Fifty years ago today - November 1975.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

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Can November already be upon us? Mere weeks after the year began?

Yes it can.

And it was upon us in 1975, as well!

The Squadron Sinister is back - and, no doubt, causing as much trouble as ever!

Although I must confess I'm struggling to recall just how and why this reunion has occurred.

I suspect that this tale contains all the elements we expect from a Conan story.

For instance, it would appear the barbarian and his friends are on their way to the city of Messantia when they decide to rescue a beautiful girl who's been kidnapped by a bat-monster!

I can only assume a wicked sorcerer can't be far behind.

We encounter a tale of mutual misunderstanding, as the new Torpedo tries to prevent his deadly costume from falling into the wrong hands but Daredevil assumes he's up to no good and attacks him. An act that leads to the destruction of a suburban home. And an act that makes the two men realise what a pair of wallies they've been.

Do my eyes detect a Jack Kirby cover?

Yes, they do!

I must confess I have little knowledge of the Crusader but I do know his uncanny resemblance to Marvel Boy is more than mere coincidence.

We can only hope he doesn't retain his old predilection for nuking people.

Doc Samson is back!

And, erm, that's all I can recall about this tale.

However, I do believe this issue to be the end of Herb Trimpe's long, long run on the strip. One that began way back in 1968!

And I detect another Jack Kirby cover!

Sadly, I know nothing of this issue's contents, other than that it features not only the Black Lama but, also, Firebrand, Baron Rockler and Baroness Rockler!

I have no idea who Baron and Baroness Rockler are.

I do believe this is the one where Spidey's getting all hot and bothered over whether he's a clone or not.

Fortunately, he soon realises he can't possibly be, and that's the end of the matter and it's never heard of again.

"I've been paid to murder you, hero-- --and the Stilt-Man never fails!"

A bit of false advertising there, I think.

Regardless, the Falcon faces criminal proceedings over his previous mob-related activities and this leads his former gangland boss to send the Stilt-Man to silence him before he can blab to the authorities!

And mine eyes do detect another Jack Kirby cover!

They also detect that someone's probably been watching Jason and the Argonauts.

Regardless, inside, I think the thunder god's still up against a bunch of Egyptian deities.

That's Marvel's output scrutinised but what of that other company? The one we only know by two letters?

Just what will a random sampling of its comics that bear the same cover date reveal?

It'll reveal that we need to get our one dollar ready to hand over because it's Superman's turn to get the Limited Collectors' Edition treatment.

And, in this pulse-pounding publication, he stars in such thrillers as Autograph, Please!, The Juvenile Delinquents From Space!, Zigi and Zagi's Trap for Superman!, The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance! and Superman's Day of Doom!

There's also a look at Superman's Young Friends On Film and Curt Swan's guide to How to Draw the Superman Family!

And, of course, as we all expect of such books, there's a 3-D diorama for us to cut out, assemble and keep!

You know what I want to know?

I want to know how all my favourite super-villains got their powers. 

But I don't have Bring On the Bad Guys handy. So, I'll have to read this instead.

Join DC, as it gives us the Joker in The Man Behind the Red Hood!, and the tale of How Luthor Met Superboy! Not to mention the origins of Captain Cold and Dr Sivana, 

And there's also The Origin of Terra-Man whoever he is.

Apparently, he's something to do with Superman.

There's also a one-page look at super-heroes and their enemies, plus a two-page Rogue's Gallery of Super-Villains.

Sixty-eight pages of drama await us when Earth Shaking Stories enters our life.

In the first of those shakers, interplanetary criminal Grax defeats Brainiac before visiting Earth to plant an awesome bomb on Superman. One that threatens to destroy the whole world!

Next, a new villain manufactures disasters in order to commit his crimes - and only Hal Jordan and Barry Allen can stop him.

Or can they?

Next, E. Nelson Bridwell introduces us to Great Disasters of History.

And, finally, Captain Marvel seeks to halt the Atomic Fire!

As you may have suspected, most of these offerings are reprints.

We've all experienced Marvel's take on Hercules.

Now we get the chance to see how DC handle him!

It's World War Three and our hero finally manages to liberate himself from a rock he's been chained to for centuries.

Upon befriending a blind boy, the musclebound maestro vows to introduce his fists to the face of Ares who's to blame for all the fighting that's going on in the world.

You can say what you like about the 1970s but it loved to bring us brand new comics.

And here's another one, all set to to expand our brains and send our senses reeling.

In this issue, we get three big action tales.

In the first, Superman and Jimmy Olsen pit their crime-fighting skills against those of Batman and Robin. But, as the heroes indulge in various contests of skill, their respective Revenge Squads are out to scupper their efforts!

In the second, the Teen Titans battle a would-be villain who manages to defeat them twice!

In the third, the Flash sprains his ankle while rescuing citizens from a fire. And that's the worst possible time for him to be attacked by Captain Cold and Heat Wave!

As you may know, all of these masterpieces are reprinted from the 1960s.

Deadman's back!

And, from the looks of that cover, he's on his back!

However, I suspect he's not set to meet his final doom, just yet, as, from this issue onward, he's going to be co-starring in the book, alongside the titfer-topped tormentor of tyrants, troubadours, thieves, time wasters, temperamentalists, troublemakers and scoundrels.

I've not read this one but it seems someone called Sensei teleports Cleveland Brand to his sanctuary, in an attempt to kill Deadman.

The Black Orchid, meanwhile, has a far more minor problem on her hands when one of her fans is invited to join a group of women who reveal they are all, secretly, the Black Orchid.

However, is all as it seems?