DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

DC Special #11

DC Special #11 (On Sale: January 7, 1971), has a Beware...the Monsters are Here! cover by Neal Adams and Berni Wrightson.

We begin with a framing sequence drawn by Sergio Aragones. Cain holds a monster convention at the House of Mystery. A variety of monsters overrun the house forcing Cain to call an exterminator to remove them.

Our first story is "The House of Gargoyles" by Jack Oleck and Jack Sparling and reprinted from House of Mystery #175 (1968). From the first issue of the modern DC horror comics, this story introduces the House of Mystery and Cain as its caretaker. After his girlfriend leaves him for his rival Francois, a French sculptor tries to design a new cathedral for a contest. When his designs do not work out, he kills Francois and steals his plans. Francois curses the sculptor with his dying breath. The sculptor builds the cathedral including two stone gargoyles that come to life and chase him.

The sculptor flees and eventually finds his way to the House of Mystery. He takes up residence in a guest room which he never leaves. The gargoyles follow and perch silently on the roof.

The townspeople are aghast. Some believe the gargoyles are haunts, others believe they are merely ugly stone carvings. Jimmy, a young boy, is fascinated by them. He visits the House and meets Cain, who sends him up to talk to the sculptor. The man is horrified that the gargoyles have found him.

Jimmy returns later with two friends. They climb to the roof and play a prank on the sculptor. Jimmy yells out that the gargoyles are gone. The sculptor opens the shudders to his window and looks outside. The gargoyles then come to life, grab the man, and carry him away. The gargoyles and the sculptor are not seen again.

Next is "The Moon Monster" drawn by Bernard Baily and reprinted from House of Mystery #97 (1960). Radiation from a meteorite transforms a man into a strange creature that affects gravity like the moon.

The next story is "The Creatures from Nowhere" drawn by Jack Kirby and George Roussos and reprinted from House of Mystery #70 (1958). When strange creatures appear all over town, anthropologist Tom Conroy is called to try to understand where they came from.

The framing sequence drawn by Sergio Aragones continues here. 

That is followed by "Return of the Barsto Beast" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from House of Mystery #116 (1961). A film crew comes to a town to make a movie about a monster that terrorized the town years earlier. During filming the star is turned into a monster.

Next, we have "Prisoners on Beast Asteroid" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from House of Mystery #113 (1961). Two space explorers on a distant asteroid are menaced by four creatures that emerge from mysterious capsules.

This is followed by a one-page text story by Len Wein entitled "Moonstruck."

Next is "The Stone Sentinels of Giant Island" drawn by Jack Kirby and reprinted from House of Mystery #85 (1959). A scientific expedition comes across an unknown island with stone statues resembling those on Easter Island. After one of the statues comes to life, Prof. Spears deciphers an tablet and discovers that the statues are sentries for an ancient alien base under the island. Luckily, the tablet also tells the scientists how to deactivate the sentries, and they are able to escape before the island submerges.

We end with the final piece of the  framing sequence drawn by Sergio Aragones. 

Edited by Joe Orlando.

DC Special #4

DC Special #4 (On Sale: May 22, 1969) has a cover by Neal Adams for the 13 Shock-Ending Stories issue.

We begin with a framing sequence for 13 Shock-Ending Stories 13 by Mark Hanerfeld and Bill Draut. This is famous for being the first appearance of Abel, caretaker of the House of Secrets. Not only did Hanerfeld write Abel's first appearance he is the original model for Abel.

Next is "Ghost Writer" drawn by Leonard Starr and reprinted from House of Mystery #19. That is followed by "The Magic Hammer" drawn by Jack Kirby and reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #16 where it was originally entitled "The Magic Stick."

We next have "A Piece of Rope" from House of Mystery #5. Jerry Grandenetti drew "Last Mile Martin" from House of Mystery #15 "The Dream Lamp " is drawn by John Prentice and is reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #1.

Next is "Door of No Return" written by Murray Boltinoff and drawn by George Roussos and reprinted from House of Secrets #62. That is followed by "Beware after Dark" drawn by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella and reprinted from Sensation Mystery #114.

"The Tree Man of Tanganyika" comes to us from House of Mystery #30 and is drawn by Ralph Mayo. Ralph Mayo was the art director of AC Comics in the 1940s. He drew 'Black Terror and Tim' for America's Best Comics, Black Terror and Exciting Comics. He also penciled some 'Miss Masque' splash pages. In the 1950s he drew Jann of the Jungle for Marvel, 'Camilla' for Fiction House and crime stories for Lev Gleason and St. John. He was penciller and/or inker on Dell titles like Dragoon Wells Massacre, Jungle Jim, Lassie, Quentin Durward and Roy Rogers. His first work for DC was in Mr. District Attorney #2 in 1948. He worked mainly on the Johnny Quick feature in Adventure Comics and drew 66 stories in all for DC before his death in 1956. Some of his last work was with Al Williamson on Jann of the Jungle.

Next is "Written in the Sands" drawn by George Papp and reprinted from House of Mystery #26. "The Secret of Salzo the Great" comes to us from artist John Prentice and House of Mystery #2. That is followed by "Secret Locked in the Ice" from House of Secrets #63 and the pen of artist Gene Colan.

Rounding out the issue is "The Bullet Man" drawn by Bernard Baily from Tales of the Unexpected #17 and "The Strange Faces of Death" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from House of Mystery #19.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

House of Mystery #174

House of Mystery #174 (On Sale: March 14, 1968) has a nice spooky cover by new editor Joe Orlando and George Roussos.

Gone is Dial H for HERO, The Martian Manhunter and editor George Kashdan. In their place is an idea that hasn't been attempted since the Comics Code was created in the 1950s: horror is returning to comics, though this first attempt is really just a compilation of old reprints with a new cover and a smidgen of humor from Sergio Aragones.

"The Wondrous Witch's Cauldron" is drawn by Lee Elias and reprinted from House of Secrets #58. "The Man Who Hated Good Luck" drawn by Johnny Quest creator Doug Wildey is from House of Secrets #17 and contains some really beautiful Wildey artwork. A man saves a stranger from a runaway horse and is granted four strokes of good luck, but is told he must turn the first three down to capture the fourth, which is the greatest of them all.

(You'd better hang on to your good luck amulets...) is written by Joe Orlando and drawn by Mad's Sergio Aragones. "Museum of Worthless Inventions" from House of Secrets #13 is drawn by Bernard Baily while "The Court of Creatures," featuring Mark Merlin, is by Jack Miller, Carmine Infantino and Mort Meskin and comes to us from House of Secrets #43.

The entire contents of this book was reprinted in Showcase Presents The House of Mystery #1.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Tales of the Unexpected #104

Tales of the Unexpected #104 (On Sale: October 10, 1967) has a very dramatic cover by Neal Adams. When the mystery/horror craze hits in full stride over the next few years, Adams will be the guy who does the majority of the covers. Here is his first "mystery" cover for DC.

Inside we have "Master of the Voo-Doo Machine" by Carl Wessler and Bernard Baily which would later be reprinted in Unexpected #162, "I Was King of Dagger Island" drawn by the amazing Leonard Starr (known mainly for his 22-year run on the syndicated "On Stage")and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #1 and finally "The 24-Hour Nightmare" drawn by Jack Abel.

Edited by Murry Boltinoff

Tales of the Unexpected #103

Tales of the Unexpected #103 (On Sale: August 8, 1967) has a cover by Bob Brown.

Inside we have "ABC to Disaster" drawn by Jack Abel and "The Unlucky Mr. Lucky" featuring the Green Glob, by France Herron and Bernard Baily. The final story is a reprint from House of Secrets #11, "The Guardian of the Past" drawn by Nick Cardy.

Edited by Jack Schiff

Strange Adventures #204

Strange Adventures #204 (On Sale: June 27, 1967) has a kinda cool Carmine Infantino and George Roussos cover, featuring the Crazy-Quilt Man.

Inside we have "Instant Trips -- Instant Danger" by Jack Miller and Joe Certa, "The Man Who Discovered the West Pole" by Otto Binder, Gil Kane and Joe Giella which is reprinted from Strange Adventures #64 and "The Crazy Quilt Man" drawn by Bernard Baily.

Next issue in these pages Arnold Drake creates his masterpiece hero. I'm tingling already!

Edited by Jack Schiff.

World's Finest Comics #169

World's Finest Comics #169 (On Sale: July 25, 1967) has a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

Inside we have the cover story "The Supergirl-Batgirl Plot" by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and George Klein. While on patrol near Gotham City, Supergirl is attacked by a spectral hand. Batgirl comes to her aid. Working as a team the girls are able to escape the hand which then disappears. The girls then begin a campaign to humiliate and discredit Superman and Batman.

In a series of incidents Supergirl temporarily robs Superman of his powers and upstages him. Meanwhile Batgirl makes Batman act like a coward while fighting crooks. The girls then lock Batman out of the Batcave and steal his equipment. Supergirl also takes the Fortress of Solitude and hides it from Superman. Next the girls kidnap Robin and leave both heroes powerless without even their secret identities.

When the girls the confront Superman and Batman, their real identities are exposed. Superman discovers that Supergirl is really the Kandorian woman Black Flame, while Batman discovers that Selina Kyle the Catwoman has been masquerading as Batgirl. The heroes forces the villainesses to reveal where the real Supergirl and Batgirl are being held. However, before a rescue can be enacted Supergirl and Batgirl arrive from another dimension.

"The Amazing Cube" is a reprint from Tales of the Unexpected #9 drawn by Bernard Baily.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Strange Adventures #201

Strange Adventures #201 (On Sale: April 27, 1967) has a great Carmine Infantino and George Roussos Animal Man cover. What sells better than an purple gorilla? How about a purple gorilla in a black and white pen-striped suit and polka-dot tie? I love the colors on this one too: purple, green and orange.

Inside we have "The Cackling Conjurer" drawn by Bernard Baily. The Animal Man story is the second feature. "The Mod Gorilla Boss" is drawn by Jack Sparling. In it Buddy witnesses a robbery committed by a gang whose leader appears to be a gorilla. Buddy tries to stop the robbery as Animal-Man, but he can't absorb the gorilla's strength. After a pair of battles with the gorilla boss, Animal-Man is captured and locked up.

Edited by Jack Schiff.

This is the last issue of Strange Adventures with the original logo. It lasted unchanged for seventeen years, while the new logo, to be unveiled next issue, will last a year and a half. The problem with some books cannot be corrected by changing the logo. For years Strange Adventures had been the home of odd-ball science fiction stories and third-rate heroes like Immortal Man and Animal Man. In four months it would premiere a strip that would change the look of comic super-heroes forever, though it still would not garner any sales.

Tales of the Unexpected #101

Tales of the Unexpected #101 (On Sale: April 6, 1967) has a cover by Carmine Infantino and George Roussos. Infantino and Roussos seemed to be the team of choice at DC for the science-fiction/monster/mystery books at this time.

Inside we have "The Man in the Liquid Mask" drawn by Bernard Baily, "We Fought the Giant of Island X" a reprint from My Greatest Adventure #9 drawn by Ruben Moreira and the cover story "The Guardian Monster" drawn by George Roussos.

Edited by Jack Schiff.

Strange Adventures #200

Strange Adventures #200 (On Sale: March 30, 1967) has a strange cover by Carmine Infantino and George Roussos.

Inside we have an Enchantress story, "The Guardian Eye" by Bob Haney and Howard Purcell. Alan Dale and June Mooney stumble across a museum robbery. June becomes the Enchantress, but is unable to stop one of the thieves from stealing a "Guardian Eye" from the museum. Shortly thereafter, a monster appears in the city. The Enchantress believes the monster was summoned by the Guardian Eye. The Enchantress would not appear again until 1980 in Superman Family #204.

Next was "The Lair of the Dragonfly" by France Herron and Bernard Baily a reprint from House of Secrets #19.

Lastly was the cover story, "The Man with the Comet Head" by Otto Binder and Jack Sparling.

Pretty boring content for the 200th issue.

Edited by Jack Schiff.