Adventure Comics # 71, February, 1942

 More great Burnley STARMAN inside and out this issue.

 Henry Boltinoff's JERRY THE JITTERBUG would also continue to appear for a couple of decades, long past the point where jitterbugging had become nostalgia.

 The new titles were coming fast and furious now. Although not yet officially separated into DC and AA (for All-American), the new title, LEADING COMICS, was packed with heroes from the DC titles such as ACTION, ADVENTURE, STAR-SPANGLED and DETECTIVE (as opposed to the JSA being nearly entirely the AA heroes).

 Hourman's young sidekick gets his own mini-me costume here.

Somehow there was no ad touting it in the previous issue of ADVENTURE, but WONDER WOMAN, the creation of DC's newest advisory board member William Marston, debuted in SENSATION COMICS. Although she would become a feminist icon and a sex symbol to boys everywhere in the seventies, the original character was designed to reflect Marston's controversial theories of submissivenes and the woman's place in society.

 Sandman and Sandy still chugging along in their capes.

Adventure Comics # 70. January, 1942

This issue, although dated january of 1942, was most like;y on the stands in November of 1941. America was not yet at war but it was looking inevitable to many observers. Arguably to MOST observers.

When we think of Hourman, we think of his pullover hood, unique in a world of form-fitting masks. Well, with this issue the little-remembered mask era of the strip begins. From this point on, until the sixties revival anyway, the hood is gone.

Again we see an ad for PRIZE COMICS, a title NOT published by DC. What was the connection? Note also Superman's Secret Message. The Superman secret code concept was still being mentioned in DC's sixties letters to fans who wrote in to the letters pages of the comics. 

Ed Moore's PAUL KIRK, MANHUNTER continues to offer a minimalist artstyle but an impressive one it is. It will be going away soon.

Here's the second SANDMAN with Sandy tale by Norris and Chad, this one a good one with a literary background. As of yet, though, the characters bear no resemblance whatsoever to either the original Sandman nor the upcoming Simon and Kirby versions. 

Adventure Comics # 69, December, 1941

Jack Burnley's STARMAN cover looks almost like a woodcut here. Although a tad stiff, it's an impressive scene all around.

The beloved Dionne Quintuplets in one of their many "endorsements" arranged by their doctor and others. The sad, sad truth about these girls is that they were exploited throughout their entire childhoods by those who should have been protecting them, particularly Dr. Dafoe who became as famous as they did.

Here we see the basic Advisory Board, all in one place and giving a de facto approval to the various DC COmics titles listed below.

 As you've seen, the usual suspects are all here. Binging up the rear, however, was something the redaers didn't see coming...

This month's Sandman story offers the character in a rather sudden and radical transformation. Suddenly, he's a superhero. Not only that but he more or less wears the yellow and purple costume and cape worn by THE TARANTULA who just debuted in STAR-SPANGLED COMICS a  couple months before. The biggest change, however, is when he coincidentally runs into a young lad wearing his own version of the Sandman costume...and his name, is of course, Sandy.

Contrary to popular belief, this big switcheroo from the pulp-influenced, gasmasked, gangster-hunting hero of ADVENTURE had absolutely nothing to do with Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Although that legendary pair was only a few issues from taking up residence on the strip, this was the work of fuure AQUAMAN creator Paul Norris, inked by FEDERL MEN's Chad Grothkopf. Norris, according to GCD, was told to draw it "like Bob Kane."

Adventure Comics # 68, November, 1941

This month addresses new additions to the new Editorial Advisory Board including one William Moulton Marston, an eccentric and fascinating man who might be said to have an ulterior motive to getting an "in" at DC as he would soon create his own superhero(ine) to promote his unusual beliefs.

I still would like to know what these Superman "films" were for the Krypto Ray Gun. Note also, Daisy's mascot, Red Ryder, who makes the first of three appearances in this issue here.

Speaking of Superman films, though, this issue also highlights this ad for the Fleischer/Paramount cartoons starring the Man of Steel.

Red Ryder appearance # 2

Red Ryder appearance # 3