- DC Special Series
-
Not to be confused with DC Special.
DC Special Series 
Cover to #1, art by Neal AdamsPublication 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.
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Batman vs. Kobra story by Martin Pasko, Michael Netzer (Nasser), and Joe Rubinstein originally scheduled for the unpublished Kobra #8[1]2 The Original Swamp Thing Saga September 1977 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #1-2 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[2] 3 Sgt. Rock Special October 1977 48-page giant[3] 4 The Unexpected Special October 1977 48-page giant[4] 5 Superman Spectacular November 1977 Dollar Comic format[5] 6 Secret Society of Super-Villains Special November 1977 48-page giant[6] 7 Ghosts Special December 1977 48-page giant[7] 8 The Brave and the Bold Special 1978 48-page giant; Batman, Deadman, and Sgt. Rock team-up[8] 9 Wonder Woman Spectacular 1978 Dollar Comic format[9] 10 Secret Origins of Super-Heroes Special 1978 48-page giant; origins of Doctor Fate, Lightray, and Black Canary[10] 11 The Flash Spectacular 1978 Dollar Comic format[11] 12 Secrets of Haunted House Special Spring 1978 48-page giant[12] 13 Sgt. Rock Spectacular Spring 1978 Dollar Comic format[13] 14 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1978 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #3-4 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[14] 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[15]
See also Batman: Son of the Demon16 Jonah Hex Spectacular Fall 1978 Dollar Comic format;
"The Last Bounty Hunter!", death of Jonah Hex, by Michael Fleisher and Russ Heath[16]17 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1979 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #5-7 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[17] 18 Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales Fall 1979 Digest size; all reprints[18] 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.[19] 20 The Original Swamp Thing Saga January-February 1980 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #8-10 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson[20] 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[21]22 G.I. Combat Special September 1980 Dollar Comic format[22] 23 World's Finest Comics Digest February 1981 Digest size; all reprints[23] 24 The Flash and His Friends February 1981 Digest size; all reprints[24] 25 Superman II Summer 1981 Treasury format; photos and background material from the movie[25][26] 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[26][27] 27 Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk Fall 1981 Treasury format; DC-Marvel crossover by Len Wein, José Luis García-López, and Dick Giordano[26][28] See also
References
- ^ DC Special Series #1 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #2 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #3 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #4 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #5 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #6 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #7 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #8 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #9 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #10 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #11 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #12 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #13 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #14 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #15 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #16 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #17 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #18 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #19 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #20 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #21 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #22 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #23 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #24 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #25 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b c DC Special Series at TreasuryComics.com
- ^ DC Special Series #26 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ DC Special Series #27 at the Grand Comics Database
External links
- DC Special Series at Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics (with scans of covers)
- DC Special Series at the DC Database
Categories:- DC Comics titles
- 1977 comic debuts
- Comics anthologies
- Comic book digests
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