Sensation Comics

Sensation Comics
The first issue of Sensation Comics marked the first cover appearance of Wonder Woman, art by H. G. Peter.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly:
#1–93
Bimonthly:
#94–109
FormatOngoing series
GenreSuperhero (#1–93)
Romance (#94–106)
Supernatural/mystery (#107–109)
Publication dateJanuary 1942 – May–June 1952
No. of issues109
Main character(s)Wonder Woman

Sensation Comics is the title of an American comic book anthology series published by DC Comics that ran for 109 issues from 1942 to 1952. For most of its run, the lead feature was Wonder Woman, a character which had been introduced in All Star Comics #8 (October 1941).[1] Other characters that appeared included the Black Pirate, the Gay Ghost, Mister Terrific, Wildcat, Sargon the Sorcerer, Hal Mason, the Whip, the Atom, Little Boy Blue, Hop Harrigan, Romance, Inc., Lady Danger, Doctor Pat, and Astra.

The series briefly became a romance title starting with issue #94 (November 1949).[2] Johnny Peril became the lead feature with issue #107, when the theme of the comic changed to a supernatural/mystery format.[3] The title was changed to Sensation Mystery with #110 and ran for another seven issues.[4] The retitled series ended with issue #116 (July–August 1953).[5]

1999 one-shot

The Sensation Comics title was used again in 1999 as the title for one issue of the Justice Society Returns storyline.[6]

2014 revival

DC Comics revived the Sensation Comics series in August 2014 as a "Digital First" series featuring Wonder Woman.[7] The print edition debuted with an October cover date.[8] This series was cancelled in December 2015.[9] The final issue was #17 (cover dated Feb. 2016).[8]

Collected editions

  • Wonder Woman Archives
    • Volume 1 includes Sensation Comics #1–12, 240 pages, May 1998, ISBN 1-5638-9402-5
    • Volume 2 includes Sensation Comics #13–17, 240 pages, February 2000, ISBN 978-1563895944
    • Volume 3 includes Sensation Comics #18–24, 240 pages, June 2002, ISBN 1-5638-9814-4
    • Volume 4 includes Sensation Comics #25–32, 240 pages, March 2004, ISBN 1-4012-0145-8
    • Volume 5 includes Sensation Comics #33–40, 240 pages, September 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1270-0
    • Volume 6 includes Sensation Comics #41–48, 232 pages, July 2010, ISBN 978-1401227340
    • Volume 7 includes Sensation Comics #49–57, 240 pages, November 2012, ISBN 978-1401237431
  • The Wonder Woman Chronicles
  • JSA All-Stars Archives
  • Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman
    • Volume 1 includes Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #1–5, 168 pages, April 2015, ISBN 140125344X
    • Volume 2 includes Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #6–10, 168 pages, October 2015, ISBN 140125862X
    • Volume 3 includes Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #11–17, 232 pages, May 2016, ISBN 1401261574
  • Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus

Millennium Edition

In 2000 and 2001, DC reprinted several of its most notable issues in the Millennium Edition series. The first issue of Sensation Comics was reprinted in this format.[10]

References

  1. ^ Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Wonder Woman...took the lead in Sensation Comics following a sneak preview in All Star Comics #8. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 61: "Sensation Comics started to focus entirely on romance with issue #94 in November".
  3. ^ Markstein, Don (2010). "Johnny Peril". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 68: "For most of Sensation Comics run the lead feature remained Wonder Woman, but from issue #107, the theme changed as the mysterious adventurer known as Johnny Peril took center stage…At issue #110, Sensation Comics changed its name to Sensation Mystery to better represent its new focus. Johnny Peril remained the lead feature of the comic until its demise six issues later in July 1953".
  5. ^ Sensation Mystery at the Grand Comics Database
  6. ^ Goyer, David S.; Robinson, James (w), Benefiel, Scott (p), Propst, Mark (i). "Womanly Deeds and Manly Words" Sensation Comics, vol. 2, no. 1 (May 1999).
  7. ^ Yehl, Joshua (May 19, 2014). "DC Comics to Publish Digital First Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman". IGN. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman at the Grand Comics Database
  9. ^ Arrant, Chris (September 14, 2015). "Updated: Batman '66 and Sensation Comics Also Ending, GL: Lost Army A Miniseries". Newsarama. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. In the DC December 2015 solicitations, both Batman '66 and Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman are listed as ending with that month's issues.
  10. ^ Millennium Edition: Sensation Comics at the Grand Comics Database