Strange Adventures #205 (On Sale: August 1967) is a
classic masterpiece, the introduction of Arnold Drake's Deadman in a
chilling and brilliant cover by Carmine Infantino and
George Roussos, featuring what Drake called, "the best bit of
writing I ever did," the caption:
"This man who was just murdered
is our hero! His story begins one minute later -- Introducing...
Deadman"
Inside we have the wonderful "Who Has Been Lying in
My Grave?" by Arnold Drake, Carmine Infantino and
George Roussos. Boston Brand, a trapeze artist and minority
owner of a circus, walks the circus grounds before his nightly performance as
the aerialist Deadman. He discovers a local constable poking around the grounds
and chases him away. He then discovers that Leary the barker is stealing from
the box office. He also catches Heldrich the animal trainer getting drunk. He
fires Heldrich, then heads to the big top.
After reaching the top of the
trapeze, Boston is shot by a sniper with a hook for a right hand. He falls to
his death. Then his astral form is met by Rama Kushna, a Hindu spirit goddess.
Rama allows Boston to walk the Earth as a spirit until his killer is
caught.
Boston, now truly a Deadman, begins the search for his killer by
checking up on the circus performers. He discovers that he is invisible, but can
temporarily take control of human bodies. While inhabiting the body of Tiny the
strongman, Deadman discovers Heldrich and Ramsey, the constable, making a drug
deal. Deadman stops the crooks, then resumes the search for the killer, the
Hook. Reprinted in Brave and the Bold #97, DC Special Blue Ribbon
Digest #5 and Deadman
#1.
I came late to Deadman, as I hadn't really started
collecting comics till next month. but once I found him I quickly found all the
old issues and was simply blown away by the concept and the execution. As far as
I'm concerned, this book marks the beginning of the Infantino reign at DC and
the beginning of my golden age of comics. New ideas, new characters, new
concepts were all coming to DC and this book was the first shot across the bow
of the stodgy old DC.
Sure, Deadman is now more associated with Neal Adams than his creators, Drake and Infantino, but it was these men, not Adams, who had the stroke of brilliance that Neal would take off and run with. When I met Arnold Drake years later at the San Diego Comic-Con, he didn't wear a shirt proclaiming he created the Doom Patrol or Stanley and His Monster or even It Rhymes with Lust, the first graphic novel,. No, his t-shirt proudly declared, "I'm Deadman's Daddy!"
My copy of Strange Adventures
#205 was in very good shape when I bought it, but is now tattered
and ragged after a multitude of readings. This was simply one of the best comics
I ever read.
Jack Miller takes over as Editor.
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