WRITTEN BY GARDNER FOX, EDMOND HAMILTON, JOHN BROOME AND BOB HANEY; ART BY JOE KUBERT, CURT SWAN, GEORGE KLEIN, CARMINE INFANTINO, JOE GIELLA, GIL KANE, MURPHY ANDERSON, LEE ELIAS; COVER BY VARIOUS, REFINISHED BY JERRY ORDWAY
The third collection of Secret Origins features Hawkman (from THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #34); the Jimmy Olsen/Robin team (WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #141); Kid Flash (FLASH #112); Green Lantern's oath (GREEN LANTERN [first series] #10); Eclipso (HOUSE OF SECRETS #61); and a Blackhawk text feature from BLACKHAWK #261! 80-Page Giant Format. For more information, see the feature article.
SC, 7X10, 80PG, FC $6.95 Cover price $6.95.
WRITTEN BY GARDNER FOX, BILL FINGER, JOHN BROOME, AND VARIOUS; ART BY MIKE SEKOWSKY, GIL KANE, SHELDON MOLDOFF, CARMINE INFANTINO, MURPHY ANDERSON, AND VARIOUS; COVER BY ANDERSON
A classic Silver Age Giant is reprinted in an affordable edition, collecting historic stories of Superman, the Flash, and the JLA! Reprinting the 1965 classic titled 80 PAGE GIANT MAGAZINE #8, MORE SECRET ORIGINS collects archetypal stories of the JLA (from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #9), Robin (from BATMAN #129), the Flash (from THE FLASH #128), and the Atom (from SHOWCASE #34), and tales of Superman and Aquaman that include their pint-sized beginnings as Superbaby (from SUPERMAN #146) and Aquababy (from ADVENTURE COMICS #260). For more information, see the feature article. Note: A signed version is offered in the Dynamic Forces section of Previews.
FC, 80 PG." Cover price $4.95.
Cover by Nick Cardy. "The Supergirl from Krypton!", script by Otto Binder, art by Al Plastino;
Superman spies a crashing rocket and discovers his cousin Supergirl; She tells him how Argo City survived the destruction of Krypton and how her father sent her to Earth when the inhabitants of Argo City were threatened by Kryptonite poisoning; reprinted from Action Comics #252. "SOS Green Lantern!", script by John Broome, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Joe Giella; Hal Jordan is selected by the power ring of Abin Sur to become a Green Lantern; reprinted from Showcase #22. "Birth of the Atom!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson; Scientist Palmer is experimenting with his reducer lens to try and reduce objects in size without blowing them up, all without success; However, when he, Jean and students are trapped in a cave-in, he decides to use the lens on himself and save the others before he is destroyed; He becomes a human atom; reprinted from Showcase #34. Two half-page text features about the origins of this issue's stars.
36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.
Cover by Nick Cardy. "The Origin of the Vigilante," script by Mort Weisinger, art by Mort Meskin
At his execution, Killer Kelly tells Vigilante that he will come back from the grave, but he has really just bribed the prison doctor to lower the voltage; Greg Sanders, rodeo man, is met by Betty Stuart, a blues singer, after a rodeo, and he learns that Killer Kelly is loose; At his home, Greg dons the costume of the Vigilante and heads to the costume ball of Van Ardsley; reprinted from Action Comics #42. "The Origin of Kid Eternity," script by Otto Binder, art by Sheldon Moldoff; A boy and his grandfather are torpedoed in their boat by a Nazi sub and killed, but when the lad reaches the Pearly Gates, his name is not on the list to die; So Mr. Kepper, who was responsible, brings back the boy's spirit into his body, clapped his hands allowing a ray of light to strike the corpse, and the lad lived again, and was endowed by Mr. Keeper with great powers; By speaking the word "eternity", the boy could call upon any historical person who once lived to aid him in any given situation; reprinted from Hit Comics #25.
36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.
Cover by Nick Cardy. "The Origin of the Spectre, Part 1", script by Jerry Siegel, art by Bernard Baily
Jim Corrigan, hard-boiled detective, gets inside information on a job to be pulled by Gat Benson, and, while trying to stop the theft, is captured and murdered; However, a voice from heaven tells Corrigan that his battle against crime is not over, so he is restored to life with amazing powers, which he plans to use against Benson and save the life of Clarice; reprinted from More Fun Comics #52. "The Origin of the Spectre, Part 2," script by Jerry Siegel, art by Bernard Baily; After murdering Corrigan, Benson and his thugs decide to kill the witness, Clarice, but before they can do this, a wraith-like Corrigan appears before them to exact justice; reprinted from More Fun Comics #53. One-page text feature on the history of the Legion of Super-Heroes by Paul Levitz. Letter to the editor from comic writer Bob Rozakis.
36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.
Cover by Nick Cardy. "The Origin of the Legion!," script by E. Nelson Bridwell, art by Pete Costanza
The origin of the Legion of Super-Heroes is told; Three youths with fantastic powers save billionaire R. J. Brande, who bankrolls them in an organization meant to emulate Superboy and Supergirl: the Legion of Super-Heroes; reprinted from Superboy #147. "The Origin of Blackhawk," script by Will Eisner and Bob Powell, art by Charles Cuidera; Warsaw, Poland 1939. The Nazis are massing to rout the Polish Air Force, the only obstacle to their victory over Poland, and are being led by the Nazi commander, Captain von Tepp; However, in his attack, the brother and sister of a lone survivor are killed, and this survivor, later to become The Blackhawk, vows to hunt down von Tepp and make him pay personally for their deaths; reprinted from Military Comics #1. One-page text feature on the origins of the Legion and Blackhawk.
36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.
Final issue of the series. Cover by Nick Cardy. "Robin the Boy Wonder," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Jerry Robinson
Dick Grayson watches his parents die and overhears the killers confessing the point, and he decides to tip off the Police; However, the Batman intervenes to save the boy's life, and trains him to become his partner, Robin the Boy Wonder; reprinted from Detective Comics #38. "The Submarine Strikes," script by Mort Weisinger, art by Paul Norris; An unnamed scientist and explorer uses the science of ancient Atlantis to give his son the power to breathe underwater; reprinted from More Fun Comics #73. Short article on the origins of Robin and Aquaman by E. Nelson Bridwell.
36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.
Cover art by Kevin Nowlan. The Secret Origin of Adam Strange, script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Tony deZuniga; recap of Showcase #17.
The Secret Origin of Dr Occult, script by Roy Thomas and E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Howard Simpson, inks by Bob Lewis; recap of the original adventures, brought up-to-date.
52 pgs. $1.25. Cover price $1.25.
The Legion of Substitute Heroes takes the spotlight as the secret origin of the 30th century's biggest losers is retold, written by Ty Templeton and drawn by Templeton and Anthony Van Bruggen.
Also, the origin of a 20th century loser, the original Doctor Light, as told by Craig Boldman, Mike Parobeck and Ken Branch. Cover by Templeton.
Cover price $1.50.
The secret origins of the original team of Hawk & Dove are revealed by writers Barbara and Karl Kesel, with art by Trevor Von Eeden and Akin & Garvey.
Also, the story of how Nazi gold hidden deep inside the Earth sets the stage for the origin of Cave Carson, written by Bob Wayne, with art by Timothy Truman. Cover by Paris Cullins.
Cover price $1.50.
Cover art by Murphy Anderson. Citizen Jan starring Blackhawk, script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Grant Miehm, inks by Terry Beatt
a skillful mix of the old and the current versions of Blackhawk. Folk Tales starring El Diablo, script by Gerard Jones, pencils by Mike Parobeck, inks by John Nyberg; ties in to the El Diablo book that began just two months previously.
52 pgs. $1.50. Cover price $1.50.
The origin of the Cadmus Project is revealed in a tale of the new Newsboy Legion, with story and art by Karl Kesel.
Also, journey back to the days of Camelot and learn the origin of the Silent Knight, as told by writer Jan Strnad, pencilled by John Koch, and inked by Gary Martin. Plus, a two-page origin of the Legion of Super-Heroes' Bouncing Boy, by Ty Templeton. Cover by Kesel.
Cover price $1.75.
Black Lightning's origin tale is by Tony Isabella (creator of the character) & Greg Brooks, while the origin of Miss America is by Roy & Dann Thomas & Grant Miehm.
Note: more on the aftermath of Miss America's origin is found in Young All Stars (1987) #12. Cover by Kevin Nowlan. Cover price $1.25.
Cover pencils by Kevin Maguire, inks by Bob Wiacek. Flawed Gems, script by Barbara Randall, pencils by Rick Leonardi, inks by Dick Giordano; a new, post-Crisis origin of Batgirl. The Secret Origin of Dr Mid-Nite, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Mike Clark, inks by Jerry Acerno.
Black Lightning's origin tale is by Tony Isabella (creator of the character) & Greg Brooks, while the origin of Miss America is by Roy & Dann Thomas & Grant Miehm.
Note: more on the aftermath of Miss America's origin is found in Young All Stars (1987) #12. Cover by Kevin Nowlan. Cover price $1.25.
Cover art by Eric Shanower. The Secret Origin of the Justice League of America, script by Keith Giffen (plot), Peter David (dialogue), and Gardner Fox (story), art by Eric Shanower
When contenders for the leadership of Appellax stage their combat on Earth through "battle form" surrogates, the Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Black Canary, the Flash, and Green Lantern first encounter and defeat the first 5 individual battle forms separately, but have to work together to defeat the sixth one.
"The Secret Origin of Man-Bat" is by Jan Strnad (script) & Kevin Nowlan (everything else). Plus, Animal Man in "The Myth of the Creation." Script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Tom Grummett, inks by Doug Hazlewood. Animal Man tale continues in Animal Man (1988) #10. Cover by Michael W. Kaluta.
The Darknight Detective will battle the combined forces of the four Clayfaces. You can learn the origins of all four of these malleable malefactors here. 'Clayface I and Clayface IV' are by Mike W. Barr, Keith Giffen and Al Gordon. 'Clayface II' is by Dan Raspler, Bernie Mireault and Denis Rodier. And 'Clayface III' is by Len Wein, Tom Grummett and Gary Martin. Cover by Kevin Nowlan (featuring Batman).
The headquarters of the featured teams play vital roles in the tales within. First up, the costumes of the Justice League of America come to life in "Ghosts of Stone." Script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Curt Swan, inks & colors by George Freeman. Next, The New Titans in "Tower in the Sky!" Script by Marv Wolfman, art by Vince Giarrano. And the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Little Clubhouse That Could." Script by Gerard Jones, art by Curt Swan & Ty Templeton.
It's a 96-page blockbuster final issue of Secret Origins, featuring an illustrated prose retelling of the first meeting between Batman and Dick Grayson, written by Dennis O'Neil and illustrated by George Perez; "The Flash of Two Worlds," as retold by writer Grant Morrison and artists Mike Parobeck and Romeo Tanghal; Black Canary, by writer Alan Brennert and artists Joe Staton and Dick Giordano; Dolphin, by writer Richard Bruning, with art by Steve Bove and Kez Wilson; the origin of the western hero Johnny Thunder, written by Elliot S! Maggin, with art by Alan Weiss and Giordano; and the story of the Space Museum, by writer Gerard Jones and artists Carmine Infantino and George Perez. Cover by Ty Templeton.
Now 2 big origins every issue! First up it's the origin of the Golden Age Batman in a 23-page tale. Script by Roy Thomas, art by Marshall Rogers & Terry Austin. Plus: Halo explains to Looker the origins of Violet Harper and the Aurakles in the 22-page "Fallen Angel." Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Dick Giordano. Cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.
It's "The Secret Origin of The Doom Patrol!" by Paul Kupperberg & John Byrne, a 30-page tale.
Also: Paul Kupperberg & Steve Lightle discuss the new Doom Patrol series in an article by Joey Cavalieri. Plus: "The Secret Origin of Captain Comet" by Roy Thomas, Ron Harris & Bruce D. Patterson, a 20-page tale. Cover by Byrne (after Ed Hannigan).
Cover price $2.00.
Cover by Lee Bermejo. Written by Greg Pak, Kyle Higgins and Tony Bedard. Art by Lee Weeks, Doug Mahnke, Paulo Siqueira, Sandra Hope, Keith Champagne and Christian Alamy. Art by Paulo Siqueira and Will Conrad.
At last, the SECRET ORIGINS of the World's Greatest Heroes in The New 52 can be revealed! This new series gets off to an awesome start with the origins of The Last Son of Krypton and Kara Zor-El, Supergirl, plus the first Robin, Dick Grayson.
48 pages, full color. Cover price $4.99.
