The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told

([May] 1992)

The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told (Table of Contents: 1)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Title page.

Contents (Table of Contents: 2)

table of contents / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils

Irv Novick (illustration); Joe Certa (illustration); Joe Kubert (illustration)

Inks

Bernard Sachs (illustration); Joe Certa (illustration); Joe Kubert (illustration)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Illustrations taken from stories in Girls' Love Stories (DC, 1949 series) #27, The Brave and the Bold (DC, 1955 series) #3, and Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #228.

This table of contents includes a listing for a PSA featuring Peter Porkchops that is not in the book.

[Foreword - Mike Gold] (Table of Contents: 3)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Mike Gold

Pencils

Curt Swan (Action, Adventure & World's Finest covers); Sheldon Moldoff (Detective cover); Gil Kane (Strange Adventures cover); Nick Cardy (My Greatest Adventure cover); Bob Brown (Showcase cover); ? (Real Screen cover)

Inks

Al Plastino (Action 252 cover); Sheldon Moldoff (Detective cover); Joe Giella (Strange Adventures cover); Stan Kaye (Adventure, Action 256 & World's Finest covers); Nick Cardy (My Greatest Adventure cover); Bob Brown (Showcase cover); ? (Real Screen cover)

Letters

typeset

Characters

Superman; Supergirl; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Batman [Thomas Wayne]; Superboy [Clark Kent]; Legion of Super-Heroes [Cosmic Boy; Saturn Girl; Lightning Lad]; Fox; Crow; Space Ranger; Lois Lane

Reprints

• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #235 (September 1956) [cover illustration]
• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #87 (March-April 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #15 (July-August 1958) [cover illustration]
• from My Greatest Adventure (DC, 1955 series) #26 (December 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #100 (January 1959) [cover illustration]
• from Real Screen Comics (DC, 1945 series) #127 (March-April 1959) [cover illustration]
• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #252 (May 1959) [cover illustration], #256 (September 1959) [cover illustration]
• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #267 (December 1959) [cover illustration]

Indexer Notes

Mike Gold discusses the changes in pop culture in the 1950s and the challenges these changes posed for comics. Article is illustrated with several cover reproductions and includes a suggested reading list.

[Foreword - Joe Kubert] (Table of Contents: 4)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Kubert

Pencils

Sheldon Moldoff (Detective & Tales of the Unexpected covers); Ruben Moreira (Strange Adventures & House of Mystery 64 covers); Gil Kane (Western cover); Curt Swan (Adventure & Action covers); Bill Ely (House of Mystery 71 cover); ? (Real Screen cover)

Inks

Sheldon Moldoff (Detective & Tales of the Unexpected covers); Ruben Moreira (Strange Adventures & House of Mystery 64 covers); Joe Giella (Western cover); Stan Kaye (Adventure & Action covers); Bill Ely (House of Mystery 71 cover); ? (Real Screen cover)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Characters

Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Pow Wow Smith; Jonathan Kent; Martha Kent; Krypto; Fox; Crow; Superman; Titano

Reprints

• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #72 (September 1956) [cover illustration]
• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #244 (June 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Tales of the Unexpected (DC, 1956 series) #14 (June 1957) [cover illustration]
• from House of Mystery (DC, 1951 series) #64 (July 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Real Screen Comics (DC, 1945 series) #115 (October 1957)
• from House of Mystery (DC, 1951 series) #71 (February 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #238 (March 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Western Comics (DC, 1948 series) #72 (November-December 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #262 (July 1959) [cover illustration]

Indexer Notes

Joe Kubert reminisces about his friends and their comics work in the 1950s. Article is illustrated with with several cover reproductions.

The Super Bat-Man! (Table of Contents: 5)

Superman and Batman and Robin / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

Stan Kaye

Colors

Adrienne Roy

Letters

Pat Gordon

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Lois Lane; Commissioner Gordon; Prof. Pender; Alfred Pennyworth

Synopsis

Superman and Batman are both on the trail of Prof. Pender, a criminal genius. But when they find him, Pender exposes Superman to a "decharging ray," which takes away his powers, and Batman accidentally steps in front of Pender's activated super-charging machine, giving him superpowers. While Superman and Batman adjust to their new abilities, they track down Pender and stop him from recreating his super-charging ray and using it on himself.

Reprints

• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #77 (July-August 1955)

Indexer Notes

Writer uncredited on item.

The Black Cougar! (Table of Contents: 6)

Tomahawk / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

George Kashdan

Pencils

Frank Frazetta

Inks

Frank Frazetta

Colors

Bill Wray

Letters

?

Editing

Whitney Ellsworth (original editor)

Genre

historical; western-frontier

Characters

Tomahawk; Dan Hunter; Black Cougar [Elias Bramm]

Synopsis

Warden Elias Bramm uses his connections to the criminal element and his mastery of disguise to run guns to the Indians as Black Cougar. Tomahawk puts a stop to Black Cougar's operation, but doesn't discover his enemy's true identity.

Reprints

• from Star Spangled Comics (DC, 1941 series) #113 (February 1951)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item.

Escape to the Stars (Table of Contents: 7)

John Jones Manhunter from Mars; Martian Manhunter / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Wood

Pencils

Joe Certa

Inks

Joe Certa

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

Pat Gordon; ?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Feature Logo

John Jones Manhunter from Mars

Genre

superhero

Characters

John Jones; Capt. Harding; Alex Dunster

Synopsis

John Jones discovers that Alex Dunster, who acquires and sells scientific and technical items of great value, has gotten hold of the machine that Prof. Erdel used to bring J'onn J'onzz from Mars. Jones realizes that if he uses the machine to return to Mars, however, Dunster would be free to continue his criminal ways. So Jones confronts Dunster, but Dunster destroys the machine before surrendering.

Reprints

• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #228 (February 1956)

Indexer Notes

John Jones' Martian name is spelled "J'on J'onz" and "J'onn J'onz" and Prof. Erdel's name is misspelled as "Urdle" in this story

Lobsters Away! (Table of Contents: 8)

Sugar and Spike / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Sheldon Mayer

Pencils

Sheldon Mayer

Inks

Sheldon Mayer

Colors

Anthony Tollin

Letters

?

Genre

humor; children

Characters

Sugar; Spike

Synopsis

When Spike's father decides he can't eat a lobster, Spike gets to bring it home from the restaurant as a pet. Since baby animals can understand and speak baby talk, the lobster asks the kids to do him a favor, and they send him back to the sea.

Reprints

• from Sugar & Spike (DC, 1956 series) #3 (August-September 1956)

Keywords

lobsters

The Girl in Superman's Past (Table of Contents: 9)

Lois Lane / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Jerry Coleman

Pencils

Al Plastino

Inks

Al Plastino

Colors

Katie Main

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane

Genre

superhero; adventure

Characters

Lois Lane; Lana Lang; Superman [Clark Kent]

Synopsis

Lois meets Lana Lang for the first time, and the girls immediately compete to see whom Superman likes better. But Superman refuses to fall into their traps.

Reprints

• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #9 (July-August 1957)

Indexer Notes

Writing and inking uncredited on item.

The Mystery of the Giant Arrows (Table of Contents: 10)

Green Arrow / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Ed Herron

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby; Rosalind Kirby

Colors

Glenn Whitmore

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Arrow [Oliver Queen]; Speedy [Roy Harper]; Prof. Riggles

Synopsis

When Green Arrow and Speedy investigate giant arrows falling from the sky, they find themselves pulled into another dimension when an arrow they are examining is retrieved.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #252 (September 1958)

Indexer Notes

Writer id from Martin O'Hearn. Writer and Roz Kirby uncredited on item.

Prisoners of Dimension Zero! (Table of Contents: 11)

Green Arrow / comic story / 5.67 pages (report information)

Script

Ed Herron

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby; Rosalind Kirby

Colors

Glenn Whitmore

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Arrow [Oliver Queen]; Speedy [Roy Harper]; Xeen Arrow

Synopsis

In another dimension, Green Arrow and Speedy meet Green Arrow's counterpart Xeen Arrow and discover that due to a passing comet, a gateway to their dimension has opened up, and the mysterious giant arrows they encountered on Earth are merely children's toys from this other dimension which have passed through the gateway. The mystery solved, Xeen Arrow shoots them back to Earth through the gateway before it closes.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #253 (October 1958)

Indexer Notes

Writer ID by Martin O'Hearn. Writer and Roz Kirby uncredited on item.

Gorilla City! (Table of Contents: 12)

Congo Bill / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

George Kashdan

Pencils

Nick Cardy

Inks

Nick Cardy

Colors

Bill Wray

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Congo Bill with Janu The Jungle Boy

Genre

jungle; adventure

Characters

Congo Bill; Janu

Synopsis

Congo Bill and Janu are taken as captives to a village populated by intelligent gorillas, but discover they are not what they appear.

Reprints

• from Congo Bill (DC, 1954 series) #6 (June-July 1955)

Indexer Notes

Writer uncredited on item.

Devil's Island in Space! (Table of Contents: 13)

Captain Comet / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Murphy Anderson

Inks

Murphy Anderson

Colors

Tom McCraw

Letters

?

Genre

superhero; science fiction

Characters

Captain Comet; Mag-a-til; Prof. Zackro

Synopsis

The ruling Septarch of the planet Lamia have chosen Earth as the place to exile their incorrigible criminals. But after the criminals steal a hydrogen bomb to fule their spacecraft in order to return to Lamia, Captain Comet tracks down the aliens and returns them to Lamia as prisoners.

Reprints

• from Strange Adventures (DC, 1950 series) #28 (January 1953)

Indexer Notes

Lamia

The Riddle of the Crystal Ball! (Table of Contents: 14)

The Nighthawk / comic story / 6.67 pages (report information)

Script

Gardner Fox

Pencils

Gil Kane

Inks

Bernard Sachs

Colors

Gene D'Angelo

Letters

Joe Letterese

Genre

western-frontier

Characters

Nighthawk [Hannibal Hawkes]; Lute; Jed

Synopsis

Nighthawk poses as a fortune teller to trap a pair of outlaws.

Reprints

• from Western Comics (DC, 1948 series) #72 (November-December 1958)

Indexer Notes

Inking not credited on item. Letterer from index of original printing.

Top Secret! (Table of Contents: 15)

Wonder Woman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Ross Andru

Inks

Mike Esposito

Colors

Kathryn Mayer

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Steve Trevor

Synopsis

A flashback story that tells how when Steve Trevor bet Wonder Woman that he could always pick her out in any situation, she adopted the identity of Diana Prince and concealed herself right under his nose.

Reprints

• from Wonder Woman (DC, 1942 series) #99 (July 1958)

The Raid on Blackhawk Island (Table of Contents: 16)

Blackhawk / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Wood

Pencils

Dick Dillin

Inks

Chuck Cuidera

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; aviation; military; science fiction; superhero

Characters

Blackhawks [Blackhawk [also as The Question Mark]; Chuck; Andre; Olaf; Chop-Chop; Stanislaus; Hendrickson; Blackie]

Synopsis

When Blackhawk appears to have been killed, the rest of the team must face the War Wheel, the Flying Tank and Killer Shark's octopus, all under the control of the Question Mark, without their leader. But Chuck realizes the Question Mark is Blackhawk in disguise, and Blackhawk reveals that his ruse was a test to see who could best lead the Blackhawks in his absence.

Reprints

• from Blackhawk (DC, 1957 series) #109 (February 1957)

Indexer Notes

Writing not credited on item; Charles Cuidera credited for pencilling on item.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 17)

The Fox and the Crow / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Cecil Beard; Alpine Harper

Pencils

Jim Davis

Inks

Jim Davis

Colors

Rick Taylor

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Three Hundred Dollars??

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Fauntleroy Fox; Crawford C. Crow

Synopsis

When the Fox tries to collect a $150 debt from the Crow, the Crow swindles the Fox out of another $150, which he hands back as payment in full.

Reprints

• from The Fox and the Crow (DC, 1951 series) #14 (February 1954)

Indexer Notes

Writing, pencilling, and inking uncredited in item.

Superboy and the Sleeping Beauty! (Table of Contents: 18)

Superboy / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Ed Herron

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

John Fischetti

Colors

Daniel Vozzo

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superboy [Clark Kent]; Lana Lang; Professor Lang; Org; Norg; Axel; Maxel; Jaxel; Alice

Synopsis

When Lana brings authentic African artifacts from her father's collection for the Smallville High School Drama Club to use, she is accidentally pricked by a blow gun dart and falls asleep. Superboy must acquire the antidote within three days, all the while convincing Professor Lang that nothing is wrong with Lana, or Lana will die.

Reprints

• from Superboy (DC, 1949 series) #22 (October-November 1952)

Keywords

Smallville High School

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item; Inking credited to Craig Flessel on item.

The Hammer of Thor! (Table of Contents: 19)

The Viking Prince / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger

Pencils

Joe Kubert

Inks

Joe Kubert

Colors

Bob LeRose

Letters

?

Genre

adventure; historical

Characters

Viking Prince [Jon]; Captain Olaf; Gunnda; Sardluk; Baron Thorvald

Synopsis

When Captain Olaf is taken prisoner by Baron Thorvald, Jon frees him with the help of the hammer of Thor.

Reprints

• from The Brave and the Bold (DC, 1955 series) #3 (December 1955-January 1956)

Indexer Notes

Writing credited to Robert Kanigher in item.

The Sorceror of the Sea! (Table of Contents: 20)

Aquaman / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

George Kashdan

Pencils

Ramona Fradon

Inks

Ramona Fradon

Colors

Kathryn Mayer

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Aquaman; Jason Deeter

Synopsis

When sorcerer Jason Deeter appears to be able to control Aquaman, maritime hijackers try to use Deeter to force Aquaman to help them commit crimes. But Aquaman puts down the thugs and reveals that Deeter is not a sorcerer at all and that he and Deeter came up with this ruse to smoke them out.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #245 (February 1958)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 21)

Casey the Cop / comic story / 0.67 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff

Inks

Henry Boltinoff

Colors

Eric Kachelhofer

Letters

Henry Boltinoff

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I've got to watch these prisoners closely.

Genre

humor

Characters

Casey

Synopsis

While watching prisoners, Casey breaks up a fight, but needs help identifying one of the men.

Reprints

• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #170 (April 1951)

Indexer Notes

Identified in item as from January 1959, but the first printing appeared in an April 1951 issue.

The Amazing Bizarro! (Table of Contents: 22) (Expand) /

Superboy / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Queen of the Snows! (Table of Contents: 23)

Johnny Peril / comic story / 7.67 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Alex Toth (signed)

Inks

Sy Barry (signed)

Colors

Bob LeRose

Letters

?

Editing

Julius Schwartz (original editor)

Genre

fantasy-supernatural; horror-suspense

Characters

Johnny Peril; Lee Allen; Subara; Bill Davis; Jack Gordon

Synopsis

Johnny Peril finds his friend Lee Allen, who just before he dies swears he has seen Subara the Ice Queen, whom the natives believe lives on frozen Mt. Subara. Johnny returns to the mountain with two more friends, but only he encounters Subara. They refuse to believe he met the mythical woman until he produces her crown of roses.

Reprints

• from Sensation Comics (DC, 1942 series) #107 (January-February 1952)

Keywords

Mt. Subara

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item. Pencilling and editorial credit confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

Two-Face Strikes Again! (Table of Contents: 24)

Batman and Robin / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

David Vern

Pencils

Dick Sprang

Inks

Charles Paris

Colors

Tom McCraw

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Batman with Robin - The Boy Wonder [50's face]

Genre

superhero

Characters

Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Two-Face [Harvey Dent]; Tarando; Charles Ford; Commissioner Gordon; John Fields Benson

Synopsis

When the reformed Harvey Dent tries to prevent a robbery, he is caught in an explosion and reverts to Two-Face. He embarks on a new crime spree, and Batman and Robin deduce that Two-Face is going after people who commonly show two faces to the world. At a ceremony making Bruce Wayne honorary chief of a local tribe, Batman and Robin are trapped by Two-Face and strapped to a giant coin. Two-Face flips the coin over a bed of spikes, and though the gimmick is rigged to land face down, the dynamic duo manages to create a magnetic field and flip the coin so that they land safely.

Reprints

• from Batman (DC, 1940 series) #81 (February 1954)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item.

Knight of the Future! (Table of Contents: 25)

The Shining Knight / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Samachson

Pencils

Frank Frazetta

Inks

Frank Frazetta

Colors

Greg Theakston

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Shining Knight [Sir Justin]; Sir Butch; Winged Victory; Dalmar; Inger; Merlin; King Arthur

Synopsis

When Merlin tries to bring Justin and Butch back to Camelot for a feast, he accidentally sends them to the 35th century. There, they help prevent an attempt to overthrow democracy before Merlin brings them back to the past.

Reprints

• from Adventure Comics (DC, 1938 series) #159 (December 1950)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited in item.

When Dead Men Walk! (Table of Contents: 26)

The Phantom Stranger / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Carmine Infantino

Inks

Frank Giacoia

Colors

Brian Augustyn

Letters

?

Genre

fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Phantom Stranger; John Martin; Bart Benson; Carson Rand; Jim Thompson; Edgar Jones; Margo Phillips; Matt Wright

Synopsis

When three friends die in a plane crash, their spirits seem to be haunting those they left behind, but the Phantom Stranger reveals that the ghostly appearances are really the work of an embezzler attempting to cover his tracks.

Reprints

• from The Phantom Stranger (DC, 1952 series) #1 (August-September 1952)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited in item. Inker listed as credited in item.

Marooned in the Fourth Dimension (Table of Contents: 27)

Tommy Tomorrow / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Otto Binder

Pencils

Jim Mooney

Inks

Jim Mooney

Colors

Julianna Ferriter

Letters

?

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Tommy Tomorrow; Prof. Jaxon ["Genius" Jones]; Space Looter

Synopsis

Tommy Tomorrow checks out Prof. Jaxon's dimension cabinet, a gateway to the fourth dimension. Since Tommy suspects the cabinet is a hoax, he volunteers to test the device and is sent to the fourth dimension. But Tommy doesn't realize that he has fallen for the real plot of the professor, who actually wanted to get rid of him. When Tommy realizes that things happen a day later in the fourth dimension, Tommy takes the place of that world's Tommy Tomorrow in testing that world's dimension cabinet and returns to arrest the professor and his accomplice.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #238 (March 1958)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited on item.

The Unmasking of Johnny Thunder (Table of Contents: 28)

Johnny Thunder / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Alex Toth

Inks

Sy Barry

Colors

Greg Theakston

Letters

?

Genre

western-frontier

Characters

Johnny Thunder [John Tane]; Ma Pecos; Sheriff Tane; Arroyo Gang

Synopsis

When the Arroyo Gang kidnaps Sheriff Tane, Johnny Thunder thinks they must have killed his father, and tells the townsfolk that he is really Sheriff Tane's son. Johnny takes out the whole Arroyo Gang single-handedly and happily finds his father alive. But his secret identity remains safe, as everyone assumes he was only honoring Sheriff Tane by his earlier declaration.

Reprints

• from All-American Western (DC, 1948 series) #121 (August-September 1951)

The Coldest Man on Earth! (Table of Contents: 29)

The Flash / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Carmine Infantino

Inks

Frank Giacoia

Colors

Glenn Whitmore

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Flash [Barry Allen]; Captain Cold [Len Snart]; Stan

Synopsis

Flash faces off against Captain Cold, who commits crimes by using a cold-gun to freeze things and create mirages. But once Flash figures out what Captain Cold can do, he ignores the mirages and takes the villain in.

Reprints

• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #8 (May-June 1957)

Castoff Love (Table of Contents: 30)

comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Irv Novick

Inks

Bernard Sachs

Colors

Pamela Johnson

Letters

?

Genre

romance

Characters

Nan; Nola; Bob

Synopsis

Nan has always gotten her big sister Nola's hand-me-downs, but when Nola's boyfriend Bob shows an interest in Nan, Nola insists Bob was only trying to make her jealous. When Nan discovers a wedding dress in Nola's room, she assumes Bob and Nola have plans to marry, but Bob tells Nan that Nola manipulated situations to make it look like he was in love with her and he declares his love for only her.

Reprints

• from Girls' Love Stories (DC, 1949 series) #27 (January-February 1954)

Indexer Notes

Writing uncredited in item; Art credited to Frank Giacoia in item.

Spy Train (Table of Contents: 31)

King Faraday / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Carmine Infantino

Inks

Sy Barry (credited)

Colors

Julianna Ferriter

Letters

?

Genre

spy

Characters

King Faraday; Johnny Lester; Alonzo P. Davis; Vina Flora

Synopsis

King Faraday, on the trail of a killer, rides the Orient Express, where he meets a movie starlet and a camera-happy tourist. Though two attempts are made on his life, he finds no clues as to the identity of the killer. Only when the photographer overplays his hand does Faraday realize he is behind the attacks and using his camera to transport pictures of a more sensitive nature than the candids he has been taking. Faraday puts a permanent end to the photographer in a fight atop the train.

Reprints

• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #64 (May-June 1953)

Keywords

Orient Express

Summons from Space! (Table of Contents: 32)

Green Lantern / comic story / 12.67 pages (report information)

Script

John Broome

Pencils

Gil Kane

Inks

Joe Giella

Colors

Anthony Tollin

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Lantern [Hal Jordan]; Carol Ferris; Brenda Brown; Susie Taft

Synopsis

Green Lantern travels to Venus to save a blue-skinned caveman-like race from attacks by yellow Pterodactyl-like creatures.

Reprints

• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #23 (November-December 1959)

Keywords

Venus

The World of Adventure in Books (Table of Contents: 33)

Green Arrow; The Shining Knight; Tomahawk / public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

Jack Schiff

Pencils

Win Mortimer

Inks

Win Mortimer

Colors

Eric Kachelhofer

Letters

Ira Schnapp

Genre

superhero

Characters

Green Arrow; Tomahawk; Shining Knight

Synopsis

Tomahawk, Green Arrow, and Shining Knight introduce some boys to books full of adventure.

Reprints

• from ?

Indexer Notes

Noted in item as being used in 1959, but originally appeared in 1951 issues.

Calling Easy Co.! (Table of Contents: 34)

Sgt. Rock / comic story / 12.67 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Kanigher

Pencils

Joe Kubert

Inks

Joe Kubert

Colors

Julia Lacquement

Letters

?

Genre

war

Characters

Sgt. Rock; Easy Company; Mack; Al; Sid; Nick

Synopsis

Sgt. Rock sends four men to hold No-Return Hill overnight until Easy Company can move up.

Reprints

• from Our Army at War (DC, 1952 series) #87 (October 1959)

Keywords

No-Return Hill

The Jimmy Olsen from Jupiter (Table of Contents: 35)

Jimmy Olsen / comic story / 9.67 pages (report information)

Script

Al Schwartz

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

Ray Burnley

Colors

Katie Main

Letters

?

Feature Logo

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen [1950s-70s]

Genre

superhero

Characters

Jimmy Olsen; Superman [Clark Kent]; Edmund Willis; Barry Brand; Perry White; Vince Regan; Jeff Wacker; Dr. Wilmington

Synopsis

Jimmy agrees to be a test subject for a week for men from Jupiter. He is granted the ability to read minds, but is also turned into a green, scaly Jovian. He uses his abilities to compete for the Newsman of the Year, though he covers his appearance. Between scoops, Jimmy reads Clark Kent's mind and "hears" him think that he is Superman. Jimmy’s rival Vince Regan plans to expose Jimmy at the ceremony, but luckily a Jovian week is equal to five Earth days, and Jimmy has reverted to his old self by then. The Jovians declare the experiment a success and help Superman preserve his secret identity.

Reprints

• from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (DC, 1954 series) #32 (October 1958)

Indexer Notes

Writing credited to Otto Binder on item; Inking credited to John Forte on item.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 36)

Private Pete / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Henry Boltinoff

Pencils

Henry Boltinoff

Inks

Henry Boltinoff

Colors

Eric Kachelhofer

Letters

Henry Boltinoff

First Line of Dialogue or Text

My uncle sent me this barometer.

Genre

humor; military

Characters

Pete

Synopsis

Pete misunderstands how a barometer works.

Reprints

• from Star Spangled War Stories (DC, 1952 series) #47 (July 1956)

Indexer Notes

Noted in item as coming from January 1959, but the original printing is from July 1956.

Read Titano, the Super-Ape! (Table of Contents: 37) (Expand) /

Superman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

The Secrets of the Sorceror's Box! (Table of Contents: 38)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 24 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby (plot, script); Dave Wood (script rewrite)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby; Rosalind Kirby

Colors

Lovern Kindzierski

Letters

Ben Oda

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Rocky Davis; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Ace Morgan]; Morelian

Synopsis

The Challengers are asked by Morelian to open the four chambers of an ancient box. They open the first three chambers, releasing a stone giant made and destroyed by pure thought, a sentient sun that freezes by devouring all nearby heat which Red traps in a vacuum chamber, and a device that covers things in plastic ribbons, but which can be adjusted by the dial on its container. Before they can open the last chamber, Morelian opens it and takes a ring. He points out an engraving on the box which claims it contains immortality, but it turned out that immortality was contained in the box itself.

Reprints

• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #6 (January-February 1957), #6 (January-February 1957), #6 (January-February 1957), #6 (January-February 1957)

Indexer Notes

Writing credited to Dave Wood only in item.

End Notes (Table of Contents: 39)

text article / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Robert Greenberger

Pencils

Wayne Boring (Showcase 10 cover); Bill Ely (House of Mystery cover); Howard Purcell (Tales of the Unexpected cover); Curt Swan (Action & Detective covers); Carmine Infantino (Showcase 14 cover); Sheldon Mayer (Sugar & Spike cover)

Inks

Stan Kaye (Showcase 10, Action & Detective (?) covers); Bill Ely (House of Mystery cover); Howard Purcell (Tales of the Unexpected cover); Frank Giacoia (Showcase 14 cover); Sheldon Mayer (Sugar & Spike cover)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Characters

Superman; Lois Lane; Supergirl; Flash [Barry Allen]; Sugar; Spike; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]

Reprints

• from House of Mystery (DC, 1951 series) #58 (January 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #247 (September 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #10 (September-October 1957) [cover illustration]
• from Sugar & Spike (DC, 1956 series) #15 (April 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #14 (May-June 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Tales of the Unexpected (DC, 1956 series) #29 (September 1958) [cover illustration]
• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #265 (June 1960) [cover illustration]

Indexer Notes

Robert Greenberger discusses the major events at DC Comics during the 1950s, including the publishing of some significant comics not included in this volume. Article is illustrated with with several cover reproductions.

Just One Second! (Table of Contents: 40) (Expand) /

The Flash / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

The 1950s (Table of Contents: 41) (Expand) /

Batman; Congo Bill; John Jones Manhunter from Mars; Johnny Thunder; The Shining Knight; Sugar and Spike; Superman and Batman and Robin; Tommy Tomorrow / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)