Teen Titans #29

Teen Titans #29 (On Sale: July 16, 1970) has a cover by Nick Cardy.

 The book-length "Captives" is by Steve Skeates and Nick Cardy. Continuing from last issue, after Aqualad's failed encounter with Ocean Master, he is left for dead. Voting to forego their vow against using their powers and costumes for the duration of the present case, the Titans track down Aqualad in time to rescue him. 

Hawk and Dove pursue a lead on their own, returning to Sharon Tracy's apartment. When the thugs who had attacked Sharon earlier return. Dove recruits the other Titans to help out, but both Hawk and Dove are nevertheless captured by Ocean Master and held prisoner in his undersea headquarters. 

Hawk awakens in Ocean Master's hide-out, finding he and Dove are captives. Dove explains that Ocean Master is working with aliens. The brothers escape their bonds and start a fight with Ocean Master and his alien allies. The other Titans, who trail them to Ocean Master's hideaway,  help them overcome the invaders. 

The Titans agree to redon their costumes only in cases of extreme emergency, and Aqualad, reconciled with his teammates, returns to Atlantis. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TPB.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Strange Adventures #226

Strange Adventures #226 (On Sale: July 16, 1970) has a cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Adam Strange in "The Mechanical Masters of Rann" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #65. Rann is visited by the Mechanimen, a group of robots built on another planet designed to protect the human race and protect them from all weapons. The robots destroy all weapons on Rann in an attempt to end all warfare. When Adam Strange arrives, he suspects trouble so he hides his ray-gun. Adam then convinces the Ranagarans that the Mechanimen are treating humans as children, and he believes they should stand up and fight. Adam retrieves his gun and a secret cache of weapons, but the Mechanimen destroy them as well.

When an alien attack force arrives, the Mechanimen defend Rann and force the aliens to surrender. However, the robots run out of power at the last moment. Adam was able to gain control of some alien weapons and chase off the remaining invaders, before his return trip to Earth via the Zeta Beam.

Next is "Glory Ride to Pluto" by John Broome and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #59.

That is followed by "The Counterfeit Earth" by Otto Binder and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Mystery in Space #35.

We next have "A Letter from the Future" by Sid Gerson and Frank Giacoia and reprinted from Strange Adventures #30.

 

Next is "Earth's Unlucky Day" by John Broome and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #40.

This is followed by Adam Strange in the new illustrated prose story "The Magic-Maker of Rann" by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. Adam Strange returns to Rann where he is greeted by Alanna. Instead of a warm greeting, she slaps him, then storms away. Adam finds that all the people of Rann seem to be acting contrary to their usual nature. To get some answers, Adam knocks a guard unconscious. When he begins waking up, Adam questions him. Adam learns that a magic rainbow appeared in the sky. It granted everyone magical powers. The more the people used the powers, the more contrary they behaved.

Adam traces the rainbow to a small laboratory. Inside is a scientist who has recently died. From his notes, Adam learns that the scientist created the rainbow and the magic, but a meteorite corrupted it. Adam seeks out the meteorite which has transformed into an energy-being impervious to normal weapons. Adam, now possessing the magic from the rainbow, uses that to combat it. This tactic also fails, and Adam fears that he will soon be affected by the contrarian side-effect. Eventually, Adam encases the creature inside a lead sheath which prevents its unique radiation from escaping. With the creature defeating, everyone on Rann returns to normal. This has been reprinted in 52: The Companion TPB and Adam Strange: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.

We end with our cover-story, the Atomic Knights in "When the Earth Blacked Out" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #144. Bryndon returns to Durvale injured in an encounter with strange mole men. The other Atomic Knights ride out to meet the mole men. They discover the invaders from underground are using plants called Ki-Moli, to envelop the Earth in darkness.

The Knights are turned back in their initial encounter with the mole men, but they take a prisoner with them. By questioning the prisoner, the Knights learn the mole men are weakened by light, so they gather fireflies to use as weapons. The Knights then place the fireflies inside pumpkins and use them as light bombs against the mole men, chasing them back underground.

After destroying the Ki-Moli, the dark cloud above the Earth dissipates. The Knights also learn that it was the mole men who triggered World War III.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Flash #200

Flash #200 (On Sale: July 16, 1970) has a cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.

The book-length "Count 200 -- and Die" is by Robert Kanigher, Irv Novick and Murphy Anderson. A Chinese scientist, Dr. Lu, poisons Iris Allen and forces the Flash to surrender. She then brainwashes the speedster into believing that she is Iris. Dr. Lu, brainwashes the Flash into thinking he is bringing hairspray to his wife when he is really attempting to assassinate the president of the United States. 

The Scarlet Speedster shakes off the brainwashing when he realizes that Dr. Lu's kiss did not taste like that of the real Iris. He botches the assassination job, then rescues his wife. Dr. Lu tries to use a missile to kill the Flash, but in the end her own island base is destroyed.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Batman #225

Batman #225 (On Sale: July 16, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams. 

We begin with "Wanted for Murder-One, the Batman" by Denny O'Neil, Irving Novick and Dick Giordano. Jonah Jory, a talk-show host who insults Commissioner Gordon and Batman on his show is found dead. A nearby night watchman spots Batman outside the window of Jory's place and reports it to the police. Gordon is forced to give the order to have Batman arrested for murder.

As the Gotham City Police Department seeks to capture him, Batman  investigates on his own. Batman tracks down two thugs: one was hired to impersonate Batman while the other was hired to make sure that the impostor was seen by witnesses. This is enough evidence for Batman to find the real killer.

Batman returns to the crime scene, where Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD are waiting for him. When Batman is finally cornered by the law, he makes no attempt to escape and instead, he allows Gordon and some of his officers to hear his deduction of the crime. After explaining what he believes happened the night of the murder, the Police find enough evidence to corroborate Batman's theory and the killer is finally revealed as the talk-show host. The man had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and he decided to kill himself and frame Batman for the crime, due to his extreme hatred towards the vigilante. After the case is closed. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #30.

We end with "Shutdown on York Street" by Mike Friedrich, Irving Novick and Mike Esposito. Two young street racers compete in a drag race and Alex , son of Mystery Analyst Art Saddows, is the loser. Vic, the winner of the race, has also won the attention of Chris Pike, Alex's girlfriend. After the race, Alex wants to get even by scaring Vic. Instead, his car won't stop and he kills Vic with it. Alex is then wanted for murder. Batman gets on the case to find Alex and discover the truth behind the incident.

Following the clues left behind, Batman finds Alex behind the wheel of a getaway car used by some crooks. Alex signals Batman for help. Batman stops the crooks and follows Alex as he seeks the one responsible for the fatal accident. Batman stops Alex from attacking Jack Donaldson, Alex's friend and mechanic, who tampered with the breaks of Alex's car. Donaldson wanted the attention of Alex's girlfriend Chris, and he thought that he would get it by framing Alex.

The entire book was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #132

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #132 (On Sale: July 14, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

This is the end of one era, the Mort Weisinger era as he is being shown the door by DC. Next issue some new guy takes over. Now, what was his name? We begin with our cover-story, "When Olsen Sold Out Superman" by Leo Dorfman and Murphy Anderson. Jimmy Olsen is captured by a gang of criminals who threaten Jimmy and demand that he reveal Superman's secret identity. To stall for time, Jimmy claims that Superman is "really" his editor at the Daily Planet. Unfortunately, Clark Kent has been named editor for a day, and the crooks capture him with Kryptonite.

The crooks then release Jimmy, but not before they announce his betrayal to the world. Jimmy's fan club is outraged that Jimmy would betray his friend. To redeem himself, Jimmy assists the CIA in locating and rescuing Superman.

During the escape, Superman switches places with a robot. He then pretends that the robot was actually captured intentionally in order to trap the crooks. By doing this, Superman covers his exposed secret identity and restores Jimmy's reputation.

We end with "The Winner's Prize... the Loser's Grave" by Bob Haney and Pete Costanza. A volcanic eruption in the ocean causes a new island to form. Both the United States and the Soviets want to claim the island as their territory. To prevent a war, each side agrees to an individual duel to take place on the island. During the training exercise to select a champion, Jimmy Olsen is able to prove himself using his wits. He is selected to be the duel participant against Bors from the Soviet Union.

Jimmy and Bors are dropped off on the island with the same supplies and weapons. The winner is the one who kills or captures the other. Jimmy survives several attacks and uses his wits to escape various traps. Jimmy and Bors develop respect for one another. Then they fight it out with dynamite. Neither is willing to kill the other, and the detonation of the dynamite sinks the island permanently, which ends the dispute. This was reprinted in Best of DC #46.

Big changes are coming next month, really big changes for Jimmy and for DC in general. The word from on high is...the Great One is Coming!

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Phantom Stranger #9

Phantom Stranger #9 (On Sale: July 14, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams.

This issue features the book-length  ""Obeah Man" written by Mike Sekowsky and drawn by Jim Aparo. While on vacation in a Haiti, Dr. Thirteen is called by the president who believes that local practitioners of voodoo are targeting him to scare people into worshiping their religion. Thirteen relates to a similar case he was involved with that had to do with Voodoo, and how he debunked it as a hoax.

Along the way to confront the Papaloi of the Voodoo worshipers, Dr. Thirteen spots Mr. Square, Wild Rose, Spartacus and Attila, this hippy kids from Sekowsky's previous Phantom Stranger issues). He suspects that the Phantom Stranger is going to interfere because of their presence and questions them about the whereabouts of the Stranger. However when he returns to the President's car, they find that the Stranger is in the vehicle and has convinced the President to allow him to accompany them.

Arriving at the Papaloi's castle, they find that Tala is once more involved, Phantom Stranger battles both the Papaloi and Tala. The Stranger captures Papaloi in it's true form of a spider inside the Seal of Solomon, and throws the relic into the ocean. When he tries to apprehend Tala, she disappears. The Phantom Stranger leaves as well, with Dr. Thirteen cursing him once more for his interference and vowing that he will one day reveal the Stranger as a hoax. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB.

We end with a two-page reprint from House of Mystery #24, "The Walking Stick" drawn by John Ely and captioned with a new header, "From the Secret Files of... Dr. Thirteen." 

John William Ely, Jr. started with DC in 1937 with  More Fun Comics #21, where he wrote and drew three strips featuring Sandra of the Secret Service, Jack Woods and Johnnie Law. He is listed as the creator or co-creator of Nadir, Johnnie Law, Kraklow, Lawrence Steele, Scoop Scanlon and Scott Scanlon. He mainly worked on non-super-hero strips. He did draw Rip Hunter...Time Master from issue 8 to 29. His last work was in Young Love #62, in 1967. Though he worked for other publisher, 349 of 360 strips he worked on were for DC.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Green Lantern #79

Green Lantern #79 (On Sale: July 14, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams.

This issue features the book-length  "Ulysses Star Is Still Alive" by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dan Adkins. This is the first word Adkins did for DC. Green Lantern and Green Arrow are resting by their campfire when they hear a noise. They rush to investigate and discover two men ready to execute a native American. The two heroes disarm the men and asses the situation. They learn that the two would be assassins, Theodore Pudd and Pierre O'Rourke, claim to own the local land and trees. However, the native American states that his tribe's ancient chief brokered a deal with the government for exclusive rights to the lumber a hundred years prior. But, the government and local records all conveniently disappeared. 

Feeling that there is not much case with out the contract, the two heroes learn that one more copy is reputed to exist and it resides with a man no one has seen for twenty years: Abraham Star.

Green Arrow decides that they must stay and fight, but Green Lantern does not feel that breaking the law is the right thing, so he decides to help by trying to find Abraham Star. Hal heads to Evergreen City, where he used to work as an insurance investigator, and searches records until he finds a lead to Abraham's location. Hal arrives on the scene to find the building burning. He rushes in to save Abe and the two escape just in time. Abe, a victim of smoke-inhalation, is taken off to the hospital, but not before he reveals to Green Lantern that all the legal records he had just went up in flames. Hal does not give up and flies off, trying to think of another way to help the tribe and decides to go to Washington D.C. 

Meanwhile, Green Arrow has headed back to the nearby native American town where he finds Black Canary trying to help the local townspeople. Black Canary tells Ollie that she has noticed the townspeople are very dejected. A few hours later, a couple of white-men try to steal some food from the reservation. They are scared off by the spirit of Ulysses Star, a yellow figure with a bow. The two men rush to a nearby lumberjack bar and report their story. No one believes it until the spirit shows up in person, with arrows flying!

Theodore Pudd convinces the lumberjacks that it is just a hoax though, and the men agree to continue cutting down trees. Back in town, Ulysses appears to the tribes-people and convinces them that they must fight to protect what is theirs.

A few hours later, dawn breaks and the lumberjacks arrive. The tribes-men stand ready to fight though, alongside Black Canary. A fight breaks out, and the spirit of Ulysses joins in as well, but it is quickly ended when Green Lantern arrives with U.S. Representative Sullivan. Sullivan has promised to look into the matter, so Lantern suggests that everyone goes home until then.

The spirit of Ulysses takes offense to this suggestion of inaction and calls-out Green Lantern. Ulysses, now clearly Green Arrow, points out that his costume is yellow and that they should duke it out without ring or bow. The two fight until an errant log hits them and knocks them both out cold. Later, at the reservation café, they discuss their opposing tactics, as do the locals, who have lost hope. Luckily, Sullivan arrives just in time to break the news that a man has confessed to the arson in Evergreen City and has implicated Pudd and O'Rourke.

Later, at a campfire, the two reflect on their dispute and its lack of a resolution. The guardian points out that although it was not resolved, they at least learned that hitting and killing leads to bloodshed and humanity must stop doing this before it is too late. This story was reprinted in Green Lantern/Green Arrow #2, Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection Vol. 1 TPB, Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection HC, Green Lantern/Green Arrow Vol. 1 TPB, Showcase Presents: Green Lantern Vol. 5 TPB, Green Lantern/Green Arrow TPB and Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow HC.

In 1964, West Virginian born Dan Adkins joined the Wally Wood Studio as Wood's assistant. Wood and Adkins collaborated on a series of stories for Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror-comics magazines Creepy and Eerie. Adkins was among the original artists of Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, for Tower Comics, drawing many Dynamo stories during his 16 months in the Wood Studio.

Adkins recalled in Alter Ego how his work on his fanzine turned into a career in comics:

"I met him (Wally Wood) through Bill Pearson. I saw a letter of Pearson's in Amazing Stories [sf magazine]. His address was Phoenix, Arizona, and I was stationed at Luke Field outside Phoenix, so I thought he might know some girls there! I was nineteen at the time. He didn't really want to meet anybody; he was sort of a shy guy. But I went out and talked to him that night, and showed him my collection of fanzines.

Later, up in New York, I was doing art for the science-fiction magazines, but I couldn't make enough money at it, so I worked in advertising while I was also drawing for Amazing and Fantastic and Infinity and Science-Fiction Adventures. Half of these were put out by Larry Shaw, who also published one of the first monster magazines, Monster Parade, 'way before Famous Monsters of Filmland. Part of Monster Parade was stories, for which we did illustrations. While I was doing all this, Pearson had moved to New York, too, and I guess he wanted to get into writing. He had this big apartment in the '70s over near the river, and he got to meet Wally through (Roy) Krenkel or somebody.

I went up to Wally's with Pearson to get a full-page drawing from Wally for my fanzine Outlet. But Wally was too busy to do a drawing for me, unless-[laughs] Well, he offered me work to help him out! I had drawn nine pages of a war story, but I didn't show him my science-fiction illustrations. Later on, I showed him my sf drawings, and he said that if I'd shown him those, he wouldn't have hired me, because they weren't as good as the war story, which was my latest work! [laughs] So anyway, I started working as Wally's assistant, helping him on the first "Iron Maiden" story in the first issue of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. That was around June or July of 1965."

He joined Marvel Comics in 1967. working primarily as an inker but also penciling several stories for Doctor Strange and other titles. Adkins additionally worked for a variety of comics publishers, including Charlton Comics, DC Comics (Aquaman, Batman), Dell Comics/Western Publishing, Eclipse Comics, Harvey Comics, Marvel, and Pacific Comics.

In addition to penciling and inking, Adkins also did cover paintings, including for Amazing Stories, Eerie (issue 12) and Famous Monsters of Filmland (issues 42, 44). His magazine illustrations were published in Argosy (with Wood), Amazing Stories, Fantastic, Galaxy Science Fiction, Infinity, Monster Parade, Science-Fiction Adventures, Spectrum, Worlds of If and other magazines.

In the 2000s, he illustrated Parker Brothers products, and his artwork for Xero was reprinted in the hardback The Best of Xero. Dan died on May 3, 2013 at the age of 76.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Girls' Romances #151

Girls' Romances #151 (On Sale: July 14, 1970) has a cover some say is penciled by Don Heck and everyone can see is butchered by the inks of Vinny Colletta.

We begin with "Busybody -- Empty Arms!" inked to death by Vinny Colletta. Audrey's boyfriend Paul gets impatient with her when she constantly drops everything to help her family and friends, who are starting to take advantage of her.

Next is "Tame a Wild Heart" with pencils by John Rosenberger. Michele is uncertain about her future with her wealthy boyfriend Greg.

That is followed by "Hip Hints to Help Yourself" a one-pager by Liz Berube.

We end with "Unloved and Unwanted!" drawn by Murphy Anderson. Helene has always stepped aside and let her adopted sister Brenda have her way, and nearly does it again when she meets a guy that Brenda also likes.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Young Love #82

Young Love #82 (On Sale: July 9, 1970) has a cover inked by Dick Giordano.

We begin with a table of contents page entitled, "You're Young and You're In Love" drawn by Gray Morrow. The first story is "He's the One I Want" drawn in a completely forgettable manner by Winslow Mortimer and Vinny Colletta.

That is followed by "Happy Ending" with art by Jay Scott Pike and Vinny Colletta. Art-wise, this story is miles ahead of the previous one, as Pike does some nice pencils that Vinny was unable to completely destroy

We end with "Please, Please... Make Him Forget Her" drawn by the great Gray Morrow. this is the class act of the book and should have been highlighted rather than forced to sit in the back of the book. Gray Morrow, sexy women, what more do you possibly need?

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Our Fighting Forces #127

Our Fighting Forces #127 (On Sale: July 9, 1970) has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with the Losers in "Angels Over Hell's Corner" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

The back-up story is the U.S.S. Stevens in "Dragonfly" written and drawn by Sam Glanzman.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

House of Mystery #188

House of Mystery #188 (On Sale: July 9, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams. 

This issue is one of the first American comics to feature the amazing pencil and ink artwork of Tony DeZuniga in "Dark City of Doom," written by Gerry Conway. The Mayans vanished because one of their number fell in love with a girl from a neighboring tribe who was taken by the priests to be sacrificed. In his rage he cursed his home city with vanishing doom.

 Next is a Cain's Gargoyles one-pager written and drawn by Sergio Aragones, a Page 13 one-pager by Joe Orlando and Sergio Aragones and a Cain's Game Room one-pager by John Albano. 

In a few years John Albano and Tony DeZuniga would team up to create western anti-hero Jonah Hex. 

This issue ends with "House of Madness" drawn by Bernie Wrightson. This story was reprinted in Masterworks Series of Great Comic Book Artists #3. The entire issue was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB . 

 Edited by Joe Orlando.

Binky's Buddies #11

Binky's Buddies #11 (On Sale: July 9, 1970) has a cover by Henry Scarpelli.

We begin with Binky in "The Unbelievers" by Henry Boltinoff, Winslow Mortimer and Henry Scarpelli. This one was reprinted in Best of DC #70. Next is Binky in "Tennis the Menace" which was reprinted in Best of DC #28. We end with Binky's Buddies in "The Fashion Show."

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Wonder Woman #190

Wonder Woman #190 (On Sale: July 7, 1970) has a cover Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano.

Mike Sekowsky wrote and drew and Dick Giordano inked "Detour" our book-length Wonder Woman story. Back from China and a little bit down, I-Ching suggests that Diana visit her mother on Paradise Island, but when Amazon messenger Leda attempts to bring Diana through the dimensional stream they take and unexpected detour and end up int he dark fending off unseen creatures. When a green moon appears the creatures scamper and Diana and Leda find themselves in an alien landscape.

When finally the sun rises a strange flying ship appears and armed men attempt to capture Diana and Leda. Diana holds them at bay while Leda escapes through the dimensions to Paradise Island to bring reinforcements. Eventually the men overpower Diana and she and a barbarian man are taken to the city of Calendar where they are brought before the queen.

They learn that they were captured to fight in the arena for sport, but the queen dismisses Diana as "just a girl." Diana says she sees no reason to wait for the arena to fight and using her shackles as a weapon sets upon her captors, the barbarian man at her side. Diana makes it to the queen but is overpowered and knocked unconscious.

She awakes in a cell with Rancor the barbarian and they manage to escape. They are chased through the castle but end up in the arena, realizing they were allowed to escape and were pointed toward their death. In the arena they face a giant monster called a gnarth, but Diana has a plan for killing it. The plan works and then they leap out of the arena and once again are upon the queen and her men. As reinforcements arrive they are chased once again through the castle and up to the top of a tower. From there they see an army amassed at the gates of Calendar.

Rancor says it is the army of his father, King Zangor and that he was captured when he was scouting ahead of the army. They are there to end the rule of the evil queen. As the queen's men approach, Diana and Rancor leap from the tower into the moat. This one is continued.

Reprinted in Diana Prince:Wonder Woman Vol. 3 TPB.

Edited by Mike Sekowsky.

Superboy #168

Superboy #168 (On Sale: July 7, 1970) has another of my favorite Neal Adams' covers. Just beautiful. 

 We begin with our cover-story, "Leave Us... or We Perish" by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Murphy Anderson. The Nazis hold a secret meeting to discuss Superboy, who is an obstacle to their success. They send saboteurs to Smallville. The saboteurs threaten to destroy the town if Superboy doesn't leave Earth. He reluctantly meets their demands after the townspeople turn against him. Pa Kent then discovers the Nazis planting explosives in the town's sewer system. He fails to stop them and is shot.

From space, Superboy sees Jonathan's body and returns to Earth. He stops the Nazis and floods the sewer system to disable the bombs. After the town is safe, he returns home where the real Jonathan Kent is. The man that was shot was really a Jonathan Kent robot created by Superboy himself.

The back-up Superboy story must have been in inventory for a few years. "The Negative Boy of Steel" is by Arnold Drake who was fired in 1968, Al Plastino who was also fired in 1968 and Mike Esposito. Except for a Superman's Wedding Album pin-up in 1996, this is Al Plastino's last work for DC. Superboy battles an energy dragon in space. When Superboy collides with the creature it causes a massive explosion which temporarily knocks Superboy unconscious. When he recovers and returns to Earth, he finds that he has been replaced by a negative version of himself. His parents and the townspeople accept the new Superboy and reject the original. After suffering through the pain of being replaced, Superboy collides with his counterpart resulting in another explosion. His parents then explain that the negative Superboy was created from his body, and their rejection was only a hoax.

Al Plastino's earliest comic work was as an assitant to Bill Everett working on Sub-Mariner for Timely Comics and his first credited work was the cover of Novelty Press' Blue Bolt Comics #9 in 1943. In 1948 Plastino showed samples of his work to editors at DC and began a 20-year stint on the Superman family of books. 

At first he was required to mimic Wayne Boring's style but as time went on he was allowed to draw like Al Plastino. He worked on Superman, Superboy, and Lois Lane. With Otto Binder he co-created Supergirl and The Legion of Super-Heroes. 

 Plastino also drew the Superman newspaper strip in the late 60s and the Batman strip from 1966-1972. When DC ousted him from their books in 1968 Al Plastino also took over the Ferd'nand newspaper strip which he drew until he retired in 1989. In 1983 he drew the Sunday episodes of Nancy after Ernie Bushmiller died and he also drew a year's worth of Peanuts strips in the early 1980s to be used if Charles Schulz became ill. I don't think those will ever see the light of day, but it does make for an interesting trivia question, "Who besides Charles Schulz drew an entire year's worth of Peanuts strips?" 

 Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Super DC Giant S-14

Super DC Giant S-14 (On Sale: July 7, 1970) has a cover by Joe Kubert and features "Top Guns of the West."

We begin the reprint-fest with Johnny Thunder in "Target -- Johnny Thunder" by Robert Kanigher and Gil Kane and reprinted from All-Star Western #107.

Next is Nighthawk in "Black Sar Gang" by Gardner Fox and Ruben Moreira and reprinted from Western Comics #43.

That is followed by Matt Savage Trail Boss in "The Gun-Trap on Signal Hill" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane and Joe Giella and reprinted from Western Comics #84.

Next we have the Wyoming Kid in "The Million Dollar Coin" by Gardner Fox and Bruno Premiani and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #62.

We have another Johnny Thunder tale, "Trap of the Sheriff's Hat" by Bob Haney and Gil Kane and reprinted from All-Star Western #99.

We end with the Trigger Twins in "The Surprise Sheriff of Rocky City" by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from All-Star Western #104.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Secret Hearts #146

Secret Hearts #146 (On Sale: July 7, 1970) has a cover inked by Dick Giordano.

This issue has two longer than normal stories. We begin with "A Kiss to Light the Darkness" inked by Vinny Colletta and we end with our cover-story, "Wasting My Love on You." Not much else to say about this one.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Tomahawk #130

Tomahawk #130 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams.

Well, the great run on Neal Adams' covers and the superior artwork by Frank Thorne could not quite save Tomahawk. This is the last issue to go by that name, at least on the cover, as next issue is known as Hawk, Son of Tomahawk as Joe Kubert takes over the editorial reigns from Murray Boltinoff. We begin this last true Tomahawk issue with "Deathwatch at Desolation Valley" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne.

The back-up Tomahawk story is "A Bullet for My Brother" by George Kashdan and Frank Thorne.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #104

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #104 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson featuring Lois Lane's Greatest Scoops.

We begin with "The Super-Prisoner of Amazon Island" by Otto Binder, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Action Comics #235. Lois and other members of her Super Sorority are shipwrecked on a small island. Superman comes to rescue them, but he has violated the laws of the native Amazons living there. He is declared a slave and his services are bid upon.

The queen, Elsha, wishes to make Superman her husband. When she loses in the auction, she abolishes the law and creates a new one. Superman must now perform a task for each woman, if he cannot he must marry them.

Superman agrees to the procedure in hopes of finding a cure for Kryptonite which he believes is on the island. Each woman takes her turn, but Superman completes each task. The final task is the queen’s. He destroys her crown to make her a commoner which was what she asked him to do. The Man of Steel is set free, but he realizes too late that the crown was the cure he sought. He and the sorority return home, leaving the Amazons behind.

Next is "The Monkey's Paw" drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #42. Lois receives a box of strange curios from a recently deceased explorer. Inside is a monkey’s paw which legend claims will grant three wishes. Lois imagines possible wishes for herself, but she uses one to save an airplane and another to save Superman from Kryptonite. When she tells Lucy Lane and Jimmy Olsen about her wishes, they reveal that the wishes were not responsible for the rescues. Lois uses her final wish to give Clark Kent super powers. He fakes an illness, so Lois believes the wishes didn’t work. As a result, she throws the monkey’s paw away.

That is followed by "The Town of Supermen" by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein and reprinted from Superman #153. Eight prisoners of the Phantom Zone escape and move to a ghost town, Drywood Gulch. They bring Lois to town and tell her that they are Kryptonian astronauts. Later, Lois returns with Jimmy and Perry to show them the town of Supermen, but the men pretend to be normal men. Finally, Lois convinces Jimmy of the truth and he summons Superman. The Man of Steel out duels the criminals and returns them to the Phantom Zone.

Next is "Lois Lane's Great Houdini Trick" by Otto Binder and Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #58. Lois receives a request to expose a phony spirit medium. When she visits the swamis parlor, she discovers that the medium is Voodoo Vickers, a notorious gangster wanted for murder. Lois attends a séance in disguise and uses the swami's own tricks to force Vickers into revealing the location of the murder victim. Superman then apprehends the swami.

That brings us to "The Reversed Super-Powers" by Jerry Siegel and Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Action Comics #274. During an experiment to find an antidote for Kryptonite, Superman’s powers are transferred to Lois Lane. Without powers, Superman proposes to Lois, but she decides to think about it first. When she discovers that she has gained powers, she decides not to marry Superman for fear that her enemies would harm him. Superman then passes out. Another Superman arrives through the window and explains that it was only a Superman robot. The robot wanted to see if Lois loved Superman only because of his powers. The real Superman apologizes for his robot’s interference and returns it to the Fortress. Lois’s powers wear off restoring her to normal.

We end with "The Girl Who Destroyed Atlantis" drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #42. While touring Atlantis with Lori Lemaris, Lois Lane is transported into the past by a time-travel belt. She arrives in ancient Atlantis and soon meets Roh-Tul, a dictator who resembles Luthor. Roh-Tul convinces Lois that he is benevolent and that his for Klar-Kan is evil. However, Lois soon learns that Roh-Tul is the tyrant and spurns his affections. Roh-Tul then detonates a bomb. Lois is sent back to the present believing she was responsible for the sinking of Atlantis. Lori explains that the bomb was not the cause of Atlantis’ demise, but another later explosion caused the city to sink

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Super DC Giant S-13

Super DC Giant S-13 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a Binky cover by Henry Scarpelli.

We have a flurry of uncredited Binky tales in this one. They are: "A Person Could Starve," (It's a good thing you can work...) , (Thanks for taking my books...), Benny in (Hello, Amy! This is Benny...), Binky in (Oh, Binky, would you do me a favor...), Buzzy in "A Good Listener," and then Binky in (I like these scales...) and (I've got to go now, Binky...) .

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Our Army at War #223

Our Army at War #223 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

In "On Time" Russ Heath illustrates an 11-page Sgt Rock story written by Joe Kubert. In it Sgt. Rock and Easy Company capture a small town in France which was occupied by the Nazis. They find a warehouse full of food provisions stored by the enemy. When the Germans return, Rock and his men defend the warehouse. The fact that the enemy wants the warehouse intact serves to protect Easy Company from assault.

A new recruit named Turtle joins Easy Company in the midst of battle. He informs Rock that reinforcements will arrive soon, but the sergeant doesn't count on them making it in time. During one enemy attack, Turtle disables an German tank. The crew is taken prisoner. The captured soldiers then inform Sgt. Rock that a hidden weapons cache is under the warehouse. Rock and Easy Company then use the weapons to turn back the enemy attack and defend themselves until the reinforcements arrive.

Next is "Pvt. Buck's Army" and we end with a U.S.S. Stevens tale, "The Kunko Warrior" by Sam Glanzman

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Aquaman #53

Aquaman #53 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has another classic cover by Nick Cardy. Good lord they don't get much better than this!

It is 1970 and there is a rumor going around that California is going to have a major earthquake and sink into the Pacific. Kinda hard to believe these days, but this rumor got so much traction that then governor, Ronald Reagan found some flimsy excuse to be out of the state the day it was supposed to happen. Just a funny last minute schedule change his people said, but we all knew. "Is California Sinking?" by the SAG team (Steve Skeates, Jim Aparo and Dick Giordano) taps beautifully into this 1970 paranoia as only Steve Skeates could.


It opens on a mundane scene of a secretary typing away in an office, obvious until the last moment to what is happening around her. From that startling scene we flip the page to one of Jim Aparo's great splash (no pun intended) pages, showing the power of his triple-threat penciling, inking and lettering. IS CALIFORNIA SINKING?


Well, is it? Californian millionaire Elliot Harlanson (gotta love that name!) has just been told that it will and what that means to him is his beautiful home will sink with it. And Elliot is having none of that. But he is being told that he can save his home, and California in the bargain, if he just buys an atomic bomb and blows up Atlantis. Because, you see, it is the rising of Atlantis that will cause the sinking of California and if Atlantis does not rise, well then, California does not sink! Or at least that is the story being peddled by Elliot's visitor, a mysterious "scientist" who we shortly learn is actually an agent of O.G.R.E. (Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement), who can't afford to buy an a-bomb of their own. They plan on seeing that Aquaman is in Atlantis when Elliot's bomb goes off.

It is now two weeks later and on the east coast Elliot and is his ever-present girl-friend meet the "scientists" from O.G.R.E. on a dock, where Elliot's submarine, atomic bomb inside, await. We find out that O.G.R.E. has enlisted the help of Black Manta to keep Aquaman by Atlantis and preoccupied. They have given Manta a gun that scrambles brain waves and Manta uses it to thwart an attack of sea creatures on him orchestrated by Aquaman. As Aquaman leaves Atlantis to confront Manta, the sub leaves the Florida coast heading for Atlantis.

When Manta uses the gun on Aquaman, the Sea King is able to counteract the gun's affects by concentrating on getting Manta. While Aquaman takes care of Black Manta, Aqualad and some Atlantian police take care of Manta's men. When Manta mumbles something about "They said I'd have nothing to worry about," Aquaman wants to know who "they" are and sort of, well, beats the information out of Manta. When Manta confesses that he got the gun from O.G.R.E., Aquaman knows something bigger than Manta and a gun is going on and he begins scouring the area around Atlantis looking for danger.

Meanwhile on the shore the O.G.R.E. "scientists" have a run in with the feds. who take them down only to be told that they are too late to save Atlantis or Aquaman.

Back at Atlantis, Aquaman sees the sub coming in close and sends a giant squid to capture it. Caught in the squid's grasp, Elliot freaks out, "You act like you don't care what happens to my beautiful, spacious home!" and accidentally whacks a lever. The lever that releases the bomb! Learning what he has done a distraught Elliot proclaims, "I'm too rich to die! Do something!" But there is nothing they can do while caught in the squid's grasp.

Aquaman sees the bomb however and races toward it at speeds only the King of the Sea could muster. Alas, he is still to slow and the bomb hit the sea floor!

And bounces harmlessly away. It is a dud! Inside the sub, Elliot is furious! "Wait till I get my hands on the rat who sold me that bomb!" His girl-friend tells him to, "Just cool it!"

In the epilogue a few days later the feds tell Aquaman the O.G.R.E. are being taken care of by them and not to worry. They also tell him that they have let Harlanson go, as he was duped; he actually thought he was saving California from destruction and had no idea that Atlantis was populated. When Aquaman talks about the act a fate that resulted in a dud atomic bomb the feds reveal that they actually took care of that, or rather their agent on the inside did. That is when Elliot's girl-friend, in reality Agent 03, Honey James, shows up.

Aquaman says that he let Manta go, as the revelation that Manta was being duped by O.G.R.E. was more than enough punishment. After they leave the feds and head back for Atlantis, Aqualad wonders what will happen to Atlantis's people should it rise from the ocean depths. Aquaman says not to worry as that would not happen till well past the year 2000, so they have plenty of time to figure it out.

"And so our story ends. Yet, once question remains unanswered..." Shots of the secretary going under water... "Is California Sinking?" Shamefully, shamefully never reprinted.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Detective Comics #402

Detective Comics #402 (On Sale: June 30, 1970) has a great cover by Neal Adams.

The Man-Bat returns in "Man or Bat?" by Frank Robbins, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. The story opens with some thugs pulling a heist at a biochemical lab. what they don't know is that hanging in the rafters above them lurks the tormented Kirk Langstrom, now even more bat than the last time we saw him in the classic Detective #400. He waits in an agitated state for them to crack the safe below so that he can get what he so desperately needs. But just when it seems the hour of his saving is at hand Batman appears to break up the heist. When the Man-Bat appears to join him in thwarting the crime, Batman calls him a friend, but when Man-Bat reveals that he needs something from the safe, something he has brought money to pay for, Batman tries to stop him.

When Batman tries to unmask Kirk he realizes that he is not wearing a mask, but is truly a transformed human. Still he tries to stop the Man-Bat, but is knocked unconscious in the scuffle and Kirk departs with the drug he came looking for.

When he awakens, Batman heads off for the museum when he first met the Man-Bat hoping there to find a clue to his identity. When he gets there he finds Francine Lee, Kirk's fiancée trying to gain entrance. Kirk was supposed to be at an exhibit in Chicago, but he never arrived there and Francine is worried that something may be wrong. Upstairs Kirk has concocted a formula he hopes will reverse his bizarre transformation, but when he is startled by Batman and Francine at his door he drops the serum and flees out the window.

Batman tells Francine that the strange creature who has just fled is her fiancée, Kirk Langstrom, and that when they barged in Batman saw him mouth her name. batman thinks he can recreate the dropped serum in the Batcave and heads off to find Kirk and hopefully a cure for this transformation.

He finds Kirk up on a cliff and when he comes for him Kirk leaps from the cliff in fear, but rather than dying in the fall, huge batwings appear from under his coat and his transformation complete he flies off into the night following the flight of a "brother" bat. He follows the bat to his home, which happens to be, the Batcave. Kirk reaches the inner recesses of the cave just as Batman returns. He is momentarily blinded by the lights as they come one but uses his bat sonar to find an exit. Only, Langstrom's exit is the Batmobile;s entrance and Batman leaps from the car to divert Kirk from hitting it head-on.

He latches on to the Man-Bat, telling him that he is there to help him, to create an antidote, but Kirk takes Batman on a ride to the heights of the Batcave only to drop him from there. Some light fixtures break his fall, but from the floor he sees Langstrom about to fly out the open Batcave entrance. Clicking a remote on his belt Batman closes the door and Kirk is knocked unconscious by the door. Batman then ponders what to do, should he attempt to cure Langstrom, even though his brain may have been permanently damaged by his transformation, or should he leave him alone in his cursed condition? "Merciful heaven--What an impossible decision to make! There can be only one answer...if he must die...let it be as the man he once was!"

Batman gets to work in a tale continued in Detective #407. "Man or Bat?" was reprinted in Batman from the 30s to the 70s HC, Man-Bat #1 and Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC.

The back-up story is Robin in "My Place in the Sun" by Mike Friedrich, Gil Kane and Vince Colletta. The story begins with Robin flying in on the Arrow Jet with Speedy all the way from Teen Titans #28. Dick shows Roy (Speedy) Harper around Hudson University. In the cafeteria a fight breaks out between some "punks" and a group called Project 70 who work with kids from a nearby juvenile detention farm. Dick changes into Robin to stop the fight. Robin goes after the big punk only to find out that it was the little kid Robin was trying to protect who started the fight.

Back in his room Dick is pissed at himself for jumping to conclusions without any evidence. That day Dick hears it all over campus, as Robin becomes the main topic of discussion. Some of the kids are for him, but many think he is just a vigilante and shouldn't be there. When he returns from shopping he finds Roy in his Speedy threads, heading off for a date with Wonder Girl.

After Roy leaves, Dick begins to question his role as Robin, but in the end he decides to keep the name and the costume. "...if I made a mistake once, I'm not gonna make it again! When I go out into that adult world, I want everyone to know that Robin is no longer a boy, but still a wonder!" Not a great story and certainly not great artwork.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Adventure Comics #396

Adventure Comics #396 (On Sale: June 30, 1970) has a Supergirl cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. 

This is the end of an era, or an error, depending on how you feel about Mort Weisinger. This is the last issue of Adventure that Mort will edit as DC shows him the door. Next issue, editor/writer/artist Mike Sekowsky will take over the helm of Supergirl's adventures in Adventure. We begin with "I am a Witch" by Robert Kanigher and Kurt Schaffenberger.  I tried to reread this story this week, but it is just painful and I will save you from the agony of a recap.

We end with our cover-story "The Mystery of the Super-Orphan" by Leo Dorfman, Winslow Mortimer and Jack Abel. Our story begins with Supergirl waking up in the Smallville Orphanage nd finding herself up for adoption. The people think it must be part of a fundraiser, but Supergirl is unsure, her memories scrambled a bit.  When a family shows interest in her, she appears to be not in full control of her powers and almost ruins their car, but we learn that she did it on purpose, not feeling that the couple were the right people to adopt her. The rest of the people are shocked when she flies off, ignoring the orphanage events.

She sees a storm and when she checks for damage she finds a ruined Supergirl statue in a park. As she looks closer, she sees it is a Superboy statute and wonders why they didn't build it for her. She rebuilds the statute in her image. A visit to Smallville Stadium brings her in contact with Krypto, who wonders why Supergirl is in Superboy's old hometown. Not wanting to deal with a crazy woman, Krypto leaves and Supergirl heads for police headquarters where she quickly solves a crime. As she departs the cops say how it reminds them of when Superboy used to help solve crimes in Smallville. 

She feels compelled to visit the Kent farm and and finds her old room and lab and secret compartment with the Supergirl robots. Only, the compartment is filled with Superboy and Clark Kent robots. When the robots notice what day it is, they head out into the night in search of flowers they take to the cemetery to lay on the graves of Johnathan and Martha Kent, her foster parents. She becomes angry and has to be subdued by the robots. Just then Krypto returns with another Supergirl in tow; the real Supergirl. It seems our Supergirl is a robot, accidently programmed with an old defective memory tape of Superboy's.  As this is being explained and she is being reprogrammed, Superman arrives to lay flower's on his foster parent's graves, on this, the anniversary of their deaths.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Action Comics #391

Action Comics #391 (On Sale: June 30, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with our cover-story, the imaginary tale "The Punishment of Superman's Son" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

The back-up is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Ordeal of Element Lad" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Winslow Mortimer and Jack Abel. This story was reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9 HC.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.