DC Special Series #19: Secret Origins of the Super-Heroes

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia!

As a kid, I absolutely loved DC Digests. They were cheap, had a ton of pages, and were an important part of my childhood. I totally remember having these with me on the beach in summers. The digests also exposed me to a ton of DC characters I didn't know about. It was in digests that I read early JSA adventures, met the Silent Knight and Viking Prince, read the original Fatal Five arc where Ferro Lad died. It was here I also read the excellent Dr. Fate story by Pasko and Simonson.

And I learned the secret origins of heroes.

I had this DC Blue Ribbon Digest, Secret Origins of Super-Heroes. But officially, it is DC Special Series #19. And I remember having this and reading this as a kid. To be honest, this has to be the first place that I read the actual Supergirl origin story from Action Comics #252, reprinted here.

I have a number of reprints of Action Comics #252 but I had to buy this from the bargain box when I saw this in my local comic store. And mostly, because it is so heavy with memories that I felt like a Kid Anj again. Plus it does have a bunch of great stories in it!

It also sports a great cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. Great little Supergirl in her seventies costume in the background.

They also really pack a lot of comic into a very tiny little space.

Here we get the classic Otto Binder/Al Plastino origin story but in this cute little package. I mean, I can easily scan two full pages!

I love this story.

This digest also introduced me to one of the oddball characters that I love from the DCU: the Manhawks!

From The Brave and the Bold #43, we have a Gardner Fox/Joe Kubert story which isn't the origin of Hawkman, but the origin of the Hawk police force on Thanagar. Why do they wear Hawk regalia? Because of this battle with the Manhawks.

Seriously, look at the last panel of Hawkman battling a Manhawk. That is fantastic!

And we even get new material! A new retelling of Wonder Woman's origin is done by writer Cary Burkett and legend Jose Delbo. It is great to see a more classic origin again, the masked Diana fighting in a tournament, and earning her passage to America. Incredible.

But listen to this murderers' row of great stories and creators.

Robin, from Batman #213, by  E. Nelson Bridwell and Ross Andru.
The Legion's Ranzz family, from Superboy #172, by E. Nelson Bridwell and George Tuska.
Aquaman, from Adventure Comics #260, by Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon.
The Elongated Man, from Flash #12, by John Broome and Carmine Infantino.
And one of the many Superman/Batman World's Finest team origin, from World's Finest #94 by Ed Hamilton and Dick Sprang.

I always look for these digests. There is a Supergirl solo digest which I don't have!!

Joe Kubert 1926-2012

I sadly learned yesterday about the passing of Joe Kubert.

My first interaction with Kubert was an unknown issue which reprinted some of the earliest Silver Age Hawkman issues from his arrival from Thanagar to fighting the Manhawks. I absolutely loved that issue, reading and rereading it until it disintegrated in my hands. To this day when I picture Hawkman in my head it is definitely a Kubert Hawkman.

I will admit that my appreciation of Kubert's art grew as I matured as a comics fan. As I grew older, I saw just how fluid his art was, effortlessly showing action, dramatically setting the panel at the right angle with the right composition. I can remember the first time I recognized how great Kubert was when I was 12 reading Justice League of America #200. In his chapter of the book, Hawkman must try to stop Superman from regaining an Appelex meteor. It was this chapter that struck me the most for its art ... and that is saying something since Brian Bolland, George Perez, Jim Aparo, and Pat Broderick all contributed!

After that, and as I grew older, I began to see his genius in all the things he did ... from Tarzan to Enemy Ace to Sgt. Rock.  But his Hawkman remains my favorite followed closely by his Viking Prince.

I met Mr. Kubert at the Boston Comic Con 2 years ago. I got him to sign my copy of DC Special #5 issue dedicated to him as well as one of my favorite issues of all time First Issue Special #9.

He was such an amiable person, listening to me blather about how much I loved his work, and even flipping through the DC Special issue with me to show the picture he drew of his family inside.

My condolences to the family. The comic's world has lost a legend.