Tag: The 70s

Superman’s Punching Car!

Here’s another ad from the 70s (yeah, I’m going through a chunk of old comics and keep finding these things!)

I think it’s safe to say that the Batmobile is probably the most well known superhero themed vehicle; sure, many people will know of Wonder Woman’s invisible plane, but when the majority of super-powered heroes can fly and/or run very fast, they don’t need a car, motorbike or helicopter. I’m not sure what use a Daily Planet delivery truck would be to any hero, but we’ll let that one slide for the moment as there’s one vehicle in that lot that caught my eye, as you can probably tell from this post’s title:

Superman’s punching car! (I have no idea if that’s the real name for it)

In what world would a car/plane hybrid that has retractable punching arms on the side be any more use than Superman himself?

Think about it – Supes is flying around in his punching car-plane-thing and comes across a villain that needs a damn good thrashing. What’s he going to do? Use the mechanical arms on the side of that thing or just get out and punch the damn thing himself? He’s Superman, for Rao’s sake!

This makes no sense and makes Clark Kent very grumpy.

Batman Vs Superman

Here’s a couple of ads that ran in Justice League of America #124 from November, 1975:​

Arguably the two premier DC heroes, showing off to the readers where they can be found.

I’ve just had a look at Previews for the April listings and thought I’d update those ads:

We’ve gone from six titles each in 1975 to four for Superman and eight for Batman; it would have been nine but it looks like he’s not in April’s Detective Comics.

I bet Superman can’t wait for Brian Michael Bendis and his big relaunch . . .

Who Were The Mightiest DC Heroes In 1977?

This is a genuine ad from 1977 where DC were touting stories “featuring the mightiest heroes of our time!”

I’ve blurred the list of names and the cover of the comic.

Before you click the read more link below, take a guess at which five heroes (because of course they’re all men, this was the 70s after all) will star in this comic. I’ll give you a clue – Superman wasn’t one of them.

Have your guesses ready . . .

Continue reading “Who Were The Mightiest DC Heroes In 1977?” →

All The Time In The World

So, it’s 1975 once more and the Justice League is fighting the Injustice League of Earth Two. Or the Injustice Gang. Or the Injustice Society. Or some bunch of villains that’s teamed up together and called their group the Injustice Something Or Other.

As always, the groups fight each other one on one:

Hawkman’s legs are being tied together by the Huntress; the Wizard’s thrown a huge banana in the path of the Flash; Green Arrow’s been blinded by the Shade; Batman’s been blinded by Icicle; Aquaman has (somehow) been distracted by the Gambler; and Black Canary is being attacked by Sportsmaster.

Let’s take a closer look at that last one, shall we?

Black Canary has stayed still long enough for Sportsmaster to draw a three part target on her belly in to which he’s ready to throw a dart.

Sportsmaster has no super speed powers, no ability to do that quickly – although all credit to the guy for doing a very good job left handed – and yet Black Canary is just standing there, letting him do that, instead of either blasting him with her canary cry or using one of her Judo moves

Or even just kicking him in the balls, which might be more appropriate for the Sportsmaster.

Man, heroes were so much more polite and accommodating in the 70s.