BRONZE AGE MINUTE: DC Special #11

DC; March-April 1971
Cover by Neal Adams and Bernie Wrightson

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
Penciler: Jack Sparling
Inker: 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 fulfils a tribal prophecy.

Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Uncredited
Inker: Uncredited

Review: This Silver Age reprint from House of Mystery #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 at least one creature isn’t what it seems.

Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Jack Kirby
Inker: Uncredited

Review: Early Jack Kirby art (from House of Mystery #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
Penciler: Ruben Moreira
Inker: Moreira

Review: This silly Frankenstein knockoff (from House of Mystery #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
Penciler: Ruben Moreira
Inker: Moreira

Review: A typical Silver Age sci-fi tale, reprinted from House of Mystery #113. Again, Ruben Moreira’s rendering is a cut above.

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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 House of Mystery #85) is reminiscent of early Kamandi.

Grade (for the whole 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 comic book smart people, can instantly decipher alien languages!

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