The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 012 - X-Men #8 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Twelve

X-Men #8 (November, 1964)

"The Uncanny Threat of... Unus the Untouchable!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Chic Stone

Letters - S. Rosen

Colors - ______!

Cover Price: 12¢

In which an X-Man threatens to quit the team and our heroes face off against a Brand-New (somewhat) Evil Mutant!  It's just another day in the neighborhood for the World's Strangest Teen-Agers!

Also: The first time where we see them being "Feared and/or Hated"!  A seminal issue, indeed!

All that plus - Letters Page Goodness, prehistoric Bullpen Bulletins, and Mailbag!

Special Note: There is a bit of a... temporal distortion in the middle of this episode.  I can't really explain it... but I couldn't scrub it out of my recording.  Apologies in advance for any confusion... we probably should just forget it ever happened.

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 011 - Journey into Mystery #109 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Eleven

Journey into Mystery #109 (October, 1964)

"When Magneto Strikes!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Chic Stone

Letters - S. Rosen

Colors - Eh?

Cover Price: 12¢

Today we're covering the issue which finally caused your humble host to pull the trigger on Marvel Unlimited... mostly because he couldn't see himself attempting to track down an issue of Thor... and boy, is he glad he did - because this is a very fun issue, pitting the Odinson against our resident Master of Magnetism!  How can Magneto fair against Mjolnir?  Quite well, surprisingly enough!

Have a listen and find out for yourself!

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 010 - X-Men #7 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Ten

X-Men #7 (September, 1964)

"The Return of the Blob"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Chic Stone

Letters - Art Simek

Colors - The Unknown Colorist

Cover Price: 12¢

The Blob is back... and hanging out with, who else... Magneto and his Brotherhood!  Do the newly-graduated X-Men... without their mentor - but with their new field leader, stand a chance?  You don't wanna miss this one... or, ya know, maybe you do!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 009 - Fantastic Four #28 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Nine

Fantastic Four #28 (July, 1964)

"We Have to Fight the X-Men!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Chic Stone

Letters - Art Simek

Cover Price: 12¢

It's the highest-profile X-Men guest-appearance yet... and perhaps their highest-profile appearance period!

Today the X-Men meet and fight the Fantastic Four... for the first of many times!  We're going to talk a bit about how this appearance might just have legitimized the world's strangest teen-agers to the fans of the wider Marvel Universe, and much more!

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 008 - Strange Tales #120 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Eight

Strange Tales #120 (May, 1964)

"The Torch Meets The Iceman!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Dick Ayers

Letters - S. Rosen

Colors - Ehhhhh?

Cover Price: 12¢

The X-Men continue looming large over the early Marvel Universe... this time with their youngest member - the sixteen-year old Kid Kool himself - crossing paths with the youngest member of the Fantastic Four - Johnny Storm, the Human Torch in the pages of Strange Tales #120!

Will these two teen-agers forgo the "Superhero Team-Ups... the Marvel Way" formula... or, will we waste several pages of this short story with a Silver Age clashing of Fire and Ice?  You may be surprised... I know I was!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 007 - Tales of Suspense #49 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Seven

Tales of Suspense #49 (January, 1964)

"The New Iron Man Meets The Angel!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Steve Ditko

Inks - P. Reinman

Letters - S. Rosen

Cover Price: 12¢

Today we head off the beaten path for the first (but not last!) time ever during our dip into the silly Silver Age, with the first X-Men guest-spot outside their own Marvel Mag!

Here we will focus on Angel as he invades an Iron Man story in Tales of Suspense... and also gets hit in the face with an ATOMIC BOMB!  It's a seminal look at the old Marvel Method of hero on hero violence... back before it was something we'd see every month (if not week)!  A fun little story, and I hope you'll check it out!

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 6 - X-Men #6

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Six

X-Men #6 (July, 1964)

"Sub-Mariner! joins The Evil Mutants"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Chic Stone

Letters - S. Rosen

Colors - Eh?  Probably Somebody...

Cover Price: 12¢

Stop me if you've heard this one... it's the X-Men vs. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants!  But, friends, that's not all... this time out, the Brotherhood is joined by Namor the Sub-Mariner, firmly establishing that the X-Men are part of the shared Marvel Universe!  Why, we even get editorial footnotes pointing us to recent issues of Fantastic Four and Avengers!

Plus: Starting today (and hopefully for as long as we can), we're going to be taking the pulse of the comics fan of the day, when we read and discuss the "Let's Visit the X-Men" Letters Pages!  Today we'll be covering the letters Stan and Jack received for issues #3 and #4 (appearing in X-Men #5 & 6)!

It's a good time as always... hope you'll give us a try!

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The ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT X-Lapsed Voicemail!

623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)... as in "Professor Xavier is a..." and not anything off-color!  Shame on you for thinking it was!

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 5 - X-Men #5 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Five

X-Men #5 (May, 1964)

"Trapped: One X-Man!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Paul Reinman

Letters - S. Rosen

Colors - Wouldn't you like to know?

Cover Price: 12¢

Boy, I hope you're not already tired of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants... because, we're just getting started with them!

Today, we meet Jean Grey's parents... who have such a high opinion of Charles Xavier, they probably wouldn't even mind him creeping on their little girl.  They also don't seem to have a problem with the fact that she's the only young lady in a house full of teen-age boys.  Different times, I s'pose!

Also... the Brotherhood!  They do Evil and/or Morally Ambiguous stuff... it's kinda their gimmick!

--

The ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT X-Lapsed Voicemail!

623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)... as in "Professor Xavier is a..." and not anything off-color!  Shame on you for thinking it was!

--

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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 4 - X-Men #4 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Four

X-Men #4 (March, 1964)

"The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants!"

Writer/Edits - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Paul Reinman

Letters - Art Simek

Colors - Idunno!

Cover Price: 12¢

The Seminal Slog that is X-Men #4!

It's the first appearance of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants... including everybody's favorite former-mutant... The Pretender herself!

This issue takes a while to get going... but, gives us plenty of fun stuff to talk about!

Plus: Great Mailbag... and a brief discussion on Facsimile Editions!

--
The ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT X-Lapsed Voicemail!
623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)... as in "Professor Xavier is a..." and not anything off-color!  Shame on you for thinking it was!
--
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The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 3 - X-Men #3 (1964)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Three

X-Men #3 (January, 1964)

"Beware of the Blob!"

Writer/Editor - Stan Lee

Pencils - Jack Kirby

Inks - Paul Reinman

Colors - ???

Letters - Artie Simek

Cover Price: 12¢

In which Professor X reveals which of his X-Men he loves the most... and, no... I'm not kidding.

Also: Cyclops gets his real first name, the Beast gets brainy, and Iceman attempts to eat himself.  On top'a that, we meet and defeat The Blob!

Plus: Great Listener Mail!

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Action Comics #319 (1964)

Action Comics #319 (December, 1964)
"The Condemned Superman!"
"The Super-Cheat!"
Writer - Edmond Hamilton
Pencillers - Curt Swan & Jim Mooney
Letterer - Joe Letterese
Cover Price: $0.12

Our #Action100 Project is taking a pretty deep dive today... to over a half-century ago... and my tattered copy of issue #319 (as seen above).

It's funny to inspect the wear and tear on your old comics... the bottom of this bugger is really in disrepair.  Hell, I think just by my reading it today I lowered the "value" a bunch.  I had to train myself to turn the page from the top... because the bottom was far too brittle and would crack.  The top, on the other hand... looks perfect!  How weird.

Anyhoo... we're in for a two-fer today, so let's get right "two" it.

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We open on the planet Lexor, where Superman is standing trial for the... murder of Lex Luthor!  Now, a little background... Lexor's a sorta backwards world... not so much like Bizarro World or anything... but they see Lex Luthor as a hero... and, as such view Superman as something of a villainous bully.  Anyhoo, Superman pleads his innocence... but the Lexorians don't wanna hear it.  This brings us to a flashback showing what happened upon his arrival.

Ya see, Lex Luthor broke out of jail (again) and bee-lined it to a rocket base where he stowed away to the Red Sun planet of Lexor.  Superman gave chase (also by rocket), and was greeted by a Lexorian hunter who would guide him to the city.  Along the way, Superman almost walks into the path of a Madness Flower... that'll be sorta important later.  The pair do, however, walk by a Truth Beast... triggering the hunter to reveal that he recognized the evil Superman... and was leading him toward a trap.  Anyhoo... Superman finally arrives at the city (where Superman alarms are going off)... and he punches Lex in the face.

Lex hits the ground... dead.  Superman is immediately arrested... and since this is a Red Sun planet, he can't do a whole lot to fight off the guards.

Back in court, we see that Superman has been assigned an attorney... one who seems like he'd rather be anywhere else.  He asks Superman if he'd come to Lexor with the express purpose of murdering Lex Luthor... to which he replies no (duh).  This causes a near-riot.  The day concludes with Superman still proclaiming his innocence.

After the session, Superman is led back to his holding cell.  Once he's found guilty, he will be quickly executed.  To really hammer this home, we see another "convict" named Zim Zabo led to the "Stone Room", where he is... well, turned to stone.  Bah golly, did we just watch an execution?!  That night Superman dreams of the same thing happening to him.

The following day we return to court where Superman's lawyers try giving him an "out".  They ask if he'd come into contact with a Madness Flower... in hopes that they could plea temporary insanity.  Superman... tells the truth.  Yes, he did see a Madness Flower, but he never got close enough to feel its effects.  His lawyer is initially annoyed... however, then begins to come around.  Superman had an easy "out", yet chose to tell the truth anyway.

After this session (the second of three in Lexorian tradition) Superman asks his lawyer if he can be released for the evening to do some investigating of his own.  This request is obviously turned down.  And so, that night... Superman and his lawyer do a bit of clothes-swapping.

Superman heads to Lex Luthor's Lexorian Laboratory... and comes across some pretty damning evidence.  A bottle of "Coma Drug", which will put anybody who takes one into a five-day long coma... and a "Shock Restorative Chemical" spray to wake up anyone who's taken the Coma Drug.  These drugs are conveniently labelled in English... however, it's cleverly explained that Lexorians can't read the language.

And so, Superman heads to the City Square where Lex is laying in-state (his body is on display under glass).  Superman sprays his schnozz with the Shock-Chem... waking the bald baddie up.  Lex comes clean about taking the Coma Drug in hopes of framing Superman for his murder.

The Lexorians soon gather around... and are convinced that Lex "accidentally" took the Coma Drug.  All charges against Superman are dropped... and he heads back to Earth... leaving Lex behind?!  Mission Accomplished?

Our second tale stars Supergirl... who is having quite a time with her school rival Donna Storm.  Ya see, she's been cheating to get her super-marks, and now Supergirl's gotta figure out a way to reveal this... without revealing her secret identity.  Sound silly?  There's a reason for that.

We start in math class... where the students have been tasked with a tough assignment.  Linda's little study circle invites Donna over to join them... but she declines.  Using her x-ray vision, Linda sees that Donna is punching all of the questions into a *gasp* electronic computer!  Looks kinda like a typewriter, which in my experience, was never much help with my math homework... but, whattayagonnado?

I was expecting something more like this... 

Oh well.  Point is, Donna's a no-good cheating cheater... Linda knows it, but there ain't a whole lot she can do about it.  The next day we join the kids in Chemistry class.  Their assignment has to do with undersea plant-life... and the chemicals needed to make them grow.  After class, Donna ducks out and heads to her Daddy's Plastics Company... where she puts his lab men on the task.  Of course, Linda's telescopic vision sees all.

Also worth noting, the Chemistry Professor seems to be getting the feeling that Ms. Storm might be cheating as well.  The Dean, however, suggests he settle his tea kettle... the Storms are big-time patrons of Stanhope College.

That night, Linda uses her super-hearing (this is starting to get creepy, ya?) to listen in on Donna's study session.  She is able to hear her reading aloud from a literature book.  The following day, Donna is able to recite everything she'd read the night before.  C-c-could Donna have super-powers too?!  No silly, she has a miniature recording device stowed away in her earring.  I mean, if she can come up with something like that, isn't she just wasting her time in college?  She surely has one helluva future as an inventor... or super-villain!

We jump ahead to a Geology Field Trip, where the students are asked to search for valuable minerals... with the most valuable receiving the highest marks.  That... hmm, that doesn't seem like a fair assignment, but we'll allow it.  Anyhoo, Donna has stashed a chunk of gold ore behind her back (literally), so she could "find" it and score the best grade.  To spoil this, Linda "supes up" and crushes some coal into diamonds.  Hmm... I'm not sure that's not cheating.  Worth noting, Linda actually changes into her Supergirl costume to do the crushing... which feels like a bit of overkill.

Then... Biology class... good gravy, how many credit-hours are these kids taking?!  Donna sets to cutting out pictures of undersea life from some very expensive texts... figuring those would be of the highest quality... and surely impress the Professor.  Linda again spoils her fun by having Supergirl show up with a "glass classroom" to take the entire class unduh da sea... where they get a lecture from Lori Lemaris.  I wonder if this hurt Linda's grade any... since, for all her Professor knows, she was a no-show.

We're not done yet... we've saved the craziest class for last... History.  The assignment is a simple essay... now, rather than actually read the textbook, Donna... flies to Hollywood... yes, really... to talk to a director working on a movie about the War of 1812.

Supergirl ups the ante by... taking the entire class back in time to witness the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.  Hell, Supergirl even attempts to get involved and change the outcome (!)... but it's to no avail.

Back in the present, Donna's essay gets a big fat "F"... turns out Hollywood took a few liberties with the real story of the War of 1812.  Anyhoo... that night, Donna sneaks into Linda's dorm in order to plant some stolen jewels (yeah, this has really escalated!).  The following day, they are found... and Linda is expelled.

On her way out, Linda runs into Donna... who admits to everything.  "Yeah, I framed ya... whaddaya gonna do about it?" sort of stuff.  Unfortunately for her... she's still wearing those transmitter earrings... which somehow broadcast their entire discussion on the public address system.  Whoops.

Now, I know what you're thinking... how did the earrings do that?  Well, wouldja believe... the Legionnaire Shrinking Violet had stowed away in one?

We wrap up with a full explanation of what Shrinking Violet did... and the expulsion of Donna Storm, who likely went on to a minimum wage job and a diet-pill addiction.

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So... yeah, the Silver-Age is pretty incredible, ain't it?

I'll admit, probably like a lot of folks my age... I'm working backwards on my comics library.  Where my collection (and working knowledge) gets sparser the further back we go.  So these Silver-Agers still have quite a bit of novelty to me.  So, apologies in advance if I come across a bit gushy or incredulous.

Let's start with our first story.  Man, how weird is it that we have a planet of Luthor-lovers out there?  I will say I would expect them all (even the women) to be bald in tribute... but, whattayagonnado?

I appreciated Superman sticking to his guns and remaining honest during the trial.  He was offered a very easy "out" and decided against it.  This was important in that it allowed his lawyer to witness his character... and facilitated him not really putting up a fight when Superman decided to try the body-swap gimmick later on.

I gotta wonder... what would've happened if he went to Luthor's lab and found... nothing?  Would he have just returned to his cell, or would he have made a run for it back to the rocket base?  I know what I would've done... but, lemme tell ya, I ain't no Superman.

I did kinda smirk when the Lexorians refused to accept that Lex took the Coma Drug on purpose.  Yeah, sure... he accidentally took one of those pills from the bottle with the strange Earthen-language label.  Aye yai yai.

Still, this was a lot of fun.

Onto the back-up... which, wasn't so much a back-up as a co-feature.  I feel like they were similar in length.  This was a hoot!  So silly... so dumb... but, so much fun.

The stakes really couldn't be much lower for a Supergirl story.  There's a mean girl at Stanhope who is cheating and using her last name to weasel her way out of any trouble she might find herself in.  This irks Linda... and so, she decides to mess with her.  I mean, that's about it... Linda/Supergirl is screwing with this girl simply because she can!

Not that what Donna's doing is right... or even wise, but when we break it down, what Linda's doing ain't all that much better!  I mean, she's using her powers to give herself an edge, right?  It's not every student can take the class on an undersea field trip... or back in freaking time.  What a crazy story!

And... looking at it even closer, every time Supergirl arrives she's all "Linda sent me" and nobody thinks to ask, "Oh yeah, Linda... where is she anyway?".  Also... if Linda isn't present for these field trips... how is she getting any credit in class?  Yeah, textbook overthinking... but, it definitely stuck out to me.

The ending with Donna being expelled... aye yai yai... I guess the punishment ought to fit the crime, but I gotta say... this rivalry escalated much higher than I figured it would!  I assumed they'd make nice by the end... Donna would see the error of her ways and sheepishly try and join Linda's study group.  But, noooo... she just gets the boot!  How crazy is that?!

Overall... this was a ton of fun.  I really need to try and work more Silver Age books into my reading-rotation.  If you can get your hands on this for a decent price, definitely do so.  The lead-off story has been reprinted in The Best of DC Digest #27 (1979), and the back-up has been collected as part of SHOWCASE Presents Supergirl, Volume 2 (2008).  Somewhat surprisingly, this issue is available digitally as well!

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Letters Page:

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Fun Stuff:

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Green Lantern (vol.2) #31 (1964)

Green Lantern (vol.2) #31 (September, 1961)
"Power Rings For Sale!"
"Pay Up--Or Blow Up!"
Writer - John Broome
Penciller - Gil Kane
Inker - Sid Greene
Letterer - Gaspar
Editor - Julius Schwartz
Cover Price: $0.12

Now here's a cover that's haunted me for quite some time.  This iconic (to me, and perhaps only to me) issue is one of those that I never thought I'd own.  Any time I happened across a stack of Silver-Age Green Lantern, this would be the issue I'd rummage for... and up until this weekend, it's one I'd never even seen in person!

I guess a (formerly?) avid Silver-Age DC collector just sold their collection to my local shop because, ho-lee cow... the comics I found this weekend blew my mind!  Most of them were Superman comics, which, from my experience is what you mostly see when you look at folks' Silver-Age collection... buuut, there was a small stack of Green Lantern too... and wouldn'tcha know it, they had the one I've been looking for!  Now, this wasn't a cheap-o bin buy... though, if it was... ooh boy.  It also isn't a book I bought myself, it was a gift from the wife... making it all the more special!

Let's get right down to it!

--

Our opening splash shows Green Lantern being observed by alien Grolls.  They are attempting to control him for their own means, and from the looks of it... it might just be working!  The story proper begins with... Piefa--, er, we'll just call him Tom... on a count of that's his name, talking to a "Medico" about how weird his buddy Green Lantern has been acting of late.  The example his gives is his using his power ring to shoot off fireworks, which... I dunno, sounds a bit benign.  If you've got evidence of him acting strange, ya may wanna share a more outlandish instance.  GL arrives to allow the Doc to take a look at him.

After an hour-long examination, all the Doctor can conclude is that the Lantern might be a bit tired.  Hal denies being tired, then conjures up a crisp $100 bill to pay the man.  Tom knows right away that using the ring for personal convenience goes against the Green Lantern Corps code of conduct.  Lemme ask this, tho... for the rest of his life, Hal's going to have to will that bill into existence, doesn't seem like a "personal convenience" to me!

Tom asks Hal to fly them back to the power battery so they can check in with the Guardians.  Tom the tattletale in full effect here!  This actually marks the first time that Tom is seeing the Guardians, so that's pretty cool.  Anyhoo, they connect... and Tom informs the little blue dudes that Green Lantern's acting erratically.  Almost immediately, the Guardians posit that Hal is being controlled by the Grolls in order to take over the Earth... damn, they're good.  They then say, "Ehh, Green Lantern'll take care of it..." and close off communications.

We jump ahead a few hours, and rejoin Tom as he's checking the validity of a new rumor... Green Lantern is selling duplicate power rings for a buck'a pop!  And, hey wouldja lookit that, he totally is!

After clearing out his inventory, Hal takes to the skies to perform some sky-writing.  This is all being observed by the Grolls, naturally... and they choose now to enact their final control measures over Green Lantern!

He is blasted by an energy bolt, after which he bathes the street... the city... the country, well, they whole dang planet in green energy!  This turns every human into "living automatons", and makes Earth ripe for the picking for the Grolls.

Upon arrival to their new digs, the Grolls request... er, demand an audience with Green Lantern, so they can order him to "off" himself with his own power ring... being under their control, Hal does just that!  Well, not really... he just turns himself invisible.  In his new unseen state, Hal focuses in on the power of all the duplicate rings he'd made and sold... so that he may combine them with his own and produce a super-amplified power beam!

The Grolls see what's up, and proceed to roll their blue energy cannon from their yellow spacecraft (too bad for them they didn't invert their color scheme!)  Hal melts the cannon down with the quickness... then sends the evil aliens on their merry way.  Tom saunters up thankful that his buddy was in control the entire time... and just playing along to catch (and, er, release) the alien would-be conquerors.  Hal says the aliens promised to play nice, so he spared their lives.  Hmm... first, I didn't know Hal ever killed... second, I'm guessing they retreated to their yellow spaceship, Hal knew he was powerless against them... and they just jammed out.

We wrap up with Hal explaining that in order to make himself immune to the Grolls cerebro-radiation he had to blast himself with large doses of his own power beam.  Ehh?  Really?  Then to "play safe" he made (and sold) the duplicate rings... and gave them a 24-hour charge.  Hmm... we'll talk more about that below.

Our second story begins with Hal bidding adeiu to Pi... Tom, as he's about to head home for his brother Jim's wedding.  Jim's the brother with the crazy fiancee/wife who is convinced he's (Jim) secretly Green Lantern... but we'll get there.  When he hits the burbs, his brothers (Jack is there too) inform him that the ceremony might have to be postponed!

They 'splain.  Apparently, a mad-scientist (extraordinaire) J. Charles Gantner has threatened far and wide (at least in this sleepy little hamlet) that if he is not given the lofty sum of one-million USD, he's going to wreck the town with lethal amounts of radiation.  Welp, that could put a crimp in their day.  To illustrate his power and intent, he will give a demonstration later that night!

The Jordan boys tune in the radio for some follow-up and learn that Gantner demands the cold-hard cash be dropped off over a "certain" canyon at midnight... well, that narrows it down.  Hal knows this is certainly a job for Green Lantern... luckily, he remembered to charge his ring!

The brothers Jordan chat a bit more... after all, not much Hal can do until midnight.  Jim Jordan decides this is a great time for a standing-in-the-living-room-shave, and pulls out his electric shaver.  Wouldn'cha know it, at that very moment Gantner decides to give his "demonstration"... suddenly all of the electrical appliances in town go crazy!

Next we shift over to... oh boy, Jim's fiancee Sue's hotel room.  She is a pip!  In the face of atomic disaster, she's more annoyed that her wedding is going to have to be postponed.  She's amazing!  When Hal and Jim arrive to check on her, she pulls Hal aside to talk about her fiance secretly being Green Lantern.  Hal, naturally, plays dumb.

We jump to midnight, and Green Lantern has arrived at a "certain" canyon... where he sees a... yellow helicopter, that flies through a... yellow fog!  Can't win for losin' today, Hal m'man.

He deduces that the scientist might just be hiding inside one of the canyon's mountainous peaks... and so, he tunnels his way in.  Turns out, he was right!  Too bad he gets kayoed before he can do much of anything.  That happened to poor Hal a lot back in the Silver Age.  Anyhoo, Gantner figures the dosh ain't coming... so he may as well get ready to irradiate the town.

Meanwhile, Jim and Sue are out driving... right by that "certain" canyon.  Sue is absolutely reaming Jim about his cowardice... after all, he's Green Lantern, right?  He should be doing something about this Gantner... think about their weddi-- er, town!  Think about the town!  Not wanting to hear it anymore, Jim meekly exits the car to have a look around... and somehow winds up riding a "will-hidden" mine-shaft elevator deep into the mount.

Now, here's where it gets weird...er.  Jim winds up in Gantner's lab facing off with the man himself.  He's actually facing off with the business end of Gantner's handy laser ray... which looks a bit like the one the Grolls had in the last story!  This is where Jim thinks... hey, maybe I can tap into my will power like Green Lantern and stop myself from being turned into a fine powder on the cave floor!  At that moment, Hal groggily wakes up... and blasts Gantner with his power beam.

Since Jim had his eyes closed... he actually believes that he kayoed the bad Doc with his own will power!  He drags Gantner's limp body out of the mountain... only strengthening Sue's case that he is, in actuality, Green Lantern!

The story (and issue) ends with the ceremony... in which Sue looks like the smuggest bride I'd ever seen, and the start of their marital bliss... which is, as you might imagine, rather heavy on Green Lantern accusations.

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Man, I'm really starting to fall in love with Silver-Age DC... not something I thought I'd ever say!  To a younger (leaner) Chris, Silver-Age DC was full of silly, disposable, and interchangeable little stories... and, while that's not entirely untrue... I'm coming to find that there is a place for 'em in my heart.  Had a whole lot of fun with both of these wacky stories.

Before we hop into 'em, there's something I noticed... there were a lot of editorial footnotes throughout this issue.  I guess when "continuity" only extends to a single book's three-year history... it's easy to keep track of and cite things.  Interestingly enough, the footnotes wouldn't cite the issues by number, but instead by release date... Such as: "Editor's Note: District Attorney Jack Jordan was first introduced to readers in 'Green Lanterns' Brother Act!'--in the December, 1961 issue of Green Lantern!"  So weird!  Guess it wasn't until collectors came along that issue numbers mattered all that much.

One more thing before hitting the stories... I can't help but think of this cover as something of a missed opportunity... for the deluge of rings DC was selling during Blackest Night!  I mean, picture a (American) fumetti-style ads with Dan Didio or Geoff Johns shilling the rings of the emotional spectrum!  Or, maybe an homage with Black Hand selling 'em... I think that would've been a lot of fun.

Okay, into the stories... insane, but fun!  I mean, we've got Tom Kalamaku scheduling a doctor appointment for Hal... who, though acting wildly erratic, sits still and allows himself to be examined for a freakin' hour.  Just so weird.

Let's also discuss Hal "playing safe" for a sec.  To throw the baddies off the scent, and to give him some power he can draw from later... Hal makes (and sells) a bunch of duplicate power rings... with a 24 hour charge.  Okay.  Now, d'ya think any of those poor dopes knew that 24 hours later they'd best not be flying?  Prob'ly not.  Also, did Hal keep all that cash?  Gotta figure he made a cool 30 bucks there.  Funny things to consider... things that we're obviously not supposed to think about critically, but whattayagonnado?  I mean, we could also look at the potential for disaster temporarily mentally enslaving the Earth's entire population may bring... buuuuuut, we won't.

His explanation of blocking the Groll-control by bombarding himself with his own energy blasts... I know I'm using the word "weird" a lot, but... c'mon.

Onto the second story.  Dr. Gantner... buddy, for a mad-scientists with delusions of becoming a millionaire... why would you threaten some little hamlet?  I mean, Coast City isn't that far a drive... and there're millions of people there!  Yeah, yeah... another thing we're not supposed to think about...

Let's chat a bit about Hal's new sister-in-law, Sue.  What a crazy fun character she is!  I really dig the storytelling here... she's convinced that Jim Jordan is actually Green Lantern, and there isn't a whole lot to do to convince her that she's wrong.  In fact, every time he does try... he only winds up strengthening her case!  I had a lot of fun with this second story... probably dug it even more than the opener!

Overall, this is a great early Green Lantern issue, which has been reprinted a number of times and shouldn't be difficult to come across if you are interested.  www.comics.org has a great listing of where you can find it:

I am rather surprised that it has not yet been made available digitally!  I'd make a snarky remark about a CW superhero show or DC film here... but I can't think of any!  Any way you can find it, this one's certainly worth checking out!

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