Welcome to ‘I’d Buy That For A Dollar’ a column where I will be exploring the weird and wonderful world of dollar bin diving. The only rule is each and every comic is purchased for one dollar (or less!).
This week’s comic is Eclipse Comics’ Detectives Inc. #1
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Written by: Don McGregor
Art by: Marshall Rogers
Colors by: Tim Smith
Letters by: Tom Orzechowski
Detectives Inc. tells the story of Ted Denning and Bob Rainer, two low-level private investigators in seedy ’80s New York. A friend of Denning’s ex-wife has had her lover killed by a hit and run driver. After the police seem unconcerned, she hires Detectives Inc.
Eclipse comics was one of the more prolific indie publishers in the 1980s. They published tons of titles and also were one of the first to re-print manga in the states (their early manga titles include Mai The Psychic Girl and The Legend of Kamui). But what they were really known for was more mature aimed books that ran the gamut from sci-fi to crime.
The creators behind Detectives Inc. are also prolific. Writer Don McGregor has a long history and has written and worked for nearly every publisher you can imagine. Artist Marshall Rogers was a legend too. He started as an architectural student (something that is evident in his meticulous rendering of buildings and area) and has drawn everything from Batman to Mister Miracle, to Marvel’s G.I. Joe. One of the most well known Marshall Roger’s stories is how he got tapped to re-draw G.I. Joe #61 after a young Todd McFarlane’s initial entirely penciled issue was rejected by Marvel.
Detectives Inc. is a gritty book and an excellent history of its creation is included in the back matter of this issue. This whole issue is great from start to finish. McGregor’s script is very hardboiled, with a lot of narration. His characters also have that great ‘buddy cop’ banter. And the art is, of course, fantastic, with added life brought in by colorist Tim Smith. Lettering legend Tom Orzechowski rounds out the creative crew. Anyway, let’s take a look at some pages!
There you have it folks, just a glimpse into another dollar bin gem.
You can find great dollar bins at almost every local comic shop. So find a shop, ask a comic clerk what they can do for you during this time and get some dollar comics! Pick them up curbside and have them delivered if you must!
Got your own awesome dollar bin finds? Toss them at me!
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