Wednesday Comics: The Sea Devils
September 9, 2009
The Sea Devils (not to be confused with the Doctor Who foes of the same name) are a team of marine adventurers from the Silver Age of DC Comics. They were created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath, and the team first appeared in 1960 in three issues of Showcase (#27-29). This was followed up by their own series, beginning in the Fall of 1961.
Sea Devils #1 (October, 1961): Sea Devils vs. The Octopus Man!
The series would run 35 issues before being canceled in 1967, but they have continued to appear sporadically in DC continuity ever since—most recently in Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #42 (July, 2006). At this time, DC has yet to offer any of the Sea Devils’ Silver Age stories in reprint collections.
Sea Devils #21 (February, 1965): The Forty-Fathom Doom!
The original team was made up Dane Dorrance (the handsome and intelligent leader), Judy Walton (Dane’s girlfriend, eventual wife), Nicky Walton (Judy’s kid brother), and Biff Bailey (the lovable tough-guy). Fans of Marvel Comics may find this team demographic eerily familiar, but it is worth noting that Fantastic Four #1 came out a little over a year after the Sea Devils’ debut. Unlike the more famous Marvel foursome, the Sea Devils have no powers. They are normal human adventurers…who just happen to encounter sea monsters, aliens, marine gorillas, and giant cephalopods with alarming frequency.
Sea Devils by Marc Laming
