Our first edition of 100-Page FAKES! was an imaginary expansion of 1974's Adventure Comics # 435. Editor Joe Orlando's run on Adventure Comics was my favorite comic book when I was 13 to 14 years old, rivaled only by editor Archie Goodwin's Detective Comics and various all-reprint books like Wanted, The World's Most Dangerous Criminals and--of course!--the 100-Page Super Spectaculars. It's time to return to Adventure for another faux Super Spec.
In fact, why not continue with the very next issue? Adventure Comics # 436 served up another bloodthirsty installment of writer Michael Fleisher's infamous chronicle of that merciless ghost The Spectre, aided here with "script continuity" by Russell Carley, and all of it made gorgeous 'n' shiny with yet another irresistible job by artist Jim Aparo. This issue also included the second of Aquaman's three appearances as The Spectre's backup strip, written by Aquavet Steve Skeates and drawn by Mike Grell. Aquaman would take Adventure Comics away from The Spectre before too long.
For reprints, I selected two tales from the '60s. Our previous phony Adventure Comics Super Spec reprised the first appearance of the sword 'n' sorcery hero Nightmaster, with artwork by a then-unknown Berni(e) Wrightson; made sense to follow that with Nightmaster's second appearance, again illoed by Wrightson. A decidedly oddball 1967 team-up of The Spectre and The Flash seemed an appropriate choice, especially since it gave me an opportunity to include its striking Carmine Infantino-MurphyAnderson cover--huzZAH! That still left room for one Golden Age reprint, a niche filled by Spy Smasher's 1942 tussle with a ghost squadron. Ooooo--spooky! Here's where everything came from:
The Spectre in "The Gasmen And...The Spectre," Adventure Comics # 436 (November-December 1974)
Spy Smasher And The Ghost Squadron," Spy Smasher # 6 (August 1942)
The Spectre and The Flash in "Phantom Flash, Cosmic Traitor," The Brave And The Bold # 72 (June-Julyt 1967)
Nightmaster in "Sing A Song Of Sorcery!," Showcase # 83 (June 1969)
Aquaman in "The King Is Dead; Long Live The King!," Adventure Comics # 436 (November-December 1974)
All characters copyright DC Comics Inc. The Spy Smasher story is public domain, but the rest can only be shown here in representative samples. For the time being, I do share the whole thing with my paid patrons. The Spectre! Aquaman! Spy Smasher! Nightmaster! The Spectre and The Flash! It's time for Adventure.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
COVER GALLERY
No comments:
Post a Comment