The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
Encyclopedia
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves was an American
supernatural
-anthology
comic book
published by Charlton Comics
and best known as a showcase for the popular writer-artist Steve Ditko
, the co-creator of Marvel Comics
' Spider-Man
. 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.
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Gravess 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 Winnie the Witch); Ghostly Tales
(with Mr. Dedd); and Haunted
(with Impy and then Baron Weirwulf). The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves won the 1967 Alley Award
for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
' Ghostly Tales
#55 (May 1966), as Dr. Graves the Ghost Fighter in a three-page story by writer-artist Ernie Bache, the character went on to host his own anthology title, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves. The series ran 72 issues (cover-dated May 1967 - May 1982), generally published bimonthly. 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 (May 1982).
Three additional issues consisting solely of reprints, and titled simply Dr. Graves, were published as issues #73-75 (Sept. 1985 - Jan. 1986).
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 future industry star John Byrne. Writers on the title included Ditko, Steve Skeates
, Mike Pellowski, and the highly prolific, generally uncredited staff writer Joe Gill
.
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves won the 1967 Alley Award
for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
-anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
published by Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
and best known as a showcase for the popular writer-artist Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, the co-creator of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. The eponymous Dr. M. T. Graves was a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
who hosted the stories in each issue of this title, and very occasionally took part in a tale.
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Gravess sister titles, with many of the same creators, particularly Ditko, were the Charlton anthologies Ghost Manor
Ghost Manor (comics)
Ghost Manor was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1968 to 1984 . Volume one was "hosted" by the Old Witch , while volume two was hosted by Mr...
(with host Mr. Bones) and its successor, Ghostly Haunts
Ghostly Haunts
Ghostly Haunts was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1978. The book was "hosted" by Winnie the Witch, a "moddish" blue-skinned witch....
(with Winnie the Witch); Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd , a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr...
(with Mr. Dedd); and Haunted
Haunted (comics)
Haunted was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Impy, a pint-sized ghost dressed in an all-white superhero costume...
(with Impy and then Baron Weirwulf). The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves won the 1967 Alley Award
Alley Award
The Alley Award was an American series of comic book fan awards, first presented in 1962 for comics published in 1961. Officially organized under the aegis of the Academy of Comic Book Arts and Sciences, under executive secretary Jerry Bails, and later Paul Gambaccini and David Kaler, the award...
for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
Publication history
Following his introduction as Dr. M. T. Graves in Charlton ComicsCharlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
' Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd , a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr...
#55 (May 1966), as Dr. Graves the Ghost Fighter in a three-page story by writer-artist Ernie Bache, the character went on to host his own anthology title, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves. The series ran 72 issues (cover-dated May 1967 - May 1982), generally published bimonthly. 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 (May 1982).
Three additional issues consisting solely of reprints, and titled simply Dr. Graves, were published as issues #73-75 (Sept. 1985 - Jan. 1986).
Among the artists whose work appeared were Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, following his falling-out with Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
; newcomer Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo
James N. "Jim" Aparo was an American comic book artist best known for his 1960s and 1970s DC Comics work, including on the characters Batman, Aquaman and the Spectre....
, later to be one of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's signature artists; regular Charlton talents including Vince Alascia
Vince Alascia
Vincent Alascia , also known as Nicholas Alascia, was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America during the Golden Age of comics, and for his 23-year run as inker on a single creative team, with penciler Charles Nicholas Wojtkowski and writer Joe Gill at Charlton Comics...
, Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette Pat Boyette Pat Boyette (July 27, 1923, San Antonio, Texas – January 14, 2000, was an American broadcasting personality and news producer, and later a comic book artist best known for two decades of work for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the character The Peacemaker...
, Pete Morisi
Pete Morisi
Peter A. Morisi , who sometimes went by the pseudonym PAM, is an American comic book writer and artist who also spent much of his professional life as a New York City Police Department officer. He is best known as creator of the 1960s Charlton Comics series Peter Cannon .....
, Rocke Mastroserio
Rocke Mastroserio
Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio , who sometimes signed his work "Rocke M.", "RM", "Rocke" or "RAM", was an American comic book artist best known as a penciler and inker for Charlton Comics.-Early career:...
, and Charles Nicholas; and such others as Rich Larson, Don Newton
Don Newton
Don Newton was an American comic book artist. During his career, he worked for a number of comic book publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Charlton Comics. He is best known for his work on The Phantom, Aquaman, and Batman...
and Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton was an American comic book artist who sometimes used the pseudonyms Sean Todd and Dementia...
. The cover of issue #54 (Dec. 1975) marks one of the earliest professional works of future industry star John Byrne. Writers on the title included Ditko, Steve Skeates
Steve Skeates
Steve Skeates is an American comic book creator known for his work on books such as Spectre, Hawk and Dove, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Aquaman, and Namor the Sub-Mariner.-Career:...
, Mike Pellowski, and the highly prolific, generally uncredited staff writer Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
.
Awards
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves won the 1967 Alley Award
Alley Award
The Alley Award was an American series of comic book fan awards, first presented in 1962 for comics published in 1961. Officially organized under the aegis of the Academy of Comic Book Arts and Sciences, under executive secretary Jerry Bails, and later Paul Gambaccini and David Kaler, the award...
for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
External links
- Charlton Characters & Features at Charlton Spotlight. WebCitation archive