The DC Comics Rarities Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) [Hardcover]

Various (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2005

Reprinting for the first time some of DC Comics' rarest publictions from the Golden Age of comics, including three early anthology titles in their entirety. Features appearances by virtually every Golden Age hero: Superman, Batman, Wonder, Sandman, Hawkman, Scribbly, The Atom, Wildcat and more. An action-packed adventure, this volume of classic tales is sure to entertain!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The three early comic books reprinted in DC Comics Rarities are fascinating cultural artifacts. The two issues of New York World's Fair Comics were distributed at the 1939-40 exposition; they feature some of the earliest exploits of Superman and Batman, who travel from Metropolis and Gotham City, respectively, to visit the event. The massive Big All-American Comic Book from 1944 boasts some of DC's biggest stars as well as lesser lights and itself reprints some of the popular long-running newspaper strip, Mutt and Jeff. A piquant sampler of comics' Golden Age. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (January 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401200079
• ISBN-13: 978-1401200077
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Of Wonders, January 4, 2005

By 

M. B. RENTZLER (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The DC Comics Rarities Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

A book of magic and wonders.

Let's face it, most comic fans out there with some gray in their hair miss the good old days when DC would do those 100 page spectaculars. If you were like me the main features were great, but it was the back up stories that would really get me. From Phantom lady to Robot Man, you would get a glimpse into a time and a world of heros that were new and fresh to you.

The same is true for the book. Oh yes you get the "big guns" like Superman and Batman, and some of the mainstays, like Sandman (in his gas mask no less), but what of the really lesser know lights like the comedic "Red Tornado" and Mutt and Jeff (which really blew me away at some of the arts resemblence to what Robert Crumb would do later.


The book's huge size guarantees hours of reading, discovery and rereading. As for the art, some people said say the art of the golden age was crude. I like to think of it as raw and bursting with energy. And some of it will surprise you by it's grace and uniqueness.

As for the quality of the book, hey its a DC Archive so you know it is done up right.

As for the price, the sticker price is a bit steep, but Amazon with its free shipping and discount puts it into everyone's reach.

Liked DC's hit Starman, well look at the stuff that built the foundation of the DC Universe.

Coming soon will be the Seven Soldiers of Victory Golden Archives (January) and Comic Calvacade Archives (Bringing you never reprinted Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash stories with load of guest stars.

I thank DC for preserving the golden age today.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than fair to get these Fair comics reprinted!, February 5, 2005

By 

Jason Dickson "Needs More Money" (Maryville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The DC Comics Rarities Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

For the first time ever, in one huge collection, three of DC Comics' most hard to find early anthology titles are reprinted in their entirety! Rarities Archive Volume 1 is a whopping 348-page hardcover collecting New York World's Fair 1939, New York World's Fair 1940, and Big All-American Comic Book #1 from 1944. This volume, with an introduction by Roy Thomas, features appearances by virtually every early Golden Age DC hero: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Sandman, Hawkman, Scribbly, The Atom, Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific, Jonny Thunder and Wildcat!

Plus, loads of backups, funny animals, gag strips, text pieces and information about the Fair! The two World's Fair Comics were specially created to be distributed at the New York World's Fair of 1939 and 1940 and feature adventures of the DC heroes actually visiting the Fairs. Most of the strips included in this very special Archive have never been reprinted!

This is truly a testament to the diversity of the Golden Age of DC Comics that no serious comics collector should be without.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Take me to the fair., April 25, 2005

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The DC Comics Rarities Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions) (Hardcover)

This book reprints three extremely rare comic books from the Golden Age: New York World's Fair Comics 1939, New York World's Fair Comics 1940 and The Big All-American Comic Book. If you could find a copy of one of these comics, it would cost you over $1000 to buy it, even if it was in lousy condition. Now, you can own the contents of all three comics in mint condition, for under $100. What a deal! As for the contents of the comics, it is a typical mixed bag of Golden Age features. You get superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and many lesser lights. There are also humor strips, detectives, military strips and other features. Most of the features in World's Fair 1939 heavily feature the Fair. Comics in World's Fair 1940 involve the fair to a lesser extent. Big All-American is just typical adventures involving the featured characters. Some of the comics are a bit dated by today's standards, but they are still fun to read. If you are a fan of Golden Age comics, you should get this book. You'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about the New York World's Fair!