Ace of Spades

A mysterious Bronze Age creation from the pages of Justice League of America, Ace of Spades made their debut in 1982 courtesy of writer Gerry Conway and artist Don Heck — a villainous-sounding name that fits right into that era's love of colorful, high-concept characters. Over a span of roughly two decades, this DC figure kept some genuinely elite company, sharing adventures with the likes of The Flash and Green Lantern, as well as the card-themed Jack of Spades and King of Spades. With appearances spread across Justice League of America, Green Arrow, and Justice League, and at least one collector-recognized key issue to their name, Ace of Spades is a compact but intriguing piece of Bronze Age DC history — exactly the kind of deep-cut discovery that makes digging through back issues so rewarding.