Silver Age Secret Files and Origins (2000)
by Mark Waid & Jim Mooney
cover by Terry Dodson
This is an odd part of the Dial H retrospective that, logically speaking, shouldn’t be part of it.
“Silver Age” was a 2000 event with several special issues that were set during, well, the Silver Age and made a serious effort to match the tone of the era.
I wouldn’t normally include stuff like this, but Mark Waid goes the extra mile to pay respect to the original… and let’s be honest, there’s not a HUGE number of stories with Robby anyway.
We begin with Suzy writing down a recap of the original series. This is when we learn her last name, by the way, she didn’t have one in the proper Silver Age.
She provides some insight into Robby’s transformations, including the idea that they all seem to be smiling. Not entirely true for ALL the stories, but it’s a nice bit of characterization.
More importantly, this story is a direct sequel to House of Mystery #169 where Suzy learned the truth behind the H-Dial and threatened to blackmail Robby.
She actually DOES blackmail him in this story, because it turns out that she was only faking amnesia!
This is great: the fact that Suzy learned the truth and acted selfishly was one of the best moments in the original run which was ruined by a lazy ending, so it’s amazing to see how it would pay out if they went through with it.
Waid is dropping some lore into the H-Dial, revealing that its letters are written in Interlac.
Which does make it SLIGHTLY less believable that Robby would be able to translate it, especially since it’s likely that in the Silver Age knowledge of Interlac spilled into 20th century Earth.
I guess technically the series should’ve been called Dial 
For Hero, though.
The idea that the H-Dial only has 10 letters check out: all the words spelled with the H-Dial in the original series were H.E.R.O., V.I.L.L.A.I.N. (plus both spelled backwards) and H.E.R.O.I.N.E.
Waid doesn’t mention the latter (which is kind of weird since it was used in Suzy’s story), but you don’t need more than ten letters to include that in the combination.
That’s clever! It does ignore other words that will be spelled in the 80s revival series, though.
Robby mentions all the inconsistencies shown by the H-Dial in the original series: that sometimes he can transform immediately and sometimes not, and that sometimes he instinctively knows the names and powers of the transformations, but sometimes he has to find out.
I’m glad Waid doesn’t try to force rules into this and clearly calls them random.
Robby has to leave to deal with an emergency, and he calls out Suzy for saying he’s using the H-Dial to escape the boredom of Liddleville while it’s actually how SHE feels.
So Robby invites Suzy to transform with him!
The artwork of this story is by Jim Mooney, in what is probably one of his last works at DC before he died in 2008.
As a homage to some of his most famous work, in the final panels Suzy is transformed into Supergirl and Robby into Tommy Tomorrow.
Aww, that was sweet.
Historical significance: 2/10
This story probably just exists to remind readers of the “Silver Age” event that Robby exists, even though he gets his own special. But saved from a 0/10 thanks to giving a finale to the original story!
Silver Age-ness: 7/10
Suzy and the story being smart enough to realize a bump in the head doesn’t cause amnesia is almost the opposite of the Silver Age, but on the other hand we have the decision to let her transform AND to randomly become Supergirl.
Does it stand the test of time?: 10/10
This one is basically the opposite of the Plastic Man story. That one felt like an insult to Robby, but this one is full of love for the original series. Not surprising, considering Mark Waid is a self-declared Dial H superfan.
Dial S for SOCKAMAGEE! : 93
The only misstep in Mark Waid’s attempt to keep the Silver Age tone: Robby doesn’t use his catchprase, not even once! I know this story is just 3 pages plus a splash page, but come on, this is the FIRST story with him I’ve ever covered when he never says it.
Dial I for superhero identities: 47
Adding Tommy Tomorrow.
Dial O for other superhero identities: 2
Suzy has transformed into both Gem Girl and Supergirl so far.
Dial C for the superpowers count: 68
Tommy Tomorrow doesn’t have any powers.