TFAW Grab Bag #21: Grimjack: The Manx Cat #6

The handful of First's Grimjack issues that I have were obtained by grab bags so it was nice to see an issue of IDW's Grimjack: The Manx Cat #6 (January 2009) in the grab bag mix from TFAW. Timothy Truman returns as the cover and interior artist with John Ostrander returning as writer. Those two co-created the character so it seems natural that they would be back. The six part mini-series were originally published online by ComicMix and can still be viewed here.

Jon Eddings and Mark A. Nelson were the cover artists for Starslayer #31 (August 1985). "Legends" retells how Torin Mac Quillon, a Celtic warrior from the time of the Roman Empire, is pulled to the distant future. The story was written by John Ostander, inked by Mark A. Nelson, lettered by Willie Schubert, colored by Wendy Fiore, penciled by Jon Eddings and edited by Mike Gold.

Mike Grell originally created Starslayer: The Log of the Jolly Roger for DC Comics but plans were halted with the DC Implosion that canceled many titles. He offered the series to Pacific Comics, who published six issues in 1982. Grell was swayed to continue future issues at First Comics by editor Mike Gold. He left the series with #8.

The Black Flame's back up story is titled "Every Smallest Dream...!" written by Peter B. Gillis, who also created the series. Thomas F. Sutton was the penciller, Don Lomax was the inker, Steve Haynie was the letterer, Rick Taylor was the colorist and Rick Oliver was the editor.

Halloween Countdown 2009 Day 25: The Spectre Comics

DC Comics gave the Spectre his own regular series in 1967 that lasted for ten issues. I have no copies from that first sries. However, the Ghost of Vengeance was back in his own title twenty years later. José Luis García-López did the cover of The Spectre #5 (August 1987). Doug Moench wrote "The Mystery of My Murder" while Gene Colan and Steve Mitchell did the art. The inside front cover has a tribute to E. Nelson Bridwell (1931-1987). "Speculations" was the title of the letters page that was two pages in this issue. Interesting ads include MPC Ertl model cars, Tang and Dungeons & Dragons basic set.

Tom Mandrake did the cover to The Spectre #0 (October 1994) for DC Comics. He also penciled, inked and colored the featured story titled "The Temptation of the Spectre" that was written by John Ostrander. This is part of the third series featuring the Ghost of Vengeance. The issue does feature a letters page, Daily Planet ("Zero Hour For Earth" being the main headline) and "DC Universe" dedicated to Neal Pozner (1955-1994). Interesting ads include Fate, Star Trek annual #5, Metropolis S.C.U., Starman, R.E.B.E.L.S., Flash and Star Trek Master Series from SkyBox.

The second series lasted for thirty-one issues and folded in 1989 but he did not give up the ghost for he was back in 1992 with a third series.

Dave Johnson did the cover of The Spectre #34 (October 1995) for DC Comics. John Ostrander wrote "Blood Suckers" while John Ridgeway provided the artwork. Interesting ads include Underworld Unleashed, Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions movie poster, The Prophecy movie poster, Vampire the Eternal Struggle trading card game from Deckmaster, Batman: Knight Gallery (this is one my to want list due to the different costumes), Sovereign Seven, Shadow Dragon annual #1 (the "Legends" event which provided Year One stories in all the annuals), Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat (Elseworlds one-shot), Batman Man-Bat (three issue Elseworlds mini series) and Mega City's Most Wanted action figures from Judge Dredd.

The third series lasted until #62 (February 1998). The Ghost of Vengeance returned in a fourth series that lasted from 2001 to 2003. Unfortunately, I have none of those issues.