BEACH BUM COMICS : HIS STORY BEGINS AFTER HIS DEATH -- DEADMAN !!!

DC Comics published a great title originally to be called Project: Science. Thankfully, it became Strange Adventures. Since Adam Strange was a bit before my time getting into comic books, it wasn't until a certain feature came along that caught my attention - Big Time!

Strange Adventures #205 featured a new and different type of hero, his name was Deadman!

Deadman is a ghost, formerly a circus trapeze artist named Boston Brand, who performed under that same name, his stage persona including a red costume and white corpse makeup. When Brand is murdered during a trapeze performance by a mysterious assailant known only as the Hook, his spirit is given the power to possess any living being by a Hindu god named Rama Kushna (a variation of Rama-Krishna), in order to search for his murderer and obtain justice.

At the end of the Neal Adams story line, Deadman seems to discover the truth behind his murder and the ultimate fate of Hook, who killed him as part of an initiation into a society of contract killers who then kill him to silence him. However, the real Hook is one among many one-handed men who work for an organization known as "The Scavengers." This group steals advanced technology for a profit. Fighting the Scavengers also led to Deadman gaining an artificial body for some time, thanks to the influence of the Forever People. This group had rented rooms from Trixie Magruder, an old circus companion of Boston Brand.

Strange Adventures #205 This Man Who Was Just Murdered Is Our Hero! His Story Begins One Minute Later --
"Who Has Been Lying In MY Grave?"
Shot during a performance, trapeze artist Boston Brand dies, only to find that his spirit lives on with the ability to inhabit the bodies of others. By the will of Rama Kushna his spirit will walk among the living until his killer is found.
Written & layout art by Arnold (Doom Patrol) Drake with art by Carmine (Batgirl, Spider-Woman) Infantino & George Roussos.

Deadman created by Arnold Drake; Deadman's costume designed by Carmine Infantino.
Story told in two chapters, each ending in 1/2 page.

Brave & The Bold #97
"Who Has Been Lying In MY Grave?"
Early reprint of the origin of Deadman.
Great Nick Cardy cover.

DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #5
"Who Has Been Lying In MY Grave?"
Reprints Strange Adventures #205 Deadman origin story.
Digest also includes Jack Kirby's Demon #1.

Deadman #1 I...Am...Dead? No No No! No!
"Who Has Been Lying In MY Grave?"
Article on how Arnold Drake co-created Deadman by Nicola Cuti.
Baxter paper reprint series of seven issues.

Fantastic art on the slipcoveer!

The Deadman Collection was a dust jacketed hardcover treasure trove of Deadman stories featuring art by Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams & George Tuska.
Reprints Deadman stories from:
Strange Adventures #205-216.
Deadman #1-7.
The Brave and the Bold #79, 86 & 104.
Aquaman #50-52.
Challengers of the Unknown #74.