It's been a while since we've run a ALPHA/OMEGA covers set in this column, so let's address that with a look at the first and the final issues of a landmark comics title.
SENSATION COMICS #1 [January, 1942] cover-features the story wherein Wonder Woman arrived in "Man's World." The Amazing Amazon had made her debut in ALL-STAR COMICS #8 [December, 1941-January, 1942], but this was her first turn as a headliner. She was created and written by William Moulton Marston and drawn by H.G. Peter, and this story has been reprinted many times, most recently in one of DC's Millennium editions [2000].
SENSATION COMICS #1 also introduced the swashbuckling Black Pirate, Mr. Terrific, the Gay Ghost, Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys, and Wildcat. According to the spiffy Grand Comics Database [www.comics.org], Wildcat had something in common with Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. Boxer Ted Grant was inspired to become a costumed hero by the original Green Lantern. Tommy Rogers and his pals Tubby and Toughie were inspired to become costumed heroes by reading about Wildcat.
Here are the main credits:
Black Pirate was written by Ted Udall and drawn by Sheldon Moldoff.
Mr. Terrific was written by Charles Reisenstein and drawn by Hal Sharp.
The Gay Ghost was written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Howard Purcell.
Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys was written by Bill Finger and drawn by Jon L. Blummer.
Wildcat was written by Finger and drawn by Irwin Hasen. Let the record show that Finger co-created Green Lantern, so it can be said that GL begat Wildcat begat Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. Kind of biblical, that.
Strips came and went in SENSATION COMICS, but Wonder Woman was unable to hold on to her headliner status to the end of the title's long run. Her last issue was #105 [October-November, 1951] and the book switched to an all-"mystery" format with the next issue. The last issue of SENSATION was #109 [May-June, 1952], though the title continued for an additional seven issues beyond that as SENSATION MYSTERY.
The GCD cautiously credits Murphy Anderson as the cover artist of SENSATION COMICS #109. The listed editor was Whitney Ellsworth, but the actual editor was Julius Schwartz.
The only featured character was adventurer Johnny Peril, who starred in a story written by Robert Kanigher with art most likely by Alex Toth (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks). Other tales were likely drawn by Irwin Hasen and John Giunta.
If the cover of SENSATION COMICS #109 looks familiar to you, it's because the concept was reused for JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10 [March, 1962]. This cover was drawn by Murphy Anderson and the editor was Julius Schwartz. Inside the issue, the JLA heroes found themselves enslaved by "The Fantastic Fingers of Felix Faust" in a story by Gardner Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), and Bernard Sachs (inks).
Such "deja vu" covers were not uncommon at DC. The prevailing theory was that, if a cover concept delivered great sales once, you could recycle it a few years later and garner great sales a second time. Spotting these refried covers is always fun and, whenever I come across new examples, I'll run them here.
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AQUAMAN
My pal ROB KELLY [www.namtab.com] is a big Aquaman fan and, as such, didn't take kindly to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY disrespecting his guy in a recent issue. He wrote a letter and the magazine ran it in its August 19 edition:
It was with bemusement that I read your article on my favorite hero, Aquaman (News & Notes). Having been a fan since childhood, I have had to put up with endless sarcasm regarding my choice of hero worship. But, like any fictional character, Aquaman is only as good as the people who craft his stories. In the early '60s, Batman was considered spent, and nearing cancellation. It wasn't until a new group of talented writers and artists got to him that he became as cool and mythic as he is now regarded; Aquaman has only been sporadically as lucky in his comic-book form. I think there's a great movie waiting to be made of this character, and all old Arthur Curry needs is his Christopher Nolan, Sam Raimi, or Bryan Singer to show a new audience how cool he can be.
Aquaman has seemed to come in for more than his fair share of derision over the years, but he certainly does have his loyal fans. Even though I was once slated to write the character, he was never a particular favorite of mine. However, I always thought he was a good character.
Are there any Aquaman fans out there who would like to see me devote a future TOT to Arthur Curry and kin? I could review that AQUAMAN ARCHIVES from a while back, as well as his current series, and also reveal what I might have done had I, indeed, written his adventures in the second half of the 1970s.
Hmm...we may be talking two or three columns here. If you're at all interested, e-mail me [] or post a note to my message board [www.comicscommunity.com/boards/tony]. Last one in the water...
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COMICS IN THE COMICS
Here's a "deja vu" COMICS IN THE COMICS for you. When I saw Dan Piraro's BIZARRO panel for July 11:
It reminded me of this cool cover Ross Andru and Mike Esposito drew for WONDER WOMAN #165 [October, 1966]:
Also in mid-July, Patrick McDonnell devoted a week's worth of his MUTTS strips to comparing dogs to super-heroes. Here are the first two strips in the series:
McDonnell has an official MUTTS website filled with cool stuff and you can visit it here:
Every Tuesday, I post new TONY POLLS questions so that we can decide the pressing issues of the day.
Nah, who am I kidding?
I post them because they're fun for me and, hopefully, just as much fun for you.
Earlier this month, you asked to pick your favorite comic book from the top PREVIEWS orders for May...and also to answer questions about your comics buying habits.
Here are the results.
Of these choices - the top 19 PREVIEWS orders for May, 2005 - which was your favorite comic book?
VILLAINS UNITED #1.....27.50%
Young Avengers #4.....11.88%
Green Lantern #1.....10.62%
Astonishing X-Men #10.....5%
Green Lantern: Rebirth #6.....5%
Fantastic Four #527.....3.12%
OMAC Project #2.....1.88%
Rann-Thanagar War #1.....1.88%
Superman #216.....1.88%
Teen Titans #24.....1.88%
Ultimates 2 #6.....1.88%
Amazing Spider-Man #52.....1.25%
Ultimate Iron Man #2.....1.25%
Wolverine #28.....1.25%
Ultimate Fantastic Four #18.....0.62%
Ultimate Spider-Man #77.....0.62%
Ultimate X-Men #59.....0%
Uncanny X-Men #459.....0.62%
X-Men #170.....0%
Didn't read any of them.....21.88%
I abstained from this one. I hadn't read enough of the comics to make a fair judgment.
Which of the following choices best describes how you buy the majority of your new comics (including trades)?
I have a pull list at my local retailer.....32.14%
I buy whatever looks good at my local retailer.....25%
I pre-order from an online comics service.....20%
I pre-order from my retailer using Previews....15.71%
I no longer buy new comic books.....7.14%
When I voted in this poll, my answer was that I pre-order from my retailer using PREVIEWS. However, due to the circumstances that I mentioned in Tuesday's column, I am no longer buying new comics. I have some subscriptions bought for me as gifts...and gift cards I can use to buy some manga and trades at bookstores...but, until my finances take a dramatic upswing, my new comics reading consists of review copies sent to me and whatever I can borrow from comics-reading friends.
Which of these formats accounts for most of your new comics spending?
Traditional comic books....70.21%
Trade paperbacks.....23.40%
Manga.....6.38%
When I answered this question, I went with "traditional comic books" because my quick math showed I was spending just a tad more of them than I was on the other two choices. Now it'll probably be a toss-up between manga and trades.
Do you spend more money on new or old comics?
New comics.....87.94%
Old comics.....12.06%
I went with NEW COMICS. I'll probably still be spending more money on new comics, but I don't think it will be much more than what I spend on old comics.
For the current TONY POLLS, we have a six-question "Battle of the Big Two." You can cast your votes at:
I review The Amazing Adventures of Nate Banks #1: Secret Identity Crisis, Secret Identity Crisis: Comic Books and the Unmasking of Cold War America and The Walking Dead Volume 2: Miles Behind Us.
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Anything Goes Trivia
