Okay, fine, my hands are actually tender and pink-skinned, like a baby’s.

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So I was happy to discover the other day that I, in fact, did not give up all my copies of Dark Horse Presents to the store when I opened back in 2014, but kept them in what remains of the Vast Mikester Comic Archives. In particular, I was happy because I had a sudden urge to reread the short Concrete stories that appeared therein, inspired by the release of the new series.

Amongst my DHP collection was issue #24 from 1988, notable for containing an early Aliens story:


Now, I had rid myself of all my Dark Horse Aliens comics via the shop, so I figured “might as well get rid of this one, too.” I seemed to remember it usually selling for a good price, especially if it were in nice shape (as my copy was, natch), and thus put it aside for the “destined for the shop” pile.

However, a quick perusal of the price guide startled me with this notation:


Okay, wait, hold on, I’m still a fan of Michael T. Gilbert’s Mr. Monster, and as such I now can’t sell this comic, because Sluggo forbid that I have a hole in my collection.

I decided to take a quick peek inside, handling this precious artifact with my weathered and weary hands, and…no Mr. Monster. Not a bit of him. Not even an ad. Not even hiding behind a Xenomorph. This comic was entirely befeft of Mr. Monster.

Searching online, I saw several references to this comic in sales listings far and wide, all proclaiming that, along with this Aliens story, Mr. Monster also appeared within.

I looked again inside the comic; Mr. Monster had not sneakily made his way into the pages in the interim, and the comic remained free of his presence. I even double-checked the Grand Comics Database listing, which confirms said lack of character. Er, that character.

However, in my investigations, I did notice something interesting. In #24 of the third series of Dark Horse Presents, published in 2016, Mr. Monster does appear. The source of the confusion, perhaps? If so, it’s lightly reassuring if somewhat dismaying to know even Overstreet has trouble keeping all these straight.

Therefore, let it be shouted to the hilltops: despite what Overstreet says, despite what various online sellers say, Dark Horse Presents #24 (1988) does not have any any Mr. Monster. So let it be written, so let it be done.

And that’s how my copy of Dark Horse Presents #24, in NM condition, has ended up in my shop, ready for sale:


Before you ask…yes, I will feel a slight twinge when it eventually sells. I bought that comic new off the stand and I’ve had it in my possession for nearly the same length of time I’ve been in the comics retail biz. Hopefully it goes to someone who will appreciate it.

6 thoughts on “Okay, fine, my hands are actually tender and pink-skinned, like a baby’s.”

  1. Bu he might be hiding behind an Alien. In fact, he might be behind the Alien that’s on the cover. I think Venom might be with him.

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  4. What other comics are in that stack?

    Also, has a complete Michael T. Gilbert’s Mr. Monster omnibus ever been released? It might be cool to have all of these stories, plus the one Golden Age Mr. Monster story, in one volume.

    It could also be cool if Michael T. Gilbert did a Mr. Monster story where he teams up with other Golden Age public domain Canadian characters including Nelvana of the Northern Lights, Johnny Canuck, The White Mask, Night Hawk, The Dreamer, Nitro, The Wing, Red Rogue, Freelance, the original Iron Man (Canada’s first Golden Age superhero– who would obviously need a name change; “Fero Man,” perhaps?), The Canadian Shield (who was a reprint of and riff on the MLJ/Archie Shield–but with a Canadian Flag symbol on his costume), Zor the Mighty, Ghost Woman, Invisible Commando, Black Wing, Super Commando, The Blue Raven, The Brain, Atomic Man, Starra, Brok Windsor, etc.

    Maybe collectively they formed “The Guardians of the North,” or “The All-Winners Society of Canada.”

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