Adventure Comics # 211, April, 1955

Code or not Code, it's pretty much back to business as usual as Superboy dreams of Superman and his troubles with both Lana and Lois. Meanwhile, Aquaman and Green Arrow (with Speedy) continue apace--entertaining but nothing really all that special.

Adventure Comics # 210, March, 1955

Here we are--the very first issue of ADVENTURE under the then-newly inaugurated Comics Code. The title had been so bland--entertaining, mind you, but bland--for so long I can't imagine any problems cropped up this month or anytime soon. 

This was also the very first appearance of Krypto, the Super Dog from Krypton who here joins Mort Weisinger's growing Superman Family for a good long run.

Adventure Comics # 209, February, 1955

One of the few Superboy covers of ADVENTURE where the Boy of Steel technically doesn't even appear. This is also the final issue before the Comics Code kicks in. Although there's no mention in the stories, one can tell by the Christmas ad and PSA that this came out at the end of 1954.

Wait a sec. Aquaman is here and so is Green Arrow...again. This was when it must have finally set in with fans that the rotation was over. Johnny Quick had made a valiant effort, outlasting most of DC's other superheroes but was finally retired. Oddly enough, it would be less than two years later when DC began its revival of superheroes with yet another speedster--the Flash.

This issue's GA story tells the origin of sidekick Speedy. Well...AN origin. Like GA himself, he has had a number of variations on an origin over the years. I believe this was the first one.

Adventure Comics # 208, January, 1955

On the cover at least, we've reached yet another new year. By this point television is all the rage as evidenced by not only the HOWDY DOODY ad but also the increased merchandising of SUPERMAN in the wake of the TV show. With just three stories, pickings are starting to seem a little sparse. Note, though, that we're closing in on the point where DC starts reviving the super heroes with the new FLASH. It's often cited that only WONDER WOAN, BATMAN (and Robin) and SUPERMAN survived straight through. But we know better, don't we? AQUAMAN and GREEN ARROW (along with Speedy) have been here for ages already and aren't going anywhere at all as we move into the Silver Age.

Adventure Comics # 207, December, 1954

Superboy helps the Smallville team to cheat on this month's cover. That sort of thing won't be allowed in a few months when the Code comes in.

Johnny Quick is still with us and this time it's Aquaman who's missing.

Green Arrow was so thrilled at being back that he broke out his red cap!