RihoHime's Profile

This is where superhero comics began. Great snapshot of the era. The one page origin is appreciated. The art layouts and scripts are obviously inspired by newspaper comic strips and pulp magazines. The sequential panels tell a story well, although the details are rudimentary. Newbies will be surprised Superman tackles domestic violence and wants to prevent the U.S. from entering the war in Europe (!). Rest of the comic is an anthology, and very skippable.

Bizzaro's SECOND appearance. He may have died in Superboy, but Lex creates a new one, which somehow has the original's memories. Great threat and he has a crush on Lois. Actually ends on a cliffhanger. Decent Supergirl backup where her new adopted parents turn out to be scammers. I don't read Congorilla.

The awesome conclusion to this two-parter. Unlike other issues of this era, this one is referenced in the future as Bizarro + Bizarro Lois became a "thing" in the Silver Age. Bizarro is shown as being misunderstood in his first three appearances, but Superman won't mind if he's dead, which is pretty weird. Supergirl backup story is mind-bending: she comes to the 21st century and basically helps a young boy become Tommy Tomorrow.

The military asks Superboy to PUT DOWN Krypto because he is growing and being destructive, and Superboy says he will kill Krytpo HIMSELF! Wow. Sweet backup story with Aquaman building a hospital for marine animals, who wind up helping him. Green Arrow backup story is actually good for once: Speedy's secret origin.

Silly, if not dumb stories: Invisible Batman (Sheldon Moldoff), Signalman (Bill Finger), and alien robot (Arnold Drake). All these stories would have worked better as serious parodies written by Alan Moore or Grant Morrison. Instead, they are played straight, so they fail. This whole era would be done much better in the Batman 1966 TV show where is was clearly for laughs.

OUTSTANDING artwork by Ross Andru. Really feels like he's drawing commercial art. Disappointed Suicide Squad is inspired by Challengers of the Unknown, however. So Task Force X debuted not as super-villains, but as non-powered adventurers.