COMICS HISTORY | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Sep20

13 THINGS I Loved About Putting Together DETECTIVE COMICS #500, by PAUL LEVITZ

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Sep 20, 2026

13 THINGS I Loved About Putting Together DETECTIVE COMICS #500, by PAUL LEVITZ

With the Facsimile Edition coming in December, the beloved issue’s editor takes you inside… By PAUL LEVITZ 1980’s Detective Comics #500 — which will be re-released as a Facsimile Edition in December — was pretty much my farewell to comics editing, after eight years as an assistant editor and editor. I was about to shift to the business side of the company, and I really wanted to go out with a bang. I already had enough control over our publishing plans that I was able to schedule it for 80 pages — the largest original anniversary issue DC had ever celebrated (Superman Annual #7 was themed to the Man of Steel’s Silver Anniversary, but that was all reprint). And every page was going to be special… Here are 13 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER DETECTIVE COMICS #500: — 1. It even had a spine! I loved comics with “perfect binding” spines, back to DC’s old 80-Page Giants that introduced me to so many classic stories, and the early Marvel annuals with their milestone stories like the wedding of Sue and Reed. — 2. The lead story was by Alan Brennert, an old friend and award-winning television writer and novelist. “To Kill A Legend,” with art by Dick Giordano, my about-to-be successor as editor of the title, became the most often reprinted and praised story in the issue. It also gave the Phantom Stranger a moment in the book — the first character whose series I got to write. — 3. It was always a pleasure to work with Len Wein, my old poker buddy. Reuniting him with Jim Aparo, his collaborator on a great run of Phantom Stranger issues that established Len’s reputation as an important comics writer, was an extra treat. And they jammed a squad of detectives who had filled the comic’s pages over the years into a 13-page mystery — everyone from Roy Raymond to Pow-Wow Smith. — 4. Speaking of Len, he borrowed from Snoopy (or Charles Schulz) for a sweet, swift two pager with Walt Simonson, whose reputation was made with is award-winning Manhunter run in Detective. — 5. Mike W. Barr contributed a tale of Edgar Allan Poe, considered to be the father of the detective story, and the Elongated Man, whose more than 50 appearances in Detective stretched through most of...

Sep20

The TOP 13 COVERS of SEPTEMBER 1976 — RANKED

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Sep 20, 2026

The TOP 13 COVERS of SEPTEMBER 1976 — RANKED

BRONZE AGE BONANZA: Kirby! Adams! PLUS: A big month for Ernie Chan — and the showdown you’ve been waiting for! Sort of! — Welcome to BRONZE AGE BONANZA — our monthly series that looks at the greatest covers of the Bronze Age — exactly 50 years later. For more info on this feature, click here. — Neal Adams back at DC! Kirby times three! Chan times four! Dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF SEPTEMBER 1976 — RANKED: — 13. Devil Kids Starring Hot Stuff #79, Harvey. Just a fun, clever little cover by Warren Kremer. — 12. DC Super-Stars #10, DC. I love comics. I love sports. Rarely do they mix well. And, frankly, this cover isn’t all that great except for its inherent silliness. But it’s here because, oddly, it’s a theme this month. — 11. Creepy #84, Warren. See? What are the chances? Maybe because it was the Bicentennial and so baseball and apple pie and… I dunno? Really, ahem, striking cover by Ken Kelly, though. — 10. Eerie #79, Warren. And Kelly just flat-out outdoes himself with this one. I love that he picked Oakland too, because in the 1970s, the Raiders were the baddest, nastiest, and scariest team on cleats. If I were John Madden, I’d have papered the locker room with these. (Not that the team needed it; they went on to win the Super Bowl that season.) — 9. Starfire #3, DC. What I appreciate is the practicality of her outfit. — 8. The Avengers #154, Marvel. What’s better than floating heads? Floating heads that narrate the action! — 7. Fantastic Four #177, Marvel. And what’s better than floating heads that narrate the action? Floating heads that narrate the action… in 3-D! — 6. Detective Comics #466, DC. One of Ernie Chan’s best Batman covers, though it’s Signalman’s outfit that does the heavy lifting. And here’s the thing about that costume: It’s one of the dumbest ever — but it’s GREAT! (Thank you, Sheldon Moldoff!) It’s something that only works in comics (and, by extension, animation), reminding you why comics are so great to begin with. Nowhere else can the outlandish be passed off as the everyday — unless it’s camp. And this isn’t camp. It just is. “Why does Signalman wear a costume like that? Because.” (Bonus: They’re fighting on the Batsignal.) — 5. Vampirella...

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