Giant-Size Mini Comics

Captain George

More History

As comic shops started to appear in growing numbers in the 1980s, independent and alternative comic publishers suddenly had a channel they could use to reach readers. Companies like Eclipse Comics were creator-driven and willing to try more experimental titles than Marvel or DC.

In 1986, Eclipse launched Giant-Size Mini Comics, an introduction to the big delights of the small press. Although the title was short-lived, it was a major event for small press creators. Its four issue run represents a wonderful sampler of many of the best small press cartoonists of the period.

Giant-Size Mini Comics is the size of a regular comic book. It was only giant-sized in relation to the mini comics from which it drew its inspiration and contributors. The contents of the bi-monthly title were a combination of new work and reprints of small press comics. When the original pages were numbered it's easy to see where four mini comic pages are grouped onto one Giant-Size page. In fact by issue four—which was literally crammed full of comics—you had to understand the larger pages were made up of smaller ones in order to read the panels in the correct order!

Each issue opens with a column called The Penumbra, by Catherine Yronwode, Editor-in-Chief. At first glance you might expect the column to be an introduction to the issue, but they were unrelated ramblings, often having nothing to do with comics or Eclipse. Publisher Dean Mullaney decided each issue would have a different editor in order to provide the best representation of small press as possible. Here's a breakdown of each one:

Giant-Size Mini Comics #1 (August 1986, Eclipse Comics)
Edited by Larry Marder
Cover by Larry Marder
Born to Clap* by Jhon Dooley and Mike Stengl, 2 pages
Joe's Neuroses by Allen Varney, 4 pages
Unca Xaspa, the Hip Insect* by Larry Marder, 1 page
Around like a do-nut?* by Larry Marder, 1 page
Omnia Mutantur* by Steve Willis, 3 pages
Tales of the Kidney Beanworld by Mike Bannon, 1 page
The Conversation by Hank Arakelian, 4 pages
Uncle Arthur by Rick Weil, 1 page
Words, Words, Words* by Steve Willis, 1 page
Samurai Nun by Bob Vojtko, 4 pages
Food for Thought* by Steve Willis, 3 pages
Modern Moe* in Painting Gnaturally by George Erling, 2 pages
Cliche by Jhon Dooley and Mike Stengl, 2 pages
Uncle Arthur by Rick Weil, 1 page
Heyoka, the Upsidedown and Backwards Philosopher* by Larry Marder, 1 page
*Reprinted

At the time of its publication Marder was a member of the long running APA, Cartoon Loonacy, started by George Erling in March 1984. The club was a connection point for several others in the first issue of Giant-Size Mini Comics—Bob Vojtko and Steve Willis. In fact, Marder's own Around like a do-nut? first appeared in Cartoon Loonacy #1.

Giant-Size Mini Comics #2 (October 1986, Eclipse Comics)
Edited by Matt Feazell
Cover by David Steinlicht
Mightyguy in The Big Break
by Tim Corrigan, 4 pages
Danger is Fun, by David Steinlicht, 4 pages (reprinted from All Small #1)
Florida Vacation!
by Mike Ernest, 4 pages
A Halloween I'd Just as Soon Forget by Jeff Nicholson, 5 pages
(reprinted from Misc. #6)
Walking Man Comics
by Matt Levin, 2 pages
Pert Herman by Sam Henderson, 1 page (reprinted from Chaos in 3D #2)
Origin of Fanboy by Doug Holverson, 2 pages
Tornado Alley by Clark Dissmeyer, 8 pages (reprinted from City of Storms)
How We Travelled from Planet Plumpet to Planet Earth by Ted Bolman, 1 page
Afterword by Matt Faezell, 1 page

Giant-Size Mini Comics #3 (December 1986, Eclipse Comics)
Edited by Jay Kennedy
Cover by Bill McKearn (?)
Uncle Srewy Builds a Soap Box Racer by Bill McKearn, 11 pages
A House Divided & Popular Science Projects by Ron Hauge, 2 pages
Terror at the Cinema
by Jim R. Williams, 3 pages
Gag cartoon by Wayne Honath,
1 page
Worst-Case Scenarios Presents:
by Kenny Be, 2 pages
Fashion Fun
by Theresa Henry, 2 pages
The Maze by Steve Willis, 11 pages

Guest editor Jay Kennedy was the cartoon editor for Esquire Magazine and an archivalist of small press comics. In his brief editorial comments he mentions he was working on a catalog called The Directory of Alternative Comics, an expanded follow-up to his 1982 book, The Underground and Newave Comix Price Guide.

Giant-Size Mini Comics #4 (February 1987, Eclipse Comics)
Edited by Paul Curtis
Cover by Paul Curtis (featuring his rendering of Mimi Ferrari)
The Incredibly Stupid Boy
by Randy Carpenter and
Matt Feazell, 2.5 pages
Mightyguy in Harry Mannly Strikes
by Tim Corrigan, 2.25 pages
Sacker by John Howard, 2.25 pages
Musicomics by Matt Levin 2.25 pages
As the Orb Floats
by Brad W. Foster, 1 page
Savage Dragon
by Erik Larsen, 1 page
Flies by Garry Hardman, 1 page
Morty Comix by Steve Willis, 1 page
Doctor Jimmy Rides an Airplane
by Brian Smith, 1 page
Babble Boy
by Brendan Gramer, 1 page
Mr. Death's Day Off
by Brian Pearce, 1 page
The Adventures of Fred
by Don Martinec, 1 page
Introspect by Ken Sanzel and Russ Maheras, 1 page
The Artist by Al Greenier, 1 page
Born to Clap by Jhon Dooley and Mike Stengl, 1 page
3 Mile Island Family Meets the Kiev Family by Nimrod, 1 page
Room to Move by Bruce Chrislip, 1 page
Galen the Saintly by G. Raymond Eddy, 1 page
Untitled by Bert Blood, 1 page
Cecil Kunkle by Charles Wagner, 1 page
Beenz by Chuck Bunker, 1 page
Incoherent Caveman Comics by Jeff Nicholson, 1 page
The 3 Li'l Kittens by Bill Fitts, 1 page
Account Closed by Faye Perozich and Paul Curtis, 1 page
Untitled by Ted Bolman, 1 page
Happy Ned by Colin Upton, 1 page

The editors for all four issues were announced by Larry Marder in issue #1, so I suspect the series was only planned for four issues. Still, it's a great sampler of small press comics from 1986 and available from back issue dealers like Buddy Saunders for less than the original cover price!