Over eighteen months

Starting one month after the debut of the Batman TV show on ABC, in January 1966, and ending the Carmine Infantino's promotion to Editorial Director in August 1967.

The go-go check marketing period contains a lot of firsts, a lot of lasts, and some surprises. What isn't a surprise is which title has the most issues with checks at the top: Action Comics with 20. That's right 20 issues in 18 months. No title has 19 issues in the set, but a number have 18, and this is where the surprises are...or some of them, anyway...

The five most common titles after Action are:

Adventure Comics, ok no real surprise, this is home to the Legion of Superheroes.

Detective Comics, again no surprise, Batman is enjoying a surge in popularity due to the success of the TV show

Our Army at War, so...a war title, maybe a little surprise as DC had five war titles running at once, six if you count Blackhawk, although it had ceased to really be a war book.

Strange Adventures, I'm surprised. Just science fiction/science fantasy with no single leading character.

Those four represent the 18 issue books, which leaves the sole 17 issue book: Blackhawk, which is surprising, as sales on this title are flagging...and it will be cancelled in 1968.

But, do you see what isn't there? Batman, Superman, Brave & the Bold, Showcase, Wonder Woman, World's Finest? No...none of these books were monthlies.

Tomorrow, what's new...

Happy Hunting

Lee

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