Adventure Comics # 457, June, 1978

A nice Milgrom cover with an almost Kubert-like feel in terms of both design and artwork. Don't get used to this phase of ADVENTURE, though, as already this issue lays out the upcoming plans that will change the title yet again in just a couple of issues.

It's April of 1978. By this point, STAR WARS, already nearly a year old but still playing in theaters, had taken over much of the world's pop culture.

This was a fun issue of the revived SHOWCASE, literally shoehorning in every single SHOWCASE character who had appeared in a lead role in the title. Hmmm...was 007 in there? I don't recall. My FB pals Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton did a terrific job on it! Thanks, guys! 

I've never gotten the fascination with Eclipso. Somebody must like the character, however, as he keeps getting revived. Why, here's a revival now.

Adventure Comics # 456, April, 1978

Note Al Milgrom's name on the one football player's back. Nice touch. The booklength story debuts the new team, though, and as much as I like every one of them--Michelinie, Staton and Abel--I have to say it doesn't quite gel for me. Part of the problem seems to be awkward inking making characters look rather odd at times. Perhaps this was during the time inker Abel was recovering from a stroke?

The rest of the issue is given up to self-promotion again. There was a lot going on in the DCU at that time including the mega-hit SUPERMAN VS MUHAMMAD ALI. Note the "dynamic new look" on SHAZAM. That would end up in ADVENTURE eventually.

 

Adventure Comics # 455, February, 1978

An interesting cover by Al Milgrom and Jack Abel but still the Ortiz/Colletta work inside. The Penguin gets his own, non-Batman, strip even if it IS for Hostess!

Posters were a big thing in 1978. REALLY big!

Told ya.

Aqualad's final solo outing already. My FB pal Paul Kupperberg, who seemed to be at every Con I attended back in the seventies, writes with good art from Carl Potts and Dick Giordano.

Worst Wonder Woman rendition ever?

Adventure Comics # 454, December, 1977

Well, that didn't last long. Still a good old-fashioned story by Rozakis but substandard art from the combination of one Juan Ortiz and Vince Colletta. 

Adventure Comics # 453, October, 1977

Out of the scores of series that had appeared in ADVENTURE up to this point, SUPERBOY held the record for longevity...and, his own book now gone, here he is again! Bob Rozakis's script is comfortably old-fashioned and the art, by John Calnan and Murphy Anderson, has a distinct 1970ish feel. 

Aqualad's first solo series ever, although he's hardly drawn looking like a "lad" anymore. 

Adventure Comics # 452, August, 1977

Here we have arguably the single most important AQUAMAN comic to be published up to that point and there isn't the slightest mention of the reason on the cover.

The story itself kind of throws away its own important pints as well and this splash give no hint of what's to come.

The first revelation is that the Sea King's old foe, Black Manta really is that! A rather clever move.

But before we have time to appreciate that, we see just how evil he is as he imperils Aquababy!

And worse! R.I.P. Aquababy.

Aqualad's behavior at this point in the story is 100% out of character as he refuses to help his mentor catch Black Manta...because he's mad that the two of them had been forced to fight each other and Aquaman had aimed to win. 

And then finally, the official announcement that Aquaman was once again getting his own book. We see that the reason for Aqualad's earlier behavior was that he, too, was getting his own series but only as a back up here in ADVENTURE. And a back-up to what, you ask? SUPERBOY! He's back!