Unexpected #126

Unexpected #126 (On Sale: June 24, 1971), has a cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin this issue with our cover story, "You Are Cordially Invited... to Die" by George Kashdan, Dick Dillin, and Vince Colletta. While on his deathbed, Hiram makes a deal with a mysterious figure for one more hour of life. He ends up having to become the Devil's go-between for others wishing to make the same bargain.

Next up is "Cat Tale" by Murray Boltinoff and Rich Buckler. Mrs. McDougal, an old cat lady, has a disagreement with your landlord.

Next, we have "The Doomsday Drum" by Dave Wood, Joe Maneely, and Joe Sinnott and reprinted from House of Secrets #9 (1958). 

Joe Maneely was mainly thought of as an Atlas (Marvel) artist, but the year before his death in 1958, he started working for DC as well, where he penciled 10 stories in all, half for the House of Mystery. Modern comic fans know little to nothing regarding Joe, who was a master of all genres of comic art and best known as the co-creator of the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo. Had he not died in a commuter-train accident at 32, Maneely would have been one of the greats at Marvel. Stan Lee said, "Joe Maneely to me would have been the next Jack Kirby. He also could draw anything, make anything look exciting, and I actually think he was even faster than Jack."

Our next story is "Please Let Me Die" by Dave Wood and Bruno Premiani. Charlie Kimble hears the voices of his dead cellmates.

Bruno Premiani started his career at Prize Comics with Young Love #4 in 1949 and his first work for DC was that same year in World Finest Comics #42. By 1950, Bruno was working almost exclusively for DC, starting out as a western artist with Tomahawk #1. He stayed with that book for 36 issues. Bruno's real claim to fame came along in 1963 in My Greatest Adventure #80 where he and Arnold Drake created the Doom Patrol. He would stay with the Doom Patrol till the original series ended in 1968. After that series ended Bruno would only draw two more stories, this being his final comic work. All told, Bruno Premiani drew 175 stories for DC.

This story is followed by "The Town That Buried Me Alive" drawn by Alex Toth and reprinted from House of Mystery #149 (1965). A twin is having memory problems, uncertain which one he is.

We end this issue with "Seek Your Own Grave" by George Kashdan and Jerry Grandenetti. Three criminals kill an old prospector hoping to find his cache of gold.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

DC Special #10

DC Special #10  (On Sale: November 5, 1970), has another cool cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with "Nightstick" drawn by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Gangbusters #33 (1953).

Next is "The Three-Foot Sleuth" drawn by the Atlas team of Joe Maneely and Joe Sinnott. and reprinted from Gangbusters #61 (1957).

This is followed by "The Cop Without a Gun" drawn by Ruben Moreira and reprinted from Gangbusters #58 (1957).

Next we have "The Greatest Villain of All Time"  by Jack Miller and Mort Meskin. Detective Harry Fowler was called onto the scene of a strange crime. A man dressed as a character re-enacted a scene from one of Fowler's old movies that he wrote before he became a detective, and stole an antique clock. Harry and Sergeant Collins follow the clues from each of Harry's four movies, just missing the criminal at the scene of the crime. However, through the process of elimination, they discover the thief's identity is the movie director Leif Conrad, who worked with Harry on his pictures.

Finally, they caught up to him when he was re-enacting Fowler's "Phantom of the City", getting ready to jump off a bridge in the famous 'death-dive' scene. Harry manages to trick him by yelling "Cut!", causing Conrad to hesitate. The cops are then able to bust him. Reprinted from Showcase #5 (1956).

This is followed by "The Hostages" drawn by Curt Swan and Ray Burnley and reprinted from Gangbusters #40 (1954). 

Next comes "The Two Faces of Mr. X" by Jack Miller, Curt Swan and Sy Barry. The FBI hires billboard model Don Reed to portray a known criminal overlord, Alex Tate. Tate is supposed to be receiving a list from his lieutenants naming all the underlings in his employ. The FBI captures Tate so that Reed can switch places with him. But unbeknownst to all, Tate was also scheduled to have plastic surgery that day, so that he could change his appearance.

Fortunately, the surgeon, Doctor James, was being forced by the thugs to do the job, so while Reed and the doctor were back in the surgery room, the two of them came up with an exit strategy. While Reed, wearing bandages over his face, distracted the criminals, Doctor James came out with the knockout gas canister and sprayed the men with its contents. Afterward, the FBI came charging in, arrested Tate's thugs, and retrieved the lists of underlings. Reprinted from Showcase #5 (1956)

That is followed by Fireman Farrell: "Fire Under the Big Top" by Arnold Drake and John Prentice. Fireman Farrell reports to Lieutenant Reiner's office where Farrell is informed he will be tagging along with Reiner to perform some fire inspections in the city. Their first destination is the carnival where a major fireworks display will be performed that evening. They confront the manager, Phil Baylor, over the fact that he has not registered with the department and inform him he will have to cancel his show. Baylor's workers complain that he is more concerned with making money than making sure customers are safe, but the unscrupulous manager shrugs off their concerns.

Farrell and Reiner continue their inspection, but the lieutenant soon leaves to complete paperwork, making Farrell work alone. Later, night falls with Farrell still at work, and he is startled from his inspection tour by a firework explosion. The firework goes off course, landing in a big circus tent and starting a fire. Farrell calls for help and rushes to the scene only to find that a child has been left inside. The brave fireman rescues the child and is told that the circus animals are now in danger. While people work to rescue the animals, other local firefighters soon arrive, and Farrell suits up. A lion escapes, but Farrell makes short work of it with the water hose.

As the firemen work to check the spread of the blaze, they notice an elephant trapped on the track of a roller coaster. Using the firetruck and ladder like a crane, Farrell rescues the baby animal, and Baylor is arrested and taken to jail. Reprinted from Showcase #1 (1956)

We end with "Swamp Dragnet" drawn by Nick Cardy and reprinted from Gangbusters #65 (1958).

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Tales of the Unexpected #102

Tales of the Unexpected #102 (On Sale: June 6, 1967) has a cover by Carmine Infantino and George Roussos.

Inside we have "Bang! Bang! You're Dead" drawn by Lee Elias and our cover story "The World's Weirdest... Death Race," featuring the Green Glob, by Dave Wood and George Roussos. The final story is a reprint from House of Secrets #9, "The Doomsday Drum" written by Dave Wood and drawn by two Atlas/Marvel favorites, Joe Maneely and Joe Sinnott.

I've never heard of the Green Glob, but according to the DC User's Guide...

During their 3.5 billion year existence as the Guardians of the Universe, the immortals of Oa made a number of attempts to bring order and justice to the cosmos. The Manhunters, the Halla'S and the Green Lantern Corps were among their best known experiments.

A lesser known experiment was the creation of machines composed of a cohesive plasma with near limitless energy. Unlike the power rings of the Green Lantern Corps, the Oan machines do not require recharging. Odorless and intangible, the Oan creation was invisible except when seen in certain frequencies of green light. The Oan designation is unknown, the plasma became known simply as the "Green Glob."

These machines were released into space and had the ability to temporarily warp reality to "teach a lesson" to a specific individual. How or why the Green Globs choose a specific individual is unknown. The Green Globs feature a form of intelligence beyond the understanding of most sentients. There is no report of any additional Guardian involvement after the Green Globs were sent into space [Angel and the Ape Vol. 2 #3-4].

Unconfirmed reports place the Green Glob on Earth as early as 1966. The stories tell of an entity "spawned in the black reaches of outer space and invisible to human eyes...[having] drifted to Earth to use its incredible powers on man in mysterious ways" [Tales of the Unexpected #94].

Edited by Jack Schiff.