Tony Mantegna

A creature of the late-1980s DC anthology scene, Tony Mantegna made his debut in the pages of Action Comics Weekly #601 in 1988, brought to life by the sharp crime-fiction sensibilities of Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty. That landmark weekly format was a genuine showcase of Copper Age ambition, and Mantegna carved out a corner of it alongside a remarkable cast that includes heavy-hitters like Superman, Hal Jordan's Green Lantern, and Dr. Maria Verdugo. With 24 appearances concentrated in that distinctive anthology run, this is a character who captures a fascinating, often-overlooked moment when DC was experimenting boldly with format and genre — well worth a closer look for any collector with an eye for the era's hidden gems.