A 60th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The celebrated Mr. K has an ace of a column up his sleeve… — UPDATED 1/25/26: It’s the 60th anniversary of the Royal Flush Gang, which debuted January 25, 1966, in Justice League of America #43. Perfect time to reprint this one from September 2022. Dig it! — Dan — I don’t usually introduce Paul’s columns because the dude needs no introduction. But here’s some back story: I love the Royal Flush Gang. Love them. But I hadn’t read their original stories in forever, so on one recent night I was sitting up reading Justice League of America #43 and was blown halfway off the couch by it’s wonderfully entertaining, unapologetic Silver Age-ness. So I says to myself, I says, “Jeez, I bet Paul would have a field day with this one.” And here we are! Dig it. By PAUL KUPPERBERG This is going to sound nuts to today’s readers, but “The Card Crimes of the Royal Flush Gang!” in Justice League of America #43 (March 1966) wasn’t meant to be goofy. In fact, it’s not, on the face of it, really that much different than any other Julie Schwartz edited title of the period. He liked his writers to outdo themselves on schtick, especially on his covers. The wackier, more intriguing the image, the better. The Flash turning into a puppet or growing super-fat as he ran. Green Lantern versus a giant lizard or selling power rings on the street for a buck. The Atom fleeing Chronos’ buzzsaw or flattened by a madman with a steaming clothes iron. You get the idea. What makes the goofy “The Card Crimes of the Royal Flush Gang!” so irresistibly strange? I think because of its sincerity. Neither Julie nor writer Gardner Fox approached this issue intending to mess with their readers. They were just trying to plot the next issue of the JLA. Of which, give or take a couple of 80-Page Giant Annuals and counting the trio of The Brave and the Bold issues they were introduced in, there had already been four dozen. And every issue can’t be a universe- or dimensional-spanning epic in which the fate of the world and/or existence is decided. Usually, the League fought more down-to-earth menaces, which made the epics special when they did appear. So, sometimes, they fought bad guys...
We finally have a list of contents! Of all the 2026 DC Finest collections revealed last year, only one remained whose contents were a mystery: The Origin of Robin. DC finally released the list of issues in its latest solicitations this week — and it’s a nest of Silver and Bronze Age treasures. Dig the official info: DC FINEST: ROBIN — THE ORIGIN OF ROBIN Written by MIKE FRIEDRICH, ELLIOT S! MAGGIN, and others Art by GIL KANE, IRV NOVICK, and others Cover by CARMINE INFANTINO and JOE GIELLA This volume covers Robin’s major solo appearances in Batman #184, #192, #202, #213, #227, #229-231, #234-236, #239-242, #244-245, #248-250, #252, #254, and #259; Detective Comics #342, #386, #390-391, #394-395, #398-403, #445, #447, and #450-451; World’s Finest Comics #141, #147, #195, and #200; and Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #111 and #130. $39.99 US | 424 pages | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79950-829-8 ON SALE 6/16/26 — DC also solicited a previously (officially) unannounced Supergirl volume: DC FINEST: SUPERGIRL: DIE AND LET LIVE Written by PETER DAVID Art by LEONARD KIRK, ROBIN RIGGS, and others Cover by LEONARD KIRK and ROBIN RIGGS Featuring stories filled with action, heart, and humor as only Peter David could deliver, DC Finest: Supergirl: Die and Let Live collects Supergirl #19-35 and #1,000,000, Resurrection Man #16-17, Team Superman Secret Files and Origins #1, Team Superman #1, Supergirl/Prysm Double-Shot #1, and a story from Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1. $39.99 US | 576 pages | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-79951-360-5 ON SALE 5/26/26 — A few thoughts: — Robin: The Origin of Robin is not dissimilar to the Showcase Presents: Robin volume that came out in 2008. It’s shorter but it’s in color. The edition takes its name from 1969’s Batman #213, which featured a retelling of the Boy Wonder’s beginnings, by E. Nelson Bridwell, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. — I’m pretty sure I have all the Robin stories in one format or another, but the ease of access makes me mull this one over. — Supergirl: Die and Let Live recently surfaced on retail websites. — MORE — DC to Publish SIX Facsimile Editions in April — With an Emphasis on the Wacky. Click here. — BATMAN: DC Sets Dates for April DARK KNIGHT and YEAR...
We kick off a recurring series on IDW and their superb line of archival books — from Artist’s Editions to Yoe Books to the Library of American Comics … and so much more.
COOL EVENT ALERT: Arlen Schumer’s Jews ‘n’ Comics at the 92nd Street Y!
