The Adventure of The Human Streak begins with the prison escape of the "insidious" Dr. Clever, faking his suicide. The villain is a comical horned figure with a skull-and-crossbones on his shirt-front. He imbues his henchman Breezy with super-speed powers to defeat Johnny Quick. Yet again, a very Golden age metatextual gimmick is employed: a kid in the story talks about reading More Fun- the very comic Johnny Quick appears in.
Mort Meskin's panel designs are inventive and kinetic but I never warmed to JQ, even when he had a role in All-Star Squadron in the early 80s. I resented the presence of some of the second-string Golden Agers because I felt we should have been reading about Jay Garrick and Alan Scott every month. However, hindsight makes me look fondly on those Roy Thomas books from the New DC Era. DC Showcase: All-Star Squadron is scheduled for release in the spring so I'm looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with the home-front heroes.
The Crimes That Couldn't Have Happened: this Joe Kubert short is a sequel to the story of the Ghost in Secret Origins 1. Again, it's left unclear whether the jewel thief really is a supernatural being or not (as opposed to the Silver Age Gentleman Ghost, who clearly was the malicious spectre of a hanged man.) The glamorous and adventurous Hawks are the best thing in a lacklustre issue but the worst is yet to come.
Dr. Glisten's Submarine Pirates: Like the Gombezi story (again, see the 'Optikon) this is another silly pulp adventure for the Self-Medicated Superhero, although not quite so bizarre. It starts at the swishy Woo Woo Club (where Black Condor and Doll Man can be found, listening to torch songs) and ends in a ship chandlers' run by mad Doctor Glisten. This glowing villain plans to rule the sea by hypnotising submariners to do his bidding. Bernard Bailey creates a moody milieu, as he did for the Spectre, however Rex and Rick Tyler were only really interesting when they were struggling with Miraclo addiction. I may be one of the few people who liked Rick's mid-80s Todd McFarlane costume. I also like his marriage to Jesse Quick/Liberty Belle.
On the letters page, once again there's a request for the JSA; a rave review of the Solomon Grundy tale from issue 4; and a question about Stuff, the Vigilante's sidekick. Bridwell states that the E-1 Vig teamed up with a Caucasian Stuff. I'm now confused: which one was killed by The Dummy in 1977?
I didn't buy this one off the rack in the 70s but I think I would have been very disappointed if I had, despite Cardy's cover.
Next: The barmy Anti-Superman Army
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