# Direct Currents

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DC Comics promotional feature

***Direct Currents*** is the name of several promotional features by [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics), including a long-running newsletter.

## History

*Direct Currents* was first used as the name of a text feature appearing in DC's comics beginning in 1966.[1] In the 1970s, the feature appeared in DC's fan magazine *[The Amazing World of DC Comics](/source/The_Amazing_World_of_DC_Comics)*.[1] From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the name was also used for one of the features in DC's *[Daily Planet](/source/Daily_Planet_(DC_Comics_house_advertisement))* house ads.

From November 1976 to July 1977, DC had a toll-free phone number called the Direct Currents Hot-Line, where fans could hear pre-recorded messages from DC staff about upcoming titles. The phone number was very popular, receiving an average of 100,000 calls a week toward its end, and had to be shut down due to strain on the telephone system.[2]

Beginning in 1978 and lasting a little more than a year,[3] *Direct Currents* was the name for a one-page newsletter.[1] The newsletter, which was available by subscription, featured a 13" by 18" poster cover.[4]

In 1988, *Direct Currents* became the title of a free monthly newsletter distributed by comic book stores, containing articles about DC Comics titles being released that month as well as a checklist of the month's new releases. It was a replacement for DC's previous newsletter, *[DC Releases](/source/DC_Releases)*.[1] Unlike *DC Releases*, which was printed in black and white and magazine-sized, *Direct Currents* was printed in color and was the size of a regular comic book. Eventually, *Direct Currents* contained a flipbook format, with one side containing features about [DC Universe](/source/DC_Universe) titles, and the other containing features about titles from DC's [Vertigo](/source/Vertigo_(DC_Comics)) and [Paradox Press](/source/Paradox_Press) imprints.[5] The newsletter ran for a total of 92 issues, ending in 1995, and also produced two specials.

Beginning in November 2016, the name was used for a free quarterly magazine offering sneak peeks of every DC title.[6] However, the book was cancelled after only one issue.[7]

## List of *Direct Currents* issues

### 1988-1997

Issue Number Date[a] Cover Story Notes 1 February 9 - March 8, 1988 Flash Gordon maxi-series 2 March 15 - April 5, 1988 Action Comics Weekly ongoing series; Superman vol. 2 ongoing series becomes twice-monthly 3 April 12 - May 10, 1988 Power of the Atom ongoing series 4 May 17-31, 1988 V for Vendetta maxi-series 5 June 7-28, 1988 Hawk and Dove vol. 2 mini-series 6 July 5-26, 1988 Cosmic Odyssey mini-series 7 August 2-30, 1988 The Prisoner mini-series 8 September 6-27, 1988 Plastic Man vol. 2 mini-series 9 October 4-25, 1988 Invasion! mini-series 10 November 1-29, 1988 Black Orchid mini-series 11 December 6-20, 1988 The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told hardcover 12 January 3-31, 1989 The Huntress ongoing series 13 February 1989 Justice League Europe ongoing series 14 March 1989 "The Janus Directive" crossover 15 April 1989 Skreemer mini-series 16 May 1989 Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography one-shot 17 June 1989 The Batman Movie Adaptation one-shot 18 July 1989 Justice, Inc. vol. 2 mini-series 19 August 1989 The Shadow Strikes! ongoing series 20 September 1989 The Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 ongoing series; The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga trade paperback 21 October 1989 Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth graphic novel 22 November 1989 Deadman: Love after Death mini-series 23 December 1989 The Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told hardcover 24 January 1990 Adam Strange mini-series 25 February 1990 Batman: Digital Justice graphic novel 26 March 1990 The Butcher mini-series 27 April 1990 Hawkworld vol. 2 ongoing series 28 May 1990 The Demon vol. 3 ongoing series 29 June 1990 World's Finest mini-series 30 July 1990 Enemy Ace: War Idyll graphic novel 31 August 1990 The Doom Patrol vol. 2 #37 (Rhea Jones awakes from her coma) 32 September 1990 Twilight mini-series 33 October 1990 Batman 3D graphic novel 34 November 1990 The Books of Magic mini-series Flip book Robin mini-series 35 December 1990 The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told hardcover 36 January 1991 Angel and the Ape vol. 2 mini-series 37 February 1991 Kid Eternity mini-series 38 March 1991 Armageddon 2001 mini-series and crossover 39 April 1991 Star Trek's 25th anniversary (Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Saga trade paperback) 40 May 1991 Impact Comics line debuts (The Legend of the Shield ongoing series) Includes 16-page Impact Comics preview 41 June 1991 Impact Comics line continues (The Comet and The Jaguar ongoing series) 42/43 July 1991 War of the Gods mini-series and crossover Double issue flip book August 1991 The Psycho mini-series 44 September 1991 Sandman-related releases 45 October 1991 Robin II: The Joker's Wild mini-series 46 November 1991 The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special one-shot 47 December 1991 Batman Versus Predator mini-series, Batman: Master of the Future one-shot, Batman: Blind Justice trade paperback, and DC Comics hologram buttons 48 January 1992 Batman: Gotham Nights mini-series 49 February 1992 New creative teams on Justice League America and Justice League Europe, Justice League Spectacular one-shot, and other Justice League-related releases 50 May 1992 Lobo's Back mini-series 51 June 1992 Green Lantern vol. 3 #25 (Hal Jordan versus Guy Gardner), Green Lantern Corps Quarterly and Green Lantern: Mosaic ongoing series, and other Green Lantern-related releases 52 July 1992 Batman: Shadow of the Bat ongoing series and other Batman-related releases 53 August 1992 Batman Returns Movie Adaptation one-shot 54 September 1992 Team Titans ongoing series 55 October 1992 Batman: Sword of Azrael mini-series 56 November 1992 Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale one-shot 57 December 1992 Robin III: Cry of the Huntress mini-series 58 January 1993 Superman vol. 2 #75 ("The Death of Superman") 59 February 1993 Batman: Seduction of the Gun one-shot 60 March 1993 The Legacy of Superman one-shot First DC/Vertigo flip book Vertigo imprint launches 61 April 1993 Milestone Media debuts (Hardware and Blood Syndicate ongoing series) Sandman Mystery Theatre ongoing series 62 May 1993 The Atom Special one-shot Kid Eternity vol. 2 ongoing series 63 June 1993 Adventures of Superman #500 (Superman returns from the dead) and the "Reign of the Supermen!" storyline The Sandman vol. 2 #50 (anniversary issue) 64 July 1993 "Bloodlines" crossover Skin Graft: The Adventures of a Tattooed Man mini-series 65 August 1993 Catwoman vol. 2 ongoing series Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo mini-series 66 September 1993 Hawkman vol. 3 ongoing series Vertigo's "Second Wave" (Vertigo-related releases and improvements to existing titles) 67 October 1993 Batman #500 (conclusion of the "Knightfall" storyline) Hellblazer Special one-shot 68 November 1993 Robin vol. 2 ongoing series, plus the Robin: Tragedy and Triumph trade paperback The Sandman: Fables & Reflections hardcover 69 December 1993 Lobo vol. 2 ongoing series, plus the Lobo standup and Lobo: Smokin'! poster "The Children's Crusade" crossover 70 January 1994 "Shadow War" crossover Death: The High Cost of Living hardcover, Death Gallery one-shot, Death T-shirt, and Death watch 71 February 1994 Superboy vol. 3 and Steel ongoing series, Supergirl vol. 3 and Legends of the World's Finest mini-series, and other Superman-related releases The Sandman vol. 2 #57 (beginning of "The Kindly Ones" storyline) and The Sandman: Fables & Reflections trade paperback 72 March 1994 The Power of Shazam! graphic novel Swamp Thing vol. 2 #140 (writing team of Grant Morrison and Mark Millar begins) 73 April 1994 Green Lantern vol. 3 #51 (Kyle Rayner becomes Green Lantern) The Mystery Play graphic novel 74 May 1994 Batman/Spawn: War Devil one-shot The Books of Magic vol. 2 ongoing series 75 June 1994 Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey mini-series Witchcraft mini-series 76 July 1994 "Worlds Collide" crossover The Heart of the Beast graphic novel 77 August 1994 "KnightsEnd" storyline Vamps mini-series 78 September 1994 Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! mini-series and crossover The Invisibles ongoing series 79 October 1994 Zero Month (every DC title gets a #0 issue) The Sandman: A Gallery of Dreams one-shot 80 November 1994 Starman vol. 2 ongoing series Shadows Fall mini-series 81 December 1994 Batman Versus Predator II: Bloodmatch mini-series The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch graphic novel 82 January 1995 Batman: Bloodstorm graphic novel Paradox Press imprint launches 83 February 1995 Azrael ongoing series Tainted one-shot 84 March 1995 The Power of Shazam! ongoing series Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such mini-series 85 April 1995 Flash vol. 2 #100 (anniversary issue) Preacher ongoing series 86 May 1995 Superman vol. 2 #100 ("The Death of Clark Kent" storyline) Tank Girl Movie Adaptation one-shot Special 1 1995 87 June 1995 Justice League America #100 (anniversary issue) Tank Girl: The Odyssey mini-series 88 July 1995 Sovereign Seven ongoing series Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci maxi-series 89 August 1995 Batman Forever Movie Adaptation one-shot and other Batman-related releases The Sandman vol. 2 #70 ("The Wake" storyline) 90 September 1995 Wonder Woman vol. 2 #101 (John Byrne takes over as writer/artist) Sandman Midnight Theatre one-shot 91 October 1995 Batman: Man-Bat mini-series Stuck Rubber Baby graphic novel 92 November 1995 Underworld Unleashed mini-series and crossover The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch softcover 1997 Special 1997

### 2016

Issue Number Date Cover Story Notes 1 Winter 2017 Justice League vs. Suicide Squad mini-series

## See also

- *[Comic Shop News](/source/Comic_Shop_News)*

- *[Marvel Age](/source/Marvel_Age)*

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Date refers to the books' shipping dates from issues 1-49, and the books' cover dates from issue 50 on.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DC_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DC_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DC_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DC_1-3) *Direct Currents* #1, p. 3

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Levitz, Paul (2015). *The Bronze Age of DC Comics*. [Taschen](/source/Taschen). p. 281. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-8365-3579-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-8365-3579-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["BOOKSTEVE'S LIBRARY: Direct Currents"](http://booksteveslibrary.blogspot.com/2008/04/direct-currents.html). *Steven Thompson*. April 22, 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111026001809/http://booksteveslibrary.blogspot.com/2008/04/direct-currents.html) from the original on October 26, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Super Tuesday: Direct Currents | Longbox Graveyard"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121230185712/http://longboxgraveyard.com/2012/11/20/super-tuesday-direct-currents/). *Paul O'Connor*. November 20, 2012. Archived from [the original](http://longboxgraveyard.com/2012/11/20/super-tuesday-direct-currents/) on December 30, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Obscurities: DC Coming Attractions"](http://kupps.malibulist.com/2015/12/01/obscurities-dc-coming-attractions/). *Paul Kupperberg*. December 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208133322/http://kupps.malibulist.com/2015/12/01/obscurities-dc-coming-attractions/) from the original on December 8, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["ComicList Archives"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161006063401/http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/the-all-new-direct-currents-1-electrifies-dc-comics-fans-in-november). Archived from [the original](http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/the-all-new-direct-currents-1-electrifies-dc-comics-fans-in-november) on October 6, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Johnston, Rich](/source/Rich_Johnston) (April 13, 2017). ["DC's Magazine Direct Currents Cancelled Before Its Second Issue"](https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/04/13/dcs-magazine-direct-currents-cancelled-second-issue/). *[Bleeding Cool](/source/Bleeding_Cool)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170915185037/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/04/13/dcs-magazine-direct-currents-cancelled-second-issue/) from the original on September 15, 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Direct Currents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Currents) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Currents?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.