Tony Mantegna is one of six strangers brought together by a mysterious, hooded figure that is known only as Mockingbird. Each of these people has experienced a loss or setback of some type. Mantegna had won a Pulitzer for an exposé he wrote on corruption in a mine workers union. While researching, he was caught in a suspicious, accidental dynamite blast that resulted in a loss of hearing. Mockingbird wants this new Secret Six (the original group from the late 60s comic have retired) to be his mission operatives. In exchange, he offers each of them some device that compensates or eliminates their losses. Tony receives a sophisticated (certainly outmoded by contemporary standards) headset. The Secret Six had only a couple of missions before the story ended and Action changed its format back to a monthly 32-paged comic from the weekly anthology experiment.

The story of Mantegna’s mine workers union piece is recounted in Action #624. Harry Shandler, a union foreman, was alleged to divert union money into his personal bank account. Mantegna contacted Shandler, and an interview was arranged for his magazine employer. A new photographer, Tom Pearson, was sent along with him. Quoting the story: “But I was working with a new photographer, Tom Pearson—helluva nice guy, but there were…certain tensions. And I guess I just wasn’t on my game.” The two were given access to explore a mineshaft alone. They stumbled across a live charge, and Tom pushed Tony away from it just as it exploded. They were rescued. The story gives no indication of Tom’s injuries, but Tony later awoke in hospital and discovered his sense of hearing had been lost. The closing scene of this chapter is set in a Los Angeles cemetery. Tony is talking aloud at a grave. He talks about leaving town for good and moving to San Francisco.

“…You know…the way we always talked about doing some day. I’m sorry we didn’t get around to it while you were still here. I won’t be able to visit as often. But I’ll still bring flowers. And I’ll never stop loving you, you know that.”

Tony places the potted flowers on the grave. An older woman approaches him from behind to ask if he knows where a particular section of the cemetery is located. Tony can’t hear her though because he’s not wearing the electronic device Mockingbird gave to him. A caretaker informs her that he can’t hear her (“He’s stone cold deaf.”). She asks the caretaker if he knows him and he replies, “Not really. I just see him a lot. He comes out here once a month on this date, every month…to put flowers on his lover’s grave.” The final panel is a close up of the head stone with the name “Thomas John Pearson” engraved on it.

The Secret Six and Mockingbird referred to here have no connection to the villainous Secret Six seen most recently in current DC comics.

Mantegna first appeared in Action #601 and confirmed gay in Action #624 (Dated 11/1988). Created by Martin Pasko and Dan Spiegle.

© and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.

Thanks to Angie for bringing this character to my attention!

Contributed by John M. Eagen

Art by Eddy NewellContributed by John M. Eagen

Former Olympic champion and part time super hero Jefferson Pierce (aka – Black Lightning) was a teacher at Carver High School. During his tenure he befriended Walter Kasko, a white teacher at a  predominately black highschool. Kasko was a man of integrity and guts who took deep interest in the students of Carver High. He was used to the gangs and weapons present in the poor district and made every attempt to set misguided students on the right path. One such student was Lamar Henderson. Lamar was targeted for a gang slaying, but Kasko and Jefferson Pierce both threw their bodys in front of the young man, taking the bullets for him.

Walter Kasko died during the incident and Jefferson Pierce was rushed to the hospital. In an attempt to revive Pierce, doctors used electric paddles, only to have the electricity “feedback” due to Pierce’s own internal (and secret) lightning powers. In an attempt to find the cause of the incident, metagene tests were ordered for Pierce.

Lying in the hospital recovering, Pierce was visited by an African American lab technicion named Samual Daly. Daly introduced himself to Pierce “My name is Samual Daly. Walter Kasko was my friend. Actually , he was more than my friend.” Jefferson admits that he didn’t know much about Kasko’s personal life and Daly continues… “Some of us keep our secrets better than others. But you know all about secrets don’t you?” It is at this point that Daly informs Pierce that not only did Walter Kasko know that Pierce was indeed Black Lightning, he (Kasko) also covered for him so that his identity would remain a secret.

Samual Daly continued his lover’s legacy by doctoring the metagene tests so that Pierce’s results would be negative. Pierce consoles Daly with these parting words of thanks and praise… “Be angry, be very angry, at this cruel and stupid world we live in. It deserves all the rage you can muster. But don’t ever be angry at the man you loved. His kind of courage is the only hope we have.”

Reflecting back on the entire events that led to Walter Kasko’s death, Pierce (Black Lightning) finds strength in his friend’s untimely death… “Walter Kasko died. He threw himself in front of one of his students and he died. Walter didn’t want to die on the cold linoleum floor so far from his companion. But he wasn’t going to lose a good kid. Walter Kasko was a hero. I don’t know if I am. But I’m going to keep working at it. Until I get it right. One more thing… I remember Walter’s face now — and I always will.”  (Tony Isabella)

Walter first appeared in Black Lightning #2 (vol 2) and Samual in #5. They were revealded to be a couple in #5. The setting of this story is Brick City, a lower class suburb of an unnamed city.

Tony Isabella reflects on these characters here.

Black Lightning created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden. © and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.