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Thursday, February 05, 2009

DC Super Heroes Poster Book Ad - 1979

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I've seen this ad in about a thousand different DCs from around 1979, but I don't think I've ever actually seen the book itself. I never knew anyone who had one, and I don't think I've ever come across it on eBay. Anyone out there have one?

It certainly looks very nice, what with that great Dick Giordano shot of the big stars of the DCU (and Dr. Sivana) charging at you...plus it has an intro by Isaac Asimov!

I'm grinning at the idea of having the author of I, Robot having to sit down and pen some words about, say, Catwoman.


Update: Within a few minutes of posting this, several of you left comments or sent me an email with links to more info about this book. (You guys are awesome)

On AbeBooks.com, several people are selling copies of the book, here's a shot of the cover:
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While the book looks totally awesome, prices start at around fifty bucks (going all the way up to $125 on Amazon!) , which is insane.

I want to see what's in this thing, but not that bad.


Update 2: You F.O.A.M.ers keep coming through! David Kelly has the poster book and sent me a scan of the Aquaman image, a handsome shot by Dick Giordano:
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This image was re-used as the flip side to a Pepsi brand placemat, which I posted on the Shrine here, which featured Aquaman's origin drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger.

So in the end, I'm not missing anything by not having the book itself, though of course I'd still like one. But at prices ranging from $50 to $125, I don't see one in my future any time soon.

Thanks David!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was a big Asimov fan in High School. The local college library has inter-library loan program. I just checked and I think I can get the book on-loan from Bowling Green University. If I do I'll let you know. (Usually takes about a week.) The on-line description says it's 47 pages, mostly color illustrations. Sounds cool.

Vincent Paul Bartilucci said...

I had this book and the Marvel one when I was a kid. I think I still have the one Aquaman pin-up it contained around here someplace - it's a Dick Giordano shot of the Sea King on that big pink seahorse. It's similiar but a little bit sleeker than the art used on that Aquaman Portfolio that you posted a couple of years ago. Also, Aquaman is facing the left side of the image and in the lower right corner of the image is the domed city of Atlantis. If I can find the darn thing I'll send you a scan.

As a kid, I remember being much more impressed with the Marvel posterbook. The DC book had a whole lot of Superman in it - like 5 or 6 pin-ups just devoted to him alone. And, of course, the four major Bat-villins (The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman) all received their own pin-ups utilizing the same old stock art we've seen over and over. The Marvel book was the same size as the DC but IIRC Spider-man, Marvel's big draw, was limited to only two pin-ups and Dr. Doom was the only villain that received his own page. That meant that the Marvel book had room for folks like Shang Chi and Captain Marv-ell.

Anonymous said...

Vincent is spot on in his description of the Aquaman pose. I used it as a t-shirt design, and I'm wearing it on my facebook profile picture if you want to go over to the Aquaman Shrine and see it right now.

The book as a whole was an odd collection. There were what appeared to be brand new images (such as the Aquaman one, a Supergirl-Superboy one also by Giordano, a Hawkman-Hawkwoman by Joe Kubert, Lex Luthor by Swan) but then there were classics (the Batman & Robin on the rooftop by Infantino we've all seen thousands of times, several Neal Adams works from the 1976 calendar) and also duds (the JLA one was simply a copy of the cover of JLA 137, the Supes-Shazam clunker by Ernie Chua).

Vincent Paul Bartilucci said...

Russell or Dave, am I remembering correctly about the high Superman content of the posterbook or is that just my anti-kryptonian bias coloring my memories?

Anonymous said...

I don't remember any particular Super-heaviness. I do remember a certain Bat heaviness, though, as they had Infantino's Silver Age B&R as well as the "classic" poses for The Joker, The Riddler, and The Penguin, as well. I would have liked a poster version of the front and back covers, but oddly enough, I don't remember that this pose was included.

Anonymous said...

Man, that is a gorgeous image!

Matt said...

Do you have any idea where i can find some scans of this book? I'm trying to remember if i've read it.

Thanks!