DC; June 1971
Cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

Title: “Plague of the Pale People”
Synopsis: The US disposes of chemical weapons at sea, disrupting the Pale People’s culture and pulling the JLA into a war.

Writer: Mike Friedrich
Penciler: Dick Dillin
Inker: Joe Giella

Review: DC’s efforts to serve up “relevant” stories during the Bronze Age were often penned by older writers, causing a weird, tone-deaf disconnect with the readers they were trying to reach. That’s not the case here, as future Star*Reach publisher Mike Friedrich was in his early 20s when this comic hit the stands. His story is preachy in tone and reflective of the issues of its day: It’s anti-establishment, anti-war, pro-environment. And there’s an overt religiosity to it that’s rare in mainstream comics. There are some holes in the story, but it’s a fascinating – and enjoyable – relic of its time.

Grade: C+

Cool factor: An Atlantean Cultural Exchange center. The Proof Rock, which is also apparently a plant and a lie detector? Hawkman setting himself up as a prophet and establishing a new religion? Yeah, this one’s got a lot going on.
Not-so-cool factor: There seems to be a basic misunderstanding of hydrology here.

Notable: The credits include a “special thanks” to John Cardozo.

Character quotable: “Take and eat of it, for this is the food of life!” – Hawkman, prophet of the Pale People

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