It’s the BRONZE AGE BONANZA PRELUDE…
—
Welcome to BRONZE AGE BONANZA — our new monthly series that looks at the greatest covers of the Bronze Age — exactly 50 years later. For more info on this feature, click here.
—
As I noted in the intro to BRONZE AGE BONANZA, 1970 may generally be considered the start of the era, but I personally pinpoint it a few months earlier, to October 1969 when Robin left for college in Batman #217.
So as a prelude to our regular monthly series, which will begin in earnest this weekend with THE TOP 13 COVERS OF JANUARY 1970 — RANKED, we’re taking a look at the final months of 1969, or more specifically the covers that came out on or after Oct. 21, Batman #217’s on-sale date.
So here is the BRONZE AGE BONANZA PRELUDE: The TOP 13 COVERS to End the ’60s — RANKED:
—
13. The Brady Bunch #1, Dell. I had no idea The Brady Bunch even had a comic. This one boasts stories illustrated by Jose Delbo. The cover’s not all that special, really, but it signals a major pop-cultural event for kids of the ’70s — and also gives you a real sense of the diversity of comics at the time. (Click here for an interview with Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick.)
October
—
12. Falling in Love #113, DC. Nick Cardy was a great fit for so much — superheroes, horror, romance, you name it. What makes this cover stand out is the annoyed “Oh, please” look on the face of our simpering heroine’s friend. Plus, EXTRA! YOUR LOVE HOROSCOPE FOR 1970.
December: Nick Cardy
—
11. Famous Monsters of Filmland #63, Warren. Famous Monsters isn’t a comic book but our go-to source for this feature, Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, includes it in its monthly galleries, and so will we. It speaks to the experience kids and teens had checking out the spinner rack and magazine stands at the time and so I’m going with it.
December: Basil Gogos
—
10. Hanna-Barbera: Scooby Doo… Where Are You! #1, Gold Key. Another that makes it for cultural significance.
December: Jack Manning
—
9. Captain America #122, Marvel. Just a good, solid Marvel action cover that conveys its shared universe.
November: Gene Colan pencils, Joe Sinnott inks
—
8. Edgar Rice Burroughs: Korak, Son of Tarzan #33. Man, wacky painted covers like this are a real lost art. C’mon, we all need more gigantic mandrills that shoot fire from their eyes and nostrils.
December: George Wilson
—
7. Star Trek #7, Gold Key. Gold Key’s Trek comics bore only a passing resemblance to the TV show but the covers were magnificent. This is one of the series’ all-time best. The show was already cancelled by this time, by the way.
December: Alberto Giolitti (and photos)
—
6. The Flash #193, DC. Murphy Anderson’s popular cover is kind of a Silver Age last gasp. Really compelling and kind of goofy at the same time.
October: Murphy Anderson
—
5. Justice League of America #77, DC. A classic cover that helped herald a change in tone for the JLA: Snapper Carr betrays the League!
October: Anderson
—
4. Teen Titans #25, DC. Cardy’s moody cover also marked a shift for the Titans. Their light-hearted days were ending, as stories of horror and social relevance began to take hold.
November: Cardy
—
3. Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #74, Marvel. Just a great, badass cover by John Severin. That’s all.
November: John Severin
—
2. Batman #217, DC. Like I said, this is where the Bronze Age began, as far as I’m concered. I would have made it the top choice but there’s no arguing the next selection.
October: Neal Adams
—
1. Detective Comics #395, DC. One of the definitive comics of the Bronze Age: Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams collaborate (with Dick Giordano inking) on Batman for the first time with the gothic The Secret of the Waiting Graves. A milestone in comics storytelling — and it predated the groundbreaking Green Lantern #76 by a few months.
November: Adams
—
MORE
— Introducing BRONZE AGE BONANZA. Click here.
— BRONZE AGE BONZANA: The 1970 INDEX. Click here.
—
Sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics and the Grand Comics Database.
January 20, 2020
So epically retro.
January 20, 2020
Whoa!
January 20, 2020
Detective 395 is awesome inside as well. I didn’t get to read it until the mid 1980s, but it is one of my favorite Batman stories. I see it as a good point to start the Bronze Age.
If you haven’t read them, I recommend the Star Trek issues written by Len Wein. He was clearly a fan of the show and his issues are the most true to its spirit. Plus, Wein seemed to do a great job on every series he did. He really seemed to “get” every character that he worked on.
Am I the only kid of the 1970s that absolutely HATES The Brady Bunch?
January 21, 2020
Great collection!!! I have most of these and Secret of the Waiting Graves is a true classic. Great job Dan!
January 31, 2020
Maybe a case can be made for FF 92 or 93? The silver age was winding down, and Kirby’s run on this monster title of the Marvel age also seemed to be winding down. The Torgo quartet was for me the last of the more epic Lee/Kirby storylines, and as fitting a bookend to the decade as any other.
February 3, 2020
I think the JLA is Infantino/Anderson – it’s certainly laid out by Infantino (most covers from ’67 on were) but the main character pose and trousers look very Infantino – sad, I know… Love Infantino/Anderson work.