Ghosts is a horror comics anthology series published by DC Comics for 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).
Publication history
The first issue was written entirely by Leo Dorfman . To avoid having it seems like a single writer was monopolizing the comic, editor Murray Boltinoff had Dorfman uses the pseudonyms “Geoff Brown” (Dorfman’s was named “Geoff” and his wife’s maiden name was “Brown”) and “David George”. [1]
Ghosts was one of several horror-mystery-suspense DC Comics series. According to DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz , Ghosts “was not a favorite fan (then or in retrospect), it was a disproportionately good seller.” [2] Nick Cardy was the cover artist for Ghosts for issues # 1-6, 8-15, and 17-36. [3]
Each issue of Ghosts with multiple stories of the supernatural. The stories were prefaced by a short description introducing the term and ending with a summation of how a mysterious justice was dealt to the evildoers of the tale. [4] The first issue of this series with the singular title Ghost in its indicia, but everywhere else, including its own cover, it was the plural Ghosts , as the indicia would read from # 2 on . [5] Limited Collectors’ Edition # C-32 (Dec. 1974-Jan. 1975) reprinted stories from Ghosts # 1, 3-6 and featured new material by Leo Dorfman and artists Gerry Talaoc, ER Cruz , and Frank Redondo. [6]
Starting with issue # 37 (April 1975), a new regular feature was added. Robert L. Ripley’s Believe it or Not! features. These one-page introductory spreads were usually titled “Ghosts and the Supernatural.” A Ghosts Special was published in December 1977 as part of the DC Special Series umbrella title . [7] Ghosts # 95 (Dec. 1980), introduced to the Ghosts readership of its first continuing-character feature, ” Dr. 13 – The Ghost-Breaker .” The character encounted the spectrum in a three-issue storyline. [8] [9] [10] The “Dr. Thirteen” feature last appeared in # 102 (July 1981).
For the most part, Ghosts was not “hosted” by a recurring character used in a framing sequence. In issue # 104 (September-October 1981), however, Squire Shade was introduced as the title’s host. He lasted in this position until the book was canceled with issue # 112 (May 1982).
2012 one-shot
A Ghosts one-shot was published in October 2012 and featured a story by Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire . [11]
Collected editions
- Showcase Presents : Ghosts Collects Ghosts # 1-18, 512 pages, February 2012,ISBN 1-4012-3317-1
- The Steve Ditko Omnibus Volume 1 includes Ghosts # 77: “Ghost, Where Do You Hide?” by Jack C. Harris and Steve Ditko and Ghosts # 111: “Shrieeeeeek!” by Sheldon Mayer and Ditko, 480 pages, September 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3111-X
References
- Jump up^ Wells, John (October 2011). “Beyond Capes: You Will Believe In Ghosts” (PDF) . Back Issue! . Raleigh, NC : TwoMorrows Publishing(52): 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 4, 2012 . Retrieved November 3, 2012 .
- Jump up^ Evanier, Mark (May 29, 2009). “More on Leo Dorfman” . News From ME. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012 . Retrieved November 3, 2012 .
- Jump up^ Coates, John (1999). “Art Index”. The Art of Nick Cardy . Coates Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 1-887591-22-2 .
- Jump up^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). “1970s”. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle . London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley . p. 147. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9 .
Each installment of the horror anthology series featured stories with surprise.
- Jump up^ Ghosts at theGrand Comics Database
- Jump up^ ” Limited Collectors’ Edition # C-32″ . Grand Comics Database .
- Jump up^ DC Special Series # 7at the Grand Comics Database
- Jump up^ Kupperberg, Paul (w), Gustovich, Mike (p), Blaisdell, Tex (i). “Dr. 13 Ghost-Breaker and the Specter” Ghosts 97 (February 1981)
- Jump up^ Kupperberg, Paul (w), Gustovich, Mike (p), Blaisdell, Tex (i). “The Haunted House and The Specter!” Ghosts 98 (March 1981)
- Jump up^ Kupperberg, Paul (w), Gustovich, Mike (p), DeZuniga, Tony (i). “Death … and The Specter” Ghosts 99 (April 1981)
- Jump up^ Truitt, Brian (October 29, 2012). “Johns, Lemire scare up a Ghosts story for Halloween” . USA Today . Archived from the original on November 4, 2012 . Retrieved November 3, 2012 .
Sometimes Geoff Johns just tells you a good ghost story for Halloween. DC Comics’ A-list superhero scribe and chief creative officer moonlights for the company Vertigo Comics imprint for the first time and teams with artist Jeff Lemire for the short tale “Ghost-for-Hire” in a special Ghosts one-shot out on Wednesday .