Tales of the Unexpected(comics)

*Tales of the Unexpected*
Tales of the Unexpected
	Cover ofTales of the Unexpected#1 (Feb.–March 1956) by Bill Ely.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Standard
Genre	Fantasy; Horror; Science fiction
Publication date	List (vol. 1); February–March 1956 – December 1967–January 1968; (vol. 2); December 2006–July 2007;
No.of issues	List (vol. 1):104; (continued asThe Unexpected); (vol. 2):8;
Creative team
Written by	List (vol. 1); Jack Miller; Gardner Fox; Arnold Drake; Otto Binder; Dave Wood; Bob Haney; Carl Wessler; (vol. 2); David Lapham; Brian Azzarello;
Penciller(s)	List (vol. 1); John Prentice; Leonard Starr; Howard Purcell; Ruben Moreira; Bill Draut; Jim Mooney; Sheldon Moldoff; Bernard Baily; Nick Cardy; Bob Brown; Mort Drucker; Murphy Anderson; George Roussos; John Giunta; Jack Sparling; Lee Elias; (vol. 2); Eric Battle; Cliff Chiang;
Inker(s)	List (vol. 2); Prentis Rollins;
Colorist(s)	List (vol. 2); Guy Major; Patricia Mulvihill;
Editor(s)	List (vol. 1); Jack Schiff(#1–72 and #83–102); George Kashdan(#73–82); Murray Boltinoff(#103–104); (vol. 2); Bob Schreck(#1–8);

Tales of the Unexpectedwas ascience fiction,fantasy,andhorror comics anthologyseries published byDC Comicsfrom 1956 to 1968 for 104 issues. It was later renamedThe Unexpectedalthough the numbering continued and it ended at issue #222 in 1982. The title was revived as a limited series in 2006.

Publication history

Original series

In response to the restrictions imposed by theComics Code Authority,DC began a new science-fiction series in 1956.^[1]The series featured artwork byMurphy Anderson,Gil Kane,and many others, with stories byJohn Broome,Gardner Fox,and additional writers. It was an anthology comic for many years, publishing a variety of science fiction stories.^[2]The series featuredSpace Rangeras of issue #40^[3]^[4]and running through #82 (April–May 1964).^[5]Other features included the "Green Glob" (issues #83–98, 100, 102, 103) and "Automan" (issues #91, 94, 97).^[5]The series' last issue asTales of the Unexpectedwas #104 (December 1967–January 1968).^[5]As of issue #105 (February–March 1968), the title was shortened toThe Unexpected.^[6]^[7]

2006 limited series

DC revived the title for an eight-issue miniseries in 2006, focusing on theCrispus Allenincarnation of theSpectre,with a back-up series featuringDoctor Thirteen.

The back-up feature starred a team made up of Thirteen and his daughterTraci,I…Vampire,Genius Jones,Captain Fear,Infectious Lass,Anthro,thePrimate Patrol,and theHaunted Tank.It was written byBrian Azzarelloand drawn byCliff Chiang.^[8]

Collected editions

Showcase Presents:Tales of the UnexpectedcollectsTales of the Unexpected#1–20, 512 pages, August 2012,ISBN 1401235204
TheJack KirbyOmnibusVolume 1 includes stories fromTales of the Unexpected#13, 15–18, and 21–24, 304 pages, August 2011,ISBN 1401231071
Crisis Aftermath:The Spectreincludes the Spectre lead stories fromTales of the Unexpectedvol. 2 #1–3, 144 pages, May 2007,ISBN 1401213804
Spectre: Tales of the Unexpectedcollects the Spectre lead stories fromTales of the Unexpectedvol. 2 #4–8, 128 pages, December 2007,ISBN 1401215068
Doctor 13: Architecture and Mortalitycollects the Doctor 13 backup stories fromTales of the Unexpectedvol. 2 #1–8, 144 pages, September 2007,ISBN 1401215521

References

^Irvine, Alex(2010). "1950s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 80.ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.As part of a new breed of science-fiction adventure cut from the more wholesome cloth demanded by the Comics Code Authority,Tales of the Unexpectedbegan its 104-issue run with 'The Cartoon that Came to Life' by writer Otto Binder and artist Bill Ely.
^Schelly, William (2013).American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s.TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 142–143.ISBN 9781605490540.
^Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 80: "With issue #40 (August 1959), the series became home to Rick Starr, Space Ranger who protected the solar system of the 22nd century".
^Markstein, Don (2008)."Space Ranger".Don Markstein's Toonopedia.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2024.RetrievedOctober 18,2012.
^^a ^b ^cTales of the Unexpectedat theGrand Comics Database
^The Unexpectedat theGrand Comics Database
^Overstreet, Robert M. (2019).Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide(49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland:Gemstone Publishing.pp. 1070–1071.ISBN 978-1603602334.
^Tales of the Unexpectedvol. 2at theGrand Comics Database

External links

Tales of the Unexpectedat the Comic Book DB (archived fromthe original)
Tales of the Unexpectedvol. 2at the Comic Book DB (archived fromthe original)
Tales of the Unexpectedat Cover Browser
Tales of the UnexpectedandTales of the Unexpectedvol. 2at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

[1] Irvine, Alex(2010). "1950s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 80.ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.As part of a new breed of science-fiction adventure cut from the more wholesome cloth demanded by the Comics Code Authority,Tales of the Unexpectedbegan its 104-issue run with 'The Cartoon that Came to Life' by writer Otto Binder and artist Bill Ely.

[2] Schelly, William (2013).American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s.TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 142–143.ISBN 9781605490540.

[3] Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 80: "With issue #40 (August 1959), the series became home to Rick Starr, Space Ranger who protected the solar system of the 22nd century".

[4] Markstein, Don (2008)."Space Ranger".Don Markstein's Toonopedia.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2024.RetrievedOctober 18,2012.

[GCD-5] Tales of the Unexpectedat theGrand Comics Database

[6] The Unexpectedat theGrand Comics Database

[7] Overstreet, Robert M. (2019).Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide(49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland:Gemstone Publishing.pp. 1070–1071.ISBN 978-1603602334.

[8] Tales of the Unexpectedvol. 2at theGrand Comics Database

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v t e DC Comics Mystery Titles
Titles	House of Mystery House of Secrets Tales of the Unexpected The Unexpected The Witching Hour Ghosts Secrets of Sinister House Secrets of Haunted House Tales of Ghost Castle Weird Mystery Tales Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion Sensation Mystery
Related titles	Weird War Tales Weird Western Tales Plop! Doorway to Nightmare Strange Adventures
Characters	Swamp Thing Cain and Abel Eve I…Vampire Mister E Doctor Thirteen Madame Xanadu Phantom Stranger Eclipso Mark Merlin/Prince Ra-Man Enchantress Deadman
Editors	Joe Orlando Len Wein E. Nelson Bridwell Karen Berger