Posted By Dan Greenfield on Nov 5, 2025 | 4 comments

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 55 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Nov. 5, 1970.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of Oct. 29, 1961. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are the comics that went on sale between Nov. 2. and Nov. 8.)

So, let’s set the scene: Pretty slow news week on a big scale, but there were still some interesting odds and ends.

— It was a pretty good time for up-and-coming musical acts. On Nov. 6, a five-piece hard rock act calling itself Aerosmith played its first gig — at Nipmuc Regional High School in Mendon, Massachusetts. The band got the gig because 25-year-old guitarist Joe Perry’s mother worked at a nearby school and knew someone at Nipmuc. You can always count on Mom!

— Five days earlier, a Swedish pop group named Festfolket held its first planned concert, at a restaurant in Gothenburg. The group would later change its name to ABBA.

— On Nov. 3, the U.S. midterms were a mixed bag for Republican President Nixon. The Democrats lost four seats in the Senate, but still held the majority 53 seats. The Dems, however, gained 12 seats in the House, strengthening their hand in the lower chamber. Down in Georgia, 46-year-old former state Sen. Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, was elected governor.

— On Nov. 7, Royal Caribbean launched its first cruise ship, the MS Song of Norway. It left Miami for a seven-day round trip with stops in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

— The same day, but obviously completely unrelated, two schools played Ultimate Frisbee against each other for the first time. Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., hosted Millburn High School for a match in the parking lot. Columbia — where the sport began — walloped Millburn.

— On Nov. 8, New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey blasted a last-second, record 63-yard field goal, lifting his team to a 19-17 victory over the visiting Detroit Lions. Dempsey’s heroics were amplified because was born without toes on his right foot and had to wear a custom shoe to play. The record has been surpassed many times — most recently this past Sunday — but Dempsey is the only one anyone remembers.

The box-office winner was a double-bill of British schlock flick Trog, starring Joan Crawford, and Hammer’s Taste the Blood of Dracula, starring Christopher Lee. I shit you not. It was a one-week stay at No. 1, but still: top of the box office!

Other movie choices included MASH;  C.C. and Company — starring Joe Namath and Ann-Margret; Five Easy Pieces; Scrooge; The Phantom Tollbooth; and two Barbra Streisand starrers, The Owl and the Pussycat and Hello, Dolly!

Gunsmoke finished first in the Nielsens, followed by the instant smash The Flip Wilson Show (No. 2), which had only premiered in September. Ironside, Bonanza and Here’s Lucy were also among the hits.

It was a partcularly memorable fall for new shows. Besides Flip Wilson, newcomers included the game-changing Monday Night Football; classic comedies The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Odd Couple; The Partridge Family; and McCloud.

The Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There was in the middle of a five-week run leading the Billboard 100. Other smash hits included I Think I Love You by the Partridge Family; Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles; Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross; and Cracklin’ Rosie by Neil Diamond.

Led Zeppelin III — underrated among the band’s catalogue — was the best-selling album, with Santana’s Abraxas and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Cosmo’s Factory also in the mix.

The Beatles’ final studio LP, Let It Be, was still a hit, even as George Harrison was preparing to release his first solo project at the end of November — the extraordinary triple album All Things Must Pass, which for my money is the best album by any of the former Fab Four.

Annnnd, there was the greatest live album of all time, the Rolling Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out.

Paint it black! Paint it black! … Paint it black, you devil!

—

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

Superman #233, DC. The debut of Superman’s 1970s makeover, with the destruction of all Kryptonite, and Clark Kent’s transition from mild-mannered reporter to nationally famous TV news anchor.

Dan adds: Just pointing out that this came out Nov. 5, which means today is the 55th anniversary of one of the most famous comics of the Bronze Age. The original art for the late Neal Adams’ iconic cover is up for auction as we speak. And Adams claimed he hated it! Here’s why.

—

Aquaman #55, DC. Another gorgeous Nick Cardy Aquaman cover.

Dan adds: Yep, Cardy always killed on his Aquaman covers. But don’t forget the interiors were by Jim Aparo. Nevertheless, the series would be cancelled with the next issue.

—

Wonder Woman #192, DC. An unusually moody and striking Wonder Woman cover.

—

Sub-Mariner #34, Marvel. The beginnings of the Defenders!

Dan adds: It goes something like this: Roy Thomas was in the middle of a story when Doctor Strange was cancelled with Issue #183 in 1969. The arc continued in issues of Sub-Mariner and The Incredible Hulk. Months later, Thomas featured Namor, the Hulk and the Silver Surfer, using the name “Titans Three,” in Sub-Mariner #34-35. The seeds were sown.

—

Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension

Captain America #134, Marvel. The Falcon gets billing in the title for the first time! He’d hold onto that spot, for the most part, until early 1978.

—

DC Special #10, DC. Speaking of great Cardy covers, this is one of his all-time best.

—

Reggie’s Wise Guy Jokes #16, Archie. I have a theory about people who like Reggie comics.

—

MORE

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of October 29 — in 1961! Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of October 22 — in 1983! Click here.