Secret Origins Annual 1 (2)

Secret Origins Annual 1

1987

The Secret Origin of Captain Comet

by Roy Thomas, Ron Harris, Bruce Patterson, Gene D’Angelo, Jean Simek, Robert Greenberger

20 pages

Adam Blake, aka Captain Comet, saves the world from mysterious giant spinning tops that are draining the Earth of its atmosphere. Professor Zackro, Adam’s scientific mentor, recalls what he knows about Adam as he watches Captain Comet rush to the desert outside Las Vegas, NV where one of the tops is shrugging off all attempts to destroy it.

Secret Origins Annual 1 (1)

Secret Origins Annual 1

1987

The Secret Origin of the Doom Patrol!

by Paul Kupperberg, John Byrne, Albert T. De Guzman, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

30 pages

Robotman breaks into the Doom Patrol’s old headquarters in Midway City. The security system does not believe that he is who he claims to be. He tells it his origin story, those of his teammates (the Chief, Negative Man, Elastigirl), of how they all came together, and of how they died.

Soldiers armed with high tech weapons try to apprehend Robotman. They are following orders given to them by Valentina Vostok, aka Negative Woman. She relates the story of the second incarnation of the Doom Patrol, their individual origin stories, how they met Robotman, and how they became a team.

Robotman talks briefly to Valentina and then leaves the old building and heads off down the street.

Secret Origins (1986) 17 (2)

Secret Origins 17

Aug 1987

The Secret Origin of Dr. Occult

by Roy Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell, Howard Simpson, Bob Lewis, Augustin Mas, Carl Gafford, Greg Weisman 

A baby boy and girl are saved by a mystic named Zator, on the final night of the 19th century, from a satanic cult. Zator raises the two children in the Far East. The boy he names Doc and the girl he names Rose. He instructs them in the ways of magic that he has learned.

He sends them back to the United States of America once they have matured. The boy changes his name to Richard Occult. The girl changes her name to Rose Psychic. Doctor Occult, as Richard starts calling himself after he completes his PhD, fights evil magical forces with the help of Rose. 

Secret Origins (1986) 17 (1)

Secret Origins 17

Aug 1987

The Secret Origin of Adam Strange

by Gerry Conway, Carmine Infantino, Tony DeZuniga, Cody Weiss, Joe Orlando

Archaeologist Adam Strange is running from locals in the lost city of Caranga, high in the Peruvian Andes when he is struck by a Zeta Beam. The beam transports him to the planet Rann. There he meets Alanna, the future love of his life, and the scientist Sardath, her father. They teach him about their planet and Zeta Beams. He repays them by helping them to deal with some alien invaders known as the Eternals.

The Zeta Beam wears off, returning Adam to Earth. Adam Uses what he learned from Sardath and Alanna to locates another Zeta Beam and returns to Rann in time to help them deal with another crisis. 

Secret Origins (1986) 16 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 16

Jul 1987

The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Hourman

by Roy & Dann Thomas, Michael Bair, Mike Gustovich, Carl Gafford, David Cody Weiss, Agustin Mas, Robert Greenberger

22 pages

Rex ‘Tick-Tock’ Tyler, in a letter dated September 14, 1985, tells his son Rick about how he  became the Hourman and his first couple adventures as a mystery man. The crucial element  to his success was Miraclo, the drug he invented. It gave him superhuman powers for one hour.

Secret Origins (1986) 16 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 16

Jul 1987

Exiles

by Michael Fleisher, Adam Kubert, Jerry Serpe, Robert Greenberger

This is ostensibly the origin story for Travis Morgan, aka the Warlord, but it is told from the perspective of another character, Dan Maddox, who has known Travis Morgan since at least junior high school. The story opens with Maddox in a gulag, a Russian prison camp, in Siberia. Maddox recounts how he was a bully in junior high but Travis Morgan put him in his place.

Maddox and Morgan were in school together until they graduated from high school. They both joined the Air Force but Maddox was kicked out of the USAF for striking an officer. He joined the US Army and wound up going to Vietnam where he became a real wheeler and dealer. He bought and sold goods and information and wasn’t very discriminating when it came to his clients, some of whom were Russians and Vietcong.

Secret Origins (1986) 15 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 15

Jun 1987

The Secret Origin of the Spectre!

by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, Agustin Mas, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

23 pages

Police Detective Jim Corrigan and his date Clarice are apprehended by crime boss Gat Benson. Corrigan is killed by Gat’s men but his spirit is not allowed to pass into the afterlife. He remains an Earth-bound spirit. He uses his new found abilities to save Clarice, twice, from almost certain death.

Secret Origins (1986) 15 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 15

Jun 1987

Death Like a Crown

by Andy Helfer, Kevin Maguire, Dick Giordano, Adrienne Roy. Bob Lappan, Robert Greenberger

16 pages

Sensei, the leader of the League of Assassins, sends Matson, a man with one hand, to assassinate a candidate for the Presidency of the United States of America. Vashnu and Maxwell Loomis, agents of the goddess Rama Krishna, intercept the assassin and redirect him to kill high flying acrobat and circus performer Boston Brand aka Deadman.

Secret Origins (1986) 14

Secret Origins (1986) 14

May 1987

The Secret Origin of the Suicide Squad

by John Ostrander, Luke McDonnell, Dave Hunt, Albert De Guzman, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger 

This is presented as one story but it is really four stories in one. The issue opens with the origins of the World War 2 incarnation of what was then called the Suicide Squadron. It was led by Captain Richard Montgomery Flag. There are some descriptions of the exploits of this team but Flag is the only member of the team who is named.

President Harry Truman asks Rick Flag to form a team codenamed Task Force X, which he does. Flag gets married after the war to Sharon Race, a cousin of J.E.B. Stuart. Rick and Sharon have a son whom they also name Rick. Task Force X continues operations until about 1960. Tragically, Rick Jr. loses both his parents while he is still young.

Secret Origins (1986) 13 (3)

Secret Origins (1986) 13

Apr 1987

The Secret Origin of Johnny Thunder

by Roy Thomas, Mike Clark, Dave Hunt, Augustin Mas, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

9 pages

Johnny Thunder was abducted when he was just a baby by Bahdnisian people who believed that because he was born at 7 AM on July 7, 1917 he would have the power to rule the world when he turned 7 years old. They snuck him out of the United States and took him to Bahdnisia where he remained until he was about 5 years old. 

Chance brought him back to the United States before he reached his 7th birthday and back to his parents. Bahdnisian agents caught up to him eventually but not until after he had grown up. Luck brought him in contact with the living lightning bolt just in time to save himself and his coworker. 

Secret Origins (1986) 13 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 13

Apr 1987

The Secret Origin of the Whip

by Roy & Dann Thomas, Mike Gustovich, Augustin Mas, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

9 pages

Professional polo player Rodrigo Gaynor assumes the identity of the Whip in order to save an innocent man from mob justice.

Thoughts

This is more or less (according to my research) a retelling of the first published story of the Whip. All of the supporting players in the original story are also in this story.

Secret Origins (1986) 13 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 13

Apr 1987

The Secret Origin of Nightwing

by Dan Mishkin, Erik Larsen, Mike DeCarlo, John Costanza, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

20 pages

Nightwing tells Jericho about how he lost his parents, met Batman, and became Robin. In the second part of the story he talks about his later adventures with the Teen Titans and the New Teen Titans. 

Thoughts

The framing device of this story takes place during the story told in New Teen Titans (1984) 16-19, according to an editor’s note on page two.

Secret Origins (1986) 12 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 12

Mar 1987

Challengers of the Unknown

by Mark Evanier, Chuck Patton, Bob Oksner, Carrie Spiegle, Carl Gafford, Bob Greenberger

The story opens with the Challengers of the Unknown getting ready to make an appearance on a TV show, Real Incredible People. The four original members of the team (Rocky Davis, Ace Morgan, Prof Haley, Red Ryan) tell their fifth teammate (June Robbins) about their individual origins while they wait for their turn in front of the camera.

The Challengers leave the studio before it is their turn in front of the cameras and the studio audience. They take with them a very large box which reminds them of another box they found during their very first mission together. The box belonged to Mr. Morellian. He wanted them to open it for him. During their first mission they took turns opening different parts of the box. Each section they opened released a different kind of threat.

Secret Origins (1986) 12 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 12

Mar 1987

The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Fury

by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, Tom Grindberg, Tony DeZuniga, Carl Gafford, David Cody Weiss, Robert Greenberger

16 pages

The Furies of Greek myths grant Helena Kosmatos, a Greek teenager, superpowers after she calls for vengeance on her older brother after he caused their mother to suffer a sudden and fatal heart attack. The Furies grant Helena the superpowers with the understanding that she must follow through and kill her brother. Helena does just that. She also kills a number of Nazi spies with whom her brother was working.

The story ends with her meeting Johnny Chambers (aka Johnny Quick) who promises to take her back to the United States with him. 

Secret Origins (1986) 11 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 11

Feb 1987

The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Hawkman

by Roy Thomas, Luke McDonnell, Tony DeZuniga, Mary DeZuniga, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

Amateur archaeologist and collector of ancient weapons Carter Hall (in 1940) receives a new item to add to his collection. It is a crystal blade. He starts to feel light headed when he examines it. He sits down, falls asleep, and dreams that he is the reincarnation of Prince Khufu of Egypt who lived more than 2500 years ago.

Khufu and Princess Shiera, his girlfriend, are captured and executed by Hath Set, priest of Anubis. Carter Hall soon discovers that Hath Set and Shiera have also been reincarnated. Carter is briefly reunited with Shiera but then she is captured by Dr. Anton Hastor, the reincarnation of Hath Set and an expert in the field of electricity. Hastor is preparing to kill Shiera in a ritual sacrifice when Carter Hall, dressed in a hawk themed costume breaks in to his estate and interferes with Hastor’s plans. 

Secret Origins (1986) 11 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 11

Feb 1987

Ancient Histories

by Paul Kupperberg, Mary Wiltshire, Albert T. DeGuzman, Carl Gafford, Robert Greenberger

16 pages

Power Girl recalls how the Crisis (aka Crisis on Infinite Earths) has changed so many things. She was the cousin of Superman of Earth-2 but with him having been erased from most people’s memories she questions how she fits in to the post Crisis world.

The only remnant of her past prior to the Crisis in the bio ship in which she arrived on Earth. She is sitting in the bio-ship sulking when Arion, Lord of Atlantis reaches out to her and explains. He is her grandfather.

Secret Origins (1986) 10 (4)

Secret Origins (1986) 10

Jan 1987

Footsteps

by Alan Moore, Joe Orlando, Robert Greenberger

10 pages

A young guardian angel is tempted by the appeal of Otis, an older more experienced guardian angel. Otis wants to break away from the Guardian Angel organization and become a sewer survivalist. Otis has lost his faith in Josh, the group's leader. 

A real angel is encouraged by others of his kind to break with Yahweh and join with Satan. He ultimately rejects their appeals and is punished for it.

The young guardian angel suffers a similar fate to that of the real angel. 

Secret Origins (1986) 10 (3)

Secret Origins (1986) 10

Jan 1987

Revelations

by Dan Mishkin, Ernie Colón, Pablo Marcos, Carl Gafford, Albert DeGuzman, Robert Greenberger

The Phantom Stranger tries to prevent some scientists from delving too deeply into the mysteries of the origins of the universe. Alt, one of the scientists, doesn’t care for the Phantom Stranger’s interference. Alt’s colleague is more receptive to the Phantom Stranger’s words. Alt does what he can to prevent the Phantom Stranger from interfering with his work. Alt thinks that the Phantom Stranger has been incapacitated and doesn’t see him pass his power on to Alt’s colleague. 

Secret Origins (1986) 10 (2)

Secret Origins (1986) 10

Jan 1987

…And Men Shall Call Him Stranger

by Paul Levitz, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Gaspar Saladino, Tatjana Wood, Robert Greenberger

10 pages

This is the second of four possible Secret Origins of the Phantom Stranger.

In biblical times, presumably well before the birth of Christ, a man agonizes. Crime is rampant, his own son calls him out as being silly and foolish. A flood of supernatural origins ravages the city in which the man and his family live. Most are killed but the man survives.

Secret Origins (1986) 10 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 10

Jan 1987

Tarry Till I Come Again

by Mike W. Barr, Jim Aparo, Tom Ziuko, Robert Greenberger

10 pages

This is the first of four possible Secret Origins of the Phantom Stranger.

The Phantom Stranger confesses to a priest, Father Knox, on Christmas Eve. He tells the priest about his past, about how he lost his wife and child. They were murdered roughly 2000 years ago. He got a measure of revenge on Jesus Christ, the man he blamed for the death of his loved ones, but as a result of his actions he has lived on. 

The story ends with the Phantom Stranger being forgiven for his crime 2000 years ago. He is offered the chance to move on and end his life but he chooses to remain.