Boris the Bear

    (Dark Horse, 1986-1991)
©1986 James Dean Smith
Nicotat begins as publisher with issue #13

Boris is a comic-collecting teddy bear who lives in a tree fort in his boy, David’s, back yard. But this cute little animal isn’t like all the others you see in the funny books: he’s got an attitude…and an Uzi.

Once upon a time, critters like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were recognized as satirical; now these mutant funny animals have become a genre unto themselves. Boris decides it’s time to put things straight—with as much violence as possible.

James Dean Smith’s Boris the Bear is hilarious, self-effacing, and (of course) more than a little twisted. If you’re numbed to death from comic book overload, this title may just be the medicine you need to crack a smile again.

Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist

#1

  8/1/1986
  $1.50
  $9.50
9 copies available from $4.50 		B&WJames Dean Smith, Mike Richardson, Randy StradleyJames Dean Smith

#1 (2nd printing)

  12/1/1977
  $1.50
  $3.25
2 copies available from $0.75 		2nd printing; B&WJames Dean Smith, Mike Richardson, Randy StradleyJames Dean Smith

#2

  9/1/1988
  $1.50
  $2.00
10 copies available from $0.56 		Versus Transformers; B&WJames Dean Smith, Mike Richardson, Randy StradleyJames Dean Smith

#3

 
  $1.50
  $2.25
11 copies available from $0.75 		Boris takes on Marvel Comics for Jack Kirby; B&WJames Dean Smith, Mike Richardson, Randy StradleyJames Dean Smith

#4

 
  $1.50
  $3.25
5 copies available from $0.99 		Two different covers; Man of Steel parody cover (far shot); R.L. Crabb L.O.C.; B&WMike Richardson, Randy Stradley, R.L. CrabbJames Dean Smith, R.L. Crabb

#4 Variation A

 
  $1.50
  $2.75
3 copies available from $0.75 		Man of Steel parody cover (close-up); B&WMike Richardson, Randy StradleyJames Dean Smith

#5

 
  $1.50
  $1.75
9 copies available from $0.50 		Swamp Thing parody; Wack Squirrel back up story; B&WMike Richardson, Randy Stradley, Steve Mattsson, Jim BradrickJames Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#6

 
  $1.50
  $3.25
6 copies available from $1.99 		Batman parody; B&WMike RichardsonJames Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#7

  2/1/1987
  $1.50
  $2.50
10 copies available from $0.75 		Elfquest parody; Ken Meyer Jr. L.O.C.; A. Owsley pinup; B&WMike Richardson, Ken Meyer Jr.James Dean Smith, Ken Meyer Jr., A. Owsley

#8

  3/1/1987
  $2.00
  $2.25
11 copies available from $0.75 		40 pages; B&WJames Dean Smith, Mike RichardsonJames Dean Smith

#9

  4/1/1987
  $1.50
  $2.50
8 copies available from $1.25 		G.I. Joe parody; Wacky Squirrel backup story; Ken Meyer Jr. L.O.C.; B&WSteve Mattsson, Mike Richardson, Ken Meyer Jr.James Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#10

  5/1/1987
  $1.50
  $3.25
4 copies available from $1.00 		G.I. Joe parody continues; Wacky Squirrel backup; Len Wein L.O.C.; B&WMike Richardson, Len WeinJames Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#11

  6/1/1987
  $1.50
  $1.75
3 copies available from $0.50 		T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents; B&WMike RichardsonJames Dean Smith

#12

  10/1/1987
  $1.75
  $2.25
7 copies available from $0.50 		Boris’ Birthday; Last Dark Horse issueSteve Mattsson, Jim BradrickJames Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#13

  11/1/1987
  $1.50
  $2.50
4 copies available from $0.50 		Drug abuse issue; First Nicotat issue, remaining issues scarce; B&WJames Dean Smith, Steve Mattsson, Jim BradrickJames Dean Smith

#14

  12/1/1987
  $1.50
  $2.25
6 copies available from $0.99 		Versus Number Two; B&WJames Dean Smith, Steve MattssonDan Shaefer, James Dean Smith

#15

  1/1/1988
  $1.50
  $2.50
8 copies available from $0.50 		B&WSteve MattssonDan Shaefer, James Dean Smith

#16

  3/1/1988
  $1.50
  $2.50
6 copies available from $0.50 		Indiana Jones parodyJames Dean Smith, Steve MattssonJames Dean Smith

#17

  4/1/1988
  $1.75
  $2.25
3 copies available from $0.50 		BlackHawk parody; Sininju Coneys back-upJames Dean Smith, Steve MattssonArt Nichols, James Dean Smith, Randy Emberlin

#18

  6/1/1988
  $1.75
  $2.25
6 copies available from $0.75 		Spider-Slayer (Spider-Man) parodyJames Dean Smith, Steve MattssonArt Nichols, James Dean Smith, Jim Bradrick

#19

  9/1/1988
  $1.75
  $2.25
3 copies available from $0.75 		The Old Swap Shop back-upGerard Jones, James Dean Smith, Steve MattssonJames Dean Smith, Larz Bourne

#20

  11/1/1988
  $1.75
  $2.00
3 copies available from $0.99 		The Old Swap Shop back-upGerard Jones, Steve MattssonJames Dean Smith, Larz Bourne

#21

  2/1/1989
  $1.75
  $3.00
3 copies available from $1.50 		The Old Swap Shop back-upJames Dean SmithGary Martin

#22

  4/1/1989
  $1.95
  $2.75
5 copies available from $1.25 		Kraven the Hunter/Sonny and Cher parodyJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith

#23

  5/1/1989
  $1.95
  $3.00
4 copies available from $1.25 		B&WJames Dean Smith, Steve MattssonJames Dean Smith, Larz Bourne

#24

  7/1/1989
  $1.95
  $1.95
4 copies available from $0.75 		Bingo Glumm back-upHeidi MacDonald, James Dean Smith, Steve MattssonJames Dean Smith, Larz Bourne

#25

 
  $1.95
  $3.00
7 copies available from $1.25 		B&WDave DeVries, James Dean Smith, Steve Mattsson, Valaska E. SmithGary Chaloner, Glenn Lumsden, James Dean Smith

#26

  7/1/1990
  $1.95
  $3.00
3 copies available from $2.50 		Tom & Jerry parodyJames Dean Smith, Valaska E. SmithJames Dean Smith

#27

  10/1/1990
  $1.95
  $4.50
3 copies available from $2.00 		B&WJames Dean Smith, Valaska E. SmithJames Dean Smith

#28

  12/1/1990
  $1.95
  $3.50
3 copies available from $1.50 		B&WJames Dean Smith, Valaska E. SmithJames Dean Smith

#29

  1/1/1991
  $1.95
  $4.00
2 copies available from $1.50 		B&WJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith

#30

  4/1/1991
  $2.50
  $0.70
No copies available 		Gulf War issue/parodyJames Dean Smith, T. HammerheadJames Dean Smith

#31

  6/1/1991
  $2.25
  $3.75
No copies available 		B&WJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith

#32

  7/1/1991
  $2.25
  $5.00
1 copy available for $5.00 		Dinosaurs; Very scarceJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith

#33

  9/1/1991
  $2.25
  $4.50
1 copy available for $19.99 		Very scarceJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith

#34

  11/1/1991
  $2.25
  $28.00
1 copy available for $14.99 		#1 of 4, but series cancelled; Very scarceJames Dean SmithJames Dean Smith