There have been some good Golden Age reprints over the last few weeks. Both Marvel and DC have provided some interesting and esoteric offerings.
DC Comics
The Sandman by Simon & Kirby
DC has published The Sandman by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby. This hard back book features the “new look” Sandman and Sandy from Adventure Comics 72 (March 1942) through 91 (April/May 1944), #100 (October/November 1945), #102 (February/March 1946) and World’s Finest Comics 6 (Summer 1942) and 7 (Fall 1942). You’ll also find the covers from Adventure Comics 92-97 and 101. As a bonus, DC also reprinted “General Electric” from Sandman #1 (Winter 1974). This book has a cover price of $39.99 U.S. and is 304 pages.
Marvel Comics
Marvel has published two more issues of its 70th Anniversary revival titles.
70th Anniversary Mystic Comics #1
First, with a cover date of October 2009, Marvel issued Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1. This title features Golden Age reprints of two Vision stories from Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (November 1940) and #16 (February 1941).
70th Anniversary Daring Mystery Comics #1
Second, with a cover date of November 2009, Marvel published Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1. This issue features a Golden Age reprint of “The Phantom Reporter” from Daring Mystery Comics #3 (April 1940).
In a slightly esoteric vein, Marvel also issued another volume of its Atlas Era Marvel Masterworks.
Atlas Era Black Knight/Yellow Claw Masterworks
This issue features reprints of two late Golden Age/early Silver Age titles. First, The Black Knight issues 1 (May 1955) through 5 (April 1956) are included, with art by Joe Maneely, Fred Kida, John Romita and Syd Shores. The Black Knight stories are followed by reprints of The Yellow Claw 1 (October 1956) through 4 (April 1957) with art by Joe Maneely, Jack Kirby and others. If you are interested in Marvel’s Atlas Era, this volume reprints material that will likely not find reprinted in other sources. This book has a cover price of $59.99 U.S. and is 246 pages. There is a nice introduction by Roy Thomas and a great piece about Joe Maneely by Dr. Michael Vassallo.
Are the Black Knight stories good? Are they at least typical of the time period? I’ve never read them, but I’m increasingly drawn to the Atlas stuff, seeing as I’ve never read it and rarely seen it even referenced in later books.
-David