Adventure Comics # 256, January, 1959

Here we have the January, 1959 issue. I was born in January of 1959! But remember, this was on the stands in November as evidenced by a Christmas Daisy ad. Note the major use of the word "dragnet" for SUPERBOY, undoubtedly to bring to mind the popular long-running radio and by then TV series with Jack Webb.

Titano wasn't really one of the great Superman antagonists but he was and is definitely fondly remembered despite being a blatant King Kong rip-off with Kryptonite vision.

Here's Kirby's oft-reprinted origin for the Green Arrow, aided and abetted by wife Roz on some of the inking and backgrounds.

Adventure Comics # 255, December, 1958

The dinosaur ad on the inside front cover is yet another sign of the popularity of giant monsters in movies. The popularity of Daisy guns as we head up to Christmas of '58 is seen in not one but two separate ads for them at the back of the book.

Once one of the most popular comic books of all, BLACKHAWK's moment had probably passed by the time DC picked up the title from the now defunct Quality Comics. It limped along for another few years before the company tried a modernization. In the end, DC's version survived until the end of the sixties and has been revived about once every decade since in one form or another. 

Letter writers suggest that Aquaman needs a young sidekick. Hmmm...

Adventure Comics # 254, November, 1958

This issue offers up the first ADVENTURE letters pag. Although a few DC editors would hold out as late as the mid-sixties, most of the company's titles were publishing fan letters by the end of this decade. 

THE big hit of the sci-fi era at DC was the latecomer, ADAM STRANGE. The fan-favorite would never actually get his own title in the Silver Age but would appear steadily for the first half and in reprints and guest appearances at the end of the following decade.

Kirby! Don't ask. Just read it!

Adventure Comics # 253, October, 1958

More wacky sci-fi from Kirby fro GA and Speedy and Aquaman is still treading water while we await the arrival of Aqualad. Superboy, this time, however, gets a fun crossover--rare at DC in this era--with his fellow teenage hero, Robin, from the future!

Adventure Comics # 252, September, 1958

 

A very sixties looking Swan cover here as the Boy of Steel uses his power of super-levitation(?).

                                                           Bizarro--foreshadowing.

Kirby's imagination spills over and GA gets a two-parter here!