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Mr. Monster
Mr. Monster
	Cover to Doc Stern...Mr. Monster #1 (1986) by Michael T. Gilbert.
Publication information
Publisher	Pacific Comics; Eclipse Comics; Dark Horse Comics; Tundra Publishing; Caliber Comics; Image Comics; Cost Of Paper Comics
First appearance	Vanguard Illustrated #7 (Pacific Comics, July 1984)
Created by	Michael T. Gilbert
In-story information
Full name	Doc Stearn

Doc Stearn...Mr. Monster is a comic book featuring a superhero created by Michael T. Gilbert, most recently published by Dark Horse Comics.^[1]

Publication history

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.^[2] The revised character first appeared in Pacific Comics Vanguard Illustrated #7, dated July 1984. However, 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.^[3] The series would become an ongoing, with Dave Stevens providing a cover for the second issue.^[4] Eclipse also published a series of specials starring Mr. Monster,^[5] and later a crossover issue pairing him with Airboy.^[6]

From 1988 Gilbert left Eclipse, instead taking the character to Dark Horse Comics.^[7]

Reception

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.^[8]

Ed Sample was positive about Airboy and Mr. Monster, though he noted Airboy took a less central role than expected.^[9]

Bibliography

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). 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). 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). 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). 2004. Reprints Penthouse Max #3.
Mr. Monster: Who Watches the Garbagemen? (Atomeka). 2005. Reprints stories from Mr. Monster (Eclipse) #s 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.^[10]