Comic Title: Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2004
On Sale Date: October 20, 2004 Direct Market Date October 27, 2004
Source: Previews, Vol. 14 #8 (#188)

Direct Market Date October 20, 2004
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Cover Price: $49.95
Page Count: 224
Editor: Dale Crain

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Tarantula Strikes"
Pages: 6

Feature(s):
Sandman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Bert Christman

Reprinted From:
Adventure Comics #40 (1939)

Feature Character(s)

• Sandman (Wesley Dodd; last name alternately Dodds in later appearances; first appearance; see comment below; last appearance in Secret Origins #7; next appearance in New York World's Fair Comics (#1))

Villain(s)

• The Tarantula (Mr. Crossart; no relation to the costumed hero from Star Spangled Comics; next appearance in All-Star Squadron Annual #3)
• An unnamed henchman (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Humphries (Wesley Dodd's butler; no further appearances)
• Vivian Dale, several of her house guests, Two police officers and a detective, and Tom (no further appearances)

Comments:
This is the second published appearance of the Sandman. His first appearance was in the tenth story of New York World’s Fair Comics #(1) but clearly the events of that story take place sometime after the events in this one. Conceivably the story in this issue was intended to be his first appearance.

Sandman wears an orange business suit in this story.

This story was not originally titled; the title shown here was given on the contents page of The Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol. 1 in which this story is reprinted.

Synopsis:
The Sandman, a masked vigilante, investigates the disappearance of actress Vivian Dale at her estate. A masked villain known as the Tarantula is responsible for Dale’s kidnapping. Sandman sneaks past police into the actress’ house and locates the kidnapper. He frees Vivian and puts the Tarantula to sleep with his trademark gas gun. The Tarantula is then unmasked as Mr. Crossart and turned over to the police.