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Content Items (15 total)

Year's Best Comic Stories

Illustration on Cover, Front from base issue

Credits

Penciller(s): Ross Andru (signed)

Inker(s): Dick Giordano (signed)

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Character(s): Superman; Batman; Robin; Deadman; Sgt. Rock; Jonah Hex; Superboy; Deadman; Legion of Super-Heroes [Lightning Lad; Saturn Girl; Wildfire]

First Line: Top ten stories of 1980! Starring your favorite DC heroes!

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Pages: 1

Year's Best Comics Stories

Table of Contents on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset

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Pages: 1

Notes: Inside front cover. Contents and indicia.

The Miraculous Return of Jonathan Kent!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Cary Bates

Penciller(s): Curt Swan

Inker(s): Frank Chiaramonte

Colorist(s): Gene D'Angelo

Letterer(s): Milt Snapinn

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Julius Schwartz (editor); E. Nelson Bridwell (associate editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Superman

Character(s): Superman; Lana Lang; Jonathan Kent; Josh Coyle; Starshine

First Line: And thanks to Superman, the Queen Dory was pulled away from the killer typhoon intact--

Synopsis: Clark Kent's long dead father, Jonathan Kent, suddenly shows up alive and well in Metropolis.

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Pages: 17

An Arrow in Time

Advertisement on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Curt Swan

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Green Arrow; Hostess Fruit Pies

Character(s): Green Arrow

First Line: The cables! The tram will fall.

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Pages: 1

Pinball

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Jack C. Harris

Penciller(s): Dan Spiegle

Inker(s): Dan Spiegle

Colorist(s): Tatjana Wood

Letterer(s): John Costanza

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Paul Levitz (editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Tales of Gotham City

Character(s): Flip (a pinball wizard); Juan

First Line: You can hear the pulse-beat of the city...

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Pages: 7

Notes: Story title from table of contents.

Dreadful Birthday, Dear Joker...!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Len Wein

Penciller(s): Walt Simonson

Inker(s): Dick Giordano

Colorist(s): Adrienne Roy

Letterer(s): Ben Oda

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Paul Levitz (editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Batman

Character(s): Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Catwoman [Selina Kyle]; Lucius Fox; Commissioner James Gordon; Joker; Alfred Pennyworth; Robin [Dick Grayson]

First Line: Since 1899, Gotham Police Headquarters has stood at the junction of the area called Five Points, on the lower east side of the city...

Synopsis: The Joker plans his own birthday party and invites all of Gotham to watch the explosive celebration with some of Batman's closest allies. It is up to the Caped Crusader to find the event before the fireworks start.

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Pages: 18

Brief Encounter

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Mimai Kin

Penciller(s): Trevor Von Eeden

Inker(s): Carl Potts

Colorist(s): Bob LeRose

Letterer(s): Todd Klein

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Jack C. Harris (associate editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: science fiction

First Line: Finally, the fifty-billion-to-one-shot-- mankind's wildest dream-- comes to fruition in a...

Synopsis: Aliens from another planet travel to Earth to meet the people living here.

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Pages: 3

The Man Who Was the World!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Len Wein

Penciller(s): José Luis García-López [as Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez]

Inker(s): José Luis García-López [as Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez]

Colorist(s): Adrienne Roy

Letterer(s): Ben Oda

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Superman; Deadman

Character(s): Superman; Deadman; Rama Kushna; Abraham Gold (flashback); Jack Gold (flashback); Caprice (flashback); S.T.A.R. Labs; Dr. Jenet Klyburn; Alex Atley; Carol Atley; Dennis; Mr. Genarian (villain); Lois Lane (cameo)

First Line: On a lonely storm-swept mountain peak, the star-crossed spirit of a man who had once been the world's greatest circus aerialist vents his frustrated rage to the howling wind...

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Pages: 17

A Bridge Called Charlie

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Robert Kanigher [as Bob Kanigher]

Penciller(s): Frank Redondo

Inker(s): Frank Redondo

Colorist(s): Tatjana Wood [as T. Wood]

Letterer(s): Esphid Mahilum [as Esphidy]

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (original managing editor); Joe Kubert (original editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: war

Feature(s): Sgt. Rock

Character(s): Sgt. Rock; Bulldozer; Charlie Briggs; unnamed Nazi Lieutenant; Nazis

First Line: How's it goin'? Me? I'm Rock... Sergeant... Easy Co.! I just left ten Easy guys guardin' a bridge...

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Pages: 11

Notes: World War II; Nazis

Star Light, Star Bright... Farthest Star I See Tonight!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Paul Levitz

Penciller(s): José Luis García-López [as Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez]

Inker(s): Dick Giordano

Colorist(s): Adrienne Roy

Letterer(s): Ben Oda

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Len Wein (editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Legion of Super-Heroes

Character(s): Legion of Super-Heroes [Superboy [Clark Kent]; Phantom Girl [Tinya Wazzo]; Mon-El; Saturn Girl [Imra Ardeen]; Karate Kid [Val Armorr] (cameo); Sun Boy [Dirk Morgna] (cameo); Princess Projectra (cameo); Chameleon Boy [Reep Daggle] (cameo); Colossal Boy [Gim Allen] (cameo); Wildfire [Drake Burroughs]; Lightning Lad [Garth Ranzz]]

First Line: The year is 2979 A.D., the city is Metropolis, the planet Earth. And the flying figure is, of course, Superboy, breaking the time barrier to visit the most extraordinary band of heroic youths in the galaxy...

Synopsis: Superboy convinces the Legion of Super-Heroes to go searching for the star that shown over Bethlehem during Jesus' birth on Christmas Eve.

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Pages: 12

The Vow of a Samurai!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Michael Fleisher

Penciller(s): Tony DeZuñiga [as Tony De Zuniga]

Inker(s): Tony DeZuñiga [as Tony De Zuniga]

Colorist(s): Bob LeRose [as Bob Le Rose]

Letterer(s): Shelly Leferman

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (original managing editor); Ross Andru (original editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: western

Feature(s): Jonah Hex

Character(s): Jonah Hex; Muldoon; Heejong; Blair Farrow; Medford; unnamed samurai (Heejong's father)

First Line: Might's well hitch up at thet country saloon fer a spell an see if'n ah cain't wash down some'a this trail dust wi'f a few whiffs of rye whiskey--

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Pages: 17

Bruce the Barbarian!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): J. M. DeMatteis [as J.M. De Matteis]

Penciller(s): Vic Catan [as Vicatan]

Inker(s): Vic Catan [as Vicatan]

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (original managing editor); Jack C. Harris (original editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: fantasy, horror

Feature(s): The House of Secrets

Character(s): Abel (host); Bruce E. Platts; Cornelia Mathers; Mister Jackson; Myrdirr (dragon)

First Line: What new and wondrous land os this-- and what dangers lurk around the next bend?

Synopsis: After being dumped by Cornelia, Bruce uses the powers of his mind to transport himself to another place where he is a barbarian hero.

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Pages: 8

The Secret World of Jonathan Kent!

Story on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): Cary Bates

Penciller(s): Curt Swan

Inker(s): Frank Chiaramonte

Colorist(s): Gene D'Angelo

Letterer(s): Ben Oda

Editor(s): Joe Orlando (managing editor); Julius Schwartz (editor); E. Nelson Bridwell (associate editor)

Subject Matter

Genres: superhero

Feature(s): Superman

Character(s): Superman [Clark Kent]; Pa Kent [Jonathan Kent]; Starshine; Lois Lane; April Marygold; May Marygold; Lana Lang (television); Perry White; Morgan Edge; Steve Lombard; two unnamed aliens

First Line: Jonathan Kent, kindly foster-father to Clark (Superboy) Kent, tragically died many years ago...

Synopsis: Superman battles Starshine and his powers of suggestion. Then we learn the secret of Jonathan Kent's return to life.

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Pages: 17

The Story Behind the Issue

Text Article on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): E. Nelson Bridwell (credited)

Penciller(s): Ross Andru

Inker(s): Dick Giordano

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Character(s): Supergirl; Green Lantern [Hal Jordan]; Flash [Barry Allen]; Wonder Woman; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Superman [Clark Kent]; Sgt. Rock; The Enlongated Man; Jonah Hex; Deadman; The Demon; Cain; Warlord; Black Canary; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Wonder Twins [Zan; Jayna]; Black Lightining; Hawkman; Batgirl [Barbara Gordon]; Aquaman; Green Arrow [Oliver Queen]; Tomahawk; Jeb Stuart

First Line: For this, the second annual collection of Best of DC, we strove to get a wide range of different types of stories.

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Pages: 2

Job Number: S-5031

Notes: Last interior page and inside back cover. Explains how the stories were selected. Cover illustration from 1979's "Year's Best Comics Stories" is reprinted in black and white with the text changed from 1979 to 1980.

And the Winners Are...

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword on Interior Page(s) from base issue

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): Ross Andru; José Luis García-López; Tony DeZuñiga; Jim Aparo; Jim Janes; Joe Kubert; Mike Kaluta

Inker(s): Dick Giordano; José Luis García-López; Tony DeZuñiga; Jim Aparo; Joe Kubert; Mike Kaluta

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

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Pages: 1

Notes: Back cover. List of interior stories over a background collage of cover the stories appeared in:
- Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #507 (by Andru & Giordano),
- Batman (DC, 1940 series) #321 (by García-López),
- Jonah Hex (DC, 1977 series) #39 (by DeZuñiga),
- DC Comics Presents (DC, 1978 series) #24 (by García-López),
- Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #508 (by Andru & Giordano),
- Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #494 (by Aparo),
- The Unexpected (DC, 1968 series) #205 (by Janes & Giordano),
- Sgt. Rock (DC, 1968 series) #337 (by Kubert),
- Time Warp (DC, 1979 series) #5 (by Kaluta),
- DC Special Series (DC, 1977 series) #21 (by García-López)