Notes:
DON ROSA provides a Valentine's Day-themed cover starring The Spirit and Ebony. The Spirit is also featured on MIKE ZECK's back cover. In the lettercol, James Van Hise adds this note re Rosa's front cover: "The basic idea is patterned after the design used by Norman Rockwell on a Valentine's Day cover for the SATURDAY EVENING POST."
BLASTS FROM THE READERS includes letters from DON HUTCHISON (Ontario, Canada), STAN SLUPCZYNSKI (Madison Heights, Mich.) and JIM JONES (Vista, CA).
Synopsis: A valuable reprinting of WILLIAM PARENTE's essay on EC COMICS that originally appeared in a 1967 SFCA publication. This thorough examination and evaluation of EC is lavishly illustrated with cover and panel repros (opening with a full-page repro of the splash to "Food For Thought" by Williamson & Krenkel.)
Synopsis: JAMES VAN HISE's column (fka "The Williamson Collector"). A review of the non-EC work of EC's greatest artists, including George Evans, John Severin, Jack Davis, Al Williamson and Reed Crandall.
Van Hise rates on a 1 to 5 scale MOTION PICTURE COMICS #110 (Fawcett, May 1952); BATTLE # 32 (Atlas, September 1954) and BATTLE #67 (Atlas, December 1959). Includes repros of four pages.
Synopsis: HOWARD P. SIEGEL's column packed with fascinating facts and thought-provoking commentary on the comics scene circa 1975.
Among other items, Siegel writes an essay on "PRINCE VALIANT -In The Days of John Cullen Murphy" (includes a full-page repro of the Valiant strip for November 29, 1959). Siegel also reviews the first issues emanating from Atlas-Seaboard.
Synopsis: Among other items, GARY BROWN discusses the possible revival of STAR TREK as a series. Opposite Brown's column is a full-page Trek cast photo featuring Uhura, Bones, Kirk and Spock.
Synopsis: DON ROSA writes and illustrates this feature, crammed with information and a delight to look at. The logo this month features the I.M. Force. Episode guides include THE AVENGERS' 1968 season, THE WILD, WILD WEST first season and an index to the SHERLOCK HOLMES talkies starting in 1929.
Synopsis: A four-page piece on MLJ's ZIP COMICS by RAYMOND MILLER. The informative and well-researched article opens with a full-page cover reproduction of ZIP COMICS #7 and includes panel repros from other issues.