The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told: "The Riddle of the Crystal Ball!"

The next story in this collection is from Western Comics #72 (December 1958), and it stars one of DC's old cowboy heroes, Hannibal Hawkes, aka Nighthawk! Art by Gil Kane, a job sandwiched between his run on the Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog and his career defining runs on the new Green Lantern and the Atom.

I admit I haven't read many western comics before this. So, I took what I knew from watching old reruns of the Lone Ranger and the Rifleman TV shows, and pretended the cowboy gear was substitute super hero/villain costumery. Worked pretty well for this story!

Basically, some dumb crooks are in town, and are convinced by a "gypsy" that Hannibal Hawkes is Nighthawk and that that night is a good time to rob the local church bazaar. It's all a plan by Nighthawk to get those thieves just where he wants them.

Interestingly, all those men are pulling a Brokeback, trying to catch a Nighthawk peepshow in the crystal ball! Gypsies can con you into doing almost anything!

Ahhh...the reveal!

Kind of like...

Tommy Sands, aka Floretta, the Gypsy in Drag in Babes in Toyland (1961). [I saw this one in my church's basement as a kid...)

Here's one of only six panels in the story where he's dressed as Nighthawk.

He might want to also try this look...

Gypsy, the Cyndi Lauper-styled, homeless and barefoot member of the Justice League when it was headquartered in Detroit during the 1980s!

Well, in the scheme of the DC universe of heroes, readers later find out that Nighthawk is one of Hawkman's past lives. Yep! Originally, Hawkman and Hawkgirl were an Egyptian royal couple, killed and cursed to keep living Romeo and Juliet lives throughout the rest of time, usually becoming different DC universe heroes in one life to the next. So it kind of makes sense. Hawkman. Hannibal Hawkes. Nighthawk. And both Hawkgirl and Cinnamon, Nighthawk's lady friend are angry fiery redheads. Roar!

Anyway, here's Nighthawk later being wiped out of existence by an earth-consuming wave of anti-matter:

Guess, he didn't see that one in that ol' crystal ball!

The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told: "Devil's Island in Space!"

This tale features one of the very few original post-Golden-Age super-heros DC created in the early 1950s---Captain Comet, a mutant born with abilities of humans 100,000 years in the future!

Intro: Captain Comet!


Long before the whiny, angst-ridden X-men of Marvel Comics fame, there was Adam Blake. A son born to a kindly midwestern couple, John and Martha Ke....oops, Blake. When he was being birthed a comet flashed above (could it have been the baby Superman's spacecraft???) and triggered a genetic change in the baby's mind. As he grew up, he discovered he could just know where to find any lost item, read entire encyclopedias and memorize them word-for-word, play every instrument in a band without ever knowing the song, and perform every single sport beyond Olympic capabilities. With all these abilities he felt...different; and as he grew up he logically fell into the librarian field. It wasn't until he was hanging out with and gaining the guidance of some older physicist, Dr. Zackro that he discovered the truth about himself... and just in time, because some criminals had a beef with the professor! After defeating them with his amazing powers of the future, he decided to become a hero when pretty much the rest of the DC Universe was quitting.

This age of comic books was the awkward stage for super-heroes. The Golden Age of heroes was over and being taken over by other story genres. The Silver Age of super-heroes wouldn't be in full force until the end of the decade. Some have called this the "Atomic Age," a time of few new heroes. Captain Comet was pretty much sitting alone at the junior-high lunch-table of comic book characters!

"Devil's Island in Space!" takes place a bit later after his first appearance, in Strange Adventures #28 (January 1953), and fittingly to the zeitgeist of the age relies heavily on the use of the H-bomb in the plot. The story is beautifully rendered by master artist Murphy Anderson!

Creeeeeepy! Those alien creatures look like invisible sexual predators, all horned up after a sitting in their communist, alien sauna! Watch out, Captain Comet!

The story starts off with a the US military about to happily test the crap out of some H-bomb on some dumb Pacific island.

We find out those perverted-looking aliens were actually prisoners sent from another planet to live out their sentences here on Earth, in a bunch of caves. Man-caves. Anyway, what do these aliens do with their time? Create an invisibility mechanism out of cave rocks so they can secretly lurk about in lockerrooms across the world.

And to use their keen alien intellect to walk about and carry an H-bomb away by hand.

Captain Comet uses his keen mind of far future:

Oh. He followed their footprints and their wheel marks. Brilliant.

So he captures the alien creeps and delivers them back to their home planet.

Hey, Planet of Labia! We don't want you dumping your sexual offenders and criminals on our beautiful Earth. We love our planet! We want it safe, so we may blast it away island by island with our H-bombs!!! Yay, Captain Comet, the man whose mind has the same half-life as uranium!

The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told: "Gorilla City!"

Ahhh! This story features Congo Bill!

Before I talk about the story in this book I must go back a bit. When I was a teenager, I first discovered Congo Bill in a comic book quarter bin (yay!) at a flea market. In this particular issue, a team-up story of Superman and a bunch of lost-to-time second-banana comic-characters, Congo Bill appeared as a later version of himself: the ape with his human mind- Congorilla!

I found this tale fascinating! Long before the internet, it was always and adventure finding out who these "forgotten heroes" were. You have several layers of characters in comics. You have your heavy hitters, the ones everyone knows: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Then you have your minor league characters who, if you are just a casual reader, you'd come across quite regularly, like Zatanna or the Elongated Man. Finally, there are the ones you could find in the back of dusty, smelly comic boxes in some nerd's basement, who may have been popular at one point, maybe even had their own comics- but have since become relics of history. Congo Bill was one of those! And like I said just before, getting to know the background and history of characters like him posed a challenge at the time. No wikipedia or google search engine to type into. You had to piece it together only using comics that became available by chance.

So who is this Congo Bill???

He was your basic jodhpur and pith helmet-wearing jungle-adventurer with a mustache who just happened to be published in one comic or another by DC Comics for more than 20 years. He first appeared in an issue of More Fun Comics in 1940 and then jumped around title to title.

I guess he was popular enough, or the right person liked him, that he even starred in his own 15-part motion picture serial, released by Columbia Pictures in 1949.

In 1954 Congo Bill even had his own comic title for a while, and gained a partner in Janu, the Jungle Boy who was living wild in the jungle since the death of his jungle guide father. Bill's life changed dramatically in 1959, the new age of super-heroes, when he was given a ring by a dying tribal chief that gave him the power to switch bodies with a giant golden gorilla!

For the next couple of years he was known as Congorilla, and he would defend Africa against evil by locking himself in a cage, rubbing his gorilla ring and telepathically swapping bodies with that golden beast! Janu would babysit his human body, which now had the mind of that gorilla! I hope Janu got paid well and got a chance to raid the fridge!

Although, originally published in Congo Bill #6 (June/July 1955), "Gorilla City!" took place before all the late 50s Congorilla zaniness-- Congo Bill still seemed to have one wacked-out life! Basically, all you need to know is that Congo Bill and Janu see something light up the sky one night, are kidnapped by gorillas the next morning, find out the gorillas can talk and fix clocks, help their captors find a radioactive box, and after the gorillas leave realize that they were really Martians!

What interests me about this story in particular is the appearance of Janu. First of all, I must mention, the story is illustrated by the great Nick Cardy, who later went on to draw the Aquaman and Teen Titans series in the 1960s. Here Janu looks a whole lot like Aqualad (who would be created a few years later)! But what I noticed is his skin color. I was reading this tale on a bus-ride home, and as I was reading something didn't seem quite right. It wasn't until I got home, and googled Janu that I could put my finger on it:

Janu kind of changed races!

As originally printed,in Congo Bill #6 (June/July 1955)

The recolored version in the 1990 edition of the Greatest 1950 Stories Ever Told

I already figured out that all the stories have been re-colored and appear differently than when they were first published; however, this must have been some editorial edict saying Janu is from Africa, he must appear African- even, if he was drawn Caucasian. Anyway, whatever! Black or white, Janu steals the show with his dim-witted jungle-talk comedy:

Ending this entry with some jungle humor:

Watch out, newly black-Janu!

The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told: "The Mystery of the Giant Arrows" and "Prisoners of Dimension Zero!"

This entry is not about one story but two! Rare for the time, this Green Arrow back-up story continued into the next issue. Also in the vein of a true epic, it was illustrated by comic book king, Jack Kirby!

Green Arrow, up until this point, was always a second rate Batman rip-off. Instead of a utility belt that contained any gadget needed to fight off criminals, he had his arrow pouch with an unexplainably infinite number of different arrows specific to whatever he needed it for. A boxing-glove arrow, an antidote arrow, a net arrow, etc. Green Arrow was also the proud owner of the Arrow-car, the Arrow-Cave, millions of dollars, and an orphan ward and sidekick in Roy Harper, aka Speedy. Batman-lite, so to speak!

For a brief time comics pioneer Kirby, desperate for work, took over the strip. Hoping, that if he spiffed up the strip a bit, that the series would get its own title and thus possibly guaranteeing a regular future paycheck for himself. He gave the detective character more of a science fiction, fantasy element as seen in these stories reprinted in this book.

These comics sere some of the best DC was putting out at the time, but alas, it was not to be. Mort Weisinger, co-creator of Green Arrow and one of the DC big-wigs, and a group of other established industry workers were none to pleased with the new amazing direction of his character and voiced their concerns loudly. Kirby's editor caved under their demands and told Kirby to go back to the old way. The King of comics was rightly disgusted, picking up and leaving DC Comics. He ended up getting some work with Stan Lee--- and making comic book history by creating the Marvel universe of characters and toppling DC with their new style of comics. Green Arrow went back to being some hum-drum, second-rate Batman knock off- and stayed that way for years until the late 60's when the writers gave him a bold new direction; losing his millions, becoming a social liberal, growing the Robin Hood goat-tee and donning a new costume, and ultimately finding his young partner Speedy shooting up heroin!

Anyway, here's a bit of amazing Green Arrow renaissance material from Adventure Comics # 252 and 253 (Sept./Oct. 1958):

This is no regular detective story! GA and Speedy, you will soon be pondering existence itself! Get ready for an epic ontological experience!

This epic tale begins with the masses coming into contact with the unbelievable!

Mother Earth is about to become "pregnant" with the notion of other realities! Green Arrow and Speedy are about to get to get the call to become unknowing mid-wives!

So many questions!!!! (And, at this point, I question the crazy coincidence of the earth getting pummeled by giant arrow-shaped missiles and Green Arrow being the lone hero who shows up...)

This panel is awe-inspiring! Kirby creates the feeling of earth-shattering helplessness by including our hero down on the ground amongst the throngs of the utterly clueless and frightened masses!

I'm impressed with Arrow's concern for Speedy's hearing! If only he were that caring years later (maybe Speedy wouldn't have become a raging drug addict).

Oh my god! The suspense keeps building! How is a small-time hero like Green Arrow going to handle this??? Look at the look of helplessness of that cop as he's pretending to keep it together! Check out the report of that newsman, and imagine a big-time reporter today like Anderson Cooper not being able to give the viewers a clue!

With the aid of Science, Green Arrow comes in contact with the Gods!

And we're left with the cliffhanger as Green Arrow and Speedy are whisked off into the unknown (and hoping there is oxygen there!), realizing that they may never return!

We begin again, with Part 2, and already the very existence of Earth has shattered as timelines collapse. Within a span of panels, history has already been rewritten to where Green Arrow and Speedy didn't come across the giant arrow at the observatory, as we just saw, but as they were driving out from the Arrowcave! Did any of the events from last issue transpire at all????

Green Arrow has spiraled into the Unknown!!!

I wish Green Arrow had a special autograph arrow!

Soooo, they landed in a Chuck Jones' Dr. Seuss world! Look at those characters' features!

They come across the unimaginable---A giant techno alien elf version of himself! I wonder what "Xeen" means?

How flabbergasting to meet your dimensional "double" and then to speak telepathically with him! How utterly mind-blowing!!!

So with the help of his other-worldly giant doppelgänger, Green Arrow and Speedy are shot home on another giant arrow! Will it destroy Earth? Oh, ok, no problem. Attach some parachute arrows and somehow move it into your Arrowcave, put on your millionaire robe, light a pipe, and then don't bother to tell anyone in the rest of the world (who are going absolutely nuts about those other giant arrows striking their cities) about what happened!

The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told: "The Girl in Superman's Past"

The Superman universe of comics exploded in the mid to late 1950's, developing into what we know of it today. Supergirl. Krypto the Superdog. Brainiac. Kandor. Streaky the Supercat.

Jimmy Olsen, Daily Planet cub reporter and Superman's pal got his own comic book earlier in the decade. Lois Lane later got the same treatment, first through a try-out in DC Comics' "experimental, will-it-sell?" comic Showcase in 1957. The Superman comics were always good at bringing in the unbelievable- the writers were stuck with a super-godlike character that couldn't just fight normal villains and have normal adventures, so they went completely over-the-top, to the point of completely messing with their readers. But, with this in mind, Lois Lane comics somehow brought this type of story-telling to a whole new nth level of ridiculousness! The Lois Lane comics are completely and utterly saturated with "what-the...?" moments.

A good deal of Lois Lane comics dealt with her obsession of finding out who Superman truly is, usually with some out-of-this-world schemes, or, with her obsession with MARRYING Superman, which usually involved some other woman getting in the way! Sometimes, she would get Superman to marry her, but the reader would find out that these were "imaginary stories," a brand of what-if situations where things would go dramatically wrong!

This particular story brings the grown-up Lana Lang into the world of Superman. When Superman was a boy living in Smallville, he operated as Superboy- and Lana Lang was his double-L-initialled girlfriend. What would happen if she were to suddenly show up again??? Let the crazy begin!!!

From Showcase Comics #9 (June/July 1957):

First of all, this story must be read as a story of two snarly drag-queens catfighting it out over some poor guy! Mreeeeeow!

"Hussy!" Way to go, Lois! That's a word that ain't used enough!

Lana seems like a cat that won't stop rubbing up against you no matter how many times you kick it!

Super-sweat!

Clark looks deformed in that first panel. And more Super-sweat. I love sweat-beads in comics! Especially, when Superman doesn't break a sweat pushing planets around- yet, these two in a room together will make sweat buckets!

Lois is already scheming...look at her eyes- soooo cold.

Lana casually applying lipstick. Cold.

Clark Kent (alias Superman), it's your own damn fault for getting these scheming bitches together in one room!

More Super-sweat, he's been sweating up a storm since this story started!

Those crazy queens are talking smack and comparing suspicions! It's like Clark wants to be found out!!!

PS: The gay waiter is a nice artistic addition to a bunch of hags reminiscing over their plans of outing Superman.

Lois is keeping her enemies close, real close!

Lana, you moved to Metropolis without a job or place to live???

Hmmmmm....I wonder what people would think of all the pictures of super-heroes I have up on my walls? Would they jump to conclusions and think we're dating?

Lois is touching and caressing Lana's drag costume.

Watch out, Lana! Lois is about to show you her man-parts!

So Lana moved to Metropolis without a job or a home and basically has nothing, yet she still carries around a framed love note from when she was a kid, and brings it out any chance she's got.....that sound's healthy!

Lana, you better get that wig back into place!

Oooooo, here's they get all "Sex in the City!" "He never kissed you--did he?????"

"Of course!" Lana, you hussy!

By the way, Lana you are looking soooo Vertigo Kim Novak- those hefty caked-on eyebrows!

The claws are coming out! Lois, I hope you can match the crazy stalker tenacity of Lana!

Lana, acting all cool again! Reapplying that lipstick again! Signature move!

As you will see, Superman loves to sit down and have a hearty meal!

"Green Horse" Inn? That sounds grosssss. Luckily, Superman can eat anything, as you will see later!

Who's paying for this meal? Superman, you have no place to put a wallet. And Lana, you have no job!

Oh by the way, bitch, you wore that same skanky-ass outfit yesterday!

Superman, you need to stop going out to eat all the time. You are getting fat. You have that big old body and that tiny little head. Too many lunch dates at the Green Horse!

Likely story, Lois. Way to be professional!

What the heck is that junkman doing with his junk-truck in front of the Green Horse Inn??? What kind of place do they run??? It's funny, Superman never has to pay for anything!

That's got to be good advertising for one's restaurant. Superman comes and eats at your place, yet he'd rather chew on some garbage from the passing junk-cart!

Lois, don't you be letting him do you that way! Tie you to a kite, what????? I don't care how sturdy it is! Have some dignity!

Now that is what you call a job for Superman....a blow job! (so sorry...)

Lois, no matter how high in the air you are, you are at a new low. Although, being flown on a kite is probably something no other drag queen has ever done before!

Surprise! Superman is eating out again.

Oh, and look, Lana is wearing that hideous outfit for a third day in a row. Must not have had any room in her luggage for clothes with all the Superman relics she brought along.

Superman looks like he needs some Gas-X.

Lois and Lana, you're about to see he hates you equally.

Superman, the one who started de-forestation.

A cool parlor trick---flying with a woman in one arm, and a completely set dinner table in the other, and not dropping either!

What???? A cooking program??? How 1950s of you, Lana! At least you know the way to Superman's heart. Look, that ass is outside your fake studio window, somehow floating in the air and EATING.

Uh-oh, so they realize that he was being nice to both of them! So they are going to take their insidiousness to a whole new level! Well, I hope they at least change their clothes tomorrow!

Nope, same nasty-ass smelly clothes again! Four days in a row.

Dude, don't let them touch your remote controls!!!

Um, if the steamroller and glider are remote-controlled, why do they have drivers' seats???? What are this guy's credentials????

Girls, pretending that you are in trouble is really going to make you look good. "Remember that time we pretended to be in danger and got Superman to "save" us. And then that orphanage burned down because he wasn't there! Hahahahahahaha!"

Superman's about to bring the smack-down!

Drama/Drag queens just hate it when they aren't getting the attention they desire! So mopey! "Oh, he wouldn't care if we lived or died!!!" Boo-hooo! Get a job!

Lois and Lana, Superman likes Jimmy Olsen more.

Ok, Superman, like I've said before, you've only brought this upon yourself!