July 1978 - September 1978

Howard the Duck #27.

The estimated newsstand availability date is July 11, 1978. Edited by Steve Gerber. The comic features the story “Circus Maximus,” by Steve Gerber & Gene Colan, with Klaus Janson. Cover illustration by Gene Colan, with Joe Rubinstein. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: September 1978. Cover price: 35¢.

Notes

The copyright date is June 13, 1978.

“Circus Maximus” was the last Howard the Duck story completed by Steve Gerber during the character’s 1970s run. The stories in Howard the Duck #28 and 29 were out-of-continuity inventory stories that had been done several months earlier.

Gerber and Marvel's business relationship collapsed in early 1978 after the publisher removed him as scriptwriter on the Howard the Duck newspaper strip. The newspaper syndicate that distributed the strip had become extremely frustrated with Gerber's problems meeting deadlines, and they told Marvel to either replace him or the strip would be cancelled. After his removal, Gerber began making unfounded claims that the termination required Marvel to surrender to him all intellectual-property rights to the character. He threatened a lawsuit if his demands were not met. Gerber's deadline problems had also resulted in him falling more than two months behind with his comic-book work, and his writer-editor employment contract specifically cited such a situation as grounds for firing him. On May 2, 1978, Marvel publisher Stan Lee sent Gerber written notice that his employment was terminated.

Both Gerber and Marvel had appeared to move on, but in 1980, Gerber became aware of efforts by Marvel to license Howard the Duck to Hollywood producers for broadcast-media and film projects. On August 29, 1980, Gerber filed suit in federal court claiming the licensing efforts were copyright infringement. The lawsuit was settled in late 1982, with Gerber acknowledging Marvel's ownership, and that all his work on the character was work-made-for-hire.

For an extended discussion of Steve Gerber's history with Marvel, including detailed treatments of the terminations and lawsuit, click here.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 2, No. 4 (#17).

The estimated publication date is July 15, 1978. Edited by Sean Kelly & Valerie Marchant. The magazine features both original material and English-language translations of comics stories that were first published in the French magazines Métal Hurlant and Pilote Mensuel. The stories include The Airtight Garage of Jerry Cornelius (Part 13): “Major Grubert’s Adventure,” by Moebius (Jean Giraud), “Gail (Part 3),” by Philippe Druillet, and “Sindbad in the Land of the Jinn,” by Jan Strnad & Richard Corben. Cover illustration by Clyde Caldwell. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: August 1978. Cover price: $1.50.

Note

The copyright date is July 11, 1978. The registrations for the magazine’s 1978 issues from April to December appear erroneous in various ways. As such, all issues for this period will be given an estimated publication date of the 15th of the month, although the official copyright date will be noted.

Cerebus the Aardvark #5.

The comics features the story “The Idol,” by Dave Sim. Cover illustration by Dave Sim. Standard-format comic book. Black-and-white interiors. 28 pages. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Aardvark-Vanaheim. Cover/indicia date: August 1978. Cover price: $1.00 Canadian.

Note

This is a Canadian publication. The exact publication date is unknown. There is no U. S. copyright record.

The X-Men #114.

The estimated newsstand availability date is August 1, 1978. Edited by Roger Stern. The comic features the story “Desolation,” by Chris Claremont & John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Cover illustration by John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: October 1978. Cover price: 35¢.

Notes

The copyright date is July 4, 1978.

”Any Grooming Hints for Your Fans, Rollie?”, G. B. Trudeau.

Published on August 7, 1978. The book features material first published between July 4, 1977 and January 7, 1978 in G. (Garry) B. Trudeau’s Doonesbury daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by G. B. Trudeau. Trade-paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 132 pages. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Cover/indicia date: August 1978. Cover price: $1.95.

Doonesbury’s Greatest Hits, G. B. Trudeau.

Published on August 7, 1978. The book features material first published between 1974 and 1977 in G. (Garry) B. Trudeau’s Doonesbury daily newspaper strip. Introduction by William F. Buckley, Jr. Cover illustration by G. B. Trudeau. Trade-paperback book. Color and black-and-white interiors. 228 pages. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Cover/indicia date: August 1978. Cover price: $7.95.

The Silver Surfer, Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.

Published in August 9, 1978. The book features an original Silver Surfer story, with a reworked origin, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Cover illustration by Jack Kirby & Earl Norem. Trade-paperback book. Color interiors. 132 pages. New York: Fireside (Simon & Schuster). Cover/indicia date: 1978. Cover price: $4.95.

Note

The book was intended in part as pitch material for a proposed Silver Surfer film. Marvel Comics licensed the Silver Surfer and Galactus characters to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in exchange for one-third of the authors’ share of revenues from the project. As Lee and Kirby licensed the property from Marvel, the copyright for the book is in their names. It may be the only North American comic-book treatment of a Marvel Comics character that is not owned by Marvel.

The Fifth Mad Report on Spy vs. Spy, Antonio Prohias.

Published on August 15, 1978. The book features new Spy vs. Spy strips by cartoonist Antonio Prohias. Cover illustration by Antonio Prohias. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner Books. Cover/indicia date: August 1978. Cover price: $1.50.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 2, No. 5 (#18).

The estimated publication date is August 15, 1978. Edited by Sean Kelly & Valerie Marchant. The magazine features both original material and English-language translations of comics stories that were first published in the French magazines Métal Hurlant and Pilote Mensuel. The stories include The Airtight Garage of Jerry Cornelius (Part 14): “Nothing Much,” by Moebius (Jean Giraud), “Gail (Part 4),” by Philippe Druillet, and “Sindbad in the Land of the Jinn (Part 2),” by Jan Strnad & Richard Corben. Cover illustration by Jim Burns. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: September 1978. Cover price: $1.50.

Note

The copyright date is July 25, 1978. The registrations for the magazine’s 1978 issues from April to December appear erroneous in various ways. As such, all issues for this period will be given an estimated publication date of the 15th of the month, although the official copyright date will be noted.

Mad #202.

Published on August 15, 1978. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, John Caldwell, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Ed Danko, Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Paul Peter Porges, Jack Rickard, Larry Siegel, and Angelo Torres. Cover illustration by Jack Rickard. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: E. C. Cover/indicia date: October 1978. Cover price: 60¢.

The X-Men #115.

The estimated newsstand availability date is August 29, 1978. Edited by Roger Stern. The comic features the story “Visions of Death!,” by Chris Claremont & John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Cover illustration by John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: November 1978. Cover price: 35¢.

Notes

The copyright date is August 1, 1978.

Mondo Snarfo .

Edited by Denis Kitchen. The comic features new material by Robert Armstrong, Joel Beck, Mark Beyer, Tom Budzinski, R. (Robert) Crumb, Kim Deitch, Bill Griffith, Denis Kitchen, Mike Newhall, Peter Pontiac, Pete Poplaski, Larry Rippee, Art Spiegelman, and Steve Stiles. Cover illustration by Denis Kitchen. Black-and-white interiors. 36 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: September 1978. Cover price: $1.00.

Elfquest #2.

Published on September 6, 1978. Edited by Richard Pini. The magazine features the story “Raid at Sorrow’s End,” by Wendy Pini & Richard Pini. Introduction by Richard Pini. Cover illustration by Wendy Pini. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 36 pages. Poughkeepsie, NY: WaRP Graphics. Cover/indicia date: 1978. Cover price: $1.00.

Note

The numbering continues from Fantasy Quarterly #1, published in February 1978.

The X-Men #116.

The estimated newsstand availability date is September 12, 1978. Edited by Roger Stern. The comic features the story “To Save the Savage Land,” by Chris Claremont & John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Cover illustration by John Byrne, with Terry Austin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: December 1978. Cover price: 35¢.

Notes

The copyright date is August 15, 1978.

American Splendor #3.

Published on September 13, 1978. The magazine includes the stories “Standing Behind Old Jewish Ladies in Supermarket Lines,” “Jack the Bellboy and Mr. Boats,” “Mr. Lopes’ Gift,” and “Rollins on Time,” all by Harvey Pekar & R. (Robert) Crumb. All other stories scripted by Harvey Pekar. The other contributing artists include Greg Budgett and Gary Dumm. Cover illustration by Greg Budgett, with Gary Dumm. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 60 pages. Cleveland Heights, OH: Harvey Pekar. Cover/indicia date: 1977. Cover price: $1.15.

The Cartoon History of the Universe #1.

Published on September 15, 1978. The comic features the story “The Evolution of Everything,” by Larry Gonick. Cover illustration by Larry Gonick. Standard-format comic book. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. San Francisco: Rip Off. Cover/indicia date; 1978. Cover price: $1.00.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 2, No. 6 (#19).

The estimated publication date is September 15, 1978. Edited by Sean Kelly & Valerie Marchant. The magazine features both original material and English-language translations of comics stories that were first published in the French magazines Métal Hurlant and Pilote Mensuel. The stories include The Airtight Garage of Jerry Cornelius (Part 15), by Moebius (Jean Giraud), “Gail (Part 5)” and “Blob,” by Philippe Druillet, and “Sindbad in the Land of the Jinn (Part 3),” by Jan Strnad & Richard Corben. Cover illustration by Ron Walotsky. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: October 1978. Cover price: $1.50.

Note

The copyright date is September 1, 1978. The registrations for the magazine’s 1978 issues from April to December appear erroneous in various ways. As such, all issues for this period will be given an estimated publication date of the 15th of the month, although the official copyright date will be noted.

The Mad Guide to Careers, Stan Hart & Paul Coker, Jr.

Published on September 15, 1978. The book features new material by scriptwriter Stan Hart and artist Paul Coker, Jr. Cover illustration by Paul Coker, Jr. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner. Cover/indicia date: September 1978. Cover price: $1.50.

Next: October to December 1978.