Weird Secret Origins

    (DC, 2004)
™ and © DC Comics, Inc.

In the tradition of the giant–sized annuals and special editions of the Silver Age, this reprint collection pays homage to some of DC’s classic characters, focusing (as the title indicates) on those heroes whose earliest origin stories featured some kind of weird, often supernatural, twist. Although some of these tales were first presented over 60 years ago, several of the heroes, such as Doctor Fate, The Spectre, and Metamorpho, are still going strong today. And though current readers will probably recognize Animal Man and even Superman’s imperfect clone Bizarro, it may take an old–timer to recognize the original versions of characters like the Enchantress, Congorilla, and El Diablo.

Besides shining the spotlight on these memorable characters, these stories feature the early work of artists and writers that helped shape the comic industry, such as Gardner Fox, Jerry Siegel, Gray Morrow, Joe Simon, Carmine Infantino, and several others.

— Joseph Self
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    Oct 2004
    Cover: $5.95
    W: Gardner Fox, bob Haney, Dave Wood, France Edward Herron, Jack Miller, Robert Kanigher, Jerry Siegel  ·  A: Howard Sherman, Howard Purcell, Sheldon Moldoff, Carmine Infantino, George Roussos, Ramona Fradon, Joe Simon, Gray Morrow, Wayne Boring, Stan Kaye, Bernard Baily
    Reprints from More Fun Comics #52, 53, 67, Strange Adventures #180, 187, World’s Finest Comics #181, 226, Action Comics #248, All Star Western #3; Origin of Animal Man (Buddy Baker); Origin of Bizarro; Origin of Congorilla (Congo Bill); Origin of Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson); Origin of El Diablo (Lazarus Lane); Origin of Enchantress (June Moone); Origin of Metamorpho (Rex Mason); Origin of Spectre (Jim Corrigan); Giant-Size
    2 copies from $6.00