Flash Gordon came to a merciful end. Really disappointing take on the story. Dan Jurgens is a fine artist; but, this series really did not come alive. Invasion begins (enh, so-s0,; some really good parts, a lot of average to mediocre). Cosmic Odyssey Ends, Total Eclipse continues, though few noticed.

Made up for the previous decade.

Somebody teach the DC heroes how to salute properly! Fingertips should come to just above your right eye (where the bill of a cap would be, if you were wearing one, properly). Damn civilians! Captain Atom needs a haircut, too.

Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told was a sweet book and set the tone for the ones that followed, in that series. Great Dave Dorman cover!

Prisoner wrapped up the official sequel, from Dean motter and Mark Askwith. ironically, it was around this time that I found the excellent Prisoner Companion, a book about the tv series, with a ton of info, theories about questions in and from the show, trivia, and all kinds of goodies. This would have also been around the time I found a local shop, where i got my hands on the first 6 issues of Starslayer (the Pacific issues, with the first two installments of The Rocketeer)) and The Tick.

December 1988

Avengers 302
Badger 46
Captain America 352
Captain Atom 25
Detective Comics 596
FF 325
Firestorm 82
GI Joe 85
GI Joe Special Missions 20
Green Arrow 15
Grimjack 57
Iron Man 241
Justice Machine 24
LOSH 57
Mister Miracle 2
Question 24
Suicide Squad 23
Superman 28
Thor 402
West Coast Avengers 43
WW 27

Great use of the Riddler, within the Question. JLE debuted, Manhunter finished up its first year, rather below the first 4 issues' excitement level. Total Eclipse was not keeping a monthly schedule (Eclipse was starting to have problems, more and more). The early indies were starting to run pout of steam, though the second wave were doing well. Dark Horse was still small; but, chugging along. Superman was at its peak.

Hard to believe that the "triangle cover" interlocking Superman books were 30 years ago. (though the triangle hasn't appeared yet.

DC was running the Janus Directive, a crossover of its government/special operation titles. Despite Ostrander, it was rather ho-hum. The Suicide Squad stuff was the ebst; I had already bailed on Checkmate; but, picked these up to carry the story forward. Should have ignored it.

Phantom continued DC's regular series, with the Ghost Who Walks, with Luke McDonnell, which is greatly underrated. Bice for the year and a half it lasted.

I can't recall if I had met Tom Lyle, by this point; it was not terribly long after Starman had been launched.

Catwoman finished a nice mini, from Mindy Newell, who should have done more comics, as this was very good (far better than that Balent-drawn crap).

Blasters Special, from Peter David came out this month; I picked it up later, after hearing how funny it was. It was good; but, not quite that big of a deal. Dark Horse Presents #28 came out this month; but, I picked it up later, after I started sampling the series and searched for interesting-looking back issues. Same with Doc Stearn, Mr Monster, which had issue #5, this month. I picked it up later, as I hadn't quite discovered it yet.

Fred Hembeck was fun. A little while later I would acquire all of the Fantaco Hembeck books. Great reading!