Limited Collectors’ Edition No. C-39 Secret Origins of Super-Villains Cover by Dick Giordano

Here we have another fine example of a new cover wrapping memorable reprints from the DC Comics archives.

Dick Giordano has heroes and villains squaring off with one another in an epic battle. He also did a double-page centrespread of the major DC villains of the period.

New colour by me.

COVER

As published.

Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.

Art made production ready.

New colour version.

Re-created and new trade dress added.

CENTRESPREAD PIN-UP

As published.

The Flash Rogues’ Gallery by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson. Giordano copied this piece for the centre of his centrespread.

Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.

Art made production ready.

New colour version.

Re-created trade dress added.

Character key.

1. MR. ATOM, an atomic robot created by Dr. Charles Langley. This powerful metal being tried to make himself ruler of Earth, but was stopped by Captain Marvel.

2. KING KULL, ruler of an ancient race of beastmen who enslaved true men until overthrown by them. King Kull hates all humans and tries to destroy civilization, but so far Captain Marvel has thwarted him.

3. SIVANA.

4. AUNT MINERVA, female crime boss – a crack shot who can beat up the toughest men. She’s outlived five husbands and wants a sixth. Once she tried to marry Captain Marvel.

5. TERRA-MAN.

6. THE BLOCKBUSTER (Mark Desmond) was a scrawny kid who developed a serum to make him strong. It turned him into a powerful giant, but robbed him of his brilliant mind. Even Batman couldn’t stop him, but Bruce Wayne, who had once saved Mark’s life, could control him.

7. POISON IVY, the villainess who wanted to be crime queen and tried to charm Batman. She failed.

8. THE SCARECROW (Jonathan Crane) was a professor whom people called a scarecrow. He turned to crime, using the Scarecrow guise to inspire fear. The Batman has always beaten him.

9. CAPTAIN COLD.

10. THE CATWOMAN (Selina Kyle) – the villainess who uses cat motifs in her crimes – and has a crush on Batman.

11. CAPTAIN BOOMERANG (Digger Harkness) came from Australia, where he had learned to use boomerangs. Now he uses them against the Flash.

12. MR. ELEMENT (Al Desmond) also had another criminal identity, Dr. Alchemy. In both guises he battled the Flash, but he finally reformed.

13. THE TRICKSTER (James Jesse) was an acrobat who invented shoes which enable him to run throuqh the air. With these and other gadgets, he challenges the Flash.

14. GRODD, THE SUPER GORILLA comes from a civilization of intelligent apes in Africa. He has been beaten by The Flash and Superman.

15. THE WEATHER WIZARD (Mark Mardon) uses his weather wand to whip up storms when he meets the Flash.

16. PROFESSOR ZOOM, THE REVERSE FLASH (Eobard Thawne) is a 25th-century villain who discovered a way to duplicate the Flash’s super speed. He has come back in time to fight the Scarlet Speedster.

17. ABRA KADABRA, a magician from the 64th century who uses future science as magic to commit crimes and gain applause. But the Flash always gets the final cheers.

18. THE MIRROR MASTER (Samuel J Scudder) opposes the Flash with crimes done with mirrors.

19. THE PIED PIPER (Thomas Peterson) does wonderful things with the sound waves from his pipe when he encounters the Flash.

20. MR. MIND is no ordinary worm, but an evil genius from another planet. He headed the Monster Society of Evil which was finally smashed by Captain Marvel.

21. THE TOP (Roscoe Dillon) used his spinning namesakes for crime until the Flash spun him into jail.

22. HEAT WAVE (Mick Rory) uses intense heat as Captain Cold uses ice – and they often contend to see which can defeat the Flash. The score so far: 0-0!

23. IBAC is really Stinky Printwhistle, who was given the power to become a super-powered villain by saying “Ibac!” The powers come from Ivan the Terrible, Borgia, Attila and Caligula.

24. THE JOKER.

25. BLACK ADAM (Teth-Adam) was given the Shazam powers 5,000 years ago, but turned villain. Shazam banished him to the farthest star, but he returned to Earth at last to fight the Marvel Family.

26. THE PENGUIN (Oswald C Cobblepot) uses bird motifs and trick umbrellas against Batman.

27. THE RIDDLER (Edward Nigma) has a compulsion to send riddling clues to Batman before he can commit a crime.

28. RA’S AL GHUL has lived for centuries. But he wants Batman to succeed him as head of his international organization of evil.

29. TALIA, dauqhter of Ra’s al Ghul – the bait her father uses to try and win the Caped Crimefighter to his side.

30. LUTHOR.

31. MR. MXYZPTLK, the imp from the 5th dimension, uses his crazy magic to bedevil Superman.

32. THE TOYMAN (Winslow P Schott) used diabolical toys to battle Superman. Now he’s reformed, but a new Toyman uses his methods.