Doorway to Nightmare, introduced in 1978, was the last of the DC “Mystery” line of titles in the 1970s that became the forerunner of Vertigo. It did not have a consistent creative team—the intent was to create writer-artist pairings that had never occurred before, except for the cover art of Michael William Kaluta. Madame Xanadu, the star of the series, was not a host but an active participant, albeit never the main character in her stories.
Category: DC
Challengers of the Unknown (1960’s)
The Challengers of the Unknown is a fictional group of adventurers appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The quartet of adventurers explored paranormal occurrences while facing several fantastic menaces. The characters were created by Joe Simon and JJack Kirby during the end of their company, Mainline Comics. Following the end of the Challengers comic, DC has revived the characters in different incarnations over the years. Some have claimed that Kirby reworked the basic concept of the series with Stan Lee in 1961 to create The Fantastic Four, the first creation that marked the rise of Marvel Comics.
Justice League V4 (2020’s)
In 2019, Robert Venditti took over from Snyder, relaunching the title, taking place before Snyder’s run and after Metal.
In addition, two more Justice League titles were released. A new volume of Justice League Dark featuring a team led by Wonder Woman and John Constantine. The other, Justice League Odyssey, features Cyborg, Starfire, Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz), Azrael, and Darkseid as they search for answers in the Ghost Sector in one of Brainiac‘s old starships.
Following Dark Nights: Death Metal, Endless Winter and the beginning of Infinite Frontier, Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez took over the reins of Justice League from Issue 59. While Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and Hawkgirl remained on the team, the team also includes Green Arrow, Black Canary, Black Adam, Queen Hippolyta and Naomi. It also include a Backstory for Justice League Dark.
Tales from the Dark Multiverse (2019)
Tales from the Dark Multiverse is an American superhero/anthology comic book limited series published by DC Comics, beginning on October 16, 2019. The series takes some of the most famous events in the DC Universe and puts a twist on them.
Following the Source Wall being shattered at the end of Dark Nights: Metal, the mysterious watcher known as Tempus Fuginaut (introduced in Sideways) begins trying to recruit several “heroes” from across the Dark Multiverse in the wake of a coming crisis.
The House of Mystery (1970’s)
With issue #174, EC Comics veteran Joe Orlando was hired by DC to take over as editor of House of Mystery. As the Comics Code Authority was now being challenged by both DC and Marvel over content restrictions, the series returned to its overt horror themes. The first issue under Orlando would be a reprint issue of old horror/suspense stories, as the new direction would truly begin with #175 (July–August 1968). The issue would introduce a new figure to the series, Cain, the “able care taker” of the House of Mystery who would introduce nearly all stories that would run in the series before its cancellation. Cain would also host the spin-off humor series Plop! and later become a recurring character in Blue Devil and The Sandman.
Artist Bernie Wrightson‘s first professional comic work was the story “The Man Who Murdered Himself” which appeared in issue #179 (March–April 1969)
House of Mystery was in the Dollar Comics format for issues #251 (March–April 1977) to #259 (July–August 1978). House of Mystery featured stories by writers T. Casey Brennan (#260, 267, 268 and 274) and Scott Edelman (#257, 258, 260, 264, 266, 270, 272, 273). Orlando’s tenure as editor ended with #257 (March–April 1978).
Justice League of America (Silver Age)
The initial Justice League lineup included seven of DC Comics’ superheroes who were regularly published at that time: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman. Rarely featured in most of the stories, Superman and Batman did not even appear on the cover most of the time. Three of DC’s other surviving or revived characters, Green Arrow, the Atom, and Hawkman were added to the roster over the next four years.
The title’s early success was indirectly responsible for the creation of the Fantastic Four. In his autobiography Stan Lee relates how in 1961, during a round of golf, DC publisher Jack Liebowitz mentioned to Marvel-Timely owner Martin Goodman how well DC’s new book (Justice League) was selling. Later that day Goodman, a publishing trend-follower aware of the JLA’s strong sales, told Lee, his comics editor, to come up with a team of superheroes for Marvel.
Batman and the Monster Men (2006)
Batman and the Monster Men is a limited series written and drawn by Matt Wagner with colors by Dave Stewart, published by DC Comics in 2006. It, along with its sequel Batman and the Mad Monk, are set in between the events of Batman: Year One and Batman: The Man Who Laughs. It is the first part of Matt Wagner‘s two-part Dark Moon Rising series, which are expanded and modernized versions of early Batman stories.
Suicide Squad V5 – Rebirth (2016)
Using the end of the New 52 initiative as a launching point, DC Comics began a second relaunch of its entire line of titles called DC Rebirth in 2016. Suicide Squad (vol. 5) #1 (August 2016) was the debut bimonthly relaunch of the team’s comic book title which consisted of Amanda Waller, Deadshot, Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Katana & Enchantress. The Suicide Squad was given a new look, reflecting the team’s appearance in the DC Extended Universe.
Superboy V4 (1994)
This series featured the clone of Superman and his adventures as part of Cadmus. In Superboy (vol. 4) #1 (February 1994), the new Superboy settled in Hawaii with his supporting cast, becoming Hawaii’s resident superhero for the next four years until Superboy (vol. 4) #48 (February 1998). Starting in Superboy (vol. 4) #56 (November 1998), Superboy returned “home” when he began working for Cadmus. In Superboy (vol. 4) #59 (February 1999), Superman gave Superboy the Kryptonian name of Kon-El. After leaving Cadmus and living on his own for a brief time in Metropolis, Kon-El went to live with Jonathan and Martha Kent in Smallville, where he adopted a secret identity as their nephew (and Clark’s cousin) Conner Kent.
Madame Xanadu (1981)
Step thru the doorway into nightmare with Madame Xanadu in the 25-page “Dance For Two Demons.” Script by Steve Englehart, art by Marshall Rogers. Madame Xanadu centerfold by Michael W. Kaluta. Plus: A disease that transforms and corrupts is explored in the 7-page science fiction tale “Falling Down to Heaven…” Script by J.M. DeMatteis, art by Brian Bolland. Cover by Michael W. Kaluta.
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