Adventure Comics – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Joe Staton — That’s A Stretch

December 19, 2023 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Adventure Comics #471, May 1980

Remember when DC had some space for some comics that were fun, even playful?

How about Plastic Man, written by Marty Pasko and drawn by the talented and versatile Joe Staton. (Also, he and his wife Hillary are two of the loveliest people you will ever meet. Trust me on this.)

DC will bring back ol’ Plas someday — although, given the current state of the editorial mindset in the industry, there is always a chance he will come back as a schizophrenic who only thinks he can stretch.

Trust me on this, too.

(Fun footnote. Someone at DC must have liked this story as much as I do — it was reprinted just a few years later in 1983’s Adventure #503, the final issue of the series.

Gray Morrow — Modern West

November 13, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Adventure #422, August 1972

The Golden Age hero The Vigilante (Greg Sanders) returns to his own feature in The Bronze Age — albeit briefly — in a two back-up stories in Adventure Comics in 1972.

Like some other back-up features from that ran in the oversize 25-cent issues and the “supersize” 100 pagers, this material has never been reprinted. (This specific story ended up in a regular size issue after the larger format was eliminated) It’s too bad, because some of it, including this rare Gray Morrow Vigilante art is quality material.

I always thought the great Gray Morrow was stronger at illustration than storytelling but his two DC Vigilante stories showcase his talents across the board.

*Vigilante started as a back-up feature in Action Comics #42 (with art by the great Mort Meskin), and finally made a rare cover appearance along with the rest of the Action gang 10 issues later.*

Tony Harris — 60 Minutes

May 2, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Hourman #22, January 2001

Continuing our celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the Justice Society of America, with each new post featuring a different classic JSA character.

Hourman’s third incarnation becomes trippier in the amazing hands of Tony Harris, who drew this issue as a fill-in for series regular Rags Morales.

I’ve discussed my appreciation for Harris’ art previously, and his Starman and Ex- Machina series are definitive achievements. I also love his cover work, and this is a fine example, with a rare hand-drawn logo.

As for this incarnation of Hourman? He’s not Rex Tyler, the original version of Hourman, nor his son, Rick Tyler. He’s Mathew Tyler, and android from the future who has incorporated Tyler DNA… and well, you have to read it for yourself.

Hourman has also had a bit of a TV career, appearing on Justice League Unlimited and Legends of Tomorrow. Both the Rex and Rick Tyler versions will apparently appear in the new Stargirl series as well

Hourman swings into the Golden Age in his first ever appearance, and, like many of his JSA colleagues(including Doctor Fate), returns during the Silver Age superhero revival. All three “Hourmen” appear together in JSA #65 in 2004.

George Pratt — Comics Noir

April 30, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Sandman Mystery Theatre #1, 1994

Continuing our celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the Justice Society of America, with each new post featuring a different classic JSA character.

Neil Gaiman’s extraordinary success with his Sandman series, had an additional and welcome consequence. DC added a retro Sandman title to its line-up featuring a retconned version of the original Sandman, with great noir-ish stories written primarily by Matt Wagner and Steven Seagle.

This terrific action splash page comes from the often overlooked annual, drawn by George Pratt. It’s a rare pen and ink example by the award-winning Pratt, who is known for his terrific painted graphic novels on Enemy Ace, Batman, and Wolverine.

The “original” Sandman never looked so good.

Fun fact: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created often over-looked version of Sandman in the 1970s. Simon dropped out after one issue, Jack took a few issue break, and the final issue, #7, featuring Santa Claus (yes, you heard right) was cancelled prior to publication and didn’t appear in print until a few years later.

That Simon and Kirby Issue, originally intended as a one-shot, was their final collaboration.

This version of Sandman makes an unexpected comeback appearance in Wonder Woman #300, with versions by both Gene Colan and Kirby fanatic Keith Giffen. More on all of this in a future post.