All-Star Comics #63 (Nov.-Dec., 1976)

Our half-century-old topic of discussion today picks up its ongoing storyline in the immediate aftermath of the previous issue,  So, if you’re not already familiar with what happened in All-Star Comics #62, you might want to go catch up via our post about that one before proceeding, as we’re going to jump right into this installment’s action without worrying about a recap… just as soon as we’ve finished looking at this issue’s cover, that is.  (One thing worth noting about said cover is that while it’s clearly dominated by the style of inker Wally Wood, it was actually pencilled by Rich Buckler — an artist who was returning to DC Comics after some four years working primarily for that publisher’s main rival, Marvel.)  And now, on with the show…  Read More

Justice League of America #55 (August, 1967)

From June, 1966 through May, 1967, DC Comics published nine issues of Justice League of America, all of which capitalized on the enormous popularity of the Batman television show by prominently featuring the Caped Crusader on their covers.  Upon its publication on June 13, 1967, Justice League of America #55 clearly marked the end of that year-long run of exploitative, Batman-dominated covers.

Um, sort of.  OK, not really.  Because this issue’s Mike Sekowsky-Murphy Anderson cover, featuring the debut of “a grown-up Robin” whose costume was an amalgam of the duds traditionally worn by both the Boy Wonder and his august mentor, was obviously trading on Batmania as much as any other JLA cover that editor Julius Schwartz had seen through production in the last twelve months.  Read More