Tales of the Unexpected (comics)

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Tales of the Unexpected
Tales unexpected 001.jpg
Cover of Tales of the Unexpected #1 (Feb.–March 1956) by Bill Ely.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatStandard
Genre Fantasy
Horror
Science fiction
Publication date
List
  • (vol. 1)
    February–March 1956 – December 1967–January 1968
    (vol. 2)
    December 2006–July 2007
No. of issues
List
Creative team
Written by
List
Penciller(s)
List
Inker(s)
List
  • (vol. 2)
    Prentis Rollins
Colorist(s)
List
  • (vol. 2)
    Guy Major
    Patricia Mulvihill
Editor(s)
List

Tales of the Unexpected was a science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics anthology series published by DC Comics from 1956 to 1968 for 104 issues. It was later renamed The Unexpected although the numbering continued and it ended at issue #222 in 1982. The title was revived as a limited series in 2006.

Contents

Publication history

Original series

In response to the restrictions imposed by the Comics Code Authority, DC began a new science-fiction series in 1956. [1] The series featured artwork by Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, and many others, with stories by John Broome, Gardner Fox, and additional writers. It was an anthology comic for many years, publishing a variety of science fiction stories. [2] The series featured Space Ranger as of issue #40 [3] [4] and running through #82 (April–May 1964). [5] Other features included the "Green Glob" (issues #83–98, 100, 102, 103) and "Automan" (issues #91, 94, 97). [5] The series' last issue as Tales of the Unexpected was #104 (December 1967–January 1968). [5] As of issue #105 (February–March 1968), the title was shortened to The Unexpected . [6] [7]

2006 limited series

DC revived the title for an eight-issue miniseries in 2006, focusing on the Crispus Allen incarnation of the Spectre, with a back-up series featuring Doctor Thirteen.

The back-up feature starred a team made up of Thirteen and his daughter Traci, I…Vampire, Genius Jones, Captain Fear, Infectious Lass, Anthro, the Primate Patrol, and the Haunted Tank. It was written by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Cliff Chiang. [8]

Collected editions

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References

  1. ↑ Irvine, Alex (2010). "1950s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 80. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. As part of a new breed of science-fiction adventure cut from the more wholesome cloth demanded by the Comics Code Authority, Tales of the Unexpected began its 104-issue run with 'The Cartoon that Came to Life' by writer Otto Binder and artist Bill Ely.
  2. ↑ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 142–143. ISBN   9781605490540.
  3. ↑ Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 80: "With issue #40 (August 1959), the series became home to Rick Starr, Space Ranger who protected the solar system of the 22nd century".
  4. ↑ Markstein, Don (2008). "Space Ranger". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Tales of the Unexpected at the Grand Comics Database
  6. ↑ The Unexpected at the Grand Comics Database
  7. ↑ Overstreet, Robert M. (2019). Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland: Gemstone Publishing. pp. 1070–1071. ISBN   978-1603602334.
  8. ↑ Tales of the Unexpected vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
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