UTHEORY OF : Ghosts (Limited Collectors' Edition)

Here's DC's second and final horror tabloid - Limited Collectors' Edition C-32 - Ghosts - from late 1974 (cover-dated Jan. 1975)...10 stories, all written by workhorse Leo Dorfman, who sadly passed away a few months before this issue came out.

7 of the 10 had appeared in the ongoing Ghosts title, which DC had launched in 1971 as part of its horror boom. Weird War Tales debuted the same month, giving DC six - six! - ongoing horror titles.

Dorfman wrote every story in the first several issues of Ghosts and had been writing Superman and Superman-related stories for DC since the late 1950s. Comics writer and historian Mark Evanier has said that Dorfman may have been the most prolific Superman writer of the 1960s. In addition to Ghosts, Dorfman wrote similar stories for Gold Key's horror anthologies such as Twilight Zone.

Most of the stories here are solid, with the "haunted castle" types being more entertaining than some of the international ones. Ghost lions in Africa?

Art-wise, it's a mixed bag. We get two great-looking stories by Tony Dezuniga and well-crafted ones by Jim Aparo and ER Cruz. The rest are professional but not exceptional efforts by Art Saaf, Jerry Grandenetti, Ernie Chan, John Calnan, George Tuska (inked by Nick Cardy), Jack Sparling, Frank Redondo and Gerry Talaoc.

That's a swell cover by Cardy, who drew covers for 34 of the first 35 issues of the Ghosts title.

Ghosts was kind of an odd title to feature here, since it was one of DC's newest horror titles. House of Secrets, Unexpected and Witching Hour all had been around longer. This one and the previous House of Mystery tabloid must not have sold well, since DC didn't do any others...

UTHEORY OF : Aquaman # 41

Comics like this one are why people still love the Silver Age. Aquaman 41, cover-date October 1968. Excellent cover by Nick Cardy with story by Stephen Skeates and art by Jim Aparo. This was only Aparo's second story for DC, but he already was firing on all cylinders. Many beautiful panels. He really had a knack for this character.

Story has Aquaman running into a bizarre undersea civilization while searching for Mera. More depth than the usual superhero punch-up. And I've always thought the Aquaman logo is one of the most perfect in all of comics. This issue is worth picking up if you spot it in a back issue bin...

UTHEORY OF : House of Mystery # 243

Here's another high-quality issue of House of Mystery, # 243, cover-date July 1976. Suspenseful cover art by Ricardo Villagran. First story is a twist tale with a bit of an ecological edge from the productive mind of Bob Haney, well-supported by eye-catching art from Franc Reyes. Reyes only did 18 stories for DC, mostly in the 70s, including 5 Tarzan tales. Wish he would have done more. His work creates a positive impression.

Second story is a creepy number about one of those fortune-telling machine dummies. Brrr... Written by Sheldon Mayer with unsettling art by Jess Jodloman.

Having sampled a few different titles now, it's looking like HOM may have been DC's best-written horror book of the mid-70s.

UTHEORY OF : Kobra # 3

Kobra was one of the more bizarre titles of the 70s. Here's Kobra 3, cover-date July 1976. A gonzo Ernie Chua cover. Look at that robot! Totally looks like Bender from Futurama. And a purple background! Outstanding!

Story by Marty Pasko with interior pencils by Keith Giffen and inks by Terry Austin and Dick Giordano. This was the title's third art team in as many issues. Wld go on to have six in first six before finally getting same art team in 7th and final issue. That kind of volatility plus a bimonthly publishing schedule cldnt have helped...

But it's kind of amazing that DC gave a brand new villain his own comic in the first place. Jack Kirby was listed as plotter in issue 1, so maybe he was to be involved somehow. But never happened. The main plot was Kobra battling his own twin brother, and Pasko threw in all sorts of spies, doubles, world domination, etc. Great 70s stuff. Giffen also was doing the great page designs he was doing in All-Star and later wld do in Defenders. Pretty much imitating Kirby and Steranko and doing a decent job of it.

Villain Solaris is "a crazed astrophysicist" who goes bad after not being recognized for his work. At one point in this story, he's even crying about it. Ah, the 70s...

Kobra later wld battle Aquaman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman & the Outsiders, but it's really kinda surprising that DC didnt use him even more. Criminal mastermind...global network...just add superhero!