DC Comics insert previews were 16-pagecomic book stories inserted into issues of existingDC Comics series to promote new series usually debuting the next month. Running from 1980 to 1985, they consisted of a front cover, 14 pages of story, and a back cover that depicted the cover of the actual first issue. The addition of the insert did not entail an increase in the price of the comic book, and the cover copy called the insert "a special free 16-page comic!"[1]
The insert previews began withThe NewTeen Titans inDC Comics Presents #26 (Oct. 1980). Thisreboot of an existing property by writerMarv Wolfman and artistGeorge Pérez introduced several new characters[2] and would become a sales success for DC.[3] Wolfman would additionally write previews for a reboot of the "Dial H for Hero" feature[4] and forNight Force[5] a supernatural series drawn byGene Colan, his former collaborator onThe Tomb of Dracula. DC highlighted the work ofRoy Thomas, newly arrived at the company fromMarvel Comics, by featuring several of his series in the format. These includedAll-Star Squadron, a revival of theJustice Society of America;[6][7]Arak, Son of Thunder, a newNative American character;[8][9] a revitalization ofWonder Woman including an update of the character's costume;[10] andCaptain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! a combination of thetalking animal andsuperhero genres.[11] When the long runningThe Brave and the Bold series came to its conclusion, the final issue featured a preview of a new Batman series,Batman and the Outsiders by writerMike W. Barr and artistJim Aparo,[12] which would be described by DC Comics writer and executivePaul Levitz as being "a team series more fashionable to 1980s audiences".[13] New talent such as the writing team ofDan Mishkin andGary Cohn was represented in the previews withAmethyst, Princess of Gemworld andBlue Devil.[14][15][16]Licensed properties were featured as well. AMasters of the Universe preview featured in several comic bookscover dated November 1982 led to aminiseries the following month.[17] TheAtari Force preview in January 1983 served as a prequel to the ongoing series launched a year later.[18]M.A.S.K. was an animated series and aKenner Products toyline adapted into comic books in a September 1985 preview which led to a miniseries the following December.[19]
| Issue (cover date) | Insert preview | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) | The New Teen Titans | Marv Wolfman | George Pérez andDick Giordano | [20] |
| Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #272 (February 1981) | "Dial H for Hero"[Note 1] | Carmine Infantino,Frank Chiaramonte, and Dennis Jensen | [21] | |
| Justice League of America #193 (August 1981) | All-Star Squadron | Roy Thomas | Rich Buckler andJerry Ordway | [22] |
| Warlord #48 (August 1981) | Arak, Son of Thunder | Ernie Colón andTony DeZuniga | [23] | |
| DC Comics Presents #41 (January 1982) | Wonder Woman | Gene Colan andRomeo Tanghal | [24] | |
| The New Teen Titans #16 (February 1982) | Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! | Scott Shaw,Ross Andru, andBob Smith | [25] | |
| The New Teen Titans #21 (July 1982) | Night Force | Marv Wolfman | Gene Colan and Bob Smith | [26] |
| Action Comics #537 All-Star Squadron #15 Arak, Son of Thunder #15 Batman #353 Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew #9 TheDaring New Adventures of Supergirl #1 DC Comics Presents #51 Detective Comics #520 The Fury of Firestorm #6 Justice League of America #208 The Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #293 The New Adventures of Superboy #35 The New Teen Titans #25 Superman #377 The Warlord #63 Wonder Woman #297 (all November 1982) | Masters of the Universe[Note 2] | Paul Kupperberg | Curt Swan andDave Hunt | [27] |
| DC Comics Presents #53 The New Teen Titans #27 (both January 1983) | Atari Force[Note 2] | Gerry Conway | Ross Andru and Dick Giordano | [28] |
| The Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #298 (April 1983) | Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld | Dan Mishkin andGary Cohn | Ernie Colón | [29] |
| The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983) | Batman and the Outsiders | Mike W. Barr | Jim Aparo | [30] |
| The Fury of Firestorm #24 (June 1984) | Blue Devil | Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn | Paris Cullins andPablo Marcos | [16][31] |
| Batman and the Outsiders #15 Blue Devil #6 Superman #401 Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #317 Tales of the Teen Titans #48 World's Finest Comics #309 (all November 1984) | Flash Force 2000[Note 3] | Robert Loren Fleming | Denys Cowan andSal Trapani | [32] |
| Batman #387 Batman and the Outsiders #27 Blue Devil #16 Green Lantern #192 Justice League of America #242 Superman #411 Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #327 World's Finest Comics #319 (all September 1985) | M.A.S.K.[Note 2] | Michael Fleisher | Mike Chen and Joe Delbeato | [33] |
The following insert preview stories have been reprinted in collected editions:
[The New Teen Titans] went on to become DC's most popular comic team of its day. Not only the springboard for the following month'sThe New Teen Titans #1, the preview's momentous story also featured the first appearance of future DC mainstaysCyborg,Starfire, andRaven.
[Marv Wolfman and George Pérez] created a title that would be DC's sales leader throughout the 1980s.
All-Star Squadron, DC's new World War II-era superhero series debuts in May in a 16-page preview insert inJustice League of America #193.
Arak, Son of Thunder, described as an 'Indian/Viking', makes his debut in a preview insert inWarlord #48, on sale in May.
As it happened, May of '81 was virtually 'Roy Thomas Month' at DC Comics.
The hotly-debated new Wonder Woman uniform will be bestowed on the Amazon Princess in her first adventure written and drawn by her new creative team: Roy Thomas and Gene Colan...This story will appear as an insert inDC Comics Presents #41.