Posted By Dan Greenfield on Nov 27, 2024 | 2 comments

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 66 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott Tipton and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Nov. 27, 1958.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of Nov. 20, 1979. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are technically the comics that went on sale between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30.)

So, let’s set the scene: The geopolitical status quo was being upended in the Caribbean and in Europe, with the ultimate effects felt around the world:

— The Cuban Revolution was reaching its climax and the fighting around Guisa was intense. Fulgencio Batista’s government forces could not contain Fidel Castro’s rebels, who kept hitting the army with setback after setback. The battle was a decisive marker that Batista was in trouble and the rebels ultimately took control of the island nation over New Year’s.

— Meanwhile, there was plenty of saber rattling in the Cold War: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev on Nov.27 — Thanksgiving, as it happened — gave an ultimatum to the U.S., U.K., and France, demanding that their troops be withdrawn from West Berlin within six months, or the Russians would give control over the access routes between West Germany and West Berlin to East Germany. U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles waved off the threat: “We are not afraid of May 27, 1959.” (Weirdly, Dulles died in May 1959 and was buried on the 27th.) Khrushchev later backed off but it did make the divided city a central issue.

IN OTHER NEWS

— It would be some time before we found out who had The Right Stuff, but the U.S. crewed satellite program was on Nov. 26 officially named Project Mercury.

Artist’s rendition

— The U.S. on Nov. 28 made its first full-range firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile, launching it from Cape Canaveral. The missile reached its target, 6,325 miles away, near Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, half an hour later. It brought the U.S. into parity with the Soviet Union, which had already successfully tested a similar missile.

— On Nov. 25, elections were held in the territory of Alaska for its first state officials and federal representatives, ahead of becoming the 49th state on Jan. 3, 1959.

Rockettes on a float

— As noted, Thanksgiving was Nov. 27. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marked the famed department store’s 100th Christmas season. In addition, the Radio City Rockettes made their first appearance at the parade. They have since become a staple of the festivities, because nothing says Thanksgiving like holiday cheer, a big meal, football, and leggy dames. (The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers, 24-14, by the way.)

— Nebraska 15-year-old Caril Ann Fugate, whose multi-state killing spree with boyfriend Charles Starkweather shocked the nation, spent the holiday — and many more — behind bars. She was sentenced to life imprisonment Nov. 21 for her role in 11 murders. (Fifteen years later, her sentence was lessened, making her eligible for parole. She was released in 1976. Starkweather was executed in the electric chair in 1959.)

The generally forgettable romantic comedy Houseboat — starring powerhouses Cary Grant and Sophia Loren — topped the box office, but it was a one-week wonder. There was also the thin musical comedy Mardi Gras, starring Pat Boone. But still in theaters was the August release Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. The lovable musical Damn Yankees also was likely still playing the field.

There was also Bell, Book and Candle — a comedy about a beautiful witch (Kim Novak) who casts a spell on her neighbor (Jimmy Stewart). It was one of the inspirations for the later TV series Bewitched.

Curtis and Leigh, with older daughter Kelly and baby Jamie

Film stars Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, on the other hand, had their own premiere, when they welcomed a baby Nov. 22 — a girl named Jamie Lee.

The top-rated television shows included Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Have Gun — Will Travel and The Perry Como Show, plus a TV movie production of the Broadway musical Wonderful Town. I Love Lucy was no longer producing new episodes but Desilu continued to make TV history. On Nov. 24, Desilu Playhouse on CBS aired “The Time Element,” a teleplay by Rod Serling that led the network to broadcast a weekly series of Serling productions. It would be called The Twilight Zone and debut less than a year later.

To Know Him Is to Love Him, by the Teddy Bears — written by group member Phil Spector — was the nation’s best-selling single. Ricky Nelson’s Lonesome Town was at No. 7 and the Everly Brothers’ Problems was at No. 8.

But Elvis Presley had two hits off the same double-A-side disc — even though he was in the Army: the memorable One Night at No. 5 and the raver I Got Stung at No. 9. RCA and his publishing house had been stockpiling material for when the King was in the service. Both were also on his new compilation album, the classic 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong (aka Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 2).

Then there was the tune that would become a massive hit, and a holiday staple to this very day: The newly released The Chipmunk Song, featuring the vocal stylings of comedian Ross Bagdasarian, introduced Alvin and the Chipmunks and their pal David Seville to the world.

Me, I want a hula-hoop…

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Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension

Detective Comics #263, DC. Sci-fi was definitely the order of the day in Gotham City: no wacky aliens on the cover but they were responsible for that tech. Plus, back-ups starring the Martian Manhunter and Roy Raymond, TV Detective!

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Sgt. Bilko #11 and Star Spangled War Stories #77, DC. Compare and contrast.

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Four Color #962, Dell. There were six Maverick issues before the feature graduated to its own title the following August. This ish — the fourth in this run — had a 26-page main story and a 6-page backup, both illustrated by Dan Spiegle, who regularly chronicled the adventures of Bret and Bart. Dunno who the writer was.

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Maverick Marshal #2, Charlton. I’m sure that title was a total coincidence. (By the way, this one came out earlier in the month. A lot of publishers didn’t have anything this week, but we wanted to give you a broader taste of what was out there. The rationale, of course, is that these were still on sale.)

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Tales to Astonish #2, Atlas. Featuring the talents of most of the writers and artists who later helped build the House of Ideas, including Stan Lee, Don Heck,  Vince Colletta, John Buscema, Carl Burgos, Joe Sinnott, and (possibly) Larry Lieber. Plus work by Matt Baker and a story illustrated by Joe Maneely, who had died that June in a train accident. Oh, and that’s a Steve Ditko cover. (Another that came out earlier in November.)

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Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension

Action Comics #248, DC. Now with extra Congorilla!

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Strange Adventures #100, DC. DC loves its gorillas.

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Black Fury #17, Charlton. Sure, he’s a wonder horse, but he still can’t read.

Dan adds: From earlier in November.

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Tales of Suspense #2, Marvel. There is a lot to unpack here.

Dan adds: One more from earlier in November. And this one includes Lee, Ditko, Maneely, Burgos, Sinnott, and Lieber (possibly) — plus Russ Heath and Jack Kirby!

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MORE

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of  Nov. 20 — in 1979! Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of Nov. 13 — in 1985! Click here.

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Primary comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, the Grand Comics Database.