DC 100 Page Super Spectacular
Encyclopedia
The DC 100 Page Super Spectacular was a comic book
series published by DC Comics
from 1971 through 1975, featuring only reprints initially and later including new stories. The "100 Page" count included both sides of the front and back covers as pages. Each numbered issue appearing under this title featured a wrap-around cover with all editorial content and no advertisements. Versions after late 1973 included advertisements.
after the retirement of Mort Weisinger
, who had overseen all Superman-related comics since the early 1950s. The first DC Giant was the "80 Page Giant", which ran as an annual and then alternately as its own title and as part of regular, ongoing titles throughout the 1960s. Comics prices increased quickly in the early part of the 1970s. As page count dropped to accommodate the 25¢ price, the 80 Page Giant became simply "Giant" comics and DC then quickly switched to a monthly 52-page format at the 25¢ price point and DC 100 Page Super Spectacular series became the standard for "Giant" comics.
's contributions to DC's history and its growing array of characters. As DC acquired the rights to Quality Comics
characters, Fawcett Comics
characters and other folded comics companies' characters, a quick way to secure their rights was by publishing reprints featuring these characters. Further, third-tier DC characters (like Johnny Quick
) made reappearances in these reprints and sometimes gained some popularity among readers. These were stand-alone stories, all written to capture any first-time reader when they were originally published, so the reader needed no real introduction to many of these characters. There were, however, brief synopses provided on the inside cover, identifying and giving background to the characters shown on the wraparound cover. There was a table of contents that provided any information one would need on Golden Age characters that hadn't been seen in a while. Johnny Quick makes the first of what will turn out to be numerous appearances in many of the 100 Pagers. Quality Comics
characters such as Max Mercury
(known in the Golden Age
as "Quicksilver
", and named such on the wraparound cover of DC-11), the Black Condor
, The Ray and Dollman made their first DC Comics
appearances in these books.
estimated value from 1973-1995 did not exceed $3.00), these books - particularly the first three issues - have become some of the most sought-after Bronze Age books during the past 10 years (their Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
estimated value has increased from approximately $45.00 to hundreds of dollars each in the 1997-2006 editions). The first three issues were published in relatively small numbers and were entirely editorial content. DC-5, which was a romance comic and, therefore, published in very small numbers, has been heralded as the "rarest of all Bronze Age books" by the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
. The first issue to feature super-heroes
was DC-6, and had a wraparound cover by Neal Adams
, featuring the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
, spotlighting Superman
, Batman
and Wonder Woman
(the Earth 2
version, as the Earth 1 version had lost her powers and no longer wore the costume) on the front cover. This issue also listed every comic book character that DC owned in all of the spaces that otherwise would have been occupied by house ads. For the remainder of the series, super-heroes would dominate the title.
of DC-22 by editor E. Nelson Bridwell, but it became Shazam!
#8 and the Super Spectacular's own numbering disappeared, while advertisements were added. The "DC 100 Page Super Spectacular" title itself was used on another 96 issues of varying regular, ongoing titles through 1975. It began to become a regular version of selected ongoing titles for about a year and then increased its cost to 60¢ with the publishing date of April-May 1974 and continued this pricing until its end. The last 100-Page Super Spectaculars were published with a cover date of March-April 1975.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
from 1971 through 1975, featuring only reprints initially and later including new stories. The "100 Page" count included both sides of the front and back covers as pages. Each numbered issue appearing under this title featured a wrap-around cover with all editorial content and no advertisements. Versions after late 1973 included advertisements.
History
The DC 100 Page Super Spectacular series was the "next wave" of DC "Giant" comics featuring reprint stories in DC's vast trove of tales during the 1971 "rebirth" of DC Comics, when the Superman titles were taken over by Julius SchwartzJulius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
after the retirement of Mort Weisinger
Mort Weisinger
Mortimer Weisinger was an American magazine and comic book editor best known for editing DC Comics' Superman during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the Silver Age of comic books...
, who had overseen all Superman-related comics since the early 1950s. The first DC Giant was the "80 Page Giant", which ran as an annual and then alternately as its own title and as part of regular, ongoing titles throughout the 1960s. Comics prices increased quickly in the early part of the 1970s. As page count dropped to accommodate the 25¢ price, the 80 Page Giant became simply "Giant" comics and DC then quickly switched to a monthly 52-page format at the 25¢ price point and DC 100 Page Super Spectacular series became the standard for "Giant" comics.
Editorial
This comic series is one of E. Nelson BridwellE. Nelson Bridwell
Edward Nelson Bridwell was a writer for Mad magazine and various comic books published by DC Comics. One of the writers for the Batman comic strip and Super Friends, he also wrote The Inferior Five, among other comics...
's contributions to DC's history and its growing array of characters. As DC acquired the rights to Quality Comics
Quality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
characters, Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics
Fawcett Comics, a division of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
characters and other folded comics companies' characters, a quick way to secure their rights was by publishing reprints featuring these characters. Further, third-tier DC characters (like Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick
Johnny Quick is the name of two DC Comics characters, each with the power of superhuman speed. The first was a superhero who appeared mostly in More Fun Comics during the Golden Age...
) made reappearances in these reprints and sometimes gained some popularity among readers. These were stand-alone stories, all written to capture any first-time reader when they were originally published, so the reader needed no real introduction to many of these characters. There were, however, brief synopses provided on the inside cover, identifying and giving background to the characters shown on the wraparound cover. There was a table of contents that provided any information one would need on Golden Age characters that hadn't been seen in a while. Johnny Quick makes the first of what will turn out to be numerous appearances in many of the 100 Pagers. Quality Comics
Quality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
characters such as Max Mercury
Max Mercury
Max Mercury is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero based on Quality Comics' Quicksilver.- Publication history :He first appeared in Quality's National Comics #5, cover dated November 1940, as Quicksilver...
(known in the Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
as "Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
", and named such on the wraparound cover of DC-11), the Black Condor
Black Condor
Black Condor is the name of three fictional characters, DC Comics superheroes who have all been members of the Freedom Fighters. The first Black Condor, Richard Grey Jr., was originally a Quality Comics character.-Quality Comics:...
, The Ray and Dollman made their first DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
appearances in these books.
Collectibility
While the books languished in relative obscurity in the collector's market for the first 20-odd years of their existence (their Overstreet Comic Book Price GuideOverstreet Comic Book Price Guide
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in the hobby/industry....
estimated value from 1973-1995 did not exceed $3.00), these books - particularly the first three issues - have become some of the most sought-after Bronze Age books during the past 10 years (their Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in the hobby/industry....
estimated value has increased from approximately $45.00 to hundreds of dollars each in the 1997-2006 editions). The first three issues were published in relatively small numbers and were entirely editorial content. DC-5, which was a romance comic and, therefore, published in very small numbers, has been heralded as the "rarest of all Bronze Age books" by the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in the hobby/industry....
. The first issue to feature super-heroes
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
was DC-6, and had a wraparound cover by Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
, featuring the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, spotlighting Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
(the Earth 2
Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
version, as the Earth 1 version had lost her powers and no longer wore the costume) on the front cover. This issue also listed every comic book character that DC owned in all of the spaces that otherwise would have been occupied by house ads. For the remainder of the series, super-heroes would dominate the title.
Numbering
The series is numbered oddly. There were no issues 1, 2, or 3. The first three issues published (4, 5, and 6) had subtitles — the first two of which were later used for ongoing comics series. The title ran as a part of regular, ongoing series titles for seven issues with the prefix "DC" added to the numbering (DC-7 through DC-13). It reverted back to its own title again (DC-14 through DC-22) utilizing as cover titles the existing titles of regular, ongoing series, but not being part of those regular series' numbering. A planned "DC-23" was mentioned in the letters columnComic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
of DC-22 by editor E. Nelson Bridwell, but it became Shazam!
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
#8 and the Super Spectacular's own numbering disappeared, while advertisements were added. The "DC 100 Page Super Spectacular" title itself was used on another 96 issues of varying regular, ongoing titles through 1975. It began to become a regular version of selected ongoing titles for about a year and then increased its cost to 60¢ with the publishing date of April-May 1974 and continued this pricing until its end. The last 100-Page Super Spectaculars were published with a cover date of March-April 1975.
| Issue | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1971 | Weird Mystery Tales Weird Mystery Tales Weird Mystery Tales was a mystery anthology from DC Comics, which ran from July/Aug. 1972-November 1975. Like its sister books House of Mystery and The Witching Hour, it was known for its "monstrous stories" with shock endings.... |
| 5 | 1971 | Love Stories |
| 6 | 1971 | World's Greatest Super-Heroes |
| DC-7 | December 1971- January 1972 |
Superman Superman (comic book) Superman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938... #245 |
| DC-8 | January 1972 | Batman Batman (comic book) Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940... #238 |
| DC-9 | February 1972 | Our Army at War Our Army at War Our Army at War was the title for a comic book published by DC Comics that featured war themed stories and was the first appearance for popular heroes such like Sgt. Rock and Enemy Ace. The series started in August 1952 and ended in February 1977.... #242 |
| DC-10 | March 1972 | Adventure Comics Adventure Comics Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman... #416 |
| DC-11 | April 1972 | The Flash The Flash (comic book) The Flash is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1... #214 |
| DC-12 | May 1972 | Superboy #185 |
| DC-13 | June 1972 | Superman #252 |
| DC-14 | March 1973 | Batman |
| DC-15 | March 1973 | Superboy |
| DC-16 | April 1973 | Sgt. Rock |
| DC-17 | June 1973 | Justice League of America Justice League The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics.... |
| DC-18 | July 1973 | Superman |
| DC-19 | August 1973 | Tarzan Tarzan (comics) Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in 23 sequels. The character proved immensely popular and quickly made the jump to other media, including comics.-Comic strips:... |
| DC-20 | September 1973 | Batman |
| DC-21 | October 1973 | Superboy |
| DC-22 | November 1973 | The Flash |
External links
- DC 100 Page Super Spectaculars - Features a complete listing of all the myriad titles, publishing dates and issue numbers of all 100-Pagers, along with further history and examples of covers and cover indexes.
- "Daily Planet Remembered: Ask The FAQ Man," Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics — Complete list of DC 100-page Super Spectaculars, including both the numbered issues and the unnumbered issues from regular titles