GHastly55 wrote:
Silver Age Superman titles -- Man Of Tomorrow and Supergirl -- are dull but for the nostalgia value. Silver Age Batman -- the two volumes of "Dynamic Duo" Archives -- is pretty good.
Superman or Superman Family might not be your cup of tea. (I HIGHLY disagree about them being dull, but they don't sound like yout style.) However, Supergirl was a little different. The first Archive/Showcase are firmly in the SA Superman style, but the second half of the second Archive/the whole second Showcase starts to go in its own direction. Supergirl began having multi-part stories with some character development. It starts out with Supergirl's adoption from the orphanage, and a whole series of events leading up to her revalation to the world, and then there is the Comet saga, then the Lena Luthor saga. I'd say that the second Supergirl Showcase is worth trying.
If a fan of Steve Ditko, pick up Action Heroes Archives Vol. 2, featuring Ditko's work on the Charlton heroes of the mid-sixties (Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, and The Question). You can pretty much avoid Action Heroes Vol. 1, which is all Captain Atom from Ditko's pre-Spider-Man period (1960-1962).
I agree on vol.2, but not vol.1. The first half of that book features GREAT Ditko art, some of his best! The stories are so-so, geared to a younger audience, but midway through the book there is a gap where Captain Atom stopped, and was then revived after Ditko finished Spider-Man. In that second half, the stories are VASTLY improved, and it is well worth reading.

Also, I don't think anyone has mentioned Elongated Man, so I will. It's just as good as any of the other Schwartz titles.

There are also three Golden Age books that should be on your radar as well because of story/art quality:

1) The Spirit. Vol.1-5 and 12+ are the best. Will Eisner is even better than SA DC!!! (Or Marvel too IMHO)

2) Plastic Man. I know you like serious, but this is a seriously great humor book! VERY entertaining stories, and great art by Jack Cole.

3) Shazam! Family. Captain Marvel Jr. by Mac Raboy is a sight to see, and the stories rank high among those written in the Golden Age.

-Eric