Anthro #6

Anthro #6 (On Sale: May 20, 1969) has a cover reported to be by the signed Howie Post, but only a crazy person would deny the Wally Wood inks on the Nima and Embra figures. This is the final issue of Anthro.

(The Marriage of Anthro) is written and penciled by Howie Post and inked by Wally Wood. Anthro leaves the tribe of his uncle to search for Embra. After an encounter with a white lion and a giant, Anthro finds Embra and her father Tugg. The trio return to Do-Ahn's village where a marriage is arranged for Tugg's eldest daughter Ita.

Anthro then proceeds to marry Embra. Before the ceremony is complete, the ritual is challenged by Nima, a woman of the bear tribe. As a result of her challenge Nima and Embra fight for the right to marry Anthro. The girls knock each other out which results in the match ending as a draw. As a result the law requires that Anthro marry both women.

Howie Post's Anthro was a one-of-a-kind character and didn't fit real well in the DC universe. Beginning life in Showcase #74 it would be nine years later before Anthro appeared again and again it would be in the pages of Showcase, this time issue #100 with a small cameo. He would appear only three more times in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2, #5 and #10.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Anthro #5

Anthro #5 (On Sale: January 21, 1969) has a cover by Howie Post.

"The River of No Return" is written and drawn by Howie Post. Anthro and his family escape from Katara on a log raft. In the rapids, Anthro falls into the water and is separated from the others. Ne-Ahn gets his family to safety then looks for Anthro. The boy has washed up on shore and is forced to climb the nearby rocks to avoid a group of bears. Anthro finds a clan of bear hunters led by his uncle Do-Ahn. Anthro and Do-Ahn then make their way to Ne-Ahn and the other members of his family. Ne-Ahn and Do-Ahn are reunited for the first time in years. Anthro then receives word that Embra, his betrothed, is migrating south with her family.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

House of Mystery #179

House of Mystery #179 (On Sale: January 7, 1969) has another wonderful cover by Neal Adams. This is just a classic issue as you will see.

We begin with an introduction page featuring Cain written and drawn by Joe Orlando. Next is "Sour Note" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Jerry Grandenetti and George Roussos. This is the story of Mark Eldon, who was given a note written in a strange language by a mysterious silent woman in a dark abandoned mansion. Everyone he gives the note to seems to be able to translate it and every time they do, the results are disastrous for Mark. What is the secret of the sour note? Reprinted in House of Mystery #229.

Next is "The Man Who Murdered Himself" by Marv Wolfman and introducing Bernie (Berni) Wrightson. This is Marv's first horror story sale and of course he would go on to write years worth of Tomb of Dracula for Marvel. Bernie will always be remembered for his classic run on his co-creation, Swamp Thing, and the numerous covers he will do over the years for the DC horror/mystery line. Bernie also pulled a long stint at Warren drawing some classic black and white horror stories. Reprinted in House of Mystery #228. This story is a pretty inauspicious start for Wolfman, a short tale of a maybe haunted house.

Next we have "Page 13" by Joe Orlando and Sergio Aragones and "Cain's game Room" by Sergio Aragones.

That brings up to "The Widow's Walk" by Howie Post, Neal Adams and Joe Orlando. This is the second of five horror stories that Anthro creator Howie Post would write for DC. Joe Orlando's inks are not a very good fit for Neal Adam's pencils and this is a team you would not see again. Post's story is terrific, beginning in 1897 where we meet Angus Beame, a young merchant seaman. This is the story of Angus's foiled marriage for money scheme and the curse of a scorned and devoted wife. Great stuff and obviously the reason it has been reprinted so much. Reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition C-23, DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #17 and Saga of Ra's Al Ghul #3.

The entire issue was also reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Anthro #4

Anthro #4 (On Sale: November 21, 1968) has a cover by Howie Post.

"The Prophecy" continues the story of Anthro and is written and drawn by Howie Post. Anthro and his family are welcomed into a tropical city heated by hot springs. The people of the city believe Lart is a child of prophecy and make him their king. Queen Flamma, the former leader of the matriarchy prior to Lart's arrival, tries to seduce Anthro as a means of controlling the boy king. When Anthro resists her, Flamma's minister Omal tricks Lart into signing his brother's death warrant. When quakes strike the city, Flamma tries to sacrifice Lart to her goddess. Anthro rescues his brother, and the family escapes the city using a raft.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

House of Mystery #177

House of Mystery #177 (On Sale: September 10, 1968) has another beautiful cover by Neal Adams featuring those kids who can't keep out of trouble. Once again the Jack Adler coloring on this one is just beautiful.

We begin with "The Son of the Montross Monster" drawn by Mort Meskin and reprinted from House of Mystery #130. This is followed by a Room 13 page written and drawn by Joe Orlando. Next is Odds and Ends From Cain's Cellar drawn by Sergio Aragones and a text feature, "Last Meal," written by Charles King and illustrated by Joe Orlando. The cover story is next, "The Curse of the Cat," written by Anthro's Howie Post and drawn by Brother Power, The Geek's Bill Draut. We end with "Cain's Game Room" by Sergio Aragones. The entire contents is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery #1.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Anthro #3

Anthro #3 (On Sale: September 3, 1968) has a cover by series creator Howie Post.

"Journey to the Island of Green" is written and drawn by Howie Post. As the story continues, Anthro and his family survive an attack by a race of sub-men. Ne-Ahn worries about surviving the long winter and decides to move his family to warmer climates once the weather improves. As Spring approaches, Anthro is sent to look for food to carry on the journey, but first he wants to see his girlfriend Embra. He tells her that his family will be moving, and she asks that he mark the trail for her people to follow. Her father Tugg then chases Anthro away.

Anthro returns to his family with fresh food and a horse "borrowed" from Tugg. The group then begins their journey to find a new home. Anthro marks the trail which eventually leads to a lush tropical valley. They find a tribe of advanced people with knowledge of architecture living there. When the people see Lart riding the horse, they believe he is a child of prophecy.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Anthro #2

Anthro #2 (On Sale: July 2, 1968) has a cover by Howie Post.

Like all Anthro stories, "Apes or Men" is written and drawn by Howie Post. Anthro flees from Chief Tugg's tribe and an unfavorable marriage to Tugg's ugly daughter Ita. He is pursued by a warrior and chased into a bear's cave. The bear forces Anthro to climb a tree to escape. He is saved by the beautiful huntress Embra, who is Chief Tugg's younger daughter. Anthro and Embra pledge themselves to one another, but they must wait until Ita is wed before they can be officially married.

Anthro returns to his family as winter sets in. Food is scarce, and his younger brother Lart is unable to hunt because of a leg wound. Lart wishes to sacrifice himself to a cannibal tribe, so that his family can eat. Anthro tracks him down and brings Lart back to the cave just as a race of sub-men are attacking. Anthro fights off one attack and returns to his family's cave dwelling, but the ape men soon return.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Anthro #1

Anthro #1 (On Sale: May 2, 1968) has a cover by Howie Post as Anthro moves from the pages of Showcase to his own short-lived series.

"The Battle of the Sexes" is written and drawn by Howie Post. Continuing from the Showcase issue, Anthro and his younger brother Lart return to the mammoth that Anthro has recently slain. While extracting meat from the body, a young girl attacks them. Anthro chases her and learns that she is a member of his mother's tribe. The girl had tamed the mammoth and kept it as a pet. She attacked Anthro for killing it. Anthro consoles her after learning about her loss.

While Anthro is away with the girl, Lart is attacked by a giant dog known as Kano. Anthro tries to return to his brother in time, but the boy is injured by the beast. Fortunately Lart was able to move his spear under Kano which kills it. Anthro carries Lart home where the young boy receives praise for killing the creature.

Anthro's father Ne-Ahn believes Anthro was distracted because he has no woman. He tells his son to go to a neighboring settlement and bring a woman home with him. Anthro meets Chief Tugg who wishes to marry off his daughter Ita. Anthro thinks Ita is the pretty girl he met earlier, so he passes Tugg's tests. When he learns that Ita is fat and ugly, he runs away (I hate it when the chief pulls the old ugly daughter switcheroo!). Tugg and his men chase Anthro as he flees. The pretty girl follows him too.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Showcase #74

Showcase #74 (On Sale: March 12, 1968) has a nice Howie Post cover featuring the debut of Post's Anthro.

"It Could Be You" is written and drawn by Howie Post. This is Post's first DC comic since "The Tale of the Cat" in World's Finest Comics #70, published in 1954. Anthro is the first Cro-Magnon boy born in the Stone Age. His father, Neanderthal caveman Ne-Ahn is the chief of his tribe, his mother a captive member of another tribe.

Anthro and his father go hunting before the winter season. During their pursuit of a mammoth, Anthro's father falls and drops his spear, so the boy picks it up and chases the mammoth. Using the spear, Anthro is able to kill the beast.

Anthro returns home expecting to be congratulated for his success, but instead his father challenges him. Picking up the fallen spear was an insult, so the older caveman demands a fight to the death. Anthro prevails, but he refuses to kill his father. He then establishes a new law based on love.

Edited by Carmine Infantino.