DC 100 Page Super Spectacular

Last updated
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular 13.jpg
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-13 (June 1972), art by Neal Adams.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
ScheduleVaried
Format Ongoing series
Publication date1971 - November 1973
No. of issues19
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4–6
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC–7 – DC–13
100-Page Super Spectacular #DC–14 – DC–22
Editor(s) E. Nelson Bridwell

DC 100 Page Super Spectacular is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1971 through 1973, featuring only reprints initially and later including new stories. The "100 Page" count included both sides of the front and back covers as pages. Each numbered issue appearing under this title featured a wrap-around cover with all editorial content and no advertisements. Versions after late 1973 included advertisements.

Contents

Publication history

The DC 100 Page Super Spectacular series was the "next wave" of "Giant" comics featuring reprint stories in the company's vast trove of tales during a 1971 editorial transition at DC Comics, when the Superman titles were taken over by Julius Schwartz after the retirement of Mort Weisinger, who had overseen all Superman-related comics since the early 1950s. The first DC Giant was the "80 Page Giant", which ran as an annual and then alternately as its own title and as part of regular, ongoing titles throughout the 1960s. Comics prices increased quickly in the early part of the 1970s. As page count dropped to accommodate the 25¢ price, the 80 Page Giant became simply "Giant" comics and DC then quickly switched to a monthly 52-page format at the 25¢ price point and DC 100 Page Super Spectacular series became the standard for "Giant" comics. [1]

Editorial

This comic series is one of E. Nelson Bridwell's contributions to DC's history and its growing array of characters. [2] As DC acquired the rights to Quality Comics characters, Fawcett Comics characters, and other folded comics companies' characters, a quick way to secure their rights was by publishing reprints featuring these characters. DC characters such as Johnny Quick made reappearances in these reprints and sometimes gained some popularity among readers. These were stand-alone stories, all written to capture any first-time reader when they were originally published, so the reader needed no real introduction to many of these characters. There were brief synopses provided on the inside cover, identifying and giving background to the characters shown on the wraparound cover and a table of contents that provided any information one would need on Golden Age characters that had not been seen in a while. Johnny Quick makes the first of what will turn out to be numerous appearances in many of the 100 Pagers. Quality Comics characters such as Max Mercury (known in the Golden Age as "Quicksilver", and named such on the wraparound cover of DC-11), the Black Condor, the Ray and Doll Man made their first DC Comics appearances in these books.

Collectibility

While the books languished in relative obscurity in the collector's market for the first 20-odd years of their existence, their Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide estimated value from 1973–1995 did not exceed $3.00, these comic books - particularly the first three issues - have become some of the most sought-after Bronze Age books. Their Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide estimated value has increased from approximately $45.00 to hundreds of dollars each in the 1997-2006 editions. The first three issues were published in relatively small numbers and were entirely editorial content. DC-5, which was a romance comic and, therefore, published in very small numbers, has been heralded as the "rarest of all Bronze Age books" by the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. The first issue to feature super-heroes was DC-6 which had a wraparound cover by Neal Adams featuring the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America. This issue also listed every comic book character that DC owned in all of the spaces that otherwise would have been occupied by house ads. For the remainder of the series, super-heroes would dominate the title.

Numbering

The series is numbered oddly. There were no issues 1, 2, or 3. [3] The first three issues published (4, 5, and 6) had subtitles — the first two of which were later used for ongoing comics series. The title ran as a part of regular, ongoing series titles for seven issues with the prefix "DC" added to the numbering (DC-7 through DC-13) in addition to the masthead title's own numbering (e.g., Superman #245 was also DC-7). It reverted to its own title again (DC-14 through DC-22) utilizing as cover titles the existing titles of regular, ongoing series, but not being part of those regular series' numbering. A planned "DC-23" was mentioned in the letters column of DC-22 by editor E. Nelson Bridwell, but it became Shazam! #8 [4] and the Super Spectacular's own numbering disappeared, while advertisements were added. The "DC 100 Page Super Spectacular" title itself was used on another 96 issues of varying regular, ongoing titles through 1975. [5] It began to become a regular version of selected ongoing titles for about a year and then increased its cost to 60¢ with the publishing date of April–May 1974 and continued this pricing until its end. The last 100-Page Super Spectaculars were published with a cover date of March–April 1975. [6] [7]

The issues

IssueDateTitleNotes
41971 Weird Mystery Tales Reprints stories from My Greatest Adventure #8, 12, 14, 15, and 20; Sensation Mystery #110 and 116; House of Secrets #2; The Phantom Stranger #1; Tales of the Unexpected #15 and 24; and House of Mystery #49. [8]
51971 Love Stories Reprints stories from Young Love #60 and Girls' Romances #99, 100, and 130. [9]
61971World's Greatest Super-HeroesReprints stories from Justice League of America #21 and 22; More Fun Comics #55; Adventure Comics #190; Action Comics #146; The Brave and the Bold #36; and a previously unpublished Golden Age Wildcat story. [10]
DC-7December 1971–
January 1972		 Superman #245Reprints stories from Superman #87 and 167; Kid Eternity #3; The Atom #3; All-Star Western #117; Detective Comics #66; and Mystery in Space #89. [11]
DC-8January 1972 Batman #238Reprints stories from Batman #70 and 75; My Greatest Adventure #80; Police Comics #14; Sensation Comics #57; Adventure Comics #276 and 324; and a previously unpublished Golden Age Atom story. [12]
DC-9February 1972 Our Army at War #242Reprints stories from G.I. Combat #44, 64, 68, and 108; Captain Storm #3; All-American Men of War #87; Our Fighting Forces #57; and Our Army at War #58. [13]
DC-10March 1972 Adventure Comics #416Reprints stories from Action Comics #309, 310, and 324; Flash Comics #86; Wonder Woman #28; Police Comics #17; and Star Spangled Comics #90. [14]
DC-11April 1972 The Flash #214Reprints stories from The Flash #122, 145, and 155; National Comics #67; Adventure Comics #179; Showcase #37; and a previously unpublished Golden Age Flash story. [15]
DC-12May 1972 Superboy #185Reprints stories from Adventure Comics #208, 289, and 323; Star-Spangled Comics #55; The Brave and the Bold #60; Hit Comics #46; and Sensation Comics #1. [16]
DC-13June 1972Superman #252Reprints stories from Action Comics #47; Superman #17 and 146; More Fun Comics #57; Flash Comics #24; Crack Comics #18; Adventure Comics #67; and Smash Comics #17. [17]
DC-14March 1973BatmanReprints stories from Detective Comics #31, 32, and 156; Showcase #34; Blackhawk #10; Sensation Comics #4 and 6; and Doll Man #31. [18]
DC-15March 1973SuperboyReprints stories from Adventure Comics #81, 270, and 273; Detective Comics #65; Superboy #57, 63, and 130; The Hawk and the Dove #3; and House of Mystery #164. [19]
DC-16April 1973 Sgt. Rock Reprints stories from Our Army at War #136; Captain Storm #1; All-American Men of War #82; Star Spangled War Stories #84; Our Fighting Forces #46; and G.I. Combat #88. [20]
DC-17June 1973 Justice League of America Reprints stories from Justice League of America #23 and 43; All Star Comics #37; and Adventure Comics #65. [21]
DC-18July 1973SupermanReprints stories from Superman #25, 97, and 162; Flash Comics #90; The Atom #8; World's Finest Comics #5; Adventure Comics #57; and Crack Comics #42. [22]
DC-19August 1973 Tarzan Reprints stories from the Tarzan newspaper strip by Russ Manning. [23]
DC-20September 1973BatmanReprints stories from Detective Comics #66, 68, and 80; All-American Comics #88; Flash Comics #95; Adventure Comics #66; Blackhawk #13; More Fun Comics #66; Sensation Comics #71 [24]
DC-21October 1973SuperboyReprints stories from Superboy #50 and 94; Action Comics #313; Adventure Comics #117 and 332; Kid Eternity #9; and The Brave and the Bold #54. [25]
DC-22November 1973The FlashReprints stories from The Flash #134 and 135; Adventure Comics #129; All-Flash #13; and Detective Comics #359. [26]

Other comics in the Super Spectacular format

Issues of on-going series which used the 100 Page Super Spectacular format include: [6] [27]

Revival: DC 100-Page Comic Giant

In 2018, DC revived the 100-page format, featuring several concurrently running titles focusing on various DC characters, as well as a handful of one-shot issues. Monthly titles often feature between four and six separate serialized stories, reprinting previous material and providing new stories. One-shots may feature as many as nine stories, though they may all be reprinted material.

The revival titles were initially a Wal-Mart exclusive, which ended in October 2019. Certain issues still continue to have location exclusive covers. Titles include:

Related Research Articles

<i>Action Comics</i> American comic book

Action Comics is an American comic book/magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as National Allied Publications, and later as National Comics Publications and as National Periodical Publications, before taking on its current name of DC Comics. Its original incarnation ran from 1938 to 2011 and stands as one of the longest-running comic books with consecutively numbered issues. The second volume of Action Comics beginning with issue #1 ran from 2011 to 2016. Action Comics returned to its original numbering beginning with issue #957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot S. Maggin</span> American writer of comic books, film, television and novels

Elliot S. Maggin, also spelled Elliot S! Maggin, is an American writer of comic books, film, television, and novels. He was a main writer for DC Comics during the Bronze and early Modern ages of comics in the 1970s and 1980s. He is particularly associated with the character of Superman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Conway</span> American comic book writer

Gerard Francis Conway is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, screenwriter, television writer, and television producer. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante antihero the Punisher as well as the Scarlet Spider, and the first Ms. Marvel, and also writing the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man in the story arc, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Giordano</span> American comic book artist and editor, 1932-2010

Richard Joseph Giordano was an American comics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics.

<i>Worlds Finest Comics</i> Comic book series by DC Comics

World's Finest Comics is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name. Michael E. Uslan has speculated that this was because DC received a cease and desist letter from Better Publications, Inc., who had been publishing a comic book entitled Best Comics since November 1939. Virtually every issue featured DC's two leading superheroes, Superman and Batman, with the earliest issues also featuring Batman's sidekick, Robin.

<i>Supermans Girl Friend, Lois Lane</i> American comic book series, 1958–1974

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1974, with 137 regular issues and two 80-page Annuals. Following the similar themed Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane was the second comic series based on a Superman supporting character.

Jon Bogdanove is an American comics artist and writer. He is best known for his work on Power Pack and Superman: The Man of Steel, as well as for creating the character Steel with writer Louise Simonson in 1993.

<i>The Superman Family</i>

The Superman Family is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1974 to 1982 featuring supporting characters in the Superman comics. The term "Superman Family" is often used to refer to the extended cast of characters of comics books associated with Superman. A similarly titled series, Superman Family Adventures, was published in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Andru</span> American comic book artist (1927-1993)

Ross Andru was an American comics artist and editor whose career in comics spanned six decades. He is best known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and The Metal Men, and for having co-created the character called The Punisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. Nelson Bridwell</span> American comic book artist (1931–1987)

Edward Nelson Bridwell was a writer for Mad magazine and various comic books published by DC Comics. One of the writers for the Batman comic strip and Super Friends, he also wrote The Inferior Five, among other comics. He has been called "DC's self-appointed continuity cop."

<i>Superman</i> (comic book) Comic book series featuring Superman

Superman is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero Superman as its protagonist. Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938. The strip proved so popular that National launched Superman into his own self-titled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with the cover date summer 1939. Between 1986 and 2006 it was retitled, The Adventures of Superman, while a new series used the title Superman. In May 2006, it was returned to its original title and numbering. The title was canceled with issue #714 in 2011, and was relaunched with issue #1 the following month which ended its run in 2016. A fourth series was released in June 2016 and ended in April 2018, while the fifth series was launched in July 2018 and ended in June 2021. The series was replaced by Superman: Son of Kal-El in July 2021, featuring adventures of Superman's son, Jon Kent. A sixth Superman series was released in February 2023.

<i>Young Love</i> (comics) Romance comics title

Young Love was one of the earliest romance comics titles, published by Crestwood/Prize and later sold to DC Comics.

<i>The Unexpected</i> (1968 comic book)

The Unexpected is a fantasy-horror comics anthology series, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected, published by DC Comics. The Unexpected ran 118 issues, from #105 to #222. As a result of the so-called DC Implosion of late 1978, beginning in 1979 The Unexpected absorbed the other DC horror titles House of Secrets, The Witching Hour, and Doorway to Nightmare into its pages. Horror hosts featured in The Unexpected included The Mad Mod Witch, Judge Gallows, Abel, and the Witches Three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Win Mortimer</span> Artist

James Winslow "Win" Mortimer was a Canadian comic book and comic strip artist best known as one of the major illustrators of the DC Comics superhero Superman. He additionally drew for Marvel Comics, Gold Key Comics, and other publishers.

<i>Superboy</i> (comic book) Comic book published by DC Comics

Superboy is the name of several American comic book series published by DC Comics, featuring characters of the same name. The first three Superboy titles feature the original Superboy, the underaged version of the legendary hero Superman. Later series feature the second Superboy, who is a partial clone of Superman.

<i>Supergirl</i> (comic book) Comic book series

Supergirl is the name of seven comic book series published by DC Comics, featuring various characters of the same name. The majority of the titles feature Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El.

<i>Young Romance</i> 1947 comic book series

Young Romance is a romantic comic book series created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for the Crestwood Publications imprint Prize Comics in 1947. Generally considered the first romance comic, the series ran for 124 consecutive issues under Prize imprint, and a further 84 published by DC Comics after Crestwood stopped producing comics.

<i>DC Special Series</i> Umbrella title for DC Comics one-shots

DC Special Series was an umbrella title for one-shots and special issues published by DC Comics between 1977 and 1981. Each issue featured a different character and was often in a different format than the issue before it. DC Special Series was published in four different formats: Dollar Comics, 48 page giants, digests, and treasury editions. Neither the umbrella title nor the numbering system appear on the cover; the title "DC Special Series" appeared only on the first page in the indicia. Most issues featured new material, but eight issues were reprints of previously published material.

Marvel Treasury Edition is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 1974 to 1981. It usually featured reprints of previously published stories but a few issues contained new material. The series was published in an oversized 10" x 14" tabloid format and was launched with a collection of Spider-Man stories. The series concluded with the second Superman and Spider-Man intercompany crossover. Marvel also published treasuries under the titles Marvel Special Edition and Marvel Treasury Special as well as a number of one-shots.

<i>Limited Collectors Edition</i> American comic book series

Limited Collectors' Edition is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1972 to 1978. It usually featured reprints of previously published stories but a few issues contained new material. The series was published in an oversized 10" x 14" tabloid format.

References

  1. ↑ Eury, Michael (July 2015). "A Look at DC's Super Specs". Back Issue! . Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (#81): 4–10.
  2. ↑ Eury, p. 11
  3. ↑ Eury, pp. 8-9: "The reasons for this numbering are unclear, and those DC editors and executives who might have shed light on this conundrum are no longer with us".
  4. ↑ "Shazam! #8". Grand Comics Database.
  5. ↑ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 158. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. To help combat its own growing costs, DC Comics...reduced the total amount of books produced by more than 25 percent. A portion of that drastic drop-off, however, was attributed to a huge increase in 100-page super-spectaculars and giants. For example, marrying Superman's supporting cast into one Superman Family series saved publishing costs on three individual titles alone.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 Voiles, Mike (2012). "The Guide to DC Giants". Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ Eury, p. 19
  8. ↑ "DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4". Grand Comics Database.
  9. ↑ "DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #5". Grand Comics Database.
  10. ↑ "DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #6". Grand Comics Database.
  11. ↑ "DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-7". Grand Comics Database.
  12. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-8 at the Grand Comics Database
  13. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-9 at the Grand Comics Database
  14. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-10 at the Grand Comics Database
  15. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-11 at the Grand Comics Database
  16. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-12 at the Grand Comics Database
  17. ↑ DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-13 at the Grand Comics Database
  18. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-14 at the Grand Comics Database
  19. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-15 at the Grand Comics Database
  20. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-16 at the Grand Comics Database
  21. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-17 at the Grand Comics Database
  22. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-18 at the Grand Comics Database
  23. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-19 at the Grand Comics Database
  24. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-20 at the Grand Comics Database
  25. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-21 at the Grand Comics Database
  26. ↑ 100-Page Super Spectacular #DC-22 at the Grand Comics Database
  27. ↑ Eury, pp. 20-31
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.