DIAL A FOR A.W.A.R.D.S

While the retrospective is not over, since this is the end of the House of Mystery run it’s the only place where the awards make at least a bit of sense.

Historical significance: 6/10
The events of the series itself have next to no impact on anything. However, the H-Dial concept itself has proven to be quite resilient, since we’re STILL getting series based on it.

Silver Age-ness: 8/10
Even leaving aside the ridiculous transformations, there is so much random nonsense that it couldn’t be done in any other period.

 Does it stand the test of time? 3/10
Sadly, while the H-Dial concept itself is very strong, the series itself doesn’t seem to be all that interested in exploring any of them. Robby remains a very generic character, with a backstory that goes completely unexplained (why is he living with his grandfather? What happened to his parents?) and almost no personality.
There IS some fun to be had, for sure, and a lot of charm. But that’s about it: the series is too formulaic to really try being more.


BEST TRANSFORMATION

Winner: Mr. Echo
This guy is just ridiculously overpowered, but it’s BY FAR the most creative power of the entire series.

Runner-up: Human Starfish
Not the first transformation that could be classified as a monster, but the first time that it creates trouble for Robby.

Third place: Astro Man
An interesting look, plus teleportation and remote vision. Yeah it’s not much, but A LOT of Robby’s transformations are worse!

Honorable mention: Plastic Man
Come on. It’s Plastic Man.


WORST TRANSFORMATION

Winner: Whatsis
He can almost fly and he might be slightly invulnerable… but who would EVER want to live like this!?

Runner-up: Balloon Boy
He can float. That’s it. He has the body of a small chubby kid, but at least he’s not an abomination like Whatsit.

Third place: Mighty Moppet
His actual superpower… baby bottles shooting milk that reverse aging… means he’s potentially immortal. He just needs to grow up, then use the milk to be young again, forever. But it does mean he has to be a baby for a while.

Dishonorable mention: Baron Buzz-Saw
The only superhero I’m aware of that has a superpower that only has a negative effect on HIMSELF: the sound of his own saws makes him fall asleep.


BEST VILLAIN

Winner: Daffy from House of Mystery #158
The only villain to get his own transformation from the dial is a shockingly good threat, despite being called Daffy.

Runner-up: Clay King from House of Mystery #159
What happens when you mix Clayface with Mole Man? A character that deserved a better story.

Third place: Rainbow Raider from House of Mystery #167
Probably the most overpowered of Robby’s villains, he gets lots of points for creativity and versatility.

Honorable mention: the microbes from House of Mystery #171
Their plan makes no sense and they’re defeated in a very dumb way, but they’re an interesting concept with an imaginative design.


WORST VILLAIN

Winner: Doctor Morhar from House of Mystery #171
This idiot accidentally shrinks himself and his minions into a microverse, then betrays Earth in favor of the microbes that want to take it over.

Runner-up: the Speed Boys from House of Mystery #173
The last villains Robby fights are a gang that specializes in stealing fast things. No wonder he quits the job.

Third place: Moon Man from House of Mystery #168
Since he used to be Mr. Thunder, he was technically the nemesis of the first issues… but A) he never meets Robby when leading the Thunderbolt organization, B) Thunderbolt was never that interesting in the first place, C) he gets defeated off-panel, D) his new identity and powers make absolutely no sense.

Dishonorable mention: Dr. Cyclops from House of Mystery #164
He’s not a bad villain if you don’t mind the campiness, but the fact that we never get ANY explanation for why he’s a literal cyclops is just inexcusable.


BEST STORY

Winner: House of Mystery #169
Suzy getting her own transformation creates all sorts of new possibilities. Very few are taken and the reset button is hit HARD, but still. Also, probably the best Jim Mooney artwork on the series.

Runner-up: House of Mystery #158
A bad guy getting hold of the H-Dial is such a no-brainer that it’s amazing it only happens ONCE in the entire series!

Third place: House of Mystery #163
Bug Baron is incredibly cheesy but fun, and the idea of Robby splitting into two separate heroes (one of which is immortal!) is something new.

Honorable mention: House of Mystery #156
The first story establishes a formula that is kept throughout most of the run, so it must’ve done SOMETHING right.


WORST STORY

Winner: House of Mystery #172
The H-Dial randomly transforms someone else into monsters because that guy was born the same day as Robby? WTF!?!?

Runner-up: House of Mystery #173
Hearing jet engines makes Robby evil and fight some of his lamest villains with even lamer transformations.

Third place: House of Mystery #171
Despite having the second best cover of the run, man is this a dumb story.
And yes, while it might be recency bias on my part: the last three stories are on the podium for being the worst. No wonder Dial H was cancelled afterwards.

Dishonorable mention: House of Mystery #165
Whoozis, Whatsis and Howzis fighting against Dr. Rigoro Mortis. It’s not particularly worse than any of the other stories, but… come on, it has Whoozis, Whatsis and Howzis!!!


BEST PANEL

WORST PANEL

MOST SILVER AGE PANEL

MOST MEME-WORTHY PANEL
The world’s first swinging superhero!

WORST TECHNOBABBLE

WORST DANCING


BEST COVER
Absolutely no contest.

WORST COVER
I can’t get over how it makes it look like Baron Buzz-Saw’s arm has been cut off.


And finally, where the various counts are at the moment:

Superhero identities: 46

Most used identities: Chief Mighty Arrow, Radar-Sonar Man, Giant Boy (all twice)

Superhero identities who can fly: 23
And that’s just counting those with flight as a separate power: a number of the OTHERS use their power to fly indirectly!!!

Superpowers: 68

Dialing options: 5 

Number of times Robby said “Sockamagee!”: 90

Number of dinners lost: 3

Number of dinners Robby presumably finishes: 3

Well what do you know, he DOES eat!!!

2 thoughts on “DIAL A FOR A.W.A.R.D.S”

  1. I suspect the reason the last stories are the worst is that they’re the shortest – the last 4 issues had about 11 and a half pages. Return of Thunderbolt didn’t make it into top worst but it definitely was a weak one, with stuff like cruise having no impact on story or Whirrl computer vanishing from the plot. Notably Gem Girl was the longer story and Dial V was the longest one.

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