DC Comics Presents | |
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![]() Cover of DC Comics Presents #1 (July–August 1978), art by José Luis García-López and Dan Adkins. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
Schedule | Bi-monthly (#1–2) Monthly (#3–97) |
Format | Ongoing series |
Publication date | July/August 1978 – September 1986 |
No. of issues | 97, plus 4 Annuals |
Main character(s) | Superman |
Creative team | |
Written by | |
Penciller(s) | |
Inker(s) | |
Colorist(s) | Gene D'Angelo |
DC Comics Presents is a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 which ran for 97 issues and four Annuals. It featured team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters in the DC Universe. A recurring back-up feature "Whatever Happened to...?" had stories revealing the status of various minor and little-used characters.
DC Comics Presents debuted with a July/August 1978 cover date and was edited by Julius Schwartz.[1] The series was launched with a team-up of Superman and the Flash by writer Martin Pasko and artist José Luis García-López.[2] The winner of the DC Comics Presents letter column name contest appeared in the Superman/Hawkman story in issue #11 (July 1979).[3] The "Whatever Happened to...?" backup feature began in issue #25 (Sept. 1980) and would appear in most issues for the next two years until its last installment in issue #48 (Aug. 1982).[4] Issue #26 included an insert introduction story to the then-upcoming New Teen Titans series by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.[5] Len Wein and Jim Starlin co-created the supervillain Mongul in issue #27 (Nov. 1980)[6] as part of a three-issue storyline.[7][8][9] Another insert in issue #41 previewed the "new direction" Wonder Woman.[10] In issue #47, Superman traveled to Eternia and met the Masters of the Universe.[11] Ambush Bug made his first appearance in issue #52 (Dec. 1982)[12] and made additional appearances in issues #59[13] and 81.[14] The Superman/Challengers of the Unknown tale in issue #84 was drawn by Jack Kirby and Alex Toth.[15] The series also contained the Alan Moore Superman/Swamp Thing story "The Jungle Line" in DC Comics Presents #85 (Sept. 1985), pencilled by Rick Veitch and inked by Al Williamson. Issue #87 featured the first appearance and origin of the divergent Kal-El of the Earth Prime reality, who would become known as Superboy-Prime.[16] The last issue is an exception to the team-up format, instead featuring Superman in an "Untold Tale" involving the Phantom Zone by Steve Gerber,[17] following up as the conclusion to Gerber's previous limited series of the same title.
In 2004, the title DC Comics Presents was revived for eight one-shot issues, each a tribute to DC editor Julius Schwartz who had recently died. Each issue featured two stories based on a classic DC Comics cover of the past, reflecting Schwartz's frequent practice of commissioning a cover concept, then telling the writers to create a story about that cover.
In 2010, DC launched a new DC Comics Presents, a line of 100-page reprint issues reprinting stories that have not seen print since their original publication.
Issue | Character(s) |
---|---|
#1 | The Flash[2] |
#2 | The Flash |
#3 | Adam Strange |
#4 | The Metal Men |
#5 | Aquaman |
#6 | Green Lantern |
#7 | The Red Tornado |
#8 | The Swamp Thing |
#9 | Wonder Woman |
#10 | Sgt. Rock |
#11 | Hawkman |
#12 | Mister Miracle |
#13 | The Legion of Super-Heroes |
#14 | Superboy |
#15 | The Atom |
#16 | Black Lightning[Note 1] |
#17 | Firestorm |
#18 | Zatanna |
#19 | Batgirl |
#20 | The Green Arrow |
#21 | The Elongated Man[Note 2] |
#22 | Captain Comet |
#23 | Doctor Fate |
#24 | Deadman |
#25 | The Phantom Stranger |
#26 | Green Lantern |
#27 | The Martian Manhunter[6] |
#28 | Supergirl |
#29 | The Spectre |
#30 | The Black Canary |
#31 | Robin |
#32 | Wonder Woman |
#33 | Captain Marvel |
#34 | The Marvel Family |
#35 | The Man-Bat |
#36 | Starman |
#37 | Hawkgirl |
#38 | The Flash |
#39 | Plastic Man[Note 2] |
#40 | Metamorpho[Note 1] |
#41 | The Joker |
#42 | The Unknown Soldier |
#43 | The Legion of Super-Heroes |
#44 | Dial H for Hero |
#45 | Firestorm |
#46 | The Global Guardians |
#47 | The Masters of the Universe |
#48 | Aquaman |
#49 | Captain Marvel |
#50 | Clark Kent |
#51 | The Atom |
#52 | The Doom Patrol[12] |
#53 | The House of Mystery |
#54 | The Green Arrow |
#55 | Air Wave |
#56 | Power Girl |
#57 | The Atomic Knights |
#58 | The Elongated Man |
#58 | Robin |
#59 | The Legion of Substitute Heroes |
#60 | The Guardians of the Universe |
#61 | OMAC |
#62 | The Freedom Fighters |
#63 | Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld |
#64 | Kamandi |
#65 | Madame Xanadu |
#66 | The Demon |
#67 | Santa Claus |
#68 | Vixen |
#69 | Blackhawk |
#70 | The Metal Men |
#71 | Bizarro |
#72 | The Phantom Stranger and the Joker |
#73 | The Flash |
#74 | Hawkman |
#75 | Arion |
#76 | Wonder Woman |
#77 | The Forgotten Heroes |
#78 | The Forgotten Villains |
#79 | Clark Kent |
#80 | The Legion of Super-Heroes |
#81 | Ambush Bug |
#82 | Adam Strange |
#83 | Batman and the Outsiders |
#84 | The Challengers of the Unknown |
#85 | The Swamp Thing |
#86 | Supergirl |
#87 | Superboy-Prime[16] |
#88 | The Creeper |
#89 | The Omega Men |
#90 | Firestorm |
#90 | Captain Atom |
#91 | Captain Comet |
#92 | The Vigilante |
#93 | The Elastic Four [Note 3] |
#94 | The Harbinger, Lady Quark and Pariah |
#95 | Hawkman |
#96 | Blue Devil |
#97 | The Phantom Zone villains |
Annual #1 | Superman of Earth-Two |
Annual #2 | Superwoman |
Annual #3 | Captain Marvel |
Annual #4 | Superwoman |
Issue | Character(s) |
---|---|
#25 | The Golden Age Hourman |
#26 | Sargon the Sorcerer |
#27 | Congorilla |
#28 | The Western Johnny Thunder (John Tane) and Madame .44 |
#29 | The Golden Age Doctor Mid-Nite |
#30 | The Golden Age Atom |
#31 | The Golden Age Robotman |
#32 | Mark Merlin and Prince Ra-Man |
#33 | Star Hawkins |
#35 | Rex the Wonder Dog |
#37 | Rip Hunter, Time Master |
#38 | The Crimson Avenger |
#39 | Richard Dragon |
#40 | The Golden Age Air Wave |
#42 | The Golden Age Sandman |
#47 | Sandy the Golden Boy |
#48 | The Black Pirate |
Writer Mike Tiefenbacher had several proposals for other "Whatever Happened to...?" stories. These included Captain Action, Blackhawk, Genius Jones, Nighthawk, the Ragman, the Sea Devils, the Silent Knight, and Wildcat.[4]
In September and October 2004, the title DC Comics Presents was revived for a series of eight one-shot issues, each a tribute to DC editor Julius Schwartz, who had died the previous February.[18] Each issue featured two stories based on a classic DC Comics cover of the past, reflecting Schwartz's frequent practice of commissioning a cover concept, then telling the writers to create a story about that cover.
DC Comics Presents: | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
DC Comics Presents: Batman #1 | September 2004 | Cover art by Adam Hughes is a homage to the cover of Batman #183 (August 1966). |
DC Comics Presents: Green Lantern #1 | Cover art by Brian Bolland is a homage to the cover of Green Lantern #31 (September 1964). | |
DC Comics Presents: Hawkman #1 | Cover art by José Luis García-López and Kevin Nowlan is a homage to the cover of Hawkman #6 (February–March 1965). | |
DC Comics Presents: Mystery in Space #1 | Cover art by Alex Ross is a homage to the cover of Mystery in Space #82 (March 1963). | |
DC Comics Presents: Flash #1 | October 2004 | Cover art by Alex Ross is a homage to The Flash #163 (August 1966). |
DC Comics Presents: Justice League of America #1 | Cover art by José Luis García-López is a homage to Justice League of America #53 (May 1967). | |
DC Comics Presents: Superman #1 | Cover art by Adam Hughes is a homage to the cover of Superman #264 (June 1973). | |
DC Comics Presents: The Atom #1 | Cover art by Brian Bolland is a homage to the cover of The Atom #10 (December 1963 – January 1964). |
In 2010, DC launched a new DC Comics Presents series featuring stories that have not seen print since their original publication. The issues are:[19][20]