{"id":621,"date":"2009-02-15T21:29:15","date_gmt":"2009-02-15T21:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2009\/02\/15\/c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-19\/"},"modified":"2012-08-17T05:19:30","modified_gmt":"2012-08-17T05:19:30","slug":"c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2009\/02\/15\/c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-19\/","title":{"rendered":"C.O.U.S.: Reflections from Rick’s Collection #19"},"content":{"rendered":"

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica<\/a>, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some of these largely forgotten and sometime rare pieces, I’m taking you through a tour of the more interesting selections. <\/p>\n

Continuing my tour through some of the more mainstream selections. In the seventies and eighties, digest-sized comics<\/a> were all the rage. These 4.75 in. x 6.5 in. perfect bound collections usually contained minuscule, often poorly reproduced reprints.<\/p>\n

DC’s first experimented with the smaller format in 1972 with Tarzan Digest<\/span> #1<\/a>. Though a Laurel &amp; Hardy<\/span> digest was announced (and never produced), DC would only return to the format in 1979 following the DC Implosion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Click on images for full sized versions.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nThe Best of DC<\/span> No. 54<\/a> (November, 1984) and No. 64<\/a> (September, 1985)<\/span><\/p>\n

Beginning with a collection of Superman<\/a> reprints, The Best of DC<\/span><\/a> ran for 71 issues. Throughout seven years, the series focused on a wide array of DC properties including Batman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Binky<\/a>, Jimmy Olsen, and Plop!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/a>
\nThe Best of DC<\/span> No. 63<\/a> (August, 1985) and No. 46<\/a> (March 1984)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStarting in 1980, The "Year’s Best Comic Stories" became an annual event as part of The Best of DC<\/span>. The final issue (No. 71<\/a>) was the Year’s Best Stories of 1985.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nThe Best of DC No. 71 (April, 1986) and No. 52<\/a> (September, 1984)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLater in the same month that premiered The Best of DC<\/span>, the digest-sized Jonah Hex and Other Western Tales<\/span><\/a> appeared. After three issues, DC canceled the title and replaced it with DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest<\/span><\/a>. Each volume tended to focus on theme. The variety of characters and subjects included the Legion of Super Heroes, Flash, Green Lantern, Ghosts<\/span><\/a>, Secret Origins, Strange Sports<\/span><\/a>, and Sgt. Rock. <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nDC Special Blue Ribbon Digest<\/span> No. 16<\/a> (December, 1981) and No. 19<\/a> (March, 1982)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAfter 24 issues, DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest<\/span> ended in 1982 and was soon replaced by the digest-sized last gasp of the legendary Adventure Comics<\/span><\/a>. Beginning with no. 491<\/a>, the now-completely reprint series limped its way to an ignoble conclusion with no. 503<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nAdventure<\/span> No. 501<\/a> (July, 1983)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe DC digests introduced me to some of my favorite characters and series. My first exposure to the Doom Patrol, the O’Neil\/Adams Green Lantern\/Green Arrow, Plop!<\/span>, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, and countless others first occurred within those tiny pages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n