Goodnight Dick Giordano

Dick Giordano has died today at the age of 77 according to Newsarama and Who Arted?. The legendary inker, artist and editor that worked at Charlton Comics, DC Comics and Continuity Associates studios (he was Neal Adams' partner in the latter). He launched Future Comics with the help of writer David Michelinie and artist Bob Layton. His team up work with Neal Adams on Batman and Green Arrow/Green Lantern during the late 1960s and early 1970s are highly recommended.

Dick Giodano
July 20, 1932 – March 27, 2010

The Warlord Annual #2

Dick Giordano and Dan Jurgens did the cover for The Warlord Annual #2 (1983) with the latter also doing the interior pencils. The story, titled "The Prophecy", was written by Cary Burkett, inked by Mike DeCarlo and colored by Carl Gafford. Travis Morgan aka the Warlord meets Krystovar, a seeker of knowledge and a gatherer of ancient lore. He tells of Lord Norrad the colony of New Atlantis. After jumping off a ship, the Warlord finds an underwater cavern that leads to a secret stockpile of futuristic weapons that includes what appears to be saucer-shaped UFOs. He hops on an Atlantean sled to save Krystovar from the clutches of Ar-Pharazael, the ruler of New Atlantis. The mad king tells the seeker of knowledge that the brother that he has been looking for is still alive but transformed into one of the brood-brothers. I read this issue when it originally came out and recently picked up another copy without knowing if I had it or not but it was still a great read.

Superman #394

The cover of Superman #394 (April 1984) by Paris Cullins and Dick Giordano depicts the Man of Steel battling the Viking from Valhalla, The story titled "The Man Who Would Be President" was written by Elliot S! Maggin, penciled by Curt Swan, inked by Dave Hunt and colored by Gene D'Angelo. Valemar of the Flame comes to life after Bucky Berns writes that he should be enlisted to fight pollution. The Viking from Valhalla first mistakes Superman as the reason for a bottling company polluting the river. A few more events come to pass that Bucky Berns writes about and the reader finds out that a foreign group is basically making his thoughts come true thanks to a device orbiting the earth. Superman and Valemar team up to shut the bottling plant down.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 26: Weird War Tales #99, #100 and #121

Dave Cockrum and Dick Giordano did the cover for Weird War Tales (May 1981) for DC Comics. The chilling war tales include "A Gauntlet of Giants" (a War That Time Forgot tale) created and written by Robert Kanigher with art by Dave Cockrum and Jerry Ordway, "A Match Made in Hell" written by Robert Kanigher with art by Ric Estrada, "Man's Best Enemy" written by George Kashdan with art by Steve Ditko and "Divine Wind" written by Mike W. Barr with art by Mar Amongo. The letters page called "A.P.O. Weird War Tales" is shared with the statement of ownership. Interesting ads includes Johnson Smith Company novelties, Bubble Yum, Sea-Monkeys, Hostess Cup Cakes presents Batman in "Hearts of Darkness" and Batman visiting Carol Fein on subscriptions.

Joe Kurbert did the cover of Weird War Tales #100 (June 1981) for DC Comics. The first tale features a crossover between the Creature Commandos and the War That Time Forgot in "Dinosaur Convoy" written Mike W. Barr with art by Bob Hall and Jerry Ordway. Other stories include a one pager entitled "Stop the War, I Want To Get Out!" written by Robin Snyder and daren by Trevor Von Eeden and Brett Breeding followed by "The Scavengers" written by John Warner and art by Vicatan. The letters page features part one of a special index of stories that appeared in Weird War Tales #1 to #50. Interesting ads include Fun Factory novelties, Bubble Yum, Suprman Club ($3.00 for membership that includes poster, newsletter, membership card, certificate, book cover and gold decal), Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Superman in "Gold Mine Rescue", Life Savers Sweepstakes and Johnson Smith Company novelties.

The Creatures Commandos grace the cover of Weird War Tales #121 (March 1983) and is featured in the first story titled "Death Smiles Twice" written by Robert Kanigher with art by Fred Carrillo. The second story is titled "Gremlins in the Works!" This issue does feature "Meanwhile..." news about DC Comics. The letters page is almost two pages followed by a short DC Coming Comics piece. Interesting ads include Spider-Man video game for Atari, Bubble Yum, short list of comic book conventions, Dungeons & Dragons from TSR, Life Savers find 13 hidden flavors word puzzle and Sg. Rock action figure from Remco featuring art by Joe Kurbert.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 20: Secrets of haunted House #38 and #39

The cover for Secrets of Haunted House #38 (July 1981) was done by Richard F. Buckler and Dick Giordano. Destiny does his one page monologue on the first page. The chilling tales include "The Great Dark God Rises Again", "Slaves of Satan" and Mister E in "Conglomerate of Evil". Bonus features include a one page gag strip called "Wolfman Walk", an all text story titled "Rings of Destiny" and another gag strip called "Do's & Don'ts for Mad Scientists". Interesting ads include Hostess Twinkies Cakes presents Plastic Man in "Gold For Dessert" and 100 toy soldiers in a footlocker for only $1.98.




Richard F. Buckler and Dick Giordano also did the cover for Secrets of Haunted House #39 (August 1981). The haunting tales includes "A Crutch in Time", Mister E in "The Witch-Hounds of Salem" and "A Touch of Silver". "Fate's Falling Leaf" is an all text story. Interesting ads include "Attack of the Mutants" game from Yaquinto Publications, Hostess Fruit Pies presents "Superman vs. the Laughing Gas Bandits", Life Savers sleeping bag and a "Dungeons & Dragons" adventure from TSR.



This ends the coverage of this horror anthology series from DC Comics that I have in my collection.

Halloween Countdown 2099 Day 16: Night Force

I only have four issues of Night Force from DC Comics in my collection, which just happens to be the first two issues and the last two issues. The covers of Night Force #1 (August 1982) and #2 (September 1982) were done by Gene Colan and Dick Giordano while Gene did #13 (August 1983) and #14 (September 1983). Marv Wolfman was the writer and editor of this horror comic series. The first issue was titled "The Summoning, Chapter One: Genesis" while the second issue was "The Summoning, Chapter Two: The Burning Hand". Night Force #13's story was titled "Mark of the Beast Part 3: Past Tense" while #14 was titled "The Final Conflict".

2008 Halloween Countdown 15: Elvira's House of Mystery #11

Elvira's House of Mystery #11 (January 1987) is the final issue of the series from DC Comics. The cover of her riding a broom is by Dave Stevens. The five page segment featuring the Mistress of the Dark is simply titled "Elvira's House of Mystery" pencilled by Gene Colan and inked by Dick Giordano (unfortunately, the writer is once again uncredited). The three horror stories in this issue are the following: "Bugs", "Deadly Affairs" and "Killer Turf". I have included all four pages of Elvira's Post-Mortems that features the winner of the "Find Cain" contest.

Elvira's House of Mystery #11 cover

Elvira's House of Mystery page 1

Elvira's House of Mystery page 2

Elvira's House of Mystery page 3

Elvira's House of Mystery page 4

Elvira's House of Mystery page 5

Elvira's Post-Mortems page 1

Elvira's Post-Mortems page 2

Elvira's Post-Mortems page 3

Elvira's Post-Mortems page 4
For larger images, check out Elvira's House of Mystery.

2008 Halloween Countdown 14: Elvira's House of Mystery #10

I like the cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #10 (December 1986) drawn by the legendary Joe Orlando because of the writings on the chaulk board and the monster kids. My favorite writing is "Cthulhu's mother dresses him funny" and I like the wolfboy with glasses.

The five page segment featuring the Mistess of the Dark is titled "The Cain Mutiny" pencilled by Dwight Turner and inked by Dick Giordano. The two horror stories featured are "Death For Rent" (haunted house) and "Low Man on the Totem Pole" (Native American werewolf).

As an added bonus, Elvira's House of Mystery #10 features a word search puzzle titled "Weird Words".

Elvira's House of Mystery #10 cover

The Cain Mutiny page 1

The Cain Mutiny page 2

The Cain Mutiny page 3

The Cain Mutiny page 4

The Cain Mutiny page 5

Elvira's Weird Words puzzle

2008 Halloween Countdown 12: Elvira's House of Mystery #8

The Mistress of the Dark is protraying the Statue of Liberty complete with torch, crown and book that adorns the cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #8 (October 1986) drawn by Dwight Turner. Yes, you read that right for this comic book from DC Comics actually hit the stands in July but is cover dated October. Comic and magazine publishers have long since dated their issues often weeks or months before their actual release date. This allows the publications to appear current even if they have been on the newstands for some time. The practice also informs them when an unsold comic book can be removed to either be returned to the publisher or be destroyed (yes, the latter is even horrible for me to read too).

Her one page segment is titled "The Library of Elvira's House of Mystery" pencilled by Dwight Turner and inked by the legendary Dick Giordano (unfortunately the writer is unknown). This issue has the following three tales of terror that has nothing to do with the Fourth of July: "Gruesome Gretchen", "Mummy Dearest" and "Out of Synch!".

This issue does feature an update about the "Find Cain" contest.

Elvira's House of Mystery #8 cover

The Library of Elvira's House of Mystery

Contest update

2008 Halloween Countdown 7: Elvira's House of Mystery #3

The Mistress of the Dark is still wearing her cowboy hat and six guns in Elvira's House of Mystery #3 (May 1986) from DC Comics. The cover art is by Denys Cowan and Dick Giordano. Elvira's segment is titled "Retribution" or "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Tin Badges!" written by Joey Cavalieri with art done by Stan Woch and Dick Giordano. The two tales of terror are "Ballad of Hanging Rock" (a weird western tale) and "One Way Passage" (elevator to Hell story). Here is the cover and the four page Elvira segment:

Elvira's House of Mystery #3 cover

Retribution page 1

Retribution page 2

Retribution page 3

Retribution page 4