Reading Room: PHANTOM LADY "What Price Protection?"

Once again, if the story seems familiar...

...it's because this is yet another re-write of a story presented in the Fox Comics version of Phantom Lady several years earlier!

The first version of this tale appeared in Fox Publishing's Phantom Lady #17 (1947) and called "Soda Mint Killer", as shown HERE, but it's toned-down both in terms of sexiness and violence in the new version published in Ajax/Farrell's Phantom Lady #4 (1955)!

So both stories in this issue are re-writes of earlier tales!

Script in both versions probably by Ruth Roche.

However, this time the art is not by Matt Baker, and though adequate, is no match for the original!
This was the final issue of Phantom Lady, but not her final Golden Age appearance!
Be here next week to see what we're talking about!

Reading Room: AMAZING ADVENTURES OF HOLO-MAN "Birth of a Hero" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Hero...

Painting by Bob Larkin based on art by John Buscema and Joe Giella

During a demonstration to President Jimmy Carter of a new thermonuclear power system, Dr Jim Robinson, inventor of the system, is sucked into a wormhole where an alien being gives him a costume and laser-based powers, then returns him to Earth, where he finds his dying assistant who reveals how he was forced to betray his boss.

Realizing America is still in danger, Holo-Man springs into action...and you can read along by clicking HERE.to open the audio file of the record this comic came with in a new window, and starting at 12:10 on the audio file!

I'm afraid you'll have to miss it since the "next issue" never came out!

There was one more page in the comic, showing the extended cast who, presumably would've been introduced in the next book/record!

Reading Room / One-Shot Heroes AMAZING ADVENTURES OF HOLO-MAN "Birth of a Hero" Part 1

The Only Super-Hero Created for Audio LP Records...

...was based on the concept of using lasers to create holograms, a purely-visual technology!

Holy Irony!

 The startling story concludes...

TOMORROW!

You can listen to the story and read along by clicking HERE, and the audio will open in a new window!

Written by Vincent A Fusco, Jason V Fusco, Donald White, Donald A Kasen, Joe Giella, Audrey Hirshfeld, Barry Von Name.

And though the art is attributed solely to Joe Giella, the pencils are clearly John Buscema, with Giella's inking.

You could either get the book/45 record in record stores or mail away for the book/record and a pendant using coupons like this found in Marvel comics. (I never saw one in DC titles!)

Reading Room: PHANTOM LADY "Meanest Men in the World!"

If the story seems familiar...

...it's because this is another re-write/re-draw of a story presented in the Fox Comics version of Phantom Lady several years earlier!

The first version of this tale appeared in Phantom Lady #15 (1947) as shown HERE, but the idea of crooked real estate agents ripping off returning veterans worked just as well in Ajax/Farrell's Phantom Lady #4 (1955), just changing the war (Korea instead of World War II) the vets were returning from!

Script in both versions probably by Ruth Roche.

However, this time the art is not by Matt Baker, and though adequate, is no match for the original!

Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Debut"

Last time, we presented his final tale...

...now, from Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939), is the very first appearance of the decidedly-different Blue Beetle!

As you can see, it's not an origin story, since it's apparent that the Beetle's been operating for some time as of this tale.
(His origin won't be covered until the first issue of his own title, a year from now.
Even then, the full story won't be told.)
Also note the Green Hornet-inspired suit, fedora, and mask along with liberal use of a symbol to scare criminals and gas to knock them out.
It's the only time in his career he wears that particular ensemble.
With the next issue of Mystery Men Comics, you'll see the Blue Beetle begin the transition to the hero he was known as throughout the Golden Age as he dons the blue chain-mail costume.
(Oddly, when his origin is told in Blue Beetle #1, Garret is shown using the chain mail armor from the beginning of his career.)
Credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", this story was written by Will Eisner, illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name for all his comic work until he retired.

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