DC
Detective Comics No. 415 Cover by Adams & Giordano
Behind this great cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano were two solid stories written by Frank Robbins. Batman was drawn by Bob Brown and inked by Giordano, while Batgirl had Don Heck doing full art.
Swamp Thing No. 25 Unpublished Cover by Ernie Chan
Those first 10 issues of Swamp Thing by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson were something special. Horror was enjoying a revival in comics thanks to a relaxation of rules enforced by the Comics Code Authority. Wrightson had emerged as one of the young stars of the moment and his work demonstrated mastery and continuous improvement.
Detective Comics No. 473 Cover by Marshall Rogers
With Neal Adams no longer drawing stories for DC, Batman in the mid 1970s settled into a quiet period with artists like Ernie Chan, John Calnan and regulars Irv Novick and Jim Aparo. So when Marshall Rogers arrived with inker Terry Austin, their stylish angular art and crisp architectural backgrounds brought something new to Detective Comics. Add to that superior scripting by Steve Englehart and their run is well remembered today.
Doorway to Nightmare No. 1 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
Designed by cover illustrator Michael Wm Kaluta, Madame Xanadu made her first appearance in this comic.
DC Super-Heroes UK Annual 1982 by Brian Bolland
In 1980, British comics didn't exist for me beyond the occasional Dandy or Beano annual that appeared in Coles bookstore in the small Canadian town I grew up in. I didn't like the look of those, so I never bought them.
Demon with a Glass Hand by Ellison & Rogers
The Outer Limits was an important stepping stone in popularising speculative fiction. Premiering in 1963 it lasted one-and-a-half seasons and connected the more general The Twilight Zone with 1966's straight science fiction Star Trek. Many that worked on The Outer Limits later moved on to Trek.
Star Hunters No. 8 Unpublished Cover by Buckler & Giordano
Star Hunters had been cancelled as part of the DC Implosion with issue No. 7. But even if it had continued it would have been without creator/writer David Michelinie.
Mythelinies – The Connected DC Universe of David Michelinie
Back in the mid 1970s, David Michelinie had the idea to connect the books he created with the same background concept of gods of law and chaos – or light and darkness – who could not fight directly for dominance in our worlds, and so each side chose their champions to act as avatars.
The House of Mystery No. 182 Cover by Neal Adams
If there were hundreds of covers like these by Adams I'd want to colour them all. Unfortunately, there are only a couple dozen or so he did for DC's horror comics, and only a few of those have decent scans available on the web. So I take my time with these and only do one once in a while.
Christmas with the Super-Heroes No. 2 Cover by DeStefano & Mahlstedt
I highly recommend this cover if you wish to discover how tedious it is to colour little elves and their multi-coloured costumes. Though with the lantern light to play off of the scene it did turn out to be magical.
Strange Adventures No. 149 Cover by Murphy Anderson
While this one is from 1963, it has all the markings of a 1950s sci-fi B picture. The stoic and resolute man faces his doom while his girl seeks shelter and comfort in his arms, unable to summon the strength to look at what he sees. Others scurry about, knowing the end is nigh. The threat: astronomical in origin and size.
The Four Blue Beetles
The Blue Beetle is one of the earliest costumed adventurers appearing in American comics. He debuted in 1939 in Mystery Men Comics No. 1, published by Fox Publications. Over the years he would evolve and become completely different characters as he was passed from publisher to publisher.
Time Warp No. 1 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
It was this comic from the summer of 1979 with my 14th birthday approaching that sent me over the edge. As my paperboy income increased, my comic book buying increased. DC was on the move again having recovered from the Implosion of two years earlier and their penchant for exploration and trying things out was at the forefront once again.
The Legion of Super-Heroes No. 282 Cover by Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo wasn't known for his work on the Legion, but he turns in a serviceable job here on a Time Trapper tale.
Batman No. 296 Cover by Amendola & Milgrom
Sal Amendola has had a long career as a comic book artist and teacher. Though his work at DC was mostly accomplished during a brief period in the early 1970s, what he did do is well remembered. "Night of the Stalker" – eventually published in Detective Comics No. 439 – was a story he and brother Vin plotted from an idea by Neal Adams, and Sal pencilled. It had its words added by Steve Englehart and inks by Dick Giordano.
The New Teen Titans No. 1 Alternate Cover by George Pérez
In 1980 I was in my first years of regularly collecting and then as now DC's books drew me more than Marvel's (plus I was picking up books available on the emerging direct market). I saw the New Teen Titans first appearance in DC Comics Presents No. 26 not because of them, but because I normally bought DCCP, and cool, Jim Starlin did layouts for the Superman and Green Lantern team-up. GL was, along with Batman, my favourite DC character.
Tales of the Unexpected No. 10 Cover by Mort Meskin
A prolific and skilled artist working in comics Golden and Silver ages, Mort Meskin eventually left comics for agency work in illustration and storyboarding.
Batman by Rob de la Torre
Rob de la Torre is a Spanish artist who has done work for Marvel Comics. When he works on Conan, it's as if he's channeling the soul of the late, great John Buscema with lush linework and deep, mysterious blacks.
Superman The Secret Years No. 4 Cover by Frank Miller
Miller was at DC. While Ronin had found an audience, it hadn't been a resounding success. But now he was working on The Dark Knight Returns, and that would change everything.
DC Comics Presents Pin-Up by George Pérez
DC Comics Presents was modelled after The Brave & the Bold, which is largely remembered for being the Batman team-up book. As the Superman team-up book, DCCP had some great stories in it. It also had some clunkers and from my point of view it was the ever-changing creative teams that worked on DCCP that gave it its up and down feel, while B&B had the creative team of writer Bob Haney and artist Jim Aparo to keep the book's feel consistent.
Wonder Woman No. 258 Cover by Delbo & Giordano
José Delbo was the penciller on Wonder Woman from 1976–1981, encompassing the time when the Lynda Carter TV series was on American television. This cover by him and inker Dick Giordano came right in the middle of his time on the book.
Detective Comics No. 443 Alternate Cover by Walt Simonson
I was just a few years too young to get comics regularly when Manhunter was the back-up feature in Detective Comics Nos. 437–443. Written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Walt Simonson, it combined pulp high-adventure themes with espionage and thriller elements. With Goodwin's tight, evocative prose and Simonson's groundbreaking storytelling techniques, Manhunter always punched way above its weight as an eight-page back-up in the Batman comic that consistently sold the least copies.
Justice League of America No. 193 Cover by George Pérez
A fellow on facebook reminded me that another great George Pérez cover had been given the inset treatment. Justice League of America No. 193 carried a preview for All-Star Squadron. Written by Roy Thomas and initially drawn by Rich Buckler & Jerry Ordway, it was the then-current revival of DC's Golden Age characters. The book lasted 67 issues and three annuals.
The New Teen Titans No. 16 Cover by Pérez & Tanghal
Not a lot new to say this time out, except it's another of The New Teen Titans covers that was put into an inset so that another new book preview could be marketed. In this case it was the wonderful Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew, and I'm sure the preview gave a boost to a book that might have disappeared after only a few issues. As it was, it lasted 20 issues and has had some revivals over the years.
Wonder Woman by José Luis García-López
Few artists can convey the romance, drama and power of a character like Wonder Woman better than García-López. While much of his work for DC Comics licensing is crisp, clear and by necessity stylised and simplified, pieces like this one show his full skill with lush ink work.
Superman No. 338 Cover by Andru & Giordano
As a part of the mythos of Superman's world, the city of Kandor had been stolen from Krypton by the android Brainiac and in the process it was shrunken and put into a glass bottle as part of his collection preserving civilizations that would be otherwise lost. Years later, Superman encounters Brainiac and steals back Kandor, vowing to one day return the city to its normal size. Until then, it sat on a shelf in his Fortress of Solitude like a futuristic ant farm.
Superman No. 186 Cover by Swan & Klein
As adult readers of comics, the lure of nostalgia can be powerful. We remember a time when responsibilities were simpler and lighter, and our understanding of the world was no where near complete.
Batman No. 251 Cover by Neal Adams
Neal Adams had arrived in comics in the mid 1960s, bringing art skills and techniques that had been honed in commercial art. Making his biggest impact at DC Comics, he's still associated with Batman and Green Lantern decades after he was active as those books' penciller.
Batman No. 291 Cover by Jim Aparo
David V Reed was a notable Batman writer, first writing the character in the late 1940s/early 1950s. He would return in the 1970s and likely his best moment was a four-parter published in Batman Nos. 291–294.
DC Special Series No. 27 Cover – Batman and the Incredible Hulk by José Luis García-López
It was the end of an era. Earlier in 1981, Marvel Comics had handled the second team-up of Superman and the Amazing Spider-Man. And then this book followed, shepherded through the DC offices. While DC and Marvel would still occasionally team-up their characters for reader excitement and mutual profit, the tabloids – a fixture of both companies throughout the 1970s – would not continue much further into the 80s.
The House of Mystery No. 175 Cover by Neal Adams
Kids in peril was an effective theme Adams used for his DC horror covers. Scare the kids, they'll love it and they'll buy the comic.
Limited Collectors Edition C-37 Cover – Batman by Jim Aparo
Another solid volume of Batman stories, these from the Golden Age and featuring villains from Batman's rogues gallery. All of it wrapped in an iconic cover by The Brave & the Bold regular artist Jim Aparo.
Limited Collectors Edition C-43 Cover by Swan & Oksner
DC's 1970s tabloids were great treasures of reprinted material and this – the second "Christmas with the Super-Heroes" collection – was no exception. There was nothing like seeing favourite stories at a larger size.
Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter Cover by Dave Gibbons
I'm guessing I don't need to tell readers much about Watchmen here. You likely are already familiar with the 12-issue series – written by Alan Moore, drawn and lettered by Dave Gibbons, coloured by John Higgins and published by DC Comics in 1986 – to be even remotely interested in Tales of the Black Freighter, the allegorical/metaphorical comic within the Watchmen comic.
Sword of Sorcery No. 1 Unpublished Cover by Jeffrey Catherine Jones
The early 1970s saw an influx of new talent at DC, most of it shepherded by editor Joe Orlando. The four artists who would later make up The Studio – Bernie Wrightson, Michael Wm Kaluta, Jeffrey Catherine Jones and Barry Windsor Smith – had three of their number at DC while Windsor Smith was over at Marvel. Working outside the normal super-heroic books, they made their mark with covers, as well as adventure and horror stories.
Stalker No. 1 Cover by Steve Ditko and Wally Wood
Another of DC's short-run comics of the 1970s, this one boasted young Paul Levitz early in his career as writer, with veterans Steve Ditko and Wally Wood on art duties. Despite the quality of Stalker, it lasted only four issues.
Super DC Giant S-20 The House of Mystery Cover by Neal Adams
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, DC Comics leveraged their library of existing stories effectively with specials, annuals and series of books built around reprinted material.
Starfire Poster by Mike Vosburg
Starfire was another creation of writer David Michelinie – creator of Claw the Unconquered – and brought to visual life by penciller Mike Vosburg, debuting with Starfire No. 1, cover dated Aug/Sep 1976.
Claw the Unconquered Nos. 13, 14 and 15 – Unpublished
Following up on a post discussing Claw's origins, we turn to the issues produced but unpublished after its cancellation with issue No. 12.
Green Lantern No. 110 Cover by Mike Grell
Along with writer Denny O'Neil, artist Mike Grell had taken Green Lantern from being a back-up in The Flash and relaunched into his own mag with No. 90 in 1976. By the time No. 110 came out in 1978 during the DC Explosion, Grell was about to leave the book to handle writing and pencilling duties on his own creation The Warlord, a book that went from bi-monthly to monthly status during the same time.
Green Lantern No. 56 Cover by Kane & Anderson
A great cover to a great issue of Green Lantern from 1967. The creature is reminiscent of Jack Kirby's Thing for Marvel's Fantastic Four and bears some resemblance to The Abomination from The Incredible Hulk, a character Gil Kane also designed.
The Justice Society of America by Anderson and McCorkindale
Editor Julius Schwartz did a brilliant thing when he had Gardner Fox write "The Flash of Two Worlds" for The Flash No. 123. Bringing back the original versions of the Second World War-era characters was a unique and compelling way to integrate them into the Silver Age - the second era of super-heroes.
The Arthurian Era by Brian Bolland
Crisis on Infinite Earths had concluded, turning the DC Comics multiverse into a supposedly coherent universe. The History of the DC Universe two-book set documented the new timeline, and The History of the DC Universe Portfolio celebrated it with tabloid-sized images by some of DC's top talent.
Detective Comics No. 481 Unpublished Cover by Jim Aparo
Books come and books go, and in the latter half of 1978, DC Comics was in the throes of The DC Implosion and nearly half their titles disappeared.
Batman Family No. 20 Cover by Jim Starlin
It was the best Batbook of its era, and it had gotten there with new talent like Marshall Rogers, Mike Golden, Joe Staton and others breathing new life into the Batman family of characters.
Superman Pin-Up TPB Cover by Neal Adams
Neal Adams is recovering from an illness that nearly claimed him, and we're all reminded that those whose work we love won't be around forever. And when Adams can still knock it out of the park, it's a testament to a life spent practising his skills, and that we always look forward to seeing more from him.
Batman No. 313 Cover by José Luis García-López
This is an amazing symbolic cover. On the surface, it's merely a clever division of Two-Face's hideout, but if you extend the idea to the tragedies these antagonists have endured, it's even more interesting.
BEM No. 28 Cover by Brian Bolland
BEM – or Bemusing Magazine was a British comics fanzine of the 1970s and 80s, and I've had a scan of this cover in my files for a bit, meaning to do a new colour version.
Batman No. 340 Cover by Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo became so strongly associated with DC heroes like Aquaman and Batman that we sometimes forget that he was a solid horror artist and in an alternate reality could have spent his career working in DC's anthologies.
Time Warp No. 4 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
As ever, I'm a sucker for a Time Warp cover drawn by Michael Wm Kaluta. How the trumpet player ended up with demons/angels on a rock in space is anyone's guess, but it was certainly headier stuff than your average DC fare of the day.