DC Special #11
DC, March-April 1971
Title: “The House of Gargoyles!”
Synopsis: A hack sculptor murders a competitor to steal a winning design – only to be hunted by the gargoyles he crafts.
Writer: Bob Haney
Artist: Jack Sparling
Review: This monster-themed collection of reprints kicks off with a tale barely three years old at the time. While not the most original, Bob Haney’s prose on this gargoyle story (originally from House of Mystery #175) is a cut above. Jack Sparling’s art is a bit cartoony for this story’s tone.
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Title: “The Moon Monster”
Synopsis: When a lunar meteorite crashes to Earth, a butterfly collector is transformed into a creature that fulfills a tribal prophecy.
Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Uncredited
Review: This Silver Age reprint from HoM #97 is pretty silly by Bronze standards. Especially the creature design.
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Title: “The Creatures From Nowhere!”
Synopsis: Strange monsters appear suddenly and start destroying a city – but a least one creature isn’t what it seems.
Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Jack Kirby
Inker: Uncredited
Review: Early Jack Kirby art (from HoM #70) is always a treat, but his monster design wasn’t quite there yet.
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Title: “Return of the Barsto Beast”
Synopsis: The descendant of a “twisted scientist” uses a movie production to attempt his revenge on the town of Barsto.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Ruben Moreira
Review: This silly Frankenstein knockoff (from HoM #116) doesn’t offer much new, but the art of Ruben Moreira has its moments.
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Title: “Prisoners on Beast Asteroid”
Synopsis: Two explorers from Earth must land their crippled spacecraft – then struggle to survive on an asteroid populated with monsters!
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Ruben Moreira
Review: A typical Silver Age sci-fi tale, reprinted from HoM #113. Again, Ruben Moreira’s rendering is a cut above.
•••
Title: “The Stone Sentinels of Giant Island”
Synopsis: A science expedition uncovers an island protected by giant stone sentinels that were left, long ago, by aliens.
Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Jack Kirby
Inker: Uncredited
Review: Now we’re talking: Kirby doing Easter-Island-inspired monsters! The art on this tale (from HoM #85) is reminiscent of early Kamandi.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Cool factor: The King + Easter-Island-inspired monsters = Very cool!
Not-so-cool factor: The last story ends on a third-page ad for a Jerry Lewis comic. Ow.
Notable: Also includes three full-page cartoons by Sergio Aragonés and a one-page text story, titled “Moonstruck,” by Len Wein.
Character quotable: “Yes, a certain ray from a distant star motivates the things!” – Prof. Spears, who, like many fictional smart people, can instantly decipher alien languages
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Oct. 26, 2010.
