The Second Coming of DC Comics

With comic book sales at an all-time high, DC, like Marvel, experimented with new titles, new characters, and different types of stories and heroes--or in many cases, anti-heroes. The Flash, like Marvel's Spiderman, began questioning his dual personality and his role in life. The Swamp Thing became a tragic figure. Jungle-type titles pointed out ecological problems in the rain forests and the world. There were a few hold-overs from McCarthy era morality issues. Bad guys were still punished, and sex, implied or not, was forbidden. However, sexy women became more abundant (e.g., Shanna, The She-Devil), and violence took on a movie-like quality, being more graphic and more abundant.

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flash1.jpg (171119 bytes)The Flash, Vol. 23, No. 217, Aug.-Sept., 1972. Writers and artists are now getting credit at the beginning of each story. This issue also started the great Green Lantern/Green Arrow team stories by Denny O'Neil with art by Neil Adams & Dick Giordano. Flash story by Len Wein, art by Irv Novick & Frank McLauglin.
flash2.jpg (162212 bytes)The Flash, Vol. 23, No. 218, Oct.-Nov., 1972. Flash story by Cary Bates, art by Irv Novick and Frank McLaughlin (notice spelling difference from other Flash info). Green Lantern/Green Arrow story by Denny O'Neil, art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.
swamp.jpg (171774 bytes)Swamp Thing, Vol. 2, No. 3, Feb.-Mar., 1973. A "Len Wein, Berni Wrightson, Joe Orlando Presentation." Berni Wrightson illustrated the first 10 issues.
tomahawk.jpg (203719 bytes)Son of Tomahawk, Vol. 23, No. 139, Mar.-Apr., 1972. Final issue. Cover and story art by Joe Kubert. Last story a Tomahawk reprint by Frank Frazetta (splash page below).
stalker.jpg (190920 bytes)The Stalker, Vol. 1, No. 1, June-July, 1975. Yes, that's a Wally Wood cover. Joe Orlando was editor for DC for many years and probably was instrumental in getting Steve Ditko and Wally Wood to do a series of Sword and Sorcery tales, which lasted only four issues. The Ditko influence is heavily felt and many panels have a "Marvel" look about them (a la Fantastic Four).
toma_org.jpg (64392 bytes)Splash page for "The Black Cougar" story in Son of Tomahawk No. 139.
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