A Fan Letter: When Will We See Spy Classics #3 and Retro Spy #3?

Dear DFG:

Way back in 1996 I really enjoyed the two new series that you introduced (Retro-Spy and Spy Classics). The ad at the end of Spy Classics #2 told us that the next issue would feature a story by Graves, Andrews & Repovski. I don't think it has ever been released. Also, I appreciated (finally) reading the conclusion to the Captain Nepto/Redman Story in the revived Retro-Spy title, last year, but #3 of that title has yet to appear... What gives?

Dimitri Rumplstilskinski
Warsaw, Poland

Dear Dimitri:

Great to hear from one of our many international fans. As faithful DFG readers will know, our two titles that deal with stories from the classic era of DFG (well, we actually have three, now counting Captain Nepto Prime), have very different mandates. Retro-Spy with untold stories from the golden age of DFG, while Spy Classics contains "classic" stories that have been previously told in our publications, but are now being retold for newer readers who cannot afford to buy the rare and expensive DFG back issues at conventions.

To answer your questions -- We hope to have Spy Classics #3 available sometime this summer. And yes, it does feature the team of Graves/Andrews/Repovski. We had planned to release it earlier, but have focused our efforts on the nearly complete Spy Classics Annual instead. Issue #3 is basically complete but has been languishing in the DFG vault for about 12 years in need of lettering and a cover. This is now being done. Dan Graves is working on the cover and we have sent the issue to the letterer. The issue will feature a retelling of the VERY FIRST CAPTAIN NEPTO story. That's right, the VERY FIRST! It features Cap framed for murder, an early appearance of Chief Smith, as well as the first appearances of the Killer Shark and the Alligator -- don't miss it! Thanks for your patience. Please let us know which stories you would like to see retold in future issues!

As for Retro-Spy #3, the story and art have just been assigned. We are planning to tell another early story from the ORIGINAL Invincibles team! It will be set c. 1984! Future issues will contain some crazy team-ups from that era. We're hoping that Todd Abbot -- although he is quite busy pouring his heart and soul into Captain Nepto Prime -- will also be able to recreate the very first, but now lost, Cyclone and Tornado story! Watch for things to develop later this year!

Thanks for your question,

Frank Daniels,
Production Manager (and DFG Answer Man)