Ebola Syndrome

Back when I was researching films for Asia Shock, I screened a couple of Category III classics by Hong Kong shockmeister Herman Yau, The Untold Story and Ebola Syndrome. I wrote about the former, but not the latter, as I felt it was too similar. (In fact, due to the success of The Untold Story, a horrendous tale of a psychotic restaurateur selling human meat roast pork buns, the producers of Ebola Syndrome insisted the same gimmick be inserted into the script.) I'm happy to report that Diskotek has released the definitive DVD version of Ebola Syndrome (the Hong Kong disk I got left something to be desired transfer-wise and had no extras). So for all of you out there who enjoyed the lurid pleasures of The Untold Story, not only will you get more cannibalism schtick, but the great Anthony Wong is back and up to his heinous old tricks, robbing, killing and spreading Ebola everywhere he goes (he caught it when he raped a sick African villager). Of course he winds up in Hong Kong, gets a couple of hookers and soon all hell breaks loose -- cops in hazmat suits all around. Pretty outrageous flick, not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. Check it out, Sid.

Strange Adventures #206

Strange Adventures #206 (On Sale: September 28, 1967) has a very nice Mike Sekowsky and George Roussos cover. You can use this as a trivia question to stump your friends, "Who besides Infantino and Adams drew Deadman in his first year?" Chances are Sekowsky is not going to be their first guess.

Inside we have "An Eye for an Eye" by Jack Miller, Neal Adams and George Roussos. Miller took over editing and kicked Arnold Drake out of his own series. This is the book most people think of when they think of Adams' first super-hero story. Boston Brand has been given a second life in spirit form as Deadman in order to find his own murderer. His search leads him away from the Hills Bros. circus, but before he leaves he stops to visit Lorna Hill, the owner. She is meeting with her brother Jeff, who claims to have taken out an insurance policy of Boston's life. Jeff is facing money problems, which leads Boston to suspect Jeff of his murder.

Deadman takes over Jeff's body as he meets with a motorcycle gang led by Morty. Morty is blackmailing Jeff, claiming that he has evidence that Jeff murdered Lenny Deane in Dayton. While this gives Jeff an alibi for Boston's murder, Deadman suspects that Jeff is innocent of Deane's murder too. He finds evidence that proves Morty was the real killer. After saving Jeff's life, Deadman forces Morty to confess. When Deadman leaves his body, Jeff has no memory of the adventure, but he is now cleared of the murder rap. Reprinted in World's Finest Comics #223 and Deadman #1.

The backup story is a reprint from Strange Adventures #64, "The Earth-Drowners" is by Joe Samachson, Jerry Grandenetti and Joe Giella.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Detective Comics #369

Detective Comics #369 (On Sale: September 28, 1967) has a very cool cover by Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. I love the Kane Batgirl.

"Batgirl Breaks Up the Dynamic Duo" is by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Sid Greene. This story was reprinted in Batman Family #2, Batman in the Sixties TPB and Showcase Presents:Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

The Elongated Man back-up "Legend of the Lovers' Lantern" is by Gardner Fox and Neal Adams. This is Neal's first (or second) super-hero story for DC, since his other first (or second) story came out the same day, though this is definitely the first super-hero story for DC that he penciled and inked. Anyway, this was reprinted in Showcase Presents the Elongated Man Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Adventure Comics #362

Adventure Comics #362 (On Sale: September 28, 1967) has what is called a Curt Swan and George Klein cover, but just as the previous covers looked like Neal Adams worked on the layouts, this cover does not look like Curt Swan. It also does not look like Infantino; to me it looks like Bob Brown. Compare it to some of the Tomahawk and Doom Patrol covers of the past few months and I think you will see what I mean. Hoy Murphy on the DC History group suggested that maybe writer Jim Shooter did the cover layout as he was known for drawing his scripts out as comic book pages.

Inside "The Chemoids are Coming" is by Jim Shooter and Pete Costanza. This Legion of Super-Heroes story was reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 7 HC.
Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Action Comics #356

Action Comics #356 (On Sale: September 28, 1967) has Neal Adams' second super-hero cover with not the greatest of layouts.

Inside we have "The Son of the Annihilator" by Leo Dorfman and Wayne Boring. Continuing the story from last issue, Karl Keller, the Annihilator, has ordered Superman to leave Earth. The Kryptonian chemicals that give him an explosive punch also make him a danger to the entire planet. If Superman uses force upon him, the resulting explosive will destroy Earth. Superman is also forced to protect the Annihilator when ordinary police try to stop him, for fear that a destructive explosion may occur.

The Annihilator decides to take a young pickpocket named Pete under his wing. He hopes that the boy will also allow him to establish a secret identity. Instead, the boy inspires him to greater feats of villainy including taking over the White House.

Superman tries to prevent more destruction and helps evacuate Washington. When the Annihilator punches Superman, he discovers that his power has worn off. The Man of Steel attempts to apprehend the villain, but Pete steps in to protect his mentor. Pete has taken the Annihilator's chemical concoction and now possesses an explosive punch too.

The back-up Supergirl story is "The Girl of Straw" by Cary Bates and Jim Mooney. I know I have this book somewhere, but getting to my collection is a pain in the ass right now.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #79

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #79 (On Sale: September 26, 1967) features Neal Adams' first super-hero cover. Soon Neal would be doing most of the Superman family covers. I always thought Neal drew a beautiful Lois Lane.

Inside we have "The Bride of Titanman" by Richard Hughes and Kurt Schaffenberger, When a member of the Anti-Superman Syndicate uses an experimental weapon on Superman, the blast is deflected off his body and strikes Lois. The ray transports Lois to a parallel dimension inhabited by girls resembling Twiggy. Lois is arrested by the midget police force and put in a jail cell (Is Richard Hughes a pseudonym for David Lynch?). She is rescued by Titanman, a hero visiting from another planet.

Titanman falls for Lois and despite her feelings for Superman, she agrees to marry him. At the wedding she learns that Titanman already has seven wives and polygamy is legal. Lois wants to back out, but Titanman's mental powers sap her will to resist. Superman then arrives, but instead of helping Lois, he encourages the marriage.

The backup story is "Checkmate for Lois" by E. Nelson Bridwell and Kurt Schaffenberger. Lois investigates a mysterious millionaire who has converted an aircraft carrier into a castle. Lois fails to get an interview, but Lana Lang succeeds. Then several people who share similarities with chess pieces disappear. Lois tracks them and Lana back to the aircraft carrier where she unmasks the millionaire as Professor Lang, Lana's father.

Lois is then taken prisoner, because Lana, her father, and the others have been taken over by a ancient sorceress, two kings, and their followers whose spirits had been trapped inside magical chess pieces. The sorceress Lediv, inhabiting Lana, then lures Superman to the castle and arranges for his mind to be taken over.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Showcase #71

Showcase #71 (On Sale: September 27, 1967) has a Mike Sekowsky and Mike Esposito Maniaks cover featuring Woody Allen.

"What Swings, Fiddle Strings?" by E.Nelson Bridwell, Mike Sekowsky and Mike Esposito. This is the last appearance of the Maniaks and the story concerns Woody Allen trying to get them to star in a movie he was going to make. Using a real celebrity was a change of pace for this strip which usually made up fake names like "Jeannette Punchinello" (Annette Funicello), "Rock Hutsut" (Rock Hudson), and "Twiggly" (Twiggy). This was a strange book for DC, but certainly showed an openness on the companies part to try almost anything.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Metamorpho #15

Metamorpho #15 (On Sale:September 275, 1967) features a Sal Trapani cover.

"Hour of Armageddon" is by Bob Haney, Sal Trapani and Charles Paris. Continuing the story from Metamorpho #14, after witnessing Metamorpho being obliterated by the Thunderer, Element Girl attacks the villain and suffers the same fate as the Element Man. She soon finds herself in a sub-atomic universe separated into three parts. Metamorpho is also trapped in the same micro-verse with her. Working together they are able to restore themselves to normal with the additional help of boy genius Billy Barton.

While Metamorpho is presumed dead, the Thunderer demands Earth's surrender from the United Nations. Metamorpho returns to battle the mutant, but finds his powers are not enough. Billy Barton provides the Element Man further assistance by delivering a laser to him. The laser proves more effective against the Thunderer.

As the battle continues, an alien ship arrives containing two members of the Thunderer's race. Reprinted in Showcase Presents:Metamorpho Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Girls' Love Stories #131

Girls' Love Stories #131 (On Sale: September 26, 1967) has a cover by Jay Scott Pike.

Inside we begin with "A Born Cheat" which is penciled by Howard Purcell. It is followed by "Magic Saturday" drawn by Arthur Peddy and Bernard Sachs. Lastly is our cover story "A Girl Alone" drawn by Jay Scott Pike.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Superman #201

Superman #201 (On Sale: September 21, 1967) sports a nice cover by Curt Swan and George Klein that looks like an Infantino layout.

"Clark Kent Abandons Superman" is by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and George Klein. Clark Kent joins Professor Steele on an archaeological expedition. When a dangerous creature is unearthed, Superman goes into action. However, Professor Steele is killed.

Superman blames himself for Steele's death. Kandorian psychologists are unable to help him overcome his guilt. Later, when a stray bullet fired by crooks bounces off his chest and nearly wounds Lois Lane, Superman fears that he is a danger to those around him.

Superman decides to leave Earth. He goes to the planet Moxia which has a red sun. Superman then becomes ordinary scientist Clarken. However, when the planet is threatened by Kromn, a man threatening to make himself a dictator, Superman fights back without his powers.

The back-up is "The Jolly Jailhouse" reprinted from Superman #139, by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Superman travels to the island republic of Voroda as Clark Kent. He is arrested by the commandant of a political prison who is trying to establish himself as dictator. While in the Voroda jail, Clark secretly uses his powers to embarrass the Colonel. When some government officials arrive at the prison, Clark further humiliates the Colonel, and in so doing, the political prisoners are freed.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Spectre #1

Spectre #1 (On Sale: September 21, 1967) has a Murphy Anderson cover.

"The Sinister Lives of Captain Skull" is by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson and was reprinted in Adventure Comics #494. If I could find my Spectres I would tell you what happened here.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Plastic Man #7

Plastic Man #7 (On Sale: September 21, 1967) has a cover by Carmine Infantino and Mike Esposito.

Inside we have "Plastic Man's Fantastic Old Man" by Arnold Drake and Winslow Mortimer. Three costumed criminals attempt to rob an art gallery. Plastic Man and his assistant try to stop the robbery, but fail. News about the robbery reaches Gordon Trueblood, who questions his friend Plastic Man about the crime. Plas reveals that it was his father, the original Plastic Man, who tried to stop the crime. Plastic Man, Jr. and Gordy then visit a rest home owned by the senior Plastic Man. He explains that the criminal leader, the King of Spades, also owns the mortgage on the rest home and is trying to take it over. The elder Plas has been unable to prove that the King is a criminal.

The two Plastic Men team up to trap the King of Spades and his partners. Their plan almost succeeds, but Gordy loses the evidence against them. Then the King takes over the rest home.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Justice League of America #58

Justice League of America #58 (On Sale: September 21, 1967), AKA 80 Page Giant #G-41 has a cover by Carmine Infantino and Sid Greene.

We begin with "The World of No Return" from Justice League of America #1, by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs. Jasonar, a scientist from the extra-dimensional world of Kalanor, flees to Earth to escape the tyrant Despero, and to perfect a secret weapon to defeat the mutant villain. Here he encounters the Flash, who summons the Justice League to his aid.

Despero, however, learns of this, and places the League members, except the Flash, in a hypnotic trance. Then he challenges the speedster to a chess-like game, rigged in his favor. Flash loses, and thereby condemns himself and his fellow members to be teleported to another dimension. Wonder Woman and Superman find themselves on a prehistoric planet, Aquaman and Green Lantern on a water-world whose seas are drying up, and Batman, J’onn J’onzz, and Flash on a world whose sun is about to go nova due to Despero’s machinations.

Next we have "The Wheel of Misfortune" from Justice League of America #6, also by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs. After breaking various superstitious taboos on individual cases, the Justice League members are plagued by ill fortune. This is caused by Professor Amos Fortune, who has learned how to control luck through the stimulation of twin "luck glands" which he has discovered in the body. By gifting himself with good luck and the JLA with bad, he plans to rob at will, unhampered by the super-heroes. Meanwhile, the assembled heroes are alerted to two new cases via the mail: Flash, Green Arrow, and J’onn J’onzz search for a hidden family treasure, while Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern try to catch a museum thief. In each case, Amos Fortune attempts to abscond with the loot, but the JLA nevertheless enjoys good fortune, and solves the crimes. Realizing that this good fortune has come to the team to compensate for the earlier bad fortune caused by his own "Stimuluck" device, the villain captures the six members, and imprisons them in his Wheel of Fortune, which is designed to destroy their good luck glands completely.

Finally we have "For Sale -- the Justice League" from Justice League of America #8, also by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs. An inventor’s Cyberniray, a device that enables the user to control the wills of others, falls into the hands of Pete Ricketts, a small-time crook. When a group of underworld leaders offers a million-dollar reward for the elimination of the Justice League, Ricketts uses the ray-gun to capture them. He then auctions off the services of the various members to the crime chiefs, who send the heroes to rob some of the same targets as a test of their comparative abilities.

Flash and Green Lantern battle over jewels which both have been ordered to steal; Aquaman and Green Arrow match wits to rob a gambling ship; and Wonder Woman fights J’onn J’onzz over the theft of a radium shipment. Meanwhile, Snapper Carr, discovering the heroes’ plight, borrows the anti-gravity discs of Dr. Destiny from the Souvenir Room and saves the various treasures so that none of the heroes succeeds in his attempted crime.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Falling In Love #95

Falling In Love #95 (On Sale: September 21, 1967) features a fairly nice Tony Abruzzo cover.

Inside we have "A Promise of Heartbreak" which is penciled by Jay Scott Pike, "Bitter Victory" penciled by Frank Giacoia and inked by Bernard Sachs (reprinted from Falling In Love #24), "Sweet Mystery of Love" drawn by Nick Cardy and cover-story "How Could You Do It?" which is drawn by Tony Abruzzo.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Teen Titans #12

Teen Titans #12 (On Sale: September 19, 1967) has a nice Nick Cardy cover. Robin is once again returned to the spotlight role.

Inside we have "Large Trouble in Space-Ville" by Bob Haney, Irv Novick and Nick Cardy. D.J. Deejay becomes the world's first disc jockey to broadcast live from Earth-orbit, but the Titans detect a code in his snappy patter indicating that he had run into trouble in space. After foiling the efforts of the Deliverer, an international criminal, to levitate Earth's national monuments into orbit, they follow the disc jockey into space and find an alien being holding him captive. Reprinted in DC Showcase Presents:Teen Titans Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Our Fighting Forces #110

Our Fighting Forces #110 (On Sale: September 19, 1967) has an interesting Irv Novick cover. Once again there seems to be a touch of Joe Kubert here and there in the inks.

Inside we have Lt. Hunter's Hellcats in "Mountains Full of Death" by Robert Kanigher and Jack Abel.

The backup story is "Sarge With-Out Stripes" drawn by John Calnan. This was the last of four stories John did for Kanigher around this time. He would not work for DC again till 1970.

Edited by Robert Kanigher.

Inferior Five #5

Inferior Five #5 (On Sale: September 19, 1967) has another Mike Sekowsky and Mike Esposito cover.

"I Was a Guillotine-Age Hero" is written by E. Nelson Bridwell and drawn by Mike Sekowsky and Mike Esposito. The Inferior Five go back in time to the French Revolution and chaos ensures. Along the way, they meet several figures including Robespierre, The Scarlet Pimpernel and the infamous sewing mother who sits in the front row of every execution.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Young Love #64

Young Love #64 (On Sale: September 19, 1967) has a cover by Jay Scott Pike.

Inside we have "Please Love Me" drawn by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, "The Sting of Jealousy" by persons unknown, "A Shoulder to Cry On" a reprint from Falling In Love #15 and drawn by Manny Stallman and our cover story "Waiting for the End of Love" drawn by Jay Scott Pike.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Adventures of Jerry Lewis #103

This is one of those strange days when DC released only one new comic. If you ran to the store 40 years ago today, the only new DC comic on the stands was...

Adventures of Jerry Lewis #103 (On Sale: September 14, 1967) has another Neal Adams cover. Adams' inking style is very evident in the gorilla.

Inside we have "Somebody Stole Our School" written by Arnold Drake and drawn by Neal Adams. If I owned this one, I would tell you what it was about.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

World's Finest Comics #171

World's Finest Comics #171 (On Sale: September 12, has a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

Inside we begin with "The Executioner's List" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and George Klein. After catching crooked gambler Swifty Sloane, Batman switches back to his Bruce Wayne identity. As police take Swifty away, an unseen gunman takes shots at Bruce and Swifty. Later Clark Kent is nearly killed in a helicopter explosion, though as Superman he is able to protect his secret identity and provide an explanation for his survival. Next Perry White and Alfred are each the victims of unexpected attacks. Superman and Batman think someone is going after their friends until Batman finds a death list.

The back-up story is "The Secret of Kryptonite" reprinted from Superman #136 and is by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Superman returns to his hometown of Smallville for a celebration of the day he landed on Earth. While there he recalls how the world learned about Kryptonite. When he was Superboy, he was briefly exposed to some in a planetarium exhibit, and a crook named "Silk" Smith witnessed his weakness. The underworld then tried to find out which mineral in the exhibit weakened him. Superboy was able to trick the crooks into believing they were wrong.

Later at the first Superman Earthday celebration, a scientist, Mel Evans gives Superboy a present which is a fragment of Krypton. The fragment is of course Kryptonite, which weakens Superboy.The fragment is taken away, but now the world knows Superboy’s Achilles Heel.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Justice League of America #57

Justice League of America #57 (On Sale: September 12, 1967) has another great cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson and showcasing someone other than the big three.

"Man, Thy Name is -- Brother" is a JLA classic issue by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene. When Snapper Carr writes a term paper on Brotherhood Week, three JLA members volunteer to investigate bigotry-related news items for him. Flash aids a young black boy in search of acceptance for his talents, and in turn is helped against a gang of robbers. Green Arrow teams up with an Indian youth to clear the youngster's name after he is accused of involvement in a mail holdup. Snapper accompanies Hawkman to India to help a famous philanthropist settle differences between two warring tribes Reprinted in the Justice League of America Archives Vol. 7 HC and Best of DC #3.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Bomba the Jungle Boy #2

Bomba the Jungle Boy #2 (On Sale: September 12, 1967) has a cover by the Blackhawk team of Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera.

Inside we have "The Phantom City of Death" written by George Kashdan and drawn once again by Leo Sommers. The first few issues of this series were Sommers' only work for DC.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Aquaman #36

Aquaman #36 (On Sale: September 7, 1967) has another nice cover by Nick Cardy and a blurb referencing the new Superman-Aquaman Hour.

Inside we have "What Seeks the Awesome Threesome?" by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Aquaman and his family build a replica of Atlantis as an exhibit for surface dwellers to visit. The pavilion is attacked and demolished by three robotic creatures known as the Awesome Threesome. After wrecking the exhibit the terrible trio known as the Torpedo Man, Magneto, and the Claw destroy a gyro-moleculizer which is being displayed in another exhibit.

Aquaman and Aqualad battle the robots to a standstill, but they are unable to beat them. Then a creature emerges from the ground beneath the destroyed pavilion. The alien makes his way to the real Atlantis followed by Aquaman. The Awesome Threesome delay the Sea King, allowing the alien to be picked up by a flying saucer.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Tomahawk #113

Tomahawk #113 (On Sale: September 7, 1967) has a pretty damn good Bob Brown cover.

Inside we have "The Mad Miser of Carlisle Castle" by the unusual art team of penciller Irv Novick and inker Bob Brown, two guys who would soon be trading off Batman stories in Batman and Detective.

The back-up story is "The League of Tomahawk Haters" which is a reprint from Tomahawk #54 and is drawn by Fred Ray.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Wonder Woman #173

Wonder Woman #173 (On Sale:September 7, 1967) has cover by the unusual art team of Carmine Infantino and Irv Novick.

Inside we have "Wonder Woman's Daring Deception" by Robert Kanigher, Irv Novick and Mike Esposito. An Amazon named Tonia wins an Amazon competition and earns a wish from Queen Hippolyta. She wants to visit the Man's World and fight crime like Wonder Woman. Both Hippolyta and Wonder Woman think it is a bad idea since Tonia will lose her immortality. Tonia refuses to change her wish, so Wonder Woman agrees to take her to the Man's World.

Before they leave, Wonder Woman convinces Tonia to accept a challenge. If Tonia can complete any one of three tasks in place of Wonder Woman she may stay in the Man's World. Tonia then tries to catch criminals three times. The first two times she fails, forcing Wonder Woman to rescue her. The third time she is apparently killed in action.

Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island where Hippolyta is angry about Tonia's death.

The backup story "Earth's Last Human" is also by Robert Kanigher, Irv Novick and Mike Esposito. Wonder Woman awakens inside a test tube aboard a Jovian spacecraft. She has no memory of how she got there. The Jovian pilot is a scientist and is surprised that Wonder Woman is alive. He explains that Martian conquered Earth after setting foot on Paradise Island. Wonder Woman sees images of her home being destroyed, and learns that a box was responsible for letting the Martian invasion succeed.

Edited by Robert Kanigher.

Batman #196

Batman #196 (On Sale: September 5, 1967) has a another great cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. Once again, a comic you would be compelled to purchase.

Inside "The Psychic Super-Sleuth" is by Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Batman and Robin team up with Petru Dubrov, a famous psychic detective, to solve a jewel theft with no clues. Dubrov successfully locates the crooks, but they claim to be innocent. After Dubrov helps solve another crime with similar results Batman becomes suspicious.

Batman finds a letter in which Dubrov told Commissioner Gordon that he was coming to Gotham. Analysis of the letter leads Batman to a farm house where the real Dubrov is being held captive. The other Dubrov was an imposter.

The back-up batman story "The Purloined Parchment Puzzle" is also by Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. After stopping a bank robbery, Batman helps with a locked room mystery at a museum. The curator inside the room was knocked out and a rare document stolen. The two guards outside saw no one enter the room. The curator, Donald Connery is accused of the crime and goes to trial.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Doom Patrol #115

Doom Patrol #115 (On Sale: September 5, 1967) as usual has a cover by Bob Brown.

Inside we have the cover story "The Mutant Master" by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani. Three monstrous atomic mutants plan to destroy the world in vengeance for their tragic fate, and the Doom Patrol is defeated in its encounters with the trio. At the same time, Madame Rouge's split personality, aggravated by the mental coercion of both the Brian and the Chief, causes her to become two separate beings, who battle to the destruction of her evil half.

The second story, "General Beast Boy -- of the Ape Brigade" is also by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani. In this the continuation of the retelling of Beast Boy's origin, wherein the young Beast Boy smashes a plot by Nazi war criminals to raise an army of intelligent, obedient apes. He is then finally found by his guardian, Nicholas Galtry, who returns with him to America.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff

Flash #174

Flash #174 (On Sale: September 5, 1967) features another cool cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. Almost a little Eisnerish. This issue features a milestone in the story of the Flash, as you will see. It kind of surprises me that this story has not been reprinted.

"Stupendous Triumph of the Six Super-Villains" is by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Sid Greene (Infantino's last Flash issue). Mirror Master escapes from prison after tuning in on a parallel dimension inside one of his special mirrors. The other Earth is inhabited by a crimefighting Mirror Master and a criminal Flash. Mirror Master observes his counterpart using a mirror weapon that defeats the evil Flash. Mirror Master constructs a duplicate of the weapon, then breaks five of his fellow rogues out of prison.

The Rogues set a trap for the Flash, but Mirror Master's new weapon fails. After they escape, Mirror Master visits the parallel world to learn more about the weapon. He double-crosses the evil Flash, then learns how to use the mirror weapon.

After Mirror Master returns to his own world, he sets another trap for the Flash with the other Rogues. However, as they spring the trap, the evil Flash from the parallel dimension switches places with his counterpart. The Rogues then defeat the evil Flash. The Earth-1 Flash returns home and surprises the Rogues.

Barry Allen tells his wife Iris that he is the Flash and is surprised to learn that Iris already knows his secret since he talks in his sleep.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Our Army at War #186

Our Army at War #186 (On Sale: September 5, 1967) has a nice "Sgt. Rock" cover by Joe Kubert.

Inside we have "3 Stripes Hill" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, a reprint from Our Army at War #90 featuring "Sgt. Rock." Sgt. Rock recalls his days as a private in Easy Company. Rock was part of a team that included a Private First Class, a Corporal, and a Sergeant. Each man covered for one another and joked that the only way to get promoted was for the man in front of him to be killed.

Rock's unit is ordered to hold Baldy Hill from the German army. A plane takes out the Private First Class, earning Rock an instant promotion. Next a grenadier kills the corporal. Finally, the Sergeant dies taking out an enemy tank. Rock holds the hill by himself until the rest of Easy Company can arrive. Rock is promoted to Sergeant, but it cost him the lives of his team.

The backup story "My Life for a Medal" is by Robert Kanigher and Neal Adams and was reprinted in Sgt. Rock Special #8.

Edited by Robert Kanigher

Teen Beat #1

Teen Beat #1 (On Sale: September 5, 1967) has a cover featuring the Monkees. This is the only issue of this teen music magazine published under this name. This was comic book size on comic book paper but was not a comic book.

It was edited by Jack Miller.

September 1967 News

Carmine Infantino became Editorial Director and begins laying out most of the DC covers. His days as a penciler are numbered at DC, at least for now. He turned over Wonder Woman to Irv Novick and his last issue of Flash came out on September 5th. Ross Andru took over the penciling duties on Flash.

On September 2, 1967 Filmation's Superman -Aquaman Hour begins. "Superman, the Man of Steel, performs super deeds with ease. Aquaman's the bold and daring King of the Seven Seas!" I loved this show and it may have been one of the things that got me to start buying comics. I know I started buying Aquaman because of the show.