Strange Sports Stories

    (DC, 1973-1974)
DC

After a double-tryout in Brave and the Bold, Strange Sports Stories became a feature in its own right in this series of the early 1970s. At a time when the comics market was glutted with mystery/horror comics, this title was a breath of fresh air. Its stories combined sports and the supernatural in a mix that avoided most of the clichés found in competing offerings.

The inspiration behind many of the stories here seemed to be early colonial fiction. “To Beat the Devil” told of how a baseball team used the letter of the rule book to outsmart Satan, in a move reminiscent of The Devil and Daniel Webster. Similarly, “A Tall Tale of Tenpins” drew on the Rip Van Winkle legend to tell how Rip’s latter-day ancestor learned to bowl perfect games, courtesy of the same “wee people” who ensorceled Rip Van Winkle.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Oct 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Frank Robbins  ·  A: Bob Oksner, Curt Swan, Dick Giordano
    4 copies from $3.90
  • 2
    #2
    Dec 1973
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Dennis O’Neil, Frank Robbins  ·  A: Curt Swan, Dick Giordano, Irv Novick, Murphy Anderson
    Bob Rozakis L.O.C.
    4 copies from $1.50
  • 3
    #3
    Feb 1974
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Elliot S! Maggin, Frank Robbins  ·  A: Curt Swan, Dick Giordano
    9 copies from $2.75
  • 4
    #4
    Apr 1974
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Cary Bates, Dennis O’Neil  ·  A: Dick Giordano, Irv Novick, John Rosenberger
    8 copies from $2.94
  • 5
    #5
    Jun 1974
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Frank Robbins  ·  A: John Rosenberger, Irv Novick, Frank McLaughlin
    Bob Rozakis L.O.C.; Carl Gafford L.O.C.
    6 copies from $2.00
  • 6
    #6
    Aug 1974
    Cover: $0.20
    W: Elliot S! Maggin, Martin Pasko  ·  A: John Rosenberger
    Carl Gafford L.O.C.
    8 copies from $2.50