up the bomb and throws it out of harm's way. 

As Lois disposes of the bomb she spots Thorn sneaking into the housing community. She follows and witnesses Thorn battling members of a group known as America Awakes which is a splinter group of the 100. Thorn subdues the gang members and Lois receives medical attention for her burnt hands. Dave Stevens is hired as the first black writer for the Daily Planet and Lois receives love and respect from Dave’s girlfriend Tina.

This issues reprint is "The Reptile Girl of Metropolis" by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #61 (1965). When Lois attends a nuclear experiment she is transformed by a radioactive accident into a reptilian. The nuclear physicist she was working with is also transformed. However, the scientist and the reporter are really imposters. The real Lois was taken prisoner during the experiment and held captive.

Lois escapes by drugging her guard, then she contacts Lucy and Jimmy. Lucy helps capture her imposter, then she joins the physicist to learn more. When she returns home, Lois discovers that Lucy was overpowered and the imposter escaped.

Lucy and Lois then track down the imposters. They watch as the pair is abducted by tiny aliens. Lois returns to the Daily Planet to report her story and discovers the reptilian imposter at her desk. Both imposters reveal themselves and turn out to be Superman and Supergirl.

Superman then explains that he found a scout to an invasion fleet, who planned to abduct the physicist. He and Supergirl disguised themselves so that they would be taken instead. Working together, the two heroes were then able to thwart the invasion and return to Earth.

Edited by E Nelson Bridwell.

Batman #235

Batman #235 (On Sale: July 22, 1971), has a  cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Swamp Sinister" by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. A heavy and large package arrives for Bruce Wayne at the Wayne Foundation Penthouse. Alfred and Bruce manage to open the box and they realize that it is a coffin with a dead body inside. Bruce quickly changes into Batman and prepares to leave with the corpse to the GCPD Headquarters and start an investigation, when suddenly Ra's al Ghul appears and informs Batman that he sent the package because he needs Batman's help.

Ra's tells Batman that Striss, one of the scientists working for him, had developed a formula to alter chemical elements' properties without his permission and that during a confrontation between them, Ra's was knocked by Striss' assistant, Pollard. Ra's was thought to be dead, but with help from his other scientists, Ra's recovered and started looking for Striss. After an extensive search, all his men could find was the dead body of Pollard, the man who attacked Ra's. When they examined the body, they found traces of the formula developed by Striss and also discovered that when humans were exposed to the formula, it turned into a deadly plague, which is what killed Pollard. After telling the story to Batman, Ra's asks the Dark Knight to find and stop Striss from spreading the plague and also save Ra's daughter, Talia, as she had already begun a manhunt for the scientist, unaware of the dangers.

Batman starts his investigation in the house of a notorious chemist, who could provide Striss with the chemical elements he needed to test his formula. When Batman arrives at the place, he realizes that it is too late, as both Striss' men, as well as Talia's henchmen, have arrived before him and someone had kidnapped the chemist. Batman takes down the thugs guarding the house and when he enters the place, he interrogates the housekeeper, who informs Batman that the thugs have taken Mr. London to a "small stream."

Batman deduces that the housemaid refers to the Louisiana swamps and he prepares a flight on Ra's private jet to Louisiana. Batman descends on the marked location and starts following the traces left by Striss' formula until he finds an odd abandoned cabin in the middle of the swamp. When Batman enters the place, he finds a concealed elevator inside and he prepares to descend, unaware of the activities taking place below, where Talia had already caught up with Striss and Mr. London, and she was ready to eliminate the scientist for the murder of her father. Batman arrives in time to stop Talia from killing Striss, but when he is explaining to them about the deadly plague contained in the formula, Striss attacks them and Batman is forced to defend Talia from Striss, who grabs a machine gun and tries to shoot at them. Batman manages to hold Striss' aim away from them, but one of the bullets hits the vial with the formula, spilling the chemical over the desk. Batman punches Striss and the man falls on top of the formula, which starts affecting him immediately. Batman takes Talia and Mr. London out of the room and he seals it completely in order to avoid the plague from spreading away.

Finally, Batman, Talia and Mr. London reach the surface of the swamp, where Ra's is waiting for them and Talia is overjoyed to learn that her father is still alive. Ra's has taken a team of doctors to make sure they are not infected and they prepare to leave the place. Before leaving the swamp, Talia shows her gratitude to Batman by kissing him, but Batman is still shocked at Talia's willingness to kill, which makes him unsure about her last kiss. Reprinted in Saga of Ra's Al Ghul #2 (1988), Batman: Tales of the Demon TPB (1991), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), and Batman: Tales of the Demon HC (2020).

The Robin backup is "The Outcast Society" by Mike Friedrich, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. Continuing from Batman #234, Robin works hard to convince the communards to let him take Pat Whalon, the main suspect of the attack on a police officer, to stand trial. However, Whalon breaks away, confessing his crimes and he runs into the forest, where he causes a brushfire that may destroy the commune. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB (2008).

Our reprint of this issue is "Castle with Wall-to-Wall Danger" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Detective Comics #329 (1964). Batman and Robin receive a tip that Pragnel, a wanted criminal, is in England. They fly to England to find Pragnel and extradite him. When they arrive at the castle at which Pragnel was seen, they realize that the castle owner Albert Maunch merely looks similar to the crook. Though their mission seems to have failed, the Dynamic Duo accepts Maunch's invitation to dinner.

While in the castle, several attempts are made to kill Batman and Robin. Soon, they are attacked outright by two thugs and a man in a trenchcoat. When they capture him, the man turns out to be Pragnel, alias Vincent Maunch, Albert's cousin. Pragnel was searching his cousin's castle for hidden Nazi gold and threatened Albert's family to keep him in line. Batman returns to America with Pragnel, and Albert eventually finds the gold.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Young Love #88

Young Love #88 (On Sale: July 20, 1971), has a  cover by Don Heck and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Take Back Your Love" by Jack Oleck, John Rosenberger, and Vince Colletta. Ellen's boyfriend Clay comes back from the war with serious injuries and refuses to resume their relationship. Ellen can't move on with anyone else until, after Clay's death, she finds proof that he kept on loving her until the end.

Next up is "The Secret of Happiness" drawn by John Rosenberger and reprinted from Girls' Romances#101 (1964). Raven's sister sets her up with Miles, a local widower.

That brings us to "The Sister" penciled by Winslow Mortimer. Penny thinks her sister Wilma is trying to steal her boyfriend but they are only preparing for a surprise party for Penny's birthday.

Next is "Stand-In for Ginny" by creators unknown. Sue believes that she'll never find a guy of her own as long as her more glamorous roommate Ginny is around.

We end with "I'll Find You Again" drawn by Gene Colan and reprinted from Young Love #56 (1966). Nora returns to the site of her summer romance with Lee, which ended when he left in the fall. Though she is nearly overwhelmed with sad memories, she meets Michael again and remembers how kind he was to her after Lee left.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Justice League of America #92

Justice League of America #92 (On Sale: July 20, 1971), has a  cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

Concluding from the last issue we have the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America in "Solomon Grundy -- The One and Only" by Mike Friedrich, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. As A-Rym encounters Solomon Grundy on Earth-2, the JLA meets up with the JSA to try and stop A-Rym's rampage. After, the Earth-2 Hawkman sends both Robins away to the Batcave. While there, the Earth-2 Robin gives his Earth-1 doppelganger a new costume designed by "a costume designer named Neal Adams" to replace his damaged one. Meanwhile, the teams realize that if A-Rym and Teppy aren't reunited soon, they'll die, and both teams scramble to reunite them. After A-Rym and Teppy return home, the teams part, with Batman waiting for the League to aid him on his case and the Earth-1 Robin wondering if he should continue to wear his new costume. Reprinted in Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 3 TPB (2004), Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB (2008), Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 5 TPB (2011), Justice League of America Archives Vol. 10 HC (2012), Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2017), and Justice League of America: The Last Survivors of Earth TPB (2019).

Next, we have "The One-Man Justice League" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #158 (1966). When the Flash attempts to pursue the Land-Sea-Air Gang he discovers that his costume has been replaced by Green Lantern's. Flash also learns that he no longer has super speed, but he does have GL's powers. As Green Lantern, Flash brings down half the gang, then mysteriously finds himself transformed into Hawkman. The crooks manage to overpower him and escape.

Flash's transformations have been caused by Professor Ivo, who is secretly operating in a Central City laboratory. Ivo has devised a way to transfer the powers of the Justice League to himself. However, an anomaly caused by Flash's protective aura causes him to be the recipient of the powers too.

When Flash recovers from unconsciousness, he has become Aquaman. He continues to pursue the crooks and overtakes their escape boat. The crooks shoot at him as another transformation causes him to become the Atom.

The crooks begin to get the upper hand when Ivo switches his machine to focus on Superman. The Man of Steel's invulnerability protects him and overloads Ivo's machine. Ivo's lab explodes, ending the experiment. Flash returns to normal and defeats the gang with his own powers. Flash does not learn the cause behind his strange transformations. The other Justice Leaguers were not using their powers when Ivo targeted them, so they didn't even notice.

We end with a filler reprint "Space-Enemy Number One" by John Broome and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Mystery in Space #29 (1955). The Solar Police are searching for Dinagren, a master criminal who can appear to be from several different planets.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Flash #209

Flash #209 (On Sale: July 20, 1971), has a  cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin this issue with "Beyond the Speed of Life" by Cary Bates, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. The Flash receives a mental picture revealing the whereabouts of the Trickster and Boomerang. He races to the scene but is tripped up by an extended rope set up by the two villains. Flash trips at super speed and his velocity throws him into another dimension. A sentinel voice tells him that he has broken through the speed of life.

In the meantime back in the earthly dimension, Boomerang and Trickster examine Flashes lifeless body which appears to be dead. Back in the alternate dimension, Flash is informed that a being called the Devourer is threatening to eat its way to earth's own dimension and Flash prepares to do battle with it. As Flash battles the Devourer, it changes shape. It even takes the form of Flashes wife Iris. 

Flash battles the Devourer until it devours itself. Back on earth, Grodd the Super Gorilla has appeared and reveals that it was he who mentally controlled the two villains into tripping up the Flash. He subdues the two villains and scoops up Flashes lifeless body for disposal. At that point, Flash’s ghostly figure arrives from the other dimension. He is assisted by the sentinel in reentering his own body and pounds Grodd into the ground.

Next up is Kid Flash in "Coincidence Can Kill" by Steve Skeates, Dick Dillin, and Dick Giordano. Wally West witnesses a robbery as he rounds the corner. He activates his costume ring but instead of his costume appearing, he gets hit with a cloud of gas. He examines the ring and discovers that it isn’t his. He recalls that the only time he took off his ring was to wash his hands in the biology lab. He was washing next to a classmate that he refers to ad Genius George. Fearing that his identity might be compromised, Wally rushes to George’s house to recover his ring but George’s mother informs him that her son has left with an acquaintance to attend a school meeting. 

Wally transforms into Kid Flash and tracks down George's car to a sleazy neighborhood. George is being escorted to see a crime boss who is interested in hiring George to create technical gimmicks to assist them in crimes. George secretly intends to take down the crime boss and turn him in. George deploys his ring and expects to have a gas come out but the Flashes costume comes out instead. 

Kid Flash arrives instantly and subdues the thugs. Flash then talks to George to try to explain why his costume came out of his ring but George himself theorizes that the gas must have leaked out of his ring and that Flash threw the costume out as a distraction. Kid Flash is relieved that he doesn’t have to come up with an explanation himself.

This issue's reprint is "The Elongated Man's Undersea Trap" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #119 (1961). The Elongated Man, Ralph Dibny, and his new wife Sue are honeymooning in the Caribbean. While skin diving, Ralph disappears. Sue sends a message to the Flash for help. Flash arrives in the Caribbean and begins his search for Ralph. He sees some creatures riding underwater skis. Suddenly, one of the creatures shoots and captures the Flash.

When he regains consciousness, Flash is in a pool with several other missing divers. The Bredans, as the creatures are called, are fishing for the men. Flash is caught and becomes the slave of the capturing Bredan.

Flash plays along with the situation so that he can locate Ralph. He finds Ralph at a construction site, but his friend’s memory is missing. Flash helps Ralph recover his memory, then the two heroes defeat the Bredan slave masters. Flash and Ralph free the other slaves, and Ralph is returned to his honeymoon with Sue.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Young Romance #174

Young Romance #174 (On Sale: July 15, 1971), has a  cover by Bob Oksner.

We begin with "For Your Sake, Darling!" drawn by Frank Langford. This is the third of four stories British artist Langford would do for DC.

Next up is "How to Succeed in Love" drawn by John Rosenberger and reprinted from Young Love #67 (1968).

This is followed by a one-pager, "Do's and Dont's of Dating" drawn by Steve Englehart and Vince Colletta. This is one of the very rare Englehart pencils.

Next, we have "Teacher's Pet!" drawn by Werner Roth and Vince Colletta.

That brings us to "Never Look Back" drawn by Arthur Peddy and retouched by Artie Saaf and reprinted from  Girls' Love Stories #88 (1962).

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Weird War Tales #1

Weird War Tales #1 (On Sale: July 15, 1971), has a  cover by Joe Kubert. The ever-expanding line of horror..er I mean weird books continues at DC. This title would prove to have some pretty great legs lasting over 11 years.

"Let Me Tell You the Things I've Seen" serves as an introduction to book host, Death and is written and drawn by editor Joe Kubert. In the winter of 1944, a lone G.I. is separated from his outfit and is lost in the woods that are located in German territory. He is almost hit by a German tank shell but is left with a broken leg. The G.I. painfully drags through the icy fog to try to find and warn his outfit about the Germans until he comes upon a house in the middle of a clearing. 

He is taken inside by an old man who then helps him patch his leg and gives him time to rest. When the G.I. insists on returning to his men despite his injury, his host tells him that he is too weak and that there is time to warn his friends. To spend the passage of time, the old man tells the G.I. stories about the wars that he had seen in his life.

This first tale is a reprint, "The Secret of the Fort Which Did Not Return" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath and reprinted from G.I. Combat #86 (1961). A bombardier returned from a mission to be greeted by his fellow airmen. As more bombers flew into the sky for another raid, the bombardier recalled the mission when he and his squadron flew in a B-51 bomber called "Mother Hen" to Munich. When Mother Hen and the other bombers entered Nazi territory, the enemies fired at them with artillery and sent their own planes, taking down the Brooklyn Belle and Powerhouse Pete. 

The American bombers exchanged fire with the Nazis as the former of the forces attempted to reach their target. All of the bombers except for Mother Hen were destroyed and Mother Hen's tail gunner, two pilots, and waist gunners were both killed, but the bombardier managed to drop their bombs on the target; three oil tanks. The bombardier noticed that nobody was piloting the plane and that more Nazi planes were chasing him, so he jumped out of Mother Hen in a parachute. In the present, the bombardier decided that he couldn't tell the others what had happened to Mother Hen. A week later, he was in another bomber, on a mission, and saw Mother Hen flying by.

Next is "The Story Behind the Cover" by Joe Kubert. A German patrol under Lance Corporal Mueller suddenly comes across an American patrol and a fight breaks out. In the narrow confines of the ditch both sides find themselves in, a grenade is lobbed among them and explodes. By some miracle, only Mueller survives much to his astonishment. Mueller runs back to his position to warn his Lieutenant about the enemy. 

Mueller tries to explain to the Lieutenant, who then doesn't speak a word to him and acting as if Mueller wasn't there. Mueller believes that the Lieutenant doesn't like his report and that he had failed him. When he tries to explain to his comrades, they too ignored him. Mueller thinks the men are shunning him for losing his patrol. Gripped by terrible guilt, Mueller believes that the only way to wipe out his shame and regain the respect of his comrades is by facing the entire Allied army by himself.

Mueller never felt the storm of lead that lashed him and the crushing death dealt by enemy guns. But by the pain and agony will be with him forever, as a skeletal specter in the battlefield. Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #401 (1985) and Showcase Presents: Weird War Tales Vol. 1 TPB (2013).

That is followed by "The End of the Sea Wolf" by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Star Spangled War Stories #71 (1958). Sometime after World War II, a German ship was sailing through the North Sea, looking for Allied ships to salvage. The captain recalled the time he had captained a U-boat called the Sea Wolf. The Sea Wolf encountered an Allied fleet. They sunk one ship before they encountered a Q-boat that opened fire on them. The Sea Wolf fired back, taking down the Q-boat's guns. The Q-boat was sailing towards the Sea Wolf, about to ram into it. In the present, the captain of the ship came upon wreckage, which happened to be both the Q-boat and the Sea Wolf, which had been sunk while sinking the Q-boat.

Next up is "Baker's Dozen" by France Herron and Irv Novick and reprinted from Star Spangled War Stories #116 (1964). In Normandy, on Friday the 13th, a thirteenth member was assigned to Baker's Company, much to the sergeant's dismay, believing it to be bad luck. The company left without him, but the captain told the soldier to join them in battle. During the battle, Baker's Company saw a black cat as the thirteenth soldier had arrived. As the thirteenth soldier petted the black cat, a German fighter swooped in and opened fire on the company. 

Not wanting to be considered bad luck, the soldier opened fire on the fighter, shooting it down, but the sergeant chewed him out, believing he had almost been killed by debris. As the sun began to set, an enemy tank had appeared and the soldier decided to take it down himself, but the sergeant chewed him out again. They arrived in a town where the soldier broke a mirror, causing the sergeant to chew him out again. The soldier believed that he may actually be bad luck. When he saw a license plate that read "13-13", he entered the vehicle and drove towards a tank, with TNT inside, getting out before the explosion. Afterward, the sergeant insisted that the soldier stayed with them and that the enemy had to worry about the number thirteen.

We end with the final part of the framing sequence, "You Must Go" by Joe Kubert.  The old man has finished telling his stories and the G.I. is fully rested as the night is almost gone. So the G.I. is ready to reach his outfit and warn them about the enemy waiting in the woods. The G.I. suggests to his host that he should leave as his house will likely be caught in the inevitable crossfire. The old man reassures him that he is in no danger for he has seen war "swirl around [his] doorstep like winter snow!" The G.I. and the old man bid farewell to each other.

The G.I. continues wandering through the woods until he sees a villager gathering firewood. The villager helps him point the way to a nearby road before asking where he had come from. The G.I. explain to her about the cottage and the old man. The villager is very surprised to hear of this because there was no one living in that house because an artillery shell had landed on it and killed its owner...on the very last morning of the Great War. All that is left are ruins.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Teen Titans #35

Teen Titans #35 (On Sale: July 15, 1971), has a  cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with "Intruders of the Forbidden Crypt" by Bob Haney, George Tuska, and Nick Cardy. The Titans and Mr. Jupiter are in Italy to see the beginning of construction of Jupiter's newest laboratory. Lilith believes she is the reincarnation of Shakespeare's Juliet, and the son of Jupiter's enemy appears to be the reincarnation of Romeo. Together they begin to act out the drama from the play Romeo and Juliet. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TPB (2007) and Teen Titans: The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2017).

Next up is a solo Mal story, "A Titan Is Born" by Bob Haney, George Tuska, and Nick Cardy. While the rest of the team is in Italy, Mal minds the store at Mr. Jupiter's American base. A dimensional monitoring experiment goes awry, and the Titans' old enemy, the Gargoyle, is released from his banishment in Limbo. Mal manages to deduce the villain's true identity, though he is disguised as a scientific colleague of Mr. Jupiter's, and causes the computer monitor to reverse its error, returning Gargoyle to his exile in Limbo. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TPB (2007) and Teen Titans: The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2017).

Our first reprint is Aquaman and Aqualad in "The Doom Hunters" by Jack Miller and Ramona Fradon and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #139 (1964). After Aquaman and Aqualad refuse to place prize markers for an undersea treasure hunt in dangerous areas, Wally Welky, head of the Daredevils' Club, goes ahead with it on his own. Aquaman has to rescue one of the contestants from a whirlpool, thus indicating the need for he and Aqualad to look after the others. 

When Tom Blake, another member, almost dies from a deliberately-set trap, Aquaman lures Welky into revealing his intentions to murder Blake, his cousin, and thus gain Blake's uncle's wealth by inheritance. The heroes capture Welky and his confederates.

We end this issue with Green Arrow and Speedy in "Have Arrow – Will Travel" by Robert Bernstein and Lee Elias and reprinted from Adventure Comics #263 (1959). Green Arrow’s partner Speedy wants to buy a sailboat. To make money, he places an ad in the paper to perform odd jobs using archery. Many requests for his services come in and Speedy begins saving money for his boat.

Some crooks hire Speedy to test out manufactured targets. Using the holes left in the target, they are able to create an arrow identical to Speedy’s with a time bomb inside. They switch arrows with one of Speedy’s in hopes that it will explode and kill him. However, Speedy is tipped off to the fake arrow by the color of the arrowhead and is able to catch the crooks.

During his jobs, Speedy’s wallet was lost. Without his money Speedy can’t buy his boat, but he saves the life of a boat manufacturer who happily gives Speedy a boat as reward.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #6

DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #6 (On Sale: July 15, 1971), has a beautiful wrap-around "World's Greatest Super-Heroes" cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. This is the first issue with a wrap-around cover that would become standard on this title.

We begin with the Justice League of America in "Crisis on Earth-One" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Justice League of America #21 (1963). While the Justice League battles Felix Faust, Chronos, and Dr. Alchemy, who have united as the Crime Champions, they are unaware of a similar struggle taking place on the parallel world of Earth-2 between their counterparts, the Justice Society, and another team of Crime Champions composed of the Wizard, the Icicle, and the Fiddler. Having discovered the existence of the dual Earths, the two teams of villains have schemed to hide out on each other’s worlds after committing crimes. To safeguard their secret, they capture and imprison the two Flashes, who alone know of the alternate worlds and the method of traveling between them.

Disguising themselves as the Earth-1 villains, the Earth-2 Crime Champions battle and defeat the Justice League, magically trapping them in their Secret Sanctuary. The super-heroes use a crystal ball to contact the missing Flash, who tells them of his adventures on Earth-2, after which they summon the Justice Society to Earth-1.

The JLA then journey to Earth-2 while the two Green Lanterns race to free the captive Flashes, who are trapped in the transition zone between the Earths. This is the first of the yearly team-ups between the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America. This story continued in the next JLA issue, which follows.

As promised, we next have the Justice League of America in "Crisis on Earth-Two" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Justice League of America #22 (1963). The combined efforts of the Justice League of America of Earth-One and the Justice Society of America of Earth-Two continue to fail to stop the combined forces of the Crime Champions, a collation of villains from both Earths. The Earth-Two Atom and Hourman go after the Fiddler, robbing a museum; Hawkman and Black Canary go after Wizard; Doctor Fate goes after the Icicle. Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and the Earth-One Atom go after Felix Faust, Batman and Wonder Woman go after Doctor Alchemy, and Superman and Aquaman go after Chronos who is stealing a clock from a lighthouse.

While both Green Lanterns seek to save the captured Flashes, the pairs and trios of heroes succeed in capturing the various villains. The heroes soon find themselves trapped in cages in space just like the Flashes, due to a trap that is set off by the release of the Flashes, whose energies provide the power needed to spring the trap.

However, their imprisonment is short-lived when the two Green Lanterns are able to shrink themselves down to sub-atomic size to get out of their prison at the Earth-One Atom's suggestion, and then use their combined power rings and the super speed of both Flashes to free the others. The Crime Champions realize what has happened, and the Fiddler thinks there must be an Earth-Three, to which they can escape, but they fail to find one, before the Justice League and the Justice Society defeat the Crime Champions. With their opponents defeated, both groups part company for their own worlds, taking their respective criminals back with them.

That brings us to The Spectre in (Zor) by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily and reprinted from More Fun Comics #55 (1940). Jim Corrigan is called to a bank where the bookkeeper accuses a teller of stealing from the bank, but Corrigan realizes the bookkeeper himself is the thief and becomes the Spectre to frighten a confession from him. Having made the arrest, Corrigan is then hit by a runaway car, but because he's already been killed, is unharmed. He becomes the Spectre again and chases down the drivers, but soon finds himself confronted by a much graver threat: Zor, an evil apparition.

The two ghosts battle and soon enlarge themselves to cosmic size, but Zor's greater experience as a ghost gives him greater power than the Spectre. To torment the avenging spirit Zor changes himself into Jim Corrigan and convinces Clarice Winston to elope with him. Going to see Clarice himself and realizing what happened, the real Corrigan becomes the Spectre once again to chase Zor down, only for the evil spirit to escape with Clarice into another dimension. 

The Voice gives the Spectre the power to track Zor across dimensions to his fortress. The Spectre enters but is paralyzed by a powerful ray projected by Zor, but the Spectre bargains with him for the secret to creating life for his freedom. Once free they scuffle and the Spectre manages to trap Zor in the same ray that held him, then leaves the evil spirit trapped there for eternity.

Next is Johnny Quick in "Stand-In for 100 Convicts" drawn by Ralph Mayo and reprinted from Adventure Comics #190 (1953). In an experimental prison program, 100 men are released from prison without supervision for a few hours. One prisoner, Mauler Murphy, steals some diamonds but is caught by the other prisoners. Johnny Quick allows several prisoners to locate Murphy’s accomplice while he takes their places at the prison. Johnny’s scheme is uncovered by the warden, but the convicts return with the diamonds and Murphy’s partner, proving the experiment a success.

That takes us to the Vigilante in "The Galleon in the Desert" by Joe Samachson and Dan Barry and reprinted from Action Comics #146 (1950). The Vigilante and Stuff stop three criminals from looting the Great Western Exposition.

Our next tale features Wildcat in "Crime Wore a Costume" by Robert Kanigher and Jon Chester Kozlak and is a previously unpublished golden-age story. Wildcat thwarts the Huntress's attempts to kidnap two boxers to prevent the heavyweight title match, whose proceeds were to go to charity.

We end with Hawkman in "Strange Spells of the Sorcerer" by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Brave and the Bold #36 (1961). At the Midway City Museum, Mavis Trent and her colleague Konrad Koslak are studying artifacts from the Chaldean empire when they are attacked by a mystical winged buffalo.

In his secret room inside the museum, Hawkman hears the commotion and goes to the rescue. When he attacks the winged creature, it disappears in a puff of smoke. In the aftermath of the battle, Hawkman and Hawkgirl decide to go to Hawk Valley and learn what they can from their birds to see if they know what may have caused things.

Arriving in the valley, they are attacked by the Phoenix bird of myth, it too disappears when they attack it. They also find during the attack that one of the birds that live in the valley had its eggs stolen. Deducing that someone could possibly be getting items for a spell, they check in with Konrad Koslak to see what he can tell them. He informs them of an ancient Chaldean spell that would require a yellow egg, a gold sword (Which they find was stolen in the previous attack in the museum) a Chrysoberyl gem.

When they learn that Mavis, who had a Cat's Eye gem on her ring, they realize that Konrad Koslak is the one responsible for stealing these items and is intending to cast the spell. Rushing to his home, they find that he's already used the spells to create real mythical creatures. However, Hawkman and Hawkgirl easily defeat them all, and capture Konrad Koslak and turn him over to the police. Hawkman then personally returns Mavis her ring.

Entire book reprinted in DC 100-Page Super Spectacular Replica Edition #6 (2004).

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Superman #242

Superman #242 (On Sale: July 13, 1971), has yet another beautiful cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with "The Ultimate Battle" by Denny O'Neil, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Jimmy Olsen finds Superman's weakened and injured body in a junkyard, where a paper-created monster inhabited by a spirit from the Quarrm dimension dragged him. Jimmy has the doctors operate on Superman's head injury while two criminals try to take advantage of the monster's abilities before they become its victims. The monster is drawing itself toward where Superman is in order to finish him but finds himself contending with the sand-created Superman figure whose power is partially restored, wondering why he even cares to act on behalf of anyone. 

Superman and the sand-created duplicate work together to bring the spirit inhabiting the monster back to the Quarrm dimension, but now the duplicate wants to take over Superman's role as protector of the planet. Superman fears that he would have to battle this duplicate whose very touch can trigger off a powerful explosion, when I-Ching mysteriously causes such effects to be canceled, which results in a knock-down-drag-out fight between the two Superman which results in the world's destruction. However, this fight turns out to be nothing more than a dream that I-Ching cast both Superman and his duplicate into, to make them realize the futility of such a fight. The duplicate decides to return to the Quarrm dimension, and Superman is left with a third less of his powers than before. Reprinted in Best of DC #32 (1983) and Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore HC (2009).

Next, we have "The Girl Who Didn't Believe in Superman" by Bill Finger, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Superman #96 (1955). Alice Norton is a young girl who wins a contest and is awarded a sight-seeing trip from Superman. However, Alice is blind and does not believe Superman is real. Superman uses his powers to try and convince the girl that he is real, but she thinks he is using tricks.

Superman then examines the girl's eyes and sees a sliver of glass which is responsible for her blindness. Doctors can't see the glass, so Superman volunteers to do the operation himself. Superman reads every medical book at super speed, then he performs the surgery.

Alice's sight returns. Superman takes her on her sightseeing trip, convincing her that he is real. Alice's father also returns from a self-imposed exile, because he blamed himself for Alice's injury. Mr. Norton learns he wasn't responsible, and the family is reunited.

We end this issue with "The World's Mightiest Weakling" by Otto Binder, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #54 (1955).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Phantom Stranger #15

Phantom Stranger #15 (On Sale: July 13, 1971), has another beautiful cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with "The Iron Messiah" plotted by Joe Orlando, scripted by Len Wein, and drawn by Jim Aparo. John Kweli has returned to Africa to visit his home village and finds it in conflict with a land developer who is trying to claim the land by any means possible. When diplomacy with the owner of the company doesn't work, John creates the Iron Messiah, a robot based on their tribe's god Chuma, and based on his own personality.

Things get complicated when the Iron Messiah develops feelings for John's lover Ororo, however, her love is spurned. The Phantom Stranger, who has been watching and helping John whenever there was danger tries to convince the Iron Messiah to act like a man. The robot helps the villagers fight off their opposition, however, in a moment of jealousy it kills John in cold blood. The villagers don't react to this very well and destroy the robot with grenades. Reprinted in Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Next up is "I Battled for the Doom-Stone" by France Herron and Alex Toth and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #61 (1961). An explorer discovers that a missing scientist has undergone a fantastic transformation.

That brings us to the other new tale in this issue, Doctor 13 in "Satan's Sextet" by Robert Kanigher and Tony DeZuniga. Dr. Thirteen is asked to stop a group called Satan's Sextet, a musical group that somehow manages to take control of their audiences and make them walk out into the ocean to drown. Thirteen learns their secret: bead and flower necklaces given to the audience members have a hallucinogenic effect on the audience.

Breaking free of their control, Dr. Thirteen goes after the members of Satan's Sextet. Taking them off guard and easily knocks them all out, turning them over to the police after. Reprinted in Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Our final story is Mark Merlin in "I Scout Earth's Strangest Secrets" by Bob Haney and Mort Meskin and reprinted from House of Secrets #23 (1959). Mark Merlin, the private investigator of the supernatural, takes on several cases that appear to have unnatural explanations. Some of the cases have a natural explanation, such as mountainside creatures that are really just large shadows. In another case, Mark is able to expose a deliberate hoax. Mark proves that a museum, which is believed to be haunted, has actually been the victim of a hoax using magnets to move metal objects invisibly.

Merlin also has a "Question Mark File" containing cases he can not explain or classify. In one such case, a strange creature is found in an unmapped cave. When Mark investigates he falls through a seam in the rock and discovers an entire species of giant single-celled creatures. The creatures attack him, but he seals off the seam, trapping them inside.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Mister Miracle #4

Mister Miracle #4 (On Sale: July 13, 1971), has a cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta. 

This issue begins with "The Closing Jaws of Death" written and penciled by Jack Kirby and inked by Vince Colletta. This story introduces Big Barda, Mr. Miracle's lover and friend from Apokolips, who arrives on Earth to help him escape from Dr. Bedlam's trap. Reprinted in Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle TPB (1998), Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2 HC (2007), Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2 TPB (2012), and Mister Miracle by Jack Kirby TPB (2017).

Next up is "Pirate or Patriot?" by Jack Kirby and reprinted from Real Fact Comics #1 (1946). Facts about Jean Lafitte,  who warned the Americans that the British planned on invading New Orleans.

We end with the Boy Commandos in "The Romance of Rip Carter" written and penciled by Joe Simon and inked by Jack Kirby and reprinted from Detective Comics #82 (1943). Rip Carter and the Boy Commandos are sent on a mission to destroy a Nazi supply tunnel in Italy. Their plane is shot down and the Commandos are forced to bail out. They are found by Italian resistance fighters and returned to the allied forces. Rip reports that his mission to destroy the tunnel has failed, but his commanding officer explains that his wrecked plane the Rosalind K crashed into the tunnel, completing the mission.

Edited by Jack Kirby.

Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1

Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1 (On Sale: July 13, 1971), has a cover by George Ziel. This is our third new title of the month, though this one, and the whole gothic romance genre would not survive for long. The genre failed to catch on, but I give DC a lot of credit for attempting to expand what a comic book could be.

Unlike the rest of the DC line though, this book was all new. "The Mystery of the Missing Bride" is written by Dorothy Woolfolk and Ethan C. Mordden and drawn by Tony DeZuniga. Laura Chandler comes to Langfrey House to attend the funeral of her friend Bettina, and accepts an offer to live and work there so she can investigate how Bettina died. However, the many secrets of the Langfrey family may prove fatal to her before she can discover the truth.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #141

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #141 (On Sale: July 8, 1971), has a cover by Jack Kirby and Neal Adams.

Our new material is "Will the Real Don Rickles Panic?" written and penciled by Jack Kirby and inked by Vince Colletta. Clark Kent is almost taken to Apokolips by the UFO, which is a trap of Darkseid's, but is rescued by Lightray and sent back to Earth. Morgan Edge is visited by Don Rickles, but Jimmy Olsen and Goody Rickels appear in his office and are about to combust from the Pyro-Granulate. 

The Golden Guardian appears, having forced Ugly Mannheim to give him the antidote, and cures Jimmy and Goody, having already cured himself and the Newsboy Legion. Don Rickles, maddened by the happenings, hitches a ride out of Edge's office with two members of the police bomb squad. Reprinted in Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby Vol. 1 TPB (2003), Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2 HC (2007), Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 2 TPB (2012), and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby TPB (2019).

Our reprint is  (The Story of the Newsboy Legion)  written by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, penciled by Jack Kirby, and inked by Joe Simon and reprinted from Star Spangled Comics #7 (1942). One evening in Suicide Slum, York City, rookie cop Jim Harper gets beaten up by some thugs and decides to take a new approach to crimefighting. He breaks into a costume shop, assembles an "action outfit" that includes a sturdy shield and a crash helmet, leaves some money on the counter, and goes after the gang. He finds them in a pool parlor and smacks the hell out of all of them. He can't arrest them, so he ties them up and leaves them for the regular police. Also one of them drops his wallet, and Harper checks the serial numbers on some of his cash; it turns out to match the serial numbers from an earlier ransom payment.

The next day, Harper arrests four quasi-delinquent, roller-skate-equipped young newspaper vendors, all orphans, pushed into crime by financial desperation, for shoplifting a hardware store. He accompanies them to their hearing and asks the judge to keep them out of reform school and remand them to his personal custody. He wants to try a different approach with these kids and legally becomes their guardian.

The boys don't exactly reform instantly, and soon a local lowlife, Frankie the Fence, uses them as a distraction for an armed robbery, in which a man is killed. This doesn't sit well with the boys, who go visit Frankie to tell him off, but Frankie decides to shut up these potential witnesses with a gun. The Guardian bursts into the room, and takes down the fence with one big roundhouse punch, then lets him get away, hoping he'll run back to his unknown boss. 

Frankie pulls himself together and runs to the waterfront, gets in a boat, and speeds away, pursued by the Guardian, who borrows an unguarded boat, and who is in return pursued by the Newsboys, who now are stymied; the Guardian took the last boat. They convert a wooden wagon into a makeshift rowboat, and follow along as best they can, figuring along the way that a nearby lighthouse is the likeliest place for a hideout. 

This turns out to be correct, and at the lighthouse, the Guardian has run into trouble. Frankie's boss, Chips Carder, a smuggler, has managed to head-konk the Guardian unconscious. The boys show up; Guardian sees them and the bad guys don't. Guardian suggests, in language that only Big Words understands, that they should paint the lighthouse light red. They very quickly accomplish this, then charge inside to brawl with Chips and Frankie, while the red light above draws the Coast Guard, who arrive just in time to shoot Chips Carder as he draws a bead on the Guardian's back. While the USCG is sorting things out, the Guardian slips away, and motorboats back to shore.

Before their first adventure is even over, the boys begin to suspect that the Guardian is Jim Harper.

Edited by Jack Kirby.

Superboy #177

Superboy #177 (On Sale: July 8, 1971), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Our Traitor Super-Son" by Leo Dorfman, Bob Brown, and Murphy Anderson. Lex Luthor takes on the guise of Cerebron with a mental amplifier that enables him to deduce that the Kents are the foster parents of Superboy. To get them into protective custody without revealing his connection to them, Superboy has them jailed for selling "contaminated" food. 

Then, after keeping his stash of super-weapons and robots out of Luthor's hands by moving it frequently, he finally defeats Luthor, removes his cerebral amplifier, and convinces him he was wrong about the Kents.

Our new backup is "Plague from the Past" by Leo Dorfman, Bob Brown, and Murphy Anderson. When a plague from a long-unopened pharaoh's coffin unleashes a terrible plague on Smallville, Superboy employs a statue of Anubis to send himself back in time and undo the coffin opening. Reprinted in Best of DC #7 (1980).

The reprint is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Revenge of the Knave from Krypton" by Jerry Siegel, John Forte, and inkers Sheldon Moldoff, George Papp, and Al Plastino and reprinted from Adventure Comics #320 (1964). After finishing his homework, Superboy travels to the 30th Century for his regular visit with the Legion of Super-Heroes. There they are alerted by the security system of an intruder and Superboy is shocked to find it is his old tormentor Dev-Em. Capturing Dev-Em, Superboy explains how Dev-Em was a juvenile delinquent on Krypton who was sentenced to suspended animation, survived Krypton's destruction, and was revived on 20th Century Earth. 

Superboy then recounts how Dev-Em managed to trap Superboy in the Phantom Zone and pose as him to cause chaos around Earth. After returning from the Phantom Zone, Superboy was unable to stop Dev-Em who escaped into the distant future. Superboy would finish his story by explaining that the only way he was able to clear his name was with the help of his friend Chief Parker who told everyone Red Kryptonite was the "reason" for Superboy's rampage.

However, it is revealed that Dev-Em has turned over a new leaf in the 30th Century and is a member of the Inter-Stellar Counter-Intelligence Corps. However, when reporting back into the I.C.C., Dev-Em has his mission to stop interplanetary criminal Molock to Superboy. Disguising himself as Dev-Em, Superboy manages to bluff Molock with fake Gold Kryptonite, which is actually Proty II in disguise. After Superboy smashes up Molock's operation and turns him over to the police, the Legion offers Dev-Em membership in the Legion, to which Dev-Em declines, preferring to work with the I.C.C.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

House of Mystery #194

House of Mystery #194 (On Sale: July 8, 1971), has an amazing cover by Berni Wrightson.

We begin with "Born Loser" by Jack Oleck and Alex Toth. A man uses magic spells to make him appear dead in his cell after he murders his wife and is scheduled to hang. He has made previous arrangements with his lover to collect the body, but when she goes to get it she is told the man has been cremated. Reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #24 (1982).

Next is our first reprint, "The Human Wave" drawn by Russ Heath and reprinted from House of Secrets #31 (1960).

Our next reprint is "The Negative Man" drawn by Jack Kirby and reprinted from House of Mystery #84 (1959).

Back to new material with "The King Is Dead" by Jack Oleck and Nestor Redondo. This was Nestor Redondo's first work at DC. He would go on to take over Swamp Thing after the departure of Berni Wrightson. A full moon turns the new king into a monster that murders many people. He tells his reluctant guards that he must be locked in the dungeon to save lives. The monster manifests in his cell and kills him, killing itself in the process.

All new material reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB (2006) and House of Mystery: The Bronze Age Omnibus #1 (2018).

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Tomahawk #136

Tomahawk #136 (On Sale: July 6, 1971), has an amazing cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Hawk, Son of Tomahawk in "A Piece of Sky" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. Tomahawk and Hawk help two escaped slaves fight their master.

Next up is Firehair in "The Stallion" written and drawn by Joe Kubert. Firehair captures a wild stallion. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-52 (1977).

This brings us to "Presidents' Firearms" written and drawn by Sam Glanzman. The weapons carried by two American Presidents.

We end with our only reprint featuring Tomahawk in "The Secrets of Sgt. Witch Doctor" by France Herron and Fred Ray and reprinted from Tomahawk #87 (1963). The British try to get Chief Mocking Bird's tribe to attack the American forces by telling them they can keep the evil mountain spirits from attacking the tribe.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #113

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #113 (On Sale: July 6, 1971), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with "The Unknown Superman" drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #49 (1964). Lois Lane receives an anonymous tip which eventually leads her to Dr. Drolc who has invented a talent-tracer machine capable of divining unknown talents. Lois tests the machine and is surprised to learn that it works.

One of the tests leads her to a Native American man named Strong Bear who has superpowers. Strong Bear and Lois fall in love, and she accepts his wedding proposal. The tribe gives Lois a ring belonging to Strong Bear. She realizes that Dr. Drolc and the men the talent tracer located all wore the same ring. When Lois breaks the ring, Strong Bear's appearance changes into a deformed blue alien. The alien reveals that he posed as Drolc and the other men to trick Lois. He is the last survivor of a race whose planet was destroyed by nuclear war. The ring allowed him to take human form and survive on Earth. His love for Lois was real, but with the ring destroyed, he dies.

Next up is "The Monster Who Loved Lois Lane" by Edmond Hamilton and Kurt Schaffenberger and is reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #54 (1965). Lois visits the laboratory of scientist Dr. Elder who unveils a new device that penetrates the dimensional barrier, allowing exploration of alien dimensions. On the first test, a monster from the alien dimension comes to Earth. The monster, named Herko, possesses super-strength and invulnerability.

Herko is smitten with Lois. Lois leads the monster away from people, while Dr. Elder repairs the dimension device. Herko tries to protect Lois from Superman and proves equally powerful. When the repairs are finished, Lois leads Herko back to his own dimension through the portal. Herko remains heartbroken because he is separated from Lois.

That brings us to  "The Return of Lois' Monster Sweetheart" by Edmond Hamilton and Kurt Schaffenberger and is reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #57 (1965). Lois decides to check up on Herko, the monster from another dimension who fell in love with her. Lois and Jimmy step through the dimensional portal, but an accident traps them in Herko's dimension. 

Herko resumes his crush on Lois. Lois convinces Jimmy to court Zagga, a female monster who likes Herko. Lois hopes that Herko will become jealous and marry Zagga. Her plan backfires and both Jimmy and Lois are prepared to wed monsters. Lois is saved when her makeup makes Herko sick. Zagga cares for Herko, and the two monsters are joined in marriage. Lois and Jimmy return to their own dimension when Dr. Elder reopens the portal.

Next, we have "The Girl Who Mourned for Superman" by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #43 (1963). Lois Lane assists the Jimmy Olsen Fan Club in an electrical experiment. Without her knowledge, Lois is transported to a parallel world where she is captured by Lex Luthor. Luthor succeeds in killing the Superman of this world and himself in the process. Superman is subsequently replaced by a robot, then a citizen of Kandor.

Lois finally realizes she is on a different Earth when she meets the ambassador of Atlantis. On this Earth, Atlantis never sank beneath the ocean. Lois visits her counterpart but does not reveal herself. Another accidental electric shock transports her back to her own world.

We end with "Superman's Romance with Lana Lang" drawn by Curt Swan and George Klein and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #41 (1963). Lois and Lana learn that years ago, they were briefly merged together into a single woman, Lana Lane, by an alien pendant. Believing the merger permanent Superman proposed, but soon learned that the girls would separate and die. One girl could be saved using a magic statue, so Superman is forced to choose when the girls part. Before his choice can be announced, the girls are both saved by radiation from a meteorite. The Man of Steel refuses to reveal who he chose to save.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Fighting Forces #133

Our Fighting Forces #133 (On Sale: July 6, 1971), has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with the Losers in "Heads or Tails" by Robert Kanigher and John Severin. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB (2012).

Next is "The Anthill" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from Our Army at War #76 (1958).

That brings us to "No Place for a PT Boat" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #76 (1963).

We end with The Balloon Buster in "The Firing Squad Can Wait" by Robert Kanigher and Ric Estrada. Count Von Ulricht faces a firing squad for abandoning his fellow pilots during an air battle. Allied pilot Steve Savage interrupts the execution to give testimony on behalf of his enemy. He explains that Von Ulricht broke off from formation to chase Savage. The Count is exonerated, but he does not thank his foe. Instead, he issues a challenge. Steve accepts and the two men battle it out in the skies. In the end, Savage saved Von Ulricht from the firing squad only to kill his opponent himself by shooting him down.

Edited by Joe Kubert.