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 ...
' self-produced
fan magazine
A fan magazine is a commercially written and published magazine intended for the amusement of fans of the popular culture subject matter which it covers. It is distinguished from a scholarly, literary or trade magazine on the one hand, by the targ ...
of the mid-1970s. Running 17 issues, the fanzine featured DC characters and their creators, and was exclusively available through
mail order
Mail order is the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote methods such as:
* Sending an order form in the mail
* Placing a telephone call
* Placing a ...
. Primarily text articles, with occasional strips and comics features, ''Amazing World'' offered a great deal of insight into
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
DC corporate and creative culture.
The bulk of the issues were edited by Allan Asherman and later by
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 ...
and then
Cary Burkett
Cary Burkett is an American radio broadcaster and former comic book writer best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Nemesis with artist Dan Spiegle.
Biography
Cary Burkett attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a BFA deg ...
; individual issues were edited by
Carl Gafford
Carl Gafford (born November 23, 1953) is a colorist (and occasional editor) who has worked for several decades in the comics industry. His career has spanned several publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Topps Comics.
Biography Ea ...
,
Bob Rozakis
Robert "Bob" Rozakis (; born April 4, 1951) is an American comic book writer and Editing, editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics, as the writer of Mazing Man'' and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".
Career
Bob R ...
, and
Neal Pozner
Neal Pozner (1955 – June 21, 1994), sometimes credited as Neil Pozner, was an art director, editor, and writer known for his work in the comic book industry. He worked with DC Comics at two points, first as a design director and later as Group ...
.
Contributors included Burkett,
Ramona Fradon
Ramona Fradon (born October 2, 1926) is an American comics artist known for her work illustrating Aquaman and Brenda Starr, and co-creating the superhero Metamorpho. Her career began in 1950.
Early life
Ramona Fradon was born in Chicago and mo ...
,
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 ...
Steve Skeates
Steve Skeates (; born 1943) is an American comic book creator known for his work on such titles as ''Aquaman'', ''Hawk and Dove'', ''T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents'', and ''Plop!'' He has also written under the pseudonyms Chester P. Hazel and Warren Savin.
...
,
Michael Uslan
Michael E. Uslan (; born June 2, 1951) is an American lawyer and film producer. Uslan has also dabbled in writing and teaching, he is known for being the first instructor to teach an accredited course on comic book folklore at any university.
Ear ...
,
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood (June 17, 1927 – November 2, 1981) was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, widely known for his work on EC Comics's titles such as ''Weird Science (comic), Weird Science'', ''Weird Fantasy'', an ...
, and
Mark Gruenwald
Mark Eugene Gruenwald (; June 18, 1953 – August 12, 1996) was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics.
Biography
Early career
Gruenwald got his start in comics fa ...
(in one of his few credits outside of
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
).
Publication history
DC production manager
Sol Harrison
Sol Harrison (1917 – November 19, 1989) was an American comic book colorist, production manager, and executive whose career spanned nearly 50 years in the industry.
Career
Sol Harrison attended high school with Jack Adler and the two men often ...
conceived of the idea of a DC "pro-zine", and assigned
Bob Rozakis
Robert "Bob" Rozakis (; born April 4, 1951) is an American comic book writer and Editing, editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics, as the writer of Mazing Man'' and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".
Career
Bob R ...
—who got his start in the industry through his many letters to
comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of an American comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns (or lettercols), letter pages, letters of comment (LOCs), o ...
s—to oversee its development. In addition to editing, Rozakis wrote for the publication and oversaw the
letters page
A comic book letter column is a section of an American comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns (or lettercols), letter pages, letters of comment (LOCs), o ...
. ''Amazing World'' was co-edited by a group of fellow young fans-turned-
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 ...
editorial employees that Rozakis termed the "
Junior Woodchucks
The Junior Woodchucks of the World is a fictional scouting organization appearing in Disney comics and the ''DuckTales'' animated television franchise, most notably in adventures featuring Disney characters Huey, Dewey, and Louie as members.
T ...
".
Carl Gafford
Carl Gafford (born November 23, 1953) is a colorist (and occasional editor) who has worked for several decades in the comics industry. His career has spanned several publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Topps Comics.
Biography Ea ...
was a key contributor to the zine, doing editing, writing, production work and color separations.
Cost for a single issue subscription was US$1.50.
Contents
''Amazing World'' occasionally featured previously unpublished stories and artwork, including:
*
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He gr ...
material intended for ''In the Days of the Mob'' #2 "Murder Inc"
*
Tony DeZuniga
Antony de Zuñiga (November 8, 1932 – May 11, 2012) who worked primarily under the name Tony DeZuniga, was a Filipino comics artist and illustrator best known for his works for DC Comics. He co-created the fictional characters Jonah Hex and ...
artwork for ''
Jonah Hex
Jonah Woodson Hex is a fictional antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga. Hex is a surly and cynical bounty hunter whose face is scarred on the ...
''
*
John Rosenberger
John Francis Rosenberger (November 30, 1918 in Richmond Hill, Queens – January 24, 1977), also occasionally credited as John Diehl, was an Americans, American comics artist and Painting, painter from after the World War II, Second World War unti ...
's last penciled pages, originally intended for ''
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
''
The premiere issue contained the following features:
* "The Celebrated Mr. K:
Joe Kubert
Joseph Kubert (; September 18, 1926 – August 12, 2012) was a Poland, Polish-born Americans, American comic book artist, art teacher, and founder of The Kubert School. He is best known for his work on the DC Comics characters Sgt. Rock and Hawkm ...
", by
Guy H. Lillian III
Guy H. Lillian III is a Louisiana lawyer, former letterhack and science fiction fanzine publisher notable for having been twice nominated for a Hugo Award as best fan writer and having had a row of 12 nominations (without winning) for the Hu ...
– an interview with Kubert conducted in his
Dover, New Jersey
Dover is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. Located on the Rockaway River, Dover is about west of New York City and about west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,157,
, home
* "
Direct Currents ''Direct Currents'' is the name of several promotional features by DC Comics, including a long-running newsletter.
History
''Direct Currents'' was first used as the name of a text feature appearing in DC's comics beginning in 1966.''Direct Currents ...
" – July & August coming attractions
* "
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
: TV Super-Agent", by
Carl Gafford
Carl Gafford (born November 23, 1953) is a colorist (and occasional editor) who has worked for several decades in the comics industry. His career has spanned several publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Topps Comics.
Biography Ea ...
– article on the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
Cathy Lee Crosby
Cathy Lee Crosby (born December 2, 1944) is an American actress and former professional tennis player. She achieved TV and film success in the 1980s and was a co-host of the television series ''That's Incredible!''
Early life
Crosby was born in ...
as Wonder Woman
* "'' The Adventures of Superman''" by Allan Asherman – overview of the television series and the two
George Reeves
George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 – June 16, 1959) was an American actor. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series '' Adventures of Superman'' (1952–1958).
His death at age 45 from a g ...
movies it spawned
* "Meet the Woodchucks" – short bios and photos of the ''Amazing World'' staff
* "The Shadow" center spread, by
Michael Kaluta
Michael William Kaluta, sometimes credited as Mike Kaluta or Michael Wm. Kaluta (born August 25, 1947), is an American comics artist and writer best known for his acclaimed 1970s adaptation of the pulp magazine hero ''The Shadow'' with writer Den ...
– an unused cover from ''
The Shadow
The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...
''
* "Remembering", by Allan Asherman –
Sol Harrison
Sol Harrison (1917 – November 19, 1989) was an American comic book colorist, production manager, and executive whose career spanned nearly 50 years in the industry.
Career
Sol Harrison attended high school with Jack Adler and the two men often ...
discusses the beginnings of DC Comics
* "In Memoriam:
Bill Finger
Milton "Bill" Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974) was an American comic strip, comic book, film and television writer who was the co-creator (with Bob Kane) of the DC Comics character Batman. Despite making major (sometimes, signatu ...
", by
E. Nelson Bridwell
Edward Nelson Bridwell (September 22, 1931 – January 23, 1987) was a writer for ''Mad (magazine), Mad'' magazine (writing the now-famous catchphrase, "What you mean...we?" in a 1958 parody of ''The Lone Ranger'' in Mad) and various comic books ...
– short biography of Finger written on a tombstone with a
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph Giordano (; July 20, 1932 – March 27, 2010) was an American comics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics.
Early li ...
illustration of
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
at the gravesite
* "Sergio Takes a Look at DC", by
Sergio Aragonés
Sergio Aragonés Domenech ( , ; born September 6, 1937) is a Spanish/Mexican cartoonist and writer best known for his contributions to '' Mad'' magazine and creating the comic book ''Groo the Wanderer''.
Among his peers and fans, Aragonés is w ...
– one-panel gags about DC staff
* "The
Letter Column
A comic book letter column is a section of an American comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns (or lettercols), letter pages, letters of comment (LOCs), or ...
: All Stars of Tomorrow?" by
Bob Rozakis
Robert "Bob" Rozakis (; born April 4, 1951) is an American comic book writer and Editing, editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics, as the writer of Mazing Man'' and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".
Career
Bob R ...
– Rozakis evaluates
letterhack A letterhack is a fan who is regularly published in magazine and American comic book letter columns.
Origin
The term comes from fanspeak, the slang of science fiction fans, and originally referred to prolific writers of letters to fanzines and pr ...
s with the potential, like him, to become comics professionals
* "Yesteryear", by
E. Nelson Bridwell
Edward Nelson Bridwell (September 22, 1931 – January 23, 1987) was a writer for ''Mad (magazine), Mad'' magazine (writing the now-famous catchphrase, "What you mean...we?" in a 1958 parody of ''The Lone Ranger'' in Mad) and various comic books ...
– a decade-by-decade retrospective
* "Murder, Inc.", by
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He gr ...
and
Mike Royer
Michael W. Royer (; born June 28, 1941) is an American comics artist and inker, best known for his work with pencilers Russ Manning and Jack Kirby. In later life Royer became a freelance product designer and character artist for The Walt Disney C ...
– unpublished 10-page story from the also unpublished ''In the Days of the Mob'' #2
* "How a Comic Book is Created", by
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 ...
– the first in an ongoing in-depth feature on creating a story or comic from start to finish
* "It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s... Superman in Technicolor", by Steve Mitchell – retrospective & index of the
Max Fleischer
Max Fleischer (born Majer Fleischer ; July 19, 1883 – September 25, 1972) was an American animator, inventor, film director and producer, and studio founder and owner. Born in Kraków, Fleischer immigrated to the United States where he became ...
Superman
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...
cartoons
Issue #7 promoted ''The Legend of
King Arthur
King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...
and the Knights of the Round Table'' by
Gerry Conway
Gerard Francis Conway Thomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" ("Bullpen Bulletins") in '' Marvel Super-Heroes'' #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952) is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, screenwriter, t ...
Clark Kent
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publish ...
's hometown of
Smallville
''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar Gough ...
was in
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. Some years later, the Maryland location was supported in the actual comics with a map of Smallville and the surrounding area that was published in '' New Adventures of Superboy'' #22 (October 1981), which situated Smallville a few miles west of a large bay very similar to
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is the estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the northeast seaboard of the United States. It is approximately in area, the bay's freshwater mixes for many miles with the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean.
The bay is bordered inlan ...
. The same map placed
Metropolis
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big c ...
and
Gotham City
Gotham City ( ), or simply Gotham, is a fictional city appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, best known as the home of the superhero Batman and his allies and foes. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, the cit ...
on the east and west sides of the bay — thus placing Gotham in
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
.
In addition to the 17 regular issues, in 1976 DC published an ''Amazing World of DC Comics Special Edition''Volume 3, Special Edition #1 (February 1976) in conjunction with the Super DC Con '76
comic book convention
A comic book convention or comic-con is an event with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at con ...
, held February 27–29, 1976, at the
Americana Hotel
The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel is a , 51-story hotel located near Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It faces 7th Avenue, 52nd Street, and 53rd Street. It is one of the world's 100 tallest hotels, and one of the talle ...
, in New York City.
Character contest
''The Amazing World of DC Comics'' sponsored character-design contests that resulted in three winners:
* Nightwing (alter-ego: Lara Londo) – created by long-time ''
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st c ...
'' fan Robert Harris. The character's name was later changed to Nightwind and her alter-ego was renamed "Berta Harris" after her creator. Introduced in ''Amazing World'' #12.
* Crystal Kid (alter-ego: Rondo Kane ) – created by Robert Cohen of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The character's alter-ego was renamed "Bobb Kohan" in honor of his creator. Introduced in ''Amazing World'' #14.
* Lamprey (alter-ego: Angela Majors) – created by Scott Taylor of Portland, Texas. Lamprey's alter-ego was later changed to "Tayla Skott" in honor of her creator. Introduced in ''Amazing World'' #14.
All three characters appeared in DC continuity as
Legion Academy
The Legion Academy is a training school for members of the Legion of Super-heroes. It was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, and has been re-used and revisited by subsequent creator in the many evolving iterations of the Legion that have been p ...
students in ''
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st c ...
'' vol. 2, #272 (Feb. 1981).
See also
* ''
FOOM
''FOOM'' was Marvel Comics' self-produced fan magazine of the mid-1970s, following the canceled ''Marvelmania'' and preceding ''Marvel Age''. Running 22 quarterly issues (February 1973 – Fall 1978), it was initially designed and edited by comic ...
Johnny DC
Johnny DC is a character that DC Comics has used at various times as a mascot for its lines of comic books, and occasionally as a metafictional character who comments on the comics in which he appears.
History
The character originally appeared in ...