Comics Buyer's Guide (1971) comic books

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #251, Sept. 8, 1978. This issue has four sections and 88 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon; and a Madman comic book story by Alan Jim Hanley (Page 2 inked by Jim Engel, and Page 5 inked by Chuck Fiala). This version of Madman predates Mike Allreds by 12 years, and there are a total of three installments of Hanleys strip. The other two appeared in TBGs 261 and 263. Madman was Hanleys way of poking fun at the dark and gritty trend that emerged in comics during the 1970s. The Madman cover is, of course, also by Hanley. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #253, Sept. 22, 1978. This issue has three sections and 68 pages, and features a Fanpubs fanzine review column by L. Bruce Sapp; a Now What? column by Murray Bishoff; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a Tarsan parody strip by Eddie Eddings; and a five-page 1978 San Diego Comicon convention report and photos by Jackie Estrada and David Scroggy, with additional photos by Shel Dorf. The Star Hawks cover by Jim Newsome is his first of six covers for TBG. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #255, Oct. 6, 1978. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Futureview column by L. Bruce Sapp; two Dateline comic strips by Fred Hembeck; the first of two Legion of Stupid Heroes comic book stories by Eddie Eddings (the second appears in TBG #305); and a WE Seal of Approval (WSA) report page by Stan Blair. The Atom cover is by Sam de la Rosa and Doug Herring. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #256, Oct. 13, 1978. This issue has three sections and 72 pages, along with a separate, tabloid-sized 20-page American Comic Book Company catalog (included with copies listed here), Pulp Price List #10. Featured inside is a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon; and a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Dick Tracy cover is by Chester Gould, Max Allan Collins and Rick Fletcher. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #256, Oct. 13, 1978. This issue has three sections and 72 pages, along with a separate, tabloid-sized 20-page American Comic Book Company catalog (is missing from copies listed here), Pulp Price List #10. Featured inside is a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon; and a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Dick Tracy cover is by Chester Gould, Max Allan Collins and Rick Fletcher. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #257, Oct. 20, 1978. This issue has four sections and 84 pages, and originally came with an extra full-color, quad-fold, enamel stock Cinefantastique ad slick with a Close Encounters of the Third Kind poster on one side. The interior of the issue features a Now What? column by Murray Bishoff; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; two Media Report columns by David McDonnell; a three-page parody comic book story by Eddie Eddings titled, The Death of Jonah Hoax; and a nine-page Mark Evanier interview by Shel Dorf for his column Shel Dorf and the Fantasy Makers. The Sub-Mariner cover is by Doug Herring. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #260, Nov. 10, 1978. This issue has four sections and 84 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Rog 2000 cover is by Jim Newsome. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #261, Nov. 17, 1978. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Now What? column by Murray Bishoff; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Buck Gordon science fiction parody art by Alan Jim Hanley, Russ Maheras and Mike Saenz; a five-page Bill Gaines interview by Shel Dorf for his column Shel Dorf and the Fantasy Makers; a quarter-page X-Men comic strip (TBG house ad) by Ken Kramer; the second installment of the Madman comic book story arc by Alan Jim Hanley; and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The science fiction space cover is by S. McManus (Shawn?). Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #262, Nov. 24, 1978. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Wonder Woman cover is by John Heebink and Aaron McClellan. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #263, Dec. 1, 1978. This issue has three sections and 64 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; the third and final installment of the Madman comic book story arc by Alan Jim Hanley; and a Seriocomic Quackery comic strip by Bob Hayes and Chad Draper. The Thor/Odin cover is by Jim Newsome. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom 265, Dec. 15, 1978. This issue has three sections and 68 pages, and features a Now What? column by Murray Bishoff; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Crusader Comments column by Martin L. Greim; a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon; a Dan Hoffman two-page center spread poster of Donald Duck, Snoopy and Howard the Duck fishing; a unnamed newspaper strips parody comic strip by Frank Pauer; and a WE Seal of Approval (WSA) report page by Stan Blair. The cover is by Stephen Flame Taylor. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #266, Dec. 22, 1978. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck, and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Conun the Hanna-Barbarian cover is by Eddie Eddings. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #267, Dec. 29, 1978. This issue has three sections and 68 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; two Dateline comic strips by Fred Hembeck; a 1978 Minneapolis Comic Convention report with photos; a two-page center spread poster of King Kull by Dan Hoffman; a Conun the Hanna-Barbarian comic book story by Eddie Eddings; and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Dennis the Menace cover is by Fred Hembeck. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #268, Jan. 5, 1979. This issue has three sections and 72 pages, and came with an extra 12-page, tabloid-sized Comic City catalog (included in this item listing). Inside, the issue features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The The Fall of Théoden cover is by Stephen Flame Taylor. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #268, Jan. 5, 1979. This issue has three sections and 72 pages, and came with an extra 12-page, tabloid-sized Comic City catalog (NOT included with this item listing). Inside, the issue features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The The Fall of Théoden cover is by Stephen Flame Taylor. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #269, Jan. 12, 1979. This issue has two sections and 44 pages, and features a Now What? column by Murray Bishoff; a Crusader Comments column by Martin L. Greim; two Media Report columns by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; an Information Center column by Don Rosa; and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Superman photo cover is a variety of publicity stills from the then just recently released Superman movie. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #270, Jan. 19, 1979. This issue has three sections and 56 pages, and features a Media Report column by David McDonnell; and a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Charlie Chan cover is drawn by Bob Murphy. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #272, Feb. 2, 1979. This issue has four sections and 96 pages, and features a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The science fiction cover is by Russ Maheras. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom #274, Feb. 16, 1979. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Doom Patrol cover by Gilbert and Mario Hernandez was published two years before they self-published "Love and Rockets" #1 with their brother Jaime, a series picked up by Fantagraphics that went on to great acclaim during the 1980s. If not their first published work, it has to be one of their earliest. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #275, Feb. 27, 1979. This issue has four sections and 80 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; and a Dale Messick eight-page interview, with photos and art, by Shel Dorf for his column Shel Dorf and the Fantasy Makers. The Frankenstein cover is by Dan Hoffman. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #278, March 16, 1979. This issue has four sections, 84 pages, and originally included an extra full-color, quad-fold, enamel stock Cinefantastique ad slick with a Forbidden Planet poster on one side. Inside, the issue features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck, and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Thor and Iron Man cover is by Wes Crum. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #279, March 23, 1979. This issue has three sections and 56 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Media Report column by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a Roach Man comic book story written by Eddie Eddings, and drawn by Jim Newsome; and a Tales of the Krypton comic book story written by Eddie Eddings, and drawn by Alan Jim Hanley. The Sub-Mariner cover is by Steve Crooks. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #280, March 30, 1979. This issue has four sections and 96 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Howard the Duck, Red Sonya and Devil Dinosaur cover is by Jim Newsome. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #282, April 13, 1979 (NOTE: This issue is misdated. It should be dated April 14, 1979). This issue has three sections, 72 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck, and a TBG Cartoon Caption Contest by Keith von Cannon. The Human Torch and Sub-Mariner cover is by Wes Crum. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #284, April 27, 1979. This issue has three sections, 72 pages, and includes an extra two-section, tabloid-sized, 28-page American Comic Book Company catalog, Book and Magazine List 1979. Inside, the issue features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The werewolf cover was drawn by Tim Fuller. NOTE: The cover for this issue is incorrectly dated "1978." It was actually published in 1979. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #284, April 27, 1979. This issue has three sections, 72 pages, and includes an extra two-section, tabloid-sized, 28-page American Comic Book Company catalog, Book and Magazine List 1979. Inside, the issue features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The werewolf cover was drawn by Tim Fuller. NOTE: The cover for this issue is incorrectly dated "1978." It was actually published in 1979. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #286, May 11, 1979. This issue has three sections, 72 pages, and includes two Dateline comic strips by Fred Hembeck. The Canine the Barkbarian cover was drawn by Tim Fuller. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #287, May 18, 1979. This issue has three sections and 56 pages, and features a Media Report column by David McDonnell; two Dateline comic strips by Fred Hembeck; a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson; a Sydney J. Harris Speaks strip by Alan Jim Hanley; and a WE Seal of Approval (WSA) report page by Stan Blair. The Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel cover is by Steve Vance. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #291, June 15, 1979. This issue has three sections and 72 pages, and features a Beautiful Balloons column by Don and Maggie Thompson (which includes an Alex Toth guest editorial); two Media Report columns by David McDonnell; a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck; a Futureview column by L. Bruce Sapp; a reprint of an Edgar Rice Burroughs article by Kevin Hancer published in TBG 95 and 125; and a Clark the Collector comic strip by George Erling. The Captain American cover is by Jim Newsome. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #294, July 6, 1979. This issue has four sections, 80 pages, and features a Dateline comic strip by Fred Hembeck. The Galactus and Sphinx cover is by Doug Herring. ummary of this issue by Russ Maheras.

The Buyers Guide for Comic Fandom #295, July 13, 1979. This issue has three sections and 68 pages, and features two Media Report columns by David McDonnell; two Dateline comic strips by Fred Hembeck; a two-page Alan Jim Hanley center spread poster for National Fanzine Month, inked by Dennis Jensen; a Dick Moores nine-page interview (with photos and art) by Shel Dorf for his column Shel Dorf and the Fantasy Makers; and a Mazes reprint by Alan Jim Hanley and Harris, originally published in TBG 109. The Human Torch/Doctor Doom cover is by Wes Crum. Summary of this issue by Russ Maheras.