DC Comics insert previews were 16-page comic book stories inserted into issues of existing DC Comics series to promote new series usually debuting the next month. Running from 1980 to 1985, they consisted of a front cover, 14 pages of story, and a back cover that depicted the cover of the actual first issue. The addition of the insert did not entail an increase in the price of the comic book, and the cover copy called the insert "a special free 16-page comic!"[1]
^As seen on the cover of DC Comics Presents #26 (Oct. 1980), among others.
^Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. [The New Teen Titans] went on to become DC's most popular comic team of its day. Not only the springboard for the following month's The New Teen Titans #1, the preview's momentous story also featured the first appearance of future DC mainstays Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven.
^Levitz, Paul (2010). "The Bronze Age 1970-1984". 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking. Cologne, Germany: Taschen. p. 454. ISBN 978-3-8365-1981-6. [Marv Wolfman and George Pérez] created a title that would be DC's sales leader throughout the 1980s.
^Manning p. 192 Legion of Super-Heroes #272: "Within a sixteen-page preview in Legion of Super-Heroes #272...was "Dial 'H' For Hero", a new feature that raised the bar on fan interaction in the creative process. The feature's story, written by Marv Wolfman, with art by Carmine Infantino, saw two high-school students find dials that turned them into super-heroes. Everything from the pair's civilian clothes to the heroes they became was created by fans writing in. This concept would continue in the feature's new regular spot within Adventure Comics".
^Manning p. 197 The New Teen Titans #21: "[T]his issue...hid another dark secret: a sixteen-page preview comic featuring Marv Wolfman's newest team - Night Force. Chronicling the enterprise of the enigmatic Baron Winters and featuring the art of Gene Colan, Night Force spun out into an ongoing title of gothic mystery and horror the following month".
^Markstein, Don (2010). "All-Star Squadron". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024.
^Catron, Michael (June 1981). "Thomas Revives WWII Superheroes". Amazing Heroes (1). Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books: 28–30. All-Star Squadron, DC's new World War II-era superhero series debuts in May in a 16-page preview insert in Justice League of America #193.
^Catron, Michael (June 1981). "Thomas's Indian/Viking to Roam Medieval Europe". Amazing Heroes (1). Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books: 28–30. Arak, Son of Thunder, described as an 'Indian/Viking', makes his debut in a preview insert in Warlord #48, on sale in May.
^Thomas, Roy (2011). Alter Ego: Centennial. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-60549-031-1. As it happened, May of '81 was virtually 'Roy Thomas Month' at DC Comics.
^Sanderson, Peter (September–October 1981). "Thomas/Colan Premiere Wonder Woman's New Look". Comics Feature (#12/13). New Media Publishing: 23. The hotly-debated new Wonder Woman uniform will be bestowed on the Amazon Princess in her first adventure written and drawn by her new creative team: Roy Thomas and Gene Colan...This story will appear as an insert in DC Comics Presents #41.
^Manning p. 196: "The New Teen Titans #16 - In a sixteen-page bonus preview insert in the middle of The New Teen Titans...was the debut story of Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew".
^Manning p. 202 The Brave and the Bold #200: "Despite being the final issue of this particular series, the book wasn't closed on Batman's team-ups. Although Batman was through working with partners, it was time to think bigger, and in a special sixteen-page preview insert written by Barr and with art by Jim Aparo, the Outsiders debuted. A super-hero team of Batman's own creation, the Outsiders would soon star alongside Batman in the new monthly series Batman and the Outsiders".
^Levitz p. 462
^Manning p. 201 Legion of Super-Heroes #298: "The other-dimensional Gemworld found a new princess in the form of Amy Winston, an ordinary young girl from a distant reality, in the pages of a sixteen-page insert comic by writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn, and artist Ernie Colón. Standing strong against the forces of the nefarious Dark Opal, Amethyst was gearing up for her own self-titled maxiseries in May".
^Manning p. 208 The Fury of Firestorm #24: "[A] sixteen-page preview story marked the debut of fledgling stuntman-turned-hero Blue Devil. An attempt to put the fun back into comics, writers Gary Cohn and Dan Mishkin and penciller Paris Cullins had Blue Devil face the machinations of Flash villain the Trickster in this lead-in to his own ongoing series".
^ a bDeAngelo, Daniel (December 2014). "Circuits and Sorcery: The Honest-to-Goodness Story of Blue Devil". Back Issue! (#77). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 51–54.
^DC Comics Presents #26 at the Grand Comics Database
^The Legion of Super-Heroes #272 at the Grand Comics Database
^Justice League of America #193 at the Grand Comics Database
^The Warlord #48 at the Grand Comics Database
^DC Comics Presents #41 at the Grand Comics Database
^The New Teen Titans #16 at the Grand Comics Database
^The New Teen Titans #21 at the Grand Comics Database
^List of DC Comics containing the Masters of the Universe insert at the Grand Comics Database
^DC Comics Presents #53 and The New Teen Titans #27 at the Grand Comics Database
^The Legion of Super-Heroes #298 at the Grand Comics Database
^The Brave and the Bold #200 at the Grand Comics Database
^The Fury of Firestorm #24 at the Grand Comics Database
^List of DC Comics containing the Flash Force 2000 insert at the Grand Comics Database
^List of DC Comics containing the M.A.S.K. insert at the Grand Comics Database
Notes
^"Dial 'H' for Hero" appeared in Adventure Comics rather than in its own title.
^ a b cMasters of the Universe, Atari Force, and M.A.S.K. were licensed properties.
^Flash Force 2000 was an advertising promotion for a Matchbox toyline rather than a preview of an upcoming DC Comics series. It is included here for completeness of the subject.
External links
Daily Planet volume 80 issue #22 (October 1980) house advertisement for The New Teen Titans insert preview at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
Daily Planet volume 80 issue #26 (November 1980) house advertisement for "Dial 'H' For Hero insert preview at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
DC Bonus Books (including the insert previews) at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
"Insert Preview Here: DC Showcase, 80s Style". Blinded Me With Comics. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011.