Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster

Mr. Monster was derived from a Golden Age character created by Fred Kelly who appeared only twice in 1940s Canadian comic books (Triumph Comics #31, 1946, and Super-Duper Comics #3, 1947). After trademarking Mr. Monster, Gilbert heavily revised the character, creating a horror/humor hybrid which often featured heavy satire of both the horror genre and superhero comics in general.[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=3614 Michael T. Gilbert Chats With The Irrepressible Mr. Monster], at Comic Book Resources; published June 9, 2004; retrieved March 29, 2015 The revised character first appeared in Pacific Comics Vanguard Illustrated #7, dated July 1984, but shortly afterwards Pacific folded, with its assets being taken over by Eclipse Comics. They offered Gilbert the opportunity to give the character a title of his own, initially planned as a January 1985 one-shot reprinting and completing the Vanguard storyline.{{cite magazine|date=January 1, 1985|title=Mr. Monster|author=Eric Yarber|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Redbeard, Inc|number=62/1985 Preview Issue}} The series would become an ongoing, with Dave Stevens providing a cover for the second issue.{{cite magazine|date=May 1, 1985|title=Newsflashes|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=70}} Eclipse also published a series of specials starring Mr. Monster,{{cite magazine|date=February 1, 1986|title=Newsflashes|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=88}} and later a crossover issue pairing him with Airboy.{{cite magazine|date=August 15, 1987|title=Top of the News (advertisement)|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=123}}

From 1988 Gilbert left Eclipse, instead taking the character to Dark Horse Comics.{{cite magazine|date=November 1, 1987|title=Newsline|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=128}}

Reviewing the first issue of the Eclipse series for Amazing Heroes, R.A. Jones felt the issue was missing a final spark despite its excellent art and otherwise solid writing.{{cite magazine|date=May 1, 1985|title=Comics in Review|author=R.A. Jones|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=70}}

Ed Sample was positive about Airboy and Mr. Monster, though he noted Airboy took a less central role than expected.{{cite magazine|date=November 1, 1987|title=Comics in Review|author=Ed Sample|magazine=Amazing Heroes|publisher=Fantagraphics Books|number=128}}

• Vanguard Illustrated #7 (Pacific Comics), July 1984.
• Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster #1-10 (Eclipse Comics), 1985–1987. Issues 1-5 collected as Mr. Monster: His Books of Forbidden Knowledge Vol. 1 (Marlowe & Company), 1996.
• Mr. Monster's Super Duper Special #1-8 (Eclipse Comics), 1986–1987.
• Airboy #28 (prologue to Airboy and Mr. Monster, Eclipse Comics), August 1987.
• Airboy and Mr. Monster one-shot (Eclipse Comics), August 1987.
• Mighty Mites V.2 #2 (Eternity Comics), September 1987.
• Wacky Squirrel Halloween Adventure Special one-shot (Dark Horse Comics), 1987.
• Dark Horse Presents #14, 20, 28, 33 (Dark Horse Comics), 1988-1989.
• Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster #1-8 (Dark Horse Comics), 1988-1990. Collected with revisions as Mr. Monster: Origins (Graphitti Designs), 1996.
• Mr. Monster Attacks #1-3 (Tundra Publishing), 1992.
• Mr. Monster's 3-D Triple Threat one-shot (Atlas), 1993.
• Penthouse Max #3 (Penthouse), 1996.
• Mr. Monster Presents: Crack-a-Boom! #1-3 (Caliber Comics), 1997.
• Mr. Monster Vs. Gorzilla one-shot (Image Comics), 1998.
• Mr. Monster's Gal Friday Kelly #1-3 (Image Comics), 2000.
• Mr. Monster: His Books of Forbidden Knowledge Vol. 0 (TwoMorrows Publishing), 2001. Reprints all Mr. Monster stories from Dark Horse Presents (v. 1), as well as material from Crack-a-Boom! #s 1 and 2, Hero Illustrated #11, Trencher X-Mas Bites Special #1, and Mr. Monster Attacks! #2, along with new material.
• Mr. Monster: Worlds War Two (Atomeka Press), 2004. Reprints Penthouse Max #3.
• Mr. Monster: Who Watches the Garbagemen? (Atomeka), 2005. Reprints stories from Mr. Monster (Eclipse) #3 and 6, Mr. Monster Attacks! #1, and Mr. Monster's Gal Friday Kelly #3, along with new material.
• Dark Horse Presents vol. 2 #1-3, 17, 27-30, 33-35 (Dark Horse Comics), 2011-2014.
• YEET Presents #34 and #36 (Cost Of Paper Comics), 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/yeet-presents-34-33999259|title=YEET Presents #34 wins the race? | YEET Presents on Patreon}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{gcdb|type=credit|search=Michael+Gilbert|title=Michael T. Gilbert}}
• {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=1447|title=Michael T. Gilbert}}
• [http://www.toonopedia.com/mrmonstr.htm Mr. Monster] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20130625064448/http://www.toonopedia.com/mrmonstr.htm Archived] from the original on March 10, 2016.

{{Eclipse Comics}}

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1984

Category:Caliber Comics titles

Category:Dark Horse Comics titles

Category:Dark Horse Comics superheroes

Category:Eclipse Comics titles

Category:Eclipse Comics superheroes

Category:Image Comics titles

Category:Image Comics superheroes

Category:Pacific Comics titles

Category:Tundra Publishing titles

Category:Fantasy comics

Category:Horror comics

Category:Satirical comics

Category:Comics about monsters

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