The Atom And Hawkman #44
"Hate Is Where You Find It!"
August - September, 1969
Story: Denny O'Neil
Art: Dick Dillin & Sid Greene
As Professor Heinrich Von Rilk peers into the electron-microscope at Ivy
Town University, he sees a most unearthly sight, and is moved to overload
the equipment before the subatomic alien can make its presence felt.
FVOOOOM
The aftermath of the professor's actions will soon involve... the Atom in
a search for a threat which may or may not exist. The Mighty Mite will
learn... "Hate Is Where You Find It!" Whenever the Atom is in need of a
sparring partner, he heads for the microscopic world, and does battle
with "Clyde." The creature does not feel pain, is mindless, and is eager
for a battle. WHOMP In this way, the Mighty Mite maintains his fighting
form.
Even in such a state, the Atom can feel the vibrations coming from Ivy
University, and knows that an explosion has just taken place. After
enlarging himself, he sees that the facilities are deserted, and the
university's multimillion dollar electron-microscope is now so much junk.
Hearing some shouting, the Mighty Mite rides an air current, and sees
that two students are accosting Professor Von Rilk. When the Atom tells
them to stop, they are eager to get their hands on him, too.
YARRG! FZOK One student takes it on the chin, while the other fails to
reach the Tiny Titan. OWWWWWWWWW The Atom gives him an earful and
compliments the other student on his soprano. They explain that with the
university laboratory in ruins, and upon seeing the Professor making his
way from the scene, it was obviously an act of sabotage. The Mighty Mite
points out that Von Rilk had left Germany when the nazis came to power,
and he is no traitor.
With World War II long over, the Atom tells the students that an accent
doesn't make a person the enemy, and if they think so... they are nothing
more than mindless bigots. After taking Professor Von Rilk to the
authorities, the Mighty Mite becomes Ray Palmer, and contacts his fiancee
about what's happened. After listening to the physics instructor, they
speak with the professor, and learn that he did blow up the laboratory.
This was done because Professor Heinrich Von Rilk was scared, and ever
since his own family were taken away by the storm troopers, he has been
frightened by strangers. The professor had been looking through the
microscope when he saw a creature becoming larger in size... like the
Atom -- but not like the Atom. In his panic, the professor shorted out
the delicate equipment, in hopes of destroying it.
When Ray asks what it was about the microscopic creature that made the
professor think it was a threat, Von Rilk is unable to overcome his fear.
Now dining in a cafe, the physicist instructor asks his fiancee if she
can defend the professor. Jean is unsure if she can, but the lawyer can
only feel sorry for the poor man. One of the students has brought his
father to the cafe, and points out to the old man the one who will defend
the Nazi. The old man fancies himself an important man in Ivy Town --
and will ruin Jean Loring if she goes into court for Von Rilk. Her
attention is on her fiancee, who has suddenly decided that the air has
gotten very bad. As he leaves, the physicist puts his best foot forward,
and trips the older man into landing on his own importance. FWMOP When
the maitre'd asks what's just happened, a smiling Ray Palmer says that
they had gotten off on the wrong foot.
Back at the lab, the physics instructor goes over what he knows about
Professor Von Rilk. If there's any way to get to the bottom of the
matter, it's up to the Atom. Now at the limit of his size-changing
powers, the Mighty Mite can feel the size-controls in his gloves
vibrating -- and sees that someone's just fired a beam towards him. The
near-miss has left him partially stunned. Having found the source of the
cosmic radiations has come to him, Ag is pleased, and the Atom doesn't
know what to make of his assailant.
As the vanguard for an invading army, Ag has been tracking the cosmic
radiations, and knows that his race will have need of it -- if they are
to reach the outer universe. The Mighty Mite realizes that the alien is
referring to the energy of his size-controls. It was by their use that
Ag was heading for Ivy University. With the source of the radiation in
his grasp, Ag's race can now begin the invasion. As the alien takes his
gloves and belt, the Atom finds that he's able to move. A judo throw
catches Ag off-balance, but he is far from being disarmed.
Since the alien is not in a forgiving mood, the Tiny Titan kicks the gun
from his grasp. Ag seeks to shove him aside, but the Mighty Mite grabs
ahold of the heel, and is slapped in the face by his own size-controls
for the effort. The alien has reaches his craft and is about to run the
Atom down into electrons.
Some snappy timing and amazing moves soon has the hero jumping into the
driver's seat. Ag takes it on the chin and soon knuckles under. After
re calibrating the craft, Ag should be returned to his own universe, and
the Atom will be adjusting his size-controls to another frequency. The
alien will be unlikely to be making any more frequent visits.
Professor Von Rilk has been correct. The alien had been a threat... as
much a threat as the two students had thought the professor was. The
Atom is now on his way to testify on the behalf of Professor Heinrich Von
Rilk. Thanks to his testimony, the judge agrees that the professor
should be commended for his actions, and the case is dismissed. One
angry man present remains unconvinced and considers the Professor to be a
traitor. Heinrich Von Rilk can only wonder why... why do they hate?
Unfortunately, Jean Loring and the Atom know that hate is where you find
it... and there are some who find it everywhere.
There are some sights which may prove to be too much for mortal man, and
the sight of Ag driving his alien Edsel is one of them.
I wonder if "Clyde" had a spouse named "Bonnie."
The six-inch man landing on a guy's chin trick never grows old.
When the Atom disappears from the other student's fingers, we see his
face red with screaming, and learn that the Mighty Mite had been tugging
on the boy's ear. The "soprano" comment had me thinking that the JLAer
decided not to play it by ear.
With the laboratory in ruins and the professor being of German descent,
the two brain trusts decided to do their patriotic duty against a
suspicious saboteur.
As with the Atom, the two students need to have their heads shrunk, too.
The important man in the restaurant gets his kicks by trying to
intimidate Jean Loring, but thanks to Ray Palmer, he soon flops.
Ag is a submicroscopic alien with a sponge-like face and antennae, who
wears a purple insulated suit, with white gloves and boots.
The alien is one to take off the gloves and deliver the belt with
satisfaction.
Thanks to Gardner Fox, Dick Dillin, and Sid Greene, we see Julius
Schwartz make a cameo as the judge presiding over Von Rilk's case.
Inside The Atom-Hawkman letters page, Bill Mantlo of Merrick, N.Y.
writes:
"Dear Editor:
At last a DC writer has acknowledged that a story can have its direct
roots in the current, or recent achievements in science-fiction! Denny
O'Neil deserves a big hand. The feat I am talking about came to pass in
#42 of The Atom and Hawkman, a magazine I had given up for lost.
In "When Gods Make Madness" Mr. O'Neil did a beautiful job of casting our
three heroes as Mahasamatan, Buddha, Binder of Demons, or just plain Sam.
He even saw to it that Roger Zelazny's name found its way into the strip
via the name of an airplane company. Even the plot, though
understandably simplified, resembled the war between Heaven and Earth,
the Heaven and Earth of Zelazny's "Lord of Light." Even if I did have
trouble recognizing the various gods the way Dillin drew them, the issue
did come on strong, with nary a loose end to be found. You've renewed my
faith in your magazine."
The Editor replies:
"Denny O'Neil readily admits he "uprooted" his "When Gods Make Madness"
out of the current science-fiction scene - even to acknowledging his debt
to science-fictioneer, Roger Zelazny. But Denny's effort, as much as it
was hailed by the first critic, was even more resoundly zapped by critic
number two."
Martin Pasko of Clifton, N.J. writes:
"Dear Editor:
We've seen science-fiction by Denny O'Neil, 007-type adventure by Denny
O'Neil, and even comedy by Denny O'Neil. It has all been, with few
exceptions, fairly well-written, fairly readable, and highly
entertaining. I usually have nothing but praise for the man, so it is
with heavy heart that I tell you how disappointed I was with "When Gods
Make Madness." Denny's tried out a new field: religious fantasy. that
sounds awful, I know, but no matter how you look at it, it's religious
fantasy.
In Atom-Hawkman #42, you ask me if I could have been "too hasty with (my)
snap judgment that Atom and Hawkman can't click as teammates." Whoa,
there, Dear Editor - methinks somebody's misinterpreting somebody
somewhere. Firstly, after giving serious thought to the matter for four
weeks, I arrived at my "snap judgment" (indeed!) before even reading
Atom-Hawkman #40. Secondly, I didn't say they can't click as teammates,
I said that they could, but it would require misinterpretation of the
characterizations of both super-heroes.
After reading O'Neil's team-up opus, I will not only reconsider, but I
will give my right arm to be allowed to say in print that my contentions
are even strengthened. I cannot see where you call O'Neil's "individual
brand of characterization" in the story - anywhere. In the past, he has
hoped that his freshness of plot and mastery of believable dialogue will
help the reader to overlook the lack of depth in characterization. To be
blunt, it has. The lack of character depth can probably be explained by
the theory that O'Neil has no time for characterization; his stories move
so fast, and the reader becomes so involved in them, that he doesn't look
for intense characterization... the plot's enough. But when the plot's
weak or less involved than usual, WHAMMO! All the defects come shining
through.
"When Gods Make Madness" helps prove what I've been saying about
character misrepresentation. Rather than give Hawkman a personality,
O'Neil tried to reduce Atom to Hawkman's level. This is a result of
O'Neil's penchant for allowing dialogue to be the only testament to a
character's personality that the reader can find. Idiosyncrasies,
preferences, and dislikes, habits, and the like are almost never used to
develop character, and certain actions, if peculiar to a character in one
sequence, never recur in order to find a recognizable pattern. You can't
tell the characters without the costumes in an O'Neil story. (If all
this sounds as though I've changed my tune a bit about Denny O'Neil, let
me say that I doubt that; there's still no plot like an O'Neil plot...
and accidents will happen.)"
The Editor replies:
"We go again with another Atom-Hawkman team-up in next issue's "Queen
Jean, Why Must We Die?" Let us know if Denny O'Neil's characterizations
are beginning to shape up - individually and winningly."
The story title for Atom-Hawkman #44 would return to haunt the Mighty
Mite in the present-day DC Universe.
Steve Chung
"Review Is Where You Find It!"
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Showing posts with label Atom and Hawkman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atom and Hawkman. Show all posts
The Atom And Hawkman #44: "The Ghost Laughs Last!"
The Atom And Hawkman #44
"The Ghost Laughs Last!"
August - September, 1969
Story: Robert Kanigher
Art: Murphy Anderson
The Thanagarian policeman has caught up with the highwayman from one
hundred and fifty years ago. Will he learn if the Gentleman Ghost is
supernatural? Or will the Ghost prove to be the spawn of science? On
the splash page, the feathered fury is confronted by five Ghosts, with
each one urging him on.
After using fluoroscopic beams on the ghostly quintet, Hawkman comes to
the conclusion that none of them is a real ghost. BLAM! BLANG! SOK
KRUNK WHUNK The Thanagarian lawman easily evades the bullets, then uses
his fists and feet to make short work of the gang.
HA HA HA The costumed bandits have been caught, but their leader makes a
break for the window. CRRRASH! Hawkman reaches for the fleeing figure,
snaring a monocle, with a taunting message on its miniature tape
recorder. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA The Gentleman Ghost is racing down on
telephone wires, then ducks into an office.
TAP TAP TAP TAP After entering through the office window, the
Thanagarian lawman sees that the room is filled with typists, and the
Ghost must have made his getaway. As he leaves in anger, Hawkman fails
to notice that one of the office typists is laughing, and does not have a
face. The next stop for the Gentleman Ghost is at a mod shop, where a
handsome pair of gloves catches his eye. As he makes his purchase, the
Ghost is complimented on his unique attire by the clerk, and two mods eye
his fancy threads.
On the streets of Paris, ordinary citizens shrink in fear from the
walking phantom in their midst. A woman stumbles into his path, and he
sees that she is blind. Her sensitive fingers trace over the Ghost's
invisible features. Since the woman is the only one who hasn't shunned
him, the Gentleman Ghost decides to take her for dinner at Le Figaro.
Learning that the restaurant is closed, the Ghost uses his power to
provide some animated entertainment for his companion. Zita the
Fortune-Teller never dreamt that she would ever meet such a wonderful
man.
Now in her parlor, the Gentleman Ghost peers into the fortune-teller's
crystal ball, and sees a sight from one hundred and fifty years ago.
Gentleman Jim Craddock is about to be hanged... The condemned highwayman
vows to return to steal their valuables, just as the trap door is sprung.
Instead of dying, he falls through a rift in time, and arrives in the
present as a ghost.
Now it is Hawkman who appears in the crystal ball, the man who has vowed
to catch the Gentleman Ghost. Unconcerned about this, the Ghost asks
about a way for curing Zita's blindness. A rare jewel, such as a
diamond, a pearl, a ruby, or an emerald is needed. By shining its rays
into her eyes, the fortune teller's sight would be restored. The
Gentleman Ghost gives his word that he will find the jewel, and give Zita
her eyesight back. Katar Hol and Shayera Thal are in a hotel room, with
Shiera reading about the Ghost's promise to steal the Empress Ra-Na's
emerald necklace from the Egyptian exhibit at the Louvre. Carter insists
to his wife that there's no such things as ghosts, just a criminal
pretending to be one. Now in their identities of Hawkman and Hawkgirl,
the Thanagarian policeman is in no mood to hear about the Ghost.
At the ancient Egyptian exhibit, two guards relish the chance to catch
the Ghost, but are knocked out by the fumes from the mummy case. Six
hoods are making their way upstairs, when two Viking statues shatter, and
reveal the Hawks in disguise. As they flap their wings, the gang are
determined to clip them with their guns.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl make fast work in taking down the criminals, but
their leader hasn't made an appearance. CREEEAK One of the mummy cases
opens, and the Gentleman Ghost makes his escape with the emerald
necklace.
As the feathered fury makes his way into the next hall, he sees a row of
mummies, and hears the Ghost's voice mocking him from each bandaged form.
Green rays are shone in the eyes of Zita, but this is not the rare gem
which will restore her sight. Although Zita is ready to admit defeat,
the Gentleman Ghost vows to continue the search. Carter and Shiera are
back in their hotel room, with her reading about the fire ruby to be on
display at the Paris high-fashion show, and him making plans.
The following day finds the models at the Maison Malmon wearing
everything from bikinis to furs, but the fire ruby is all the Ghost wants
to see. As they remove their furs, Hawkman tells Hawkgirl to stay for
the show, and he chases after the laughing fiend. Now in the storeroom,
the Thanagarian lawman takes out his frustrations on the mocking
mannequins in his path. The Gentleman Ghost is delighted to see that
Hawkman is at his wit's end, as he makes his way down to the cellar.
SPLISH SPLOSH Diving through the opening, the feathered fury finds
himself in the Paris sewers, and the Gentleman Ghost sure to be caught
now. Soon, the Ghost cries out for help, and Hawkman reaches out for
whimpering wraith. Dreams of having Shayera not mentioning the Ghost are
soon shattered when the shrieking phantom's arm comes off in his grip.
Before it can sink from sight, the Thanagarian policeman grabs ahold of
the Gentleman Ghost's hat, and a promise from its owner that they'll be
meeting again. Now it is the rays from the fire ruby which shine on
Zita's eyes, but the Ghost wonders if he has failed again.
To his surprise, the fortune teller embraces him, and tells the haunted
highwayman that she can see him for the first time ever. Knowing that
Zita is grateful for now, the ghost of Jim Craddock can only wonder how
long she could love a man without a face. When he has found his physical
remains, the Gentleman Ghost will return to her. The fortune teller
waves to her benefactor, and what expression is on his face is his own
secret. As they fly through the sky, Hawkgirl asks her husband about the
existence of ghosts, and the feathered fury tells his wife to keep her
mind on flying.
On the cover of The Atom And Hawkman by Joe Kubert, the Gentleman Ghost
tells a struggling Hawkman that the tomb will be his home for the next
thousand years.
The Ghost gives the Thanagarian lawman a fighting chance, but has him
outnumbered five-to-one.
Thanks to a device from his home planet, Hawkman is able to short sheet
the gun-toting hoods.
If he's a ghost, then why did he go crashing through a window? Did he
want his nemesis to wonder about his true nature, or did he not want to
let go of the loot?
In the office filled with typists, Julie Schwartz is seen going over
artwork with Murphy Anderson.
He may be a faceless phantom, but the Gentleman Ghost knows how to show a
date a night on the town.
The Hawks's position as the Mulder and Scully of the Silver Age is still
firm.
As they fight against the armed hoods, Hawkman and Hawkgirl manage to
punch out their respective opponents at the same time, and in the same
exact fighting pose.
I don't know why the feathered fury didn't want his wife and partner
aiding in the capture of the Gentleman Ghost. Was this an ego thing on
Katar's part?
It's far from a "sewer" thing when Hawkman finally gets his hands on the
unarmed Ghost, and "hat's all, folks!"
The Ghost has found someone who loves him for himself, but until he has
come to terms with his new existence, the reunion will have to wait.
Shayera shows that she has an open mind when it comes to ghosts, but
Katar would rather be doing something else.
Steve Chung
"The Ghost Reviews Last!"
"The Ghost Laughs Last!"
August - September, 1969
Story: Robert Kanigher
Art: Murphy Anderson
The Thanagarian policeman has caught up with the highwayman from one
hundred and fifty years ago. Will he learn if the Gentleman Ghost is
supernatural? Or will the Ghost prove to be the spawn of science? On
the splash page, the feathered fury is confronted by five Ghosts, with
each one urging him on.
After using fluoroscopic beams on the ghostly quintet, Hawkman comes to
the conclusion that none of them is a real ghost. BLAM! BLANG! SOK
KRUNK WHUNK The Thanagarian lawman easily evades the bullets, then uses
his fists and feet to make short work of the gang.
HA HA HA The costumed bandits have been caught, but their leader makes a
break for the window. CRRRASH! Hawkman reaches for the fleeing figure,
snaring a monocle, with a taunting message on its miniature tape
recorder. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA The Gentleman Ghost is racing down on
telephone wires, then ducks into an office.
TAP TAP TAP TAP After entering through the office window, the
Thanagarian lawman sees that the room is filled with typists, and the
Ghost must have made his getaway. As he leaves in anger, Hawkman fails
to notice that one of the office typists is laughing, and does not have a
face. The next stop for the Gentleman Ghost is at a mod shop, where a
handsome pair of gloves catches his eye. As he makes his purchase, the
Ghost is complimented on his unique attire by the clerk, and two mods eye
his fancy threads.
On the streets of Paris, ordinary citizens shrink in fear from the
walking phantom in their midst. A woman stumbles into his path, and he
sees that she is blind. Her sensitive fingers trace over the Ghost's
invisible features. Since the woman is the only one who hasn't shunned
him, the Gentleman Ghost decides to take her for dinner at Le Figaro.
Learning that the restaurant is closed, the Ghost uses his power to
provide some animated entertainment for his companion. Zita the
Fortune-Teller never dreamt that she would ever meet such a wonderful
man.
Now in her parlor, the Gentleman Ghost peers into the fortune-teller's
crystal ball, and sees a sight from one hundred and fifty years ago.
Gentleman Jim Craddock is about to be hanged... The condemned highwayman
vows to return to steal their valuables, just as the trap door is sprung.
Instead of dying, he falls through a rift in time, and arrives in the
present as a ghost.
Now it is Hawkman who appears in the crystal ball, the man who has vowed
to catch the Gentleman Ghost. Unconcerned about this, the Ghost asks
about a way for curing Zita's blindness. A rare jewel, such as a
diamond, a pearl, a ruby, or an emerald is needed. By shining its rays
into her eyes, the fortune teller's sight would be restored. The
Gentleman Ghost gives his word that he will find the jewel, and give Zita
her eyesight back. Katar Hol and Shayera Thal are in a hotel room, with
Shiera reading about the Ghost's promise to steal the Empress Ra-Na's
emerald necklace from the Egyptian exhibit at the Louvre. Carter insists
to his wife that there's no such things as ghosts, just a criminal
pretending to be one. Now in their identities of Hawkman and Hawkgirl,
the Thanagarian policeman is in no mood to hear about the Ghost.
At the ancient Egyptian exhibit, two guards relish the chance to catch
the Ghost, but are knocked out by the fumes from the mummy case. Six
hoods are making their way upstairs, when two Viking statues shatter, and
reveal the Hawks in disguise. As they flap their wings, the gang are
determined to clip them with their guns.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl make fast work in taking down the criminals, but
their leader hasn't made an appearance. CREEEAK One of the mummy cases
opens, and the Gentleman Ghost makes his escape with the emerald
necklace.
As the feathered fury makes his way into the next hall, he sees a row of
mummies, and hears the Ghost's voice mocking him from each bandaged form.
Green rays are shone in the eyes of Zita, but this is not the rare gem
which will restore her sight. Although Zita is ready to admit defeat,
the Gentleman Ghost vows to continue the search. Carter and Shiera are
back in their hotel room, with her reading about the fire ruby to be on
display at the Paris high-fashion show, and him making plans.
The following day finds the models at the Maison Malmon wearing
everything from bikinis to furs, but the fire ruby is all the Ghost wants
to see. As they remove their furs, Hawkman tells Hawkgirl to stay for
the show, and he chases after the laughing fiend. Now in the storeroom,
the Thanagarian lawman takes out his frustrations on the mocking
mannequins in his path. The Gentleman Ghost is delighted to see that
Hawkman is at his wit's end, as he makes his way down to the cellar.
SPLISH SPLOSH Diving through the opening, the feathered fury finds
himself in the Paris sewers, and the Gentleman Ghost sure to be caught
now. Soon, the Ghost cries out for help, and Hawkman reaches out for
whimpering wraith. Dreams of having Shayera not mentioning the Ghost are
soon shattered when the shrieking phantom's arm comes off in his grip.
Before it can sink from sight, the Thanagarian policeman grabs ahold of
the Gentleman Ghost's hat, and a promise from its owner that they'll be
meeting again. Now it is the rays from the fire ruby which shine on
Zita's eyes, but the Ghost wonders if he has failed again.
To his surprise, the fortune teller embraces him, and tells the haunted
highwayman that she can see him for the first time ever. Knowing that
Zita is grateful for now, the ghost of Jim Craddock can only wonder how
long she could love a man without a face. When he has found his physical
remains, the Gentleman Ghost will return to her. The fortune teller
waves to her benefactor, and what expression is on his face is his own
secret. As they fly through the sky, Hawkgirl asks her husband about the
existence of ghosts, and the feathered fury tells his wife to keep her
mind on flying.
On the cover of The Atom And Hawkman by Joe Kubert, the Gentleman Ghost
tells a struggling Hawkman that the tomb will be his home for the next
thousand years.
The Ghost gives the Thanagarian lawman a fighting chance, but has him
outnumbered five-to-one.
Thanks to a device from his home planet, Hawkman is able to short sheet
the gun-toting hoods.
If he's a ghost, then why did he go crashing through a window? Did he
want his nemesis to wonder about his true nature, or did he not want to
let go of the loot?
In the office filled with typists, Julie Schwartz is seen going over
artwork with Murphy Anderson.
He may be a faceless phantom, but the Gentleman Ghost knows how to show a
date a night on the town.
The Hawks's position as the Mulder and Scully of the Silver Age is still
firm.
As they fight against the armed hoods, Hawkman and Hawkgirl manage to
punch out their respective opponents at the same time, and in the same
exact fighting pose.
I don't know why the feathered fury didn't want his wife and partner
aiding in the capture of the Gentleman Ghost. Was this an ego thing on
Katar's part?
It's far from a "sewer" thing when Hawkman finally gets his hands on the
unarmed Ghost, and "hat's all, folks!"
The Ghost has found someone who loves him for himself, but until he has
come to terms with his new existence, the reunion will have to wait.
Shayera shows that she has an open mind when it comes to ghosts, but
Katar would rather be doing something else.
Steve Chung
"The Ghost Reviews Last!"
The Atom And Hawkman #43: "Buzzin', Buzzin' -- Who's Got The Buzzin'?"
The Atom And Hawkman #43
"Buzzin', Buzzin' -- Who's Got The Buzzin'?"
June - July, 1969
Story: Denny O'Neil
Art: Dick Dillin & Sid Greene
Within the faculty room at Ivy Town University, Ray Palmer is going over
his figures regarding the energy-ratio of brain-electricity with that of
the Earth's magnetic field, but one of the professors sees his findings
as science fiction... not science fact. When the assistant professor
tries to get on with his demonstration, Professor Horace McByrd sees all
of this as a bluff for a promotion. Ray tries to keep his temper, but
points out that McByrd hasn't seen a good idea in twenty years. As head
of the department, the professor doesn't take this too kindly, and is
reined in by a fellow professor. McByrd consents to listen to more of
Ray Palmer's daydreams.
ZZZZ ZZZZZZZ The assistant professor is suddenly unable to recall what
he was going to say, and is dismissed. Minutes pass, with Ray Palmer
angered by being made a fool of, and wanting to get rid of this sudden
mood. He wants a fight, but as a super-hero, and not a teacher. The
invisible controls in the palms of his hands are touched, and the
assistant professor begins to shrink down... down... and becomes the
Atom. The Mighty Mite must learn... "Buzzin', Buzzin' -- Who's Got The
Buzzin'?"
Now in a sub-atomic world with many monsters for company, the Atom is
ready for some sparring. He pretends that the tentacled terror before
him is McByrd, even though it's far better-looking. FWONK His
frustrations are soon gone after delivering some blows to "Clyde." KLOP
Since it has no pain center, the creature is completely unharmed, and the
Mighty Mite gets his exercise.
With the fight over, the Atom tries to recall the equations, and finds
that he remembers them clearly. He wonders how his costumed alter-ego
can remember while the assistant professor couldn't. Since his "atomic"
brain is now compressed, his memory loss grows as he changes size. The
Atom remembers hearing a buzzing sound right before the memory loss
occurred. In the month of December, flying insects are scarce in Ivy
Town. Now back in his office, the Mighty Mite sees that someone's trying
to get at Ray Palmer's research notes.
In order to keep up appearance, it is the assistant professor who
confronts his visitor. Hap Coogan says that he wants to find the
evidence which will prove that Ray Palmer is a traitor. When he starts
to ask the University's star pass-receiver what he meant, KWOMP... he is
shoved backwards into the filing cabinet. Although he could turn to the
Atom, Ray decides to show the football player some judo from his college
days.
Hap Coogan is soon swept off his feet, and is asked by the assistant
professor about his accusation. The football player believes that Ray
Palmer is working for an enemy government, and works at Ivy Town
University in order to steal atomic secrets. The papers which Hap
considers to be the proof are nothing more than some of Ray's own
theories on paper.
BZZZZ ZZZZZZZ As Hap starts to tell him the identity of his accuser, he
hears the buzzing sound, and loses his memory. When he asks the
assistant professor what he's doing in his office, Ray tells him that he
just came to say hi. The football player smiles and says that he hopes
to see him at Saturday's game. Someone had sent Coogan to take his
research papers, but Ray does know that the buzzing device is the work of
a keen intelligence. BZZZZZZZ Before he can succumb to the buzzing
sound, the assistant professor changes his size, and the Mighty Mite
disappears from view.
The Atom rides on an updraft, where he gets a closer look at the
radio-controlled machine. The physicist sees this as a fine example of
applied miniaturization at work. With the buzzer returning to its roost,
the Mighty Mite hitches a ride on its broadcast antenna. The sphere
makes its way across the campus -- to a cottage nearby, and a place which
is very familiar to Ray Palmer. Professor McByrd is surprised to see
that the Atom has come along for a ride to his humble home.
When he confronts the professor about the amnesia-inducing spheres,
McByrd refuses to sing at first, but admits that he made them as a way to
stop Ray Palmer. He felt that his position and reputation at the
university was threatened. Horace McByrd is no longer a young man, and
he knows that he may not be the scientist that the younger generation
are. Having seen the intricate detail of the sphere, the Mighty Mite
doesn't see what the professor is worried about. McByrd admits that they
are the result of one of Ray Palmer's many theories. As the Atom
recognizes his own electro-field theory, the professor turns a dial.
FWAMP BZZZZZZZ The buzzer has been activated, pinning the Mighty Mite
to the table, and about to crush him like a bug.
BZZZZZ THUP Professor McByrd uses a pair of tweezers to lift up his
device, but has lost sight of the Tiny Titan. The Atom has shrunk in
size, and has hidden himself in the table's wood grain. The buzzer's
barrage was too close for comfort, but the Mighty Mite owes his colleague
a tap on the chin.
Before he is turned over to the authorities, Horace McByrd is told how he
has been a paranoid, and not recognizing his own achievements. Although
he is not much of a researcher, the professor is more of a technician,
and applied Ray Palmer's theory to the test. With his skill, brains, and
ingenuity, the spheres became a reality. As he is lead to the door by
the Atom, Professor McByrd hopes that he'll be able to make something out
of his life, after he has served his time.
University life is filled with as much excitement as the stories which
take place in Metropolis and Gotham City.
Denny O'Neil has Ray Palmer, assistant professor and Horace McByrd,
professor participating in the generation gap.
In this story, Ray catches the buzz, and loses some of his memories. For
the assistant professor, nothing made sense, and in the next three
decades, this would continue to be the case.
The Atom is seen as a release for Ray Palmer's frustrations, and his
size-changing powers provide the entry into sub-atomic worlds unseen by
mankind.
Inside The Atom - Hawkman Letters Page, Klaus Janson of Bridgeport, Conn
writes:
"Dear Editor,
Man, Mr. Schwartz, are you rotten through and through! Today is Monday
and all my tests, quizzes, and reports have been returned to me from the
past week, and I have nothing to release my sadistic emotions on.
Atom/Hawkman #41 had very little to pick on, so I must inhibit my
emotions and perhaps sleep on them. That is why I say you're mean,
really, really mean... sir.
For the first time in Schwartz-editing history (or as long back as I
recall) you offer us a divided cover. Not only is this the rarest of DC
covers, but they also usually turn out completely... er... bad. But
seriously and honestly communicating here, this cover is the first
divided one I liked! I'm pretty sure it's because there was no white
panel line down the middle, and the fact that each scene was at different
angles. This made them each particular scenes in themselves, yet sorta
incorporated them into one big cover.
Strangely enough, whenever I write to A/H, I can never force myself to
write anything about The Atom. It seems as though the stories
continually fall flat on their faces and just do not have enough pep to
interest me. I promised myself I would read the entire Atom adventure in
this issue, but after about page 7 of "Return of the 7-Year Dead Man", I
just glanced through it. Art is not so much of a problem as stories.
Dick Dillin is certainly a good-enough penciller, but I think Sid Greene
should be replaced by someone who doesn't have so much of a "neat" style.
Hawkman has no difficulties at all. It's superbly drawn, wonderfully
inked and greatly scripted. I still think with a Fox/Kubert/Anderson
combination, Hawkman would surprise everyone at DC with sales (well, if
they go down, they'll still surprise everyone no....?)."
The Editor replies:
"(When you called us "mean", you don't realize how much you mean it! The
art-change on Atom that you pumped for, hasn't materialized; but the
highly acclaimed team on Hawkman has undergone a change! Incidentally,
the Gentleman Ghost that haunts Hawkman in this issue is an updated,
considerably revised version by Bob Kanigher of a "running" villain that
he originated for the Golden Age Hawkman of more than 20 years ago! A
younger Joe Kubert drew the Ghost then - which Murphy Anderson has
faithfully followed. - Editor)"
Martin Pasko of Clifton, N.J. writes:
"Dear Editor:
It seems that Gardner Fox has taken a simple, hackneyed idea such as a
man "returning from the dead" after a long period of amnesia and has
turned it into a simple, hackneyed plot. Every once in a while GF writes
a story that is all action (such as "Return of the 7-Year Dead Man") and
no clues, no mystery, no deduction, and no thought. Strangely, such
stories, despite all their punching, hitting, screaming, yelling, jumping
around, and stuff-like-that-there are incredibly dull."
Steve Chung
"Review, Review -- Who's Got The Review?"
"Buzzin', Buzzin' -- Who's Got The Buzzin'?"
June - July, 1969
Story: Denny O'Neil
Art: Dick Dillin & Sid Greene
Within the faculty room at Ivy Town University, Ray Palmer is going over
his figures regarding the energy-ratio of brain-electricity with that of
the Earth's magnetic field, but one of the professors sees his findings
as science fiction... not science fact. When the assistant professor
tries to get on with his demonstration, Professor Horace McByrd sees all
of this as a bluff for a promotion. Ray tries to keep his temper, but
points out that McByrd hasn't seen a good idea in twenty years. As head
of the department, the professor doesn't take this too kindly, and is
reined in by a fellow professor. McByrd consents to listen to more of
Ray Palmer's daydreams.
ZZZZ ZZZZZZZ The assistant professor is suddenly unable to recall what
he was going to say, and is dismissed. Minutes pass, with Ray Palmer
angered by being made a fool of, and wanting to get rid of this sudden
mood. He wants a fight, but as a super-hero, and not a teacher. The
invisible controls in the palms of his hands are touched, and the
assistant professor begins to shrink down... down... and becomes the
Atom. The Mighty Mite must learn... "Buzzin', Buzzin' -- Who's Got The
Buzzin'?"
Now in a sub-atomic world with many monsters for company, the Atom is
ready for some sparring. He pretends that the tentacled terror before
him is McByrd, even though it's far better-looking. FWONK His
frustrations are soon gone after delivering some blows to "Clyde." KLOP
Since it has no pain center, the creature is completely unharmed, and the
Mighty Mite gets his exercise.
With the fight over, the Atom tries to recall the equations, and finds
that he remembers them clearly. He wonders how his costumed alter-ego
can remember while the assistant professor couldn't. Since his "atomic"
brain is now compressed, his memory loss grows as he changes size. The
Atom remembers hearing a buzzing sound right before the memory loss
occurred. In the month of December, flying insects are scarce in Ivy
Town. Now back in his office, the Mighty Mite sees that someone's trying
to get at Ray Palmer's research notes.
In order to keep up appearance, it is the assistant professor who
confronts his visitor. Hap Coogan says that he wants to find the
evidence which will prove that Ray Palmer is a traitor. When he starts
to ask the University's star pass-receiver what he meant, KWOMP... he is
shoved backwards into the filing cabinet. Although he could turn to the
Atom, Ray decides to show the football player some judo from his college
days.
Hap Coogan is soon swept off his feet, and is asked by the assistant
professor about his accusation. The football player believes that Ray
Palmer is working for an enemy government, and works at Ivy Town
University in order to steal atomic secrets. The papers which Hap
considers to be the proof are nothing more than some of Ray's own
theories on paper.
BZZZZ ZZZZZZZ As Hap starts to tell him the identity of his accuser, he
hears the buzzing sound, and loses his memory. When he asks the
assistant professor what he's doing in his office, Ray tells him that he
just came to say hi. The football player smiles and says that he hopes
to see him at Saturday's game. Someone had sent Coogan to take his
research papers, but Ray does know that the buzzing device is the work of
a keen intelligence. BZZZZZZZ Before he can succumb to the buzzing
sound, the assistant professor changes his size, and the Mighty Mite
disappears from view.
The Atom rides on an updraft, where he gets a closer look at the
radio-controlled machine. The physicist sees this as a fine example of
applied miniaturization at work. With the buzzer returning to its roost,
the Mighty Mite hitches a ride on its broadcast antenna. The sphere
makes its way across the campus -- to a cottage nearby, and a place which
is very familiar to Ray Palmer. Professor McByrd is surprised to see
that the Atom has come along for a ride to his humble home.
When he confronts the professor about the amnesia-inducing spheres,
McByrd refuses to sing at first, but admits that he made them as a way to
stop Ray Palmer. He felt that his position and reputation at the
university was threatened. Horace McByrd is no longer a young man, and
he knows that he may not be the scientist that the younger generation
are. Having seen the intricate detail of the sphere, the Mighty Mite
doesn't see what the professor is worried about. McByrd admits that they
are the result of one of Ray Palmer's many theories. As the Atom
recognizes his own electro-field theory, the professor turns a dial.
FWAMP BZZZZZZZ The buzzer has been activated, pinning the Mighty Mite
to the table, and about to crush him like a bug.
BZZZZZ THUP Professor McByrd uses a pair of tweezers to lift up his
device, but has lost sight of the Tiny Titan. The Atom has shrunk in
size, and has hidden himself in the table's wood grain. The buzzer's
barrage was too close for comfort, but the Mighty Mite owes his colleague
a tap on the chin.
Before he is turned over to the authorities, Horace McByrd is told how he
has been a paranoid, and not recognizing his own achievements. Although
he is not much of a researcher, the professor is more of a technician,
and applied Ray Palmer's theory to the test. With his skill, brains, and
ingenuity, the spheres became a reality. As he is lead to the door by
the Atom, Professor McByrd hopes that he'll be able to make something out
of his life, after he has served his time.
University life is filled with as much excitement as the stories which
take place in Metropolis and Gotham City.
Denny O'Neil has Ray Palmer, assistant professor and Horace McByrd,
professor participating in the generation gap.
In this story, Ray catches the buzz, and loses some of his memories. For
the assistant professor, nothing made sense, and in the next three
decades, this would continue to be the case.
The Atom is seen as a release for Ray Palmer's frustrations, and his
size-changing powers provide the entry into sub-atomic worlds unseen by
mankind.
Inside The Atom - Hawkman Letters Page, Klaus Janson of Bridgeport, Conn
writes:
"Dear Editor,
Man, Mr. Schwartz, are you rotten through and through! Today is Monday
and all my tests, quizzes, and reports have been returned to me from the
past week, and I have nothing to release my sadistic emotions on.
Atom/Hawkman #41 had very little to pick on, so I must inhibit my
emotions and perhaps sleep on them. That is why I say you're mean,
really, really mean... sir.
For the first time in Schwartz-editing history (or as long back as I
recall) you offer us a divided cover. Not only is this the rarest of DC
covers, but they also usually turn out completely... er... bad. But
seriously and honestly communicating here, this cover is the first
divided one I liked! I'm pretty sure it's because there was no white
panel line down the middle, and the fact that each scene was at different
angles. This made them each particular scenes in themselves, yet sorta
incorporated them into one big cover.
Strangely enough, whenever I write to A/H, I can never force myself to
write anything about The Atom. It seems as though the stories
continually fall flat on their faces and just do not have enough pep to
interest me. I promised myself I would read the entire Atom adventure in
this issue, but after about page 7 of "Return of the 7-Year Dead Man", I
just glanced through it. Art is not so much of a problem as stories.
Dick Dillin is certainly a good-enough penciller, but I think Sid Greene
should be replaced by someone who doesn't have so much of a "neat" style.
Hawkman has no difficulties at all. It's superbly drawn, wonderfully
inked and greatly scripted. I still think with a Fox/Kubert/Anderson
combination, Hawkman would surprise everyone at DC with sales (well, if
they go down, they'll still surprise everyone no....?)."
The Editor replies:
"(When you called us "mean", you don't realize how much you mean it! The
art-change on Atom that you pumped for, hasn't materialized; but the
highly acclaimed team on Hawkman has undergone a change! Incidentally,
the Gentleman Ghost that haunts Hawkman in this issue is an updated,
considerably revised version by Bob Kanigher of a "running" villain that
he originated for the Golden Age Hawkman of more than 20 years ago! A
younger Joe Kubert drew the Ghost then - which Murphy Anderson has
faithfully followed. - Editor)"
Martin Pasko of Clifton, N.J. writes:
"Dear Editor:
It seems that Gardner Fox has taken a simple, hackneyed idea such as a
man "returning from the dead" after a long period of amnesia and has
turned it into a simple, hackneyed plot. Every once in a while GF writes
a story that is all action (such as "Return of the 7-Year Dead Man") and
no clues, no mystery, no deduction, and no thought. Strangely, such
stories, despite all their punching, hitting, screaming, yelling, jumping
around, and stuff-like-that-there are incredibly dull."
Steve Chung
"Review, Review -- Who's Got The Review?"
Hawkman And The Atom #43: "Come To My Hanging!"
Hawkman And The Atom #43
"Come To My Hanging!"
June - July, 1969
Script: Gardner Fox
Art: Murphy Anderson
Letterer: Ben Oda
Hawkman is chasing a raven through the thick fog over London -- where the
bird begins to laugh at him near Big Ben. Upon closer inspection, it
turns out that the bird is -- stuffed, but the laughter continues
unabated. Perched on the little hand of Big Ben, the Gentleman Ghost is
amused by his own jest, and Hawkman is determined to prove that his foe
is far from being supernatural --
BAM BLAM The Gentleman Ghost's highwayman-pistols are used to make
certain that the Thanagarian policeman no longer has a ghost of a chance.
If there is no such thing as a ghost, then why is Hawkman resting so
still as if in death? Do ghosts exist? In this day and age, can such a
strange being appear, where others are governed by natural laws? The
ghostly secrets seen therein will not be proved or disapproved. Listen
-- as the Gentleman Ghost will cry out -- "Come To My Hanging!"
As the ghost without a face continues to mock his fallen foe -- the scene
shifts to the England of one hundred and fifty years ago -- when
Gentleman Jim Craddock terrorized the back roads... BLAM BLAM Once he
has completed a robbery, the gentleman always tipped his hat at his
victims. The seemingly invincible highwayman has but one weakness...
After finishing a meal, Gentleman Jim sought to partake of the maid's
sweet lips for dessert, but Kate had betrayed him to the law.
The highwayman was to be executed at Margate Square... where he vowed to
those watching that he would return, and steal their valuables.
Gentleman Jim Craddock felt the trap door release beneath his feet -- the
noose around his neck tightened -- and the highwayman was hurled down
towards a blinding burst of light. After emerging through the rift, he
finds himself as a faceless spirit in the present-day. The Gentleman
Ghost soon fades into the fog... biding his time before resuming his
highwayman career.
The authorities of Paris, Rome, and Madrid are perplexed by this
mysterious thief, who announces his intended targets, and who manages to
elude them each time. In the museum of Midway City, Curator Carter Hall
listens as his wife, Shiera reminds him that they have come from Thanagar
to learn about the Earth police methods of operation. With such a
strange criminal confounding law-enforcement -- Hawkman is determined to
prove that the Gentleman Ghost is neither ghost nor a gentleman. As the
duo take to the sky, Hawkman is confident that there must be an
explanation for the seeming supernatural, and Hawkgirl believes that the
supernatural may be the explanation. Since the Gentleman Ghost enjoys in
perplexing the authorities, they are aware that his next target will be
the Bristol Bank at Trafalgar Square. When Hawkgirl suggests that this
may be a ruse, Hawkman is confident that the Ghost will be there, and so
will they.
The Gentleman Ghost and his hired hoods are keeping the Bobbies at bay --
beneath the monument of Nelson. Two figures detach themselves from the
monument, and hurl themselves at the criminals. The crooks open fire,
but are unable to wing them.
The Thanagarian policeman delivers punch after punch with tornado-like
precision... and finds that the hoods are solid enough to fall beneath
his fists.
HA HA HA HA When he turns, Hawkman sees that Hawkgirl has been taken
prisoner by the Gentleman Ghost. She wants him to stop the Ghost, but is
covered by a spectral pistol. Not willing to take the chance of her
being harmed, he can only watch as the hoods take Hawkgirl away.
Although they have gone, their leader has chosen to remain behind.
Hawkman clenches his fist and prepares to deliver a punch to the Ghost's
unseen face. HA HA HA HA HA The Gentleman Ghost has once again
disappeared into thin air, but he has left a tape record inside of his
cane. His seeming trickery has been uncovered by the
scientifically-minded lawman.
Hawkman removes the lustrometer from his belt, and uses the Thanagarian
device to find the tire marks left by their getaway car -- which soon
glow beneath the instrument's emanations. The trail leads the
Thanagarian policeman to the Gentleman Ghost -- and Hawkgirl. Within the
Tower of London, the ghostly highwayman proves to be no gentleman, as he
tries to steal a kiss from the struggling heroine. A window opens... and
Hawkman has caught up with the gang.
He thinks that the Tower of London would be a fitting place for the gang
to be imprisoned. The Gentleman Ghost has fled through the window,
leaving Hawkgirl without her wings -- and Hawkman anxious to prove that
he is far from being a ghost. Outside, the only thing in view is a black
raven. CROAAAAK... CROAAAAK... Believing it to be a challenge from the
Ghost, Hawkman follows it -- and at 4:10 AM... the trail ends at Big Ben.
HA HA HA HA HA! Hawkman is resting atop the big hand, while the
Gentleman Ghost stands on the little hand.
Even a ghost can be amazed when the Thanagarian policeman shifts his
weight and causes the minute hand to fall towards him. He has ducked
before the shot was fired. Hawkman has proven to be a worthy adversary
for the Gentleman Ghost. HA HA HA The laughter continues as the ghost
of Gentleman Jim Craddock falls from the clock. Before Hawkman can catch
up to the falling figure, he learns from Hawkgirl that it was only a
projected image, and the real Ghost has already made his escape.
Hawkgirl demands to know why her husband and partner would leave her in
danger. The Thanagarian lawman knew that he could have saved her at any
time, but he had wanted to find where the Ghost had stashed his loot.
After finding the tape recorder and movie projector, he is convinced that
Gentleman Jim is flesh and blood as they are. All Katar Hol wants now is
a kiss from his wife, but we know that the secrets of the Gentleman Ghost
are far from being over.
On the cover of The Atom And Hawkman #43 by Joe Kubert, the Gentleman
Ghost has gotten a horse, and has hoofed it over Hawkman.
Edgar Allan Poe had written that "quoth the raven: nevermore," but this
particular bird continued to croak.
Both Hawkman and the Gentleman Ghost found themselves on the clock when
it came to this particular meeting in the Silver Age.
The Thangarian policeman gets to rest for a minute, while Gentleman Jim
Craddock gets to relive his origin, and Katar soon uses his weight later
in the story.
Even after a hearty meal, the highwayman wanted to check out the dish for
dessert.
Not one to leave them hanging, the Gentleman Ghost soon found himself in
a different place and time.
Katar Hol and Shayera Thal were the Mulder and Scully of the Silver Age.
The Ghost was sharp with his pistols when he and his gang did the Bristol
Stomp.
Even armed hoods would have difficulty in winging the Hawks.
On page 7, Hawkman uses his fist, his feet, and his mace to test the
gang's solidarity.
Hawkgirl is taken prisoner rather easily by the Gentleman Ghost.
Hopefully she would fare as well as Barmaid Kate had.
The lustrometer enables Hawkman to find the getaway car's trail, but by
the way that the Gentleman Ghost was acting with Hawkgirl, Katar should
have used the "lustometer" instead.
Gentleman Jim Craddock has got a weakness for redheads, but he has no
fear of losing face.
Although he failed to kiss her, the Ghost succeeded in "winging" her.
As with Adam Strange and Alanna, Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson made
certain that their characters would be able to share an off-panel kiss.
Steve Chung
"Come To My Reviewing!"
"Come To My Hanging!"
June - July, 1969
Script: Gardner Fox
Art: Murphy Anderson
Letterer: Ben Oda
Hawkman is chasing a raven through the thick fog over London -- where the
bird begins to laugh at him near Big Ben. Upon closer inspection, it
turns out that the bird is -- stuffed, but the laughter continues
unabated. Perched on the little hand of Big Ben, the Gentleman Ghost is
amused by his own jest, and Hawkman is determined to prove that his foe
is far from being supernatural --
BAM BLAM The Gentleman Ghost's highwayman-pistols are used to make
certain that the Thanagarian policeman no longer has a ghost of a chance.
If there is no such thing as a ghost, then why is Hawkman resting so
still as if in death? Do ghosts exist? In this day and age, can such a
strange being appear, where others are governed by natural laws? The
ghostly secrets seen therein will not be proved or disapproved. Listen
-- as the Gentleman Ghost will cry out -- "Come To My Hanging!"
As the ghost without a face continues to mock his fallen foe -- the scene
shifts to the England of one hundred and fifty years ago -- when
Gentleman Jim Craddock terrorized the back roads... BLAM BLAM Once he
has completed a robbery, the gentleman always tipped his hat at his
victims. The seemingly invincible highwayman has but one weakness...
After finishing a meal, Gentleman Jim sought to partake of the maid's
sweet lips for dessert, but Kate had betrayed him to the law.
The highwayman was to be executed at Margate Square... where he vowed to
those watching that he would return, and steal their valuables.
Gentleman Jim Craddock felt the trap door release beneath his feet -- the
noose around his neck tightened -- and the highwayman was hurled down
towards a blinding burst of light. After emerging through the rift, he
finds himself as a faceless spirit in the present-day. The Gentleman
Ghost soon fades into the fog... biding his time before resuming his
highwayman career.
The authorities of Paris, Rome, and Madrid are perplexed by this
mysterious thief, who announces his intended targets, and who manages to
elude them each time. In the museum of Midway City, Curator Carter Hall
listens as his wife, Shiera reminds him that they have come from Thanagar
to learn about the Earth police methods of operation. With such a
strange criminal confounding law-enforcement -- Hawkman is determined to
prove that the Gentleman Ghost is neither ghost nor a gentleman. As the
duo take to the sky, Hawkman is confident that there must be an
explanation for the seeming supernatural, and Hawkgirl believes that the
supernatural may be the explanation. Since the Gentleman Ghost enjoys in
perplexing the authorities, they are aware that his next target will be
the Bristol Bank at Trafalgar Square. When Hawkgirl suggests that this
may be a ruse, Hawkman is confident that the Ghost will be there, and so
will they.
The Gentleman Ghost and his hired hoods are keeping the Bobbies at bay --
beneath the monument of Nelson. Two figures detach themselves from the
monument, and hurl themselves at the criminals. The crooks open fire,
but are unable to wing them.
The Thanagarian policeman delivers punch after punch with tornado-like
precision... and finds that the hoods are solid enough to fall beneath
his fists.
HA HA HA HA When he turns, Hawkman sees that Hawkgirl has been taken
prisoner by the Gentleman Ghost. She wants him to stop the Ghost, but is
covered by a spectral pistol. Not willing to take the chance of her
being harmed, he can only watch as the hoods take Hawkgirl away.
Although they have gone, their leader has chosen to remain behind.
Hawkman clenches his fist and prepares to deliver a punch to the Ghost's
unseen face. HA HA HA HA HA The Gentleman Ghost has once again
disappeared into thin air, but he has left a tape record inside of his
cane. His seeming trickery has been uncovered by the
scientifically-minded lawman.
Hawkman removes the lustrometer from his belt, and uses the Thanagarian
device to find the tire marks left by their getaway car -- which soon
glow beneath the instrument's emanations. The trail leads the
Thanagarian policeman to the Gentleman Ghost -- and Hawkgirl. Within the
Tower of London, the ghostly highwayman proves to be no gentleman, as he
tries to steal a kiss from the struggling heroine. A window opens... and
Hawkman has caught up with the gang.
He thinks that the Tower of London would be a fitting place for the gang
to be imprisoned. The Gentleman Ghost has fled through the window,
leaving Hawkgirl without her wings -- and Hawkman anxious to prove that
he is far from being a ghost. Outside, the only thing in view is a black
raven. CROAAAAK... CROAAAAK... Believing it to be a challenge from the
Ghost, Hawkman follows it -- and at 4:10 AM... the trail ends at Big Ben.
HA HA HA HA HA! Hawkman is resting atop the big hand, while the
Gentleman Ghost stands on the little hand.
Even a ghost can be amazed when the Thanagarian policeman shifts his
weight and causes the minute hand to fall towards him. He has ducked
before the shot was fired. Hawkman has proven to be a worthy adversary
for the Gentleman Ghost. HA HA HA The laughter continues as the ghost
of Gentleman Jim Craddock falls from the clock. Before Hawkman can catch
up to the falling figure, he learns from Hawkgirl that it was only a
projected image, and the real Ghost has already made his escape.
Hawkgirl demands to know why her husband and partner would leave her in
danger. The Thanagarian lawman knew that he could have saved her at any
time, but he had wanted to find where the Ghost had stashed his loot.
After finding the tape recorder and movie projector, he is convinced that
Gentleman Jim is flesh and blood as they are. All Katar Hol wants now is
a kiss from his wife, but we know that the secrets of the Gentleman Ghost
are far from being over.
On the cover of The Atom And Hawkman #43 by Joe Kubert, the Gentleman
Ghost has gotten a horse, and has hoofed it over Hawkman.
Edgar Allan Poe had written that "quoth the raven: nevermore," but this
particular bird continued to croak.
Both Hawkman and the Gentleman Ghost found themselves on the clock when
it came to this particular meeting in the Silver Age.
The Thangarian policeman gets to rest for a minute, while Gentleman Jim
Craddock gets to relive his origin, and Katar soon uses his weight later
in the story.
Even after a hearty meal, the highwayman wanted to check out the dish for
dessert.
Not one to leave them hanging, the Gentleman Ghost soon found himself in
a different place and time.
Katar Hol and Shayera Thal were the Mulder and Scully of the Silver Age.
The Ghost was sharp with his pistols when he and his gang did the Bristol
Stomp.
Even armed hoods would have difficulty in winging the Hawks.
On page 7, Hawkman uses his fist, his feet, and his mace to test the
gang's solidarity.
Hawkgirl is taken prisoner rather easily by the Gentleman Ghost.
Hopefully she would fare as well as Barmaid Kate had.
The lustrometer enables Hawkman to find the getaway car's trail, but by
the way that the Gentleman Ghost was acting with Hawkgirl, Katar should
have used the "lustometer" instead.
Gentleman Jim Craddock has got a weakness for redheads, but he has no
fear of losing face.
Although he failed to kiss her, the Ghost succeeded in "winging" her.
As with Adam Strange and Alanna, Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson made
certain that their characters would be able to share an off-panel kiss.
Steve Chung
"Come To My Reviewing!"
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