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Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest

Set Type: Best of DC
Owner: MAR1979
Last Modified: 12/24/2023
Views: 320

Current Standings

Rank:	1
Score:	3912
Leading by:	3504
Points to Higher Rank:	N/A

Set Description:

"1970's - Mid 1980's DC digests why are they scarce in high grade?"
(Portions courtesy of vane0326)

1) Miss-cuts. Only if minor CGC does not count as a negative.

2) Glue drips and stains

3) Torn spines

4) Scrapes, usually on the Front Cover's top left corner

5) Cover indents and creases are common due to the thick stock.

6) Variable paper quality (outer pages may be off-white BUT middle of the book will have White pages)

7) Small pin holes on the covers.

If a DC Digest somehow managed to remain in high grade after the printing/manufacturing and distribution processes, man-handling of what at the time were "less desirable" comics comes into consideration. All these many factors make DC Digests very difficult to find in 9.6 NM+ and near impossible to locate in raw in potential 9.8 NM/M. One might speculate if demand for these Digests was higher they might rank among the most valuable DC books from 1979-1986?

The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.

Slot:	Best of DC 1
Item:	Best of DC 1
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1162480012

Owner Comments
While DC did issue a one-off Tarzan Digest in 1972, Best of DC #1 from 1979 was actually the book that kicked off their digest program.

Ross Andru's great new cover caused many a child like myself to empty our "piggy banks" for .95 cents. Which back then was a somewhat large amount for a comic book. To put it into perspective, in my hometown at least, you could grab yourself 2 slices of pizza and a drink for the same cost at that time.

Cover Date: Sep-Oct 1979
Release Date: June 7, 1979
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Superman: "Attack by the Army of Tomorrow"(23 pages)
Elliot S. Maggin (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #265 (1973)

Superman: "The Midnight Murder Show"(14 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Kurt Schaffenberger (Inker)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #442 (1974)

Superman: "Superman Under the Red Sun"(14 pages)
Edmond Hamilton (Writer) Al Plastino (Artist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #300 (1963)

Superman: "The Adventures of Mental-Man"(12 pages)
Bill Finger (Writer) Wayne Boring (Penciller) Stan Kaye (Inker)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #196 (1954)

Superman: "The Death of Superman"(25 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) George Klein (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #149 (1961)

Slot:	Best of DC 2
Item:	Best of DC 2
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0956942002

Owner Comments
Partial black cover makes this book almost impossible to find in high grade.

Cover Date: Nov/Dec 1979
Release Date: August 9, 1979
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Batman: "The People Vs. the Batman"(13 pages)
Bill Finger (Writer) Bob Kane (Penciller) Jerry Robinson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Batman #7 (1941)

Alfred Beagle: "Alfred, Armchair Detective"(4 pages)
Joe Samachson (Writer) Jerry Robinson (Artist)
Reprinted From: Batman #31 (1945)

Batman: "The 1,000 Secrets of the Batcave"(12 pages)
Bill Finger (Writer) Jim Mooney (Artist)
Reprinted From: Batman #48 (1948)

Batman: "The First Batman"(10 pages)
Bill Finger (Writer) Sheldon Moldoff (Penciller) Stan Kaye (Inker)
Reprinted From: Detective Comics #235 (1956)

Batman: "Murder at Mystery Castle"(12 pages)
Bill Finger (Writer) Sheldon Moldoff (Penciller) Charles Paris (Inker)
Reprinted From: Detective Comics #246 (1957)

Batman: "The Cry of Night is -- Kill"(17 pages)
Mike Friedrich (Writer) Bob Brown (Penciller) Joe Giella (Inker)
Reprinted From: Detective Comics #387 (1969)

Batman: "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge"(23 pages)
Dennis J. O'Neil (Writer) Neal Adams (Artist)
Reprinted From: Batman #251 (1973)

Slot:	Best of DC 4
Item:	Best of DC 4
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1097102004

Owner Comments
New Sheldon Meyer cover and 2 new stories. On Sale Dec 1979. Low print run and given the target young child audience Virtually Impossible to find in high-grade, I know of collectors who have sought this out for decades. I was extremely lucky in finding it!

Cover Date: Mar/Apr 1980
Release Date: December 6, 1979
Format: Digest
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: "Christmas Magic" (27 pages)
Sheldon Mayer (Writer/Penciller) Tenny Henson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Limited Collectors' Edition C-50 (1976)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: "The Land Behind the Sky-Holes" (21 pages)
Sheldon Mayer (Writer/Penciller) Tenny Henson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Limited Collectors' Edition C-50 (1976)

NEW: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: "Will a Stitch in Time Save Christmas?" (9 pages)
Sheldon Mayer (Writer/Penciller) Tenny Henson (Inker)

NEW: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: "The Secret of the Lucky Dragon Egg" (31 pages)
Sheldon Mayer (Writer/Penciller) Tenny Henson (Inker)

Slot:	Best of DC 5
Item:	Best of DC 5
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0206194004

Owner Comments
Cover Date: May/Jun 1980
Release Date: February 14, 1980
Format: 132 page Digest
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Year's Best Comics Stories (1979)

Stories:

Superman/Sgt. Rock: "The Miracle Man of Easy Company"(17 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Joe Staton (Penciller) Jack Abel (Inker) Ben Oda (Letterer) Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
Reprinted From: DC Comics Presents #10 (1979)

Deadman: "Never Say Die"(12 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Artist) Ben Oda (Letterer) Glynis Wein (Oliver) (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #466 (1979)

Jonah Hex: "Minister of the Lord"(17 pages)
Michael L. Fleisher (Writer) Luis Dominguez (Artist) Ben Oda (Letterer) Robert K. LeRose (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Jonah Hex #24 (1979)

Superboy: "The Shadow of Jor-El"(12 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Joe Staton (Penciller) Frank Chiaramonte (Inker) Ben Oda (Letterer) Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Superman Family #196 (1979)

"The Mouse of History"(6 pages)
Don Thompson (Writer) Ruben Yandoc (Artist) Esphid Mahilum (Letterer) Jerry Serpe (Colorist)
Reprinted From: House of Mystery #267 (1979)

Batman: "The Curse of Crime Alley"(16 pages)
Dennis J. O'Neil (Writer) Don Newton (Penciller) Dan Adkins (Inker) Todd Klein (Letterer) Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Detective Comics #483 (1979)

Superman: "Clark Kent's Mynah Dilemma"(8 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Kurt Schaffenberger (Penciller) Dave Hunt (Inker) Albert Tobias De Guzman (Letterer) Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Superman Family #197 (1979)

Haunted Tank: "Back Door to War"(12 pages)
Robert Kanigher (Writer) Sam J. Glanzman (Artist)
Reprinted From: G.I. Combat #213 (1979)

"Papa Don"(7 pages)
Greg Potter (Writer) Noly Panaligan (Artist)
Reprinted From: Secrets of Haunted House #17 (1979)

Superman: "Fall and Rise of the Star-Child"(17 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Frank Chiaramonte (Inker) Ben Oda (Letterer) Gene D'Angelo (Colorist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #502 (1979)

Slot:	Best of DC 7
Item:	Best of DC 7
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1162480004

Owner Comments
Cover Date: Sep/Oct 1980
Release Date: June 12, 1980
Format: 96 Digest-Sized Pages
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Superboy

Stories:

Superboy: "Superboy Meets the Young Green Arrow" (13 pages)
Jerry Coleman (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #258 (1959)

Superboy: "The Super-Clown of Smallville" (8 pages)
Jerry Coleman (Writer) Creig Flessel (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superboy #62 (1958)

Superboy: "Dark Strangler of the Seas" (21 pages)
Frank Robbins (Writer) Bob Brown (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superboy #171 (1971)

Superboy: "The Millionaire of Smallville" (9 pages)
Leo Dorfman (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superboy #119 (1965)

Superboy: "Superboy Meets Lois Lane" (13 pages)
Otto Binder (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #261 (1959)

Superboy: "Plague from the Past" (7 pages)
Leo Dorfman (Writer) Bob Brown (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superboy #177 (1971)

Superboy: "Lex Luthor Imp" (8 pages)
E. Nelson Bridwell (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superboy #131 (1966)

Superboy: "The Kryptonite Kid" (8 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superboy #99 (1962)

Superboy: "Superboy Meets Supergirl" (9 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) John Forte (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superboy #80 (1960)

Slot:	Best of DC 10
Item:	Best of DC 10
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1096724005

Owner Comments
The current "crown jewel" of the Best of DC Digest title. Contains a new story featuring the 1st ever told origin of The Penguin.

Cover Date: March 1981
Release Date: December 11, 1980
Format: Digest
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Secret Origins of Super-Villains

Stories:

Batman: NEW "The Origin of the Penguin"(10 pages)
Michael L. Fleisher (Writer) Romeo Tanghal (Penciller)
Tex Blaisdell (Inker)
NEW Story

Aquaman: "Aquaman, Coward-King of the Seas"(24 pages)
Bob Haney (Writer) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Artist)
Reprinted From: Aquaman #29 (1966)

Flash: "Here Comes Captain Boomerang"(13 pages)
John Broome (Writer) Carmine Infantino (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Flash #117 (1960)

Green Lantern: "The Shark That Hunted Human Prey"(15 pages)
John Broome (Writer) Gil Kane (Penciller) Joe Giella (Inker)
Reprinted From: Green Lantern #24 (1963)

Hawkman: "Shadow-Thief of Midway City"(12 pages)
Gardner F. Fox (Writer) Joe Kubert (Artist)
Reprinted From: Brave and the Bold #36 (1961)

Green Arrow: "Green Arrow Vs. Red Dart"(6 pages)
France E. Herron (Writer) George Papp (Artist)
Reprinted From: World's Finest Comics #95 (1958)

Superman: "Power of the Parasite"(14 pages)
James Shooter (Writer) Al Plastino (Artist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #340 (1966)

Slot:	Best of DC 12
Item:	Best of DC 12
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1074740015

Owner Comments
Newsstand Edition, Black cover make this digest even more impossible to obtain in 9.8 (or even 9.6).

Cover Date: May 1981
Release Date: February 5, 1981
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Superman: "Bus-Ride to Nowhere"(23 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #430 (1973)

Superman: "The Sun of Superman"(16 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #255 (1972)

Superman: "The Starry-Eyed Siren of Space"(18 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #243 (1971)

Superman: "Planet of the Angels"(15 pages)
Dennis J. O'Neil (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #236 (1971)

Superman: "Superman, You're Dead... Dead... Dead"(15 pages)
Leo Dorfman (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Murphy Anderson (Inker)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #399 (1971)

Superman: "The Secret of the Space Souvenirs"(8 pages)
Otto Binder (Writer) Al Plastino (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superman #122 (1958)

Slot:	Best of DC 14
Item:	Best of DC 14 Modern
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0744816009

Owner Comments
Excellent Andru/Giordano Cover featuring what at that time was every A Level Batman Villain; Catwoman,Joker,Penguin,Two-Face,Riddler

Slot:	Best of DC 15
Item:	Best of DC 15 Modern
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0700340005

Owner Comments
Newsstand Edition.

Slot:	Best of DC 17
Item:	Best of DC 17
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1093956019

Owner Comments
New George Perez Supergirl front and back cover! DC Digest Covers don't get much better than that.

Cover Date: October 1981
Release Date: July 9, 1981
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Supergirl

Stories:

Supergirl: "The Great Supergirl Mirage"(7 pages)
Otto Binder (Writer) Jim Mooney (Artist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #256 (1959)

Superman/Supergirl: "The World's Greatest Heroine"(24 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) Jim Mooney (Artist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #285 (1962)

Supergirl: "Supergirl Goes to College"(12 pages)
Leo Dorfman (Writer) Jim Mooney (Artist)
Reprinted From: Action Comics #318 (1964)

Supergirl: "Crypt of the Frozen Graves"(17 pages)
Steve Skeates (Writer) Tony DeZuniga (Penciller) Robert Oksner (Inker)
Reprinted From: Adventure Comics #424 (1972)

Supergirl: "Trail of the Madman"(16 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Art Saaf (Penciller) Vince Colletta (Inker)
Reprinted From: Supergirl #1 (1972)

Supergirl: "Princess of the Golden Sun"(20 pages)
Elliot S. Maggin (Writer) Art Saaf (Penciller) Vince Colletta (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman Family #165 (1974)

Slot:	Best of DC 18
Item:	Best of DC 18
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0206194009

Owner Comments
Newsstand Edition. New George Perez front and back covers! Featuring an all-new New Teen Titans story which back in the day was a huge deal.

Title: Best of DC #18
Cover Date: November 1981
Release Date: August 6, 1981
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Teen Titans: NEW "Reunion"(10 pages)
Marv Wolfman (Writer) Carmine Infantino (Penciller)
Romeo Tanghal (Inker) Ben Oda (Letterer) Adrienne Roy (Colorist)
NEW Story

Teen Titans: "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho"(23 pages)
Neal Adams (Writer/Penciller) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Inker)
Reprinted From: Teen Titans #20 (1969)

Teen Titans: "Citadel of Fear"(24 pages)
Neal Adams (Writer/Penciller) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Inker)
Reprinted From: Teen Titans #21 (1969)

Teen Titans: "Halfway to Holocaust"(16 pages)
Neal Adams (Writer/Penciller) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Inker)
Reprinted From: Teen Titans #22 (1969)

Teen Titans: "Skis of Death"(23 pages)
Bob Haney (Writer) Gil Kane (Penciller) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Inker)
Reprinted From: Teen Titans #24 (1969)

Slot:	Best of DC 19
Item:	Best of DC 19
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1096724009

Owner Comments
Cover Date: December 1981
Release Date: September 10, 1981
Format: Digest
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Superman

Stories:

Superman: "The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue"(24 pages)
Leo Dorfman (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) George Klein (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #162 (1963)

Superman/Batman: "The New Superman and Batman Team"(19 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) George Klein (Inker)
Reprinted From: World's Finest Comics #167 (1967)

Lois Lane: "Mr. and Mrs. Clark (Superman) Kent"(8 pages)
Jerry Siegel (Writer) Kurt Schaffenberger (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #19 (1960)

Lois Lane: "Lois Lane and Superman, Newlyweds"(9 pages)
Kurt Schaffenberger (Artist)
Reprinted From: Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #25 (1961)

Superman: "Lois Lane... Dead... Yet Alive"(16 pages)
Otto Binder (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Jack Abel (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #215 (1969)

Superman: "Superman, 2001"(20 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer) Elliot S. Maggin (Writer) Curt Swan (Penciller) Robert Oksner (Inker)
Reprinted From: Superman #300 (1976)

Slot:	Best of DC 20
Item:	Best of DC 20 Modern
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	0026195005

Slot:	Best of DC 21
Item:	Best of DC 21 Modern
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1054788001

Owner Comments
Newsstand Edition, New George Perez front and back covers. My favorite issue of the title

Cover Date: February 1982
Release Date: November 5, 1981
Format: 96 Digest-Sized Pages
Cover Price: $0.95
Contents: Justice Society of America

Stories:

"The Untold Origin of the Justice Society" (34 pages)
Paul Levitz (Writer) Joe Staton (Penciller) Bob Layton (Inker)
Reprinted From: DC Special #29 (1977)

"The Day That Dropped Out of Time" (38 pages)
John Broome (Writer) Irwin Hasen (Artist) Lee Elias (Artist) Joe Kubert (Artist)
Reprinted From: All-Star Comics #35 (1947)

"The Big Super-Hero Hunt" (24 pages)
Gardner F. Fox (Writer) Murphy Anderson (Artist)
Reprinted From: Brave and the Bold #62 (1965)

Slot:	Best of DC 22
Item:	Best of DC 22
Grade:	CGC
Cert #:	1097102011

Owner Comments
New Kirby Sandman (unpublished Sandman #7)
New Buckler/Giordano cover.
Christmas 1981 with The Super-Heroes.

Cover Date: March 1982
Release Date: December 3, 1981
Format: Digest
Cover Price: $0.95

Stories:

Teen Titans: "The TT's Swingin' Christmas Carol" (23 pages)
Bob Haney (Writer) Nicholas Peter Cardy (Artist)
Reprinted From: Teen Titans #13 (1968)

Batman: "Merry Christmas" (6 pages)
Dennis J. O'Neil (Writer) Irving Novick (Penciller) Dick Giordano (Inker)
Reprinted From: Batman #247 (1973)

Captain Marvel, Jr.: "Freddy Freeman's Xmas" (8 pages)
William Woolfolk (Writer) Bud Thompson (Artist)
Reprinted From: Captain Marvel, Jr. #46 (1947)

Batman: "A Christmas Peril" (12 pages)
Don Cameron (Writer) Jerry Robinson (Artist)
Reprinted From: Batman #27 (1945)

Sandman: "The Seal Men's War on Santa Claus" (18 pages)
Michael L. Fleisher (Writer) Jack Kirby (Penciller) Mike W. Royer (Inker)

Robin: "Robin's (Very) White Christmas" (9 pages)
Bob Rozakis (Writer) Jose Delbo (Penciller) Vince Colletta (Inker)
Reprinted From: Batman Family #4 (1976)

Justice League of America: "The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus" (20 pages)
Len Wein (Writer) Dick Dillin (Penciller) Dick Giordano (Inker)
Reprinted From: Justice League of America #110 (1974)