My 5-year-old self loved going to our summer cabin on the Fox River in Sheridan, Illinois. It was not for the usual reasons such as fishing, bonfires, hiking, swimming, or flashlight tag. Those camping traditions were great; however, the excitement for me was to read my stack of comics which were kept there at the cabin.

My Grandpa John worked at The Ruberoid Company in Crest Hill, Illinois. The Ruberoid Company was a historic American building materials manufacturer, famous for inventing ready to lay asphalt roll roofing. They also manufactured tar paper and shingles. This company would recycle old books, newspapers, and comic books to use to manufacture their products. The comic books used in the manufacturing process did not have covers because, back then, retailers would return the covers in order to get credit for their returns.

One summer my grandfather came to our cabin and gave me a stack of comic books he brought from work. They were the best books I had ever seen. The coverless comic books were colorful, vibrant, and loaded with magnificent characters. These books took me to special worlds and places I could not imagine. I was mesmerized by the artwork and the stories.

The comic books I had the pleasure of reading at the cabin consisted of Superman, Superboy, Spiderman, Hanna Barbara Super TV Heroes, Harvey Comics: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Herman and Catnip, Baby Huey, Richie Rich, Wendy the Good Witch and my favorite The Fantastic Four. Five-year-old me loved this super powered family. I had a huge fascination with the orange rock character Thing.

I would like to share some of my favorite issues I read in that valued stack of comics. The first issue I had the pleasure of reviewing was Hanna Barbara Super TV Heroes #5. This comic was based on the Hanna Barbara cartoon series. Published in April of 1969, this comic featured the following mini stories: Shazzan, a genie, in the Curse of the Cloud wizard/ Moby Dick the great white whale in The Yeast Beast/ The Mighty Mightor, who bears a resemblance to Thor, in the Multiplying Menace/ and Birdman, an ordinary human endowed with ability to shoot solar rays gifted to him by sun god Ra, in the Captives of Medusa.  I remember these stories being short and fun. I enjoyed the Shazzan story the most. I recall Shazzan being a very large genie who would carry his friends Chuck and Nancy and their flying camel, Kaboobie, in the palm of his hand.

My second issue is Superman #198, The Real Clark Kent. In this issue Superman is shocked to meet the real Clark Kent aiming an x-ray gun at him, exposing Superman’s secret identity to Perry White. I enjoyed this fun issue. Superman had to do some clever maneuvers to protect his secret. This issue was published in May 1967.

The third issue and my personal favorite is The Fantastic Four #62 : And One Shall Save Him. In this issue Reed Richards is sent to the Negative Zone. Crystal, of the Inhumans, teleports into the Baxter Building with her dog, Lockjaw.  The Human Torch, Johnny Storm, is in love with Crystal. Blastaar the Living Bomb-Burst and Sandman join forces to cause trouble for the Fantastic Four. Issue #62 was published in May 1967. This issue was filled with adventure and excitement. My five-year self was on cloud nine enjoying this fascinating story.

I am so grateful for the gift of comics from my grandpa.  My time at the summer cabin will always be remembered for great times with family and awesome moments immersed in the theater of the mind through my pile of comic books.

Love You Grandpa! Thank You!!