June 1981 - August 1981

Cerebus #27.

The comic features the story High Society (Chapter 2): “The Kidnapping of an Aardvark,” 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: June 1981. Cover price: $1.50 Canadian.

Notes

The exact publication date is unknown. This is a Canadian publication. No copyright registration appears to have been filed in the United States.

Dragonslayer.

Edited by Jim Shooter. The book features a comics adaptation of the film Dragonslayer. The adaptation is by Denny O'Neil & Marie Severin. Cover illustration by Earl Norem. Mass-market paperback book. Color interiors. 164 pages. New York: Marvel Illustrated (Marvel). Cover/indicia date: June 1982. Cover price: $2.50.

Notes

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed.

This was the first book-format publication put out by Marvel. It was part of a mass-market paperback-book line that was cancelled at the end of 1982. All previous books with Marvel content were licensed to other publishers.

Superman and Spider-Man.

Edited by Al Milgrom. The book features the Superman / Spider-Man story “The Heroes and the Holocaust!,” by Jim Shooter & John Buscema, with Joe Sinnott, et al. The story, a publisher-crossover project featuring both Marvel and DC characters, was first published in Marvel Treasury Edition #28. Cover illustration by Bob Larkin & John Romita. Mass-market paperback book. Color interiors. 164 pages. New York: Warner. Cover/indicia date: June 1981. Cover price: $2.50.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration appears to have been filed.

Swords of Cerebus, Vol. 2, Dave Sim.

The book collects the stories first published in Cerebus #5-8. Cover illustration by Dave Sim. Trade-paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 108 pages. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Aardvark-Vanaheim. Cover/indicia date: June 1981. Cover price: $5.00 Canadian.

Note

The book is a Canadian publication. The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration appears to have been filed in the United States.

Weirdo #2.

Edited by R. (Robert) Crumb. The magazine includes the story “Doodly Squats,” by R. Crumb. The other contributors include Gregg Gannon, Phoebe Gloeckner, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Kevin Lambert, Harry Robins, Spain Rodriguez, Dori Seda, and Terry Zwigoff. Cover illustration by R. Crumb. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 44 pages. Berkeley, CA: Last Gasp. Cover/indicia date: Summer 1981 (June 1981). Cover price: $2.25.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration appears to have been filed.

Daredevil #175.

Published on June 2, 1981. Edited by Denny O’Neil. The comic features the story “Gantlet ,” by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson. Cover illustration by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: October 1981. Cover price: 50¢.

Marvel Super Special #18.

Published on June 11, 1981. Edited by Archie Goodwin. Cover illustration by Howard Chaykin. Magazine-format. Color interiors. 68 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: September 1981. Cover price: $2.50.

Elfquest #10.

Published on June 15, 1981. Edited by Richard Pini. The magazine features the story “The Forbidden Grove,” by Wendy Pini & Richard Pini. Cover illustration by Wendy Pini. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 44 pages. Poughkeepsie, NY: WaRP Graphics. Cover/indicia date: June 1981. Cover price: $1.50.

Mad Horses Around.

Published on June 15, 1981. The book features select material originally published in Mad #170-177. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Paul Peter Porges, Antonio Prohias, Jack Rickard, Lou Silverstone, Angelo Torres, and George Woodbridge. Cover illustration by Jack Rickard. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner. Cover/indicia date: June 1981. Cover price: $1.75.

The Spirit #29.

Published on June 15, 1981. Edited by Will Eisner, Denis Kitchen, and Cat Yronwode. The magazine includes stories first published in 1940, 1942, and 1950 in Will Eisner’s The Spirit Sunday-newspaper comic-book insert. The stories include “Framed” (11-24-1940), “Sasha’s Sax” (06-28-1942), and “The Island” (03-26-1950). Cover illustrations by Will Eisner & Lou Fine (main) and Will Eisner (frame). Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 68 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: June 1981. Cover price: $2.00.

Mad #225.

Published on June 30, 1981. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Henry Clark, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, John Ficarra, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Don Martin, Harry North, Esq., Paul Peter Porges, Antonio Prohias, Jack Rickard, Lou Silverstone, Dennis Snee, Angelo Torres, and George Woodbridge. Cover illustration by Mort Drucker. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: E. C. Cover/indicia date: September 1981. Cover price: 90¢.

Cerebus #28.

The comic features the story High Society (Part 3): “Mind Game II,” 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: July 1981. Cover price: $1.50 Canadian.

Notes

The exact publication date is unknown. This is a Canadian publication. No copyright registration appears to have been filed in the United States.

Raw, Vol. 1, No. 3.

Published on July 1, 1981. Edited by Art Spiegelman & Françoise Mouly. The stories include Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, “Chapter Two: The Honeymoon,” by Art Spiegelman, “A Diagrm of Ajax Campo’s Criminal Activities,” by Ben Katchor, “Jimbo Is ‘Running Sore’,” by Gary Panter, and “Mister Wilcox, Mister Conrad,” by José Muñoz & Carlos Sampayo. The other contributors include Charles Burns, Patricia Caire, Gerry Capelle, Heinz Emigholz, Rick Geary, Scott Gillis, Rod Kierkegaard, Jr., David Marc, Javier Mariscal, Françoise Mouly, Ever Muelen, and Joe Schwind. Cover illustration by Gary Panter. Tabloid-magazine format. Color and black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: Raw. Cover/indicia date: 1981. Cover price: $4.00.

Daredevil #176.

Published on July 7, 1981. Edited by Denny O’Neil. The comic features the story “Hunters,” by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson. Cover illustration by Frank Miller. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: November 1981. Cover price: 50¢.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 5, No. 6 (#54).

Published on July 15, 1981. Edited by Leonard Mogel. The stories include “Den II (Part 1),” by Richard Corben. Cover illustration by Chris Achilleos. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: September 1981. Cover price: $2.00.

Dennis the Menace: One More Time!, Hank Ketcham.

Published on July 26, 1981. The book features material originally published in Hank Ketcham’s Dennis the Menace daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Hank Ketcham. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 132 pages. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett Gold Medal. Cover/indicia date: August 1981. Cover price: $1.50.

Cerebus #29.

The comic features the story High Society (Part 4): “Repercussions,” 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 1981. Cover price: $1.50 Canadian.

Notes

The exact publication date is unknown. This is a Canadian publication. No copyright registration appears to have been filed in the United States.

Daredevil #177.

Published on August 4, 1981. Edited by Denny O’Neil. The comic features the story “Where Angels Fear to Tread,” by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson. Cover illustration by Frank Miller, with Klaus Janson. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: December 1981. Cover price: 50¢.

Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #1.

Published on August 7, 1981. Edited by David Scroggy. The comic features the story "Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers," by Jack Kirby, with Mike Royer. Cover illustration by Jack Kirby, with Mike Royer. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pagwes. San Diego: Pacific. Cover/indicia date: November 1981. Cover price: $1.00.

Note

This was the first publication of Pacific Comics. It was distributed exclusively to the "direct sales" comics-store market. ("Direct sales" distribution meant the comics were distributed on a non-returnable basis in exchange for a lower wholesale price.) The series was author-owned by cartoonist Jack Kirby, and it was the first continuing periodical comic-book series owned by a cartoonist or writer whose previous work was identified with Marvel and/or DC, the field's two legacy adventure-comics publishers. According to Pacific co-owner Bill Schanes, this first issue sold 70,000 copies, numbers comparable to those of the better-selling Marvel and DC titles in the direct market of the time. (The issue quite likely outsold any contemporaneous DC publication.) The series lasted 14 issues. It ended when Pacific Comics went out of business in 1984.

Mad #226.

Published on August 13, 1981. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Don “Duck” Edwing, John Ficarra, Chris Hart, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Harry North, Esq., Antonio Prohias, Jack Rickard, Larry Siegel, Lou Silverstone, Angelo Torres, and George Woodbridge. Cover illustration by Jack Rickard. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: E. C. Cover/indicia date: September 1981. Cover price: 90¢.

American Splendor #6.

Published on August 14, 1981. All stories scripted by Harvey Pekar. The contributing artists include Greg Budgett, Gary Dumm, Michael T. Gilbert, and Gerry Shamray. Cover illustration by Gerry Shamray. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 60 pages. Cleveland Heights, OH: Harvey Pekar. Cover/indicia date: 1981. Cover price: $2.25.

Mad’s Don Martin Grinds Ahead.

Published on August 14, 1981. The book features new material by cartoonist Don Martin. Cover illustration by Don Martin. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner Books. Cover/indicia date: August 1981. Cover price: $1.75.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 5, No. 7 (#55).

Published on August 15, 1981. Edited by Leonard Mogel. The magazine features both original material and English translations of stories that first appeared in the French magazines Métal Hurlant, Pilote, and Pilote Mensuel. The stories include “Den II (Part 2),” by Richard Corben. Cover illustration by Thomas Warkentin. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: October 1981. Cover price: $2.00.

I’ve Got the One-More-Washload Blues..., Lynn Johnston.

Published on August 24, 1981. The book features material originally published in Lynn Johnston’s For Better or For Worse daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Lynn Johnston. Trade-paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 132 pages. Kansas City, MO: Andrews and McMeel. Cover/indicia date: July 1981. Cover price: $5.95.

Note

This is the first book collection of For Better or For Worse.

B. C.: No Two Sexes Are Alike, Johnny Hart.

Published on August 26, 1981. The book features material originally published in Johnny Hart’s B. C. daily newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Johnny Hart. Mass-market paperback book. 132 pages. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett Gold Medal. Cover/indicia date: September 1981. Cover price: $1.75.

The Spirit #30.

Published on August 26, 1981. Edited by Will Eisner, Denis Kitchen, and Cat Yronwode. The magazine includes stories first published in 1941 and 1946 in Will Eisner’s The Spirit Sunday-newspaper comic-book insert. The stories include “Army Operas” (12-21-1941) and “Beagle’s Second Chance” 11-03-1946). The magazine also includes a 36-page The Spirit “jam” story by Will Eisner and other scriptwriters and artists. The “jam” contributors include Brent Anderson, Mike W. Barr, Brian Bolland, John Byrne, Max Allan Collins, Ernie Colón, Richard Corben, Chris Claremont, Howard Cruse, Jim Engel, Chuck Fiala, Michael T. Gilbert, Archie Goodwin, Fred Hembeck, Denis Kitchen, Alan Kupperberg, Harvey Kurtzman, Steve Leialoha, Frank Miller, Dean Motter, Mike Newhall, Denny O’Neil, Peter Poplaski, Sharon Rappaport, Trina Robbins, Marshall Rogers, Peter Sanderson, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Staton, Ken Steacy, Roger Stern, Mike Tiefenbacher, Bob Wiacek, Len Wein, Alan Weiss, and Cat Yronwode. Cover illustration by Peter Poplaski, et al. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 60 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: July 1981. Cover price: $2.00.

The People’s Doonesbury, G. B. Trudeau.

Published on August 28, 1981. The book features material originally published in G. (Garry) B. Trudeau’s Doonesbury daily-newspaper strip between 1978 and 1980. Cover illustration by G. B. Trudeau. Hardcover book. Color and black-and-white interiors. 232 pages. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Cover/indicia date: 1981. Cover price: $19.95.

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