Happy Halloween from the House of Mystery

Happy Halloween from Cain and the House of Mystery, with this cover from Esao Andrews and the House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2 from December, 2010!

Stories include a little House of Mystery tale with Cain and Abel from Matthew Sturges, Luca Rossi and Jose Marzan Jr.; Madame Xanadu by Matt Wagner and Brandon Graham; John Constantine the Hellblazer by Peter Milligan, Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini; iZombie by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred and Lucifer by Mike Carey and Peter Gross!

Just the creepy tales one needs for Halloween!

Atom vs. the Zombies

"Atom vs. The Zombies" ... sounds like a 1950s horror movie, right?


But, surprisingly, the Mighty Mite did face off against a few legions of undead during his days in comics!

Back To the 1960s

With the last issue of the Atom's regular series, Atom #38 (August-September, 1968 by Frank Robbins, Mike Sekowsky and George Roussos), Atom dealt with legions of undead during a "Sinister Stopover...Earth"! 

It was really aliens called the Physalians who were possessing human hosts to take over nuclear power plants to harvest their energy. 

In his alter ego, the mighty physicist Ray Palmer, along with frogman Jonah Waite, were able to work together to stop the aliens and turn off the nuclear reactors, preventing the aliens from feeding on the energy, putting an end to Atom's solo adventures in a book of his own for a time.

Heroes Team-Up

But, things weren't over for the Mighty Mite, as he took part in comics earliest buddy comics, where he and his friend, Hawkman, shared a title, that of Atom and Hawkman for issues Atom and Hawkman #39 to #45 (October-November, 1968 to October-November, 1960), sometimes in adventures together, sometimes separately, and all under covers by Joe Kubert (though Atom didn't make the covers or #43 or #44, but Hawkman's spectral foe, Gentleman Ghost, did).

Closer To The Modern Age

Which catches us up to now (with a few things happening to Hawkman and the Atom along the way, like Atom's time as a barbarian, and the multiverse's changes to Hawkman). 

 
But even through all of that, the pair remained friends....


 

Atom and Hawkman reunited during the course of the Blackest Night event (where legions of DC heroes and villains returned from the dead thanks to the efforts of a Green Lantern Corps villain in 2009/2010) over the course of 9 issues for the main event, along with many, many crossovers....
 
...including one special one....

 

Atom and Hawkman had one more issue (Atom and Hawkman #46 of March, 2010, by Geoff Johns, Ryan Sook and Fernando Pasarin), where Atom proved to be a big deal in helping to stop the hordes of zombies powered by Black Lantern rings from menacing the universe!



Not bad for a scientist only six inches tall, right, to take out all of the undead?

Flash Facts: The Early Days of Mirror Master

Sam Scudder can attribute all his successes due to image...

...a reflection of who he was, and how he came to be the Mirror Master!


Living a life of crime let him to confront the Flash, and here's where it all started!

The Master of Mirrors

The Mirror Master premiered in Flash #105 (February-March, 1959) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella, starting off as a bank robber, capturing the image of a teller of a Central City Bank, and using that image to go back and steal money from the bank, attracting the attention of the Flash!  As Flash followed the mirror image of the teller, he found Mirror Master's hideout, and faced off against a few illusions inside, such as a minotaur and a giant mosquito, until Flash saw the light (of not wanting light) to defeat his foes (who were just tricks of light in a mirror), and defeated the Mirror Master.

This story was first reprinted in 80 Page Giant #4 (October, 1964), as well as in Limited Collector's Edition C-45 (June-July, 1976), as well as in the first collection of the Flash Archives of 1996, Flash Chronicles of 2009, Flash Omnibus of 2014 and Flash: The Silver Age of 2016, as Mirror Master was the first villain of the new Flash's solo title to become a reoccurring villain...

Return Of The Mirror Master

Sam returned in Flash #109 (October-November, 1959 by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella) (with a story title that gave it away the basic plot).  Still, when Mirror Master returned, he brought new trouble for the Flash...after using a prison mirror to escape (which was discovered by Iris West as she was reporting on him in his jail cell), Mirror Master used a blinding light to rob banks this time around, and did escape the Flash with the cash.  Flash tracks down Mirror Master, but he uses the mirror he used to escape to shrink the Flash, who does figure out a way to reverse the process and defeat the Mirror Master (and at least try to make up missing time with Iris as well!).

This story was reprinted in Flash #187 (April-May, 1969), in the second Flash Archives of 2000 and Flash Chronicles of 2010, and the first Flash Omnibus of 2014 and Flash: The Silver Age of 2016.

Case Of The Stolen Super Powers

Next appearance for Mirror Master was outside of the Flash title, but instead in Brave and the Bold #30 (June-July, 1960) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.  True, the main villains of the story were Professor Ivo (who made his second appearance in Flash #158) and his android, Amazo, but Mirror Master was there, making him the first individual villain of a JLAer to appear in a Justice League of America story (even before the Justice League had their own title!).

This story was reprinted in Justice League of America #39 (November, 1965), as well as in the first Justice League of America Archive of 1992, Justice League of America Omnibus of 2014 and Justice League of America: The Silver Age of 2016 (and this wouldn't be the last the JLA saw of Mirror Master!).

The Mirror Master's Magic Bullet

Mirror Master returned to the Flash title with Flash #119 (March, 1961) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson, with his greatest scheme to date...that of stealing rare mirrors in an art collection!  Escaping Flash (who was at the exhibit with the owner's daughter, Bettina; much to Iris' frustration) by throwing some of the mirrors he was stealing out a window (for Flash to save), Flash does find a key left behind by Mirror Master.  Finding Mirror Master by trying every lock in Central City (remember, fastest man alive), Flash is captured in a mirror duplicator and made to serve Mirror Master!  After sending Flash for a few useless trinkets from across the world, Mirror Master sends Flash to steal the rest of the mirrors from the exhibition....which was enough to break Flash out of the hypnotic spell, as Flash normally wouldn't steal.  With Sam back in jail, Barry goes to explain what happened to his reporter fiancee, Iris.

This tale was reprinted in Flash #169 (April-May, 1967), as well as in The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told (both hardcover of 1991 and softcover of 1992)...

...and in the third Flash Archives of 2002, the fourth Flash Chronicles of 2013, and in the first Flash Omnibus of 2014.

The Doom Of The Mirror Flash

With Flash #126 (February, 1962) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella, Mirror Master started using mirrors to access other dimensions (escaping jail).  While in that other dimension, Mirror Master befriends the women who live there, making them mirrors, while they bring him everything he wants.  Problem is, Mirror Master wants to escape this dimension, and recruits the Flash to help, bringing Flash to this dimension to help him escape.  Of course, Mirror Master turns the tables on the Flash, trying to kill him by turning the speedster into a mirror....but, Flash still comes out victorious, returning Sam Scudder to jail. 

This story was reprinted in the fourth Flash Archive of 2006 and in the first Flash Omnibus of 2014.

Who Doomed The Flash?

It is Flash who breaks Mirror Master out of jail in Flash #130 (August, 1962) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella (or at least, so it appears).  Really, Flash was following up on a lead of recent attacks by his foes, but finds them all in jail, with attorney Paul Barrett the only link among them.  Going to check on the lawyer, Flash is overpowered by him, who then disguises himself as the Flash to break Mirror Master out of prison (Barrett was under Mirror Master's control since Sam's trial).  Mirror Master puts Flash in a trap which he escapes by the skin of his teeth (or, more accurately, filling his way out of danger), and recaptures the reflective rogue.

This tale was reprinted in DC Special #8 (July-August, 1970), in the fourth Flash Archive, DC Comics Presents: The Flash in 2011, and in the first Flash Omnibus of 2014.

The Mirror Master's Invincible Bodyguards

Mirror Master breaks jail again in Flash #136 (May, 1963) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella, with a new plan to take on the Flash!  This time, Mirror Master has created two mirror guardian duplicates of himself to take on the Flash first, so he won't have to get his hands dirty.  This allows Mirror Master to escape his latest heist with his ill-gotten loot (and gets Mirror Master moved up in a poll of popular criminals).  Flash comes to confront Mirror Master creating after-images of himself to distract the mirror guardians, and defeats Mirror Master (with Mirror Master crashing in the criminal polling after heading back to jail).

This story was reprinted in Flash #196 (April-May, 1970) and in the fifth Flash Archive.

The Mirror Master's Master Stroke

Mirror Master's next scheme was a little quicker, as seen in Flash #146 (August, 1964) by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella,  using a mirror gimmick to switch legs with the Flash for a time.  Mirror Master then goes to take a course on making oneself a success, where he brags about his recent heist, hypnotizing the class to forget it after he tells them his tale.  Problem is, Barry Allen was also attending the class, and wonders where his missing time went, eventually figuring out one of his classmates was the Mirror Master, and then defeating him.


This story was reprinted in the sixth and final Flash Archive of 2012.

The House Of "Flashy" Traps

Mirror Master got tired of being caught by the Flash in the Flash comic, so he moved over to Detective Comics #336 (February, 1965) by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino and Sid Greene, where Elongated Man helped the Flash while visiting Central City, wherein Elongated Man was to help Flash with Mirror Master, and works his way through a mystery Mirror Master set up, catching a henchman of Mirror Masters....and finding Flash at police headquarters, with Mirror Master captured (with Flash having left his friend behind to solve the mystery, which Ralph Dibny loves to do!).


This story has only been reprinted in black and white, in the Showcase Presents the Elongated Man tradepaperback of 2006.

Reflections On Team-Ups

After his last defeat, Mirror Master teamed up with other Flash foes (like Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, the Top and Pied Piper) to form the Rogue's Gallery in Flash #155 (September, 1965), facing a secret villain, and would continue to work with other villains, like the Injustice Gang of the World (and Poison Ivy and Chronos), and with the Secret Society of Super-Villains (with Star Sapphire and Sinestro).  On reflection, this makes this a good place to stop, but some day soon, there will be another look at the Mirror Master!

The Original Ragman

In a world full of flashy super heroes, crazy clown lunatics and big, cosmic battles...

...who fights for the common man?

Back in the day, in a small neighborhood in Gotham, that was the Ragman, as created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.

Ragman #1

In Ragman #1 (August-September, 1976, by Robert Kanigher and the Redondo Studio, with cover and layouts by Joe Kubert), we meet Rory Regan, a Vietnam veteran who was helping his father run "Rags'n'Tatters" (a second hand store in an unsavory part of Gotham City).  Rory's dad found a large cache of cash, and decided to split it with his 3 older friends (a circus strongman, a world-class acrobat and a heavyweight boxer), though they suspected the money was not obtained legally.  The elder Mr. Regan should have heeded his instincts, as gangsters came to claim the money, shooting down power lines to execute the 4 old men, with Rory showing up as they were drying...trying to save them, he grasped his father's hand, and as they died, the four men passed on their strength and abilities to Rory.  Taking a costume made of rags he planned to use for a costume party, Rory went out to take revenge on the hoods who killed these men in "The Origin Of The Tatterdemalion". 

Ragman #2

The syndicate comes looking for their cash in Ragman #2 (October-November, 1976, by Kanigher, Kubert and the brothers Frank and Nestor Redondo) with "75-25 Or Die", as life continues for Rory Regan at Rags'n'Tatters (secretly and slowly distributing the mob million among the neighborhood residents).  Rory's journalist girlfriend, Bette Berg, who thinks Rory could do better than to stay in this neighborhood...yet, he won't leave as he feels he's the only one who cares about the people here, and advises her to leave him (which she won't do as she cares about him).  

This issue introduces the lady Opal, who is enamored with Ragman, as the criminals attempt to trap Ragman...not knowing of his full abilities and dedication and devotion to keeping his neighborhood safe, and a little bit of luck in knowing exactly where the junk in his neighborhood is.

Ragman #3

With his third appearance under a stunning Joe Kubert cover, in Ragman #3 (December-January, 1976/1977 by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert and the Redondo Studio), the tattered tatterdemalion of Gotham faces off against the gangster Mr. Big and his gang...

...all to save Teddy, a deaf-mute boy who happens to be the only witness to a murder (unless you count his cat), and thus could be a witness to put these criminals behind bars in the tale "See No Evil".

While Ragman did most of the heavy lifting in this issue, it was the cat who was the real hero (and Rory introduces Teddy to Bette, as the two head out to a date in Chinatown....).

This issue's letter page also states that Rory is Irish, not Jewish (as though one couldn't be both...).

Ragman #4

When a young boy dies of a drug overdose, Rory suits up to bring down the drug ring in his neighborhood in Ragman #4 (February-March, 1977, by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert and the Redondo brothers) in "The Dream Killers", the first of two stories in this issue.


This first story sees the Ragman facing off against Seriph and his gang (the owner of a crooked amusement park, Funland) , as well as helping Jeanne Wilson (though not successfully, as she dies).


The second, untitled story, is by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, and has Ragman dealing with 3 grave robbers looking for a hidden treasure in a silent story (as Kubert's images are powerful without words).

Ragman #5

The last issue of Ragman is a special treat, provided by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, as Ragman #5 (June-July, 1977) features "The Junkyard Of Death".

Yet again, the mob tries to use Opal as bait to draw out the man in rags, but this time, they also have found the million dollars that was hidden in the junkyard (and Bette suggests to Rory that they get married so they could adopt Teddy, and take him out of this area and out of the orphanage).

Yet, this dream, like the cash (and the promise of a next issue)....all goes up in smoke!

This issue also is where it is revealed that Joe Kubert had done the layouts for the earlier four issues, which he had not been credited in.

Batman Family #20

Ragman did return, with Batman Family #20 (October-November, 1978 by David V. Reed, Michael Golden and Bob Smith, under a Jim Starlin cover), and "Enter The Ragman".

This issue sees Batman and Ragman meeting for the first time, as the Gotham Associates Realty Corporation tries to swindle the residents of Ragman's neighborhood out of their homes, and Batman and Ragman have to work together to stop the crooked realtors.

Brave and the Bold #196

It took a few years for Ragman to return again, this time in Brave and the Bold #196 (March, 1983, by Robert Kanigher and Jim Aparo) with the story "The Two Faces Of Midnight".


This time around, Batman and Ragman work together to deal with the Dynamiters for Democracy...a terrorist group threatening Gotham.


This requires Batman and Ragman to switch costumes for a bit, seeing how the other half lives....

...however briefly!

Among The Others

Ragman did appear again, but mostly just in the background of bigger things, with Red Tornado #3 (September, 1985) and Crisis On Infinite Earths #5 (August, 1985), showing Ragman was willing to work with others (but mostly, he was just a face in the crowd, in this case, standing next to Jonni Thunder, drawing an end to this heroes journey....).

Treasure In The Trash

Still, Ragman wouldn't go away, and the character returned, with a slightly altered history, as a part of a legacy of Jewish protectors, using a mystical rags that took the souls of criminals to repent (starting with Ragman #1 of October, 1991 by Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, and Pat Broderick) for an 8 issue mini-series.  This Ragman came back for another 6 mini-series (with covers by Joe Kubert), and a few team-ups with Batman...

....as well as joining in larger mystical events such as the Day of Judgment 5 issue mini-series of 1999 and the Day of Vengeance 5 issue mini-series of 2005, before joining the mystic group of Shadowpact, along with Nightmaster, Nightshade, Enchantress, Blue Devil and Detective Chimp for its 25 issue run.

A different character than Joe Kubert's original.....but, thematically similar, finding treasures in the trash..... 

Flash Facts: The Early Days of Magenta

Frances Kane didn't start as a foe for the Flash.....if anything, her beginnings were much friendlier.

It was only due to her magnetic powers, and the unsettling affects they had on her mind that the lady who would come to be known as Magenta menaced the Flash.....

....but, it's best to go back to the beginning!

The Possessing Of Francis Kane

An ominous start, when they misspelled her name in the title of New Teen Titans #17 (March, 1982, by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal), but that kind of sums up the luck Frances had, even from the start.  An automobile accident kills her brother and father....and her mother blames Frances, that she is possessed and killed them.  Really, the Blue Valley girl was in magnetic contact with the magnetic foe of Green Lantern, Dr. Polaris, and with help from her childhood friend, Wally West (who reveals his identity as Kid Flash) and fellow Titans Raven and more, they help Frances deal with her emerging magnetics, saving the girl (and their HQ, the Titans Tower, where they brought her to study her) and foiling Dr. Polaris' plans to escape his extra-dimensional prison.

Brotherhood of Evil and more

Frances next appeared in New Teen Titans #29 to #32 (all in 1983 and by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Romeo Tanghal), wherein Ms. Kane returns to Titans Tower to tell Wally that her magnetic powers have returned....and while there, she helps the Titans against the second version of the Brotherhood of Evil.  The last issue of this run involves two mutant brothers, Thunder and Lighting, who also suddenly manifest powers (and Frances returns to Blue Valley....with Wally rethinking his life, and then giving up being Kid Flash as of New Teen Titans #39  of February, 1984 by Wolfman/Perez/Tanghal, leaving the Titans and going to Blue Valley with Frances).  Frances and Wally return to Titans Tower briefly in Tales of the Teen Titans #45 (August, 1984), and save Aqualad and Aquagirl from H.I.V.E.

Dr. Light and Wedding Bells

Tales of the Teen Titans #49 (December, 1984 by Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Carmine Infantino and Mike DeCarlo) sees Frances saving the Flash (Barry Allen) from the JLA/Titan foe Dr. Light (Arthur Light, a villain who uses light-based weapons against heroes) while Wally finds out that his super-speed is killing him.

Still, the duo show up for Donna (Wonder Girl) Troy's wedding the next issue!

The Menace of Trigon

The Titans recruit Wally to help with Raven (who has been possessed by her demonic father, Trigon), with Frances appearing in New Teen Titans #2 (October, 1984) wish Wally luck, and being there for him when he returns in New Teen Titans #6 (March, 1985).

Small appearances for Frances, but showing a rift forming between her and Wally that even her magnetic powers can't fix.
 

Desperate Times

While the Crisis on Infinite Earths didn't involve Frances, it did change Wally from Kid Flash to Flash, limiting his speed but curing him from the fatal end of it.  With New Teen Titans #21 (June, 1986), Wally was back with the Titans for a while as the Flash, leaving Frances behind for a time.  Problem was, the battle against Brother Blood (leader of a religious cult) went badly, so the remaining Titans called her in to help in New Teen Titans #28 (February, 1987), where she showed a costume, and with New Teen Titans #29 (March, 1987), had the name Magenta.  She aided as best she could, being there for the end of Brother Blood in New Teen Titans #31 (May, 1987), with the last four issues being by Marv Wolfman, Paul Levitz, Eduardo Barreto and Romeo Tanghal.

Flash On His Own

Flash and Frances left the Titans at this time, with Wally inheriting Barry Allen's mantle fully (as well as winning a lottery) in Flash #1 (June, 1987 by Mike Baron, Butch Guice and Larry Mahlstedt).  All the while, the relationship between Wally and Frances was still strained, and after battling the immortal Vandal Savage, Frances left Wally after events in Flash #2 (July, 1987).

Finally, Magenta

Teen Titans Spotlight #16 (November, 1987 by Tony Isabella, Chuck Patton and Al Vey), found Frances on her own, working at S.T.A.R. Labs for Alysia Damalis (and helping in a battle against Superman's foe, the Atomic Skull).  Along the way, she works with Thunder and Lightning (who have come looking for help with their powers) and it is revealed Alysia is hypnotizing super-powered people to use for nefarious deeds (including Magenta!).  With Teen Titans Spotlight #17 (December, 1987 by Tony Isabella, Don Heck, Al Vey and Pablo Marcos), with Dr. Damalis reviewing how she made Frances' Magenta evil, Thunder and Lightning free her from the doctor's control (but, there is another victim out there somewhere....).  Both issues with a cover by Jerome K. Moore!

Titans Hunt

Magenta serves a small part during the "Titans Hunt" storyline, wherein evil forces tied to Raven try to possess various super powered associates of the Titans with Frances having small bits in New Titans #78 and #79 of 1991, and New Titans #82 to #85 of 1992.

Sadly, she barely has any speaking lines, and is mostly a victim here, as Deathstroke the Terminator (an early Titans foe) has to work with the Titans to free them from their hidden foe....

Return To Flash

Magenta returns to Flash, with Wally much more adjusted to being Flash with Flash #80 (Early September, 1993 by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo and Jose Marzan, Jr.), and she sticks around as Flash, Nightwing and Starfire battle the Combine (a villainous group) trying to control the crime in Keystone City over the course of Flash #81 to #83 of 1993.

Raven's Pawn

Sadly, Magenta is Raven's pawn again, as of New Titans #119 (March, 1995 by Marv Wolfman, Will Rosado and Keith Champagne), as she is possesses by the Children of Trigon (along with Changeling, Thunder, Lightning, Supergirl, and Crystallex) to fight the current team of Titans (including Arsenal/Roy Harper, Damage, Terra, Mirage, Impulse/Bart Allen, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Darkstar Donna Troy) over the course of New Titans #120 and #121 (April and May, 1995), leaving Frances not at all well, and keeping her new, black costume for her next appearance looking for Wally...

Flashback

Frances came back to the Flash with Flash #106 (October, 1995), upset that Wally was with Linda Park, and except for a brief time working with the Titans in the last two issues of the 3 issue JLA/Titans mini-series of 1999 and in Titans #25 of March, 2001, has been pretty much feeling the pull of the evil side of her magnetic personality, though she did allow police to take her in in Flash #170 (March, 2001 by Geoff Johns, Scott Kolins and Doug Hazelwood), though she does fall under the influence of Cicada and his cult through Flash #173 (June, 2001) and ends up in Iron Heights (a prison for super-powered people near Central City).  Because of her magnetic powers, Frances seems to attract trouble!  

Superboy's Big Brother, Mon-El

One of the roughest things for Superboy (Superman's younger self) to deal with was being the only survivor of Krypton.  So, imagine his happiness in Superboy #89 (June, 1961, by Robert Bernstein and George Papp) when he rescues a young man from an exploding ship, to find out that the older lad, suffering from amnesia, has the same powers as Superboy, and a medallion and a note from Jor-El (Superboy's father)!  This is enough to convince Superboy and the the lad that this boy must be Superboy's older brother, and they name him Mon-El (since Superboy found him on a Monday.....).  The Kents take him in, and disguise his identity as Bob Cobb, traveling brush salesman.  

Problem was, Superboy found that the metal of Mon-El's belt buckle wasn't Kryptonian, and Mon-El didn't react when Superboy exposed him to Kryptonite whem Mon-El was sleeping.  Superboy came up with a plan to out Mon-El, by paining lead balls green, and reacting to them as if they were Green Kryptonite, figuring Mon-El would do the same....and he could expose the lad's secret.  All went according to Superboy's plan, except that Mon-El was really affected by the lead!  See, he was really a Daxamite, who had ended up on Krypton before it exploded, and got help from Jor-El, and a map to Earth.  Daxamite's have the same powers as Kryptonians, but a fatal weakness to lead.  So, to save the lad's life, Superboy put him into the Phantom Zone....promising to cure him at some point in the future....except Superboy didn't know how far in the future!

Mon-El next appeared as a regret of Superboy's in Adventure Comics #293 (February, 1962 by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and George Klein), wherein Superboy faces off against the Brain Globes of Rambat, who summon the original members of the Legion of Super-Heroes (Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad) from the 30th Century to fight Superboy (and they were freeing Phantom Zone villains to fight Superboy, so it was lucky that Mon-El was there to warn them), and only with the intervention of Krypto the Superdog, Streaky the Supercat, Beppo the Supermonkey and Comet the Superhorse (who would form the Legion of Super-Pets) stopped the evil Brain Globes.  Superboy was still feeling this regret as he traveled 1000 years into to the future again to meet the Legion in Adventure Comics #300.

Mon-El faded from Superboy's life, but was active in Superman's (as the Boy of Steel hadn't found a cure).  Mon-El helped Superman in Action Comics #284 (January, 1962 by Robert Bernstein, Curt Swan and George Klein), where a small hole (that only a child could fit through) came between our dimension and that of the Phantom Zone (Mon-El was nice enough to warn Superman, who changed himself into "The Babe of Steel" with Red Kryptonite to stop it).

Mon-El was there when Lana Lang turned evil thanks to a broach Superman gave her in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #33 (May, 1962 with art by Curt Swan and George Klein), and Lana sent her rivals, Lois Lane and telepathic mermaid Lori Lemaris, into the Phantom Zone.



But it all worked out in the end, with Lois and Lori being returned, and Mon-El still waiting...



.....and Lois not becoming "The Phantom Lois Lane" for as long as Mon-El.

Mon-El helped Supergirl against "The Man Who Made Supergirl Cry" in Action Comics #288 (May, 1962 by Leo Dorfman and Jim Mooney), which was her adoptive Earth father, Fred Danvers, being manipulated by Jax-Ur and the Phantom Zone villains...


...as each of her tears was able to release a Phantom Zone Villain!

Jimmy Olsen encountered Mon-El when he found a small hole in to the Zone, which Jimmy was able to go into as Elastic Lad (thanks to a potion he received earlier to be a sometime super-hero) in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #62 (July, 1962 by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and George Klein), and Jax-Ur and the villains tried to use Jimmy's curiosity against him, to get Jimmy to find out Superman's secret identity...

.... but, Jimmy didn't, being "Superman's Phantom Pal".

Mon-El, along with Supergirl, Krypto, Batman, Robin and a contingent of the Legion of Super-Heroes, were there for "The Last Days of Superman" in Superman #156 (October, 1962 by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein), when Superman was dying from exposure to the deadly Kryptonian plague, Virus X.

Mon-El had the missing piece of the puzzle, thanks to being an observer in the Phantom Zone, which saved Superman's life.

Mon-El was there when Superman released Kryptonian criminal, Quex-Ul, after his sentence had passed in Superman #157 (November, 1962 by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein) in "The Super-Revenge Of The Phantom Zone Villain", which eventually led to a battle between Superman and Quex-Ul, with the villain planning to remove Superman's powers with Gold Kryptonite...


...but, instead, Quex-Ul lost his own powers after realizing Superman was trying to prove his innocence of the crimes (and Quex-Ul also got amnesia as well, with Superman getting him a job at the Daily Planet to help him).

Quex-Ul got free while Mon-El was still trapped!  

Mon-El was there when the Phantom Zone villains were being released by Lesla-Lar (a foe of Supergirl's) in Action Comics #297 (February, 1963 by Leo Dorfman and Jim Mooney) as she unleashed "The Forbidden Weapons Of Krypton", but wasn't able to help much due to his lead poisoning.


Yet again, Mon-El wasn't all that helpful, and this was wearing on the Daxamite lad with the real name of Lar Gand.

Mon-El didn't pop up again in current times until Superman Family #189 (May-June, 1978 by Jack C. Harris, Jack Abel and Frank Giacoia) in "Memories Of Menace",  as Mon-El helps a desperate Supergirl against General Zod, Jax-Ur and Kru-El as she attempts to find evidence to get her freed from being falsely imprisoned in the Phantom Zone (thanks to the machinations of Lesla-Lar.....and, at the same time, Snapper Carr, an honorary member of the JLA, goes to work for Supergirl's dad, Fred Danvers).

Mon-El had been on the mind of the Superman Family a lot less as time passed, though Superman did think about Mon-El as time was ticking down for Earth in the DC Special Series #26 (Summer, 1981)...



...as Superman tried to save the planet from his incredible Fortress of Solitude and the menace of Dominus in the "Fortress of Fear" by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru and Romeo Tanghal.



Superman did save Earth, all without Mon-El's help.

Mon-El's last current appearances were in the the first two issues of the four issue Phantom Zone mini-series of 1982 (by Steve Gerber, Gene Colan and Tony DeZuniga), wherein Superman's Kryptonian foes all escaped the Phantom Zone, trapping Superman there....with Mon-El taking Superman to an area far within the Zone, where it was rumored that an escape from the Zone was available (but, Mon-El couldn't take it, as if he escaped, he'd still be dying of the lead poisoning Superboy had inflicted upon him...).

Mon-El seemed to be trapped in the zone for 1000 years, as he was still there in the 30th Century time of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and was freed for a brief time in Adventure Comics #300 (September, 1962 by Jerry Siegel, John Forte and Al Plastino) as Superboy and the Legion needed help against Urthlo, "The Face Behind The Lead Mask".  Mon-El was made an honorary Legion member at this point, as he was given a serum that would allow him to leave the Phantom Zone for a while.

With Adventure Comics #304 (January, 1963) and the death of Lightning Lad, work on a cure for Mon-El intensified, and in Adventure Comics #305 (February, 1963), Mon-El was able to leave the Phantom Zone for good, and joined the Legion of Super-Heroes (and his future, and changing past, is something that we'll have to look into....in the future!).