DC Graphic Novel

(DC, 1983-1986)
™ and ©1983 Atari, Inc.

Marvel introduced a line of deluxe format comics in 1982, to which they gave the name “graphic novels.” These were aimed at older, more sophisticated, and presumably more affluent readers—a coveted demographic in comics publishing. It was anything but unexpected when DC followed up the Marvel Graphic Novels with their own line in 1983.

Although nicely produced, the DC series tended not to break much new ground. It began with the unpromising story of Star Raiders, a spinoff of Atari Force and a popular Atari video game, as well as being highly derivative of Battlestar Galactica. Luckily, it moved onto somewhat more fruitful ground with works like “The Hunger Dogs” by Jack Kirby, featuring characters from Mister Miracle and the New Gods. As a whole, however, the series was not terribly successful, lasting just seven issues.

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