(October-November 1952)

DC, 1952 Series
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Price
0.10 USD
Pages
36
Indicia Frequency
bi-monthly
On-sale Date
1952-09-01
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Brand
Superman DC National Comics
Editing
Whitney Ellsworth (credited); Julius Schwartz (actual)

Issue Notes

On sale date from the publication date reported to the U.S. Copyright Office found in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 6, Part 2, Numbers 1-2, Periodicals, January-December 1952. Class B periodical. Copyright registration number B375141.

The Killer Shadow! (Table of Contents)

The Phantom Stranger / cover / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Carmine Infantino
Inks
John Giunta
Colors
?
Letters
Ira Schnapp

First Line of Dialogue or Text
The strange story of a creeping doom that struck at night... "The Killer Shadow!"
Genre
fantasy-supernatural; horror-suspense
Characters
The Phantom Stranger; Myra Hunter; killer shadows
Synopsis
Myra Hunter is menaced by a quartet of killer shadows.
Keywords
fear; shadows

Binky Asks "What Do You Know about Other People?" (Table of Contents: 1)

Binky / public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script
Jack Schiff
Pencils
Win Mortimer
Inks
Win Mortimer
Letters
Ira Schnapp

First Line of Dialogue or Text
It's been wonderful being with you these past few weeks. I've learned so much about America...
Genre
advocacy; teen
Characters
Binky; Cosette; Allergy; Lucy
Synopsis
Cosette returns to France with a greater understanding of American families.
Keywords
societal and cultural awareness

Indexer Notes

Black and white on inside front cover.

The Killer Shadow! (Table of Contents: 2)

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

Script
John Broome
Pencils
Carmine Infantino
Inks
Sy Barry; Joe Giella
Colors
?
Letters
Gaspar Saladino

First Line of Dialogue or Text
Look behind you! Is your shadow still with you -- or has it stolen away and become The Killer Shadow!
Feature Logo
The Phantom Stranger
Genre
fantasy-supernatural; horror-suspense
Characters
The Phantom Stranger; Myra Hunter; John Neville
Synopsis
Guardian John Neville tries to drive his wealthy ward Myra Hunter crazy to get his hands on her money. Neville pretends to steal her shadow, then disguises himself as Myra's shadow and attacks her. The Phantom Stranger sets things straight.
Reprints
Keywords
fear; shadows

Indexer Notes

Reprint info from Mark Waid.

[Pud's Bank Deposit] (Table of Contents: 3)

Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum / advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Ray Thompson (signed as R. T.)
Inks
Ray Thompson (signed as R. T.)
Colors
?
Letters
Ray Thompson (signed as R. T.)

First Line of Dialogue or Text
Put this box of Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum in the vault -
Characters
Pud; other kids; bank teller; bank robber
Synopsis
Pud deposits his box of Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum in a bank vault and foils a bank robbery at the same time.
Keywords
bank deposit; bank robbery; bubble gum; product-spawned heroics

Indexer Notes

Ad for Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum, featuring "Pud", a kid resembling "Tubby" from Little Lulu. Top half of page.

Editorial Advisory Board (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
The following magazines all bear this trademark as your guarantee of the best in comics reading
Genre
non-fiction
Synopsis
A list of DC's advisory board members plus a list of currently published comics. Thirty-nine titles are listed. Also a plug for "A Date with Judy" broadcast Saturday mornings on ABC-TV.
Keywords
1950s social and political issues; anti-comic-book crusades; comic book house ads; TV show

Indexer Notes

DC Comics house ad touting "Superman-DC-National Comics" as quality reading. The ad is comprised of a list of doctors and other consultants that make up the DC Comics Editorial Advisory Board, followed by a list of (presumably) all the titles published at the time by DC. Fashioned in response to the real-life 1950s crusade against comic books. Shares space with a panel advertising the "A Date with Judy" television program. Lower half of page.

Death's Strange Deputy! (Table of Contents: 5)

The Phantom Stranger / comic story / 5.67 pages (report information)

Script
John Broome
Pencils
Carmine Infantino
Inks
Frank Giacoia
Colors
?
Letters
Gaspar Saladino

First Line of Dialogue or Text
He didn't know who he was -- or where he came from -- or why he was destined to serve as... Death's Strange Deputy!
Feature Logo
The Phantom Stranger
Genre
fantasy-supernatural
Characters
The Phantom Stranger; Velie; Adam; District Attorney Caldwell
Synopsis
Evil magician Velie uses the help of a hypnotized deputy district attorney to murder D.A. Caldwell. The Phantom Stranger steps in and thwarts the plot.
Reprints
Keywords
murder; wizardry

Indexer Notes

Giacoia inks per Nick Caputo, March 2019. Previous indexer credited Bernard Sachs.

Out of This World (Table of Contents: 6)

Necco Wafers / comics-form advertising / 0.33 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
?

First Line of Dialogue or Text
To reach the moon, a speed of 7 miles per second is needed in order to break Earth's gravitational pull.
Characters
astronaut
Synopsis
Ad for Necco Assorted Wafers in two comic panels. Lower third of page.
Keywords
astronomy; candy

Death Writes an Obituary! (Table of Contents: 7)

comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Jack Miller
Pencils
John Giunta (credited as Jay Gee)
Inks
John Giunta (credited as Jay Gee)
Colors
?
Letters
Gaspar Saladino

First Line of Dialogue or Text
Joe Kennedy daringly forecast his own death -- and then tried to prevent it from coming true!
Genre
horror-suspense
Characters
Joe Kennedy; copy editor; fishing buddy
Synopsis
Newspaper obituary writer Joe Kennedy plans to fake his own death, but actually drowns.
Keywords
best-laid-plans; drowning; faking-own-death; newspaper; obituary

The Haunting Wind! (Table of Contents: 8)

comic story / 3.67 pages (report information)

Script
Jack Miller
Pencils
John Giunta (signed)
Inks
John Giunta (signed)
Colors
?
Letters
Gaspar Saladino

First Line of Dialogue or Text
On land, on sea, in the air -- no matter where he fled -- he couldn't escape the vengeance of -- The Haunting Wind!
Genre
fantasy-supernatural; horror-suspense
Characters
Dan Russell; Jim Nelson; guide; airplane pilot; night-shift factory workers
Synopsis
After stealing a ruby ring that once belonged to a wind-god from a high mountain tomb in Tibet, mountain explorers Dan Russell and Jim Nelson are cursed to die by a vengeful wind. Jim Nelson is immediately blown off a peak to his death. Dan Russell, with the stolen ring, makes it back to the United States intact. But, can he ever be truly safe from the wind-god's curse?
Reprints
Keywords
ancient treasure; curse; mountains; mystery; revenge; Tibet; tomb; wind gusts; wind-god

Indexer Notes

The stone of the "ruby ring" is colored green.

[I Was a Teenage Bird's-Nest!] (Table of Contents: 9)

Wildroot Cream-Oil / advertisement / 0.33 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
"Your Hair's Best Friend!"
Characters
teenage boy; father; mother
Synopsis
The concerned father of a teenage boy with a "bird's-nest" of hair wonders aloud: "I wish he'd get interested in a girl and start using Wildroot Cream-Oil"
Keywords
1950s teenagers; hair products

Indexer Notes

Ad for Wildroot Cream-Oil. Ad copy is accompanied by a magazine-cartooning illustration of a teenage boy walking around with a "bird's-nest" of hair, while his concerned parents look on. Lower third of page.

The Talking Head! (Table of Contents: 10)

comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Mort Drucker
Pencils
Mort Drucker
Inks
Mort Drucker
Colors
?
Letters
Ira Schnapp

First Line of Dialogue or Text
In the 13th Century, the English scholar and scientist, Roger Bacon, conceived the idea of enclosing England with a wall, making the country inaccessible to any invader...
Genre
non-fiction
Characters
Roger Bacon; servant; talking head (bust)
Synopsis
13th century English scientist Roger Bacon experiences a vision, but misses the one moment it becomes a reality.
Reprints
Keywords
13th Century; border wall; England; lightning; statue bust; vision

Indexer Notes

Script and art credits changed from Morris Waldinger by Gene Reed based on comparisons with Drucker's known work from this period and due to the fact that Waldinger's fillers do not appear in Schwartz-edited comics until late 1953. Drucker is also credited as having worked on the comic in The Comic Reader #27, July 1964.

Can You Explain It? (Table of Contents: 11)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Jack Miller
Pencils
Raymond Perry
Inks
Raymond Perry
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
Strange, inexplicable events continue to occur...
Genre
non-fiction
Synopsis
Several anecdotes that defy logical explanation.
Keywords
coincidences

Indexer Notes

Includes an anecdote on Winston Churchill.

Here's Explosive Adventure in 2 More Great Magazines! (Table of Contents: 12)

DC Comics; All-American Men of War; Our Army at War / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Jerry Grandenetti; Gil Kane (illustrations)
Inks
Jerry Grandenetti; Joe Giella (illustrations)
Colors
?
Letters
Ira Schnapp

First Line of Dialogue or Text
You'll thrill to trigger-fast action with America's hard-bitten fighting men as they blast their way across far-flung battle fronts for the Stars and Stripes!
Genre
war
Keywords
comic book house ads

Indexer Notes

DC Comics house ad for All-American Men of War #128 and Our Army at War #33. The covers of each magazine are pictured.

The Three Signs of Evil! (Table of Contents: 13)

The Phantom Stranger / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script
John Broome
Pencils
Carmine Infantino
Inks
Frank Giacoia; Joe Giella
Colors
?
Letters
Ira Schnapp

First Line of Dialogue or Text
The next time you take a walk on the night of the full moon -- keep a sharp lookout -- and then start running if you see -- "The Three Signs of Evil!"
Feature Logo
The Phantom Stranger
Genre
fantasy-supernatural; horror-suspense
Characters
The Phantom Stranger; Mark Davis (artist); members of the Moon Cult (villains); NYC police officer
Synopsis
The Phantom Stranger and artist Mark Davis tackle a cult of evil assassins who have staked-out three locations in New York City as places where ceremonies and a human sacrifice will give them great powers - Columbus Circle, Times Square, and Washington Square Park.
Reprints
Keywords
artist; Columbus Circle; human sacrifice; Manhattan; murder cult; New York City; sketchbook; Times Square; Washington Square Park

Indexer Notes

Giacoia inks per Nick Caputo. Previous indexer credited Sy Barry. Reprint info from Mark Waid.

Tootsie Rolls' Great Big Contest (Table of Contents: 14)

Tootsie Roll / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
How would you like to win one of these dandy prizes? IT'S EASY! Any child between six and sixteen has a chance.
Keywords
candy; contest; fill-in-the-blank

Indexer Notes

Ad for Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops with rules for entering the Tootsie Rolls Contest. Prizes are offered.

"Complete the statement (in 25 words or less) 'I like Tootsie Rolls (or Tootsie Pops) because _______'. On a plain sheet of paper -- write or print CLEARLY your name, street and number, city or town, state - and your age. Send entry, accompanied with 5 wrappers from either TOOTSIE ROLLS or TOOTSIE POPS".

On final interior page of the comic.

How to Fix Any Part of Any Car (Table of Contents: 15)

Motor Book Dept / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
NOW - Whether you're a beginner or an expert mechanic - you can "Breeze Through" any auto repair job!
Keywords
auto repair; mail order marketing

Indexer Notes

Ad for a comprehensive automobile repair manual. "Covers every job on every car built from 1935 thru 1952" Black and white ad on inside back cover.

A Carnival of Columbia Built 75th Anniversary Models Jumbo Features (Table of Contents: 16)

Columbia Bicycles / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
To celebrate their 75th anniversary as "America's First" bicycles, the 1952 Columbias have all the finest features possible at the lowest possible price.
Keywords
75th anniversary; bicycles

Indexer Notes

Ad for Columbia Bicycles built by The Westfield Manufacturing Company of Westfield MA, celebrating their 75th anniversary with their 1952 models. Color ad on back cover.

Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. The Killer Shadow!
    The Phantom Stranger
  2. 1. Binky Asks "What Do You Know about Other People?"
    Binky
  3. 2. The Killer Shadow!
    The Phantom Stranger
  4. 3. [Pud's Bank Deposit]
    Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum
  5. 4. Editorial Advisory Board
    DC Comics
  6. 5. Death's Strange Deputy!
    The Phantom Stranger
  7. 6. Out of This World
    Necco Wafers
  8. 7. Death Writes an Obituary!
  9. 8. The Haunting Wind!
  10. 9. [I Was a Teenage Bird's-Nest!]
    Wildroot Cream-Oil
  11. 10. The Talking Head!
  12. 11. Can You Explain It?
  13. 12. Here's Explosive Adventure in 2 More Great Magazines!
    DC Comics; All-American Men of War; Our Army at War
  14. 13. The Three Signs of Evil!
    The Phantom Stranger
  15. 14. Tootsie Rolls' Great Big Contest
    Tootsie Roll
  16. 15. How to Fix Any Part of Any Car
    Motor Book Dept
  17. 16. A Carnival of Columbia Built 75th Anniversary Models Jumbo Features
    Columbia Bicycles
This issue was modified by, among others
  • Dwayne Best
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • Nick Caputo
  • Tillmann Courth
  • Peter Croome
  • Gregory Fischer
  • Matthew Head
  • Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
  • Bob Hughes
  • Steve Jenner
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Gene Reed (R.I.P.)
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Per Sandell
  • Joe Torcivia
  • Jim Van Dore