Young Romance #175

Young Romance #175 (On Sale: August 12, 1971), has a cover by I'm not sure. Some say Jay Scott Pike, but, not likely I think. The grease pencil style of inking looks more like Win Mortimer or even Jack Sparling, but I don't think it is Sparling.

We begin with "The Wall Between Us" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. A social worker becomes infatuated with one of her out-of-work clients.

Next up is "Man's View" by Robert Kanigher and John Romita and reprinted from Girls' Love Stories #92 (1963). Jim has a girl in every port and doesn't want to get tied down, but when he meets Nina he can't get her out of his mind. Reprinted in Heart Throbs: The Best of DC Romance Comics HC (1979) and Heart Throbs: The Best of DC Romance Comics SC (1979).

That leads us to "A Girl Without Love" drawn by Artie Saaf and Vince Colletta. Gloria's family is affluent and her parents force her to go out with wealthy escorts, but she finds them boring. Then she meets a musician who works in a gas station to make ends meet.

Next, we have "My Summer Romance" drawn by Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Secret Hearts #25 (1954). Vivian returns to Lighthouse Island to reminisce about a summer romance that had ended badly.

We end with "The Love Game" drawn by John Rosenberger and reprinted from Young Love #42 (1964). Phyllis' glamorous older sister teaches her that all fellows should be treated coldly and ruthlessly to avoid getting hurt by them.

Edited by Dorothy Woolfolk.

All-Star Western #8

All-Star Western #8 (On Sale: August 5, 1971), has an Outlaw cover by Tony DeZuniga.

We begin with Outlaw: Billy the Kid in "The Scavenger" by John Albano and Tony DeZuniga. Billy the Kid gets arrested for gunning down two men and is locked up with a one-eyed scavenger who tries to take her boots. However, when the Sheriff gets mixed up, the one-eyed man stabs the Sheriff and takes his boots instead. Billy and the scavenger then decide to escape jail together.

However, when making their escape, they are stopped by robbers who want to know the location of where the scavenger hid their loot. When they find out that Billy is a girl, the scavenger talks them into drawing against her, Billy, with the scavenger's help, gets the draw on them and shoots them all dead. The scavenger then tells Billy to leave without him as he's going to occupy himself with the pickings of the dead, but in reality, the scavenger was only making an excuse to stay behind and hold the law that is after Billy occupied while she got away. Reprinted in Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Next up is Buffalo Bill in "The Magic Thunderstick" by Dave Wood and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Frontier Fighters #3 (1956).

Our next reprint is Pow-Wow Smith in "The Sheriff's Birthday Party" by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Western Comics #78 (1959). 

Next, we have "Timber Wolf" drawn by Gil Kane and Tony DeZuniga. Ben Armstrong is herding a steer and a cow to his ranch when a timber wolf starts hunting them.

We end this El Diablo-less issue with Davy Crockett in "The Renegade Fur-Traders" drawn by John Prentice and reprinted from Frontier Fighters #6 (1956).

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Action Comics #404

Action Comics #404 (On Sale: July 29, 1971), has a Superman cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin with Superman in "Kneel to Your Conqueror, Superman" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Superman is tricked into the clutches of Rufus Caesar, a "human computer" who uses an apparatus of his own devising to drain the Man of Steel's superpowers and infuse them into his own body.

Our first reprint is the Atom in "The Specter of 3000-Moons Lake" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Atom #5 (1963). Ray Palmer and Jean Loring accompany millionaire Don Morgan to where he keeps his cottage at 3000-Moons Lake. There, a series of strange thefts and supernatural activities have become the subject of debate. Since the grounds are the location of an ancient Indian curse, the people of 3000-Moons Lake are torn between believing in the curse or summing up all the strange happenings as unrelated pranks by local children.

Ray decides to investigate as the Atom, and when another subject of strange supernatural events occurs, the Atom learns that they are really being caused by resident Fred Harris, who is using the old curse to get away with the thefts. However, the Atom tricks him into confessing by pretending to be an ancient Indian spirit (really shrunk down in size and hiding in Harris's ear) and incapacitating him by throwing off his center of balance.

Next, we have Aquaman in "The Coward and the Hero" by Jack Miller and Ramona Fradon and reprinted from Adventure Comics #220 (1956). Aquaman meets Johnny Blake, a former war hero who is now scared of the water. Johnny is humiliated when he won't dive into the water to save his own girlfriend. Aquaman saves her, then doubles as Johnny to save the man's reputation. 

His hoax is soon discovered. Aquaman explains that Johnny crashed into the water during the war and barely survived which has led to his fear. Aquaman then stages an accident where Johnny must enter the water to save him. Johnny unknowingly dives in to save Aquaman and regains his courage.

We end this issue with Superman in "The Day They Killed Clark Kent" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Clark Kent teaches a lesson to a group of fraternity brothers who like to haze new pledges.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Green Lantern #85

Green Lantern #85 (On Sale: June 24, 1971), has a classic Green Lantern/Green Arrow cover by Neal Adams. If you saw this on the stands and did not buy multiple copies, you needed to check your pulse as you may have been dead.

We begin this issue with the classic Green Lantern/Green Arrow tale "Snowbirds Don't Fly" by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams. Oliver Queen is attacked by thugs on the street, and despite beating them soundly, he is surprised when he is shot in the shoulder with one of his own arrows. Finding no help from strangers, he crawls to a hospital and collapses before anyone offers him help.

After being treated, Ollie calls up his friend Hal Jordan to discuss the significance of the arrow. Ollie suggests that he had been neglecting his ward Speedy, and worries that he may have been captured. They follow Ollie's lead to a basement, where they find a withdrawing junkie begging for a fix from a Mr. Browden. Green Arrow and Green Lantern force their way into Browden's apartment, capturing him and the junkie.

Elsewhere, the same thugs who attacked Oliver earlier are waiting for their friend, the same junkie that was caught by the heroes, to return with their fix. Roy Harper (Speedy) appears to be with them. Suddenly, Green Lantern and Green Arrow burst through the ceiling and subdue the junkies. Oliver assumes that Roy is undercover, and tells him to sit the remainder of the mission out, while he takes out the dealers.

The junkies lead Green Lantern and Green Arrow to the dealers' hideout, but they turn on the duo in order to get their fixes as a reward. With the heroes subdued, the dealers forcibly intoxicate them with their drugs and plan to discredit them by calling the police. Fortunately, before the police can arrive, Roy shows up gets them to safety, with some effort.

Back at Arrow's tenement, Roy explains that without a father figure, someone might look for comfort in drugs. Despite this, Oliver is horrified to discover that Roy has become a junkie himself, while he and Green Lantern were traveling cross-country. This classic tale has been reprinted in Green Lantern/Green Arrow #5 (1984), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection Vol. 2 TPB (1993), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection HC (2001), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Vol. 2 TPB (2004), Showcase Presents: Green Lantern Vol. 5 TPB (2011), Green Lantern/Green Arrow TPB (2012), Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow HC (2016), Green Arrow: A Celebration of 75 Years HC (2016), Green Lantern (Facsimile Edition) #85 (2020), and Green Lantern:80 Years of the Emerald Knight the Deluxe Edition HC (2020).

The backup is "The Strange Trial of Green Lantern" by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Green Lantern #11 (1962). After a series of uncharacteristic episodes in which Green Lantern had almost committed various crimes, he is brought before his fellow Green Lanterns for sentencing. The court of his peers is told of each incident: How Hal entered a bank, used his power ring to stun the tellers but left without taking any money; Hal almost bullied himself into not paying a $100 entry fee for a gallery; and finally how he procrastinated in saving a young man who had fallen out of a window. Deciding not to punish Hal because he had not actually done anything illegal, Hal demands that the other Green Lanterns punish him because he feels he has lost control. Putting it to a vote, they agree to do so, devest Hal of his Green Lantern emblem and power ring, seal him in a capsule, and launch it into space.

While traveling through the void, the capsule is suddenly transported to the Antimatter Universe and to the planet Qward, where Hal is brought before Sinestro. Sinestro explains that he escaped his imprisonment in his last encounter because he had a spare power ring hidden in the heel of his boot and manage to escape to Qward to plan an act of new revenge against the Green Lantern. He then explains he used a device to alter Green Lantern's personality so that he became selfish but couldn't push him into doing anything illegal.

Suddenly the other Green Lanterns arrive to save Hal, having suspected Sinestro's involvement they played into his hands. However, Sinestro traps them all in a room made of yellow material. Giving Hal back his power ring, he comes up with the idea of using it to pull chemicals out of the air and make an acid strong enough to melt through the walls. Freeing themselves, they easily capture Sinestro and subject him to his own machine. Imprisoning him with the device which would tell him over and over that he cannot escape.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Strange Adventures #231

Strange Adventures #231 (On Sale: May 27, 1971), has a really cool cover by Sid Greene. 

We begin with our cover feature  "Attack of the Flying Gorillas" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #125 (1961). A small planetoid populated by flying gorillas approaches Earth and begins to steal its atmosphere.

Next up is the Atomic Knights in "Here Come the Wild Ones" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #160 (1964). The Knights encounter a roving band of boys who want to become outlaws when they grow up. Marene disguises herself as a boy and infiltrates the group.

Kadey and his Blue Belts stumble upon a pre-war invention that turns people into automatons. They use it to enslave the rebel boys until the Knights defeat them. This is the last Atomic Knights story and they will not appear again till Hercules Unbound #10 (1977).

That is followed by "The Martian Masquerader" by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #67 (1956).

Next, we have "Assignment in Eternity" by Otto Binder, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #83 (1957).

This brings us to Adam Strange in "The Challenge of the Crystal Conquerors" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #71 (1961). Adam Strange catches the Zeta-Beam to Rann where Alanna greets him and explains that crystal beings called the Karalyx have arrived on Rann and began immediately attacking the world. The weapons of Ranagar city are ineffectual against the creatures, so she takes Adam to a secret hideout on Crater Island to hopefully design a weapon to defeat the Karalyx. There Adam devises a weapon that uses ultrasonics that he hopes will destroy the invaders. In attempting to use the weapon, it does not work, and "Alanna" reveals herself as Kathifran, one of the Karalyx who has taken Alanna's place. She explains that they are fugitives from the Karalyx's homeworld and they plan to switch bodies with all the humans of Rann so that when the police of their own world arrive, they would destroy the Karalyx bodies that contain the minds of the people of Rann. She goes on to explain that they created a being known as Akabubu an "electro-nuclear brain" that allows them to create this feat. With Adam Strange defeated, the renegade Karalyx plot to not only take over Rann but other worlds as well, including Earth.

Taken to Akabubu, Adam has his body switched with one of the Karalyx, named Tragdol. Now in a Karalyx body, Adam is reunited with Alanna and the other people of Ranagar that have been converted. To their surprise, they are unable to use any of the Karalyx's fantastic powers. Instead, they secure weapons and attempt to attack, however in a subversive move, the fake "Adam" and "Alanna" use it as a way to convince the people of Rann that they are who they pretend to be. The fake "Adam" and "Alanna" then round up all of the Ranagarian's that are trapped in Karalyx forms and dump them in the Lake of Insalla.

Adam realizes this lake is where Ranagar's drinking water comes from, and the group travels into the refinery plant. In traveling through the filtration system they realize the Chlorine that is used to purify the water weakens their crystalline bodies. Realizing that Chlorine is the weakness of the Karalyx and that they can contact Akabubu telepathically, the converted Adam Strange has his soldiers collect bottles of pure Chlorine from the refinery and then orders Akabubu to change them back into humans. Before the now restored Karalyx renegades can command Akabubu to reverse the process, Adam uses Chlorine on them and they are soon defeated. Soon the police of Karalyx arrive and are informed of what happened.

Later, Adam tells Alanna that he planned for the ultrasonic device to fail to begin with because he was tipped off that something funny was going on when the fake Alanna had kissed him. After getting a kiss from the real Alanna, the Zeta-Beam wears off and Adam is once more returned to Earth.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

DC Special #13

DC Special #13 (On Sale: May 4, 1971), has a Strangest Sports Stories Ever Told! cover by Murphy Anderson. OK, I was never a fan of this strange genre of story, but Julie Schwartz sure seemed to love them.

We begin with "Warrior of the Weightless World" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Brave and the Bold #49 (1963). Spaceball was a new sport of the future, combining zero-gravity with basketball. Cray Duncan was a great player, but he didn't really like the game. When war broke out between Earth and the Creon Empire, Cray enlisted himself to fight. Little did he know that his knowledge and expert abilities in Spaceball would help the army win the war.

Next up is "Super-Athlete from Earth" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #125 (1961).

That is followed by "The Fishermen of Space" by Joe Millard, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #94 (1958). 

Joe Millard was a comic book writer during the 1940s and 1950s, mainly at Quality where he wrote Blackhawk, The Barker, Plastic-Man, and Doll Man, and at DC, where he wrote 13 Sierra Smith stories in the late 40s and seven science fiction stories in the late 50s. In the 60’s Millard left comics and began to write paperback originals the most well regarded of which was a science fiction novel, The Gods Hate Kansas, (filmed as They Came From Beyond Space), and a series of novels based on Clint Eastwood’s character The Man With No Name, first doing novelizations for The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly and For A Few Dollars More, then following that with four more novels unrelated to any films in which he gave "Blondie," abilities that seemed to come straight out of the comics.    

Next, is "The Martian Horse" by Manny Rubin and Howard Sherman and reprinted from Mystery in Space #9 (1952). Manny Rubin wrote 18 stories for DC between 1951 and 1953 before leaving the business for film. He wrote "The Best of Everything", "Brainstorm" (the 1965 film starring Jeffrey Hunter, not the Christopher Walken film), "Warning Shot", "The First Deadly Sin, and "The Human Shield".  For TV he wrote for many shows including Studio One in Hollywood, Tales of Tomorrow, Dynasty, The F.B.I., The Feather and Father Gang, The Fugitive, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, The Mod Squad, Perry Mason, Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky & Hutch, and Dragnet. He died in 2013.

We next have another tale written by Manny Rubin. "The World Where Dreams Come True" is drawn by Alex Toth and Sy Barry and reprinted from Mystery in Space #7 (1952).

We end with "Saga of the Secret Sportsmen" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Brave and the Bold #47 (1963). The world of the 30th Century has embraced a laid-back lifestyle, thanks largely to an invention called the Sportscaster, which lets the user play virtual sports games from the comfort of their own home. Real sports, in fact, have been outlawed altogether for the danger of being too physical. But beings from Uranus have begun an invasion of Earth, and only a secret organization of real sports-lovers have the will to stop them.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

From Beyond the Unknown #11

From Beyond the Unknown #11 (On Sale: April 27, 1971), has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

We begin with our cover story, "Invaders from the Space-Satellites" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #43 (1958). In a future where Earth is ravaged by the after-effects of an atomic war, scientists decide to change the past so the atom bomb was never created.

Next, is "It's a Woman's World" by John Broome, Bob Oksner, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Mystery in Space #8 (1952). Greg Dexter lives in a time when women were in charge and men were fit only for housework. He battles to become the first Rocket Cadet and heroically saves a mission to stop a wandering planet.

That is followed by "The Billion-Year Evolution" by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #70 (1961). In 2178, Doctor Fred Gibson is on Jupiter searching for his fiancé, Elsa. His romantic rival, archaeologist Phil Travis, finds her first but lacks the medical knowledge to treat her properly. Gibson, however, finds ancient Jovian technology that reveals its history: scientist Halfar Kal invented a "Droga Ray" that evolved the Jovians into pure energy, allowing them to travel throughout the galaxy. Gibson uses the ray on himself and as an invisible energy being helps Travis save Elsa. Travis returns to Earth, but the grateful Elsa opts to stay with Gibson, who used the ray to return to normal.

Next up is "The Warning from One Million B.C." by Otto Binder and Sid Greene and reprinted from Strange Adventures #109 (1959). Clyde Harrison and Professor Beatty uncover seven robots while digging in the desert. The robots come to life and start to build some mechanism, but is it for good or evil?

That brings us to "'Terra' of the Spaceways" by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #59 (1960). Jorg Randall is a repairman of the Terra, a common space vehicle. When the daughter of the maker of the vehicles crashes on a planet, Jorg is there to rescue her.

And next up is "The Man Who Ate Sunshine" by Joe Samachson, Jerry Grandenetti, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #71 (1956). Charlie Linton doesn't eat but gains weight because his body is absorbing sunshine. He uses his new ability to power the first small manned rocket into space.

We end with "The 60 Million-Mile Long Weapon" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #131 (1961). Aliens begin to plow the planet Earth to grow their strange crops, but scientist Eric Taine has an idea on how to stop them from destroying the planet.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

All-Star Western #6

All-Star Western #6 (On Sale: April 8, 1971), has a cover featuring the new Outlaw, Billy the Kid, by Tony DeZuniga. Editor Orlando decided to keep the Outlaw name on the covers but replaced the Rick Wilson storyline with one featuring Billy the Kid.

Our first story is Outlaw in "Billy the Kid... Killer" by John Albano and Tony DeZuniga. Billy the Kid's father has been murdered and Billy has been on the killer's trail. Tracking down a Mexican named Poncho, Billy believes him to be the killer, however, Poncho tells Billy that he saw the killers of Billy's father. Agreeing to be taken to the killer, Poncho takes Billy out into the desert.

After camping, the next day Billy wakes up to find that Poncho stole everything including Billy's pocket watch. Tracking Pancho to a house, Billy finds the woman has all his money in her possession but also learns that she is blind. Finally tracking down Poncho, Poncho tells Billy that the watch was stolen. Deciding that they need more money to buy new provisions, Billy takes up a job in a town to stop Blackie Kane, a gunfighter who has been terrorizing the town.

However before Billy can round up Blackie, Billy has to rush a boy to the town doctor when a horse spooked by Kane tramples the boy. While Billy is off saving the boy's life, learning of who caused the trouble, Poncho goes after Blackie on his own. Blackie tricks Poncho and shoots him with a gun hidden in his hat. Billy returns and finds Poncho near death, Poncho hands over Billy's pocket watch. After killing Blackie and after burying Poncho, Billy takes a look at the picture inside. The picture is of Billy and her father, and we learn that Billy is secretly a girl named Billy Jo. Reprinted in Jonah Hex and Other Western Tales #2 (1979) and Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Next up is Wild Bill Hickock in "Town Tamer" written and drawn by Gil Kane. It is 1871 and Wild Bill leaves Abiline, Kansas late one night, having tamed the town and no longer needed there. While contemplating the fate of a wild man in a tamer and tamer world, Bill is attacked by a grizzly bear. Losing his gun, Hickock must kill the bear using only his knife and in doing so, reconnects to his true being. Once the bear is dead, Hickcock mounts his horse and rides off in search of the next town to tame. Reprinted in Jonah Hex and Other Western Tales #3 (1980).

We end with "The Night of the Snake" written by Denny O'Neil and Gil Kane, penciled by Gil Kane, and inked by Tony DeZuniga. Bick Lupson was a trouble-making cattle minder. One night while drinking on the job, Bick leaves his post to find some more fun and ends up finding a cabin owned by a native woman. 

The woman has a pet snake, a servant to the great spirit she worships. Bick promptly kills the snake and attempts to rape the woman. The woman's trapper husband comes home interrupting Bick but Bick shoots them both in cold blood. Before dying, the woman curses Bick with the curse of the snake. 

Haunted by the sound of rattlesnakes, Bick races back to the ranch where his employers tell him to get back to work. The increasingly frightened Bick is dogged by the sound of the rattlesnake until his horse, spooked badly enough, throws him off it and into a ravine. Bick soon finds himself confronted by a giant snake and the ghost of the woman who he killed welcoming him to Hell. Reprinted in Jonah Hex and Other Western Tales #3 (1980) and Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Strange Adventures #230

Strange Adventures #230 (On Sale: March 25, 1971), has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

We begin with "Secret of the Moon Sphinx!" by Otto Binder, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #36 (1957).

Next is the Atomic Knights in "Threat of the Witch-Woman" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #156 (1963). The Atomic Knights help Fred Dromer and his mother from the nearby town of Harrow. The people of Harrow have chosen to live without technology and have now branded Fred's mother a witch. Henrietta Dromer is really suffering from a hallucination sickness that spawns two-dimensional energy creatures. 

The Knights stop the creatures and protect Henrietta from them and the townspeople. With the help of the New Orleans medical school, Henrietta is cured. The people of Harrow decide to give up their hatred and fear of science.

That is followed by "Search for a Lost World!" by Edmond Hamilton, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #67 (1956).

Next, we have "The Life Battery!" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #78 (1957).

Next up is "Prisoner of Two Worlds!" by Bill Finger and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #58 (1955).

That is followed by "Riddle of the Runaway Earth!" by Otto Binder, Sid Greene, and John Giunta and reprinted from Mystery in Space #40 (1957).

We end with Adam Strange in "Vengeance of the Dust Devil!" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #70 (1961). Adam Strange returns to Rann, unknowingly carrying Jakarta, the last surviving Dust Devil. It found a way to avoid being turned into glass like the rest of his race and, seeking revenge, he attacks Ranangar. 

When the pair return to Earth near Melbourne, Australia, Adam accidentally discovers that static electricity can freeze Jakarta, traps him with a Wimshurst Machine (a machine that discharges electricity), and then turns the Dust Devil over to Australian authorities where he is immobilized and kept in a prison laboratory.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Heart Throbs #131 (On Sale: February 16, 1971), has a cover by Werner Roth and Vince Colletta.

We begin this issue with "Kisses Without Love" drawn by George Tuska and Vince Colletta. When Fran's boyfriend elopes with another woman she doesn't believe she can love again but before long she finds herself torn between two more men.

Next, we have "His Other Love" drawn by Gil Kane and Joe Giella reprinted from Secret Hearts #22 (1954). Lizabeth accepts Vernon's sudden marriage proposal, but when they visit his home town she finds out about his former relationship with Vera, whom everyone expected him to marry.

This issue ends with  "My First Romance" drawn by Win Mortimer and Vince Colletta. Susan is reluctant to marry David, especially when her first boyfriend Allan shows up unexpectedly.

Edited for the first time by Dorothy Woolfolk.

From Beyond the Unknown #9

From Beyond the Unknown #9 (On Sale: December 15, 1970), has a cover by Gil Kane. Some say this is by Neal Adams, but some people will say anything.

We begin this issue with our cover story, "The Man Who Moved the World" by John Broome, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #34 (1956).

Next is "Riddle of Asteroid 8794" by Otto Binder and Frank Giacoia and reprinted from Mystery in Space #50 (1959).

That is followed by "The Two-Way Time-Traveler" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #143 (1962).

Next, we have "The Man Who Aged Backwards" by Otto Binder, Manny Stallman, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #96 (1958). A space traveler finds himself aging backward.

We next have "The Last Horse on Earth" by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #108 (1959).

The next story is "The Sky-High Man" by Otto Binder, Mike Sekowsky, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #49 (1959). 

We end this reprintalosa with "Doom-Trap for Earth" by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #72 (1961).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

All-Star Western #4

All-Star Western #4 (On Sale: December 15, 1970), has a nice Outlaw cover by Neal Adams. 

We begin with Outlaw in "No Coffin for a Killer" by Robert Kanigher and Gil Kane. When the Coffin King and his Coffin Gang capture Paolma, the Coffin King is captured. Set to hang, the Coffin King tells Samuel Wilson that if he hangs, so will Paloma, however Samuel will not shirk his duty as a lawman.

However, Rick has other ideas and rides in and rescues the Coffin King under the pretense that he wishes to join up with the Coffin Gang as they have the best hide out in the area and that he needs a place to lay low. However, when Rick is taken to their hide out, he soon drops his cover as a careless criminal when night falls and with the help of his hawk, Rick manages to rescue Paloma, and kills King Coffin in a one-on-one duel. Rick returns Paloma home, however when his father exits the house with a shotgun, Rick, still the Outlaw, leaves. Reprinted in Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Next is "Jumpity!|" a one-page text story with an illustration by Sal Amendola.

We end with El Diablo in "Satan with Spurs" by Robert Kanigher and Gray Morrow. El Diablo stops a group of masked men who are harassing rancher Noah Johnson and his family. However, when El Diablo is distracted, the men abduct Noah's wife. Noah himself is too cowardly to fight despite El Diablo's encouragement. 

He rides to the ranch of Duke Dorrance, the man behind the attacks to plead for his wife. Dorrance laughs at him. Spurred on by El Diablo, Noah finally stands up for himself and fights back. El Diablo handles the gang while Noah and Duke fight with fists. In the end, Noah's wife is rescued, and Dorrance will no longer threaten Noah or his neighbors.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Super DC Giant S-22

Super DC Giant S-22 (On Sale: December 1, 1970), has a "Top Guns of the West" cover by Joe Kubert. 

The reprints begin with Johnny Thunder in "The Betrayal of Johnny Thunder" by Robert Kanigher and Gil Kane and reprinted from All-Star Western #97 (1957).

That is followed by Nighthawk in "The Man Without a Mask" by France Herron, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Western Comics #59 (1956).

Next is Matt Savage Trail Boss in "The Dance Hall Queen and the Desperadoes" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Western Comics #85 (1961). Matt and Lute help an injured man, Dave Hardin, on the prairie. He was robbed by two bandits who stole the money he intended to use to buy a ranch. His girlfriend Abby Simms has the rest of the money, and he suspects the thieves will go after it. Matt offers to help, but the thieves get their first. They use Abby as a hostage then escape with the stolen money.

Matt pursues them alone since Hardin was injured during the confrontation with the bandits. The outlaws split up. Matt catches the first one, but he doesn't have the stolen money. When Matt catches the second thief, the bandit throws the money into a quicksand bog. Matt returns to town with two prisoners, but without the money.

After dropping off the outlaws, Matt believes he was tricked. He returns to the prairie and finds the stolen money under a rock. The outlaw dropped it and threw a money bag filled with rocks into the quicksand. Matt was tipped off because the money bag sank too quickly. Matt then returns the money to Dave and Abby who use it to buy a ranch. 

That is followed by Bat Lash in "Melinda's Doll" by Denny O'Neil and Nick Cardy and reprinted from Bat Lash #2 (1968). Bat Lash is about to be married to the youngest of the Gilkin daughters at gunpoint when youngsters he hired earlier release bags of mice into the church and cause a ruckus allowing Bat to escape though he loses his coat and right boot in the process. He rides off on Daisy into a snowy blind canyon.

Further in the canyon, a Marshal and his daughter, Melinda, are trying to escape two gunmen when their covered wagon hits a rock. The Marshal hides a metal cigar case inside Melinda's doll, Suzy, and hides Melinda in a hollowed tree stump. The Marshal is shot and killed. Bat arrives later and takes the Marshal's coat and boots when Melinda appears believing Bat to be her father (likely due to fear/denial). Bat takes her to the nearest city, Serenity, where he unsuccessfully tries to pass Melinda onto other people earning the ire of the townsfolks. This is observed by Samuel E. Styff, undertaker, who mistakes Bat for the Marshal whom he had ordered killed.

Bat goes into Polly's Inn to get some dinner and discovers Polly takes in children who have lost their parents. Two of Styff's henchmen enter but Bat chases them off causing Polly to take Bat's guns/belt until he's ready to leave. However, Styff promises a free funeral to whoever kills the Marshal, and Bat is forced to flee without his weapons. Bat and Melinda enter the cellar of the funeral parlor and hide in coffins and are unwittingly transported to the cemetery. There they discover that Styff has been selling guns to Native Americans by hiding/transporting the guns in coffins. 

Bat witnesses this and pockets the Native Americans' payment when they are ambushed by Styff and his men. One of them shoots Melinda and a tearful Bat takes them all down. Bat discovers Melinda is alive, the doll having stopped the bullet and Bat discovers the metal cigar case inside of which is a receipt proving Styff's actions. Bat takes the captured criminals back to town and reveals what's been happening to the townsfolk who are angry as the Native Americans have been using their guns against the townsfolk. They cart the criminals off to jail and Polly takes custody of Melinda; Bat gives Polly a bag of gold to pay for her care. Bat then enters a restaurant and begins wooing the beautiful Patty Lou Smithers when Melinda enters unwittingly driving off Patty and angering Bat. She only wanted to say goodbye and give Bat a flower she picked for him. Bat hugs her and takes her back home.

We end with Johnny Thunder in "The Gauntlet of Thunder" by Robert Kanigher and Gil Kane and reprinted from All-Star Western #104 (1958).

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Detective Comics #407

Detective Comics #407 (On Sale: November 25, 1970), has another cool cover by Neal Adams.

Man-Bat is back in "Marriage: Impossible" by Frank Robbins, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano. When Batman learns about the pending marriage between Kirk Langstrom and Francine Lee, he races down to the cathedral to stop the wedding. Interrupting the ceremony, he pulls a mask off Langstrom's head, revealing the face of the Man-Bat. Man-Bat flies off through the window leaving guests horrified and Francine in tears. Batman grabs her, demanding to understand how she could marry Kirk after everything that has happened.

He recalls how he tried to cure Kirk after their last battle against one another and even brought Francine to the Batcave, hoping she could convince Kirk to accept the antidote. This tactic failed and Kirk had escaped the cave the same way he got in. Francine then tells Batman how she pledged to show how committed she was to Kirk by taking the bat gland extract herself. She pulls off her veil and a mask revealing that she is now a She-Bat.

Francine flies off into the rafters and Batman chases after her. The Man-Bat peers down from above and tries to crush Batman with a chandelier. Batman evades the oncoming missile and sprints up the cathedral staircase. Batman rings the cathedral bell, which causes the Man-Bats intense pain. Taking advantage of the situation, Batman knocks them both out and administers the antidote, turning them back to normal. This story has been reprinted in Man-Bat #1 (1984), Batman in the Seventies TPB (2000), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 HC (2004), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB (2012), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2013), Batman Arkham: Man-Bat TPB (2017), and Batman by Neal Adams Vol. 2 TPB (2019).

Our backup is Batgirl in "One of Our Landmarks Is Missing" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane, and Vince Colletta. Continuing from the last issue, Batgirl had stumbled upon the fact that the leader of the group Peaceful Protest has begun resorting to bombings to get the group's message across.  However, this revelation has gotten her trapped in a room where if she steps off a circle in the middle of the room the entire place will explode.

While Batgirl is utilizing her cape and a boot to try and turn off the switch that activates the explosives, Mal, Shelley, and the Peaceful Protest group pay a visit to a man named Slavin, who had hired Mal to bomb the building in question. The building in question was protected as a heritage building, which prevented Salvin from building a new high rise apartment building.

Batgirl arrives and with the help of Shelly, captures everybody involved, however, Shelly is shot attempting to stop Mal from escaping. Shelly is taken to a hospital where is expected to recover and testify against Salvin. This was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Strange Adventures #228

Strange Adventures #228 (On Sale: November 12, 1970), has another cool cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with our cover story, "The Day the Earth Split in Two" by John Broome, Sid Greene, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Mystery in Space #31 (1956).

Next, we have Adam Strange in "The Fadeaway Doom"  by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #68 (1961). One day on the planet Rann, high above the city of Ranagar, a message ordering the people of the city to surrender within one day appears. Alanna's father Sardath asks the military's second in command Kaskor to summon all the fighting men to Ranagar. Their unknown threatener, seeing that an army has been mobilized somehow makes all the fighting men disappear. Alanna then goes to the location where Adam Strange will appear via the Zeta-Beam. When he arrives Alannais about to inform Adam of what is going on when they are attacked by a wild Tigrabar, but before it can attack the two find themselves transported to a baron world. There they find the missing soldiers and Alanna has time to tell Adam what happened.

Soon they are attacked by Dust Devils, which tips Alanna to the fact that they have been transported to the planet Rhynthar, which is home to a species of sentient dust clouds. When the creatures attack, Adam learns that they are composed of a form of Sodium that is super-heated, and exposure to sand would turn them into glass. With this in mind, Adam and the soldiers begin to fight off the Dust Devils.

After defeating the Dust Devil's, they are contacted by a pre-established television monitor and soon find that the mastermind behind their defeat was their own second in command, Kaskor, who developed a device based on the Zeta-Beam to transport his enemies onto Rhynthar. He explains when the Zeta-Charge from his weapon wears out they will not be returned to their place of origin, but instead fade into oblivion. Shortly, the original Zeta-Beam that brought Adam to Rann wears off and Adam is returned to Earth.

There, Adam has a duplicate of Kaskor's uniform made in a costume shop and then travels back to Rann on the next Zeta-Beam. Once back in Ranagar, Adam disguised as Kaskor is able to sneak to the palace and confront the real Kaskor. Telling the shocked Kaskor that he is his conscious, the rebel shoots Adam with the Zeta-Ray once more. When nothing happens, Adam grabs the device and uses it to send both him and Kaskor to Rhynthar.

There, in a panic of his own impending doom, Kaskor explains that it's a half-charged blast from the Zeta-Gun that is lethal and that a full charged blast would reverse its effects. With a solution to their predicament in hand, Adam reverses the effects of the Zeta-Gun to return all the Ranagarian's back home. Before returning himself and Kaskor back to Rann, Adam explains he made Kaskor's first shot ineffectual by using a radio transmitter as a jamming device. He then returns Kaskor and himself to Rann. There, Kaskor is sent to prison, and Sardath destroys the Zeta-Ray. With his mission accomplished the Zeta-Beam wears off and Adam is returned home once more.

This is followed by "Dream-Journey Through Space" by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #58 (1955).

Next up is "The Hothouse World" by Gardner Fox, Mort Drucker, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #13 (1953).

That is followed up by "The Last Television Broadcast on Earth" by Bill Finger, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Mystery in Space #28 (1955).

Next is "Detour in Time" by Gardner Fox, Jerry Grandenetti, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #89 (1958).

We end with Atomic Knights in "The Plant That Hated Humans" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #150 (1963). A botanist in a nearby town has developed a new strain of plant life capable of growing in the post-war environment. The new plants have telepathic abilities and can walk. 

The Atomic Knights discover that the plants plan to attack human settlements. However, they can't fight the plants directly because they are outnumbered. Instead, the Knights strike at a nearby dam, cutting off the water supply to the plant creatures. Without water, the plants die almost instantly. The plant army is defeated, but the Knights continue their vigilance in case they strike again.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Detective Comics #406

Detective Comics #406 (On Sale: October 29, 1970), has a Batman cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with Batman in "Your Servant of Death -- Dr. Darrk" by Denny O'Neil, Bob Brown and Frank Giacoia. When shipping magnate Count Orsoni is attacked and almost killed, Bruce Wayne decides to visit the man, who is an old friend. Upon arriving at the Count's castle in the foreign country he resides, Bruce is welcomed by Mara Thursday, the Count's cousin and Dr. Darrk, one of Orsoni's friends. However, Bruce is not allowed to see the Count, although he is invited to stay in the place.

Having previously stopped the League of Assassins from murdering another shipping magnate, Bruce decides to investigate the case as Batman and he starts prowling the castle, looking for the Count. He is distracted when Mara Thursday screams in her room and when Batman enters, she makes up a story about an attacker that left without harming her. Batman deduces that this was all a distraction and he rushes to the Count's chambers, but he finds nothing but an empty room.

Batman deduces that the Count was kidnapped recently and he starts looking in the castle, when he is suddenly attacked by another member of the League of Assassins. Batman manages to defeat the assassin and he proceeds to look on the hidden places of the castle. Batman finally reaches the cellar, where he finds the Count but falls for a trap and is forced to lay on top of an execution altar. Batman deduces the identity of the killer as Dr. Darrk and he reveals himself as the president of the League of Assassins and prepares Batman for his execution.

Batman is shackled to the altar and forced to hold a rope that keeps an axe from beheading him. Dr. Darrk leaves with the certainty that Batman's grip will surely fail and he forgets about the Count. As Batman in fact starts losing his strength, the Count recovers and, crawling aimlessly, he pushes the statue of a saint on top of the altar, which falls near Batman's head at the same time as he lets go of the rope. The axe falls on the statue, saving Batman's life and the shackles are broken by the impact.

Batman takes the Count to safety, but by the time he goes to the main rooms of the castle, he finds only the assassin he previously defeated and Mara Thursday. Darrk has left the place long ago and Batman arrests Mara and the assassin, who confess all they know about the League, which is not much. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 5 TPB (2012).

The backup story is Batgirl in "The Explosive Circle" by Frank Robbins, Gil Kane and Vince Colletta. When a residential building is blown up, the sole clue is a book taken out from Gotham Public Library. Finding the book is popular among young hippies/protesters, Barbara Gordon decides to investigate further as Batgirl. Tracing the address of the last person to take out the book in question, Batgirl finds that it belongs to a girl who is a member of the youth group Peaceful Protest. However, when Batgirl informs her the book was found at the site of a bombing, the girl freaks out and slams the door on Batgirl.

Tailing the young woman to a theater known as "Up Against the Wall Baby", Batgirl soon stumbles upon the groups leader Mal who has decided peaceful protesting no longer works and wants to begin using more violent methods. Finding Batgirl at their latest rally, she is knocked out during a performance and when she comes too, she finds that Mal has placed her in a room rigged to explode should she step out of the circle she is standing on. Obviously, continued next issue. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB (2007) and Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2018).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Witching Hour #12

Witching Hour #12 (On Sale: October 22, 1970), has another great cover by Nick Cardy. 

Steve Skeates was one of my favorite writers after coming over to DC from Charlton with Dick Giordano, and editor Giordano let Steve own this issue of the Witching Hour. From top to bottom, stem to stern, this is Skeates' issue dealing entirely with the duality of man.

It begins with a one-page framing sequence by Skeates and Alex Toth and it is just wonderful. Toth's smooth exaggeration of the three witches' faces is just priceless as Cynthia tries on a new hat. Just lovely work. 

The framing sequence blends right into our first tale, "Double Edge" by Steve Skeates and Alex Toth. which delves into the double-nature of man. The good, the evil and the ability of talismans of power to amplify each of these. When a teenage boy finds a talisman in an old junk shop, he is sure it has real powers, but one day his step-mother sends him out to do his chores and throws away all of his "junk." A few days later he decides to run away from home and he never returns. He goes to the dump, but is unable to locate his talisman, figuring that some tramp must have found it. 

He spends the next years in search of the talisman or one just like it, which eventually brings him to Los Angeles and the old Pryor Mansion and the old bag who lives there that many say is a witch. He figures that she must have a talisman and he intends to take it and use it for good. One night, as he approaches the old house he is attacked by a bolt of pure energy and the old witch is upon him. Realizing that the man only has the powers of a neophyte, she tows with him as his strength slowly dissipates.

The witch decides she is tired of the game and throws one last high energy bold at the man, only he holds up a charm that reflects the bolt back at the witch, killing her.  As he approaches her body he sees that it is his step-mother and her talisman is the one she said she threw away all those years ago. The three witches watch as he sits in shock and wonder if he will use the talisman for good or follow in his step-mother's footsteps.

Next is "Double Take" by Steve Skeates and George Tuska with an assist on the witches by Alex Toth. An actor is being blackmailed so he decides to end his problems by killing the blackmailer. After shooting him in his apartment, he is confronted by a director and film crew in the room who tell him he has to do it over as he did not follow the script. When the director says they need to do it again, the blackmailer gets up and the actor shoots him again then makes a break for the door. The director tells him to wait, that he needs to go over to the mantel and wipe off his fingerprints. Protesting that he never touched the candlestick, the actor does as he is told, and then starts to leave the apartment. When he opens the door he is confronted by the police and as they arrest him he yells at the director that it is all his fault, but of course, the police don't see anyone else in the room. This story was reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #24 (1982).

We end with "Double Cross!" by Steve Skeates, Gil Kane and Dan Adkins. A young woman joins a yoga class where, unknown to her, the instructor is a Satanist. He teaches her to see the normally unseen forces of good and evil struggling her possession of her soul and this frightens her to the point of wishing to discontinue her studies. He gives her a charm in order to dissuade her from quitting, telling her that it will ward away evil spirits. What she doesn't know is that the charm is supposed to ward away good spirits. When the evil creatures that only she can see accost her, she accidentally drops the charm down a grate. 

She goes to the yoga instructor in order to procure a stronger charm, but the Satanist assumes that she has been possessed and invites her to join their black mass. When he sees that she is upset and confused, he realizes that her soul has not yet been claimed for evil and has his demons pursue her. She breaks the glass of a department store window in order to seize a cross to ward them off. She explains all this to police who tell her she will have to wait in a cell to see if the department store owner wishes to press charges. They remove the cross from the hysterical woman as evidence and leave her terrified waiting in the cell for the demons to find her, unsure if she will be strong enough to fight them off without the cross.

The entire issue was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Witching Hour Vol. 1 TPB (2011) and was edited by Dick Giordano.

All-Star Western #3

All-Star Western #3 (On Sale: October 15, 1970), has a gorgeous El Diablo cover by Neal Adams that is only the beginning of a comic art extravaganza. I love every single thing about this cover and grabbed this off the stands immediately. The foreground figures are lifted almost in tact from an interior panel by Gray Morrow, but the addition of El Diablo leaping over the cabin and that unique color palette just adds to the dynamic scene.

This issue begins with Outlaw in "Death Deals the Cards" by Robert Kanigher and Gil Kane. This issue features some beautiful work by Kane, who was really starting to hit his peak about this time. With his father still hot on his trail, Outlaw Rick Wilson joins up with Dix, a train robber who has targeted a train which Rick's Texas Ranger father is traveling on. When Dix's men pull guns on Rick they reveal Dix's plan to kill Rick as well, since Dix does not trust the son of a Texas Ranger With the help of his hawk, Rick manages to to turn the tables on the men taking them out. At the same time, Rick's father is able to get the drop on Dix sending him of the train and to his death. Rick then flees the scene to avoid being captured by his father. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1 TPB (2006).

Next is a text story, "And the Sun Beat On" by Mike Friedrich, is about a train robber being chased by deputies. The robber is on the wrong horse at the wrong time.

We end this issue with a real gem, We are to learn the origin of El Diablo in "Call Him Satan--Call Him Saint!" by Robert Kanigher and Gray Morrow. Morrow's artwork on this entire series is just stunning and this issue is no exception. When an old prospector, Pop Woods, is bushwhacked on night, he is rescued by the masked rider, El Diablo. Pop says that he recognized the men as being members of the Hanged Man's Gang, who made his daughter, Ellie,  a widow and his grandson an orphan. Like a shadow, El Diablo disappears.

We go back 33 days to the town of Puerta Del Sol in Southern California, where we witness bank teller Lazarus Lane being humiliated in the streets by a group of men accosting Nora Hayes. A few hours later the same men come into the bank in masks and kill fellow teller Albert before making away with a month's payroll. Later Albert's wife calls out Lazarus in front of the town for being a coward and doing nothing to stop Albert's murder. Ashamed and saddened, Lazarus rides out to his hacienda where he is met by Wise Owl, an old native medicine man taken in by Lazarus after he was shunned by his own people. While Lazarus explains what happened in town , Wise Owl tells him that all men are "given a chance to even accounts...sometimes in mysterious ways."

A week later, Nora has visited Lazarus and talked him into taking her for a buggy ride. However, they are stopped by the Hanged Man Gang and this time Lazarus is determined to protect Nora, But he is lassoes and drug into a river. When a soaking wet Lazarus stands up to the men, he is struck by lightning and before the gang can react, a barrage of bullets erupts from the other side of the river and they hightail it out of there. Wise Owl emerges from the trees and ride across the river. He takes Lazarus to the hacienda while Nora heads off to retrieve her father, the town doctor.

When they return, they hear Wise Owl singing an Apache chant for the dead and fear they are too late, but inside they find Lazarus sitting in a chair. Though his heart is still beating, he appears to be in a waking coma of some sort. Wise Owl explains that "Paleface medicine is useless here, It is best that you leave us alone. I will look after him." As they leave they hear Wise Owl taking up the chant of the dead once more. For days and nights Wise Owl looks after Lazarus, administering herbs and root drugs till finally, he opens his eyes.  Lazarus speaks of strange dreams and how is now living on borrowed time, how the lightning which should have killed him instead split his soul asunder. He is now two men, the husk of Lazarus Lane and someone else, "a shadow...a phantom...a devil of a man with a task to be done before I can rest. Tonight the part of the man that is Lazarus Land sleeps, while his other self rides as...El Diablo."

Meanwhile, at Pop Woods' ranch, The Hanged Man and his gang have broken in and are eyeing the widow Ellie. The Hanged Man explains that it was Ellie's husband who was the foreman of the jury that found him guilty and that it was only by freak accident that he did not die when he went through the trap door. When his men cut him down and revived him, he swore revenge on her husband and his whole family. When one of his men go to the well for water he is attacked by El Diablo's bolo and a few minutes later the cabin starts to fill with smoke. The Hanged Man sends one of his men to see what has happened but he is gunned down by El Diablo, up on the roof. 

The Hanged Man comes out holding a gun to Ellie's head and tells El Diablo to drop his gun, which he does. HE chides El Diablo for being a fool but is silenced when el Diablo's bolo strikes him in the neck, hanging him once again, this time from a porch post. El Diablo rides off, returning to the Lane Hacienda where he removes his costume and returns to his chair by the fire. "The watchful moon listens..." as Wise Owl once again takes up the Apache chant of the dead. This classic DC western has been reprinted in Weird Secret Origins #1 (2004), DC Universe: Secret Origins HC (2012) and DC Universe: Secret Origins TPB (2013).

Edited by Dick Giordano. 

From Beyond the Unknown #8

From Beyond the Unknown #8 (On Sale: October 8, 1970) has a  cover by the unusual team of Gray Morrow and Neal Adams.

We begin this mostly reprint book with our cover-story, "Station Mars on the Air" by John Broome and Sy Barry and reprinted from Mystery in Space #25 (1955). when Martian scientists aim powerful telescopes toward Earth they see our vibrant population and decide to build a ship and visit us. On their way to Earth they pas through an ionic storm and when they reach us, everyone on Earth is dead from some unknown blight. they return to Mars but when they look at Earth again, everyone is still alive. They theorize that the ionic storm passed them through a time warp and to the future and they return to Earth to warn us of our impending disaster. They are successful when our scientists destroy a new chemical compound they were working on that the Martians pinpointed as the cause of our destruction.

Next is "Riddle of the Counterfeit Earthmen" by Otto Binder, Gil Kane and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Mystery in Space #54 (1959). Two astronauts reach Titan for the first time only the aliens that live there do not believe they are actually from Earth as they do not look like the Titanians have deduced they should. When two other "Earthmen" show up and look as the Titanians think they should, they are accepted, but they threaten to destroy Titan. Tee real Earthmen are able to expose the frauds and save Earth from a retaliation attack from Titan. 

That is followed by "Across the Ages" by John Broome, Jerry Grandenetti and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #60 (1955). While transporting Cleopatra, Napoleon and Columbus from the past to the future the National Historical Society's Time Conductor's time machine breaks down in the 20th century. Sad to say that not much of real interest happens before they are returned to their proper times.

Next we have "The Dreams of Doom" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #132 (1961). An alien arrives to conquer the Earth with the weapons he dreams while sleeping. This one is so bad I can't even repeat the details to you. Just a dreadful story.

We reach  the one piece of new material in this book: "Earth Shall Not Die Part II" and continued from last issue. his story is by Denny O'Neil and Murphy Anderson. Last issue we learned that Commander Glenn Merritt believes that aliens are attacking the space program and convinces Congress to set up a base on the moon for him to investigate his theories. This issue, Merritt and his crewman, Sgt. Tempest are attacked by alien ships and are only able to survive when another alien ship comes to their rescue. During the resulting fight, the rescue ship is damaged and crashes on the moon. Merritt and Tempest land and are attacked by an alien, which they are able to subdue and tie up in their ship.

When he awakens the alien, K-way-zzer, explains that he comes from a war-like people who were going to attack Earth. He demanded peace instead and was forced to fee his world, being chased by the ship he just help disable. When the other aliens show up to kill the Earthmen and K-way-zzer, Merritt and Tempest are saved when K-way-zzer uses Merritt's gun to kill the attackers. K-way-zzer joins forces with Merritt and Tempest to defeat his fellow aliens. It ends with, "Is this the Beginning?"

It wasn't, but two things to mention here. First, Murphy Anderson's artwork is just terrific and this would have been an interesting strip to watch. Second, this strip was not to star Commander Glenn Merritt, but rather Major Matt Mason. Yes, DC was going to do a book on the popular Mattel toy, but it fell though at some point and Mason's name was changed to Merritt.

Our next tale is "The Incredible Eyes of Arthur Gail" by Edmond Hamilton, Sid Greene and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #77 (1957). An accident causes Arthur Gail to lose the ability to see anything that is not organic which allows him to clear himself when charged with stealing his companies secret formula

We end with "Meet Your Masters -- the Ants" by Manny Rubin, Bob Oksner and John Giunta and reprinted from Strange Adventures #23 (1952). In the past giant ants are destroyed by humans but they send their eggs into space to return 10,000 years later.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

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.