Top 10 D.C. Silver Age Keys 3 3

[WolverineX]

On 9/30/2021 at 5:32 PM, KirbyJack said:

1. Showcase 4

2. Brave and Bold 28

3. Showcase 22

4. Adventure 247

5. Flash 105

6. Our Army At War 83

7. Showcase 8

8. Showcase 6

9. Brave and Bold 34

10. Showcase 34

Love your list.  And yes,  love showcase 6. 

 

I could easily see DC make a Challengers of the unknown series in movie/tv form someday.... it has aged well and still a sweet title.  

[Straw-Man]

forgot this one the other day...

[bronze johnny]

On 10/2/2021 at 8:52 AM, Straw-Man said:

forgot this one the other day...

BP loves DC! A beauty and one of the classics!

Sometimes I wonder where Kirby would have taken the Challies had he stayed with the book. The first original Silver Age concept and Silver Age team also happens to get the first Silver Age run of its own outside of a "Superman/Batman Family" book. Kirby's run is the first of its kind for the Silver Age. The Challies were rewarded their own book before the Flash and this is significant given DC would not have moved on awarding Kirby his own comic if the belief and information they had available at the time didn't justify it. We know things moved more slowly back then in terms of getting feedback on gauging the reaction readers had so the introduction of the Challies in their own book during the early part of the DC Silver Age should not be underscored in terms of its success at the time. What keeps the Challies from having an even greater place in the Silver Age and the history of the American Comic Book, is the later success of Kirby and Lee's Fantastic Four. Still, the Challies have their place and their run ended with the end of the Silver Age they helped start. The reintroduction and revision or modification of Golden Age heroes was one of the greatest achievements in comic book history and DC initiated this with Barry Allen's Flash in Showcase 4. Kirby's Challies proved that there was a place for new original creations besides the reintroduction of the revised Golden Age Superhero. DC's awarding Kirby's Challies their own book not long after their introduction in Showcase 6 further demonstrates the publisher's committment to Jack's vision and lays the foundation for later comic book publishers, artists, and writers to create new concepts in addition to reinventing the old. Especially when Kirby showed them all that it works. The creation of new concepts would supersede DC's reintroduction of the superhero achievement when Marvel (with Kirby himself at the lead!) took Kirby's approach at creating new original concepts that he started with the Challies when Jack teamed with Stan and the legendary Bullpen. The early Silver Age that is exclusively defined by DC (1956 -1961) is a fascinating era that isn't just about what hit the newstands during that time but also about the seeds that were planted for the next great period when Stan and Jack (and Steve) took the medium to a whole new level by bringing back the best of the Timely era for a new generation to enjoy but most importantly, creating new characters/concepts that led the world of comics for generations to follow. It started with Kirby the visionary taking his creative genius back in the early Silver Age and challenging the unknown...   

Edited October 2, 2021 by bronze johnny

[Straw-Man]

On 10/2/2021 at 9:10 AM, bronze johnny said:

BP loves DC! A beauty and one of the classics!

Sometimes I wonder where Kirby would have taken the Challies had he stayed with the book. The first original Silver Age concept and Silver Age team also happens to get the first Silver Age run of its own outside of a "Superman/Batman Family" book. Kirby's run is the first of its kind for the Silver Age. The Challies were rewarded their own book before the Flash and this is significant given DC would not have moved on awarding Kirby his own comic if the belief and information they had available at the time didn't justify it. We know things moved more slowly back then in terms of getting feedback on gauging the reaction readers had so the introduction of the Challies in their own book during the early part of the DC Silver Age should not be underscored in terms of its success at the time. What keeps the Challies from having an even greater place in the Silver Age and the history of the American Comic Book, is the later success of Kirby and Lee's Fantastic Four. Still, the Challies have their place and their run ended with the end of the Silver Age they helped start. The reintroduction and revision or modification of Golden Age heroes was one of the greatest achievements in comic book history and DC initiated this with Barry Allen's Flash in Showcase 4. Kirby's Challies proved that there was a place for new original creations besides the reintroduction of the revised Golden Age Superhero. DC's awarding Kirby's Challies their own book not long after their introduction in Showcase 6 further demonstrates the publisher's committment to Jack's vision and lays the foundation for later comic book publishers, artists, and writers to create new concepts in addition to reinventing the old. Especially when Kirby showed them all that it works. The creation of new concepts would supersede DC's reintroduction of the superhero achievement when Marvel (with Kirby himself at the lead!) took Kirby's approach at creating new original concepts that he started with the Challies when Jack teamed with Stan and the legendary Bullpen. The early Silver Age that is exclusively defined by DC (1956 -1961) is a fascinating era that isn't just about what hit the newstands during that time but also about the seeds that were planted for the next great period when Stan and Jack (and Steve) took the medium to a whole new level by bringing back the best of the Timely era for a new generation to enjoy but most importantly, creating new characters/cocepts that led the world of comics for generations to follow. It started with Kirby the visionary taking his creative genius back in the early Silver Age and challenging the unknown...   

it's this kind of passion that led my buddy to getting that angel and the ape beauty in his short box of with-me-'til-i-die classics!

[WolverineX]

On 10/2/2021 at 8:52 AM, Straw-Man said:

forgot this one the other day...

I would love to see this on the big screen.  

[Terry E. Gibbs]

On 10/1/2021 at 12:28 PM, tth2 said:

 

My only disagreements are Showcase 8, as I'm not sure what this issue really brings to the table, and while I think Showcase 6 is an important book, I'm not sure it's a top 10 books as the Challengers were never a marquee team.

 

SC8 is the second SA book. It is many months after SC4 and many more before Flash 105. The second stepping stone in superhero rebirth. Again no SC8, maybe no ASM, XMen & FF. The second one is it brings in the FIRST SA super villain and sets the scene for what follows. Back in the 40s most villains wore suits or lab coats or something similar. (Luthor, Joker, Penguin, two face - Flashes three biggest villains before SC4 dressed in suits or tuxedos -Thinker, Fiddler Shade). Not Captain Cold . Yep FIRST SA villain and set scene for Green Goblin, Magneto, Mysterio, Scorpion. It actually took marvel quite a while to get it. Fans loved the costumes and colour. 

[Terry E. Gibbs]

On 10/3/2021 at 12:10 AM, bronze johnny said:

BP loves DC! A beauty and one of the classics!

Sometimes I wonder where Kirby would have taken the Challies had he stayed with the book. The first original Silver Age concept and Silver Age team also happens to get the first Silver Age run of its own outside of a "Superman/Batman Family" book. Kirby's run is the first of its kind for the Silver Age. ..........

That is so well set out. and What If  Schiff had not pi@#ed off Kirby -would Stan  have then had the chance to write "that Great American novel" - we will never know

 

and love how you are splitting the SA to 56-61 and 61- beyond , so very true

[Primetime]

On 10/2/2021 at 5:52 AM, Straw-Man said:

forgot this one the other day...

If there's any markings or stamps on this cover, it's always on the kid alien's big 'ole green head 

[WolverineX]

On 10/6/2021 at 1:58 PM, Lou Slipper said:

Have you seen the Teen Titans Go! To The Movies movie?

 

I haven't seen that yet, is it good?

[SuperBird]

I know everyone has their own favorites, but here's my list of top 10 SA DC Keys: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MusterMark]

On 10/15/2021 at 11:22 AM, SuperBird said:

I know everyone has their own favorites, but here's my list of top 10 SA DC Keys: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you apply an iron to the post, the invisible ink magically appears.

[KirbyJack]

On 10/16/2021 at 12:43 AM, MusterMark said:

Once you apply an iron to the post, the invisible ink magically appears.

Great advice, jerkface.

I'll be sending you a bill for my new monitor.

[GAMBIT]

On 6/14/2020 at 8:44 AM, KirbyJack said:

Here are Mr. Overstreet’s thoughts on the matter. B&B 28 is UP there!

 

According to Mr Overstreet. I have 7 of the top 10   

 

*missing 5,7,10*

Edited October 18, 2021 by GAMBIT

[WolverineX]

So they are making a metal man show but not a Challengers of the Unknown... come on

[Silver]

On 9/30/2021 at 2:32 PM, KirbyJack said:

1. Showcase 4

2. Brave and Bold 28

3. Showcase 22

4. Adventure 247

5. Flash 105

6. Our Army At War 83

7. Showcase 8

8. Showcase 6

9. Brave and Bold 34

10. Showcase 34

I can't see how Action 252 would be left off of any top 10 list? I would at a minimum bump off SC 6 or 34 for it. But that's just me 😊

[KirbyJack]

I’m not big on Action 252. I would put in 242 first, but again, just me.  
 

If something were to come off, tho, it would be Showcase 34. 

Edited March 26, 2022 by KirbyJack

[bronze johnny]

Solved:

1. Showcase 4

2. Brave and Bold 28

3. Showcase 22

4. Adventure 247

5. Flash 105

6. Our Army At War 83

7. Action 252

8. Showcase 6

9. Brave and Bold 34

10. Showcase 34

Significant mention:

Action 242

Batman 121

I don’t see why Showcase 8 should be on the list. It’s definitely a book for a Flash collector but I give as much weight to Captain Cold’s first appearance weight when compared to the other DC Silver Age new and revamped creations. As for Action 242, Brainiac is a significant villain in Superman’s world but he’s not on the same level as a Dr. Doom and for that matter, Darkseid. Brainiac has not transcended to the the level of villain recognition required to make Action 242 an overall major Silver Age DC key. That’s not to say it’s not a key. It is but even Batman 121 has a more well known villain in comic book fandom. The relative scarcity of Action 242 does contribute to its value and that’s not something to be taken lightly. Still, best to look to Batman and the Flash for better original Silver Age villains (Captain Cold isn’t one of the leading contenders in Flash’s Silver Age rogue gallery). That said, I placed Action 242 and Bats 121 in the “significant mention” category given the potential for these books to one day crack the DC Silver Age top 10.

[Jaylam]

I would like to point out being a Metal Men fan, that as robots, even sentient robots, the depiction of mutilations, beheadings and dismemberments that were not allowed to be shown of humans by the Comics Code in the Silver Age, were allowed if it was robots that were involved in such violence. Here are a few examples. The horror! 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Jaylam

[tth2]

On 3/27/2022 at 3:06 AM, KirbyJack said:

If something were to come off, tho, it would be Showcase 34.

Ya gotta have the Atom! 

[tth2]

On 3/27/2022 at 5:46 AM, Jaylam said:

I would like to point out being a Metal Men fan, that as robots, even sentient robots, the depiction of mutilations, beheadings and dismemberments that were not allowed to be shown of humans by the Comics Code in the Silver Age, were allowed if it was robots that were involved in such violence. Here are a few examples. The horror! 

Good point!