DC
The Flash No. 282 Cover by Andru & Giordano
Super-heroes have enough trouble with the villains. So you'd think they could count on their friends. All except for the flighty, fickle, foot-focussed Flash. Really, Green Lantern should flatten him with a big green fist.
Green Lantern No. 29 Cover by Kane & Anderson
It was certainly a more innocent time. It would be a few years before Gil Kane got truly dynamic with his layouts, so we have the gimmick of Black Hand wiping away half of Green Lantern with a high-tech Etch-a-Sketch®.
Green Lantern No. 112 Cover by Mike Grell
In the back pages of The Flash, Green Lantern had found a home after the book had been cancelled. A few artists did stories, but when Mike Grell drew the assignment and stuck with it, the feature was revitalised. GL graduated back to his own magazine.
Green Lantern Covers by Brian Bolland
There's a lot to be said about the lad from Lincolnshire, Brian Bolland, but his Wikipedia entry does a pretty good job of getting to the details, so I recommend reading that instead if you're curious.
Strange Adventures No. 159 Cover by Murphy Anderson
Who doesn't like astronauts and dinosaurs? And gosh darn it, why shouldn't we have stories with them both in it at the same time?
Green Lantern by Bender & Giella
When veteran artist Howard Bender posted this 1976 pin-up that he pencilled and Joe Giella inked, I thought it would make a great Green Lantern cover.
Limited Collectors' Edition No. C-39 Secret Origins of Super-Villains Cover by Dick Giordano
Here we have another fine example of a new cover wrapping memorable reprints from the DC Comics archives.
The Flash TV Special Cover by Williams & Robinson
The 1990 Flash TV series only lasted one season, but it's well remembered. Star John Wesley Shipp joined the cast of the more-recent series as Jay Garrick and two other characters. Guessing he was good to work with.
DC Marketing Art by Dick Giordano and Neal Adams
Giordano and Adams were the 'look' of DC's brand throughout the 1970s, giving the marketing materials an iconic look that still has power today.
Hawkman by Mike DeCarlo and Scott Dutton
Mike DeCarlo made his name as an inker who worked primarily for DC Comics.
Brightest Day No. 14 Cover by Ivan Reis and Hi-Fi
There have been a lot of great depictions of Deadman since his creation in the 1960s. Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, José Luis García-López and more.
Deadman No. 1 Cover by Neal Adams
It was the perfect showcase for Neal Adams to work on as his first regular feature at DC Comics. Deadman – appearing in Strange Adventures – had touches of mysticism inside a Fugitive framework. And Adams drew the hell out of it.
Limited Collectors' Edition No. C-27 Shazam! Cover by Bob Oksner
Was there anything bigger and better in North American comics in the 1970s than tabloid/treasury comics? Big presentation. Longer page counts. The best stories reprinted or new epic stories.
Captain Marvel Adventures No. 151 Cover by Kurt Schaffenberger
Anyone who visits this site knows I'm a lifelong reader of DC Comics. But that doesn't mean I'm a fan of everything they've done. There have been a lot of great books, but there has been some pretty cutthroat and nasty business in their almost 100 years.
Sword of the Atom by Jan Strnad & Gil Kane
The Atom had initially done well in the early 1960s as part of DC editor Julius Schwartz's retooling and revival of the company's Golden-Age heroes. Like Green Lantern, his tryout began in Showcase and he soon graduated into his own title.
The Atom No. 29 Cover by Gil Kane
You have to wonder about The Thinker. That helmet looks like it might give him some powers. Either to project his thoughts onto others, or to at least amplify is own intelligence.
Doorway to Nightmare No. 3 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
Another haunting depiction of Madame Xanadu by Kaluta.
The Fury of Firestorm No. 1 Unpublished Cover by Pat Broderick
Firestorm had debuted during that misty time just before the DC Implosion and had come and gone.
The Best of DC Digest No. 48 Cover by Bender & Giordano
The digests were DC's reprint program during a time when the full-sized comics declared they were about "The New DC." DC had great reprints integrated into their regular comics going back decades, but after the DC Implosion they were very much about regaining ground and market share. So it's understandable that they wanted to keep the old separated from the new.
The Doom Patrol vs MODOK by John Byrne
I've never been big on the Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing (MODOK). He was a big head with tiny limbs and he fought Captain America lot. But, I gotta tell ya, he deserved better than what he got in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, both in the cheesy visual effects used to depict him, and in the "we can't take him seriously" vibe the filmmakers set for him. Corey Stoll deserved better. I'm sure his cheque cleared and he'll be looking for something a little less dopey to be in next.
Underoos Concept Art by Alex Toth
Alex Toth was one of the true visionaries in the development of the visual language of American comic books. Eschewing the lush brushwork of contemporaries like Milton Caniff and Frank Robbins, he relentlessly simplified his linework and showed that a single line, perfectly placed was worth more than all the hatching and scalloping of lesser talents. He was also a vocal commentator and critic of trends in comics he thought strayed from a positive and progressive path of growth.
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.