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1977-1987 Last/Final Issues

Category:  Eras/Ages
Owner:  MAR1979
Last Modified:  9/3/2023
Set Description
As a child then later young adult a last issue of comic book who's run I had collected sometimes for years was a sad event. In many ways its was similar to losing a loved one although without the lingering effects.

While many of the books here were before my time I imagine a lot of them brought forth feelings of melancholy to those who had picked up the full runs.

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Last/Final issues of a title in most cases had greatly reduced print runs and low sales. As a result they can be rather difficult to find in high grade especially during troubling Comic Book industry times of the 1977-1980 Newsstand era.

I do not count One-Shots, Annuals, Limited, Maxi-Series' or Mini-Series'.

To be included in my set, my arbitrary rules are:

1) the series must have reached a minimum of 5 issues
2) the first issue of the series must have been on-sale (NOT Cover Dated) no later than Dec 1980
3) the last/final issue must have been on-sale (NOT Cover Dated) after 1976 and prior to 1988.

For series' that had issues tacked on many years or decades after their original cancellation as some sort of "event" or modern day numbering "stunt", I consider the original 1977-1986 series end as the final/last issue.

Please note:

1) Howard The Duck 31, the title was officially cancelled in 1979 due to low sales. 7 years later, 2 issues were released in what I consider as Movie Tie-In "stunt" as such #31 from 1979 is included in this custom set.
2) Adventure Comics #503 is fine, as the gap from #490 to #491 (1st digest) was only 7 months.
3) Invaders #41 is fine as the gap from #40 to #41 was only 5 months

Set Goals
Most books in this set listing I had originally sought for reasons or memories other than it being a last issue.Now I do seek last issues that I recall, which is why books like World's Finest 323, Wonder Woman 329 and Best of DC 71 hold the largest place in my heart.

Slot Name
Item Description
Grade
Owner Comments
Pics
Canadian Price Variant At time of this issues release this was DC's longest running title. (1935-1983) Adventure Comics 503 Modern 9.8 Canadian Price Variant. Last issue of the original Adventure Comics :sniff I still recall seeing this issue a small child and wanting it very badly as the but not having enough on me to purchase it. The next week when I got back to the newsstand it was gone. A few years later found one at my LCS in the quarter bins. Thanks to Vane for allowing me to purchase this near non-existent in high grade book.

At time of it cancellation this was the longest running DC title have started it's run in 1935 as "New Comics" then "New Adventure Comics" from #12-#31 and finally "Adventure Comics" from #31-#503.
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At time of this issues release this was DC's longest running title. (1935-1983) Adventure Comics 503 9.8 Last issue of the original Adventure Comics :sniff I still recall seeing this issue a small child and wanting it badly but not having enough on me to purchase it. The next week when I got back to the newsstand it was gone. A few years later found one at my LCS in the quarter bins. Thanks to Vane for allowing me to purchase this near non-existent in high grade book.

At time of it cancellation this was the longest running DC title have started it's run in 1935 as "New Comics" then "New Adventure Comics" from #12-#31 and finally "Adventure Comics" from #31-#503.

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Cover Date: September 1983
Release Date: June 2, 1983
Format: 96 Digest-Sized Pages
Cover Price: $1.25
Collection Group: Blue Ribbon Digest
Contents: Adventure Comics

Stories:

Legion of Super-Heroes: "The Mutiny of the Legionnaires"(18 pages)
Edmond Hamilton (Writer) John Forte (Artist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #318 (1964)

Plastic Man: (Brickface the Wall-to-Wall Killer)(9 pages)
Martin Pasko (Writer) Joe Staton (Penciller) Robert R. Smith (Inker)
Ben Oda (Letterer) Glynis Wein (Oliver) (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #471 (1980)

Aquaman: "The Big Pull"(16 pages)
Steve Skeates (Writer) Jim Aparo (Artist)
Reprinted From: Aquaman #51 (1970)

Aquaman: "The Traders' Trap"(14 pages)
Steve Skeates (Writer) Jim Aparo (Artist)
Reprinted From: Aquaman #52 (1970)

Zatanna: "The Tower of the Dead"(7 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Gray Morrow (Artist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #414 (1972)

Zatanna: "Kill -- or Be Killed"(7 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Gray Morrow (Artist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #415 (1972)

Newsboy Legion: (The Story of the Newsboy Legion)(13 pages)
Jack Kirby (Writer/Penciller) Joe Simon (Writer/Inker)
Reprinted From: Star Spangled Comics #7 (1942)

Jimmy Olsen: "Elastic Lad Jimmy and His Legion Romances"(9 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) John Forte (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #76 (1964)
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DC Implosion All-Star Comics 74 Modern 9.8 As a child I first started to collect comics years after this book was first on sale. Driving home from shopping one Sunday with my Mom we were stopped at a traffic light across the street from a local hall that hosted a small every other month free admission Comic con. After bit of pestering, she said I could run in for 10 minutes. 2nd table I got to had discount boxes. I saw this book thought the cover was cool, paid the .25 and ran back to the car before my time was up.

Victim of the DC Implosion.
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Newsstand. Title lasted longer than the TV show. Battlestar Galactica 23 Modern 9.8 Newsstand Edition. The comic lasted 2 years longer than the TV show. 1 year if Galactica '80 is counted but no fan does!

Excellent Simonson/Janson cover and art.
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DC Implosion Black Lightning 11 Modern 9.8 Victim of the DC Implosion View Comic
Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Black Panther 15 Modern 9.8 Superb John Buscema cover! Last Issue. May 1979

Cover Date: May 1979
On Sale Date: February 13, 1979
Cover Price: $0.40
Page Count: 36
Editor: Roger Stern

Title: "Revenge of the Black Panther"
Pages: 17

Writer: Ed Hannigan
Penciller: Jerry Bingham
Inker: Gene Day
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: George Roussos

Featured Character:
Black Panther

Villain:
Klaw

Guest Appearances:
Captain America
Beast
Vision
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Newsstand Blackhawk 273 Modern 9.8 After reading Evanier's blog posts of his experiences working on Blackhack. The inner working doing the title were vastly interesting. Was very glad to find a copy of the last issue not to mention it being a newsstand. View Comic
Newsstand. Last of the DC Digests Best of DC 71 9.8 Have memories of first seeing this book in the quarter section of distant Comic Shop years after it was released

Newsstand Edition Final Issue, Cover dated April 1986

Difficult to find high series number - issues 41-71 are considered to have a much lower print run than the earlier issues.

Not only the final issue of Best Of DC but the last of the DC Digests. Difficult to find high series number - issues 42-71 are considered to have a much lower print run than the earlier issues.



Cover Date: April 1986
Release Date: January 3, 1986
Format: 148 Page Digest
Cover Price: $1.50
Contents: Year's Best Comics Stories

Stories:

Superman: "The Day the Earth Died"(16 pages)
Ed Hannigan (Plotter) Paul Kupperberg (Scripter) Curt Swan (Penciller) Al Williamson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #408 (1985)

Green Lantern Corps: "Mogo Doesn't Socialize"(6 pages)
Alan Moore (Writer) Dave Gibbons (Artist/Letterer)
Reprinted From: Green Lantern #188 (1985)

Blue Devil: "Trick Trap"(23 pages)
Gary Cohn (Writer) Dan Mishkin (Writer) Keith Giffen (Penciller) Gary Martin (Inker)
Reprinted From: Blue Devil #8 (1985)

Vega: "Brief Lives"(4 pages)
Alan Moore (Writer) Kevin O'Neill (Artist)
Reprinted From: Omega Men #26 (1985)

Swamp Thing: "Rite of Spring"(23 pages)
Alan Moore (Writer) Steve R. Bissette (Penciller) John Totleben (Inker)
Reprinted From: Saga of Swamp Thing #34 (1985)

"The Silent Treatment"(7 pages)
Mike W. Barr (Writer) Jerome K. Moore (Artist)
Reprinted From: Batman and the Outsiders #21 (1985)

Ambush Bug: "Bits of (Ambush) Bugginess"(5 pages)
Keith Giffen (Plotter/Penciller) Robert Loren Fleming (Scripter)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #565 (1985)

Superman/Adam Strange: "The Ghost of Krypton Past"(24 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Klaus Janson (Artist)
Reprinted From: DC Comics Presents #82 (1985)

Green Lantern Corps: "Forever Blowing Bubbles"(6 pages)
Mike Baron (Writer) Marshall Rogers (Artist)
Reprinted From: Green Lantern #187 (1985)

Batman: "Just as Night Follows Day..."(23 pages)
Doug Moench (Writer) Gene Colan (Penciller) Alfredo P. Alcala (Inker)
Reprinted From: Batman #383 (1985)

Hukka: "Hukka Vs. the Bob"(7 pages)
Keith Giffen (Plotter/Penciller) Robert Loren Fleming (Scripter) Karl Kesel (Inker)
Reprinted From: Atari Force #20 (1985)
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Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Captain Marvel 62 Modern 9.8 Last Issue. May 1979 View Comic
First Batman and the Outsiders Brave and the Bold 200 Modern 9.8 1st app Halo, Katana, Geo-Force and Outsiders in 16 page preview. Aparo cover. As a child I recall getting this book and being sad there would be no more Batman Team-ups. Batman and The Outsiders was pretty good but not the same as the aw and excitement of seeing who would co-starring with Batman in Brave and the Bold every month. View Comic
1st told JSA origin. DC Special 29 Modern 9.8 Neal Adams cover. 1st told JSA origin

Cover Date: Aug/Sep 1977
On Sale Date: May 12, 1977
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 48
Editor: Joe Orlando

Title: "The Untold Origin of the Justice Society"
Pages: 34

Feature(s):
Justice Society of America (of Earth-2)

Writer: Paul Levitz
Penciller: Joe Staton
Inker: Bob Layton
Letterer: Bill Morse
Colorist: Anthony Tollin

Reprinted In:
Best of DC #21 Digest (1982)
Justice Society Vol. 1 TPB (2006)
Showcase Presents:All-Star Comics TPB (2011)

Feature Character(s)

Justice Society of America (origin revealed; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #31; next appearance in Superman #8)
Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #46; next appearance in Detective Comics #47)
Flash (last appearance in Flash Comics #12; next appearance in Flash Comics #13)
Hawkman (last appearance in Flash Comics #12; next appearance in Flash Comics #13)
Green Lantern (last appearance in All-American Comics #21; next appearance in All-American Comics #22)
Atom (last appearance in All-American Comics #21; next appearance in All-American Comics #22)
Sandman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #57; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
Hourman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #57; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
Spectre (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)
Doctor Fate (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Comics #3)

Guest Appearance(s)

Franklin D. Roosevelt (last appearance in More Fun Comics #62; next appearance in All-Star Squadron Annual #3)
Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman #3; next appearance in World's Best Comics #1)

Comments:
Prologue
Chapter One: "Gotham City, U.S.A."
Chapter Two: "Glasgow, Scotland"
Interlude: "Salem, Massachusetts"
Chapter Three: "Berlin, Germany"
Chapter Four: "America"
Chapter Five: "Dover, England—Invasion"
Chapter Six: "Berlin, Germany"
Chapter Seven: "The English Channel"

This story takes place in November, 1940, as revealed in America vs The Justice Society #1.

Hawkman is mistakenly depicted wearing the wrong mask in this story.
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  DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest 24 9.8 Difficult to find High Grade Digest. Last Issue. New Joe Kubert covers

"100 Pages of Blood Curdling Screams"

Cover Date: August 1982
Release Date: May 6, 1982
Format: Digest
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: The House Of Mystery

Stories:

"No Strings Attached" (11 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Bill Draut (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #191 (1971)

"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" (7 pages)
Marv Wolfman (Writer) Alexander Toth (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Secrets #83 (1969)

"All in the Family..." (9 pages)
Bernie Wrightson (Plotter/Artist) Virgil North (Scripter)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #204 (1972)

"The Demon Within" (7 pages)
Joe Orlando (Plotter) John Albano (Scripter) Jim Aparo (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #201 (1972)

"Hyde -- and Go Seek" (8 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Tony DeZuniga (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Secrets #94 (1971)

"Double Take" (4 pages)
Steve Skeates (Writer) George Tuska (Artist)
Reprinted From: Witching Hour #12 (1970)

"The Whole Ball of Tin" (7 pages)
Gerry Conway (Writer) Len Wein (Writer) Robert Oksner (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #199 (1972)

"Tomorrow I Hang" (5 pages)
E. Nelson Bridwell (Writer) Jim Aparo (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #209 (1972)

"The House of Endless Years" (7 pages)
Gerry Conway (Writer) Bill Draut (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Secrets #83 (1969)

"Countdown" (3 pages)
Ralph Reese (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #195 (1971)

"A Girl and Her Dog" (9 pages)
Gerry Conway (Writer) Gray Morrow (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #196 (1971)

"Born Loser" (10 pages)
Jack Oleck (Writer) Alexander Toth (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #194 (1971)

"Sno' Fun" (9 pages)
Sergio Aragones (Writer) Wally Wood (Artist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #199 (1972)
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Canadian Newsstand Price Variant Ghost Rider 81 Modern 9.8 Canadian Price Variant. Condition sensitive black cover. I recall as child on Saturday with my friends bicycling back from my LCS with this final issue. I had only started to read the title a few months prior and wanted more... This was a raw con purchase I later self-submitted. As a child I had the video game pictured on the back cover :) View Comic
Newsstand Ghosts 112 Modern 9.8 Newsstand Edition. Savannah Pedigree. Add extra scare factor if your name is Joey. View Comic
Pop-Culture Universes Collide! Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Godzilla 24 Modern 9.8 Pop-Culture Overload; Godzilla vs The Avengers, The Fantastic Four and SHIELD! I wonder how exciting for child it must have been to pick up this and the previous issue when they were brand new on the stands.

Cover showing Godzilla walking into the sunset is perfect for this final issue.
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Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Howard the Duck 31 Universal 9.8 Howard The Duck (1976) was cancelled May 1979 with issue 31. 7 years later in 1986 #32 and #33 were published around the same time "Howard The Duck" Motion Picture was released. View Comic
MAR 1979 Human Fly 19 Universal 9.8 Excellent Bob Layton Cover highlights the end of a well written series. Back during those Troubled Late 1970's Business of Comic Book times 19 issues of an "odd-ball" title like this seems like pretty good run. View Comic
Sept 1979 Invaders 41 Modern 9.8 60¢ Double size,Condition Sensitive Black Cover,Last Issue

Contains a now Classic Double Page Spread showing all hero's who appeared in the series.
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Last DC Western title for many years. Jonah Hex 92 Modern 9.8 While HEX #1 appeared the next month it was never the same for Jonah. Always though this issue should have had a Crisis banner on it... View Comic
Sad end to a once proud title of boundless action. Justice League of America 261 Modern 9.8 A sad end content-wise to a once proud title. One month later the Giffen / DeMatties "Bwah-ha-ha" Justice League would begin and at least for while would restore some fun to the Superhero genre.
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Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Nova 25 Universal 9.8 Great Nova image on this eye catching cover by Pollard! Sadly my first issue of Nova was the titles last :(

May 1979 (Feb 1979 on-sale) was Marvel's mini-version of the "DC implosion". Nova and 8 other books were cancelled or announced as cancelled that month.

Black Panther
Captain Marvel
Howard The Duck *revived for a few issues 7 years later as part of gimmick for the HTD film (flop)
Invaders *revived for one issue months later
John Carter * revived a few months later for several issue due to contractual obligations
Nova
Red Sonja
Rawhide Kid
Spotlight (Hanna-Barbera)

John Carter * revived a few months later for several issue due to contractual obligations
Nova
Red Sonja
Rawhide Kid
Spotlight (Hanna-Barbera)
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MAR 1979 Laff-a-Lympics 13 Modern 9.8 My favorite Hanna-Barbera book of all-time! The cover beings be back to my childhood. Evanier wrote a fun story!

Last Issue.
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Don Rosa Collection. Ditko returns to Marvel. Marvel Triple Action 47 Modern 9.8 New Steve Ditko Cover. Avengers #54 reprint. Don Rosa Collection View Comic
DC Implosion Our Fighting Forces 181 Modern 9.8 Victim of the DC Implosion. Kubert cover View Comic
Marvel's cover date May 1979 culling Red Sonja 15 Modern 9.8 May 1979 (Feb 1979 on-sale) was Marvel's mini-version of the "DC implosion". Red Sonja and 8 other books were cancelled or announced as cancelled that month.

Black Panther
Captain Marvel
Howard The Duck *revived for a few issues 7 years later as part of gimmick for the HTD film (flop)
Invaders *revived for one issue months later
John Carter * revived a few months later for several issue due to contractual obligations
Nova
Red Sonja
Rawhide Kid
Spotlight (Hanna-Barbera)
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Newsstand. Final issues make She-Hulk cry. Savage She-Hulk 25 Modern 9.8 Love the corner box on this one, She-Hulk was just as sad as her fans to see the book end.

Cover dated 2/82 this book was on-sale 11/1981.

Overstreet Price Guides in the 1980's show this books value at 50 Cents which was 1/2 the cover price! Times sure have changed.

A difficult book to find in high grade due to it being a low production run last issue as well as most copies having languished in discount bins for 30 or more years.

Newsstand Edition.
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Have very fond memories of picking this comic up for .25 at a Flea Market in the early 1980's. Secret Society of Super Villains 15 Universal 9.8 Have very fond memories of picking this comic up for .25 at a Flea Market in the early 1980's. Great read, I simply loved the issue. Looked for the next issue (#16) for a few years until I got my first Overstreet and was crushed to find it was never published. 2 decades later found a stat from a stat reading copy of Cancelled Comic Cavalcade which contained what would have been issue #16 only to find it did it did not pickup the story cliffhanger. Foiled again :9

Victim of the DC Implosion. JSA app.

Cover Date: Jun/Jul 1978
On Sale Date: March 23, 1978
Cover Price: $0.35
Page Count: 36
Editor: Jack C. Harris


Title: "The Wizard's War of the Worlds"
Pages: 17

Writer: Bob Rozakis
Penciller: Mike Vosburg
Inker: Robert R. Smith
Letterer: Jean Simek (Izzo)
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Feature Characters

Secret Society of Super-Villains (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in Justice League of America #166)

Blockbuster (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in Justice League of America #166)

Copperhead (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #12; next appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths #5)

Floronic Man (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #13; next appearance in Justice League of America #166)

Mirror Master (last appearance in Flash #255; next appearance in Justice League of America #158)

Reverse-Flash (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in DC Comics Presents #1)

Silver Ghost (last appearance in Freedom Fighters #12; next appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths #9)

Star Sapphire (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in Justice League of America #166)

Wizard (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in Adventure Comics #460)

Guest Star(s)

Captain Comet (last appearance in Secret Society of Super-Villains #14; next appearance in Justice League of America #157)

Atom (Al Pratt; last appearance in Justice League of America #92; next appearance in All-Star Comics #74)

Doctor Mid-Nite (last appearance in All-Star Comics #71; next appearance in All-Star Comics #74)

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  Shade, the Changing Man 8 Modern 9.8 A newsstand in what was for me the far corner of my hometown had copies of Shade 8 several years after it was originally on-sale. They must have neglected to return them 1978. As a child my visits to their location were infrequent but a constant was seeing Shade 8 there just like an old friend :)

I finally purchased 1 of them from that stand in the 1982/1983 time frame and recall the novelty of paying them only 35 cents when all other new books were 60 cents :)

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  Shazam 35 Universal 9.8 Quite a change in direction from the first 20 issues of the title. I do wonder if that had occurred sooner would it have helped sales? View Comic
DC Implosion victim Steel, The Indestructible Man 5 Modern 9.8 Victim of the DC Implosion.

Golden State pedigree

Cover Date: Oct/Nov 1978
On Sale Date: July 27, 1978
Cover Price: $0.50
Page Count: 40

Story

Title: "A Scream in the Night"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Steel (of Earth-2)

Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Don Heck
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Letterer: Karin Orlando
Colorist: Jerry Serpe

Feature Character(s)

Commander Steel (last appearance in Steel the Indestructible Man #4; next appearance in All-Star Squadron #8)

Supporting Character(s)

Dr. Gilbert Giles (last appearance in Steel the Indestructible Man #4; next appearance in All-Star Squadron #8)
Gloria Giles (last appearance in Steel the Indestructible Man #4; next appearance in All-Star Squadron #8)

Villain(s)

Andrew Hawk (a former silent movie star; dies in this story; no further appearances)
Jonathan (alias Gunnerson; Andrew’s brother; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story is continued in part from the second story of Steel #4.

This is the final issue of Steel The Indestructible Man. A sixth issue was penciled and inked but the series was cancelled due to what later became known as the "DC Implosion". Stat copies of the #6 pages were added to Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2. More than half of those penciled pages were re-inked and used in All-Star Squadron #8 and All-Star Squadron #9.
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Newsstand. Classic Alan Moore story Superman 423 Modern 9.8 Newsstand edition. The book's numbering did continue with "Adventures of Superman" so a soft end to the first Superman title.

A now Classic Alan Moore story, back then retro classic style. Swan/Perez interiors, Swan/Anderson cover.
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Feb 1979, Originally on-sale Nov 1985 Wonder Woman 329 Modern 9.8 An Excellent Garcia-Lopez cover showcasing a triumphant Wonder Woman marks the end of the longest running female led title in Comic Book History

Crisis Crossover. Silver/Bronze Age Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor Wed.

Originally on-sale Nov 1985.

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Newsstand. The bonds of a friendship are forged of the mightiest steel World's Finest Comics 323 Modern 9.8 The palpable melancholy on Superman and Batman faces and body language mark and end to a title that had thrived for many of it's 46 years.

World's Finest 323 was a mundane issue suddenly elevated to memorable by very power dialog in it's last 3 pages. With the last page being rather poignant - apologies for gettin' all mushy.

<i>"The bonds of a friendship are forged of the mightiest steel...tempered in a flame that burns brighter than a thousand suns. <b>For half a century, no man, no war, no cause,has ever shattered those bonds</b>...But this day, they have discovered a crack in the metal...We can only hope... it is not beyond repair."</i>

While this has a 1986 cover date, the comic was on sale Oct 1985. Newsstand Edition.
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