Star Spangled Comics #61

High above the city skyline, a crowded hot-air balloon basket bursts with energy in this October 1946 DC title — the Suicide Slum Cross Country Balloon Race, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, is clearly underway, with a masked young hero and a group of wide-eyed kids clinging on for dear life as the red balloon carries them through the clouds. Curt Swan and Stan Kaye bring a wonderful sense of breathless motion to the cover, perfectly setting the stage for "The Great Balloon Race!" inside. It's a genuinely charming snapshot of Golden Age adventure, where even a community balloon race can turn into a thrill ride.