RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale This Week — in 1979!

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 44 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott Tipton and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Feb. 1, 1979.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of Jan. 25, 1975. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are technically the comics that went on sale between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4.)

So, let’s set the scene: Jimmy Carter was in his first and only term as president. The No. 1 movie in all the land made you believe a man can fly: Superman: The Movie, the greatest superhero movie of them all, was released the previous month. I don’t think I have anything left to say about it other than what I’ve already said. I’m sure you have your own happy thoughts and memories.

The top TV program of the week was CBS’ airing of Rocky — another of the greatest mainstream movies of all time. The most popular regular shows at the time were Laverne & Shirley (Cindy Williams, R.I.P.), Three’s Company and Mork and Mindy, which made Robin Williams a superstar.

Awwwwwwwww, FREAK OUT! Disco classic Le Freak, by Chic, was the best-selling single on the Billboard 100 but coming up right behind was the Village People’s anthemic Y.M.C.A., which is still played without irony at sports arenas all over America. There were two other disco masterpieces among the leaders too — September, by Earth, Wind & Fire (at No. 9) and I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor (at No. 10). That last one is my favorite of the four.

The albums chart was jammed with major LP releases but the leader of the pack was Briefcase Full of Blues, by the Blues Brothers. Rubber Biscuit blew our 12-year-old minds.

The other day you know I had a wish sandwich…

Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension

Marvel Treasury Edition #20, Marvel. This issue capitalized on the popular Incredible Hulk TV series with four reprints, plus extras. Smashing!

Marvel Treasury Edition #21, Marvel. Whaaaat? Two Marvel Treasury Editions in one week? Whaaaat? And this one stars Galactus! Whaaaat? And another TV sensation! Well, not exactly…

ElfQuest #1, WaRP Graphics. The dawn of Elfquestmania! This first issue was mostly a reprint from 1978’s Fantasy Quarterly #1 but new stories began in ElfQuest #2.

Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension

Daredevil #158, Marvel. More significant for being the first issue of DD with art by Frank Miller, but I’ll always remember this issue just for how creepy I found Death-Stalker to be.

Aquateers Meet the Super Friends, DC. This was a promotional mini-comic for swim goggles. I’ve never seen a copy myself, but if I ever do, you better believe I’ll grab it.

Dan adds: If you wanna read a version of it, check out the hardcover The Super Friends: Saturday Morning Comics Vol. 1. It’s basically a framing sequence for an old Aquaman story.


Marvel Two-in-One #51, Marvel. Always a big fan of Ben Grimm’s poker night.

Terrors of Dracula #1, M.F. Enterprises. None of the newsstands in my hometown stocked the horror magazines when I was a kid, so I never saw stuff like this. But that is a strikingly spooky cover.

MORE

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of Jan. 25 — in 1975! Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of Jan. 18 — in 1991! Click here.

Primary sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, the Grand Comics Database.

Author: Dan Greenfield

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6 Comments

  1. I randomly bought that Daredevil and got the Marvel Two in One for 6p in a junk shop years later. Had to sell them in the great divorce sale:-(

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  2. DD and M2i1. Miller coming in hot.

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  3. Great stuff and memories. I believe Frank Miller drew the Marvel Two n One as well.

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    • I bought that FF Treasury Edition off a magazine rack when it came out. I was 10 1/2 years old. Brings back fond memories. Thanks.

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  4. Regarding Fantastic Four as “Marvel’s TV Sensation”: Do you think they were referring to the animated series with Herbie the Robot? Or is it possible that Marvel was hoping a live action TV pilot would have debuted by this publication date? I recall reading in the Bullpen Bulletins back then that it was “in the works”. Thoughts?

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