Forty Years ago this Month

[TAG]

I thought I’d attempt something new…from forty years ago this month (using the Grand Comic Book Database as a reference - http://www.comics.org/) pick a comic book that holds some significance to you. You could have bought the comic off the spinner rack or purchased it at a convention, or perhaps by some other means (ex. “the hunt”, through back issue ads, website, trade, etc.).

As we all know, each comic in our collection holds some meaning to us. This memory might have been established through the transaction, the artist and writer, or the story itself. Please discuss that significance.
Why forty years as a starting point? I thought that this year was good place to start, as for some of us the stories could include buying their particular comic brand new. If we keep this up long enough, month-by-month, year-to-year, we will eventually catch up to all our “first comic book” starting points.

So, pick a book from May, 1971, and share your experience. Hopefully, some of us can relate to your particular book of reference that you mentioned and join in on the discussion. I’ll meet you here next month for my favorite comic book from June, 1971, forty years ago.

Here’s my pick from May, 1971…

Teen Titans # 33 - Nick Cardy (cover), George Tuska (art), Bob Haney (story)



Characters:
Teen Titans [Kid Flash [Wally West]; Wonder Girl [Donna Troy]; Speedy [Roy Harper]; Lilith; Mal Duncan; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Gnarrk]; Mr. Jupiter; Knight of the Bat; Duke of the Galaxies; Lord of Lightning; Thane of the Bow; Trueshot; Cerebella; Councilman Buckminster

Synopsis:
Kid Flash and Mal return to the past and find the correct present, but bring Gnarrk, a caveman, with them. They must civilize Gnarrk and help him adjust to modern times.

The significance for this particular book is quite clear for me…Nick Cardy cover. Like the Jeff Jones covers that some of you introduced me to, Cardy covers are simply, IMO, hauntingly beautiful. I purchased all of my Cardy teen titans via conventions (too numerous to remember) throughout the 80’s. Teen Titan characters Wally, Donna, Roy, Dick, and Garth, are by far among my favorites in comic fandom. I’ve always enjoyed comic book teams that were more about friends and family than with any other form of superhero team books.