History Main / AnthologyComic

If a certain character proves to be very popular, they may get their very own comic. This may be either a one-off or semi-regular extended story, or it may be a full-blown SpinOff. ComicBook/JudgeDredd is a good example.

Anthology comics used to be common in America, but are less visible nowadays. [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] and [[Creator/DCComics DC]], originally published several stories in one issue of their respective comics; only the most popular characters ever got a whole issue devoted to them, and even then it was typically a group of shorter stories about the character. Nowadays, Marvel and DC typically publish one or two stories per issue of each comic -- the DecompressedComic and WritingForTheTrade pretty much forced the end of the anthology at the Big Two. However, Marvel has recently attempted to revive the anthology format with ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents''; the first series lasted 175 issues but the second only 12. They've since tried giving it another go, this time re-using the ''ComicBook/Strange Tales'' title. A more successful attempt has been ''ComicBook/MarvelsVoices'', a set of themed anthologies, each one published annually, timed to coincide with events such as Pride Month and Black History Month.

Anthology comics used to be common in America, but are less visible nowadays. [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] and [[Creator/DCComics DC]], originally published several stories in one issue of their respective comics; only the most popular characters ever got a whole issue devoted to them, and even then it was typically a group of shorter stories about the character. Nowadays, Marvel and DC typically publish one or two stories per issue of each comic -- the DecompressedComic and WritingForTheTrade pretty much forced the end of the anthology at the Big Two. However, Marvel has recently attempted to revive the anthology format with ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents''; the first series lasted 175 issues but the second only 12. They've since tried giving it another go, this time re-using the Strange Tales title. It is also easier to find [[AlternativeComics independent comics]] that go down the anthology route.

* ''Overkill'

** ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish''

** And ''Strange Tales''
** And ''ComicBook/MarvelTwoInOne''
** Not to mention ''Amazing (Adult) Fantasy'', ''Tales to Astonish'', ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'', and ''Tales of Suspense''. Many were eventually fully taken over by superheroes who debuted in them.

* ''ComicBook/TheBeano''
* ''ComicBook/TheDandy''

* ''ComicBook/TheTopper''

* ''Sparky''

* ''ComicBook/{{Bunty}}''

* ''ComicBook/{{Jinty}}''

* ''Battle''

* ''ComicBook/{{Buster}}''
* ''ComicBook/{{Oink}}''
* ''Monster Fun''

* ''Shiver and Shake''
* ''Nutty''
* ''Hoot''
* ''ComicBook/{{Viz}}''
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' initially started as one of these, with stories from many different Sega games appearing in the comic, including ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'', ''VideoGame/{{Shinobi}}'', and the most successful ''VideoGame/DecapAttack'', amongst others, before Sonic started taking more and more of the space, eventually phasing them all out. [[Webcomic/SonicTheComicOnline The Online Continuation]] has tried to continue this, adding stories about ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'', ''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}'', and ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead''.

* ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents''

*** ''Franchise/StarTrek Unlimited'' -- Ran for ten issues, featured the ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Original Series]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Next Generation]]'' casts.

*** ''Midnight Sons Unlimited'' -- Featuring supernatural characters such as ComicBook/GhostRider, ComicBook/{{Morbius}}, ComicBook/{{Blade}}, ComicBook/WerewolfByNight, and ComicBook/DoctorStrange.

** ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' – Birthplace of Franchise/{{Batman}}, introduced as its main feature in issue #27, which eventually took over the series.
** ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' – Birthplace of Franchise/{{Superman}}, which eventually took over the series.
*** ''Action Comics Weekly'' was an attempt to revive the anthology format, with Franchise/GreenLantern as the main recurring feature; it lasted 42 issues before returning to a monthly Superman series.
** ''Flash Comics'' – Birthplace of Franchise/TheFlash (naturally), ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} and ComicBook/BlackCanary.

** ''All-American Comics'' – Birthplace of Franchise/GreenLantern and ComicBook/TheAtom. From issue #103 onwards was {{Retool}}ed as ''All-American Western''.

** ''ComicBook/SensationComics'' – Had Franchise/WonderWoman as its main feature[[note]]although she debuted as a backup feature in ''[[ComicBook/AllStarComicsNumberEight All-Star Comics #8]]'', surviving drafts of that story indicate it was originally slated for ''Sensation'' #1[[/note]]; also the birthplace of ComicBook/MisterTerrific and ComicBook/{{Wildcat}}. Wonder Woman was phased out after issue #106, and the title was changed to ''Sensation Mystery'' from #110.

Anthologies are also the norm in Japan. {{Manga}} tend to go the anthology route by default, having multiple comic series be serialized in larger magazines that are a few hundred pages long, with each one being about 20-30 pages in length (except for gag series and {{Yonkoma}}). Those aimed at teenage [[{{Shonen}} boys]] or [[{{Shojo}} girls]] often put the name of their demographic in the title, while those aimed at {{seinen}} or {{josei}} usually use words like ''young'' or ''youth''.

[[{{Manga}} Japanese comics]] tend to go the anthology route by default, having multiple comic series be serialized in larger magazines that are a few hundred pages long, with each one being about 20-30 pages in length (except for gag series and {{Yonkoma}}). Those aimed at teenage [[{{Shonen}} boys]] or [[{{Shojo}} girls]] often put the name of their demographic in the title, while those aimed at {{seinen}} or {{josei}} usually use words like ''young'' or ''youth''.

* ''Ribon''
* ''Manga/ToshiDensetsu;;

** ''Flash Comics'' – Birthplace of Franchise/TheFlash (naturally) and ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}.

** ''Star-Spangled Comics'' – Birthplace of the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, and the Newsboy Legion. Later had ComicBook/{{Robin}} as its main feature, followed by Tomahawk. From issue #131 was {{Retool}}ed as ''Star-Spangled War Stories''.

* ''ComicBook/DarkSoulsLegendsOfTheFlame'' is an anthology of stories based on VideoGame/DarkSouls.

** ''Comic Cavalcade'' – Fulfilled the original purpose of ''All-Star Comics'' by featuring separate solo stories of Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern, these being the other three DC superheroes with their own solo series.

** ''All-Star Comics'' – Originally featured solo stories for all DC's most popular characters apart from the top two. In issue #3, the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica was introduced as a framing device; eventually the series evolved into a genuine team title. From issue #58 onwards was {{Retool}}ed as ''All-Star Western''.

** ''ComicBook/SensationComics'' – Had Franchise/WonderWoman as its main feature[[note]]although she debuted as a backup feature in ''All-Star Comics'' #8, surviving drafts of that story indicate it was originally slated for ''Sensation'' #1[[/note]]; also the birthplace of ComicBook/MisterTerrific and ComicBook/{{Wildcat}}. Wonder Woman was phased out after issue #106, and the title was changed to ''Sensation Mystery'' from #110.

** ''Adventure Comics'' – Birthplace of Sandman (the original, not the Creator/NeilGaiman one), ComicBook/{{Hourman}} and ComicBook/{{Starman}}. Was eventually taken over by ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, then the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, then ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. Returned to the anthology format after that, and [[LongRunners continued to last for a long time]] with frequently-changing main features and backups. Taken over entirely by ComicBook/DialHForHero for issues #479-490, then {{Retool}}ed as a digest-sized Legion book for another 13 issues until finally being cancelled. Revived in 2009 with a Superboy main story and Legion backup, before being taken over entirely by the Legion again.

** ''Adventure Comics'' – Birthplace of Sandman (the original, not the Creator/NeilGaiman one), ComicBook/{{Hourman}} and ComicBook/{{Starman}}. Was eventually eventually taken over by ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, then the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, then ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, and continued to last for [[LongRunners a long time after that]] switching between returns to the anthology format and solo runs with various other main characters.

** ''Comic Cavalcade'' – Fulfilled the original purpose of ''All-Star Comics'' by featuring separate solo stories of Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern, being the other three DC superheroes with their own solo series.

** ''Whiz Comics'' – Published by Fawcett Comics, birthplace of [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} CaptainMarvel]])

* Notable anthologies from [[Franchise/TheDCU DC Comics]] and related companies include:
** ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' (taken over by Franchise/{{Batman}})
** ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' (taken over by Franchise/{{Superman}})

** ''Flash Comics'' (replaced by the [[Franchise/TheFlash Flash]])

** ''ComicBook/SensationComics'' (birthplace of ComicBook/MisterTerrific, ComicBook/{{Wildcat}} & Franchise/WonderWoman[[note]]the latter ''technically'' debuted as third-feature in ''All-Star Comics'' #8, but surviving drafts of that story indicate it was originally slated for ''Sensation'' #1[[/note]])

** ''Whiz Comics'' (from Fawcett Comics, birthplace of [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} CaptainMarvel]])
** ''All-American Comics'' (birthplace of Franchise/GreenLantern)
** ''All-Star Comics'' (birthplace of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, later changed to ''All-Star Western'')
** ''World's Finest''(taken over exclusively by Superman & Batman; was initially separate solo Superman and Batman stories, plus a few other characters, in the same issue)

** ''More Fun Comics'' (various DC characters debuted/appeared here, including Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Superboy)
** ''Adventure Comics'' (long-running anthology title, but Superboy or the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes were usually the stars)