''Ghosts'' is a horror

comics anthology A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication t ...

series published by

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

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 comic was created by

Leo Dorfman Leo Dorfman (February 17, 1914 – July 9, 1974) (also credited as Geoff Brown and David George) was an American writer of comic books throughout the Silver Age. Although the majority of his work was for DC Comics, he also wrote for Dell Comics a ...

, who wrote all of the stories in the first issue. To avoid having it seem that a single writer was monopolizing the comic, editor

Murray Boltinoff Murray Boltinoff (January 3, 1911 – May 6, 1994 in Pompano Beach, Florida) was a writer and editor of comic books, who worked for DC Comics from the 1940s to the 1980s, in which role he edited over 50 different comic book series. Biograph ...

had Dorfman use the pseudonyms "Geoff Brown" (Dorfman's son was named "Geoff" and his wife's maiden name was "Brown") and "David George". ''Ghosts'' was one of several horror-mystery-suspense DC Comics series launched in 1971, along with ''

The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love ''Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion'' was a horror-suspense-romance anthology comic book series published by DC Comics from 1971 to 1974, a companion to ''Secrets of Sinister House''. Both series were originally inspired by the successful ABC soap o ...

'' and '' The Sinister House of Secret Love''. According to DC Comics writer and executive

Paul Levitz Paul Levitz (; born October 21, 1956) is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn ...

, though ''Ghosts'' "wasn’t a fan favorite (then or in retrospect), it was a disproportionately good seller".

Nick Cardy Nicholas Viscardi (October 20, 1920 – November 3, 2013), known professionally as Nick Cardy and Nick Cardi, was an American comics artist best known for his DC Comics work on Aquaman, the Teen Titans and other major characters. Cardy was induct ...

was the cover artist for ''Ghosts'' for issues #1–6, 8–15, and 17–36. Each issue of ''Ghosts'' carried multiple stories of the supernatural. The stories were prefaced by a short description introducing the premise and ended with a summation of how a mysterious justice was dealt to the evildoers of the tale. The first issue of this series carried the singular title ''Ghost'' in its indicia, but everywhere else, including advance promotional house ads and even on its own cover, it was the plural ''Ghosts'', as even the indicia would read from #2 on. ''

Limited Collectors' Edition ''Limited Collectors' Edition'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1972 to 1978. It usually featured reprints of previously published stories but a few issues contained new material. The series was published in an overs ...

'' #C–32 (Dec. 1974–Jan. 1975) reprinted stories from ''Ghosts'' #1, 3–6 and featured new material by Leo Dorfman and artists

Gerry Talaoc Gerry Talaoc is a Filipino comics artist best known for his 1970s work for DC Comics' war and horror anthology titles. Biography Gerry Talaoc was among the vanguard of Filipino comics artists — including Alfredo Alcala, Nestor Redondo, St ...

E. R. Cruz Eufronio Reyes Cruz (born 1934) is a Filipino comics artist best known for his work on mystery comics and war comics for DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s. Biography E. R. Cruz began his career as an artist by drawing for such publications as ''Li ...

, and Frank Redondo. Starting with issue #37 (April 1975), a new regular feature was added. At the front of each book a page of single panel depictions of alleged ghost sightings were listed in the fashion of 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 ''DC Special Series'' was an umbrella title for one-shots and special issues published by DC Comics between 1977 and 1981. Each issue featured a different character and was often in a different format than the issue before it. ''DC Special Serie ...

umbrella title An umbrella title is a formal or informal name connecting a number of individual items with a common theme. It is most often used in lieu of listing the separate components or providing a convenient "label" for a collection of disciplines. Uses of ...

. ''Ghosts'' #95 (Dec. 1980), introduced the series' first continuing-character feature, " Dr. 13 - The Ghost-Breaker". The character encounted the

Spectre Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to: Religion and spirituality * Vision (spirituality) * Apparitional experience * Ghost Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and writ ...

in a three-issue storyline. 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 that position until the book was cancelled with issue #112 (May 1982).

2012 one-shot

A ''Ghosts''

one-shot One shot may refer to: Film and television * One-shot film, a feature film shot in one long take with no edits, or manufactured to look like so * ''One Shot'' (2005 film), a Sri Lankan action film directed by Ranjan Ramanayake * ''One Shot'' (2 ...

was published in October 2012 under the

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...

imprint and featured a story by

Geoff Johns Geoffrey Johns (born January 25, 1973) is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and film and television producer. Johns's work on the DC Comics characters Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash and Superman, has drawn critical acclaim. He serve ...

and

Jeff Lemire Jeff Lemire (; born March 21, 1976) is a Canadian comic book writer, artist, and television producer. He is the author of critically acclaimed titles including the '' Essex County Trilogy'', '' Sweet Tooth'', and '' The Nobody''. His written work ...

Collected editions

* ''

Showcase Presents ''Showcase Presents'' was a line of black-and-white paperback books published by DC Comics (from 2005 - 2016) at an average rate of two per month. Much like Marvel Comics' '' Essential Marvel'' volumes, each book usually included over 500 pages of ...

: Ghosts'' collects ''Ghosts'' #1-18, 512 pages, February 2012, * ''The Steve Ditko Omnibus'' Volume 1 includes ''Ghosts'' #77: "Ghost, Where Do You Hide?" by

Jack C. Harris Jack C. Harris (born August 30, 1947) is an American comic book writer and editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics. Biography Early life and career Jack C. Harris attended the Philadelphia College of Art and grad ...

and

Steve Ditko Stephen John Ditko Page contains two reproductions from school yearbooks. A 1943 Garfield Junior High School yearbook excerpt lists "Stephen Ditko". A 1945 Johnstown High School yearbook excerpt lists "Stephen J. Ditko" under extracurricular act ...

and ''Ghosts'' #111: "Shrieeeeeek!" by

Sheldon Mayer Sheldon Mayer (; April 1, 1917 – December 21, 1991) was an American comics artist, writer, and editor. One of the earliest employees of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's National Allied Publications, Mayer produced almost all of his comics work ...

and Ditko, 480 pages, September 2011,

References

External links

*
''Ghosts''
at the DC Database Project
''Ghosts''
an
''Ghosts'' one-shot
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics {{Steve Ditko 1971 comics debuts 1982 comics endings 2012 comics debuts 2012 comics endings Comics anthologies Comics by Arnold Drake Comics by Carl Wessler Comics by Geoff Johns Comics by George Kashdan Comics by Jeff Lemire Comics by Keith Giffen Comics by Paul Kupperberg Comics by Steve Ditko Comics magazines published in the United States DC Comics one-shots Defunct American comics Fantasy comics Horror comics