Hidden Gems: Super Team Family #9

OK - this generic, overly busy Buckler/Abel cover doesn't exactly let you know that you've just picked up gem. The 70s Challengers stories are not really all that great, but this one isn't too bad. It's a silly story, but leave it to Steve Skeates to infuse the story with enough Silver Age charm so that the Challs come across as 'retro' rather than 'dated'. This book saved the best for last, as it's the back-up reprints that make this a true gem. The first is a wonderful Green Arrow story from Jack Kirby's run on that strip. Kirby was struggling to find work at this stage of his career, so he was stuck with second string character but he really made the best of it. I love these Kirby GA stories - and if you've never seen one, here's an inexpensive option. Finally, we have an early Doom Patrol story (albeit an incomplete one). That's another remarkable strip and it's fun to stumble across it here. Now, I'm not saying go out and spend $30 on a CGC 9.8 copy of this book - but if you see it in the dollar bin like I did, do not pass it up.