DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest

While its companion digest-size comics series, The Best of DC, focused primarily on Superman, Batman, and their “families” of related characters, DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest tended to be a bit more interesting in its choice of material from DC’s historic past. Of course, super-heroes were the norm—Legion of Super-Heroes, Green Arrow, the Justice Society of America, and the Doom Patrol, among others, but readers were also treated to some classic science fiction fare in a UFO Invaders-themed issue, spine-tingling horror tales under the Ghosts banner, and rousing war stories featuring the legendary Sgt. Rock. Heck, one issue even reprinted several issues of DC’s classic fantasy series from the 1970s—Mike Grell’s Warlord. Enjoy! …if you can find them.

— Thomas Moudry

Jump to issue:

#1

Apr 1980

Cover: $0.95

W: Otto Binder, Jim Shooter, Edmond Hamilton · A: Al Plastino, Curt Swan, George Klein, John Forte

Reprints from Adventure Comics #247, #306, #349, #352 and #353; Mar-Apr issue

3 copies from $8.00
#2

Jun 1980

Cover: $0.95

W: John Broome, Bob Rozakis, Gardner Fox · A: Carmine Infantino

Reprints from Flash (1st Series) #124, #130, #131, #149, #158, #173

3 copies from $6.00
#3

Aug 1980

Cover: $0.95

W: Gerry Conway, Paul Levitz, Gardner Fox, Martin Pasko · A: Ric Estrada, Irwin Hasen, Joe Kubert, Lee Elias, Frank Harry, Walt Simonson, Joe Staton

Reprints from All Star Comics #36, #58-#59, First Issue Special #9 and Adventure Comics #461

2 copies from $24.00
#4

Oct 1980

Cover: $0.95

W: John Broome · A: Gil Kane, Murphy Anderson, Joe Giella, Carmine Infantino, Sid Greene

Reprints from Green Lantern (2nd Series) #1, #5, #12, #16, #40, #53; Sep-Oct issue

3 copies from $7.00
#5

Dec 1980

Cover: $0.95

W: Gerry Conway, Gardner Fox, Jack Kirby, Arnold Drake, Marv Wolfman · A: Romeo Tanghal, Mike Sekowsky, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino

Reprints from Justice League of America #9 (Feb 1962), Green Lantern (2nd Series) #16 (Oct 1962), Strange Adventures #205 (Oct 1967), Teen Titans #22 (Jul-Aug 1969), and The Demon #1 (Aug-Sep 1972); Origin of Deadman (Boston Brand); Origin of Demon (Etrigan); Origin of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan); Origin of Justice League of America; Origin of Wonder Girl (Donna Troy); Origin of Zatanna (Zatanna Zatara); Nov-Dec issue; Secret Origins of Super-Heroes

3 copies from $7.50
#7

Mar 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Robert Kanigher, Archie Goodwin, David Michelinie · A: Joe Kubert, Alex Toth, Russ Heath, Gerry Talaoc

Reprints from Our Army at War #127, Our Fighting Forces #146, G.I. Combat #123, Star Spangled War Stories #132, 141,184; Reprints from Sgt Rock’s Prize Battle Tales

1 copy for $8.00
#8

Apr 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Jim Shooter, Cary Bates · A: Curt Swan, Dave Cockrum, Mike Grell

Reprints from Superboy (1st Series) #198, 202, Adventure Comics #365-367

1 copy for $24.00
#9

May 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Gardner Fox, Len Wein, John Broome, Otto Binder, France Edward Herron, Robert Bernstein · A: Gil Kane, Bernie Wrightson, Carmine Infantino, Ramona Fradon, Curt Swan, Howard Sherman, Jack Kirby, Lee Elias

Reprints from Adventure Comics #210, 256, 262, 269, Detective Comics #359, Green Lantern (2nd Series) #10, House of Secrets #92, More Fun Comics #67, Showcase #34; Origin of Aqualad (Garth); Origin of Krypto; Origin of Speedy (Roy Harper)

3 copies from $9.00
#10

Jun 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Mike Grell · A: Mike Grell

3 copies from $7.00
#11

Wraparound cover by Ross Andru

Jul 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Len Wein, Gardner Fox · A: Dick Dillin, Mike Sekowsky

Reprints from Justice League of America #17 (Feb 1963), #100 (Aug 1972), #101 (Sep 1972), and #102 (Oct 1972)

5 copies from $8.00
#12

Aug 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Robert Kanigher, Russ Heath, Archie Goodwin, Bob Haney · A: Russ Heath, Sam Glanzman, Neal Adams

Reprints from G.I. Combat #87, 159-162, Our Army at War #244

2 copies from $12.00
#13

Sep 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Bob Rozakis, Cary Bates, Peter Hill, Dennis O’Neil, Frank Robbins, Elliot S! Maggin, John Broome · A: Dick Dillin, John Rosenberger, Irv Novick, Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, Dick Giordano

Reprints from DC Super-Stars #10, Brave and the Bold #49, Strange Sports Stories #1-5; Strange Sports Stories

3 copies from $5.00
#14

Oct 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Gardner Fox, Otto Binder, France Edward Herron, John Broome, Joe Millard · A: Carmine Infantino, Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, Henry Sharp, Russ Heath

Reprints from Strange Adventures #46, 51-52, 76, 84, 106, 114, 141, 148, Mystery in Space #26, 45, 65

2 copies from $15.00
#15

Nov 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: John Broome, Otto Binder, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox · A: Carmine Infantino, George Papp, Gil Kane, Sheldon Moldoff, Mike Sekowsky

Reprints from Detective Comics #230, Green Lantern (2nd Series) #7, Justice League of America #3, Superboy (1st Series) #68, Flash #128; Origin of Abra Kadabra; Origin of Bizarro Superboy; Origin of Kanjar Ro; Origin of Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch); Origin of Sinestro

5 copies from $8.00
#16

Dec 1981

Cover: $0.95

W: Dennis O’Neil · A: Neal Adams

Reprints from Green Lantern #81, 82, 84 and Flash #217-219

5 copies from $6.00
#17

Jan 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Michael Fleisher, Len Wein, Howard Post, Jack Oleck, Francis Bushmaster, David Michelinie, Russell Carey, Marv Wolfman, John Albano · A: Russell Carley, Arthur Suydam, Neal Adams, Bernie Wrightson, Michael W. Kaluta, Joe Orlando, Ralph Reese, Wallace Wood, Dick Giordano, Dave Manak, Alan Weiss, Rubeny, Rich Buckler

Ghosts

1 copy for $17.00
#18

Feb 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Robert Kanigher, Mike W. Barr · A: Joe Kubert

New material and reprints from Our Army At War #87, 120, 179, 233, 238, Showcase #45

1 copy for $11.00
#19

Mar 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Arnold Drake, Bob Haney · A: Bruno Premiani, George Pérez

New material and reprints My Greatest Adventure #80 and Doom Patrol #86, 90 and 91

3 copies from $8.00
#20

Apr 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Joe Orlando, Len Wein, Frank Robbins, David Michelinie · A: Tony DeZuniga, Alex Toth, Frank Giacoia, Michael W. Kaluta, Val Mayerik

Dark Mansions of Forbidden Love

2 copies from $18.00
#21

May 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Robert Kanigher · A: Joe Kubert, Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, Russ Heath, Ric Estrada, Alex Toth

Reprints Our Fighting Forces #39, G.I. Combat #133, (G.I. Combat #141, Our Army At War #269, G. I. Combat #143, Star-Spangled War Stories #164, Our Army At War #200, Our Army At War #146, Star-Spangled War Stories #149, Star-Spangled War Stories #124, Our Army At War #196; Reprints Our Fighting Forces #39, G.I. Combat #133, 141, 143, Our Army At War #146. 196, 200, 269, Star Spangled War Stories #124, 149, 164

1 copy for $11.00
#22

Jun 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: John Broome, E. Nelson Bridwell, Dave Wood, Tony Isabella, Jim Shooter · A: Gil Kane, Joe Orlando, Carmine Infantino, Trevor Von Eeden, George Papp

Reprints from Adventure Comics #348, Black Lightning #1, Showcase #22, 62, Strange Adventures #180; Origin of Animal Man (Buddy Baker); Origin of Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce); Origin of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan); Origin of Inferior Five; Origin of Sun Boy (Dirk Morgna)

3 copies from $6.00
#23

Jul 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Mike W. Barr, France Edward Herron, Dave Wood, Bob Haney, Dennis O’Neil, Elliot S! Maggin · A: Dan Spiegle, Jack Kirby, Lee Elias, Neal Adams, Mike Grell, Dick Giordano

New material and reprints from World’s Finest Comics #98, 102, 113, Adventure Comics #250, 252, 253, Brave and the Bold #85, DC Super-Stars #17, Green Lantern (2nd Series) #87, Action Comics #428

3 copies from $19.00
#24

Aug 1982

Cover: $0.95

W: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Bernie Wrightson, Virgil North, Joe Orlando, John Albano, Gerry Conway, E. Nelson Bridwell, Jack Oleck · A: Bill Draut, Alex Toth, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Aparo, Tony DeZuniga, Bob Oksner, Ralph Reese, Gray Morrow

Reprints from House of Mystery #191, 194-196, 199, 201, 204, 209, House of Secrets #83, 94, Witching Hour #12; House Of Mystery

1 copy for $24.00