Secret Origins #1
In *Secret Origins #1* (1961), four heroes—Superman, Batman, Robin, and Aquaman—survive a miraculous crash during a storm, their watches still ticking despite the ordeal. With their lives suddenly uncertain, they resolve to embrace risk and adventure, dedicating themselves to confronting the unknown. Their first mission brings them to the ancient chambers of a forgotten alchemist’s box, summoned by Morelian, a descendant of Merlin, to witness wonders beyond human understanding. Written by Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, and Dave Wood, with art by Kirby and inks by Kirby, Roz Kirby, Marvin Stein, and others, the issue features a dynamic cover by Dick Sprang, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Joe Certa, Lee Elias, Carmine Infantino, Ross Andru, and inkers Stan Kaye, Jack Kirby, Bernard Sachs, Joe Giella, Joe Certa, Lee Elias, Joe Kubert, and Mike Esposito.
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Four heroes are being flown to appear on the radio show "Heroes" when their jet crashes in a storm. Miraculously, all four survive unharmed, even down to a working watch. Since they are "living on borrowed time", they vow to make the best use of it, taking risks to benefit others, challenging the unknown. In their first official case, they are summoned by Morelian, a descendant of Merlin, to open four chambers of a dangerous alchemist's box and "witness things not seen on this Earth since the dawn of Man!"
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).