Heroic Halloween in Rutland JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA "A Stranger Walks Among Us!" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

Note: Look at the tombstone on this moody Nick Cardy cover! Black Canary's name is partially-concealed by the dirt! Was she initially supposed to be in this issue?

The Phantom Stranger gathers the Justice League to stop their old enemy, magician Felix Faust, from summoning a host of demons on Halloween at a magical nexus at Rutland, Vermont.

But Faust manages to free the demons, who possess cosplaying parade-goers, giving them the powers and abilities of the heroes and heroines they're costumed as!

Green Arrow and Hawkman are defeated by "Adam Strange", "Supergirl", and (ahem) the shield-slinging "Commando America".

Then The Phantom Stranger appears...

This is pre-Superman vs Spider-Man and other DC/Marvel crossover tales!
The Batman is aware "Webslinger" is fictional in the DC Multiverse!

Superman is battling a cosplayer dressed as the Golden Age (SHAZAM!) Captain Marvel!

DC didn't re-introduce the character (who hadn't appeared in comics for almost 20 years) until several months after this story, so they couldn't refer to him by name at this point!

Did Cap actually say "SHAZAM!", or another incantation?

We'll never know!

Well, Glynis is back!

We never get to find out how Len Wein (who wrote this tale) felt about his wife actually having the powers of Supergirl...for a while...or if he had her wear the costume at home...later!

For completists among you, Dick Dillin penciled and Dick Giordano inked the story. Though DC wouldn't introduce colorist credits until a couple of years later, it's believed Glynis Wein likely colored the story, making her the only comics creative to work on all three stories in the trilogy!

Two things to note.

Steve's car (and its' lack of a muffler) will prove fateful in our concluding story!

Glynis, the writing trio, and Tom Fagan will also appear!

As to who the final tale features...well, I never could resist a bit for foreshadowing, so be here...
...TOMORROW...
...for some back story about the final tale in our trilogy!
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Justice League of America
Bronze Age Omnibus
Volume 1
The only color reprint of this tale...ever!
(The other one is black and white)

Heroic Halloween in Rutland JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA "A Stranger Walks Among Us!" Part 1

We're about to re-tell the story you saw last week...

...but from a different perspective...not to mention a different comics company!!

The Batman had encountered the The Phantom Stranger in the pages of The Brave and the Bold.
Felix Faust is a longtime JLA enemy who utilizes actual magic against the heroes' scientific weapons and abilities!

Speaking of encounters, here are the real-life comics creatives we met previously!

writers Steve Englehart (balding blonde), Gerry Conway (long brown hair), Len Wein (goatee), and colorist Glynis Wein (only woman in the group).

Note the junk-heap they're driving!

It plays a role in this and the other remaining story!

And watch out for Glynis!
She's...nah... no "spoilers"!

The Batman was here last Halloween, and he knows a few locals...

...like Parade organizer Tom Fagan (now in a Batman costume)!
Len Wein mentions "Julie", aka Julie Schwartz, long-time DC Comics editor, and editor of JLA...which Len happens to write...including this story!

At this point in the previous tale, Glynis Wein (costumed as "Powergirl/Supergirl") disappeared, the Juggernaut attacked the Parade, and Steve, Len and Gerry went to look for her...

We found Glynis!
Unfortunately, she's demon-possessed and has the real Supergirl's powers!
Note "Commando America" has a painted trash can lid for a "shield", but he sure can utilize it like the "Star-Spangled Avenger" he's dressed as!

Will the enigmatic Phantom Stranger aid the two heroes just clobbered by cosplaying (albeit demon-possessed) comic book fans (and a comic book pro)?
Which characters will the remaining Justice Leaguers encounter?
(Hint, there are more non-DC characters lurking about...including one who was about to become a DC Comics character!)
How will Len feel about being married to a woman who can bend steel in her bare hands?
The answers to some of these questions will be found here...
TOMORROW!
Please Support Hero Histories
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Justice League of America
Bronze Age Omnibus
Volume 1
The only color reprint of this tale...ever!
(The other one is black and white)