Review by Frank Plowright

With the appetite for superheroes dying off at DC in the late 1960s and the appetite for supernatural anthologies seemingly rampant, Ghosts was launched in 1970 to accompany several similar titles. The first eighteen issues are reprinted in this bulky black and white anthology.

As with DC’s other supernatural anthologies of the era, it’s the editor’s personality and choices that define the quality. Leo Dorfman’s original brief was to combine new material with reprints from DC’s 1950s output for a 52 page package, but the reprints were phased out when the page count shrunk after five issues. Dorfman was a competent writer, but never an inspirational one, which means moreso than DC’s other mystery titles of the era, the quality is dependent on the art.

Here we’re also unfortunate, as despite then new artist Jim Aparo drawing the opening strip about a 1930s love rat with some panache, Dorfman’s preference is for older artists with a considerable track record. The Nick Cardy covers still impress, but the opening third of the collection is bulked with artwork from Bob Brown, John Calnan, Jerry Grandenetti, Art Saaf, Jack Sparling and George Tuska, none of whose styles were groundbreaking despite some half-hearted attempts at less traditional layouts. In fact, Ramona Fradon, Carmine Infantino, Rueben Moreira and Curt Swan illustrate better written stories from the 1950s. Only the artistic contributions of Sam Glanzman break the monotony, even if Dorfman varies his scripts to feature past and present, making the occasional contributions from other writers welcome. Richard E. Hughes is hardly stretching himself, on Manu’s plan to escape a life of colonial oppression, but it has some spark, and Sparling’s art isn’t too bad.

However, beginning with Tony DeZuniga (sample art), assorted Filipino artists seep into the pages. Dorfman’s stories don’t become less predictable, but the likes of Alfredo Alcala, E.R. Cruz, Rico Rival, and Gerry Talaoc make them look a lot better. Nestor Redondo only contributes the single story, but it’s the best looking in the collection as he draws the hell out of a spooky gothic castle, extending it endlessly atop a hill in World War II drama. Coincidentally it’s preceded by another great art job, this time from Talaoc concerning killers who dispose of their victims in a scrapyard.

Among the Filipino contributors are several artists not widely seen on other titles, such as Abe Ocampo, Buddy Gernale and Nestor Malgapo, with Gernale very good, if prone to drawing staring people.

It should be noted that second print is more desirable as it rectifies a mistake from the first print, restoring the final page of Murray Boltinoff and Talaoc’s ‘The Specters Were the Stars’. However, there’s a reason it’s the only Showcase Presents mystery/supernatural selection where used copies can be had at less than jaw-dropping prices. It’s not a sparkling selection and you’d be better off spending more money on one of the companion collections (see recommendations).