Comics Buyer's Guide (1971) comic books

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #474, featured my artwork on the cover. To some TBG subscribers, this issue's cover may have seemed vaguely familiar--a reprint of an earlier cover, perhaps, which publisher Alan Light did from time-to-time. But it wasnt a reprint. In fact, it is a total re-do of the cover I, Russ Maheras, drew for TBG #272, published nearly four years earlier on Feb. 2, 1979. I re-drew the cover because while I liked the layout, I was unhappy with the quickie drawing I was forced to do, with minimal art supplies, at the small table in my Air Force technical training dorm room. I changed a few things in the later version that, unless one held the covers side-by-side, probably would never have been noticed. And although its dated 1982, the second version was actually drawn in 1981, while I was an aircraft avionics technician stationed at RAF Bentwaters, United Kingdom. Thats why there are technical details added on the newer drawing that I never would have thought of when I drew the earlier version--before I had ever set foot on a flightline and touched a military aircraft. Summary of this issue, including a bit of interesting personal history, by Russ Maheras.

February 11, 1983. What's happening at: Charlton - "We're selling our heroes to DC"; Harvey - "We're temporarily suspending publication of the Harvey Comics line"; Warren - "I cannot confirm or deny"; Western - "We're going to print comics." Plus: Killraven, Dazzler star in Marvel Graphic Novels; 'Hotel America' fills in for 'Doonesbury'; slimmer Buyer's Guide offers more for readers. Also in this issue: Advertising Index; Book Guide; Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Comics in Your Future; Dear Maggie; Editorial; Fan News; Fred Hembeck; Information, Please; Oh, So?; What, When & Where.

February 18, 1983. Archie Goodwin has "Jedi" problems; Roy Thomas: "I'm not exclusively at DC after August"; Gil Kane covers designed to boost Green Lantern, Wonder Woman sales. Also in this issue: Advertising Index; Book Guide; Brian Hayes; Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Comics in Your Future; Editorial; Information, Please; Oh, So?; What, When & Where.

February 25, 1983. Robin Snyder tales PR position with Red Circle, Greim's 'Thunder Bunny' gets own book; Whitman comics to be available in bags by April; Comico launching four b&w comics. Also in this issue: Advertising Index; Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print; Classified Ads; Comics in Your Future; Editorial; Fred Hembeck; Oh, So?; Terry Beatty; What, Where & When.

March 11, 1983. Pacific to reprint more Warren comics in color; Marvel photo covers popular; Frank Chiaramonte dies of cancer at 40; Alberto Vargas dies, painted lovely women. Also in this issue: Adventures of Superman; Advertising Index; Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Comics in Your Future; Editorial; Fanzine Guide; Fred Hembeck; Magazine Guide; Oh, So?; Swashbungler; What, When & Where.

March 25, 1983. Jack Cole - Plastic Man's creator remembered by friends, neighbors; Roy G. Krenkel dies, was EC, Burroughs artist; Krupp Comic Works changes name, sells distribution division. Also in this issue: Advertising Index; B.A.D. Comics; Brian Hayes; Cat Yronwode's Fit to Print; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Comics in Your Future; Editorial; Fred Hembeck; Magazine Guide; Oh, So?; Swashbungler; What, When & Where.

April 1, 1983. Found: 'Whiz Comics' #1 - most-sought comic contains surprises, raises questions; Tintin creator Herge dies of leukemia at 75; Marvel begins new talent search; Supergirl film begins London filming in April. Also in this issue: Adventures of Superman; Advertising Index; B.A.D. Comics; Book Guide; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Editorial; Fit to Print; Magazine Guide; Oh, So?; Swashbungler; What, When & Where.

April 8, 1983. Ernie Colon goes freelance; Dick Tracy artist Rick Fletcher dies; plus Jim Bertges, Michael Dugan, Ron Goulart, Grass Green, Fred Hembeck, Heidi MacDonald, Bob Vojtko, Charles A. Wagner, Lawrence Watt-Evans and Cat Yronwode. Cover price $1.00.

April 15, 1983. DC rushes to catch up, distributes 2 issues of Omega Men at once; the biggest reader survey and favorite comics ballot in comics history; plus contributions by Terry Beatty, Rick Brooks, Michael Dugan, Cheryl Duvall, Chuck Fiala, Ron Goulart, Brian Hayes, Francis Mao, Brian Pearce, Frank V. Priore, Keno Don Rosa, Elizabeth Slaughter, Charles A. Wagner, Lawrence Watt-Evans and Cat Yronwode; column headings by Orlando Busino and Alex Toth. Cover price $1.00.

April 22, 1983. Editor Mark Gruenwald on "Official Handbook" - series grows to 13 issues, with "Book of the Dead"...and what about Spider-Woman?; DC announces Thriller, Vigilante, drug book, and Star Raiders; Grimjack is back-up feature in First Comics' Starslayer. Cover price $1.00.

April 29, 1983. Marvel offers to buy out Harvey - line of comics for younger kids definitely coming from Marvel, in any case; an interview with Larry Hama - Conan to return to his roots; England's Judge Dredd comes to U.S. Also in this issue: Advertising Index; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Comics in Your Future; Editorial; Fit to Print; Brian Hayes; Information, Please; Magazine Guide; Oh, So?; Brian Pearce; Rayguns, Elves; Swashbungler; Bob Vojtko; What, Where & When.

May 6, 1983. Overstreet sues House of Collectibles; who's editing what at DC Comics; also in this issue: Jeff Albrecht, Jim Bertges, Rick Brooks, Michael Dugan, Ron Goulart, Fred Hembeck, Tony Isabella, Lee F. Johnson, Jim Jones, Francis Mao, Kim Metzger, Brian Pearce, Keno Don Rosa, Fred Schwab, James Stoker, Chuck Todd, Dan Tyree, Bob Vojtko, Charles A. Wagner, Lawrence Watt-Evans, John Wells and Cat Yronwode.

May 13, 1983. Neal Adams, Roy Thomas blast "Kree-Skrull" reprint fee; Bil Keane wins NCS Reuben Award; Eclipse adds more Frank Miller pin-ups; Marvel to publish Void Indigo - Steve Gerber, Val Mayerik and Marvel are together again. Cover price $1.00.

May 20, 1983. Dick Tracy artist Richard Locher wins Pulitzer; Fred Hembeck starts a costume contest for Batman, Spider-Man and three others; plus contributions by Terry Beatty, Rick Brooks, Robert E. Butts, Michael Dugan, Bill Kropfhauser, Francis Mao, Kim Metzger, Greg W. Myers, Brian Pearce, Don Rosa, Doug Thornsjo, Charles Todd, Dan Tyree, Bob Vojtko, Charles A. Wagner, Lawrence Watt-Evans and Cat Yronwode. Cover price $1.00.

May 27, 1983. Lucasfilm and 20th upset over early Return of the Jedi release; DC raises price of comics to 75 cents; horror comics fan Lawrence Watt-Evans blasts gore in modern comics; the return of Elizabeth Slaughter's The Bitter Half; plus contributions by Jim Bertges, Rick Brooks, Don Chin, Michael Dugan, Ron Goulart, Brian Hayes, Francis Mao, Kim Metzger, Greg W. Myers, Brian Pearce, Chuck Todd, Charles A. Wagner, Herb Wood and Cat Yronwode. Cover price $1.00.

June 3, 1983. Found: first 'All-Star Comics' #1 - unsuspected comic is related to 'Whiz/Flash' #1; Red Circle editors reassigned, Galaxia association is cancelled; Roy Thomas changes mind, signs 3-year DC pact. Also in this issue: Adventures of Superman; Advertising Index; B.A.D. Comics; Bitter Half; Classified Ads; Comics Guide; Editorial; Fit to Print; For the Record; Freddy & Eddy; Fred Hembeck; Kitz 'n' Katz; Kim Metzger; Oh, So?; Brian Pearce; Swashbungler; Bob Vojtko; Lawrence Watt-Evans; What, Where & When.

June 10, 1983. Marvel children's line could appear this year; the return of Trufan Adventures; the debut of Dealer Dan; the auspicious beginning of Craig Yoe Ho-Ho; plus contributions by Rick Brooks, Paul Curtis, Michael Dugan, Chuck Fiala, Ron Goulart, Bob Laughlin, Francis Mao, Kim Metzger, Elizabeth Slaughter, Joe Staton, Chuck Todd, Dan Tyree, Charles A. Wagner, Lawrence Watt-Evans and Cat Yronwode. Cover price $1.00.

Original cover price: $1.00. June 17, 1983. Interview with John Byrne; color posters by Byrne and Carl Barks; CBG Fan Award winners; Survey results. Alpha Flight cover by Byrne.