Ghostsis ahorrorcomics anthologyseries published byDC Comicsfor 112 issues from September–October 1971 to May 1982. Its tagline was "True Tales of the Weird and Supernatural" (December 1978), changed to "New Tales of the Weird and Supernatural", as of #75 (April 1979), and dropped after #104 (September 1981).
| Ghosts | |
|---|---|
 Cover ofGhosts#1 (September–October 1971), art byNick Cardy. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | September–October 1971 to May 1982 |
| No.of issues | 112 |
| Main character(s) | Dr. 13 - The Ghost-Breaker(1980-1981) |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | |
| Penciller(s) | List
|
| Inker(s) | |
| Editor(s) | List
|
Publication history
editThe comic was created byLeo Dorfman,who wrote all of the stories in the first issue.[1]To avoid having it seem that a single writer was monopolizing the comic, editorMurray Boltinoffhad Dorfman use the pseudonyms "Geoff Brown" (Dorfman's son was named "Geoff" and his wife's maiden name was "Brown" ) and "David George".[2]
Ghostswas one of several horror-mystery-suspense DC Comics series launched in 1971, along withThe Dark Mansion of Forbidden LoveandThe Sinister House of Secret Love.[3]According to DC Comics writer and executivePaul Levitz,thoughGhosts"wasn't a fan favorite (then or in retrospect), it was a disproportionately good seller".[4]Nick Cardywas the cover artist forGhostsfor issues #1–6, 8–15, and 17–36.[5]
Each issue ofGhostscarried multiple stories of the supernatural. The stories were prefaced by a short description introducing the premise and ended with a summation of how a mysterious justice was dealt to the evildoers of the tale.[6]The first issue of this series carried the singular titleGhostin its indicia, but everywhere else, including advance promotional house ads and even on its own cover, it was the pluralGhosts,as even theindiciawould read from #2 on.[7][8]Limited Collectors' Edition#C–32 (Dec. 1974–Jan. 1975) reprinted stories fromGhosts#1, 3–6 and featured new material by Leo Dorfman and artistsGerry Talaoc,E. R. Cruz,and Frank Redondo.[9]
Starting with issue #37 (April 1975), a new regular feature was added. At the front of each book a page of single panel depictions of alleged ghost sightings were listed in the fashion of Robert L. Ripley'sBelieve it or Not!features. These one-page introductory spreads were usually titled "Ghosts and the Supernatural". AGhosts Specialwas published in December 1977 as part of theDC Special Seriesumbrella title.[10]Ghosts#95 (Dec. 1980), introduced the series' first continuing-character feature, "Dr. 13 - The Ghost-Breaker".The character encounted theSpectrein a three-issue storyline.[11]The "Dr. Thirteen" feature last appeared in #102 (July 1981).
For the most part,Ghostswas not "hosted" by a recurring character used in a framing sequence. In issue #104 (September-October 1981), however,Squire Shadewas introduced as the title's host. He lasted in that position until the book was cancelled with issue #112 (May 1982).
2012 one-shot
editAGhostsone-shotwas published in October 2012 under theVertigoimprint and featured a story byGeoff JohnsandJeff Lemire.[12]
Collected editions
edit- Showcase Presents:GhostscollectsGhosts#1-18, 512 pages, February 2012,ISBN1-4012-3317-1
- The Steve Ditko OmnibusVolume 1 includesGhosts#77: "Ghost, Where Do You Hide?" byJack C. HarrisandSteve DitkoandGhosts#111: "Shrieeeeeek!" bySheldon Mayerand Ditko, 480 pages, September 2011,ISBN1-4012-3111-X
References
edit- ^Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014).American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s.TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 55.ISBN978-1605490564.
- ^Wells, John (October 2011)."Beyond Capes: YouWillBelieve In Ghosts "(PDF).Back Issue!(#52). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing:22.Archived(PDF)from the original on September 15, 2012.RetrievedNovember 3,2012.
- ^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019).DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle.DK Publishing. p. 141.ISBN978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ^Evanier, Mark(May 29, 2009)."More on Leo Dorfman".News From ME.Archivedfrom the original on October 6, 2012.RetrievedNovember 3,2012.
- ^Coates, John (1999). "Art Index".The Art of Nick Cardy.Coates Publishing. p. 161.ISBN1-887591-22-2.
- ^McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 147.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.
Each installment of the horror anthology series featured stories with surprise twist endings designed to send shivers down the spine.
- ^Ghostsat theGrand Comics Database
- ^Overstreet, Robert M. (2019).Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide(49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland:Gemstone Publishing.p. 720.ISBN978-1603602334.
- ^"Limited Collectors' Edition#C–32 ".Grand Comics Database.
- ^"DC Special Series#7 ".Grand Comics Database.
- ^Kupperberg, Paul(w),Gustovich, Mike(p),Blaisdell, Tex(i). "Dr. 13 Ghost-Breaker and the Spectre"Ghosts,no. 97 (February 1981).
Kupperberg, Paul (w), Gustovich, Mike (p), Blaisdell, Tex (i). "The Haunted House and The Spectre!"Ghosts,no. 98 (March 1981).
Kupperberg, Paul (w), Gustovich, Mike (p),DeZuniga, Tony(i). "Death... and The Spectre"Ghosts,no. 99 (April 1981). - ^Truitt, Brian (October 29, 2012)."Johns, Lemire scare up aGhostsstory for Halloween ".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2012.RetrievedNovember 3,2012.
Sometimes Geoff Johns just itches to tell a good ghost story for Halloween. DC Comics' A-list superhero scribe and chief creative officer moonlights for the company's Vertigo Comics imprint for the first time and teams with artist Jeff Lemire for the short tale "Ghost-for-Hire" in a specialGhostsone-shot out on Wednesday.
External links
edit- Ghostsat the Comic Book DB (archived fromthe original)
- Ghostsat the DC Database Project
- GhostsandGhostsone-shotat Mike's Amazing World of Comics