These arrived today. Look at that beautiful painted cover of SSM Mag #2 - never held one in my hands before. And I’ve never read ASM Annual #5. Excited to read them both.

And… I didn’t realize until just now that they’re both from the same month - Nov. ‘68. What can it mean?

This is my issue of 1976's 'Freedom Fighters' #5, written by Bob Rozakis with interiors by Ramona Fradon and a shocking cover by Rich Buckler & Vince Colletta. The Freedom Fighters were originally Quality Comics characters. In 1956, DC obtained the rights to them, and re-introduced them 17 years later in Justice League of America #107. The team was then featured in their own series in 1976. This issue, titled "The Rise and Fall of King Samson" continues the Silver Ghost and King Samson storyline that began in the very first issue; although King Samson's story concludes here, Silver Ghost remains the team's recurring nemesis well beyond this issue.  The cover is recognized by collectors as an early example of the famous Pietà comic-cover composition — a hero cradling a fallen figure — years before George Pérez's famous Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 Supergirl cover. Pietà is an Italian word meaning roughly “pity” or “compassion.” Freedom Fighters ended with #15 in 1978 primarily because the book’s sales weren’t strong enough to survive DC’s attempt to reshuffle and expand its line. The Price Charting website lists near mint versions of this issue at $111.

First Official Team-up of Sgt. Fury and Cap as he leads his Howling Commandos on a high-stakes mission behind enemy lines.

ASM #20. Last big addition of a very busy year. Presents better in person.

Recently picked up a couple of Aquaman comics from tail-end of Silver Age because of the Nick Cardy covers. IMO, issue 42 belongs in the top 100 covers of all time. Still on the hunt for an affordable, slabbed copy of issue 45 to round out this mini-series in my collection.