House of Secrets #139: "Instant Rebirth!"

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Halloween is rapidly approaching so I am dumping the superhero comic books for something a little more seasonal. After the holiday, I plan to turn my attention to Science Fiction, jungle wanderers, and other genres of speculative fiction.

This sister magazine to House of Mystery first reached the stands in the winter of 1956. While offering pretty much the same mixture as before, House of Secrets has the distinction of introducing the durable Swamp Thing.

This issue is the Halloween offering for 1976, the story written by George Kashdan and illustrated by Bill Draut. The magazine was hosted by Able, who also co-hosted Plop! along with his brother Cain from House of Mystery fame, all of which were published by DC Comics.

Marvel Treasury Edition #1: "Spider-Man Tackles The Torch!"

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I was only ten years old, but I can still recall precisely where I was when I first eyed this baby. I had just stepped into The Bottle Shop, which was located on Main St. in the small bedroom community I grew up in (and the only alternative to Rexall's Drug Store's comic book spinner rack), when I spied this beauty on the magazine rack. Of course, I had to buy it and I've have had it in my collection ever since. It's almost difficult to believe that I used to think that $1.50 was a steep price to pay for a comic book!

Not a mutant, Spider-Man has been Marvel's most successful and popular character. After auditioning in Amazing Fantasy #15, he moved into his own title, The Amazing Spider-Man, early in 1963. He was the creation of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, with possible input from Jack Kirby.

The original story introduced mild-mannered high school student Peter Parker, who lived with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Clean-cut, hardworking, and bespectacled, Peter was a brilliant science student but was shunned by his fellows and labeled a "bookworm." After being bitten by a radioactive spider at a science exhibit, he gained "spider powers" that included superhuman strength and agility and the ability to cling to any surface and spin webs.

Among the artists who've drawn the old web-spinner have been John Buscema, Gil Kane, John Byrne, Todd McFarlane, and a host of others.


Credits

Cover: John Romita
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Steve Ditko

Reprinted:

• from Amazing Spider-Man, The (Marvel, 1963 series) #8 (January 1964)

Superman #300: "Superman 2001!"

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In keeping with the superhero genre I'm currently focusing on, here is a good one from 1976 celebrating Superman's 300th issue. Basically, this issue asks the question, what if Superman arrived on Earth in '76 and was acquired by the United States with a jealous Soviet Union looking forlorn? This anniversary issue was written by Cary Bates and Elliot S! Maggin and drawn by Curt Swan (natch!) and Bob Oksner.

To many longtime readers, Curt Swan was the artist on Superman. He drew the Man of Steel for close to forty years, developing a style that was attractive and seemed highly suitable for depicting the residents of Metropolis.

Detective Comics #550: "Night Olympics" Part II (Green Arrow and Black Canary Back Up Story)

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Here is the conclusion to Alan Moore's "Night Olympics." Click here to go to part one.


Credits

Script: Alan Moore
Pencils: Klaus Janson
Inks: Klaus Janson

Reprinted:

• in Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore (DC, 2003 series) #nn
• in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (DC, 2006 series) #nn
• in Green Arrow / Black Canary: For Better or for Worse (DC, 2007 series) #[nn]
  

Detective Comics #549: "Night Olympics" Part I (Green Arrow and Black Canary Back Up Story)

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Being the Black Canary is a family tradition. The senior Black Canary was first seen in DC's Flash Comics #86 (August 1947). She also became a member of the Justice Society of America. The first version of the character was created by Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. She originally appeared as a mystery woman guest in Johnny Thunder, where she was billed as "the most fascinating crook of all time." The hapless Johnny fell in love with her, little realizing that she would replace him from #92 onward.

By that time readers learned that she was actually dark-haired Dinah Drake, operator of a florist shop. By donning a long blonde wig, a low-cut satin costume, and black net stockings, she now became not a crook but a crimebuster. In the outfit she looked very much like a high-class cocktail waitress. In her The Great Woman Superheroes, Trina Robbins comments that "her blonde wig, fishnet tights, and tight bolero jacket made up one of the more impractical getups in comics." Teamed with the Black Canary, though originally unaware of her dual identity, was a tough private eye with the untough name of Larry Lance.

The Canary remained in Flash until its final issue (February 1949). She started guesting in All Star Comics in #38 and was installed as a full-fledged member of the JSA in #41, replacing the unfortunate Johnny Thunder. She held on until the last issue in 1951. The Black Canary returned in Justice League of America #21, and in the early 1960s was eventually initiated into the JLA. Superman referred to her as "the prettiest member of the group." She met the Green Arrow at one of the group's meetings and he became, according to official DC history, "her lover and business partner."

From the late 1960s she appeared with the archer in many of his magazine appearances. "By now, the passage of time and the pressure of continuity have caused an amoeba-like split in the persona of our hero," editor Mike Gold pointed out in the 1991-1992 Black Canary miniseries. "It was determined that the Black Canary of the post-World War II period was the mother of the present Black Canary. . . The older version died several years ago." The current Canary's father was private eye Larry Lance.

She continued to appear now and then in miniseries. In the one-shot that introduced the Birds of Prey title in 1996, she wore a more sensible getup that didn't include either wig or fishnets. However, by the time Birds of Prey became a monthly series, the net stockings were back.



Credits

Script: Alan Moore
Pencils: Klaus Janson
Inks: Klaus Janson

Reprinted:

• in Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore (DC, 2003 series) #nn
• in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore (DC, 2006 series) #nn
• in Green Arrow / Black Canary: For Better or for Worse (DC, 2007 series) #[nn]

Click here to read the conclusion.