Showcase #81

Showcase #81 (On Sale: January 23, 1969) has a Windy and Willy cover by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell.

"The Haunted Hippie" is by Arnold Drake and Bob Oksner. This story is a partially redrawn Dobie Gillis story reprinted from Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #26. Someone had to think this was a good idea.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Stanley and His Monster #112

Stanley and His Monster #112 (On Sale: August 27, 1968) has a cover by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell on this, its final issue.

We begin with "Like Father, Like Son?" and "Painting the Town, Red" both by persons unknown. We end with "All Kinds of Spot" written by Stanley creator Arnold Drake and drawn by Henry Scarpelli, which was reprinted in Best of DC #49.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Leave It To Binky #63

Leave It To Binky #63 (On Sale: August 8, 1968) has a goofy cover by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell.

This issue has (Peggy -- look! A friendship pin...) from Leave it To Binky #27, (Come on, Dopey! You bark...) from Leave it To Binky #25, and (Hiya, Binky, ole boy!) from Leave it To Binky #26.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Showcase #77

Showcase #77 (On Sale: July 25, 1968) has a wonderful Angel and the Ape cover by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell.

"Angel and the Ape" is by John Albano, Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell and this is John Albano's first writing for DC. Albano would go on to creat one of the biggest western hits DC ever had in Jonah Hex. Mr. Trumbell hires Angel O'Day, a private investigator, to protect him from men trying to kill him. Angel and her partner Sam Simeon, an intelligent gorilla help fight off several attackers, then Sam leaves to deliver a comic strip to Stan Bragg, editor of Brainpix Comics.

After dropping off the artwork, Sam returns home where he receives a call for help from Angel. She has been kidnapped along with Trumbell. Sam traces them to the local zoo and rescues Angel. Together they locate Trumbell and his captor, the zookeeper. Angel exposes the zookeeper as a spy who was trying to retrieve secret plans hidden inside a cast on Trumbell's foot. While the plans seems to be for a new rocket, they are actually plans for a new ride at Disneyland.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Inferior Five #10

Inferior Five #10 (On Sale: July 16, 1968) has a cover by Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell featuring some obvious Marvel characters and Superman. This is the Five's last issue.

"A Monster Rally" is by E. Nelson Bridwell, Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell. Earth is invaded by little green men. Many heroes respond to the invasion including the Inferior Five. However, the aliens are able to use their mental abilities to hypnotize the Kookie Quartet (Mr. Manplastic, Vanishing Queen, Matchstick Kid, and Whatchamaycallit), the Submoron (Prince Nabob), and the Cobweb Kid. The Inferior Five also fail to stop the invaders.

Finally Superman returns from a space mission and forces the aliens to leave Earth. After the battle the Inferior Five recovers, but the other defeated heroes blame them for their own failures and plot revenge.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Stanley and His Monster #111

Stanley and His Monster #111 (On Sale: June 25, 1968) has a cover by Bob Oksner.

This issue begins with "Film Flam Man" drawn by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell, which is followed by "Badtime Story" drawn by Henry Scarpelli. We end with "Superhulk" drawn by Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell. I have no writing credits for these stories, but would be surprised if they were not written by Arnold Drake, though they may not be. In Comic Book Artist #1, Joe Orlando talked extensively about getting the Stanley book...

One of the first books I got to edit was Stanley and His Monster and in the beginning, I decided to change it into three short stories instead of one issue-length story, after I read a few issues. I realized that it took 24 pages to get one joke. So I made up my mind that it was going to be three eight-pagers with good premises ending up with a good payoff to a good joke. I wanted to use Arnold Drake because I understood that Arnold made considerable contributions to the development of that book and I felt I owed him-but I was told that he was in Europe.

I waited as my deadline got closer and closer and it led to my famous fight up there with Arnold that kind of made my reputation as a character. Arnold returned to the States-I had never met him-but when I did, he came across as a pushy guy who acted like he owned the place. He was friends with all the staff, and on a first name basis with the publisher. I was really pissed by this time as I had only three weeks to the deadline and I didn't have a script which I had to get to an artist. I kept sending telegrams to Arnold, but I never got answers.

When I complained, I was told, "No, no. You have to wait for Arnold." So when he walked into my office, I tried not to insult him, but I did premise the idea of doing three short stories that would speed up the creative process and give me the opportunity to divide the scripts among three artists, so I would have my chance to make my deadline. We argued and he pointed his finger at me and said, "I say that it's going to be one 24-page story!"

I looked at him and said, "You're really saying that?" And he said, "Absolutely!" I said, "You know that I am the editor." And he said, "And I don't care who you are- you don't know who I am." I said, "Okay. Arnold Drake, go fuck yourself because you're off the book." Arnold was taken aback. "You're telling me I'm fired? You know, I'm going to the Publisher! I've been here for twenty years!" So Arnold stormed into the Publisher's office...

So, Arnold storms down to the Publisher's office and I was called in. The Publisher is sitting there with his advisers who were the print buyers, distribution reps, and the V.P. was there. All eyes were upon me and I was on the spot. I knew that if I did not impress (Irwin) Donenfeld this time, I was through. Arnold was sitting there with his arms crossed and a smug smile across his face with his hat on. He always wore his hat in the office (I think it was because he had a bald spot). Donenfeld looked at me and said, "Joe, did you tell Arnold to go fuck himself?"

I said that I did and he said, "Well, I don't think that kind of language should be used in an office. It's terrible, deplorable and you should apologize to Arnold." I said, "Well, did Arnold tell you the reasons why I got so angry?" I told them and when my explanation didn't go over too well, he said, "You work that out with Arnold." And that told me right away that I couldn't fire the guy.

I said, "With all due respect, I will apologize to Arnold if he takes his hat off." I went on to say that because in a million years I would never walk into your office with a hat on my head. I would have it in my hand. Some giggling started and Arnold made a lame joke that he had the hat on because he was Jewish, but then came the silence. Arnold looked at the Publisher and said, "Irwin, do you want me to take my hat off?" Irwin said, "Take your hat off." And I said, "I apologize for telling you to go fuck yourself, Arnold."

I knew that I had made a hit with Irwin because that night I had a date with a really gorgeous lady. I was trying to impress her, and we were sitting in this restaurant and the waiter comes over with a bottle of champagne and says, "Mr. Orlando, we are honored to have a famous cartoonist like yourself eat here. The champagne is compliments of the house." Even I was impressed, then I looked across the way from where we were sitting and there was Irwin in a booth. He winked and gave me the high sign. The lady did not see this-she was very impressed.

My guess is that if Arnold wrote the stories int e first Orlando issue, he might have also wrote these, but you never know. By the way, you gotta love the kind of interviews the guys at Twomorrows do on a regular basis.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Inferior Five #9

Inferior Five #9 (On Sale: May 16, 1968) has a cover by Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell.

"Mummy's the Word" is by E. Nelson Bridwell, Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell. When a rare jewel is mysterious stolen from a museum, the Inferior Five are called for help. The team suspects that the crooks may strike again, so they take turns guarding the museum overnight. Each one of them is outwitted as more jewels are stolen. However, they do locate a secret shaft underneath one of the display cases.

The team descends into the shaft where they are attacked by a variety of monsters. After successfully passing each challenge, the Inferior Five find the thieves, aliens from Asteroid 36. They used the jewels to recharge the mind power ray devices which they then use to take control of the Inferior Five. Dumb Bunny is too stupid to be affected by mind control, so she single-handedly stops her attacking teammates and smashes the alien machine.

After the aliens leave Earth, the Inferior Five are forced to act as tour guides at the museum to pay for the damage they caused within.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Swing With Scooter #13

Swing With Scooter #13 (On Sale: April 18, 1968) has a cover by Joe Orlando and Tex Blaisdell.

Inside we have Scooter starring in "Odd Jobs by Oddballs," "Hip History" and "Oh, Happy, Happy Here's Cap'n Clappy." Penny and Cookie star in "Buy Me, Give Me, Buy Me" and Malibu stars in an untitled strip.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Inferior Five #8

Inferior Five #8 (On Sale: March 21, 1968) has cover by Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell.

"A Little Junk... Can Go a Long Way" is written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Don Segall and drawn by Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell. Herman Cramer, alias the Blimp, calls his friends the Inferior Five for help when a growing pile of junk buries his diner. City leaders have been unable to control the junk pile, so the super-heroes climb the to the top. At the top they discover their old foe Dr. Gruesome who has created an atomic egg which he plans to drop on the United Nations. The Inferior Five steal the egg, but Awkwardman drops it. Fortunately when it lands on some military troops it turns out to be a dud. The Inferior Five then must clean up the junk.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

Stanley and His Monster #109

Stanley and His Monster #109 (On Sale: February 22, 1968) features a Bob Oskner cover and is the first issue of this book, which takes over the numbering of The Fox and the Crow where Stanley and his Monster had been appearing for the past few years. This is also the only issue to use this horror-themed logo.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Infinity" is by Arnold Drake, Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Inferior Five #7

Inferior Five #7 (On Sale: January 23, 1968) sports a Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell cover. This is Blaisdell's first work at DC, though he did write a story for Police Comics #8 in 1942.

"Drainy Day" is by E. Nelson Bridwell, Winslow Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell. While searching for a mugger in the sewers, the Inferior Five meet their friend Thor and give him a make-over. As they continue on their pursuit of the crook, the heroes meet Prince Nabob, Iron Pants, and the Cobweb Kid who are looking for Thor and become involved in a murder plot.

The Inferior Five and several of the other people from the sewers eventually gather in a room to find the murderer. The killer then reveals himself as Dr. Diabolical who has been posing as an old lady. The villain then attempts to transfer the powers of the team into one of his henchmen, but instead transfers their weaknesses.

Edited by Joe Orlando in his first book as a DC editor.