Detective Comics #405

Detective Comics #405 (On Sale: September 29, 1970) has another moody Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "The First of the Assassins!" by Denny O'Neil, Bob Brown and Frank Giacoia. Answering the Bat-Signal, Batman is informed by Commissioner Gordon that a number of murders that have taken place in Europe and, according to information by the Interpol, the next target is a shipping magnate, K.C. Agonistes, whose boat is currently in Gotham Harbor. Since the man has refused police protection, Gordon is tied and can't do anything officially and hopes that Batman can act unofficially on his behalf.

That night, Batman infiltrates the ship, but is immediately detected by extra security measures incorporated into the ship. The magnate, his fiancée, and his employees greet Batman with pleasure and they welcome him to be part of their journey. After taking a closer look at other security measures on the ship, Batman starts patrolling the deck at night. When Batman notices a disturbance in the waters, he tells the crew to evacuate the ship in the lifeboats. Batman then being shooting at at a pod of dolphins, but he is unable to prevent the destruction of the ship as one of the animals carrying a plastic explosive gets past his onslaught..

Batman reaches the only lifeboat that made it free in time where he joins a sailor, Agonistes and his fiancée. They sail to a nearby island, which seems abandoned at first sight, but they swoon realize is littered with boobytraps. After saving the three people from lethal traps, Batman goes into the island to find the killer. Shortly after, Batman realizes that he has been lured away from his companions and he rushes back, but falls for a trap in the midst of the jungle. From the shadows comes a nimble man, the same responsible for trying to kill the magnate. The man tells Batman that he has a mission to accomplish and that after he's finished, he will come back to kill him as well.

Batman breaks free from the trap and he heads to the camping site where Agonistes and the others are waiting for his return. He arrives in time to prevent the assassin from killing them and a fight ensues. The assassin reveals that he is part of a larger faction known as the League of Assassins, which cannot be bribed or stopped. The killer gets the upper hand in the fight and he gets ready to eliminate Batman, when he is suddenly blinded by some flares that explode on Batman's cape, which was burning in the fire. Batman takes the chance to defeat the assassin, but he knows that he is just a pawn in a larger scheme, orchestrated by a master criminal mind. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB.

Next is Batgirl in "The Living Statue" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. Continuing from last issue, Batgirl has been investigating the murder of X-rated film director Billy Warlock, whom her friend, Jason Bard, has been framed for. Her search brought her to Warlock's studio where she was captured by one of Warlock's actresses Veda who masterminded the whole scheme and is now preparing to trap Batgirl in plaster.

As she slowly covers Batgirl in the plaster, she destroys the evidence that would clear Bard's name while boasting to Batgirl that she got away with murder. To added rich irony she screams this at a giant lit up face of Warlock that was set in the studio. As the fire from the burning evidence spreads, Veda prepares to apply the last of the plaster that will cover Batgirl's head when another of Warlock's actresses: Infra-Red charges in the room to stop Veda.

While the two girls fight, Batgirl gets free and eventually has to save them from the flames. After when the fire department shows up, Veda boasts how they'll never be able to prove that she murdered Billy Warlock, but then Infra-Red informs her that in the giant portrait of Billy's face was a camera that filmed her whole confession. With it turned over as evidence, --as Barbara Gordon -- Batgirl gets to witness Bard being cleared of all charges and set free. This story has been reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.

We end with a filler reprint, "The Sleuth in the Iron Mask" drawn by Bob Brown and reprinted from Gangbusters #62 (1958).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Date With Debbi #12

Date With Debbi #12 (On Sale: September 29, 1970) has a cover by Henry Scarpelli. This issue is the first of this title to have the side panel on the cover.

We have limited information on this one. We begin with Debbie in  "The Bloodhound," inked by Henry Scarpelli. Debbi gets caught spying on Buddy and Mona.

Next is Debbi in "The Empty Bottle," inked by Henry Scarpelli. Debbi gets the last of the ketchup out of the bottle.

That is followed by Debbi in "Let's Go Ape," inked by Henry Scarpelli.  The gang goes to a costume ball.

We end with Debbi in  "Cool Like Us," inked by Henry Scarpelli. 

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Adventure Comics #399

Adventure Comics #399 (On Sale: September 29, 1970) has a Supergirl cover by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano.

We begin with Supergirl in "Johnny Dee -- Hero-Bum" written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Frank Giacoia. 

Johnny Dee, star football player for Stanhope, is threatened by gamblers. If Johnny doesn't throw a game, they will hurt his girlfriend Roxie Thompson. Johnny reluctantly complies to protect Roxie.

When Johnny sits out the next game, Supergirl questions Johnny, but he refuses to admit why he isn't playing. Finally Supergirl and Roxie convince him to tell. However, Supergirl is unable to change his mind about playing.

At the next game, the crooks station sniper's around the stadium to target Roxie if Johnny plays. Supergirl rounds up the snipers, then saves Roxie. Johnny plays and wins the game for his team, while Supergirl apprehends the crooks. However, she is given a ticket for destroying property and blocking traffic to do it.

The back-up story is a unique one. Black Canary stars in  "Television Told the Tale" by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Bernard Sachs. This story was written and drawn in the 1940s, but was never published until this issue. It may have been intended originally for Flash Comics #106. This story takes place before Larry Lance knew Black Canary's identity, before he married her and before he was subsequently murdered..  

Larry Lance is hired to guard Mrs. Landall and her diamonds while she displays her collection for a television program. Dinah Drake is watching the program and notices that the cameramen are not focusing on the jewels. She races to the scene as Black Canary.

She is too late to stop the cameramen from stealing the diamonds and arrives just in time to leap onto their getaway boat. Television cameras broadcasting a motor boat race catch all the action and keep the thieves from shooting her, allowing Black Canary to apprehend the crooks. Reprinted in Black Canary Archives Vol. 1 HC.

Edited by Mike Sekowsky.

Action Comics #394

Action Comics #394 (On Sale: September 29, 1970) has a Superman cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with our cover-story, "Midas of Metropolis" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. Soon after Superman stops a robbery as two men try to break in to the vault of tycoon Cyrus Brand, Superman begins charging for his services. He goes into business buying and selling companies, in direct competition with Cyrus Brand. 

Superman makes so much money he creates his own bank to contain it and other citizens want to deposit at his bank as well. Brand is furious over the competition and escalates his financial war with Superman. Eventually, Superman depletes Brand of cash, forcing him to get more printed by his counterfeiting partner Rembrandt Regan. Superman then shuts down the counterfeiting operation and turns both men over to the authorities. Superman's greedy behavior was a ruse to get the counterfeit bills out of circulation without creating a financial panic.

Next is "It's a Plane! It's a Bird--No, It's a Swan... and Anderson" written by E. Nelson Bridwell with illustrations by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. The feature contains biographies of Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson with self-portraits of the artists.

We end with "Requiem for a Hot Rod" also by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. Clark and Lois join an Antique Car Association to get a story on their vintage car rally. When hotrodder Coffin Crowley runs Lois and other drivers off the road, the members call off their rally. Lois and Clark then see the reckless driver at an abandoned air strip where a group of other young motorists are playing chicken. Clark challenges Crowley and beats him. He then exposes Crowley's trick of uses a shining medallion to blind the oncoming driver. Clark wore dark glasses to win. With Crowley exposed, the other drivers call off their game.

One hopes these were inventory pieces from the Weisinger era and not the way forward by Boltinoff.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106 (On Sale: September 24, 1970) has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

So, for you youngsters, we need a bit of history here. In 1969, the 12th most popular movie in the United States was a Swedish adult film. I can't say I have ever seen this movie, which mixed full-frontal explicit sex with burning social issues. The movie even had Dr. Martin Luther King in it. Why bring up old porn from a bygone era you ask? The move was called "I am Curious (Yellow)" and it was maybe the last film you would ever think would inspire a comic book story, even if it is just the title. It is an interesting beginning for editor E. Nelson Bridwell who takes over his first non-reprint book from the fired Mort Weisinger.

Our lead story is  "I Am Curious (Black)" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth and Vince Colletta. Lois Lane is assigned to write a story for the Daily Planet concerning life in Little Africa, the black section of Metropolis. When she arrives, she is met by disinterest, suspicion and outright hatred from everyone she speaks to. Lois asks Superman for help. He takes her to the Fortress of Solitude and uses a device designed by Kryptonian Dahr-Nel to change Lois from a white woman into a black one. Superman tells Lois that the transformation will only last for 24 hours.

Lois returns to Metropolis. While in the white section of town, she is treated as an outcast. When she reaches Little Africa a second time, Lois learns about life in the slums from the residents there. When neighborhood activist Dave Stevens is shot while trying to confront some drug dealers, Lois donates blood to save his life.

While waiting to see the outcome, she confronts Superman and asks if he would marry her given her current skin color. He replies that he is the complete outcast on Earth, not even human. Lois replies that while that is true he is lucky that his skin color is the correct one to be accepted on Earth. Lois then reverts to her normal appearance earlier than expected. Stevens awakens and wants to thank the sister who helped save his life and is surprised to see that Lois is actually white. However, he now accepts Lois despite their difference in skin color. This infamous tale has been reprinted in Superman in the Seventies TPB and Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years HC.

Next is a two-page filler "Martha G. Kimball" a Wonder Women of History story by Julius Schwartz and John Giunta which is reprinted from Wonder Woman #53 (1952),

This issue ends with the Rose and the Thorn in "Where Do You Plant a Thorn?" by Robert Kanigher,  Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. The 100 place a contract on the Thorn. To bait her, they place a gold coffin in the chapel window. Despite the trap, the Thorn thwarts the hitmen and helps apprehend them.

The chapel owner Vince, who is secretly part of the 100, contacts florist Mr. Orchid. They put together another hit squad to target detective Danny Stone. Their plan fails when the Thorn surprises the gang and saves Danny's life.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Strange Adventures #227

Strange Adventures #227 (On Sale: September 24, 1970) has a cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with cover story "The Man Who Couldn't Drown"  by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #68 (1956).When a steward delivers dinner to Paul Browning's stateroom, he find it empty, the porthole open and a pile of papers on his desk. They tell the tale of how six months earlier, on another cruise, Paul fell overboard and when he was rescued he said he had been underwater for two hours. The National Science Foundation is curious and Paul agrees to be experimented on if it can find an answer to how he was able to breathe underwater. They discover that he can breathe only in water with the same salt content as the oceans. They believe he is a throwback to an earlier for a man, an Atlantide, a citizen of Atlantis. 

Paul begins to hear a telepathic voice coming from the sea, telling him that the people of Atlantis need him. Taking to the ocean, Paul indeed finds the ruins of the city of Atlantis and is told that the city needs a man like him, a man of science to help them rebuild and one day rise again to the surface. Terrified at the prospect of living underwater, Paul races away and takes an ocean voyage to straighten thing out in his mind.

After a few days at sea, Paul begins to have trouble breathing and realizes he is a true Atlantide and so he had returned to his people, where he knows he belongs.

Next up is "Earth... Condemned World" by Otto Binder and John Giunta and reprinted from Mystery in Space #50 (1959). Daryl Halbert records the albedo (reflectivity) of planets. He receives a message to return to Earth quickly. His spaceship is damaged on his way back and he is rescued by aliens. He is told that they are on their way to Earth to destroy it! Earth's albedo is falling and when it reaches zero it will break free from the Sun and become an undetectable space menace. Halbert asks for time to find a cure and is given 7 hours. He discovers that Earth has a covering of glassy space dust. A test bomb clears a small hole and proves that the Earth, and other planets in the future, can be saved. 

That is followed by Adam Strange in "Challenge of the Giant Fireflies" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #67 (1961). A new discovery on Rann allows food to be enlarged to giant size. An unforeseen side effect however causes fireflies which eat the food to grow as well. The enlarged light-sacs of the fireflies cause fires to start, but the Ranagarans develop a way to neutralize the effect.

When a Zeta Beam brings a flame being to Rann instead of Adam Strange, he contacts his fellow beings and together they enjoy their new existence on Rann. However the flame beings are a hazard to the residents of Rann. Riding the giant fireflies to get close to the flame beings, Adam Strange disables them with carbon dioxide.

Next we have "The Time Killer" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #35 (1953). Zoo curator Alan Hunter hopes to one day take a time machine back to prehistoric times to capture footage of now extinct animals in their natural habitat, but use of the time machine is forbidden as any change in the past may affect the future. When a visiting doctor friend is called to an emergency at the Time Base, Alan offers to drive him over. Once there he sneaks into the room with the time machine and uses it. He uses a jetpack to not even touch the ground and gets many amazing pictures, but when he returns to his floating time machine, a pterodactyl knocks him out of the sky. He jumps into his time machine, but notices that he has crushed the seed of a tree.

The change to time cascades through the eons and when he arrives back to his time, the world is very different, ruled by Native Americans who conquered Europe. He uses the time machine to go back once again and this time he avoids the pterodactyl, but as he leaves the past he does not know that the pterodactyl has grabbed onto his machine. When he arrives he finds himself locked in a cage, an exhibit in the zoo of bird creatures. The birds watch him with interest as he works day after day in hope of repairing his machine and ending his nightmare.

Next is "The Winner" a six-page text story written by Denny O'Neil and illustrated by Murphy Anderson. This is the only new content in the book. When Earth outlaws war they send their infant orphans to Mars where they are raised and trained as warriors. Their CO tells them that some day Earth may or may not call for them, but that the people of Earth are soft and need leaders. One day the warriors of Mars are put into cryogenic suspension to await their fate.

Warrior Mar-O is awakened by a beautiful young woman who, along with her father explain that the Earth has been invaded and the warriors of Mars are needed to defend the planet from some insectoid invaders called the Agoon. The Agoon code of honor required them to battle the best a world has to offer in fair fights and so the woman, Tercey and her father were given a ship to bring the Mars' warriors to Earth.

The warriors fight and fall as do the Agoon, till only a single Agoon and Mar-O are left, there final battle for Earth to begin the next morning. Tercey reveals that her and her father believe they are all that is left of humanity. In the morning the fight begins and Mar-O is victorious. The dying Agoon says that by their code, no Agoon will ever attack Earth again. Mar-O looks at the beautiful Tercey and her aged father and see them for what they are, his new slaves.

That is followed by "Calling Space-Doctor Duncan" by John Broome, Gene Colan and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Mystery in Space #26 (1955).

We end with the Atomic Knights in "The King of New Orleans" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #147 (1962) The Atomic Knights go to New Orleans in search of doctors. New Orleans was not damaged too badly in the war, but it is now ruled by a tyrant king. The Knights locate a medical facility, but the doctors are all entranced. They discover that music awakens the entranced men, so they walk through the streets playing jazz music. The king's guards attack them, but the music has successfully awoken the citizens, who then turn on the king and his men. The Knights then establish a medical school to train doctors for other settlements.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Justice League of America #85

Justice League of America #85 (On Sale: September 24, 1970), AKA Giant #G-77, has an "All-Sorcery" cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. Originally this cover was only credited to Anderson, but in more recent reprints DC has given Swan the penciler credit and I, for one, am not going to argue with them.

We begin with  "The Fantastic Fingers of Felix Faust" by Gardner  Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Justice League of America #10 (1962). Sorcerer Felix Faust schemes to release from their imprisonment three ancient demons, Abnegazar, Rath, and Ghast, who ruled the world before the dawn of man, but who were defeated by the benevolent aliens known as the Timeless Ones. To do this, he must procure three mystic objects – the Red Jar of Calythos, the Green Bell of Uthool, and the Silver Wheel of Nyorlath. Conjuring up the spirits of the imprisoned demons, Faust attains a means of forcing the Justice League of America to do his bidding.

The heroes are teleported away from their battle with the Lord of Time, who has unleashed warriors of the past and future on the present-day world. Each member of the Justice League disappears one by one during the fight until they are all brought before Felix Faust. Putting the League under his control, Felix sends them to collect the three items he needs to summon the demons. This puts the JLA against the various guardians of the items, however using team work each trio of League members sent out manages to collect the item they seek. Taking the Jar, Bell and Wheel to Faust, however with the help of Martian Manhunter and Aquaman the group manages to defeat Faust and take the items into their possession.

Although he has been captured, Faust muses how the JLA may have saved their own time but they will never be able to stop his masters when they return in 100 years. This story was continue in Justice League of America #11, which as luck would have it, is the next story.

Our next story is "One Hour to Doomsday" by Gardner  Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Justice League of America #11 (1962). After succeeding in defeating Felix Faust, the Justice League continue their fight to stop the Lord of Time from taking over their era. However the Time Lord manages to escape to the distant future where he plans on getting an army of soldiers armed with super weapons to take over the present day.

The heroes follow the Lord of Time to the year 3786 where they stop him before he can collect the weapons he needs. Trying to take him back to the present to face justice, the League soon finds themselves trapped in the year 2062, the year which the Demons are freed from their curse. They have used their magical powers to bar the League from returning to their own era, and take them prisoner by trapping them in magic bottles while they prepare to cast a Doomsday spell.

Freed by the Green Lantern's power ring, the group realizes that the demons use spells with each individual's name in the incantation and come up with a solution to beat their foes. Using Green Lantern's power ring each member of the Justice League is made to appear as though they are another member. When they all attack the demons at their various locations to interrupt their spell, the spells don't work because they are being cast against the wrong Justice League members. Defeating all three demons, Green Lantern uses his power ring to trap them so that the only way they can be freed is through the Jar, Wheel and Bell.

Afterwards, they return to their own time where they turn the Lord of Time over to the authorities.

Our final story is "Lives of a Rocket Lancer," a filler piece from Mystery in Space #8 (1952) featuring the Knights of the Galaxy and produced by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Sy Barry. The thirtieth-century Knights of the Galaxy are replaced by their sixth-century counterparts from King Arthur's Camelot, who must fight an armada of space brigands under the command of Zal-Du.

The Knights of the Galaxy were a legendary team of commandos living in the 25th Century whose duty it is to battle various threats to the peace and security of the Earth and the many inhabited planets colonized by Earth or allied with it. They appeared in issues 1-8 of Mystery In Space, and were created by Kanigher and Infantino.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Girls' Love Stories #155

Girls' Love Stories #155 (On Sale: September 24, 1970) has a cover by, well, some with failing eyesight say Neal Adams, while others say Tony DeZuniga. Now, I do see some DeZuniga in the face of the Judge, but the other characters look more like Alex Nino to me. Alex does not officially arrive at DC till 1972, but when he comes it will be through Tony DeZuniga that he gets here. We are free to ponder this one.

We begin with our cover story, "Will No One Trust Me Again?" written by Jack Miller, penciled by John Calnan and inked by either Joe Giella or Murphy Anderson (wish I had access to this book as it is hard to mistake Giella and Anderson). Jill makes a mistake in judgment by becoming involved with Lance and when they are both arrested, his rich father gets Lance's record erased, while Jill is left with a bad reputation which she finds hard to overcome.

Next we have "Summer Love" drawn by John Romita and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Heart Throbs #63 (1959) where it was originally entitled  "I Know My Love." The story is told in pantomime, and the artwork has been partially redrawn with updated fashions.

We end with "Scrapbook of Tears" drawn by maybe George Tuska and butchered in the inks by Vince Colletta. Alice and Bill meet again several years after their earlier acquaintance, but they have very different memories of the past.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Three Mouseketeers #4

Three Mouseketeers #4 (On Sale: September 22, 1970) has a cover by Phil Mendez.

We being this issue with Three Mouseketeers in "Getting Up in the World"  written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. The boys gets caught on a kite tail, land in Mr. Jones' house and then have to save the Exterminator's life. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #4 (1956).

Next is the Three Mouseketeers in "Patsy Makes the Grade" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. As the middle Mouseketeer, Patsy feels underappreciated.  Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3 (1956)

Seymour Victory Reit was the author of over 80 children's books as well as several works for adults. Reit was the creator, with cartoonist Joe Oriolo, of the character Casper the Friendly Ghost. Reit started his career working for Fleischer Studios as an animator; he also worked for Jerry Iger and Will Eisner as a cartoonist, for Laffboy as editor in 1965, and for Mad Magazine and several other publications as a humorist. 

After the WW2, Reit did cartoon work for Archie and Little Lulu, and wrote gags for some of the new Casper animated shorts that were being produced. He also wrote for the TV series Captain Kangaroo. In 1950 he started working for the publications department of the Bank Street College of Education in New York, and also scripted industrial films and radio shows. In the late 1950s, he began submitting work to Mad Magazine, ultimately contributing over 60 pieces. At DC, Reit wrote Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Three Mouseketeers between 1950 and 1960. Reit passed away in November of 2001..

That is followed by the Three Mouseketeers in (The Frog War) written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.  Faced with an invasion of the Hop-Toad Army, Fatsy and Patsy defect and leave Minus alone to face them. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3 (1956) and reprinted in Best of DC Digest #49.

Next is the Three Mouseketeers in "Fleetin' Meetin'"  written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.  Fatsy still doesn't trust Buzz-Buzz and Herman gets revenge for being kicked out of the clubhouse. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #4 (1956)

We end with Doodles Duck in an untitled story written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. Gus says he can fix Doodles's sink for half what the plumber charges. Reprinted from Movietown's Animal Antics #43 (1953).

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Swing With Scooter #31

Swing With Scooter #31 (On Sale: September 22, 1970) has a cover by Stan Goldberg and Henry Scarpelli.

We being this issue with Scooter in  "Clothes Make the Man,"  a six-page tale drawn by Artie Saaf and Henry Scarpelli. Scooter goes on a disastrous shopping trip with Cynthia..

Next is Scooter and Sylvester in "A Hairy Tale!" by John Albano, Stan Goldberg and Henry Scarpelli. Mr. Otis wants the boys to get haircuts. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #70. 

We end with Malibu in "The Ghost Is Clear" by Henry Boltinoff, Bob Oksner and Henry Scarpelli. Malibu's new girlfriend is as creepy as he is. This story was also reprinted in Best of DC #70. 

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Hot Wheels #5

Hot Wheels #5 (On Sale: September 22, 1970) has another nice cover by Alex Toth.

From day one this book has been Alex Toth's baby, but never more than this issue, his last on the series. From his design of the Hot Wheels characters for Saturday morning TV, to his pencils on the first cover and first three issues' main stories, to his cover and full art last issue, he slowly took on more of the production of the book. This issue he provides not only the cover and the full artwork on the main story, but also the script. During this time Toth was also drawing half-page color Sunday comics ads for the Hot Wheels toys, featuring drivers Dan Gurney and Don Prudhomme.

As comic book storytelling, I prefer last issue, which feels more like a standard comic than this one. This issue is more like a movie's storyboards. With the exception of one double panel on the final page, Toth tells this story in sixteen pages, consisting of eight equal-sized panels, separated by black borders. "The Case of the Curious Classic" is written, penciled and inked by Alex Toth. We begin in 1937 outside Metro City, a beautiful white Cord sedan making its way down the highway is suddenly being followed. The Cord increases its speed, leaving the highway for a narrow mountain road and the chase car follows. The front-wheel drive Cord begins to pull away in the tight turns, losing the chase car. 

The Cord unfortunately runs out of gas and the driver cuts the ignition and the lights, deciding to drive by moonlight. but as he begins to lose speed, the driver decides to hide the car in the heavy roadside brush. Driving through the brush, the driver is not expecting the step incline he now finds himself sliding down. As the pursuit car passes it by unawares, the car ends its descent in a shallow pond that turs out to be a muddy bog. As the czar begins to sink, the driver escapes. later that night the driver, recently retired racketeer, bootlegger and smuggler "huff" Braden,  flags down a ride and an hour later leaves the country in a small private plane.

Ten years pass and when a young farmer named Jess Mabry drains some bottom land for more crop acreage, he finds an old Cord. After advertisements in the paper do not result in an owner coming forward, he decides to keep it as a project. But farming was hard and he had no time, so the old mud-encrusted car sat in his old barn for 23 years.

Coming back from a father-son camping trip, Mike and Jack Wheeler stop at a local farm for some fresh bacon and eggs, only to notice the old Cord siting in the barn. Mike recognizes what it is and pays $1,000 for the car. Back at Wheeler Motors, the Hot Wheels gang starts to work on cleaning up the old classic, which catches the eyes of the local paper and TV station. The story is picked up by the national news and in a South American country one viewer is more that a little interested in the car. The next week is filled with Mike getting inquiring phone calls, one offering $5,000 for the car, but Mike rebuffs all offers.

A few weeks later the car is ready for a test drive and Mike and Jack take to an abandoned airfield to out the car though its paces. When they leave they are followed by an unknown car. Realizing they cannot outrun a new car on straight roads, Mike takes an old mountain road. Ironically, it is the same road the car took in its final drive in 1937. The front wheel drive Cord has no problem handling some tight turns, but the pursuing car is not so lucky and plunges over a cliff. The highway patrol find three dead men in the car, one of the being Garth Ernst, a high-level drug trafficker who came into power in the 1930s after "Huff" Braden disappeared.

When Mike gets a phone call one night offering $50,000 for the car, he becomes suspicious and calls the police. The next day Mike is back on TV saying that he will race the Cord in next month's Concours d'Elegance Classics Competition and will begin a full teardown of the Cord in the morning in preparation for the competition. That night when someone sneaks into Wheeler Motors to steal the car, the police are waiting. The thief is wounded in the shootout and eventually confesses to be "Huff" Braden. He admits the car is his, coated in 1/8th inch of pure gold and that there are 50 god ingots in the floor pan and two million in diamonds in the door and trunk panels. The car was his getaway plan and is worth more than four million in total. 

Weeks later the Cord, stripped of gold and jewels, wins the competition.

The back up is "The Dangerous Days of Mickey Barnes!" by Len Wein, Ric Estrada and Dick Giordano. One day in the school parking lot, new kid Mickey Barnes literally runs into Jack Wheeler, the two almost coming to blows. Later in the day, they literally bump into one another in the school hallway, with only the interference of rich kid Dexter Carter stopping a fight form occurring. After school, Mickey is testing out his new Mustang at the Airport track when Dexter arrives and talks Mickey into racing his car in an upcoming race where Jack Wheeler should be the front runner.

The day of the race, Jack tries to warn Mickey that Dexter is bad news and will do anything to win. Mickey blows him off and the race begins. Jack takes an early lead, but Mickey is right behind him. When Mickey tries to pass Jack he notices that Jack's brake line is disconnected and unable to warn Jack, Mickey puts his car in front of Jack and uses it to slow Jack down, one bump at a time. Once stopped off the course, Jack notices that his brake line had been cut. Mickey explodes and heads over to Dexter and his goons. The goons pile onto Mickey, but Jack jumps into the fray and the two of them take care of Dexter's boys and a beautiful friendship is born.

We end with a two-page Hot Wheels text story, "What it Takes" with illustrations by Sal Amendola. This is Amendola's first work at DC and is uncredited, but Sal's unique style is impossible to miss. Amendola graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1969 with a 3-year certificate. He eventually returned, with Robert McGinnis as his thesis adviser, to earn his MFA in illustration. Sal worked at a writer, penciller, inker, editor, letterer and colorist, mostly at DC but also at Marvel for a spell and at Archie decades later. He wrote and penciled the Batman story "Night of the Stalker!" in Detective Comics #439  which was dialogued by Steve Englehart, and is considered as one of the greatest Batman short stories ever.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Superman #231

Superman #231 (On Sale: September 17, 1970) has another nice cover by Neal Adams.

This marked the end of an era. Mort Weisinger had been an editor at DC comics since More Fun Comics #71 in 1941, which he not only edited but in which he wrote "The Riddle of the Crying Clown," creating along with artist Chad Grothkopf the character Johnny Quick. He also co-created Aquaman, Green Arrow, and the original Vigilante, served as story editor for the Adventures of Superman television series, and compiled the often-revised paperback 1001 Valuable Things You Can Get Free.  In 1948 Mort would take over the editorial reigns of Superman, guiding the character for the next 22 years. This was the last book to bare his editorial stamp and marked the end of his 29-year career at DC. Mort died after suffering a heart attack on May 7, 1978.

We begin with  "The Wheel of Super-Fortune" by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and Dan Adkins. It is maybe appropriate that Mort Weisinger's last book be an "Imaginary Story" that he seemed to love so much. Continuing from last issue, Superman (Lex Luthor) tries to convince Lois Lane that Clark Kent is a criminal. Despite this, Lois still defends Clark. Meanwhile, Clark visits a mystic who reveals Luthor's origin. Using Lois as a hostage, Clark forces Luthor to let him get away with his crimes.

Eventually, one of Luthor's robots acts against Clark. Kent gets his revenge by kidnapping Lois. Believing Lois dead, Luthor tries to stop Clark when he strikes again. This time Clark destroys a large section of Metropolis, but Luthor evacuated the people. Finally Clark attempts to steal Luthor's powers. He fails and is killed as a result.

I have to say that maybe the most clever thing about this issue is on the cover where the impact from Superman's head hitting the wall, obscures the fact that he is actually bald-headed Lex Luthor.

We end with "Superman's Fatal Costume" by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino and reprinted from Superman #112. Luthor uses a spectroscope to study Superman’s costume and learn about its special properties. Using a device he created, Luthor causes the costume to give off heat, change metal into wood, and explode. Superman manages to uncover the plot, apprehend Luthor and some escaped prisoners, and take measures to ensure his costume can’t be used against him again.

Edited for the very last time by Mort Weisinger.

Falling in Love #119

Falling in Love #119 (On Sale: September 17, 1970) has another sexy cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with "Love Me Forever Marry Me Never" inked by Bernard Sachs. When her boyfriend ask Myrna to marry him, she sends him out of her life, just as she has all the boys who proposed. She can't marry anybody because she must take care of her mother, who she has promised to provide for.  

One day while walking down the street wearing a new hat her mother had knitted for her, photographer Keith Stockbridge takes her picture. He is the heir to a department store fortune, but after they start dating he soon lets her know that he is going to make it on his own as a photographer and will not have money to support both her and her mother. A few weeks later her mother is ecstatic when she gets a new job at Stockbridge Department store making hats. It seems Keith was able to find a solution to Myrna's problem and is able to marry her.

Next is "What Every Girl Should Know" drawn by Lee Elias. Julie is bored with the guys she has been dating, which she could meet a man more like her father. When an old friend of her father's, Vincent Pryor come over for dinner, Julie learns he is widowed and as the days roll by she can't get him out of her mind. 

They meet again a few weeks later and eventually begin to date, but things go south when Vincent begins to feel jealous of Julie's school friends and realizes he is taking her away from what should be her life with people her own age. He decides to move away, but Julie stops him and lets him know that it is in his arms she wants to be.

That is followed by "Loser at Love" drawn by Carmine Infantino and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Secret Hearts #37. When Amy's boyfriend, Kenneth, moves to the city to save up enough money so they can marry, she is happy, until his letters to her start mentioning a coworker named Joan. When her father suggests she too move to the city for a change of scene, Amy jumps at the opportunity. Ken has arraigned for her to stay with Joan, but she soon finds out her suspicions about Joan were not without cause. One day on the ski slopes the two women have it out and Joan admits she has eyes on Kenneth and plans to steal him away from Amy. But Ken overheard the conversation and makes it clear that he still intends to marry Amy. 

We conclude this issue with a one-page "Beauty on a Budget" by Liz Berube. 

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Teen Titans #30

Teen Titans #30 (On Sale: September 15, 1970) has a cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with the Teen Titans in "Greed... Kills" by Steve Skeates and Nick Cardy. The costumeless Titans are assigned by Mr. Jupiter to procure a charity donation from businessman Hargood P. Tout, but become sidetracked by a premonition of Lilith's which has them preventing a robbery. When one of the thieves, is hit by a car while making his getaway, the Titans call it a night. The police are interested in the old man as one of them recognized him as Kevin Murphy, who supposedly died in a fire ten years prior.

The next day the Titians are rebuffed when they meet with Tout about a donation to Jupiter's criminal rehabilitation charity, Tout espousing about law and order and how he would never help lazy criminals. The Titans are unsure how to continue, as Mr. Jupiter told them not to come back till they had secured the donation. Lilith, with another premonition, suggests they wait till tonight and visit the old guy in the hospital who was hit by the car.

   

That night, two assassins break into the hospital and kill one of the officers on Murphy's room and have the other officer pinned down. The Titans arrive in time to take out the assassins and go into Murphy's room with the cop as Murphy is awakening.

Murphy explains that the killers have been sent by Hargood Tout, who is revealed as Murphy's former criminal partner. After Tout had used his ill-gotten gains to become a legitimate businessman, he had tried to have Murphy done away with to prevent him from revealing Tout's shady past, but Murphy had faked his own death in order to foil his would-be assassins. Now revealed as being still alive, Murphy is again a target, until the Titans stop Tout's hirelings. The story ends abruptly with the Titans vowing to see that Tout faces justice.

Next is a two-page Kid Flash text story, "Whirlwind" by Steve Skeates, illustrated by Rich Buckler. These four illustrations are Buckler's first work at DC. When a man uses a device which turns him into a human whirlwind to rob a band, Wally West dons his Kid Flash uniform once again to stop him.

We end with our cover-story, "Some Call it Noise" starring Aqualad and Aquagirl by Steve Skeates and Nick Cardy. Aqualad and Aquagirl come ashore to enjoy part of an outdoor rock concert in a small coastal town. Meanwhile, a hospital patient becomes a berserk madman when given an injection of an experimental synthetic hormone. He escapes the hospital, and is drawn to the concert by the sound of the music. There he menaces the audience, knocking Aquagirl in the head before Aqualad overcomes him, 

Aquagirl awakes in a daze and instead of heading back to the water, wanders inland. Aqualad barely manages to find her and return both of them to the sea before they die, having been on land beyond their one-hour time limit. This story was reprinted in DC Super Stars #7 and the entire book was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Teen Titans Vol. 2 TPB.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Phantom Stranger #10

Phantom Stranger #10 (On Sale: September 15, 1970) has another moody cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with the Phantom Stranger in "Death... Call Not My Name" by Gerry Conway and Jim Aparo. Though not his first writing for DC, this is the first non-horror anthology story Conway ever wrote, but his tenure on the book will be short (two issues). This same month he wrote a Ka-Zar story for Marvel and in two months he would move to Marvel almost exclusively, taking over the reigns of Daredevil, Iron Man, The Inhumans, Ka-Zar, the Black Widow, the Sub-Mariner, Doctor Doom, Spider-Man, Tomb of Dracula, The Fantastic Four and others. Except for inventory stories, he would not return to DC till 1975.  

Three young girls are gathered in a night club, and one of them is invited to dance with a man called Tannarak. Shortly after, the girl drops dead, and her death brings both Dr. Thirteen and the Phantom Stranger to investigate the situation. When one of the girls is kidnapped by Tannarak later in the streets, the two men track them down to Tannarak's secret lair.

Michele, the girl who was kidnapped, is remarkably similar to Dianna, one of Tannarak's childhood friends from centuries ago, during his time in Egypt. He reveals that when he was abandoned by her when they got caught stealing from a market. Since then, Tannarak became obsessed with cheating death, and soon obtained the Blood Stone and the Elixir of Death and both items allowed him to lock away his own humanity inside a statue, preventing him from ever aging and dying. After centuries of search, he finally has found his lover and he intends to use it to remove the Michele's soul and bring back Dianna, with him he shall live forever.

When the Stranger arrives, he confronts and battles Tannarak. The battle ends when the statue of himself falls on Tannarak, and apparently kills him. When Dr. Thirteen arrives he once more subscribes to the notion that everything that happened that night could be explained scientifically, but the evidence provided by Stranger indicates that Tannarak was truly an alchemist. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB.

Next we have "The Bewitched Clock" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from House of Mystery #11.

We end with the Phantom Stranger in "Charlie's Crocodile," which is also by Gerry Conway and Jim Aparo. Charles Cuddy is married to a wife who always demands more, and he's had enough. He decides to seek out a business listed in the classified adds stating that it can get rid of any pest. Along the way he is confronted by the Phantom Stranger, who warns Charles not to take business from this establishment.

Ignoring him, Charles seeks the service of the proprietor, Mr. Scratch, who gives him an inflatable crocodile to deal with his wife for free, only asking for the man's name and work place. That night Charles inflates it and puts it into their pool. Later when his wife goes for a swim the crocodile comes to life and kills her.

Enjoying his newfound freedom, Charles has his home all to himself and he throws a party, but some of the guests decide to prank Charles and place the inflatable crocodile inside the pool, just as he goes for a swim and his life ends in the same gruesome way as that of his former wife. The Phantom Stranger watches ominously from afar while Mr. Scratch cross Charles' name from a large book he keeps with the rest of his "clients'" names. Other listed clients include Carmine Infantino, Joe Orlando and Neal Adams. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

I've Fallen Behind

Life has a way of getting in the way of blogging. I recently had a death in the family and last week got married. Both have taken time away from this blog. I will try to get back on track in the next week or so.

Young Love #83

Young Love #83 (On Sale: September 10, 1970) has a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Report on Love" drawn by Jay Scott Pike. Amy agrees to "keep an eye on" Jack, her sister Stella's boyfriend, while Stella is away at college. When Amy and Jack unexpectedly fall in love, Stella graciously steps aside.

That is followed by "His Old Flame" by persons unknown. Everyone warns Sherry when her boyfriend Ken's old girlfriend Nora comes back to town. Sherry makes a serious mistake that almost drives Ken away for good, but then she comes up with the perfect plan to get Nora out of their lives.

We end with "How Do You Know When It's Love" by Winslow Mortimer and Vinny Colletta. Dick finally gets his chance to be more than friends with Michelle, but they are both unsure that things will work out.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

World's Finest Comics #198

World's Finest Comics #198 (On Sale: September 10, 1970) has a Superman/Flash cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. I'm not quite sure why DC did not wait for the anniversary 200th issue to make this change, but they did not. For the past 16 years, World's Finest Comics has featured a team-up of Superman and Batman, however that all changes this issue, as the book transforms into a Superman and someone else team-up book, Superman's equivalent to The Brave and the Bold which has featured Batman and another character teaming up each issue for a few years now.

We begin with Superman nd the Flash in "Race to Save the Universe" by Denny O'Neil, Dick Dillin and Joe Giella.  Jimmy Olsen wake up one morning to find himself transported to ancient Rome, while an ancient Roman is transported to Metropolis. Superman captured the Roman, thinking he is a mental patient and before he can deal with him, the Guardians of the Universe summon Superman, with Roman solider in tow, to Oa. They Guardians explain that a group called the Anachronids, is streaking across space at faster than light speeds and disrupting the natural flow of the universe. To combat the menace, the Guardians ask Superman and the Flash to speed in the opposite direction to enact a balance. Because the Flash cannot survive in space, the Guardians grant him a device which allows him to endure space. It also creates a surface for him to run. 

Superman contacts the Flash, who suggests to Superman that they use the opportunity to race in order to find out who is really the fastest.As the race begins, Superman and the Flash encounter the Anachronids. The creatures trigger a nearby sun to go super-nova. To escape the blast, Superman and the Flash enter a dimensional portal where they are briefly trapped. Once they escape, they resume their race. When they capture one of the Anachronids, they discover it to be a robot which disintegrates at normal speeds. Superman suspects he knows who is responsible for its construction.

Meanwhile, in ancient Rome, Jimmy Olsen is being executed as a spy. This tory is continued next issue and was reprinted in Superman Vs. Flash TPB and Showcase Presents: World's Finest Vol. 4 TPB.

The back-up story starring Johnny Quick is "Joanie Swift, Queen of Speed" illustrated by Paul Norris and reprinted from Adventure Comics #181. Student-secretary Joanie Swift is typing a list of time-space equations for physics Professor Winklerod when she stumbles across the Speed Formula. Realizing she has the same powers as Johnny Quick, she creates a similar costume and proposes they form a team. The hero is afraid that she'll be ineffective in the field as a vigilante and possibly hurt so he stages a series of events to convince her that super speed is a burden. She enjoys them all and Quick is despairing that she'll never give up the life of action until she faints at the sight of a mouse. While she's out, he rearranges the formulae in her notes so that she cannot find the Speed Formula again.

Paul Norris began in comics in 1940 creating the features Power Nelson, Futureman, and Yank & Doodle for the comic-book publisher Prize Publications. By 1941 he had transitioned to DC where he worked on revamping Sandman, adding superhero attire and introduced sidekick Sandy the Golden Boy. Also in 1941, in the pages of More Fun Comics # 73 , Norris and Mort Weisinger created Aquaman, which would be Norris's biggest contribution to the DC universe. In 1943, Norris quit DC when King Features Syndicate assigned him to write and draw the existing strip Secret Agent X-9 strip, which he did for three months before being drafted into World War II.

Following the war, Norris was rehired by King Features Syndicate, and in 1948 began drawing the Sunday edition of Austin Briggs' comic strip Jungle Jim. He continued to freelance for DC Comics through 1953, drawing the detective feature Captain Compass in most issues of Star Spangled Comics and the super-speedster feature Johnny Quick in Adventure Comics.

In 1952, Norris succeeded artist Clarence Gray on the science-fiction comic strip Brick Bradford, continuing to draw it for 35 years until his and the strip's retirement in 1987. Norris also drew issues of Dell Comics' Tom Corbett, Space Cadet and Jungle Jim, In the 1960s, he drew stories of jungle adventurer Tarzan and science-fiction hero Magnus, Robot Fighter in comic books for Gold Key Comics. In the 1970s with writer Gaylord DuBois, Norris co-created the Gold Key jungle characters Kono and Tono in the namesake series The Jungle Twins.

Between 1977 and 1978, Norris worked on Scooby-Doo and the Flintstones for Marvel.. His last comics work was a drawing of Aquaman in DC Comics' multi-artist, multi-character History of the DC Universe poster in 1987. Norris passed away in 2007.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Justice League of America #84

Justice League of America #84 (On Sale: September 10, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. 

We begin with "The Devil in Paradise" by Robert Kanigher, Dick Dillin and Joe Giella. At the annual presentation of the Nobel Prizes, the Justice League receives a special award for its rescue of a top chemist from the crime syndicate known as the 100, and Dr. Viktor Willard wins the Peace Prize for his creation of the Pax serum, which turns aggressors into "doves." Black Canary is surprised when she is able to read the thoughts of Willard's fiancée, Phyllis Temple.

Some time later, the Flash rescues Phyllis from a capsized boat in the ocean after she escapes Willard 's island hideaway and warns the Justice League that Willard has gone mad, and intends to use the serum to unleash hatred in all the world's nations, causing humanity to exterminate itself. The JLA are powerless when Willard threatens to kill Phyllis if they intervene. It is Villard's own android creation, Nether Man, who turns on his master, and sacrifices his own existence to save Phyllis and the world. 

I believe this was Robert Kanigher' s only Justice League story an the only appearance of the 100 outside of his stories in Lois Lane till Tony Isabella would resurrect the group in the pages of Black Lightening in 1977. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 5 TPB, Justice League of America Archives Vol. 10 HC and Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC.

The filler story is "Great Ant Circus" by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #30.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Our Fighting Forces #128

Our Fighting Forces #128 (On Sale: September 8, 1970) has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with the Losers in "7 11 War" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. It begins with Gunner throwing one 7 after another in craps and Sarge reminding them that they are all Born Losers (they still keep toying with that name).. Next it is Sarge who throws nothing but 7s and 11s.  Johnny Cloud says that when the Losers start winning, it means trouble is ahead. Each member of the Losers seems to have improved their luck. Each reflects on bad situations in their past, and they believe the bad luck will follow them wherever they go. When they are assigned to draw straws, the team assumes the worst, but instead the short straw earns a pass to travel to London with his friends.

The Losers head to London only to find it in the middle of a bombing raid. The soldiers help to rescue children from the ruins of a building, but they are unable to rescue the children's mother who is trapped. She is killed when a delayed explosion destroys what little remained of the building. The Losers head back to camp feeling that even when they get leave, it turns out to be a losing proposition. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB.

Nestled in the middle of this story is a two-page Battle Album on "Dirigible Aerial Aircraft Carriers" by Sam Glanzman.

That is followed by a U.S.S. Stevens story,  "How Many Fathoms?" by Sam Glanzman. "Ox" Swanson was a miner who lived in the mountains all his life who was fascinated by all the water in the Pacific Ocean. He was "highlined" from a carrier to the Stevens mid-ocean and could never stop wondering how many fathoms of water were under them. "Ox" was a turret captain and three days after joining the crew, the Stevens was doing some off shore shelling of Balikapan, Borneo, when the call came to start using shrapnel for target practice. When the shell man reaches for the shell, it slips and falls to the floor.. "Ox" calls for silence and everyone freezes, not knowing if the shell would go off at the end of its 20-second fuse. This was the correct call, but his men panic. Ox grabs the shell and runs for the railing, but never makes it, the shell exploding against his chest. Later he is given a burial at sea and we are left to wonder how many fathoms will he rest in.

We end with a real artistic gem. Most people know Mort Drucker from his decades at Mad Magazine, doing the movie and TV parodies, but before Mad, Mort was one of the best war comic artists in the business. "Cracker Barrel Combat" is by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and is reprinted from G.I. Combat #63 (1958). Vic and Jerry are sitting in a  hunting cabin when their friend finds them with their feet up on a cracker barrel. Rather than go out in the cold and hunt, they prefer to be what they friend calls "cracker barrel sharpshooters." A year later they are all in Europe fighting Nazis, there friend now a Sargent and bemoaning being stuck with "cracker barrel soldiers." The boys are told to guard the outpost shack and they once again rest their feet up on a food container, in this case s metal container of tuna. When Nazis approach they have to leave the comfort of the cabin and take up positions shooting at the Nazis. A few well-placed hand grenades removes the threat and they return to the comfort of the cabin.

Not long after a German grenade flies through a window. Jerry covers the grenade with the metal tuna container and the boys flatten against the floor.. After the grenade explodes the Nazis take the cabin and wait for returning Americans. However, Vic and Jerry have survived the grenade and escaped into the woods where they attack the cabin from two sides, taking out the enemy soldiers. Once again back in the comfort of the cabin the boys are startled when a German tank shows up. They scatter to the woods and the tank follows, eventually losing one of their treads. Vic lobs a grenade at the wounded tank and removes the problem. When the Sarge returns he find the two back in the cabin and complains about them fi9ghting a "cracker barrel war."

Edited by Joe Kubert.

House of Mystery #189

House of Mystery #189 (On Sale: September 8, 1970) has a classic horror cover by Neal Adams. The power is in its simplicity; just a brilliant cover.

As a buffer to the creepiness of the cover, we begin with two pages of House of Mystery humor by the great Sergio Aragones featuring caretaker Cain. 

That leads us into our cover story, "Eyes of the Cat" by Robert Kanigher, Jerry Grandenetti and the inks of Wally Wood. Nicholas Towers is a tenant in the House of Mystery who is constantly tormented by the wailing of a black cat named Lucifer. Cain lets us know that Lucifer is a ghost cat, tormenting a ghost villain. Through Lucifer's glowing red eyes we see the past, Nicolas living with his Uncle Ansel, his cousin, Cynthia, and her pet cat, Lucifer. 

We see Nicholas losing a small fortune in bad gambling and his uncle refusing to pays his debts any longer. We see a desperate Nicholas, pushing his Uncle's wheelchair off a cliff, drowning him in a lake, the sad funeral that follows and Nicholas learning that his uncle left everything to Cynthia. We see Nicholas trying to lure Cynthia to her death at a rigged railing, only to be thwarted by Lucifer, and days later him trying to shoot Cynthia in the woods. We see Lucifer once again protecting her and Nicolas chasing after him to finish the pet off first. We see Nicolas being lured into quicksand and sinking as Lucifer looks on.

Cain does not like Nicholas always shooting at the cat and scaring off his other tenants.

Next we have "The Deadly Game of G-H-O-S-T" drawn by Leonard Starr and reprinted from House of Mystery #11. At a meeting of the Occult Society, leader Alice has brought her boss along as a guest to join the members in a game of Ghost, where each person says a letter, spelling an occult word. The person who finishes a word fives times is said to be the ghost. A member named Philip Gregg is the loser and to everyone's surprise vanishes into thin air. Robert Trent, another member refuses to believe that it was nothing more than a parlor trick, but that night, as he tried to sleep he is visited by the ghost of Gregg, who says he knows that Trent murdered his business partner. The next day, Gregg's ghost follows Trent to his work.

Alice asks if he is OK, but Trent says he is fine, but the ghost is everywhere and he finally breaks down, admitting that he killed his partner when he found out Trent was embezzling money from the company. A few moments later the police arrive and arrest Trent. It is revealed that she suspected her boss of killing his partner and staged the whole thing using luminescent paint and hidden speakers.

Leonard Starr worked in comics from 1948 to 1957, mostly for DC doing mystery and western books. In 1957, Starr created the newspaper strip On Stage, which he wrote and drew till it ended in 1979. In 1979 he revived the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. and drew it till he retired in 2000. In 1980 he created Kelly Green with Stan Drake as a series of graphic novels about a sexy female action heroine, which were illustrated by Drake. He also ghost wrote Rip Kirby for years and also worked in animation for a time. He died June 30, 2015.

We end with "The Thing in the Chair" by Jack Oleck and Tom Sutton. Parents bring their girl to a healer that lives in the swamp and offer him twenty dollars if he can drive Satan out of the girl. The girl claims she is a witch and calls the old man a fake, but when he says he has cured her the parents pay him anyway. She visits the old man several times demanding he return her parent's money and hexes his animals and well. When she tells him that she sees him and Death sitting in the same chair he becomes angry with her and throws her out. She hits her head and is killed. He disposes of the body in the swamp but there is a witness who alerts the authorities. He is tried, convicted and meets his end in the electric chair.

Tom Sutton started in comics in 1967 with work for both Marvel (Kid Colt Outlaw) and Warren, (Eerie #11), spending the next few years working for both companies, including a stint on Marvel's parody book, Not Brand Echh! and Vampirella's origin story in Vampirella #1. 

This was Tom's first work at DC, where, for a time, he did mainly horror and war stories, including a  long stint on I... Vampire in House of Mystery from 1981 to 1983. In 1984 he began a five years stretch on DC's Star Trek book, beginning with issue #1 and ending with issue #55. He also did work on Batman, Dr. Fate, Swamp Thing, Hacker, Hellblazer, Animal Man and the Doom Patrol. Tom also did work for Atlas, Skywald, Eclipse, Eros, Fantagraphics, First and Charlton. Police found Sutton dead of an apparent heart attack in his Amesbury apartment on May 3, 2002.

The entire book was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB. 

Binky's Buddies #12

Binky's Buddies #12 (On Sale: September 8, 1970) has a cover by Stan Goldberg and Henry Scarpelli. It features the side panel on the left, like all the DC humor books started using. This is the last issue of this title.

We begin with Binky's Buddies in "Kisses, Kisses, Kisses" by Henry Boltinoff, Doug Crane and Henry Scarpelli. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #45.

That is followed by Benny in "What More Can Happen?", drawn by Stan Goldberg.

Next we have Buzzy in "Flattery Will Get You Everywhere."

We end with another tale of Buzzy, "Big Charade."

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Adventures of Jerry Lewis #121

Adventures of Jerry Lewis #121 (On Sale: September 8, 1970) has a cover by Bob Oksner.

We begin with "Schnook and Ladder" by Alan Riefe and Bob Oksner. While playing checkers at the local firehouse, Jerry's new bicycle is stolen. Jerry accidently catches a ride with the firemen to a fire, only to end up on the end up on the wrong end of a the ladder and saving fire-eater Madame Flamazola. Jerry ends up falling through a skylight and into the shop of the bicycle thieves. In the ensuing paint gun fight, Jerry set a torch to a crate, resulting in so much popping that the bicycle gang feels out numbered and gives up. Ends up they were in Popopski's Popcorn factory. With the help of the firemen, Jerry recovers his stolen bicycle.

Next is  "Pizza Pie in the Sky"  written by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman and Howie Post, drawn by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell and reprinted from Adventures of Jerry Lewis #109. Jerry takes a job at a pizza booth, but can't get the hang of tossing the dough and ends up getting fired, as usual.

That is followed by our cover story, "A Boob in the Woods" by Alan Riefe and Bob Oksner. When Renfrew complains about Uncle Jerry's guitar playing and singing, Jerry heads to the woods for quiet place to practice. Instead of quiet, he runs into the gun-toting hillbilly family, the Shacknastys: Paw, twins Clark and Errol and daughter Sairy June. Jerry is taken at gunpoint to join their family band and ends up caught in their feud with the Jugbender family.

Jerry escapes but runs into a music producer who wants to tape the two families music. Jerry agrees to help (for money), and the producer ends up signing both families to contracts. Jerry takes his money and buys a tuba, causing Renfrew to ask him to go out to the woods to practice.

We end with "Low I.Q. High Snafu" written by Don Segall, penciled by Bob Oksner and inked by Oksner and Tex Blaisdell, and reprinted from Adventures of Jerry Lewis #108. Jerry takes a job painting flagpoles, but starts at the bottom ending up trapped at the top till the paint dries.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.