The Flash #207
June 1971 (April 20, 1971) $.15


Cover Art: Neal Adams

“The Evil Sound of Music!” 15 pages

Julius Schwartz (Editor), Mike Friedrich (Writer), Irv Novick (Penciller), Murphy Anderson (Inker), no lettering or coloring credits

FC: The Flash [of Earth-One]
GS: Batman [of Earth-One]
SC: Iris Allen
Villain: Sargon the Sorcerer
Intro: Gracie (last name unknown, may be Sargent), Paul and other members of Washington Starship

Synopsis

The Flash returns home from monitor duty aboard the Justice League satellite in time to accompany his wife to that evening's “Washington Starship” concert, unaware that Sargon the Sorcerer schemes to take advantage of an approaching “nexus … when the forces of time-and-space shall come together at a vital moment of climax” to reclaim his Ruby of Life from the Crimson Comet and continue his quest for the magical mastery of time.

At the venue, Grace — the band's pregnant lead singer — confides to boyfriend and bandmate Paul about the “bad vibes”she received while visiting with her uncle. Premonitions notwithstanding, the Starship's gig is a howling success… until that uncle, none other than Sargon himself, casts a sinister spell transforming the music into a plague of demons. The audience panics, forcing Barry to become The Flash and herd them out the exits to safety. Only Iris and the musicians, compelled to continue playing, remain behind. Even shutting down the electricity fails to stop the demonic music.

Taking advantage of the Scarlet Speedster’s distraction, Sargon hypnotizes the hero, commanding him to retrieve his Ruby of Life from its display case at the Flash Museum. While Sargon gloats, his spell grows increasingly out of control, the demons threatening both Grace and Iris. This threat motivates Flash and Paul to throw off the magician's control. It is only then that Sargon realizes the danger to his niece and ends the spell. Unable to face Grace's anger and hurt, he beats a hasty retreat.

Later, Paul and Grace learn that their experience has done no permanent harm to their unborn child. Elsewhere, a badly shaken Sargon begins to question the dark path his sorcery has led him down.

Behind the Scenes

The Washington Starship is based on the 1960s band Jefferson Airplane, later called Jefferson Starship and, later still, simply Starship. Grace and Paul are named for Airplane members Grace Slick and Paul Kantner, who had a child together three months before this issue hit the stores. Interestingly, the Starship name appears here three years before the Airplane adopted the name!

The Bad Guys

This is the first mention of Sargon's true identity of John Sargent in Silver Age continuity.

It is not clear what, beyond “uncle” and “niece,” the precise familial relationship between Sargon and Grace is.

Yeah, they were surprisingly hip for folks in their early '50s.

Cei-U!
I summon the young at heart!

He could have made a fortune that way, that's for sure!

Of course, if he was in it for the cash, a delivery service would probably have been the best way to go.

Maybe.Maybe. Also a big,fat Brother Power The Geek Omnibus

(Actually, that sounds a lot more like something that happened on the Squadron Supreme's Earth.)

Ever the task master.  

I can't speak for him but the impression I get is that Roy's writing/editing commitments don't really leave him time to follow contemporary comics.

Justice League of America #91
August 1971 (June 8, 1971) $.25


Cover Art: Neal Adams, main image and Earth-One Robin headshot; Murphy Anderson, JLA headshots; Mike Sekowsky (Penciller), Bernard Sachs (Inker), JSA headshots

“Earth ― the Monster Maker!” 22 pages

Julius Schwartz (Editor), Mike Freidrich (Writer), Dick Dillin (Penciller), Joe Giella (Inker),
no lettering or coloring credits

FC: The Atom, Batman, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Superman, teamed as the Justice League of America
GS: The Atom, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Robin, Superman, teamed as the Justice Society of America
GS: Robin [of Earth-One]
Villain: Solomon Grundy
Intro: A-Rym
Intro: Teppy

Synopsis

A Justice League meeting is sent into chaos when Batman arrives bearing a critically wounded Flash in his arms.

In the “In-Between,” the interdimensional void separating Earths-One and -Two, a joyride turns to tragedy for two adolescent aliens when the kid brother of one accidentally falls out a hatchway. Worse, the boy, A-Rym, is separated from his symbiotic pet Teppy. Without their connecting lifeline, both halves of the pair bond will sicken and die in 37 Earth hours. A-Rym is transported to Earth-Two, Teppy to Earth-One. Their extradimensional physiologies react with their new environment, increasing the castaways' size and strength.

The Justice Society is summoned by emergency signal to Slaughter Swamp outside Gotham City, where they find Robin tending to an injured Green Lantern. GL tells of being hurt by a rampaging alien child, who knocked the Emerald Gladiator cold and took his power ring from him. While the Lantern uses Robin's vehicle to return to headquarters, the former Boy Wonder joins the other JSA members on their search for A-Rym, where he finds himself resenting Hawkman's patronizing attitude.

Back on the JLA satellite, The Flash regains consciousness long enough to mutter at super-speed about an alien monster at New Carthage, the college town where the Earth-One Robin lives. An emergency call from Aquaman draws Batman and Green Arrow to his side, while the remaining JLA members investigate Flash's report. Outside New Carthage, the team encounters Robin, also in pursuit of the maddened Teppy. The Teen Wonder tags along, despite Hawkman's condescension.

When his ring detects a strange force running between the Earths, the League's Lantern contacts the JSA. After comparing notes and recognizing the similarities between their cases, the teams decide to work together.

On Earth-Two, A-Rym has continued to grow in strength and fury. In a matter of seconds, the boy injures the Earth-One Robin —dispatched to Society headquarters, along with his counterpart, by Green Lantern's power ring—and strikes down GL and the two Hawkmen. The other JLA/JSA team fares better. Though Teppy has grown physically more powerful than either Superman, the Men of Steel are able to dig a ditch deep enough and wide enough to isolate the creature. That accomplished, the E2 Flash and E1 Superman vibrate into Earth-Two to see how the others are doing.

A-Rym stumbles across Slaughter Swamp's only citizen, Solomon Grundy. Something in the swamp creature's nature alleviates the alien's pain. A-Rym clings to Grundy desperately. This touches the monster somehow and he snarlingly proclaims his protection of the terrified child when the League and Society arrive. His paternal feelings make Grundy fight more savagely than ever. Trouncing the heroes, Grundy raises the unconscious body of Superman high, intent on using him as an invulnerable club to beat the others to death with.

Behind the Scenes

The story featured in this issue and the next marks the only time in the 26-year history of JSA/JLA team-ups that the roster of one team is exactly mirrored by the other.

Cosmology

This is the first and only time the interdimensional void between Earth-One and Earth-Two is referred to as the “In-Between.”

Meeting Minutes

The Justice Society have replaced their answering service with JLA-style emergency signals between their last appearance in Justice League of America #83 and this issue.

The Good Guys

There is no sign of the Earth-Two Atom's superhuman strength in this story.

The Earth-Two Green Lantern mentions that he and Robin wrapped up an otherwise unchronicled case just prior to this issue's events.

Mention is made of the Earth-Two Robin's “Robin Clipper” but, as the vehicle in question is not pictured, there is no way of knowing if it is a motorcycle, a car, or something else.

The Earth-Two Superman (as Clark Kent) has risen to the rank of editor of the Metropolis Daily Star since his last Golden Age appearance. This is the first mention of the Star in Earth-Two continuity and the first since the “Superman” story in Action Comics #22 (March 1940).

Fashion Watch

The Earth-Two Atom's costume is drawn with long sleeves in this issue and the next. The crest atop his cowl — back to its usual red coloring — is left off in a number of panels.

The Earth-Two Flash wears a Marvel Family-style lightning bolt emblem throughout this issue.

The Earth-Two Green Lantern resumes wearing the chevron-patterned, yellow striped boots that come to a point below the knee in this issue. He also resumes wearing the cape last seen in Green Lantern #61.