posted March 06, 2003 11:22 PM            

<b>1. Sandman
2. Hawkman
3. Dr. Fate</b>

It's almost criminal, the fact that these guys are still waiting for an Archive.

Sandman is my #1. If he gets more than one Archive, we get to chart the evolution from dark mystery man to brightly-colored super-hero. He's a great character with a fanbase and a recent publishing history. He's tied in somewhat with perhaps the most staggeringly successful book DC's produced in decades. His title, though now a few years in the past, ran for nearly <b>six years</b> (there are first-tier heroes who wish they could say that. <i>>cough cough< AQUAMAN!</i> ).

Hawkman's another natural. Not only does he regularly appear in two books, headlining one, his Golden Age adventures had amazing art.

Dr. Fate's a personal favorite of mine, and this is another but I have to admit that he really should come third in this list.

No Golden Age Archive collection should be considered complete without these three books.

As for the second tier:

<b>4. Johnny Thunder
5. Scribbly/Red Tornado</b>

I'd put these two next, for the fact that they really capture something of the Golden Age if no other reason. The humor that you'd find in these books would be a wonderful change of pace.

<b>6. Dr. Mid-Nite
7. Hourman</b>

These fellows would be next on my list. I'm sure that there are enough stories to fill at least one volume.

I have to admit that it's a tough call between this group and the previous. These are great characters with wonderful, singular "hooks" that set them apart. It's only my preference for a diverse group of Archives that make me put the funnier funnybooks first.

I could really go either way, though.

<b>8. Mr. Terrific
9. Wildcat
10. Atom</b>

I don't know about these guys. I suspect that there's only enough good material to fill one Archive, similar to Black Canary. And that one had to reach a bit.

posted March 07, 2003 12:33 AM               

4 - Dr Fate
5 - Wildcat
6 - Hourman
7 - Dr Mid-Nite

8 - Mr Terrific
9 - Atom

10 - Johnny Thunder

posted March 08, 2003 12:25 AM            

5)Wildcat
6)Dr Mid-Nite
7)Hourman

8)Mr Terrific
9)Atom
10)Johnny Thunder