DC Special Series

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,[1] 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.[2]

Not to be confused with DC Special.
DC Special Series
Cover to DC Special Series #1 (September 1977).
Art by Neal Adams
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
FormatOngoing
Publication dateSeptember 1977–Fall 1981
No. of issues27
Creative team
Written by
Artist(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Colorist(s)
Editor(s)

Publication history

DC Special Series was preceded by the theme-based reprint title DC Special, which ceased publication the month before DC Special Series debuted. The first issue included "The Dead on Arrival Conspiracy", a Batman vs. Kobra story by Martin Pasko, Michael Netzer (Nasser), and Joe Rubinstein originally scheduled for the unpublished Kobra #8.[3] DC Special Series #1 also included the story, "How to Prevent a Flash", which introduces Patty Spivot. That character would later appear in season two of The Flash TV series, portrayed by actress Shantel VanSanten.[4]

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. Two stories originally scheduled to appear in DC Special Series were split apart and published in other titles due to the DC Implosion.[5]

The final three issues were in the oversized treasury format. Issue #25 was a tie-in to the Superman II film and #26 featured "Secrets of Superman's Fortress" by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Romeo Tanghal.[6] The last issue was a DC-Marvel crossover between Batman and the Hulk.[7]

The issues
IssueContentsDateNotes
1 5 Star Super-Hero Spectacular September 1977 Dollar Comic format; features Aquaman, the Atom, the Batman, the Flash, and Green Lantern.[8]
2 The Original Swamp Thing Saga 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #1–2 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.[9]
3 Sgt. Rock Special October 1977 48-page giant[10]
4 The Unexpected Special 48-page giant[11]
5 Superman Spectacular November 1977 Dollar Comic format[12]
6 Secret Society of Super-Villains Special 48-page giant[13]
7 Ghosts Special December 1977 48-page giant[14]
8 The Brave and the Bold Special 1978 48-page giant; Batman, Deadman, and Sgt. Rock team-up.[15]
9 Wonder Woman Spectacular Dollar Comic format[16]
10 Secret Origins of Super-Heroes Special 48-page giant; origins of Doctor Fate, Lightray, and Black Canary.[17]
11 The Flash Spectacular Dollar Comic format[18]
12 Secrets of Haunted House Special Spring 1978 48-page giant[19]
13 Sgt. Rock Spectacular Dollar Comic format[20]
14 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1978 48-page giant; reprints Swamp Thing #3–4 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.[21]
15 Batman Spectacular Dollar Comic 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.[22][23]
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.[24][25]
17 The Original Swamp Thing Saga Summer 1979 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #5–7 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.[26]
18 Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales Fall 1979 Digest size; all reprints[27]
19 Secret Origins of Super-Heroes Digest size; all reprints except for new origin of Wonder Woman by Cary Burkett, José Delbo, and Vince Colletta.[28]
20 The Original Swamp Thing Saga January–February 1980 Dollar Comic format; reprints Swamp Thing #8–10 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.[29]
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.[30][31]
22 G.I. Combat Special September 1980 Dollar Comic format[32]
23 World's Finest Comics Digest February 1981 Digest size; all reprints[33]
24 The Flash and His Friends Digest size; all reprints[34]
25 Superman II Summer 1981 Treasury format; photos and background material from the film.[6][35]
26 Superman and His Incredible Fortress of Solitude Treasury format[6][36]
27 Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk Fall 1981 Treasury format; DC-Marvel crossover by Len Wein, José Luis García-López, and Dick Giordano.[7][37][38]

Collected editions
  • The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told includes "How to Prevent a Flash" from DC Special Series #1, 288 pages, February 1991, ISBN 978-0930289812
  • Kobra: Resurrection includes "The Dead on Arrival Conspiracy" from DC Special Series #1, 144 pages, February 2010, ISBN 978-1401226558
  • Secret Society of Super Villains Vol. 2 includes DC Special Series #6, 328 pages, May 2012, ISBN 978-1401231101
  • Deadman Book Four includes DC Special Series #8, 168 pages, January 2014, ISBN 978-1401243241
  • Deadman Omnibus includes DC Special Series #8, 944 pages, December 2020, ISBN 978-1779504883
  • The Flash: The Greatest Stories Ever Told includes "Beyond the Super-Speed Barrier" from DC Special Series #11, 208 pages, August 2007, ISBN 978-1401213725
  • Legends of the Dark Knight - Marshall Rogers includes "Death Strikes at Midnight and Three" from DC Special Series #15, 496 pages, November 2011, ISBN 978-1401232276
  • Batman Arkham: Ra’s Al Ghul includes “I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife!” from DC Special Series #15, 232 pages, March 2019, ISBN 978-1401288815
  • The Complete Frank Miller Batman includes "Wanted: Santa Claus -- Dead or Alive!" from DC Special Series #21, 312 pages, December 1989, Longmeadow Press, ISBN 978-0681409699
  • Superman: The Secrets of the Fortress of Solitude includes DC Special Series #26, 200 pages, May 2012, ISBN 978-1401234232
  • The Marvel/DC Collection: Crossover Classics Volume 1 includes DC Special Series #27, 320 pages, June 1997, ISBN 978-0871358585

See also

References
  1. Romero, Max (July 2012). "I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (57): 39–41.
  2. Stroud, Bryan D. (July 2015). "DC's Bronze Age Reprint Giants". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (81): 62.
  3. Kelly, Rob (August 2009). "Kobra". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (35): 63–66.
  4. Beedle, Tim (November 3, 2015). "Love and Metahumans: Shantel VanSanten Heats up The Flash". DC Comics. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016.
  5. Wells, John (October 24, 1997), "'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion", Comics Buyer's Guide, Iola, Wisconsin (1249), p. 132, DC Special Series planned Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Superboy/Legion giants were split into two-parters published in Green Lantern #111–112 (Dec. 78 and Jan. 79) and Superboy and The Legion of Super-Heroes #250–251 (Apr. and May 79).
  6. Eury, Michael (December 2012). "The Amazing World of Superman Tabloids". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (61): 11–16.
  7. Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: 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.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. DC Special Series #1 at the Grand Comics Database
  9. DC Special Series #2 at the Grand Comics Database
  10. DC Special Series #3 at the Grand Comics Database
  11. DC Special Series #4 at the Grand Comics Database
  12. DC Special Series #5 at the Grand Comics Database
  13. DC Special Series #6 at the Grand Comics Database
  14. DC Special Series #7 at the Grand Comics Database
  15. DC Special Series #8 at the Grand Comics Database
  16. DC Special Series #9 at the Grand Comics Database
  17. DC Special Series #10 at the Grand Comics Database
  18. DC Special Series #11 at the Grand Comics Database
  19. DC Special Series #12 at the Grand Comics Database
  20. DC Special Series #13 at the Grand Comics Database
  21. DC Special Series #14 at the Grand Comics Database
  22. Marano, Michael (2008). "Ra's al Ghul: Father Figure as Terrorist". Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City. Dallas, Texas: Smart Pop. p. 77. ISBN 978-1933771304.
  23. DC Special Series #15 at the Grand Comics Database
  24. Smith, Colin (April 3, 2012). "On Michael Fleisher and Russ Heath's Jonah Hex Story, 'The Last Bounty Hunter'". Sequart Organization. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015.
  25. DC Special Series #16 at the Grand Comics Database
  26. DC Special Series #17 at the Grand Comics Database
  27. DC Special Series #18 at the Grand Comics Database
  28. DC Special Series #19 at the Grand Comics Database
  29. DC Special Series #20 at the Grand Comics Database
  30. Riley, Shannon E. (December 2015). "Christmas With the Superheroes From Capes to Sci-Fi, Mystery to 'Mazing Man: A Survey of DC Christmas Tales of the '70s, '80s, and Early '90s". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (85): 20–21.
  31. DC Special Series #21 at the Grand Comics Database
  32. DC Special Series #22 at the Grand Comics Database
  33. DC Special Series #23 at the Grand Comics Database
  34. DC Special Series #24 at the Grand Comics Database
  35. DC Special Series #25 at the Grand Comics Database
  36. DC Special Series #26 at the Grand Comics Database
  37. Greenberg, Glenn (December 2012). "Tabloid Team-Ups The Giant-Size DC-Marvel Crossovers". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (61): 33–40.
  38. DC Special Series #27 at the Grand Comics Database
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