DC Special

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DC Special
Dc-special01.jpg
Cover of DC Special #1 (December 1968), art by Carmine Infantino.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
ScheduleQuarterly, then bimonthly
FormatOngoing
Publication dateDecember 1968–November – December 1971
Spring 1975 – August–September 1977
No. of issues29
Creative team
Written by
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Penciller(s)
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Inker(s)
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Colorist(s)
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Editor(s)
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DC Special was a comic book anthology series published by DC Comics originally from 1968 to 1971; it resumed publication from 1975 to 1977. For the most part, DC Special was a theme-based reprint title, mostly focusing on stories from DC's Golden Age; at the end of its run it published a few original stories.

Contents

Publication history

DC Special began publication with an issue focusing on the work of artist Carmine Infantino and cover dated October–December 1968. [1] Some of the themes the title covered were special issues devoted to individual artists such as Infantino and Joe Kubert, strange sports stories, origins of super-villains, and stories of historical literary adventure characters such as Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers. Issue #4 featured many supernatural characters and writer Mark Hanerfeld and artist Bill Draut crafted the first appearance of Abel, [2] who later became (along with his brother Cain) a major character in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman . The series was cancelled with issue #15 (November–December 1971). [3]

The book was revived four years later and continued the numbering of the original series. [1] The final three issues featured all-new stories. Issue #27 was a book-length Captain Comet and Tommy Tomorrow story by Bob Rozakis and Rich Buckler. Artist Don Newton began his career at DC Comics with an Aquaman story in DC Special #28 (July 1977). [4] That same issue introduced the Quakemaster, an enemy of the Batman co-created by writer Bob Rozakis and artist John Calnan. [5] Paul Levitz and Joe Staton finished the series with a Justice Society of America story which revealed the team's origin. [6]

With DC Special's cancellation following issue #29 (Aug.–Sept. 1977), [1] DC immediately begin publishing the umbrella one-shot title DC Special Series , which lasted until Fall 1981.

The issues

IssueTitleDateNotes
1All-Infantino IssueFall 1968Reprints The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #29, The Brave and the Bold #45, Detective Comics #327, The Flash #148, and Mystery in Space #57
2Top Teen FavoritesWinter 1969Reprints Everything Happens to Harvey #4
3All-Girl IssueSpring 1969Reprints stories from Action Comics #304, Green Lantern #16, and Strange Adventures #18. Also includes previously unpublished Black Canary and Wonder Woman stories. [7]
413 Shock-Ending StoriesJuly–Sept. 1969Original framing story followed by reprints from House of Mystery #2, 5, 15, 19, 26, 30, 62–63, 68; Sensation Comics #114; and Tales of the Unexpected #1, 16–17.
First appearance of Abel (of Cain and Abel).
5The Secret Lives of Joe Kubert Fall 1969Reprints stories from The Brave and the Bold #18, 35; Our Army at War #113; and Showcase #2
6The Wild Frontier!Winter 1970Reprints stories from Detective Comics #178; Frontier Fighters #4, 6; The Legends of Daniel Boone #1; and World's Finest Comics #69
7Strangest Sports Stories Ever Told!Spring 1970Reprints stories from The Brave and the Bold #45–46, 48–49; and Mystery in Space #39
8Wanted! The World's Most Dangerous VillainsSummer 1970Reprints stories from The Brave and the Bold #36, The Flash #130, Green Lantern #7, and World's Finest Comics #129
9Strangest Sports Stories Ever Told!Fall 1970Reprints stories from The Brave and the Bold #45–48
10Stop!... You Can't Beat The Law!Jan.–Feb. 1971Reprints stories from Gang Busters #33, 40, 58, 61, 65; and Showcase #1, 5
11Beware... The Monsters Are Here!March–April 1971Reprints House of Mystery #70, 85, 97, 113, 116, and 175
12The Viking Prince May–June 1971Also featuring the Silent Knight, Robin Hood, and the Golden Gladiator.
Reprints The Brave and the Bold #1, 5, 9, and 16
13Strangest Sports Stories Ever Told!July–Aug. 1971Reprints The Brave and the Bold #47, 49; Mystery in Space #7, 9; and Strange Adventures #94, 125
14Wanted! The World's Most Dangerous Villains!Sept.–Oct. 1971Reprints The Flash #140, Superman #47, and World's Finest Comics #55
15Plastic ManNov.–Dec. 1971Reprints Plastic Man #17, 25-26; and Police Comics #1, 13
16 Super-Heroes Battle Super-Gorillas Spring 1975Reprints Detective Comics #339, The Flash #127, Superman #138, and Wonder Woman #170
17Presents Green Lantern Summer 1975Reprints Green Lantern #2, 6, and 26
18Presents... Earth Shaking StoriesOct.–Nov. 1975Reprints Action Comics #342, Captain Marvel Adventures #122, and Green Lantern #43
19War Against the GiantsDec. 1975–Jan. 1976Reprints Action Comics #343, Green Lantern #53, Strange Adventures #28, and Wonder Woman #106
20 Green Lantern Feb.–March 1976Reprints Green Lantern #2, 8, and 30
21Super-Heroes' War Against the MonstersApril–May 1976Reprints Action Comics #326, Green Lantern #3, Marvel Family #7, and Star Spangled War Stories #132
22The 3 Musketeers and Robin HoodJune–July 1976Reprints The Brave and the Bold #6, and Robin Hood Tales #14
23The 3 Musketeers and Robin HoodAug.–Sept. 1976Reprints The Brave and the Bold #9, and Robin Hood Tales #7
24The 3 Musketeers and Robin HoodOct.–Nov. 1976Reprints The Brave and the Bold #11 and 15
25The 3 Musketeers and Robin HoodDec. 1976–Jan. 1977Reprints The Brave and the Bold #7-8, and 15
26 Enemy Ace Feb.–March 1977Reprints Our Army at War #151, and Star Spangled War Stories #143
27Danger: Dinosaurs at Large!April–May 1977Original Captain Comet and Tommy Tomorrow story
28Earth Shattering DisastersJune–July 1977Original stories featuring Batman, Aquaman, and the Legion of Super-Heroes
29The Untold Origin of the Justice SocietyAug.–Sept. 1977Original story about the Justice Society of America

Collected editions

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 DC Special at the Grand Comics Database
  2. ↑ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 134. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. Writer Mark Hanerfeld and artist Bill Draut introduced readers to Abel.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 57. ISBN   978-1605490564.
  4. ↑ Don Newton at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. (2014). "1970s". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 125. ISBN   978-1465424563. A lead feature by writer Bob Rozakis and penciller John Calnan starring Batman as Gotham City suffered earthquakes.
  6. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 175: "The genesis of comics' first superhero team...had been a mystery since the JSA's debut...Writer Paul Levitz and artist Joe Staton decided to present the definitive origin story".
  7. ↑ "DC Special #3". Grand Comics Database.
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