The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves is an American supernatural-anthology comic book that was published by Charlton Comics, often featuring stories by writer-artist Steve Ditko. The eponymous Dr. M. T. Graves was a fictional character who hosted the stories in each issue of this title, and very occasionally took part in a tale.
Sister titles, with many of the same creators, particularly Ditko, were the Charlton anthologies Ghost Manor and its successor, Ghostly Haunts ; Ghostly Tales ; and Haunted.
The series won the 1967 Alley Award for Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title.
Publication history
Following his introduction as Dr. M. T. Graves in Charlton Comics' Ghostly Tales #55 in the three-page story "The Ghost Fighter" by writer-artist Ernie Bache, the character went on to host his own anthology title, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves. The series ran 72 issues, generally published bimonthly.In issue #5, the fourth-wall-breaking story "Best of All Possible Worlds" by Steve Skeates and Jim Aparo involved a reader who's pulled into the pages of the comic book, and has to decide whether to venture back to the real world.
Following issue #60, the title went on hiatus for seven months until issue #61 before being canceled with #65. Charlton revived the title three years later with #66 before canceling it once more six issues later.
Three additional issues consisting solely of reprints, and titled simply Dr. Graves, were published as issues #73-75.
Among the artists whose work appeared were Steve Ditko, following his falling-out with Marvel Comics; newcomer Jim Aparo, later to be one of Batman's signature artists; regular Charlton talents including Vince Alascia, Pat Boyette, Pete Morisi, Rocke Mastroserio, and Charles Nicholas; and such others as Rich Larson, Don Newton and Tom Sutton. The cover of issue #54 marks one of the earliest professional works of John Byrne.
Writers on the title included Ditko, Steve Skeates, Mike Pellowski, and the prolific, generally uncredited staff writer Joe Gill.