Secret Origins (1986) 7 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 7

Oct 1986

The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Sandman

by Roy and Dann Thomas, Mike Bair, Steve Montano, Carl Gafford, David Cody Weiss, Robert Greenberger

Wesley Dodds decides to start wearing a costume and fight crime around the time that the 1939 World’s Fair opens in New York City. He is concerned for the safety of the King and Queen of England who are soon to arrive n New York City. His concerns are motivated in part by the recent appearance of the Phantom of the Fair and the Crimson Avenger. Dodds suspects the two might be working together. 

Dodds interferes with an attempt by the Phantom of the Fair to assassinate the royal couple. The Phantom of the Fair gets some help from Elektro, a giant robot. Dodds (aka the Sandman) gets some help from the Crimson Avenger. Sandman isn’t reassured that the Crimson Avenger is lined up on the right side of the fight until he learns that the Crimson Avenger's secret identity is Lee Travis, his old college friend. 

The two mystery men thwart the Phantom of the Fair’s efforts to kill the king and queen but the villain escapes at the end of the story. 

Thoughts

This story starts on the day that the World’s Fair opened, 30 Apr 1939. There are a number of cameo appearances by future members of the All-Star Squadron including Johnny Chambers (Johnny Quick), Libby Lawrence (Liberty Belle), Jonathan Law (Tarantula), Ted Knight (Starman), Dr. Charles McNider (Doctor Mid-Nite), and Robert Crane (Robotman). 

The text in the final panel of this story reads “for the ultimate secret of the Phantom of the Fair, see future issues of All-Star Squadron”. The Phantom of the Fair only appeared in one issue of All-Star Squadron, 65 (Jan 1987). His appearance there was in a flashback. His only substantive appearance following this issue of Secret Origins was in a few issues of Sandman Mystery Theater. I do not own and have not read that story.

It is possible that Roy Thomas had plans for the Phantom of the Fair but All-Star Squadron ended its run a couple months after his second appearance with All-Star Squadron 67 (Mar 1987). 

There is an unnamed character in one panel who looks very much like Roy Thomas. Possibly it is supposed to be the writer’s father because Roy Thomas was not born until Nov 1940. 

This is a good read although it feels like they tried to cram a little too much into this story. 

There is no letters page or notes from the editor about the sources for this story. According to my research this is the first time that an origin story has been told for the Sandman. I'm not sure if the reveal that Dodds and Travis were friends from university wasa retcon or something that had been previously established but my guess would be the former.