| The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves | |
|---|---|
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves #1 (May 1967). Cover art by Pat Boyette.
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Charlton Comics |
| Schedule | Bimonthly |
| Format | Anthology |
| Publication date | May 1967 - Jan. 1986 |
| No. of issues | 75 |
| Main character(s) | Doctor M.T. Graves |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | (title character) Ernie Bache |
| Written by | Steve Ditko, Steve Skeates, Mike Pellowski, Joe Gill |
| Artist(s) | Steve Ditko, Jim Aparo, Vince Alascia, Pat Boyette, Pete Morisi, Rocke Mastroserio, Charles Nicholas, Rich Larson, Don Newton, Tom Sutton |
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves[1] is an American supernatural-anthology comic book that was published by Charlton Comics, often featuring stories by writer-artist Steve Ditko. The eponymous Dr. M. T. Graves was a fictional character who hosted the stories in each issue of this title, and very occasionally took part in a tale.[2]
Sister titles, with many of the same creators, particularly Ditko, were the Charlton anthologies Ghost Manor (with host Mr. Bones) and its successor, Ghostly Haunts (with host Winnie the Witch); Ghostly Tales (with host Mr. L. Dedd, later I. M. Dedd); and Haunted (with hosts Impy and then Baron Weirwulf).
The series won the 1967 Alley Award for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
Following his introduction as Dr. M. T. Graves in Charlton Comics' Ghostly Tales #55 (cover-dated May 1966) in the three-page story "The Ghost Fighter" by writer-artist Ernie Bache,[3] the character went on to host his own anthology title, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves. The series ran 72 issues (May 1967 - May 1982), generally published bimonthly.
In issue #5, the fourth-wall-breaking story "Best of All Possible Worlds" by Steve Skeates and Jim Aparo involved a reader who's pulled into the pages of the comic book, and has to decide whether to venture back to the real world.[4]
Following issue #60 (Jan. 1977), the title went on hiatus for seven months until issue #61 (Aug. 1977) before being canceled with #65 (May 1978). Charlton revived the title three years later with #66 (May 1981) before canceling it once more six issues later.[5]
Three additional issues consisting solely of reprints, and titled simply Dr. Graves, were published as issues #73-75 (Sept. 1985 - Jan. 1986).[6]
Among the artists whose work appeared were Steve Ditko, following his falling-out with Marvel Comics; newcomer Jim Aparo, later to be one of Batman's signature artists; regular Charlton talents including Vince Alascia, Pat Boyette, Pete Morisi, Rocke Mastroserio, and Charles Nicholas; and such others as Rich Larson, Don Newton and Tom Sutton. The cover of issue #54 (Dec. 1975) marks one of the earliest professional works of John Byrne.
Writers on the title included Ditko, Steve Skeates, Mike Pellowski, and the prolific, generally uncredited staff writer Joe Gill.[5]
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves won the 1967 Alley Award for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.[7]
