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.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #103

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #103 (On Sale: June 25, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with our cover-story "The Devil's Bride" by Robert Kanigher, Irv Novick and Mike Esposito. The back-up story is "The Fantastic Wigs of Mr. Dupre" drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger and reprinted from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #35. Lois Lane attends a performance of Booth Barry, an old actor. Barry invites Lois backstage and relates a story about magical wigs that cause a person wearing them to die in the same manor as the model for the wigs did. Barry then is accidentally shot with a pistol in a manor similar to Alexander Hamilton, whose wig he was wearing.

Lois investigates the story and is led to the shop of Anton Dupre. Lois tests two wigs herself and is nearly killed. The third attempt nearly succeeds as Lois wears a Supergirl wig, however the real Supergirl has replaced Lois. Together they expose Dupre’s plot to eliminate Lois from discovering his underworld activities. The dangerous wigs were merely a hoax, and Dupre turns out to be Booth Barry in disguise.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Heart Throbs #127

Heart Throbs #127 (On Sale: June 25, 1970) has a cover penciled by Jay Scott Pike and inked by Vinny Colletta.

We begin with "Choose Between Us" and move on to our cover-story "Heartbreak for Two" penciled by Jay Scott Pike. We end with "Am I Too Young for Love?" inked by Bernard Sachs.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Girls' Love Stories #153

Girls' Love Stories #153 (On Sale: June 25, 1970) has a cover inked by Dick Giordano.

We begin with "For Love or Money," which according to Wikipedia, contains the first American comic work of Tony DeZuniga. In this case it is Tony's inking that is introduced over the pencils of Ric Estrada. We move on to "The Engagement Ring" pencilled by Don Heck. Next is "The Cheat" inked by Vinny Colletta and we end with "The 3 Faces of Love."

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Brave and the Bold #91

Brave and the Bold #91 (On Sale: June 23, 1970) has a wonderful Batman/Black Canary cover by Nick Cardy. 

"A Cold Corpse for the Collector" featuring Batman and the Black Canary is by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Nick takes over the drawing reigns on B&B this issue, and my god, is this beautiful stuff.  This is my favorite time of Cardy's career. He was simply on fire on this book, his first two issues especially. His Black Canary just drips with sensuality. 

When crime boss Rhymer double-crosses the syndicate, pushing Waxie Till of a Gotham bridge, they hire an unseen assassin known as the Collector to enact its revenge. While fishing the body of of the river, Commissioner Gordon and Batman find a stowaway on the police tug: private eye Larry Lance. If that name sounds familiar it is because the Earth-2 Larry Lance was married to Black Canary (Diana Lance) and his death prompted Diana to move from Earth-2 to Earth-1. Larry says he was watching Waxie for a client he will not name.

Batman and Larry have different opinions on who the Collector might be and decide to team up to track him down. When Larry returns to his office he finds a client waiting for him, Diana under an assumed name asking Larry to find her missing husband. It is really a ploy to see if this world's Larry will love her too. 

Later, the Collector murders Rhymer's top lieutenant Turk O'Hare. Batman tries to stop him, but fails, running instead into Larry who was also after the Collector. They find a discarded disguise near by and clues that po9int to Larry being correct on the ID of the Collector. Larry then introduces Batman to the reason he was late getting to the murder: Diana, who Batman recognizes as Black Canary.

When Larry leaves to meet another client, Diana and Batman talk, Batman warning her that this earth's Larry Lance is a harder man than the one she married. After Diana leaves Batman is almost killed by a bomb but is saved by the sonic whammy of Black Canary.

The next day Batman receives a call at Gordon's office saying that Danton, the man he suspects is the Collector, will be at  the museum's sculpture garden to make a "collection." Batman arrives to the closed museum and is suddenly attacked. As he closes in on the gunman, he is shot by Larry. As they leave Batman begins to wonder if Larry's mysterious client might be the Collector.

When Danton turns up dead and for a while, Batman realizes that all the clues they found must have been planted, perhaps by Larry. When Batman goes to warn Diana, she accuses him of jealousy and as he leaves, Larry enter the room having heard them talking and knowing that she is Black Canary. Larry asks her to team up wit him to catch the Collector.

Later the Collector meets with the syndicate and promises to "collect" the death of Batman. A few hours later Batman gets another call from Larry saying the Collector will be at the track at dawn. When Batman gets to the track, he is saved from getting trampled by Black Canary. When Larry exposes himself he is aiming for Batman. All pretenses are gone; Larry is the Collector.

When Canary intervenes Larry tells her to move or die with Batman. Batman shoves her out of the way as Larry shoots. Larry then escapes on a horse and Batman and Canary follow on her cycle. They catch up to Larry and Batman tacks him into a creek. Larry has a knife, but when the fight is over, Larry is dead, killed by his own knife.

With Larry dead, Diana wonders if she will ever find a real life on this earth. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold Batman Team-Ups Vol. 2 TPB, Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC and Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 TPB. 

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

From Beyond the Unknown #6

From Beyond the Unknown #6 (On Sale: June 23, 1970) has a cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with our cover-story "The Amazing Human Race" by John Broome, Sid Greene and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #85. Next is "The Runaway Space-Train" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Mystery In Space #50. We end with "The Magic Lamp from Space" by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery In Space #62.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Star Spangled War Stories #152

Star Spangled War Stories #152 (On Sale: June 23, 1970) has an Unknown Soldier cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with the second adventure of the Unknow Solider, "Instant Glory," written and drawn by Joe Kubert. Mid-December, 1944, the Allied armies have attempted to break the Siegfried Line. A group of five American G.I.'s (including the Unknown Soldier) are exploring an abandoned town until they are captured by the SS. 

The Nazis plan to hang the soldiers in the town's square. But everyone is interrupted by the appearance of a escaped internee from a concentration camp, which he claims was left abandoned after news of the Allies advancement, and want to find his family in the town. The Nazi commander has a new idea in which he makes the ex-internee the executioner for the G.I.'s and telling him that it is them that have brought ruin to his hometown. But the ex-internee strikes down the Nazi commander with a large piece of wood. This stunned the Nazis and allowing the Americans to seize the opportunity to attack their handlers.

After the fighting is over, only the Unknown Soldier and two other G.I.'s are left alive. The ex-internee is shot. The survivors hide inside an abandoned café as two German tanks make their away in the streets. Acting on the advice of the ex-internee, the G.I.'s make use of the cafe's abundance of wines and liquor as Molotov cocktails to setting the tanks on fire. The first contingent of the Allies soon arrive into the town. But the ex-internee had died from his wounds. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents the Unknown Soldier Vol. 1 TPB.

We end with Enemy Ace in "Rain Above -- Mud Below" drawn by Russ Heath. Hans Von Hammer is ordered to make a recon mission in stormy weather. He takes two pilots with him after giving them special advice regarding the weather conditions. One of the pilots, Braun, flies too low and is shot down by anti-aircraft fire. The other pilot, Kalter, disobeys orders and engages the enemy by strafing the troops who shot down Braun. He survives the strafing run, but when he regains altitude, he flies too close to a thundercloud. His plane is destroyed by lightning.

Despondent by the loss of his men, the Enemy Ace returns home to report the enemy troop positions and numbers. His commanding officer is pleased and is unconcerned with the loss of two of his pilots. This story has been reprinted in Enemy Ace Archives Vol. 2 HC and Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Witching Hour #10

Witching Hour #10 (On Sale: June 18, 1970) has a nice cover by Neal Adams. Looking back on all these old cover by Adams, I am amazed at how much of the interior story art he is able to capture in his work, in this instance, how Alex Tothian the woman in the doorway appears. Masterful work.

This issue is a festival of fine artwork, featuring two of my favorite artists of the period, with  vastly different styles.

We begin with a three witch framing sequence drawn by Alex Toth and Bill Draut. Morded and Mildred are upset with the younger Cynthia as some of their things have been ruined and it is almost the Witching Hour. They find Cynthia and before they can finish complaining, the clock strikes midnight and Cynthia starts telling a tale.

Our first story is a modern take entitled "A Warp in Time... Loses Everything" and contains some stunning artwork by Gray Morrow in only his second story for DC. Psychiatrist Stanley Owen is being herded out of the office of psychiatrist Bernard Angst and placed into a padded cell after he was found on the streets screaming about being trapped in a time warp.  

As he leaves his office later in the day, Angst is still chuckling about poor Stanley when suddenly he slips into a time warp! In it he sees the Midnight Flyer, a train that disappeared 60 years ago, the Lost Legion of French fighters, the Flying Dutchman, his college roommate who fell from a town and whos body was never found and his own missing daughter. He finds an old man and lashes out at him with a staff he was carrying. 

He ends up on the street with the staff and is taken by police to yet another psychiatrist and is also locked up in a padded cell. As the Doctor leaves his office for the night he picks up the staff and opens the door to a time warp! 

The framing sequence continues with Morded and Mildred deciding to tell a tale together.

But first we have a one-page text story, "I'll See You in my Dreams..."

Then we have "Hold Softly, Hand of Death" by Gerry Conway and Alex Toth. Toth's work on this story is amazing. We find Pierre Lebas in Marseilles, a lonely man who spends his days alone, staring out to sea and lost in memories of his youth. He was a dashing young man, irresistible to the ladies, but cruel and heartless. One night, while walking on the beach, he sees a beautiful woman at the top of a cliff, but she vanishes before he can encounter her.

Days later after he brags bout how he destroyed a man who dared to keep a beautiful woman away from him, when suddenly the lights go out and the glass doors swing open to reveal a woman, the woman Pierre had seen on the cliff many nights before. When the woman take her up to a room to compose herself, Pierre follows and confronts the woman, who has haunted him since the night on the beach. He tells her he is infatuated by her, but she denies being the woman he saw on the cliff.

HE leaves her and dances with other woman at the party, but he can see her silhouette in the window, looking sown on him. He dumps the woman he is dancing with and the hostess of the party asks if anything is wrong. When he asks why the young woman who came in from the rain is not joining them, the hostess remarks how charming and clever he is to invent a woman coining in from the rain. He looks up and the window is empty.

In the following days, Pierre sees the woman everywhere, but always is unable to catch up to her. Then, one foggy night he sees her up on the sea cliff and confronts her. She tells him that she is not for him, that she does not belong to him. He tells her that he loves her and moves to take her, only to see her fall back over the cliff. Her body never found, he has carried her image in his heart ever since, a lonely old man.

One day, confined to a wheelchair, he sits at the top of a sea cliff in Marseilles, staring out to the sea. When he does not show up for dinner that night, the locals go up to the cliff and find his empty chair. His body was never found. Perhaps it is she who came back and perhaps it is true that he claimed a love that knew no end.

In the final framing sequence Cinthia, so upset by the sister's downer story, uses a temporary fountain of youth on them to turn them into children and promises to send over Sugar and Spike to play with them. 

We end with a one-page "Realm of the Mystics" on Yama Raja, the Indian King of the Dead, which is drawn by Jack Sparling.

The entire issue is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Witching Hour Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Swing With Scooter #29

Swing With Scooter #29 (On Sale: June 18, 1970) has a cover by Henry Scarpelli.

We begin with Scooter in "Here Come De Judge" drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Henry Scarpelli. Scooter becomes a popular guy when he is named as the judge for a beauty contest.

Next is Penny and Cookie in "Instant Success" inked by Henry Scarpelli. Scooter tries to do a favor for Cookie with disastrous results.

That is followed by Malibu in "Witch Way to the Ball Game?" drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Henry Scarpelli. Malibu takes his creepy family to a baseball game.

Next is Scooter in "With This Cruise, You Blow a Fuse" by Henry Boltinoff, Doug Crane and Henry Scarpelli.

We end with Malibu in "Cousin Abigail's Jet Broom" drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Henry Scarpelli. Cousin Abigail (a witch) doesn't like flying on her broom.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Superman #229

Superman #229 (On Sale: June 18, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with  "The Ex-Superman" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and Joe Giella. Continuing from the previous issue, Superman, suffering from power-loss, is rocketed to Morgu, the executioner's planet, by the Anti-Superman Gang. 

While there, he evades the planet's executioners and finds his way to a group of people who serve as slaves on this world. The are led by a man named Supro who wears a costume similar to Superman's. Supro attacks Superman, but the Man of Steel wins the fight and becomes the leader. He is given the Supro costume.

When the girl Lirlon comes into the slave camp, Superman tries to protect her. Lord Korpon wants to execute her and has guards drag her away. Superman follows, but he believes he was too late to prevent her death. Instead he meets Supergirl, who was disguised as Lirlon. Supergirl explains that she retrieved Superman's costume from criminals on Earth and found red dust on it which caused Superman's power loss. With the costume cleaned, Superman slowly regains his powers and returns to Earth.

Superman also learns that the slaves came from Earth. He had gone back in time to save the people from a sinking continent. They fled into space and were eventually enslaved. Over the centuries, their honoring of Superman turned into Supro, their hero.

We end with "Clark Kent, Assassin" by Leo Dorfman and Wayne Boring. When Perry White receives an award honoring him for 25 years of service to the Daily Planet, his friends and colleagues each sign the plaque. A short time later, Clark Kent goes berserk and tries to kill Perry. As Superman he has no memory of his actions, but each time he becomes Clark, he tries to kill Perry again. 

Eventually Superman discovers that a Kryptonian artifact has made him sleepwalk. Clark's real target was not Perry himself, but the signed plaque hanging on the wall. Clark subconsciously realized that his signature and Superman's were close together on the plaque, and the handwriting was the same. To protect his secret, Clark destroyed the plaque. He then tries to explain his actions as having been hypnotized by a criminal. I'm not going to say Dorfman was out of ideas, but two stories in a row where some red kryptonite-like substance was the culprit? Really?

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Falling in Love #117

Falling in Love #117 (On Sale: June 18, 1970) has a nice cover by Werner Roth and Vinny Colletta. 

We begin with our cover story, "Never a Bride to Be" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vinny Colletta.

Next is "Bachelor Girl" with inks by Bernard Sachs.

That is followed by "Tips for Vacation-Time Tourists" a two-page text story with artwork by Arthur Peddy and Vinny Colletta

We end with "Cheating on Me" also drawn by Artie Saaf and Vinny Colletta.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff

Young Romance #167

Young Romance #167 (On Sale: June 16, 1970) has a pretty bland cover by Bill Draut and Vinny Colletta.

We begin with "A Million Laughs in Every Kiss" by Jack Miller and Tony DeZuñiga. This is actually Tony's work, it is his first published work at DC, or any American comic book company (Wikipedia says his first DC work was in Girl's Love Stories #153, out later this month). Since I did not collect romance comics, this one passed me right by and I did not hear of Tony till a story appeared in next month's House of Mystery. Given the unknown nature of this credit, I will save discussing Tony for another time. 

Next we have "I Can Dream, Can't I?" by Jack Miller, Werner Roth and Vinny Colletta.

We end with "The Stolen Face of Love! Part One" by Robert Kanigher, Winslow Mortimer and Vince Colletta. Given the title, we assume it continues next issue.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Debbi's Dates #9

Debbi's Dates #9 (On Sale: June 16, 1970) has a cover by Henry Scarpelli and Stan Goldberg.

As usual with this title, I have no information regarding creators or plots. We begin with Debbi's Dates in "The Substitute."

That is followed by Debbi's Dates in  "Losers, Weepers," which was reprinted in Date With Debbi #17 a year later.

We end with two stories featuring Benedict: "The Reject" and "Free Samples Anyone?"

Edited by Dick Giordano.

All-Star Western #1

All-Star Western #1 (On Sale: June 16, 1970) has a Pow-Wow Smith cover by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella.

After a nine year hiatus, All-Star Western returns. It is an inauspicious start, reprinted two Pow-Wow Smith reprints, but DC house ads were already showing the Neal Adams cover for the next issue and it looked all new, so, hey, I bought this issue. That, plus the book was edited by Dick Giordano and I loved his books. Over the next 11 issues (before a title change to Weird Western Tales) this title would introduce us to two of my favorite DC western heroes of all time: El Diablo and Jonah Hex. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

In his original appearances, Pow-Wow Smith's adventures took place in the present day of the 1940s and '50s and featured technology such as cars and telephones. Starting with Western Comics #44, his stories were retconned to be set in the old west after the Civil War.

Native American Ohiyesa Smith left his home of Red Deer Valley to learn more about the white man's world. His tracking and expert gun skills won him employment as a deputy sheriff, and eventually the job of sheriff of Elkhorn. Ohiyesa's deputy was Hank Brown. Once sheriff, Pow Wow spent most of his time in town of Elkhorn, only rarely returning to Red Deer Valley. He preferred to be addressed by his given name, Ohiyesa, but the white citizenry took to calling him "Pow Wow" so stubbornly that he eventually gave up and accepted the nickname among them.

Ohiyesa later married to his fellow Sioux tribemate Fleetfoot and his peace-keeping exploits earned him honorary U.S. citizenship. Despite his sterling record in law enforcement, Ohiyesa is still racially shunned by white society. Rather than react to this, Ohiyesa let his deeds speak for him. 

We begin with "Gun-Duel at Copper Creek" by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Western Comics #80. Elkhorn town orphan, Duane Jeffrey comes across Pow Wow Smith in a gunfight with two outlaws and by distracting the two for a moment assists Pow Wow in their capture. Duane decides that he wants to become a lawman like Pow Wow and is taken under the lawman's wings for training. One day, Duane disappears and word comes back to tow that he has taken the job of Sheriff in the town of Copper Creek and has been shot on his first day.

Pow Wow heads to Copper Creek and Duane retell show on his first day a man named Fuller pulled into town and complained of being held up by an outlaw, a man Fuller recognized as one of the men who hang out at the local saloon. Duane stood off against the gunman named Davis in the middle of town, but despite being a fast shot, Duane was hit and wounded.

Pow Wow lets the word get around town that he is after Davis and soon they meet in the streets for a shoot out. As Davis goes for his gun, Pow Wow notices that Davis is looking to the side, not at him, so he hits the dirt in a roll and come out shooting Davis, but continues to roll and shoots Davis's accomplice, Fuller, who was never actually held up, but rather was part of a plan to rid the town of its new sheriff. Convincing Duane that he needs to learn more before going out on his own, he returns to Elkhorn to become Pow Wow's deputy. 

This was followed by a one-page text story by Gerry Conway, entitled "Dust Under the Whispering Sun..."

We then have our cover-story, "The Return of the Fadeaway Outlaw" also by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Western Comics #73. When Pow Wow Smith once again captures Tony Morley, the Fadeaway Bandit, Morley boasts that he will escape prison and come back to redeem his reputation and tarnish Pow Wow's. Morley escapes prison after only three days and does head back to Elkhorn boasting that he will commit three crimes in three days and Pow Wow will not be able to stop him.

He first robs the assayer's office and manages to slip away using a hidden tunnel in a dry well.  He next robs a bank and escapes using a hidden panel in a wall. When he robs the Marshall Mines, Pow Wow is able to trick him out of seclusion by hiding under a blanket covered in pitch and grass.  When Pow Wow sends him back to prison, his hands are encased in heavy leather mittens so that he cannot try to escape again.

Before we get to the very end, I have to mention what a revelation Infantino's artwork was here. It is light and sketchy and dynamic and has a richness and a depth that is missing when another artist, like Anderson or Giella or Barry tries to smooth out the rough edges. Wonderful stull indeed.

We end with a full page ad for the next issue, introducing us to the new strips Outlaw and El Diablo and the first of a series of amazing western covers by Neal Adams.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

World's Finest Comics #195

World's Finest Comics #195 (On Sale: June 11, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with Superman and Batman in "Dig Now, Die Later" by Bob Haney, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Continuing from last issue, Superman and Batman have gone undercover to gather evidence against the mob. However, a head injury suffered by Batman causes him to believe that he really is mob leader Karl Lukaz. He exposes Superman's undercover identity to the gang and uses Kryptonite to weaken his friend. To escape the situation, Superman feigns memory loss of his own. Batman, as Lukaz, then plans to use Superman against his own friends Jimmy Olsen and Robin. 

Superman lures Robin and Jimmy to a junkyard and forces them to dig their own graves. Robin makes an appeal for mercy to Batman which snaps his mind back to normal. This appears to end the threat, but the real Lukaz suddenly appears. Superman convinces him that he is still working for the criminals by killing Robin and Jimmy with his heat vision. He then hands over evidence of their deaths to Lukaz.

Superman then grabs Batman and carries him away. Then the heroes wait. Lukaz takes the evidence to his secret vault. Superman planted transmitters which lead him there. The vault contains the evidence needed to convict Lukaz and his associates. Lukaz tries to stop the heroes, but Robin and Jimmy provide a timely assist to catch the crooks. Superman didn't kill them. He swapped them out for wax figures to fool Lukaz. With the evidence in hand and the crooks apprehended, Superman and Batman have successfully shut down the mob operation. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB and Showcase Presents: World's Finest Vol. 4 TPB.

The back-up features Congo Bill in "The Riddle of the Super-Zoo" by Jack Miller and Howard Sherman, reprinted from Action Comics #247. This was my first exposure to Congo Bill or Howard Sherman. Congo Bill was a long-running DC adventure strip, reminiscent of Alex Raymond's Jungle Jim newspaper strip. Debuting in More Fun Comics #56, the strip was a moderate success and ran there until issue #67, afterwards moving to Action Comics with issue #37. Action Comics #191 added Janu the Jungle Boy, a young boy brought up in the jungle after his father had been killed by a tiger. In 1954, DC published seven issues of Congo Bill. Congo Bill encountered the legendary golden gorilla in Action Comics #224 and was transformed into Congorilla and the title of the strip was likewise changed. The Congorilla series ran in Action Comics and Adventure Comics from 1959 to 1961.

Howard Sherman began his career doing pulp illustrations and cover paintings and moved to DC Comics in 1940, co-crating Dr. Fate with Gardner Fox. He would stay on Dr. Fate for the next three years. He also drew Slam Brady for nine years (1940-1949), the Wyoming Kid (1949 to 1960) and Congo Bill (1956-1961). He pulled stints on the Justice Society of America, Vigilante, Kit Carson, Batman, Tomahawk and many others before leaving comics in 1961 to enter the advertising field.

This story revolves around "Jungle Joe" scamming some rich Americans on safari into paying exorbitant fees to purchase supposedly smart animals. The animal acts are all frauds and when the buyers find out, Congo Bill and Janu scam Joe back with a meteor that supposedly makes animals smart in order to get the people's money back. 

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Showcase #92

Showcase #92 (On Sale: June 11, 1970) has a Manhunter 2070 cover by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano.

The book-length Manhunter 2070 story, "D.O.A." is written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Frank Giacoia (a huge improvement over the initial Manhunter 2070 inker Vinnie Colletta). While entertaining two women in the resort city of Janus, Starker sees a wanted poster offering a reward of 100,000 credits for his death and posted by the Brotherhood of Space. He decides to leave immediately, as to not endanger his companions. As they head back to Starker's place he tells the story of why the Brotherhood hates him so much.

He recounts how as a teen he used to mine asteroids with his father and how one day his father finally struck it rich, finding an asteroid rich in Didanium, only to have a band of pirates show up and jump his claim, killing his father. They were going to kill Starker too, but Slops, the cook asked for them to spare Starker so that he could have a galley helper. Starker's life became one of brutal beating at the hands of the pirates as the years slowly went by. He watched them loot and kill and he watched them train during their off times and his hatred for them grew.

He learned the ship from top to bottom an set up his own training area in a remote storage room. He practices his fighting skill, learning from the pirates. In front of them he cowered, but in his storage room he became an expert with a knife, built a weight set and honed his body. Shortly after turning 18, Starker had had enough of Slops and attacked him. He threw his unconscious body at the pirates and declared, "This is your new waiter and dish washer and I'm the new cook. Anyone object?" Given how bad a cook Slops was, the pirates had no issues with the change in status.

He remained their cook for two years, before he made his move against them. He disables all of the life boats on board and then one by one, hunted down the five men who killed his father. He dawned a space suit and flooded the ship with

paralyzo-gas, knocking out all bet a few of the leaders, who he then hunted down one by one. Two days later he turned the pirates over to the authorities, along with the dead bodies of those who had killed his father.  As a result, he became the richest bounty hunter in the system and an enemy of the Brotherhood of Space.

This is followed by a one-page "Wonders of Space" text feature and a full-page ad for the next issue of Manhunter 2070.

Edited by Mike Sekowsky.

Justice League of America #82

Justice League of America #82 (On Sale: June 11, 1970) has a JLA/JSA cover by Neal Adams.

This year's JLA/JSA crossover is "Peril of the Paired Planets" by Denny O'Neil, Dick Dillin and Joe Giella.  When Superman crashes to the earth unconscious, the JLA is called. They pick up his body and bring him to JLA headquarters , but as the analyze his body, Batman suddenly falls unconscious as well. 

The Justice League of America searches for an answer, not knowing that their problems are coming from Earth-Two, home of the Justice Society of America. Things began when the Red Tornado is captured by alien creatures led by a being known as Creator² who hopes to merge both Earth-One and Earth-Two together into one planet. They capture Red Tornado (a being with origins in both universes) to use as an anchor to cause the vibrational barrier between both universes to crumble. Knowing the only opposition to their goal would be the Justice Society of America they send out troops to incapacitate the heroes, their actions would also cause each victims Earth-One counterpart in the Justice League also incapable of resisting this plot. They initially run into Superman and Dr. Mid-Nite who are on their way to a JSA meeting and because they are incapacitated, Earth-One's Superman and Batman (their dimensional counterparts) to be incapacitated as well.

The aliens then run into the Earth-Two Flash who tries to stop them as well, but despite his super-speed he too is knocked out, causing his Earth-One counterpart to become inert as well. Meanwhile, channeling energies through the Red Tornado causes the barriers between universes to slowly decay, and slowly people from Earth-Two begin to materialize on Earth-One before their alternate reality counterparts. The crisis causes all the JSA members to meet up and try to an investigate the weird happenings. While on Earth-One, Green Lantern (who has his powers restored by the Guardians while this crisis is afoot) arrive with a begrudging Green Arrow and Black Canary to figure out what's happening down on Earth.

When the Atom's computations and Green Lantern's physical investigation tell that it's due to a destabilization between Earth-One and Earth-Two, they deduce that someone unique to bother realities may be the source. Unaware that Red Tornado is the source, Black Canary figures that it's due to her crossing over into Earth-One. The Black Canary then begins to believe that in order to save both Earth-One and Earth-Two she must sacrifice her life. This story continues next issue and was reprinted in Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 2 TPB, Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 4 TPB, Justice League of America Archives Vol. 10 HC, Justice Society of America: A Celebration of 75 Years HC and Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #131

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #131 (On Sale: June 9, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson featuring Super-Curios.

We begin with "The Birdboy of Metropolis" by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #26. While aboard the Flying Newsroom helicopter, Jimmy sees Clark Kent flying. When he returns to the Daily Planet, Clark claims to be testing some Thunderbird wings sent to him by an archeologist that allowed him to fly. Jimmy believes Clark's explanation, but then insists on using the wings himself. Superman must then pretend to make the wings work in order to protect his secret identity.

While making the wings work for Jimmy, Superman also tries to discourage Jimmy from using them. Finally he creates artificial lightning. He leads Jimmy to believe the electricity shorted out the wings. Jimmy gives up his attempts to fly, leaving Superman relieved.

Next we have "The Amazing Spectacles of Doctor 'X'"  by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #29.  While searching the lab of criminal Doctor X, police close off the building after Doctor X is killed in a plane crash. Jimmy leaves in disguise, wearing a pair of odd glasses he found in the lab.

Jimmy soon realizes the glasses allow him to see future events related to Superman. Jimmy also sees his own death by drowning. Knowing the future, Jimmy helps Superman avoid several dangers that he has foreseen. Then he tries to avoid his own death. Superman then shows Jimmy that the death Jimmy saw was fake. It was part of a public service film. Jimmy is relieved that he will not die. When he loses the glasses, he doesn't mind.

That is followed by "The Burglar Kit from the Future"  by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein and reprinted from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #66. A burglar from the future tries to rob Jimmy Olsen of his Superman trophies. The Man of Steel stops the thief and returns him to the future, but the burglar’s tool kit is left behind.

Jimmy uses the kit to catch criminals, but one crook, Count Slade, forces Jimmy to work for him. Jimmy double-crosses the crook, allowing Superman to capture Slade when he returns from the future.

Next is "Unwanted Superman Souvenirs" by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #15. Superman witnesses Jimmy discarding several of the souvenirs that he has given him over the years. When he questions him, Jimmy ignores Superman. Superman finally realizes that Jimmy has been put into a hypnotic trance. The discarded souvenirs are part of a message sent by a living gem in Jimmy's collection. After getting the message, Superman returns the gem-brain to space and recovers Jimmy's discarded souvenirs.

"The Most Fantastic Camera in the World" by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #34 is next. When Professor Potter's new invention zaps Jimmy’s camera, it is transformed into a device which causes crystal or metal objects to disappear and reappear inside the camera. Jimmy does not realize the camera has been affected, but objects begin to disappear whenever he takes pictures. Clark’s invulnerable glasses and a valuable diamond are among the items that disappear.

Jimmy later finds the items inside his camera. He learns the glasses are invulnerable and believes they belong to Clark. A thief tries to steal the diamond, but Jimmy stops him with Superman’s help. Jimmy tries to prove Clark is Superman by comparing a fingerprint he found on the glasses to Clark’s. His test fails because Jimmy does not know that one of the fingerprints is his own.

It is followed by "The Animal Master of Metropolis" by  Robert Bernstein, Curt Swan and John Forte, and reprinted from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #45. After Jimmy uses one of his Superman trophies in a parade as a drumstick, he appears to have gained control over animals. Superman explains that the stick is really a magic wand that once belonged to Circe. It gives the user power over animals.

Against Superman’s advice, Jimmy uses the wand to recapture some circus animals and catch some crooks. However, when some gangsters learn of Jimmy’s power, they use him to fix a horse race. Jimmy double-crosses the crooks and has to be rescued by Krypto. Krypto however accidently destroys the wand, ending Jimmy’s reign as an animal master.

We end with "The Cabinet from Krypton" by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger, and reprinted from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #66. Jimmy Olsen unearths a cabinet from Krypton during a salvage operation. The cabinet transforms Jimmy into an old man and Perry White into a baby. Jimmy is unable to reverse the effects of the cabinet, and soon Lois Lane is also transformed into a cat. Superman learns the cabinet was invented by Zan Zoll, a Kryptonian scientist, and there is no cure. However, he is able to trick Mr. Mxyzptlk into restoring his friends to normal.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Sugar and Spike #91

Sugar and Spike #91 (On Sale: June 9, 1970) has a cover by Sheldon Mayer.

We begin with Sugar and Spike in "Beach Nuts" written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.

We end with Sugar and Spike in "Zelda, the Walking Riot" also written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #47.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Our Army at War #222

Our Army at War #222 (On Sale: June 9, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Dig in, Easy" written and drawn by Joe Kubert. While trying to take a Nazi fortress Sgt. Rock is captured. A Nazi major tries to break him and get him to reveal the weaknesses of his men. Meanwhile, outside the fortress, the rest of Easy Company has dug in, but they are planning a rescue. 

Atop the fort, the major puts Rock on display and demands surrender. Easy seems to comply, and are brought in by the enemy guards. When they get close, the soldiers of Easy and the guards (members of Easy in Nazi uniforms) attack and complete the take down of the Nazi fortress and the rescue of Sgt. Rock.

Next is a one-page Warrior featuring Dwight Eisenhower by Sam Glanzman.

This is followed by the Great Battles of History featuring "The Defeat of the Spanish Armada" written and drawn by Ric Estrada.

Next we have a one-page gag by Pete Costanza called "You're in the Army Now."

We end with the U.S.S. Stevens in "Black Smoke" by Sam Glanzman. After the battle of Leyte Gulf, the Stevens and the U.S.S. Rake are sailing home. IN the morning the Rake started spewing black smoke, something it does often. The smoke is done on purpose by engine crew to rile some of the men, but what they don't realize is that the smoke is a signal of their location to the Japanese and it is not long before the Japanese artillery fly over the Stevens and land on the Rake. 

Edited by Joe Kubert.