HOUSE OF SECRETS #61 (1963)
by Bob Haney & Lee Elias
Eclipso is easily the most important character to debut on “House of Secrets” (sorry Prince Ra-Man), but he barely makes it into the cover.
We begin with Dr. Bruce Gordon officially open Solar City, the first city in the world to be completely powered by solar energy. Which is still science fiction nearly 60 years later.
I think I just made myself sad.
Oh he’s close to inaugurate his dream project AND he’s about to get married? All this guy is missing is being two weeks from retirement and he has “tragic ending” written all over.
Case in point: the moment he starts working on a strange diamond (more on that in a bit), he’s transformed by SUDDEN ECLIPSE!
I know this is the same universe where the most famous person in the universe is made unrecognizable by a pair of glasses, but come on: NOBODY recognizes the scientist when he puts on a cap and has paint over his face!?
So… “Solar City” means the entire city was under a gigantic dome-shaped solar panel?
The artwork is a little too stiff for my tastes in most scenes, but damn Lee Elias really can draw gut-wrenching scenes of destruction!
Eclipso slips away, hiding his costume in a safe place: an atomic pile!
But SHOCKINGLY, slightly painting your face and hiding your hair does NOT make you unrecognizable! Clearly a sign this wasn’t intended to be set in the DC Universe.
That’s when we get the origin of Eclipso, back when Dr. Gordon went to South America to take pictures of an eclipse and remarkably manages to be avoid being racist!
The previous holder of the Black Diamond ® wasn’t all that impressive, considering he gets himself killed in the most inept way possible.
Of course you realize this has little to do with actual science, right?
I have to praise the scenes of destruction again. Just look at this thing, it’s gorgeous! I mean it’s awful, but it’s gorgeously awful in a good sense. You know what I mean.
I told you he was just two weeks from retirement.
I always forget that Eclipso’s transformation is not only caused by a solar eclipse. It makes sense from a narrative standpoint, since lunar eclipses are far more common.
This is actually pretty clever: if Eclipso’s transformation is caused by the light of an eclipse, then isolating him should work.
Except light doesn’t seem to have anything to do with it, and Professor Moustache is dumb enough to let Eclipso out before the eclipse is over.
Fortunately for himself, Dr. Gordon was smart enough not to trust Professor Moustache and to basically defeat himself.
Historical significance: 7/10
Eclipso is not that important in the grand scheme of things, but his origin story does stay relatively consistent for a while despite him originating outside of classic superhero titles.
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
Solar City is (sadly) a very Silver Age moment, but other than that characters are uncharacteristically smart.
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
I’ve never cared for Eclipso, but this was pretty engaging! If you account for the writing style of the era it’s a well done little story.
How close is this to the modern character? 4/10
If we go by the classic Eclipso he’s a little closer: a Mr. Hyde with a pseudo-scientific theme, a silly look and a much sillier weapon. Seriously, I’m always amazed he doesn’t drop that diamond!
Eclipso was a relatively minor villain until the 90s, where he was re-imagined as the host of some kind of evil evilness of evil. I don’t know why, but I’ve never been able to buy that this guy is really a good fit to fight the likes of the Spectre.
In my opinion, it was a mistake to focus so much on the “evil possession” thing. They could’ve doubled down on the Jackyll & Hyde theme!
I mean, he WAS preceded by a full year by a different scientist fighting with an alternate personality, but it was at a different company.
