King-Size Comics Giants-Size Fun Episode 005 Rudolph Treasury Comic C-20

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #C-20 the first of DC’s Treasury Editions!

Welcome to the 5th Episode of King-Size Comics Giant-Size Fun. Today I'll be covering the first of DC's Treasury Edition Comics, #C-20. The Episode can be download directly here: King-Size Comics Giant-Size Fun Episode 006

Released October 24, 1972

Cover Artist unknown

Editor: Sol Harrison

Despite the cover that states “New Giant Adventures of Rudolph” this issue appears to reprint stories from DC’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #2, 4, and 6.

DC released a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer starting in 1950, the series ran for 13 years, releasing one seasonal issue in October of each year. The final issue, #13 released in 1962, was renamed “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Annual” and was one of the 80 page DC Giant Annuals that DC put out during the early 60’s. This final issue even adopted the annual format of reprinting past stories, instead of printing all new stories like the prior 12 issues. The issue did however have a single new story, which would later be reprinted in the second DC Rudolph Treasury comic, #C-24, which was released in 1973.

 

After this annual, Rudolph saw a publishing hiatus, as far as I can tell from my research, he did not appear again in comic form until this first DC Treasury comic. Which is odd, as you would think that the character would have a surge in popularity following the Rankin & Bass Rudolph Claymation TV special which hit in 1964, 2 years after the final issue of his own series, and 8 years before he’d star in another comic.

DC Released 7 Rudolph Treasuries (that’s

1)      The issue I’ll be covering today, which retroactively was number #C-20, which reprints stories from #2, 4, and 6 of the 1950’s Rudolph series. (1972)

2)      #C-24 reprinting stories from #3, 5, and 13 of DC’s Rudolph series (1973)

3)      #C-33 which appears had 2 new Rudolph stories (1974)

4)      #C-42 which also had 2 new Rudolph Stories (1975)

5)      #C-50 had 3 new Rudolph Stories (1976)

6)      #C-53 which had 2 new stories (1977)

7)      And the last Rudolph Treasury was All-New Collectors’ Edition #C-60 (1976) which was released in May and titled Rudolph’s Summer Fun, so I would not really classify that as a Christmas Comic.

After these Treasury appearance, Rudolph showed up in a few DC digests, but never again had his own series or a constant publishing presence at DC. 

WORLD AT A GLANCE

Sunday October 22 1972

-The Oakland A’s beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 in Game 7 of the 1972 World Series

-Henry Kissinger and the South Vietnamese President met to discuss a cease-fire in the Vietnam War

Monday October 23 1972

-The US halted bombing of North Vietnam above the 20^th parallel, ending Operation Linebacker

-The Musical Pippin began its run of 1944 performances at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway

Tuesday October 24 1972 (the day this issue went on sale)

-Sadly Jackie Robinson, the first African-American ballplayer to break the color barrier in the major leagues died at the age of 53

-The various crime leaders of the Yakuza gangs had a meeting and setup peace agreement and distinct area of control for their organized crime organization.

Wednesday October 25 1972

-The Washington Post reported that White House Chief of Staff Haldeman was the 5^th person to control a secret cash fund designed to finance illegal political sabotage and espionage in the Watergate scandal during the 1972 presidential election.

Thursday October 26 1972

-In West Africa General Mathieu Kerekou staged a coup in a country named Dahomey, overthrowing the government that had been in place in 1972, and renamed the country The People’s Republic of Benin

-Igor Sikorsky, an aviation engineer credited with developing the helicopter dies at the age of 83

-Kissinger makes an unauthorized speech promising that peace is at hand in Vietnam, the final cease fire agreement with North-Vietnam would not be signed until early 1973

Friday October 27 1972

-The Consumer Product Safety Act, which setup the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and gave it authority to develop safety standards and issue recalls on products determined unsafe, was signed into law

-The Space Probe “Mariner 9” which had been orbiting Mars and transmitted over 7,000 image of the Red Planet, was shut-off.

-Elton John’s Crocodile Rock single was released, months later the song would become Elton’s first single to top the charts

Saturday October 28 1972

-Country Singer Brad Paisley and NFL superstar Terrell Davis were both born

-North Yemen (aka the Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen) signed a cease-fire agreement in Egypt.

The Top 10 Songs on October 28^th 1972 were:

1)      Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues

2)      Burning Love by Elvis Presley

3)      Ben by Michael Jackson

4)      Garden party by Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band

5)      I’ll be Around by the Spinners

6)      I can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash

7)      Everybody Plays the Fool by The Main Ingredient

8)      My Ding-A-Ling by Chuck Berry

9)      If you Don’t Know Me by Now by Harold Melvin and the Blues Notes

10)   Freddie’s Dead (The Theme From Superfly) by Curtis Mayfield

Other Comics on sale the week of October 22-October 28 1972

From DC: Action Comics #419, Adventure Comics #425, Jack Kirby’s the Demon #4, Detective Comics #430, Superboy #192, Tarzan #215

From Marvel: Captain Marvel #24, The Cat #2, Creatures   on the Loose #21, Fantastic Four #130, The Monster of Frankenstein #1, Kull the Conqueror #6,     Lil’ Pals #3, marvel Premiere #6, Sgt. Fury #106, Tomb of Dracula #6, Werewolf by Night #3 

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Thank you for listening, I hope you come back for Episode 006 where I take a special look at the Rankin and Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Claymation special that is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.