Posted By Dan Greenfield on Sep 20, 2024 | 2 comments

EXCLUSIVE: The Golden Age Flash, Guy Gardner and Crisis fill out the roster…

Back in May, we tipped you off that DC would be publishing Facsimile Editions of 1939’s Flash Comics #1, featuring the debuts of Jay Garrick and Hawkman, and 1968’s Green Lantern #59, the first appearance of Guy Gardner. This in addition to the publisher’s monthly FEs of Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Well, now the dates have been set. Dig the official solicitation info, due to be formally released by DC later Friday:

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FLASH COMICS #1 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by GARDNER FOX, JOHN WENTWORTH, and ED WHEELAN
Art by HARRY LAMPERT, SHELDON MOLDOFF, DENNIS NEVILLE, STAN ASCH, ED WHEELAN, and GEORGE STORM
Cover by SHELDON MOLDOFF
Foil variant cover by SHELDON MOLDOFF ($8.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($7.99 US)

$6.99 US | 64 pages
ON SALE 12/4/24

A not-to-be-missed full facsimile reprint of the landmark first issue and first appearance of the  Fastest Man Alive…the Flash. A Golden Age spectacular that also includes the first-ever appearances  of fellow Justice Society of America members and Golden Age heroes Hawkman and Johnny Thunder in their own features.

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GREEN LANTERN #59 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by JOHN BROOME
Art by GIL KANE and SID GREENE
Cover by GIL KANE and MURPHY ANDERSON
Foil variant cover by GIL KANE and MURPHY ANDERSON ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($5.99 US)

$4.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 12/11/24

Born without fear and selected by the ring of his dying predecessor, Hal Jordan of Earth is the Green Lantern. But when Abin Sur crashed on Earth, his ring also found one other identically worthy candidate. Meet Guy Gardner, in his first appearance, and learn what his fate would have been if the ring had gone to him instead of Hal Jordan in “Earth’s Other Green Lantern.”

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CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #9 FACSIMILE EDITION

Written by MARV WOLFMAN
Art by GEORGE PÉREZ and JERRY ORDWAY
Cover by GEORGE PÉREZ
Foil variant cover by GEORGE PÉREZ ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($5.99 US)

$4.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 12/18/24

The brief pause after the climactic destruction of so many worlds is interrupted by a new threat: an assembled team of villains led by Lex Luthor and Brainiac coordinate plans to destroy the remaining Earths if their leaders don’t capitulate. Meanwhile, on Oa, Guy Gardner accepts a ring of power and a new mission as the Guardians’ agent of vengeance. A full facsimile reprint from the series that forever changed the DC Universe.

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Several thoughts:

— This brings us up to date. Every Facsimile that DC has unofficially announced this year has now been scheduled. That makes January a total mystery, except for Crisis #10. Mysteries are fun!

— Go check out Fred Van Lente’s latest COMIC BOOK DEATH MATCH: Secret Wars #9 vs. Crisis on Infinite Earths #9. Click here.

— Obligatory Price Comparison #1: The Green Lantern #59 Facsimile Edition tops my list this month because, like Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #129 Facsimile, it fills a run in my collection at a very low price. An unslabbed, mid-grade original recently sold for $300 on eBay. That’s not huge money for hardcore collectors, but it’s too steep for me considering I’m never likely to spend that much for a GL issue (unless it’s part of the O’Neil/Adams run, and even then).

— Obligatory Price Comparison #2: It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever find an unslabbed Flash Comics #1. A slabbed, 5.0 copy sold through Heritage Auctions in 2023 for $192,000, including buyer’s premium.

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MORE

— DC Dips Into the SILVER and BRONZE AGES for Three New Projects. Click here.

— A Major Update on the 1982 DC COMICS STYLE GUIDE Hardcover. Click here.