Superman No. 186 Cover by Swan & Klein

As adult readers of comics, the lure of nostalgia can be powerful. We remember a time when responsibilities were simpler and lighter, and our understanding of the world was no where near complete.

As a kid in the 70s, I read heaps of old comics and my favourites were DCs of the 60s, and one of them was this issue. The 60s really were the last time for DC – and to a lesser extent Marvel – where you could tell a story this innocent and kids would buy it. I read it when I was 9 or 10 and thought it was great.

That memory persists, even though when I’ve gone back and read similar stories for the time, they no longer capture me as they once did. And that’s to be expected. We outgrow certain things either individually or culturally.

For the latter, North American comics began to grow up as the 70s progressed, so that by the time the 80s rolled around, comics were moving away from a mass-consumed child’s item on the newsstands and into specialty shops where an audience of increasing age bought more ‘mature’ material at ever-increasing price points.

While I’ll never be the kid again that was wowed with every old DC comic I found, I wonder if we might seek a better balance. One that acknowledges our desire to find that innocence and optimism within ourselves still, while delivering material and messages which satisfy our ongoing need for stories that engage us today.

New colour by myself.

As published.

Original art scan from somewhere on the web.

Art made production ready.

New colour.

Re-created trade dress added.