Review by Win Wiacek

The mantra known to every baby-boomer comic fan was “Not a Dream! Not a Hoax! Not a Robot!” boldly emblazoned on covers depicting scenes that couldn’t possibly be true. ‘Imaginary Stories’ were conceived to explore non-continuity scenarios devised when editors believed entertainment trumped consistency.

This jolly compilation celebrates when whimsy and imagination were king. It stretches the point by leading with Otto Binder and C.C. Beck’s fanciful ‘Captain Marvel and the Atomic War’ from 1946, actually hoaxing the public with a demonstration of how the world could end in the new era of Nuclear Proliferation.

From 1959, ‘The Second Life of Batman’ is by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, and doesn’t fit the strict title definition either, but a device that predicts Bruce Wayne’s life if his parents hadn’t been killed is superb and engaging all the same.

As editor Mort Weisinger expanded Superman’s continuity he realised each new tale added to a nigh-sacred canon that mattered to readers. However, as a big concept guy he didn’t let aggregated ‘history’ stifle a good idea, nor would he allow clichéd, deus ex machina cop-outs to mar the sheer enjoyment of a captivating concept.

In 1960 ‘Mr. and Mrs. Clark (Superman) Kent!’ by Binder and the brilliant Kurt Schaffenberger, depicts the laughter and tears that might result if Lois Lane secretly married the Man of Steel. From an era uncomfortably parochial and patronising to women, there’s actually plenty of genuine heart and understanding and a minimum of snide sniping about “silly, empty-headed girls”.

By 1961 the concepts became so bold that Imaginary Stories could command full-length status. ‘Lex Luthor, Hero!’ by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan details the mad scientist’s greatest masterplan and ultimate victory in a tale as powerful now as it ever was.

No prizes for guessing what ‘Jimmy Olsen Marries Supergirl!’ (1961) is about, but it’s a charming delight, beautifully realised by Siegel and Swan. Once more stretching the point ‘The Origin of Flash’s Masked Identity!’ (1962) by John Broome and Carmine Infantino is more an enthusiastic daydream than alternate reality. Likewise, the intriguing ‘Batman’s New Secret Identity’ by Finger and Sheldon Modloff also adds variety.

‘The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue!’ from 1963 is the most influential tale of this entire sub-genre. Written by Leo Dorfman, with art from Swan, this startling utopian classic was so well received that even decades later it influenced Superman continuity. The plot involves the Action Ace being divided into two equal wonder men who promptly solve all universal problems and even the love rivalry between Lois Lane and Lana Lang!

Jerry Siegel’s ‘The Three Wives of Superman!’ is drawn by Schaffenberger. It’s an enchanting tragedy of missed chances that originally saw print in 1964, as did ‘The Fantastic Story of Superman’s Sons’. By Edmond Hamilton and Swan, a solid thriller is built on a tragic premise. This bright and breezy book closes with the stirring and hard-hitting ‘Superman and Batman – Brothers!’, wherein orphaned Bruce Wayne is adopted by the Kents, but cannot escape a destiny of tragedy and darkness. Written by Jim Shooter, with art from Swan in 1967, this moody thriller signalled the end of the carefree days and the beginning of a grittier, more cohesive DC universe for a less whimsical, fan-based audience.

This collection is a glorious slice of fancy, augmented by mini-cover reproductions of many tales omitted from the collection. Surely, it’s time for a reissue in either print or eBook format with all those arresting covers included. Maybe 2010’s Vol. 2 rectified the mistake.