DC Special Series

Not to be confused with DC Special.
DC Special Series

Cover to #1, art by Neal Adams
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Format Ongoing
Publication date Sept. 1977 – Fall 1981
Number of issues 27
Creative team
Writer(s) Cary Bates, Dennis O'Neil, Paul Levitz, Gerry Conway, Martin Pasko, George Kashdan, Bob Haney, Carl Wessler, Arnold Drake, Robert Kanigher, Roy Thomas, Len Wein
Artist(s) Jim Aparo, Ernie Chan, Alex Niño, Fred Carrillo, E. R. Cruz, Tom Sutton, Bill Draut, Marshall Rogers, Jorge Moliterni, Sam Glanzman
Penciller(s) Irv Novick, Michael Netzer, Joe Staton, Dick Dillin, Curt Swan, Arvell Jones, John Calnan, Art Saaf, Ric Estrada, José Delbo, Russ Heath, Steve Ditko, Don Newton, Kurt Schaffenberger, Dick Ayers, Ross Andru, Michael Golden, Frank Miller, José Luis García-López
Inker(s) Joe Rubinstein, Bob McLeod, Frank McLaughlin, Dick Giordano, Vince Colletta, Joe Giella, Romeo Tanghal, Wally Wood
Colorist(s) Jerry Serpe, Liz Berube, Carl Gafford

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. The final issue featured an DC-Marvel crossover between Batman and the Hulk.[1]

Contents

Publication history

DC Special Series started out as a biweekly title in 1977 until Spring 1978, when it became quarterly. The series went on hiatus after the Fall 1978 issue and was revived in Summer 1979.

The issues

Issue Contents Date Notes
1 5 Star Super-Hero Spectacular September 1977 Dollar Comic format; features Aquaman, the Atom, the Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern
"The Dead on Arrival Conspiracy" Batman vs. Kobra story by Martin Pasko, Michael Netzer (Nasser), and Joe Rubinstein originally scheduled for the unpublished Kobra #8[2]
2 The Original Swamp Thing Saga September 1977 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #1-2 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[3]
3 Sgt. Rock Special October 1977 48-page giant[4]
4 The Unexpected Special October 1977 48-page giant[5]
5 Superman Spectacular November 1977 Dollar Comic format[6]
6 Secret Society of Super-Villains Special November 1977 48-page giant[7]
7 Ghosts Special December 1977 48-page giant[8]
8 The Brave and the Bold Special 1978 48-page giant; Batman, Deadman, and Sgt. Rock team-up[9]
9 Wonder Woman Spectacular 1978 Dollar Comic format[10]
10 Secret Origins of Super-Heroes Special 1978 48-page giant; origins of Doctor Fate, Lightray, and Black Canary[11]
11 The Flash Spectacular 1978 Dollar Comic format[12]
12 Secrets of Haunted House Special Spring 1978 48-page giant[13]
13 Sgt. Rock Spectacular Spring 1978 Dollar Comic format[14]
14 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1978 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #3-4 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[15]
15 Batman Spectacular Summer 1978 Dollar Comics format;
"Death Strikes at Midnight and Three", text story written by Dennis O'Neil with spot illustrations by Marshall Rogers
"I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife!", marriage of Batman and Talia al Ghul, by Dennis O'Neil, Michael Golden, and Dick Giordano[16]
See also Batman: Son of the Demon
16 Jonah Hex Spectacular Fall 1978 Dollar Comic format;
"The Last Bounty Hunter!", death of Jonah Hex, by Michael Fleisher and Russ Heath[17]
17 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1979 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #5-7 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[18]
18 Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales Fall 1979 Digest size; all reprints[19]
19 Secret Origins of Super-Heroes Fall 1979 Digest size; all reprints except for new origin of Wonder Woman by Cary Burkett, Jose Delbo, and Vince Colletta.[20]
20 The Original Swamp Thing Saga January-February 1980 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #8-10 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[21]
21 Super-Star Holiday Special Spring 1980 Dollar Comic format;
features Legion of Super-Heroes, Jonah Hex, Sgt. Rock, the House of Mystery
"Wanted: Santa Claus -- Dead or Alive!" first Batman story drawn by Frank Miller[22]
22 G.I. Combat Special September 1980 Dollar Comic format[23]
23 World's Finest Comics Digest February 1981 Digest size; all reprints[24]
24 The Flash and His Friends February 1981 Digest size; all reprints[25]
25 Superman II Summer 1981 Treasury format; photos and background material from the movie[26][27]
26 Superman and His Incredible Fortress of Solitude Summer 1981 Treasury format; "Secrets of Superman's Fortress" by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Romeo Tanghal[27][28]
27 Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk Fall 1981 Treasury format; DC-Marvel crossover by Len Wein, José Luis García-López, and Dick Giordano[1][27][29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "Written by Len Wein and illustrated by José Luis García-López, the comic saw...Batman and the Hulk doing battle with both the Joker and Marvel's ultra-powerful Shaper of Worlds." 
  2. ^ DC Special Series #1 at the Grand Comics Database
  3. ^ DC Special Series #2 at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ^ DC Special Series #3 at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ^ DC Special Series #4 at the Grand Comics Database
  6. ^ DC Special Series #5 at the Grand Comics Database
  7. ^ DC Special Series #6 at the Grand Comics Database
  8. ^ DC Special Series #7 at the Grand Comics Database
  9. ^ DC Special Series #8 at the Grand Comics Database
  10. ^ DC Special Series #9 at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ^ DC Special Series #10 at the Grand Comics Database
  12. ^ DC Special Series #11 at the Grand Comics Database
  13. ^ DC Special Series #12 at the Grand Comics Database
  14. ^ DC Special Series #13 at the Grand Comics Database
  15. ^ DC Special Series #14 at the Grand Comics Database
  16. ^ DC Special Series #15 at the Grand Comics Database
  17. ^ DC Special Series #16 at the Grand Comics Database
  18. ^ DC Special Series #17 at the Grand Comics Database
  19. ^ DC Special Series #18 at the Grand Comics Database
  20. ^ DC Special Series #19 at the Grand Comics Database
  21. ^ DC Special Series #20 at the Grand Comics Database
  22. ^ DC Special Series #21 at the Grand Comics Database
  23. ^ DC Special Series #22 at the Grand Comics Database
  24. ^ DC Special Series #23 at the Grand Comics Database
  25. ^ DC Special Series #24 at the Grand Comics Database
  26. ^ DC Special Series #25 at the Grand Comics Database
  27. ^ a b c DC Special Series at TreasuryComics.com
  28. ^ DC Special Series #26 at the Grand Comics Database
  29. ^ DC Special Series #27 at the Grand Comics Database

External links