705 – Marvel Mutants

Though Atlas Comics has not renamed itself “Marvel Comics”, Tales of Suspense #6 (July 1959), contains a pretty cool glimpse into the future. In the story “The Mutants and Me”, Vincent Farnsworth has an argument with Henry Marsh, who claims that mutants with powers must exist and hide among us. Later that evening, Vincent is […]

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704 – Readers Demand Continuity

In Adventure Comics #264 (July 1959), reader John B. Beach questions why Aquaman’s Atlanteans have legs while Lori Lemaris’ Atlanteans have fish tails. It’s a pretty decent question, given DC already announced that Superman and Aquaman share the same universe (the story has not been published yet though). I thought the response fro DC’s editor […]

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703 – Supergirl’s Dick

Action Comics #256 (July 1959) sets up Supergirl’s “Lana Lang” with a new character, Dick Wilson. He accidentally snaps a picture of Supergirl flying and starts to suspect fellow orphan Linda Lee is actually Supergirl. Superman bails her out by providing a Supergirl robot that Linda can use in such emergencies.

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702 – The Silver Age Green Lantern!

Showcase #22 (July 1959) finally brings us the last of the original Justice League members: The Silver Age Green Lantern. Hal Jordan, a revival of the Golden Age Green Lantern but changing the battery/ring explanation from magic to pseudo-science. Hal, a test pilot for Ferris Aircraft Company, is summoned by the dying Abin Sur to […]

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701 – The Original Suicide Squad

In The Brave and the Bold #25 (June 1959), the original Suicide Squad. Task Force X, nicknamed the Suicide Squad for the crazy missions they take on, is a group of four specialists: Col. Rick Flag Jr, medical flight specialist Karin, physicist Jess Bright, and astronomer Dr. Evans. All of them had a traumatic experience […]

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700 – Supergirl Meets Tommy

In the same issue that debuts Bizarro-Lois, Supergirl is told by her mentor, Superman, to practice breaking the time barrier. She races off a hundred years in the future and meets a genius orphan named Tommy. Supergirl saves his adopted parents from disaster and writes about it in her diary once she’s back. It turns […]

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699 – Bizarro-Lois

Action Comics #255 (June 1959) wraps up the Bizarro two-parter from last month. After a battle, the re-duplicated Bizarro is dissolved by kryptonite dust, leaving Bizarro still free to pursue Lois. Lois has a smart idea and duplicates herself, creating a Bizarro-Lois. The Bizarro-Lois professes her love for Bizarro and Superman, thinking it is the […]

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698 – Wonder Girl’s Costume and Mer-Boy

DC continues to make efforts to round out the mythos of its characters, this time focusing on a non-Superman related one. In Wonder Woman #107, they give the newly introduced Wonder Girl her costume and she meets her first non-Amazonian supporting character: Mer-Boy. After Wonder Girl studies herself in the future using a “Time and […]

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697 – Luthor Recreates Bizarro

In Action Comics #254 (May 1959), a renegade scientist copies Professor Dalton’s failed duplicator ray from years ago and deliberately re-creates the Bizarro creature. Then the renegade scientist unmasks himself and it is revealed to be Luthor. Funnily enough, Bizarro rejects Luthor’s attempt at controlling him and Luthor is quickly sent back to prison. The […]

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696 – Kryptonite Suit

Superman #130 (May 1959) gives us a tale on how kryptonite has affected Superman throughout his life, as he lays dying next to a chunk of kryptonite he was not able to melt or crawl away from. It includes the first time we see Superman’s kryptonite-shielded suit, including how television played a role in helping […]

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