Big Town-Manny Stallman/John Giunta-1955

Although the art here looks vaguely to me like Gil Kane crossed with Win Mortimer and inked in the oh-so-smooth, minimalist style of Pete Morisi, the real combination is just as odd by modern standards. GCD credits not just this story of National's BIG TOWN but the entire issue to the once prolific but now much maligned--if remembered at all--Manny Stallman, inked by the equally out of fashion but once very influential (he mentored Frazetta for example) John Giunta! BIG TOWN was another of DC's radio-show based titles, this one, like a couple of the others, lasting years beyond the long-running series about a crusading newspaper reporter (that had originally starred Edward G. Robinson!).

The War Eagle- Alan Mandel-1942

In the unlikely back pages of the first issue of Lev Gleason's "true crime" comic book, CRIME DOES NOT PAY, one finds what I believe to be the one and only adventure of THE WAR EAGLE. He's your typical millionaire who trains himself to a physical peak only in this case, he teaches himself how to fly to compensate for being in a wheelchair due to childhood polio-type illness. Some interesting layouts from artist Mandel, yet another forgotten creator with quite along resume at multiple companies.

Robotman-Jimmy Thompson-1946

National's Robotman was yet another Jerry Siegel creation although Siegel is not credited with this particular tale and in fact may have been gone from the company by this time. The art here is by Jimmy Thompson (no relation), another underrated artist of the Golden Age who did quite a few ROBOTMAN stories, many of which featured impressive splash pages. The one seen here highlights our hero's sidekick--a music-loving robot dog named Robbie. This series appeared for years in STAR-SPANGLED COMICS but when it ended after the war, unlike other heroes who just disappeared, Robotman switched to DETECTIVE COMICS where his adventures with Robbie continued for another few years!

This story is another request, by the way. We can't guarantee we can fill all requests but feel free to let us know what you'd like to see here!

Flagman & Rusty-FA Schaarze-1943

No, this is not the Shield and Dusty but instead Flagman and Rusty, two of the bloodthirstiest, most ruthless superheroes of World War II. A Nazi gorilla and cameos from Il Duce and Der Fuehrer kick this Holyoke hero and his violent boy sidekick into a world all their own. GCD interprets the first page artist's signature as F A Schaarze. Comics historian Mason Moray, when running this same story last year, indicates that it was really writer/artist Herman Tesh.

The Joiner-Reed Crandall/George Evans-1962

Here's a TWILIGHT ZONE tale done during the period when that classic show itself was still on the air. Very much in the tradition of some of the more lighthearted episodes of the Rod Serling series, THE JOINER showcases art by EC veterans Reed Crandall and George Evans...in just what combination I'm not certain as GCD makes it look as though they alternated pencils and inks in the issue.

Manowar, the White Streak-Carl Burgos-1939

Carl Burgos is best remembered for creating the Human Torch in 1939 and for helming those sub-Warren horror mags for Eerie Publications three decades later. Not long after creating the Torch, however, he also created this guy for TARGET COMICS--Manowar-the White Streak. This was the first appearance of this offbeat superhero whose series would actually last quite a while although he remains largely forgotten today.

Sub-Mariner-Al Gabriele-1949

A far cry from the "ahead of their time" Bill Everett Sub-Mariner tales that both preceded and followed it, this may well be the wackiest Subby tale of them all. First you have Namor's old enemy--never seen before to my knowledge--Dr. Dill, a bicycle riding, top hatted fellow who tries to trick our hero into drinking a doctored soft drink. Namor notes the ruse...but decided to drink anyway to see what happens! It makes him grow to gigantic proportions like in a Tex Avery cartoon. Sent back to see, he picks up a boat looking for a doctor. The boat just happens to have the villain on it and he just happens to have the antidote on him. Who wrote this stuff? Stan Lee? Mickey Spillane (who really was at Marvel at the time)? Artwise, Al Gabriele inadvertently makes it look like a Giant Man story from 15 years later. The dorky villain adds to that effect.