ADVENTURE COMICS #260 FACSIMILE EDITION
I really wonder if people like Otto Binder, Lee Elias, and Ramona Fradon had any idea the full and rich history they were creating for DC Comics. Titles like Adventure spotlighted so many, but in early 1959 the title was highlighting Superboy, Green Arrow and Speedy, and Aquaman. And aside from introducing the concept of Green Arrows from around the world (a concept that the creative teams over on Batman were working on), the main reason for this particular issue getting the facsimile treatment is for the rebooting of the Aquaman origin story by Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon. Aquaman had been on board since issue #103 and by this time Fradon was one of his most popular artists. And even though at this point, Aquaman was still sporting his Golden Age yellow gloves but it was time for a change. The Aquaman from over at More Fun Comics was no more. The identity-less son of a famous undersea explorer who discovered the ruins of the sunken city of Atlantis whose secrets helped him to raise his son to live underwater was being replaced. The rebooted Aquaman was now Arthur Curry, son of Tom Curry lighthouse keeper who discovered and rescued a woman named Atlanna. Of course, she just happened to be from the city of Atlantis so their child inherited his water born abilities. And while this update would keep the character fresh and even get him a later job in the Justice League, I do miss the underwater explorer’s son. All that was left was to abandon the yellow gloves for the green pair, he started flip-flopping since Adventure Comics #211. And now I wonder how long it will be before DC gives that issue a facsimile edition. I give it an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
BATMAN #5 FACSIMILE EDITION DC COMICS
With the rash of facsimile editions being put out, I can’t help but wonder if DC should just start reprinting their entire catolog from day one. There are very few of us that were around in those initial days and so as they say ‘everything old is new’. Might make more sense then all these pesky reboots with new issue #1s. But I digress. Batman’s 5th issue was a treasure trove of oddities that we didn’t know any better when it first came out in the Spring of 1941. With an early Joker appearance in a story where Batman let’s a shaving cut reveal his identity to the villainess. Allowing her a final kiss before she dies due to a bullet from the Joker, and a finale where Robin flips the Joker over the edge of a lighthouse into a raging sea. And did I mention that for a good part of the story, Batman’s costume is missing his chest bat emblem? Then straight into the story of a scientist who creates a machine that can teleport people into Fairyland? Is this the same Fairyland that would show up over in All-Star Comics? Who knows? And who remembers love interest Linda Page? Or the time that thugs almost beat Robin to death and Batman carried his battered and bloody body away. (No, not that time! Luckily for Robin, they didn’t have phone call-ins to determine the fate of a comics character in 1941!) And unlike Detective Comics, Batman Comics was all Batman and Robin! Oh and did I mention that Batman remodeled the Batmobile which is why this issue got a facsimile edition! I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW #3 DARK HORSE COMICS
Abraham Van Helsing is a man with a plan! As the world changes around them, Van Helsing pits the classic monsters against themselves in some pretty spectacular battle royales. Werewolf vs the Dweller. Frankenstein’s Monster vs the Mummy. And everybody vs Dracula! Cullen Bunn’s story is spectacular and reads like a 1990’s love letter film to classic horror. Artist Brian Hurtt knows his way around his archetypal monsters and Colorist Bill Crabtree blends some truly creepy color pallets. This one is a whole lot of fun. 8 out of 10 Grahams.
