DC Special

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.

Not to be confused with DC Special Series.
DC Special
Cover of DC Special #1 (December 1968).
Art by Carmine Infantino.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleQuarterly, then bimonthly
FormatOngoing
Publication dateDecember 1968–November – December 1971
Spring 1975 – August–September 1977
No. of issues29
Creative team
Written by
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Colorist(s)
Editor(s)

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] Paul Levitz and Joe Staton finished the series with a Justice Society of America story which revealed the team's origin.[5]

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 Also includes previously unpublished Black Canary and Wonder Woman stories.[6]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

Collected editions
  • Black Canary Archives includes the Black Canary story from DC Special #3, 224 pages, December 2000, ISBN 978-1563897344
  • Secret Society of Super Villains Vol. 2 includes DC Special #27, 328 pages, May 2012, ISBN 978-1401231101
  • Legion of Super-Heroes Archive Vol. 13 includes the Legion of Super-Heroes story from DC Special #28, 240 pages, May 2012, ISBN 978-1401234393
  • Justice Society Vol. 1 includes DC Special #29, 224 pages, August 2006, ISBN 1-4012-0970-X
  • Showcase Presents: All-Star Comics Vol. 1 includes DC Special #29, 448 pages, September 2011, ISBN 978-1401233037
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See also

References
  1. 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.CS1 maint: extra text: 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. 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.
  6. "DC Special #3". Grand Comics Database.
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