Captain America and The Falcon, No. 186

Thought I'd sneak in a quick post before the month is out (just 10 mins to go looking at the time, I need to go to bed...) I think I'm going to have a little change of pace throughout April, still posting up old comics, but also some different stuff too, stay tuned! 

This issue from June 1975 again features another great cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. Earlier in the month I posted up issue 189, but again for the same reasons, I want to share this issue mainly down to Frank Robbins' pencil work; I really do like his stuff! This issue also marks the end of writer, Steve Englehart's, significant run on this issue from number 153.

Anyway, the basic plot behind this issue sees The Red Skull reveal to Captain America that Sam Wilson (The Falcon) was once a criminal called 'Snap Wilson' who The Red Skull created by using the 'Cosmic Cube'. Therefore The Falcon is under The Red Skull's command and is made to fight The Cap' to the finish. The Cap' is left with the decision on whether he should decapitate his friend using his shield.

The Flash, No. 195

Written by - Robert Kanigher / Mike Friedrich

Pencils by - Gil Kane

Inks by - Murphy Anderson / Vince Colletta

Cover Art by - Neal Adams

Bizarre issue of 'The Flash' no.195 from March 1970 in which we see our hero in two stories of equally strange proportions... The first is entitled "Fugitive From Blind Justice" which see's the Flash being saved from a mobster's bullets by a dog(!), The Flash then has to prevent the dog from being executed for murder... And the second story is entitled; 'I Open My Mouth... But I Can't Scream!' in which the Flash must overcome his life-long fear of roller-coasters to save some punters from an accident due to a sprung track... So March 1970 must have been an 'interesting' month at the DC headquarters if these plots are anything to go by...

Captain America and The Falcon, No. 189

Great cover art by Gil Kane and Mike Esposito on this 1975 issue of Captain America and The Falcon. I'm a big fan of the art in general in this issue, I love the way Frank Robbins draws the human body, his poses within the panels sit very comfortably. I also like how many comics get away with using just flat colours for backgrounds within the panels... Visually pleasing or just a bit lazy?

The setup here reveals The Falcon is still comatose after discovering his memories are false implants created by The Red Skull. Captain America is told by a SHIELD psychiatrist that the best way to help him is to beat the living crap out of him! Captain America proceeds to fight a series of hallucinations including; Red Skull, Executioner, Druid, Black Knight, Enchantress, Melter, Radioactive Man and Baron Zemo. The Cap finally breaks free of the mind control and reconciles with The Falcon, it's only then they realise the psychiatrist and most of the SHIELD agents have been possessed by The Deadly Nightshade. 

This description on reading it back doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense I guess, but there is a second part to the story. In the bottom right panel on the last page of this issue it appears that Marvel are aware that the story is somewhat confusing when they say "To be continued next issue -- and maybe we'll even explain all this!".

Justice League Of America (part 1), No. 78

Written by - Dennis O'Neil

Pencils - Dick Dillin

Ink - Joe Giella

Cover Art - Gil Kane

Issue 78 of 'Justice League of America' (or JLA) was first published in February 1970 and is the first part of a two part story entitled 'The Coming of the Doomsters!". This issue is significant in that it features first appearances by 'Vigilante' (Gregory Sanders) the expert marksman, and 'The Justice League Satellite I'; a geosynchronous space station satellite headquarters, located 22,300 miles above the equator.

The people of the Earth are becoming sick from smoke inhalation from a rapid increase in pollution and the JLA are being accused of deserting the planet they are sworn to protect. Green Arrow is on patrol in Star City when he spots a security guard trying to stop some crooks; he fires a flaming arrow which accidentally sets the nearby river on fire due to it being full of chemicals. Superman and Green Lantern arrive on the scene to provide some assistance. The crooks are actually the security guards employers and the security guard is the one and only retired super-hero 'Vigilante'. He later reveals that he took the job as security guard as he suspected that the company's sole purpose was to produce pollution and his snooping around turned him into a target from his employers. Atom, Black Canary, Batman and Vigilante find their way into the factory but are knocked out with gas and suspended over a vat of highly toxic chemicals. The leader of this operation looks on as our hero's are lowered towards their certain doom...

To be continued.