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This article is written from the Real world point of view |
Dell Comics, in a partnership with Western Publishing, began to publish the Twilight Zone series in 1961.
Series information[]
Dell Comics was an extension of Dell Publishing that began publishing comics in 1929. It grew into a major success with the publication of licensed properties, most notably by featuring characters from cartoons made popular by Walt Disney, Warner Brothers and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1]
The company joined in a partnership with fellow publisher Western Publishing in 1938 to help finance and provide distribution for the comics that they intended to produce. The result was a number of titles selling in the millions and the publisher was regularly looking to add to its line of titles, drawing on new popular television series and films for inspiration.[1] The Twilight Zone became one such property in 1961.
The first issue of The Twilight Zone produced by Dell Comics appeared in May 1961.[2] The first two issues were part of Dell's second Four Color Comics series, first in 1961 (#1173) and then again in 1962 (#1288).[3] The Dell Four Color series was used by the company to try out new properties for potential solo title publications. This was the case with The Twilight Zone, which became a regular series following the second successful trial.[4]
The Dell series, however, would only run for another two issues before Western Publishing decided that they wanted to develop and publish some of their shared comic titles on their own, under their new Gold Key imprint. This included The Twilight Zone.
The first issue of the new series appeared in November of 1962 with the Gold Key logo on the cover and a "No. 1" in the issue's indicia, demonstrating clearly that this was a new start for the series. Despite the reboot of the issue numbering, the series was a continuation of the Dell series in many ways. It shared the same format and much of the same talent from the Dell series migrated over to the Gold Key edition of the series, including artists George Evans, Reed Crandall and Ben Oda.[2]
Notable talents[]
- The Twilight Zone writer Charles Beaumont contributed a handful of stories for Dell's funny animal comics early in his career, all done in collaboration with William F. Nolan.[5]
Series Index[]
|
Four Color (series 2) |
The Twilight Zone (ongoing) |
Editor's note[]
Both the two issues from The Twilight Zone one-shots published by Dell under the Four Color series and the subsequent two regular title issues are listed under The Twilight Zone (Dell) title. Though technically not published under the same title, the rationale is that each of the Four Color issues were considered one-shot specials rather than a standard monthly title featuring the same characters, the four issues were related and the first two issues served as introductions to the regular ongoing series—acting like #1 and #2 of the Dell series and treated as such.
See also[]
- The Twilight Zone (Gold Key)
- The Twilight Zone (Whitman)
- Dell Comics
- Western Publishing
Notes and references[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia contributors. "Dell Comics." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia," Version: June 17, 2009. Retrieved: June 24, 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bob Klein, Lou Mougin, and Mike Tiefenbacher. "The Twilight Zone (1961 series)." Grand Comics Database. Retrieved: June 24, 2009.
- ↑ Dell Four-Color Comic Book Listing. "Dell Four-Color Series 2." Retrieved: June 25, 2009
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "Four Color." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia," Version: May 4, 2009. Retrieved: June 25, 2009.
- ↑ William F. Nolan. The Work of Charles Beaumont: An Annotated Bibliography & Guide. 2nd edition revised and expanded, Bibliographies of Modern Authors No.6. San Bernardino, CA : Borgo Press, 1990.
References[]
- Bob Klein, Lou Mougin, and Mike Tiefenbacher. "The Twilight Zone (1961 series)." Grand Comics Database. Retrieved: June 24, 2009.
- GCD indexers. "Four Color (1942 series)." Grand Comics Database. Retrieved: June 25, 2009.