One of the flagship books of the early Golden Age, what we know as Adventure Comics, debuted in December 1935 with the original title of New Comics. (This was 30 months before Action #1). For a short while it was known as New Adventure Comics. With issue # 32, it the title was simplified to Adventure Comics. It continued under that name until its cancellation in 1983 with issue #503. During the early days, it was the home to many heroes such as Hourman, Starman and the cover subject of this issue, Sandman. The concept of Sandman is so strong that it has continued, in one form another, until today. This cover was created by the most famous artistic team in the history of comics, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. They had taken over Sandman a year earlier in issue #72 and quickly made the hero their own. In an unusual move for the day, DC gave them a cover box promoting the story they wrote and drew for this issue. The war-themed cover features Sandman leading soldiers on the attack as Sandy stands next to him conducting semaphore. The danger created by Simon and Kirby is palpable. With all the planes, the explosions, and mayhem, one detail stands out. There is a soldier at the bottom of the cover who narrowly avoids being shot. The bullet ricochets above his head and careens off into the distance. The soldier’s hand instinctively covers his mouth and his eyes are clenched shut. The reader is not exactly sure if he has actually been hit. There is a small white explosion above his head. It mirrors the much larger one created by the planes and bombs, but it is much more horrifying because it is so personal. The book contains art by a Mort Meskin, Louis Cazeneuve, Stan Kaye, Pierce Rice and Bernard Baily. The pages are white. The book is graded NM+ 9.6 by CGC. This is the highest graded known copy. It is also recognized as part of the San Francisco Pedigree. Don’t forget, it also has a Genius Jones story!