Brave & the Bold #98

Brave & the Bold #98 (On Sale: August 10, 1971), has a Batman/Phantom Stranger cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with a signpost for the future in "Mansion of the Misbegotten" featuring Batman and the Phantom Stranger by Bob Haney and Jim Aparo. This is Aparo's first Brave and Bold and though he does not draw the next issue, with #100 he becomes the defacto B&B artist. This is one of my favorite Aparo styles and I was so happy to see Jim get a prestigious book like B&B.  When Batman goes to visit his old friend Roger Birnam, who is dying, he promises to watch over Birnam's wife Clorinda, and his son Enoch. After the funeral, when a man who posed as Birnam's doctor and as a religious articles salesman turns out at the Gotham morgue, a victim of ritual murder, Batman rushes to Birnam Towers to check on Birnam's family.

Batman soon finds himself caught in a Satanic cult ritual, with the little Enoch as the leader. Batman is easily captured, but he is saved by the arrival of the Phantom Stranger. Together, Batman and Phantom Stranger try to find a way to stop the cultists, but Batman is captured and offered as a sacrifice to Enoch, the warlock leader of the cult. 

During the ritual, Lucifer appears and takes Batman away, claiming his soul as the ultimate prize. However, it was all a charade staged by the Phantom Stranger to save Batman, and once again, they start working to bring down the evil worshippers. Taking Enoch and bringing him to a psychiatric ward, Batman is shocked to find the boy has no knowledge of the occult and deduces that the Birnams had two children, not just one.

Returning to the Birnam residence, Batman is forced to battle Clorinda and the evil Enoch with the help of the Phantom Stranger. However, the appearance of Roger's ghost scares Clorinda so badly she falls over the railing of a stairwell to her death along with her evil son, Enoch. Afterward, the Phantom Stranger moves away to find the next mystery and Batman makes a promise to take care of Roger's good son, Roger, Jr. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold Batman Team-Ups Vol. 2 TPB (2008), Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 TPB (2008), Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Vol. 1 HC (2012), Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2017), and Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Vol. 2 TPB (2019)

Our first reprint is the Phantom Stranger in "The Killer Shadow" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Phantom Stranger #2 (1952).  Heiress Myra Hunter attends a party thrown by her uncle John. During the party which celebrates the construction of his new summer house, John performs a ritual to capture Myra's shadow. Later, Myra really believes her shadow was taken. The Phantom Stranger then appears to show Myra that it was only a series of tricks that led her to be missing a shadow. He then proves that she still has one.

Myra then attends another party where it seems her shadow has been removed. The Phantom Stranger returns and exposes the tricks. Myra's uncle is responsible. He hoped to drive Myra mad or kill her in order to steal her fortune.

We end with the Challengers of the Unknown in "One Challenger Must Die" by Arnold Drake and Bob Brown and reprinted from  Challengers of the Unknown #32 (1963). The Volcano Men are appearing on an island, multiplying by splitting, growing large by merging. The Challengers can't agree on an attack. Ace wants to use LOX, Professor Haley CO2 foam. The team splits to pursue their own methods, but both sides fear "one Challenger might die". Separate attacks fail, and the boys stop Rocky from making a suicidal rush. Finally, they work together. Ace Morgan's LOX cools the Professor, who wields super-CO2. Smothered, the Volcano Man crumbles to ash. The Challengers agree to work together from now on.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Strange Adventures #232

Strange Adventures #232 (On Sale: July 27, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with "Hollywood in Space" by John Broome, Mort Drucker, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Mystery in Space #14 (1953). Though mostly known as a penciler/inker, many of \Mort Drucker's assignments before 1955 were pencils only.

Next is The Star Rovers in "Who Caught the Loborilla?" by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #66 (1961). Three adventurers answer the challenge of capturing the Loborilla, an animal with features resembling both lobster and gorilla. The first adventurer, Karel Sorensen, travels to Zaddara, the planet where the beast was spotted. She relates her experience to the others, explaining that she captured the creature.

Her story is heard by Rick Purvis, another adventurer. He tells her that he witnessed her capture of the Loborilla, but the beast tricked her using a special form of camouflage to disguise a tree as itself. When Karel checks her cage again, she discovers only a tree, not the Loborilla. Purvis then claims to have captured the beast.

Homer Glint informs Purvis that his own story was flawed because he witnessed the creature create a mental illusion to trick Purvis. When Purvis checks his cage, the illusion vanishes. Glint makes a final claim of the prize creature and shows his own cage.

The creature breaks free and telepathically explains that even Glint failed. The Loborilla is intelligent and also a hunter. He actually captured Glintand returned with him. Proof of his tale is recorded on a special camera. He then disappears, thanking the adventurers for a unique experience.

That is followed by Adam Strange in "The Multiple Menace Weapon" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #72 (1961). Adam Strange has resumed his profession as an archaeologist on Earth because the Zeta Beam will not return for nearly a year. He is surprised when a purple beam strikes him while in New York, which teleports him into the future. Then, upon his arrival, the Zeta Beam strikes him, bringing him to Rann 100,000 years in the future.

Julan, a future Ranagaran, explains that they are menaced by aliens from the planet Klannf. They have brought Adam, Rann’s legendary hero, here to combat them. Adam indeed finds a way to beat the aliens using a magnetized boomerang.

Adam is then sent back to present-day Rann to defeat a cone menace that threatens Alanna and her people. The future Zeta Beam lasts longer, allowing Adam to spend months with Alanna before he is returned to Earth. There, he awaits the next Zeta Beam to reunite him with his lover again.

We end with "The Magnetic Duel" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #17 (1953).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Batman #235

Batman #235 (On Sale: July 22, 1971), has a  cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Swamp Sinister" by Denny O'Neil, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. A heavy and large package arrives for Bruce Wayne at the Wayne Foundation Penthouse. Alfred and Bruce manage to open the box and they realize that it is a coffin with a dead body inside. Bruce quickly changes into Batman and prepares to leave with the corpse to the GCPD Headquarters and start an investigation, when suddenly Ra's al Ghul appears and informs Batman that he sent the package because he needs Batman's help.

Ra's tells Batman that Striss, one of the scientists working for him, had developed a formula to alter chemical elements' properties without his permission and that during a confrontation between them, Ra's was knocked by Striss' assistant, Pollard. Ra's was thought to be dead, but with help from his other scientists, Ra's recovered and started looking for Striss. After an extensive search, all his men could find was the dead body of Pollard, the man who attacked Ra's. When they examined the body, they found traces of the formula developed by Striss and also discovered that when humans were exposed to the formula, it turned into a deadly plague, which is what killed Pollard. After telling the story to Batman, Ra's asks the Dark Knight to find and stop Striss from spreading the plague and also save Ra's daughter, Talia, as she had already begun a manhunt for the scientist, unaware of the dangers.

Batman starts his investigation in the house of a notorious chemist, who could provide Striss with the chemical elements he needed to test his formula. When Batman arrives at the place, he realizes that it is too late, as both Striss' men, as well as Talia's henchmen, have arrived before him and someone had kidnapped the chemist. Batman takes down the thugs guarding the house and when he enters the place, he interrogates the housekeeper, who informs Batman that the thugs have taken Mr. London to a "small stream."

Batman deduces that the housemaid refers to the Louisiana swamps and he prepares a flight on Ra's private jet to Louisiana. Batman descends on the marked location and starts following the traces left by Striss' formula until he finds an odd abandoned cabin in the middle of the swamp. When Batman enters the place, he finds a concealed elevator inside and he prepares to descend, unaware of the activities taking place below, where Talia had already caught up with Striss and Mr. London, and she was ready to eliminate the scientist for the murder of her father. Batman arrives in time to stop Talia from killing Striss, but when he is explaining to them about the deadly plague contained in the formula, Striss attacks them and Batman is forced to defend Talia from Striss, who grabs a machine gun and tries to shoot at them. Batman manages to hold Striss' aim away from them, but one of the bullets hits the vial with the formula, spilling the chemical over the desk. Batman punches Striss and the man falls on top of the formula, which starts affecting him immediately. Batman takes Talia and Mr. London out of the room and he seals it completely in order to avoid the plague from spreading away.

Finally, Batman, Talia and Mr. London reach the surface of the swamp, where Ra's is waiting for them and Talia is overjoyed to learn that her father is still alive. Ra's has taken a team of doctors to make sure they are not infected and they prepare to leave the place. Before leaving the swamp, Talia shows her gratitude to Batman by kissing him, but Batman is still shocked at Talia's willingness to kill, which makes him unsure about her last kiss. Reprinted in Saga of Ra's Al Ghul #2 (1988), Batman: Tales of the Demon TPB (1991), Showcase Presents: Batman Vol. 6 TPB (2016), and Batman: Tales of the Demon HC (2020).

The Robin backup is "The Outcast Society" by Mike Friedrich, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. Continuing from Batman #234, Robin works hard to convince the communards to let him take Pat Whalon, the main suspect of the attack on a police officer, to stand trial. However, Whalon breaks away, confessing his crimes and he runs into the forest, where he causes a brushfire that may destroy the commune. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB (2008).

Our reprint of this issue is "Castle with Wall-to-Wall Danger" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Detective Comics #329 (1964). Batman and Robin receive a tip that Pragnel, a wanted criminal, is in England. They fly to England to find Pragnel and extradite him. When they arrive at the castle at which Pragnel was seen, they realize that the castle owner Albert Maunch merely looks similar to the crook. Though their mission seems to have failed, the Dynamic Duo accepts Maunch's invitation to dinner.

While in the castle, several attempts are made to kill Batman and Robin. Soon, they are attacked outright by two thugs and a man in a trenchcoat. When they capture him, the man turns out to be Pragnel, alias Vincent Maunch, Albert's cousin. Pragnel was searching his cousin's castle for hidden Nazi gold and threatened Albert's family to keep him in line. Batman returns to America with Pragnel, and Albert eventually finds the gold.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Justice League of America #92

Justice League of America #92 (On Sale: July 20, 1971), has a  cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

Concluding from the last issue we have the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America in "Solomon Grundy -- The One and Only" by Mike Friedrich, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. As A-Rym encounters Solomon Grundy on Earth-2, the JLA meets up with the JSA to try and stop A-Rym's rampage. After, the Earth-2 Hawkman sends both Robins away to the Batcave. While there, the Earth-2 Robin gives his Earth-1 doppelganger a new costume designed by "a costume designer named Neal Adams" to replace his damaged one. Meanwhile, the teams realize that if A-Rym and Teppy aren't reunited soon, they'll die, and both teams scramble to reunite them. After A-Rym and Teppy return home, the teams part, with Batman waiting for the League to aid him on his case and the Earth-1 Robin wondering if he should continue to wear his new costume. Reprinted in Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 3 TPB (2004), Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB (2008), Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 5 TPB (2011), Justice League of America Archives Vol. 10 HC (2012), Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2017), and Justice League of America: The Last Survivors of Earth TPB (2019).

Next, we have "The One-Man Justice League" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #158 (1966). When the Flash attempts to pursue the Land-Sea-Air Gang he discovers that his costume has been replaced by Green Lantern's. Flash also learns that he no longer has super speed, but he does have GL's powers. As Green Lantern, Flash brings down half the gang, then mysteriously finds himself transformed into Hawkman. The crooks manage to overpower him and escape.

Flash's transformations have been caused by Professor Ivo, who is secretly operating in a Central City laboratory. Ivo has devised a way to transfer the powers of the Justice League to himself. However, an anomaly caused by Flash's protective aura causes him to be the recipient of the powers too.

When Flash recovers from unconsciousness, he has become Aquaman. He continues to pursue the crooks and overtakes their escape boat. The crooks shoot at him as another transformation causes him to become the Atom.

The crooks begin to get the upper hand when Ivo switches his machine to focus on Superman. The Man of Steel's invulnerability protects him and overloads Ivo's machine. Ivo's lab explodes, ending the experiment. Flash returns to normal and defeats the gang with his own powers. Flash does not learn the cause behind his strange transformations. The other Justice Leaguers were not using their powers when Ivo targeted them, so they didn't even notice.

We end with a filler reprint "Space-Enemy Number One" by John Broome and Carmine Infantino and reprinted from Mystery in Space #29 (1955). The Solar Police are searching for Dinagren, a master criminal who can appear to be from several different planets.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Flash #209

Flash #209 (On Sale: July 20, 1971), has a  cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin this issue with "Beyond the Speed of Life" by Cary Bates, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano. The Flash receives a mental picture revealing the whereabouts of the Trickster and Boomerang. He races to the scene but is tripped up by an extended rope set up by the two villains. Flash trips at super speed and his velocity throws him into another dimension. A sentinel voice tells him that he has broken through the speed of life.

In the meantime back in the earthly dimension, Boomerang and Trickster examine Flashes lifeless body which appears to be dead. Back in the alternate dimension, Flash is informed that a being called the Devourer is threatening to eat its way to earth's own dimension and Flash prepares to do battle with it. As Flash battles the Devourer, it changes shape. It even takes the form of Flashes wife Iris. 

Flash battles the Devourer until it devours itself. Back on earth, Grodd the Super Gorilla has appeared and reveals that it was he who mentally controlled the two villains into tripping up the Flash. He subdues the two villains and scoops up Flashes lifeless body for disposal. At that point, Flash’s ghostly figure arrives from the other dimension. He is assisted by the sentinel in reentering his own body and pounds Grodd into the ground.

Next up is Kid Flash in "Coincidence Can Kill" by Steve Skeates, Dick Dillin, and Dick Giordano. Wally West witnesses a robbery as he rounds the corner. He activates his costume ring but instead of his costume appearing, he gets hit with a cloud of gas. He examines the ring and discovers that it isn’t his. He recalls that the only time he took off his ring was to wash his hands in the biology lab. He was washing next to a classmate that he refers to ad Genius George. Fearing that his identity might be compromised, Wally rushes to George’s house to recover his ring but George’s mother informs him that her son has left with an acquaintance to attend a school meeting. 

Wally transforms into Kid Flash and tracks down George's car to a sleazy neighborhood. George is being escorted to see a crime boss who is interested in hiring George to create technical gimmicks to assist them in crimes. George secretly intends to take down the crime boss and turn him in. George deploys his ring and expects to have a gas come out but the Flashes costume comes out instead. 

Kid Flash arrives instantly and subdues the thugs. Flash then talks to George to try to explain why his costume came out of his ring but George himself theorizes that the gas must have leaked out of his ring and that Flash threw the costume out as a distraction. Kid Flash is relieved that he doesn’t have to come up with an explanation himself.

This issue's reprint is "The Elongated Man's Undersea Trap" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #119 (1961). The Elongated Man, Ralph Dibny, and his new wife Sue are honeymooning in the Caribbean. While skin diving, Ralph disappears. Sue sends a message to the Flash for help. Flash arrives in the Caribbean and begins his search for Ralph. He sees some creatures riding underwater skis. Suddenly, one of the creatures shoots and captures the Flash.

When he regains consciousness, Flash is in a pool with several other missing divers. The Bredans, as the creatures are called, are fishing for the men. Flash is caught and becomes the slave of the capturing Bredan.

Flash plays along with the situation so that he can locate Ralph. He finds Ralph at a construction site, but his friend’s memory is missing. Flash helps Ralph recover his memory, then the two heroes defeat the Bredan slave masters. Flash and Ralph free the other slaves, and Ralph is returned to his honeymoon with Sue.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Ghosts #1

Ghosts #1 (On Sale: July 1, 1971), has a cover by Nick Cardy.

I guess I was one of the few readers who were bored by just about every book Murray Boltioff was editor of except the Brave and the Bold. Since it was mainstream DC, I bought this series but never cared for it at all, and the gimmick of "true" stories just made it even worse. Despite how I felt about it, this title would last for over eleven years.

Interesting tidbit: The indicia reads just Ghost, with a lot of white space on both sides of the word. The cover and later issues read as Ghosts. It appears that the book was at first to be titled True Ghost Stories, thus the white space in the indicia, but then it was changed to just Ghosts. When they updated the indicia they whited out "True" and "Stories," but they forgot to add the "s."

We begin with a one-page introduction to ghosts drawn by Tony DeZuniga.

Our first take is "Death's Bridegroom" by Leo Dorfman and Jim Aparo. The police discover the body of a young woman who committed suicide, with a note saying she took her own life because the man she was engaged to only courted her to steal her life savings and leave her penniless in a tenement. The swindler who stole from her ends up lost in a fog as he skips town, and comes across a mansion owned by a strange beautiful woman who claims to be waiting for her long-lost fiance. She seems the perfect new target to him, but little does he know she and her home have long rotted away and with his proposal, he joins her in the fog. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-32 (1974).

That is followed by "Ghost in the Iron Coffin" by Leo Dorfman and Sam Glanzman. A resistance fighter is caught and executed while trying to sabotage a Nazi U-Boat but haunts the vessel killing its crew until he's able to use his spiritual powers to turn the U-Boat's own torpedoes against it and destroy it.

Next up is our first reprint: "The Tattooed Terror" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Sensation Mystery #112 (1952).

We have another reprint up next in "The Last Dream" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Frank Giacoia and reprinted from Sensation Comics #107 (1952). Tybalt Fletcher, the last of his line, dies in a feud with the Beaumont clan. His ghost then spends the next 400 years killing Beaumonts with the pistol he requested to be buried with.

We end with "The Spectral Coachman" by Leo Dorfman and Tony DeZuniga. Tombstone, Arizona, draws its name from the town graveyard where the greatest badmen of the west are buried. But tonight one of them lives again when a young modern prospector is rescued from a pack of wolves by the ghost of a long-dead stagecoach driver. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-32 (1974).

All of the new material was reprinted in Showcase Presents Ghosts Vol. 1 TPB (2012).

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

DC Special #14 (On Sale: July 1, 1971), has a Wanted: World's Most Dangerous Villians cover by Murphy Anderson proving that DC 100-Page Super Spectacular was not the only book named for the company that would be the launching pad for new titles.

We begin with Superman in "The Toyman's Castle" by Don Cameron, Ira Yarbrough, and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Superman #47 (1947). While in prison, the Toyman is allowed to create toys that discourage crime. However, his toys are actually robbery plans for his gang. Though Superman is able to stop the robbery, the Toyman is able to escape jail.

Toyman then creates a party machine designed to tell fortunes. His real plan is to steal the signatures of wealthy party guests. Lois sees him, so the Toyman takes her prisoner. When Superman catches him, he uses Lois as a hostage. Superman foils Toyman's plans using a toy jack-in-the-box and then sends the crook back to prison.

From 1943 to 1948, Ira Yarbrough drew 77 Superman stories and worked closely with Superman creator Joe Shuster.

Next up is the Flash in "The Heat Is On... for Captain Cold" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #140 (1963). Flash is asked by Henry Willens, an attorney, to search for a missing girl. The girl was lost in an accident many years before. Her father has died recently and his dying wish was to locate the girl. A diamond-shaped birthmark is the only clue Flash has to her identity.

While searching for the girl, Flash learns that Captain Cold has broken jail. He quickly catches up to Cold but is preventing from making the capture by a new villain, Heat Wave. Heat Wave teams temporarily with Cold, but the two have a dispute over the affections of a TV model, known as Dream Girl. The two crooks compete in a crime spree to win Dream Girl. They halt their rivalry again when Flash shows up. Flash is able to overcome both opponents and turn them into the authorities.

Learning of the crooks' passion for Dream Girl gives Flash an idea. He meets Dream Girl who turns out to be Priscilla Varner, the missing girl. Flash is able to take her to Mr. Willens to receive her inheritance.

We end this issue with Batman in "The Bird Sayings Crimes" by William Woolfolk, Lew Sayre Schwartz, and Stan Kaye and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #55 (1951). On his birthday, the Penguin receives presents containing mocking bird sayings from other criminals. For this reason, Penguin decides to use those same sayings as inspirations for crimes, and thus dispose of Batman and Robin, but as usual, he ends up captured by the Dynamic Duo.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

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.

From Beyond the Unknown #12

From Beyond the Unknown #12 (On Sale: June 22, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert. This is another book that actually got smaller with the page expansion.

We begin with our cover story, "The Dawn-World Menace" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #147 (1962). A time-space warp brings two savage cavemen riding pterodactyls into the present day.

Next up is "Mystery of the Runaway Meteor" by John Broome and Sy Barry and reprinted from Mystery in Space #27 (1955).

That is followed by "Earth for Sale" by France Herron, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #89 (1958).

Next, we have "The Sign Language of Space" by Otto Binder, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #63 (1955).

We end with  "Gateways to the Stars" by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #78 (1962).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4

DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4 (On Sale: June 17, 1971), has a nice cover by Berni Wrightson. There were no issues 1-3 and the first three published issues (4-6) had subtitles - the first two of which were later used for ongoing comics series and the third became the title of a series of Mego figures based on comics super-heroes: #4 "Weird Mystery", #5 "Love Stories", and #6 "World's Greatest Super-Heroes".

The title then became the replacement for the "Giant" comics series (previously "80 Pg Giant") which ran as part of regular, ongoing series titles (i.e., #7 also known as Superman #245, #8 aka Batman #238, #9 aka Our Army at War #242, #10 aka Adventure Comics #416, #11 aka The Flash #214, #12 aka Superboy #185 and #13 aka Superman #252) for six issues.

Then, even later on, it reverted back to its own title again (#14 through #22, utilizing as cover titles the existing titles of regular, ongoing series, but not being part of those regular series' numbering - in other words, no corresponding issue numbers for those issues.

The planned issue #23 became Shazam! #8 and the Super Spectacular's own numbering disappeared and advertisements were added. The DC 100 Page Super Spectacular title itself was used on another 96 issues of varying regular, ongoing titles through 1975.

We begin this issue with a one-page Table of Contents by Sergio Aragones and that is followed by a one-page introduction drawn by Berni Wrightson. 

Next up is "I Was the Last Man on Earth" drawn by Mort Drucker and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #8 (1956).

That is followed by "The Phantom Enemy" drawn by Carmine Infantino and Sy Barry and reprinted from Sensation Mystery #116 (1953).

Next, we have "I Fought the Clocks of Doom" drawn by Mort Meskin and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #14 (1957).

That brings us to  "The Witch's Candles" drawn by John Prentice and reprinted from House of Secrets #2 (1957).

We have another Sergio Aragones humor page next, followed by a one-page Eerie Tales introduction page by Berni Wrightson.

Next is "I Was Lost in a Mirage" drawn by Mort Meskin and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #12 (1956).

That is followed by Johnny Peril in "Horror in the Lake" by Robert Kanigher, Frank Giacoia, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Sensation Mystery #110 (1952).

Next up is The Phantom Stranger in "The Haunters from Beyond" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Phantom Stranger #1 (1952). Anne Parris is haunted by two ghosts from the Salem witch trials. The ghosts blame Anne's ancestors for their deaths and curse her in revenge. Anne becomes distraught and nearly kills herself, but the Phantom Stranger stops her. He takes her home, where the ghosts show up again.

The Stranger is suspicious, so after the ghosts leave he asks Anne to stage her own death. Within minutes Anne's cousin Bryce and his fiancee arrive on the scene. The Phantom Stranger proves that they were the ones disguised as ghosts and forces Bryce to confess he set Anne up in order to steal her inheritance. After the pair are arrested, the Phantom Stranger disappears.

We have yet another Berni Wrightson introduction page, this one on Monsters.

That is followed by "I Was the Last Martian" drawn by Jim Mooney and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #20 (1958).

Next, we have  "I Hunted the World's Wildest Animals" drawn by Nick Cardy and reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #15 (1957).

Another Berni Wrightson introduction, this on Science Fiction is followed by "The City of Three Dooms" drawn by Mort Meskin and reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #15 (1957).

Next, is  "Jungle Boy of Jupiter" drawn by Lou Cameron and reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #24 (1958).

Next up is "Childhood Haunt" a one-page text story illustrated by Berni Wrightson.

Our last reprint is "The Mysterious Mr. Omen" drawn by Leonard Starr and reprinted from House of Mystery #49 (1956).

We end with a one-page humor story Weird Tales by Lore Shoberg.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

World's Finest Comics #204

World's Finest Comics #204 (On Sale: June 3, 1971), has a stunning Superman/Wonder Woman cover by Neal Adams. Diana Prince never looked so sexy.

We begin with Superman and Wonder Woman in "Journey to the End of Hope" by Denny O'Neil, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. When Clark and Diana get matched by a computer dating service, their date takes an unexpected turn when they suddenly find themselves transported to the year 2171 by another computer, in hopes of averting Earth's future fate where Earth has become a desolate wasteland.

Our first backup tale is Captain Comet in "The Guardians of the Clockwork Universe" by John Broome, Murphy Anderson, and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #22 (1952). Captain Comet is enlisted by a race known as the Guardians of the Universe (not the same does that would appear later in Green Lantern, but where Broome may have gotten the idea for them). The Guardians are responsible for monitoring the planets and other celestial bodies to ensure they are kept in proper motion lest the entire universe stop. The rulers of the planet Lukan are seeking to move their planet closer to their sun which would throw off the cosmic balance.

Captain Comet is dispatched to Lukan to stop the evil rulers. Once on the planet, he discovers his old friend Radea was also sent by the Guardians and is now a captive. He rescues the girl and defeats the crystal beings of Lukan. Comet then drops Radea off on her own world before returning to Earth.

We end with Green Arrow in "The Rogue of 1,000 Ropes" drawn by George Papp and reprinted from Adventure Comics #176 (1952).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Flash #208

Flash #208 (On Sale: June 3, 1971), has a beautiful cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with the Flash in "A Kind of Miracle in Central City" by Robert Kanigher, Irv Novick, and Murphy Anderson. The Flash rescues a teenage boy from a fall off a rooftop. Vic, the boy, claims it was an accident, but the Flash suspects otherwise. Vic was thrown off the roof by a gang leader known as the Chief. Vic had been working for the gang, but he was made expendable when his sister Anne alerted her fellow nuns to the presence of the crooks in the church.

Since Vic won't accept outside help, the Flash uses his super speed to remain invisible. He then helps Vic and protects him from the gang. Vic makes things right, and the Chief and his partners are apprehended without anyone knowing that the Flash is involved.

The new backup is the Elongated Man in "Malice in Wonderland" by Len Wein and Dick Giordano. As Ralph Dibny is passing through the town of Dodgson it is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. When he enters town Ralph is given a copy of Alice in Wonderland. While pausing to read the book, he sees a white rabbit. His curiosity is aroused and he follows, only to lose the rabbit in traffic.

The Elongated Man then meets a man dressed as the Mad Hatter. The man explains that his uncle who founded the town was a relative of Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland. The town is celebrating by dressing as characters from the book. Ralph still wants to catch up to the rabbit, who steals a rare first edition of the book on display at the town civic center. The Elongated Man tracks down the rabbit and his partners and retrieves the stolen book. He was tipped off by the fact that the criminal dressed like the movie version of the rabbit, instead of the original book version.

The reprint backup is the Kid Flash in "The Flash's Sensational Risk" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #149 (1964). A large explosion near Blue Valley draws the attention of Wally West aka Kid Flash. Kid Flash examines a crater created by the explosion and is transported to the other-dimensional world of Ikora. Kid Flash then discovers explosives used by Ikoran criminals are responsible for the damage on Earth. Kid Flash attempts to apprehend the criminals, but he is struck by one of their weapons.

Kid Flash returns to Earth to gain the aid of the Flash. After relating his story, Kid Flash loses his memory as a delayed side-effect of the ray weapon. Flash fails to restore Wally's memory until he devises a way to unmask on TV at super-speed. Wally's memory is shocked back to normal by the surprise.

Flash and his protégé return to Ikora and defeat the K-10 Gang. After turning them into Ikoran authorities, the speedsters return to Earth. Flash explains that because he unmasked at super-speed, only Wally's super-speed vision could identify his real face.

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.

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.

From Beyond the Unknown #10

From Beyond the Unknown #10 (On Sale: February 23, 1971), has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

We begin the repeats with our cover story, "The Fish-Men of Earth" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs which comes to us from Strange Adventures #56 (1955). Aliens use a weapon that causes the atmosphere of Earth to become super-dense, like their homeworld. Dr. Walker and his assistant Jim find a way to counter the effect.

Next up is "The Devil's Island of Space" by Joe Millard and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #46 (1958). Willy Elkins promises to escape from a prison planetoid in 30 days.

That is followed by "The Most Dangerous Man on Earth" by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs and which is reprinted from Strange Adventures #129 (1961). While experimenting on a ray to prevent the common cold, Jeff Carter accidentally causes himself to emit radiation that causes all vegetation to grow wildly out of control.

The next story is "Destination – Star" by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino and is reprinted from Mystery in Space #14 (1953). Ralfe Gordon warns other space travelers that going faster than the speed of light is dangerous.

Our next story is "Tomorrow's Hero" by John Broome and Sid Greene and reprinted from Strange Adventures #112 (1960). Ral Grayson is a mutant with the ability to understand things quickly by just seeing a portion of the process. He uses his ability to figure out the one weakness of the Borg who have taken over Earth.

That is followed by "The 24,000-Hour Day" by Otto Binder, Manny Stallman, and John Giunta and is reprinted from Mystery in Space #49 (1959). Brad Stanton and Jim Kirby answer an ad for space-miners promising to pay them $1000 a day. When they sign on they learn that one day on this asteroid is 24,000 hours long.

Our last story is "The Answer Man of Space" by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene and reprinted from Mystery in Space #73 (1962). Evan Wright can answer any question whose answer is in a book he has read, but can he answer a question about something he has never read before?

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Flash #205

Flash #205 (On Sale: February 9, 1971), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with the Flash in "Menace of the Reverse-Flash" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #139 (1963). This is the first appearance of Professor Zoom. A time capsule is sent into the future by Dr. Walter Drake, which contains an atomic clock, a spare Flash uniform, and some other items. Dr. Drake realizes that the method with which he propelled the capsule through time changed the atomic clock into a bomb. He enlists the Flash to help him prevent a disaster.

In the year 2463, a criminal known as the Professor finds the capsule and takes the Flash uniform. Using future science, he is able to enable the costume to give him super-speed. He begins a crime wave as Professor Zoom.

Flash arrives in the future and begins his search for the atomic clock. He learns about Zoom and confronts him. The two speedsters are evenly matched and battle to a stalemate. Flash learns that the aura protecting him from friction was duplicated by Zoom using chemicals. He manages to force a break down of the chemicals which eliminates Zoom’s aura. Without this protection, Zoom is defeated and turned over to the authorities.

Flash locates the atomic clock and safely disposes of it. He then returns to the present and informs Dr. Drake that the bomb was destroyed. He also destroys the costume of Professor Zoom.

 

Our next reprint is a little different, as it has never been printed before. This tale of the Golden-Age Flash was written and drawn in the 1940s but never published, "Journey into Danger" is by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino, and Bernard Sachs. Jay Garrick and Joan Williams are taking the train back to Keystone after Jay has presented a paper at a Chemist's convention on decelerating energy to conserve fuel. As they get close to the city Jay notices that a plane that should land at the airport flies right by and when the train reaches the station it continues on as well, not stopping. Switching to the Flash, the engineer informs Jay that the train will not stop and is heading for another train on the same track. Jay stops the collision of the two trains by vibrating between them, creating an air pressure brake.

A farmer rushes up to see the commotion and spills some seed, which immediately grows full-grown stalks of corn that raise the train into the air. Flash once again saves the day and the train resumes. As the Flash Jay sees that gunmen are holding up Joan demanding to be shown Jay. Jay arrives and knocks the guys out and takes them to the police, Arriving back at his lab he finds it a shambles and a note saying that he needs to come to a specified location that night or Joan is a goner. 

Arriving, the Flash is caught by a trap door and placed into a cage by the farmer who spilled the seeds. He says they will wait for Jay to show up and the farmer admits that he has invented a speed-up chemical but cannot control it and needs Jay's research on decelerating energy. When Jay attempts to vibrate out of the cage he is electrocuted by it. The farmer and his gang take Joan and leave the Flash to die in the house set to explode in five minutes. After they leave, Jay vibrates through the floor and out of the house. Outside he finds everyone running around at uncontrollable speed and a helicopter spraying the people with a chemical. 

Jay heads to his lab and uses his formula to offset the speed chemical, curing the crowd. He then brings down the copter and takes out the farmer and his men.

Next up is Kid Flash in "The Race to Thunder Hill" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #116 (1960). While returning home from fishing with his friend Jimmy, Wally West switches to Kid Flash to rescue Kitty Clark from falling off a runaway horse. Wally returns home so he can serve as his father’s navigator in a car rally. Once the rally is underway, Wally and his father are stopped on the road by a pair of thieves who hi-jack Mr. West’s roadster. Mr. West is knocked out, and both he and Wally are locked in an empty house.

Wally escapes, and, as Kid Flash catches the thieves. Then Wally tows the car back to the house where his father was left. A doctor arrives to treat his father. The next day Wally and his dad continue in the rally. The team performs perfectly, and they are awarded the victory.

We end with our fourth speedster, Johnny Quick in "Too Many Speed Kings" drawn by Ralph Mayo and Sy Barry and reprinted from Adventure Comics #189 (1953). Johnny Chambers visits the lab of Professor Rollins, a chemist. Rollins has created a speed formula that he secretly gives to Johnny. Johnny is forced to use his speed and give away his secret identity, but the professor believes the formula works.

To protect his identity, Johnny must convince the professor that the formula works and also that it should not be used. Rollins distributes the chemical to a boxer and waiter. Johnny uses his own speed to fake theirs and convinces them to stop using the formula. Then he also convinces the professor.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Strange Adventures #229

Strange Adventures #229 (On Sale: January 14, 1971), has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

We start this issue with "The Last Mile of Space" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #17 (1953).

Next is Adam Strange in "Menace of the Aqua-Ray Weapon" by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Mystery in Space #69 (1961). While catching the Zeta Beam that will return him to Rann, Adam Strange rescues a dog, Chunky, from an avalanche. Adam arrives with the dog on Rann and finds that Alanna has been turned into a puddle of water along with the other Ranagarans.

A race known as the Kirri are responsible for Alanna’s condition, using an Aqua-Ray weapon. They wish to replace the humans as the dominant species on Rann. They liquify Adam as well and take him to the planet’s polar region where they restore his body, but he is frozen in ice with the other humans, including Alanna.

Chunky, having followed the Kirri, manages to free Adam from his ice prison. Adam then constructs an ice duplicate of himself to distract the Kirri, while he gains control of the Aqua-Ray. He liquifies the Kirri and frees the Ranagarans, before he and Chunky are returned to Earth by the Zeta Beam.

That is followed by "The Day Science Ran Wild" by Otto Binder, Sid Greene, and Joe Giella and reprinted from Strange Adventures #82 (1957).

Next, we have "The Electric Man" by John Broome and Sy Barry and reprinted from Strange Adventures #54 (1955).

The next story is the real gem of the issue, "The Mad Planet" by Sid Gerson and drawn by American pulp fantasy, science fiction, and horror illustrator, Virgil Finlay and reprinted from Mystery in Space #19 (1954). Our story takes place in the far future, 1989 to be exact, "when tourists travel to the stars for sightseeing thrills..." and Harry and Doris find an uncharted planet that is inhabitable. Upon entering orbit they find they are flying over New York City and land in what appears to be Central Park. 

The people of the city pay them no attention and so they stroll down Fifth Avenue, but this street soon ends and they find a small shack where Saks should be. Inside they find a man who says he crashed on the planet years ago and became ruler of the inhabitants and had them make this duplicate of New York so he would not feel lonely. In the end, they discover that the man was an escaped criminal from 1954 who found a flying saucer and flew to this barren world, where a mysterious gem gave him the power to create from his thoughts. Eventually, they wrest control of the gem from him and his illusions evaporate. 

Finley is mainly known for his numerous pulp science-fiction illustrations. His highly detailed style was perfect for the black and white illustrations that littered the pulps. His first work appeared in the  December 1935 issue of Weird Tales and he continued doing illustrations for them through 1954. Vinley won the 1953 Hugo Award for Best Artist. He did very little work in comics, as his style was better suited for black and white illustrations, but he did do 13 stories for DC, most for Real Fact Comics between 1946 and 1948, and this single story for Mystery In Space. Finley was a giant in his field and passed away from cancer in 1971, three days after this reprint hit the stands. 

Next is "The Hands from Nowhere" by Walter B. Gibson, Bob Oksner, and Bernard Sachs and reprinted from Strange Adventures #22 (1952). Walter Gibson was best known under his pen-name, Maxwell Grant, where he wrote more than 300 novel-length Shadow stories. A magician himself, Gibson wrote more than a hundred books on magic, psychic phenomena, true crime, mysteries, rope knots, yoga, hypnotism, and games. He served as a ghostwriter for books on magic and spiritualism by Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston, Harry Blackstone, Sr., and Joseph Dunninger. 

Gibson wrote the comic books and radio drama Blackstone, the Magic Detective. starring a fictionalized version of Harry Blackstone. Gibson introduced the "Chinese linking rings" trick in America and invented the "Nickels to Dimes" trick that is still sold in magic stores to this day. He "wrote extensively on Houdini and his escape tricks and sleight-of-hand," and became involved after Houdini's death with Houdini seances. Houdini was known as much for his investigations into – and exposure of – false mediums, and after his death, his wife Bess held seances for ten years in an attempt to contact the deceased magician. She then passed this role on to Gibson, who for many years helped preside over the Houdini Seances in the 1970s and 1980s at New York's Magic Towne House with such well-known magicians as Milbourne Christopher, Dorothy Dietrich, Bobby Baxter, and Dick Brooks. Before Gibson died, he passed on the responsibility of doing the Houdini Seances to Dorothy Dietrich of the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

In 1952 Gibson wrote two Batman stories and the story presented here. His final work in comics was for Detective #500 in 1981. Gibson is a featured character in the Paul Malmont novel The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril, which was published in 2006, and in the sequel The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown. In addition, Gibson is the protagonist, along with Orson Welles, in a historical mystery by Max Allan Collins, The War of the Worlds Murder, published in 2005. Gibson died in 1985.

 

We end with the Atomic Knights in "Danger in Detroit" by John Broome and Murphy Anderson and reprinted from Strange Adventures #153 (1963). The Atomic Knights travel to Detroit where Abner Henderson has created a factory. Inside the factory, Henderson and his plant workers have built the first post-war automobile. While showing the car to the Knights, a tyrant group called the Blue Belts and led by Organizer Kadey, try to take the vehicle. The Knights fight them off.

Henderson explains that the Blue Belts have set themselves up as tyrants and have atomic weapons. The Knights assault their headquarters. When Kadey uses the atomic pistols against the Knights, their armor protects them. Kadey and his group are deposed, and the people are released from tyranny. Henderson gives the car to the Knights, who then return to Durvale.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

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.