House of Mystery #181

House of Mystery #181 (On Sale: May 8, 1969) has another beautiful cover by Neal Adams, with some wonderfully moody coloring.

We begin with "Sir Greeley's Revenge" by Otto Binder and Frank Springer. Except for a single story printed in House of Mystery #257 in 1978, this is the last DC story by the great Otto Binder. This is also the last DC story for Frank Springer for seven years. This is a great little story about orphan Tim Halloway taken in one cold winter night by the rich and powerful Sir Greeley. He is a kind man who takes an immediate liking to the poor child, particularly when he find that Tim has a natural ability on the piano. The Sir's affection for Tim does not sit well with his spinster sister Abigail and his nephew Percy.

They try to toss Tim back to the streets, but Sir Greeley steps in and lets them know that they too stay at his house solely due to his generosity. Sir Greeley provides Tim with the best of piano teachers and Tim's abilities grow, but death comes one night for Sir Greeley. At the reading of his will, Abigail and Percy learn that they are only given half of Sir Greeley's estate and the the other half goes to young Tim, provided he can perform at a concert and not make a single mistake, thus proving him worthy.

Abigail and Percy begin to distract Tim from his practicing for the concert, forcing him to ride horses, which they purposefully startle in an unsuccessful attempt to break Tim's arm. The ghost of Sir Greeley returns to keep young Tim on the right path. The next day Abigail makes Tim split logs for hours, creating swollen, bleeding hands that are unable to practice. Seeing the depths to which his kin will stoop, Sir Greeley's ghost lures Abigail and Percy to the basement where they uncover a cache of gold coins which rain down upon them. Suddenly they realize that the coins are filling the room and that it is too late for them to escape. They die swallowed up by the fortune they craved.

When the concert finally comes Tim plays flawlessly and wins the entirety of Sir Greeley's estate, which pleases the old ghost very much. Reprinted in House of Mystery #229.

After a Page 13 by Sergio Aragones we have "The Siren of Satan" by Robert Kanigher and Bernie Wrightson. The artwork is vintage very early Bernie Wrightson, with lots of cross-hatched backgrounds and Frank Frazetta-inspired figures, but the story by Kanigher is a real turd involving the ancient Egyptian princess Re-Na. She was the most beautiful of women, but the god Ro-Tan placed a curse on anyone who would fall in love with her. Even after her death, we see that throughout the centuries, one captive of her affection after another died from the curse of Ro-Tan. Her beautifully carved sarcophagus eventually makes it's way to America and is purchased at auction by Jason, who, believing that everyone is plotting to steal Re-Na from him, hides out at the House of Mystery and shelters the sarcophagus in a nearby cemetery.

When Jason's fiancé traces him to the House, Cain points her to the cemetery where she finds Jason slumped over the sarcophagus and at her touch his body turns to dust. We are then asked who will next fall victim to the curse? Could it be you?

Sergio Aragones ends the book with another round of Cain's Game Room. The entire contents was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Detective Comics #377

Detective Comics #377 (On Sale: May 28, 1968) has a cover by Irv Novick.

"The Riddler's Prison-Puzzle Problem" is by Gardner Fox, Frank Springer and Sid Greene. The Riddler is compelled to leave clues for Batman concerning his upcoming robberies, but the crook finds a way to hide the clues from Batman by making them extremely difficult to see and booby-trapping them. Despite the Riddler's new plan, he is still captured by Batman and sent to jail.

When the Riddler is quickly bailed out of jail, Batman takes his place in the jail cell. Reprinted in Batman #260 and Batman: Featuring Two-Face and the Riddler TPB.

The back-up Elongated Man story, "The Case of the Clumsy Crook" is by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. Thief Taps Carter believes that his criminal career is jinxed. While he never seems to be apprehended by police, he also fails to get away from his crimes with the loot. He decides to make one final heist before giving up crime. He steals a gold bracelet from Ralph Dibny's suitcase that is hidden inside a bottle of Gingold. As Carter makes his escape, his car collides with another containing a gang of crooks. The other crooks then take the bracelet.

When Ralph finds the bracelet has been stolen he goes after it. He finds the three crooks and captures them easily, recovering the bracelet in the process. Carter is wandering the woods and happens upon some counterfeit currency plates. The Elongated Man sees him while returning to the hotel. Carter denies any involvement with the plates, but confesses to the other crimes.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Our Army at War #195

Our Army at War #195 (On Sale: May 2, 1968) has a cover by Joe Kubert, another great Kubert angle.

Inside we have Sgt. Rock in "Dead Town" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. The back-ups are "A Promise to Joe" from G.I. Combat #97 by Hank Chapman and Irv Novick and "Nobody's Friend" drawn by Frank Springer.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superboy #148

Superboy #148 (On Sale: April 4, 1968) has a cover by Neal Adams.

"Superboy's Greatest Gamble" is written by Leo Dorfman, pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Sheldon Moldoff and Jack Abel. Continuing from last issues, having left his foster parents, the Kents, Superboy goes to Casino City and assumes the identity of Chuck Kibbee. He searches a carnival until he finds a couple who are running a crooked game. He then reveals to them that he is Superboy and offers to become their son.

Working with his new parents, the Zeros, Chuck breaks the bank at an underworld casino. The racket boss Hal King realizes that Chuck is Superboy. He then threatens to kill the Kents. The Boy of Steel acts like he doesn't care.

The back-up story, "The Canine That Outclassed Krypto," is by Cary Bates, George Papp and Frank Springer. Superboy is called by an alien zookeeper to help track down a dangerous space bird that has escaped. The Boy of Steel recaptures the bird and saves a space dog in the process. The alien dog which possesses super powers follows Superboy back to Earth. The dog then tells Superboy telepathically that he is a Zkor and his originally family was recently killed. He requests that Superboy make him his new pet.

Zkor helps Superboy fight crime, but when Krypto returns to Earth he becomes jealous of the new pet. Zkor consistently outclasses Krypto.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Secret Six #2

Secret Six #2 (On Sale: April 2, 1968) has a cover by Nick Cardy that is not very impressively colored.

"Plunder the Pentagon" is plotted by E. Nelson Bridwell, scripted by DC newcomer Joe Gill (brought over by new editor Dick Giordano and doing his first DC work here) and drawn by Frank Springer and was reprinted in The Brave and the Bold #120.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Secret Six #1

Secret Six #1 (On Sale: February 1, 1968) features the second strange DC cover of the month. This Frank Springer cover is actually the first page of the story

(Code Name:Mockingbird) is by E. Nelson Bridwell and Frank Springer. The Secret Six are six trained specialists who are blackmailed by the mysterious and never seen Mockingbird (who communicates through pre-recorded messages) into going on missions. Think of it as Mission: Impossible with a twist. One of the six is not who they appear to be; one of the six is actually Mockingbird.

Which of the six are who they appear to be and which one is their blackmailer? How can they work as a team knowing that one of them is pulling all the strings? This was a completely new type of book for DC and a real breath of fresh air in 1968. I was a big Secret Six fan!

The Six are:

King Savage, who was a pilot during the Korean War, and was shot down and ended up revealing secrets to the enemy. Mockingbird freed him and allowed him to warn the UN. He works for Mockingbird or else Mockingbird reveals that he is not a war hero, but a coward. He was the stunt guy in the group.

Carlo di Rienzi, who was a magician in Italy, who fell afoul of the mob. They killed his wife and severely injured di Rienzi and his son. Mockingbird gave him the treatment he needs to be able to walk, but if he does not work for Mockingbird, the treatment vanishes. He was an escape artist.

Lili de Neuve was a famous actress framed for murder. Mockingbird came up with an alibi to save her, but if she did not work for him, the alibi would vanish. She was a masterful disguise artist.

August Durant was a famous scientist who was infected by enemies of America with a virus. Mockingbird devised an antidote, but he only gave Durant enough of the antidote so that Durant would need to keep coming back to him for more. And if he did not work for Mockingbird? You guessed it. Durant was the brains of the group.

Crimson Dawn was a socialite who was hoodwinked by a "suitor." She was so ashamed that she needed Mockingbird to create a new identity for her, as a famous model (Mockingbird did this with the help of Lili de Neuve). If she did not work for him, he would reveal her identity. She was the seductress of the group.

Tiger Force was a boxer who refused to take a fall. He was beaten by the mob, but saved by Mockingbird. He then created a new identity, which Mockingbird will reveal if Force does not work for Mockingbird. He was the brawn of the group.

This issue was reprinted in Brave and the Bold #117.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superboy #145

Superboy #145 (On Sale: January 2, 1968) features just another cool Neal Adams cover.

"The Fantastic Faces" is by Otto Binder, George Papp and Frank Springer. Jolax, the head of Galaxo Movie Studios in the dimension known as Thraxx, has created a new show for that dimension's equivalent of television. When most people believe the show is filmed in Jolax's studio, it is really filmed with a telescope that can penetrate dimensions and features Superboy. The show is a hit, but sponsors want Jolax to cast younger foster parents for the Boy of Steel. To accomplish this, Jolax sends a youth formula to Smallville and puts it in the Kents' well water.

When the Jonathan and Martha drink the water they their youth is restored. Superboy initially thinks the effect is temporary, but soon realizes it is permanent. Fearing that the sudden youth of his parents will draw suspicion that Clark is Superboy, the Boy of Steel arranges for other senior citizens of Smallville to drink the water. He then creates a phony comet which is blamed for the youth effect. Superboy's identity is safe, and the Kents remain young.

The back-up is "Superboy Meets William Tell" from Superboy #84 and is by Jerry Siegel and George Papp. Clark Kent is assigned to write a report about William Tell. To research the facts, he travels back in time as Superboy. Superboy witnesses the events that lead to Tell shooting the apple off his son’s head. Just prior to the historic event, Tell’s confidence is shaken. Superboy allows Tell to practice on him as an invulnerable target. Tell eventually gets it right before the actual event in which he succeeds on the first try.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superboy #144

Superboy #144 (On Sale: November 16, 1967) features nice cover by Curt Swan and George Klein. I know for a fact that this is the first issue of Superboy I ever bought; my golden age was just beginning.

"Superboy's Lost Identity" was by Otto Binder, George Papp and Frank Springer. When Superboy prepares to stop the Mechanical Mob from stealing an armored car he discovers that his own uniform has been replaced by one with an unknown design. After apprehending the crooks, he heads for home in his Clark Kent clothes, but is sidetracked by a compulsion that leads him to a different house. Inside he finds that the Quentins believe he is their own son Kirk.

Superboy is unable to solve the puzzle, so he visits the Kent house and discovers another boy inside. The Kents claim this other boy is their own son, the real Superboy. Despite his best efforts the Boy of Steel cannot convince them of the truth or even that he has super powers.

Superboy then investigates the attic at the Kent house where he is attacked by Jor-El and Lara, who claim to have come from Krypton, which was never destroyed. He then follows Krypto on a trip through time in which his strange costume is shredded.

When Superboy returns to the present, the Quentins tell him the truth.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

House of Mystery #172

House of Mystery #172 (On Sale: November 16, 1967) features interesting, though not well-colored cover by Frank Springer featuring Dial H for H.E.R.O.

We begin with Martian Manhunter in "Manhunter's Stolen Identity" by Jack Miller and Joe Certa. The Martian Manhunter follows Ivor Sandez, Mr. V's top lieutenant, hoping the trail will lead back to his boss. When he reaches one of Vulture's mountain hide-outs, J'onn assumes the form of Sandez. However, a nearby martian meteor causes Sandez to assume J'onn's form and powers.

In the Martian Manhunter's body, Sandez tries to make himself the head of Vulture. In Sandez's body, J'onn is pursued by Vulture agents who believe that he led the Martian Manhunter to their hide-out. J'onn hopes to delay Sandez long enough for the meteor to burn out which will restore him to normal.

Our back-up is the cover-story "The Monsters from the H-Dial" by Dave Wood and Frank Springer. When Robby uses the H-Dial to become a super-hero and battle a tornado, his friend Jim is transformed into a menacing fireball. Robby fails to make the connection between Jim and the fireball. Later when Robby becomes Chief Mighty Arrow to handle an earthquake, Jim becomes another weird monster.

Following his strange transformations, Jim is placed in the hospital with no knowledge of his predicament. Robby uses the H-Dial again, and Jim becomes yet another menace. This time Robby sees the change. After rescuing a freighter, Robby is attacked by Jim in monster form. Reversing the H-Dial, Robby returns both himself and Jim to normal.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Batman #197

Batman #197 (On Sale: October 19, 1967) features another great Carmine Infantino cover, this one inked by Mike Esposito.

Inside "Catwoman Sets Her Claws for Batman" is by Gardner Fox and the unusual art team of Frank Springer and Sid Greene. This was Springer's first work at DC as just a penciler. Prior to this book Springer had inked three issues of Superboy and penciled and inked this month's Dial H for HERO story in the House of Mystery.

Catwoman has fallen in love with Batman and decides to impress him by giving up her life of crime and becoming a crimefighter too. She sees Batgirl as a rival for Batman's affection, so while stopping several robberies, Catwoman also tries to make a fool out of Batgirl.

After proving herself to be a superior crimefighter than her rival, Catwoman expects Batman to propose. When he doesn't Catwoman gives him an ultimatum. He must marry her, or she will return to crime. Batman still refuses, so she captures the Caped Crusader along with Robin and Batgirl. Reprinted in Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 2 TPB and Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

House of Mystery #171

House of Mystery #171 (On Sale: October 5, 1967) has a Dial H for Hero cover by Nick Cardy. This is Nick's only cover this month. In a few years Cardy and Neal Adams will be doing the majority of the DC covers.

"The Micro-Monsters" is the Dial H for H.E.R.O. story written by Dave Wood and drawn by Frank Springer (#170 being Jim Mooney's last). The Doc Morhar's gang breaks into a chemical plant to steal rare chemicals. Robby Reed follows the crooks as King Viking. Robby smashes into their hide-out while Morhar is performing a chemical experiment. An accidental chemical spill causes Robby and the crooks to shrink into a microverse.

Robby encounters a race of sentient microbes bent on dominating the Earth. He tries to enlist Morhar's help in stopping the microbes, but the crook turns on him. Robby, in the super-hero form Go-Go is captured.

Doc Morhar leads the microbes to Earth and explains how to take over the planet.

The back-up feature is "The Martian Marauders" starring the Martian Manhunter and it's by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Superboy #142

Superboy #142 (On Sale: August 17, 1967) sports a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein. Purple Gorilla Alert! Purple Gorilla Alert!

"Superboy Goes Ape" is written by E. Nelson Bridwell, penciled by George Papp and inked by Frank Springer. Superboy is exposed to Red Kryptonite. This time he is transformed into a monkey and is forced to work for an organ grinder. Lana buys a license for him and gains ownership. She intends to expose Superboy's secret identity, but before she can act a secondary effect of the Red Kryptonite causes Superboy to grow into a giant ape that menaces Smallville.

Miles away, Beppo the Super-Monkey sees Superboy with his super-vision. He comes to fight the super-ape, but is also exposed to the same piece of Red Kryptonite. Beppo changes into a double of Superboy possessing his intelligence too.

The second Superboy story, "The Shyest Boy in Town" is a reprint from Superboy #80 by Robert Bernstein and John Sikela. The school psychologist is worried about Clark Kent’s shy behavior, so she encourages the students and teachers to help build Clark’s confidence. Clark, wanting to maintain his shy personality to protect his dual identity, sabotages the attempts made to bolster his confidence.

After the students enlist Superboy to aid them with their campaign to help Clark, Clark shows up at school a changed person. He acts overconfident and downright rude to his fellow students. They realize that they miss the old Clark and despise his new personality.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superboy #140

Superboy #141 (On Sale: June 29, 1967) sports a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

"No Mercy for a Hero" is written by Jim Shooter, penciled by George Papp and inked by Frank Springer. Ron-Avon from the aggressor world Belgor comes to Earth to challenge Superboy. If the Boy of Steel refuses to meet the challenge or loses, Ron-Avon threatens to turn the residents of Smallville into lifeless metal. Superboy agrees to the challenge and bests the alien boy in two out of three challenges.

After losing the contest, Ron-Avon pleads for Superboy to kill him. When the Boy of Steel refuses, he learns that the boy's parents will be killed by the rulers of his world unless Superboy kills Ron-Avon.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superboy #140

Superboy #140 (On Sale: May 18, 1967) sports a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

"The Wizard of Odds" is written by Jim Shooter, penciled by Al Plastino and inked by George Klein. Crime boss and gambler Lucifer Chancel sets up operations in Smallville. He invites underworld gangsters to bet on various situations with which he creates for Superboy. The Boy of Steel must stop the Gambler's men on several occasions and evade traps set for him. The Gambler's luck seems to hold until Superboy tricks the gangster and shakes his confidence.

The backup story is "Beware the Mad Dog of Steel" written by Otto Binder, penciled by George Papp and inked by Frank Springer. While playing tag with Krypto, Superboy discovers a space capsule containing vials on Kryptonian diseases. Krypto is accidentally exposed to Kryptonian rabies. Superboy must flee, since Krypto's bite is now deadly to him. Krypto chases him and manages to bite Superboy's foot before the rabies wears off.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.